It was revealed on June 5th that actors Kaho, Narumi Riko, Mitsuishi Ken, and Kobayashi Satomi will appear in the WOWOW drama "Serial Drama W-30 ' Hei no Naka no Biyoshitsu'" (Ken Mitsuishi at 11pm), which will start on August 22nd and stars actress Nao.
Kaho plays Komatsubara Natsu, Haru's older sister who becomes a member of the perpetrator's family when her younger sister commits a crime; Narumi plays Kagawa Misa, a beauty technician at a women's prison who trains inmates so they can obtain hairdressing licenses; Mitsuishi plays Hosaka Ichiro, the warden of the prison where Haru is being held and who created the Aozora Beauty Salon with a special feeling for the inmates; and Kobayashi plays Sugao Fuyuko, a prison guard in charge of the beauty salon who watches over Haru, played by Nao.
The drama is based on the novel of the same name by Sakurai Mina (Futaba Bunko), which was modeled on a real beauty salon that operates inside a prison. Set in the "Aozora Beauty Salon" where inmates cut the hair of regular customers inside a women's prison, the drama follows the protagonist, inmate and hairdresser Komatsubara Haru (Nao), as she faces the crime she committed and her future life through her encounters with various people.
With the cooperation of the Ministry of Justice's Corrections Bureau, the drama was produced in an actual prison. Nao, who takes on the difficult role of an inmate and hairdresser, visited Kasamatsu Prison in Gifu Prefecture, the model for the original novel, to observe the hairdressers at work. She practiced under the guidance of hairdressers and even tried her hand at cutting and styling hair herself.
The script will be written by Kyoko Inukai, who has worked on films such as "Wind Phone" (2020) and "Egoist" (2023). The director will be Kana Matsumoto, who has worked on the drama "Danchi no Futari" (NHK BS/BS Premium 4K, 2024) and the serial drama W "Fence" (2023), which won the Grand Prize in the TV category at the 61st Galaxy Awards. The series will have seven episodes and will be broadcast and streamed on WOWOW Prime and WOWOW On Demand. The first episode will be broadcast for free.
Comments from the cast are as follows.
◇ Comment from Kaho (role of Natsu Komatsubara)
This is the third time I've worked with Matsumoto-san (Director Kana Matsumoto), and I always have the impression that she is a reliable director. There were many difficult scenes, such as the feelings for the sister behind bars, the reality that they have to bear because they are the family of the perpetrator, and what it means to forgive, but I was on set with the feeling that I would be fine if I just followed Director Matsumoto.
This is the second time I've played sisters with Nao-san. I went to the set looking forward to it, and I was overwhelmed just by being able to witness Nao-san's heart-wrenching, unforgettable acting up close. I hope you'll watch until the final episode.
◇Comment from Rinko Narumi (role of Misa Kagawa)
It was a very good script, and with such wonderful co-stars and the opportunity to work with director Matsumoto, who I trust, I was sure it would be a great production.
During the filming period, I was worried just like the character. It was a difficult theme, but there were a lot of really good lines, so I tried to say them carefully.
I was also able to visit the prison where the story is set before filming, which was a very good experience for me in playing the role.
I watched Nao-san practicing her treatments during breaks in filming, and I thought she was a great choice for the role, as she had the same dedication as the main character. I have been involved in another important production.
I would be happy if this work is like that for you too. Please check it out.
◇Comment from Ken Mitsuishi(role of Ichiro Hosaka)
I'm so grateful to have been included among the respected staff and cast members!
I didn't appear in many scenes, but I wanted to portray the character with a fatherly perspective.
"Can people atone for their sins?"
I also kept thinking about this while acting.
Neither I nor Hosaka (character name) have an answer. I would like to watch the broadcast and think about it together with the viewers.
◇Comment from Satomi Kobayashi (role of Fuyuko Sugo)
I was very happy to be able to work on a project with Nao and Director Matsumoto again, and was looking forward to the day filming began.
As imperfect creatures, we are all bound to have some sins, big or small. How do we atone for those sins, and how can those around us accept those who are trying to atone? Though it is a story set in a prison, I felt that it was a theme that was very close to home. The atmosphere on set was also great, and I think it was a masterpiece made with the help of Nao, the other charming cast members, and the wonderful, trustworthy staff. Nao's scissors cuts were also impressive. Stay tuned!
