Actor Yoshihiko Inohara has wrapped up filming for the drama "Tokuso9 Final Season" (TV Asahi, Wednesdays at 9pm). The drama will air its final episode on June 11th, marking the end of the series that began as its predecessor, "Metropolitan Police Department Investigative Division 9 Unit" (TV Asahi, 2006-2017). Inohara said, "It's been 20 years. I've never had a job that lasted for 20 years before," and shed tears as he reflected on the passage of time.
"Tokuso9" began in April 2018 as a successor to "Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Investigative Division 9 Unit," which starred the late Tsunehiko Watase. Naoki Asawa (Inohara) and other unique members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Investigative Division 1 Special Investigation Team (Special Investigation Team) have been taking on difficult cases.
On the final day of filming, Inohara finished filming while the special investigation team members Michiko Hada, Mitsuru Fukikoshi Fukikoshi, Hiromasa Taguchi, Mai Fukagawa, and familiar cast members Kanji Tsuda and Sachie Hara rushed to the scene. When he received the bouquet, he said, "Thank you very much!" with a frown.
Looking around at the cast and staff, he smiled and said, "With the times, various production sites change form, but ' Tokuso9' remains the same and has always been happy," but then his emotions welled up and he began to cry.
"The cast and staff are people I see all the time...they're really like family. Every season, even with the final episode, they make me think, 'I'll see them again anyway!' And I still think, 'I'll see them again.' So I'm not sad," she said bravely.
She ended with, "Everyone, take care of yourselves. Please continue to bloom beautiful flowers in your new places. Once again, thank you very much for the past 20 years!" and exchanged warm hugs with the cast members amidst applause.
◇ Yoshihiko Inohara's full comments after filming ended
Thank you! Some people haven't finished filming yet, so I'll just talk about it briefly... but what can I say (laughs). It's been 20 years. I've never had a job that lasted for 20 years, so I really don't know what to talk about.
Yesterday I thought, "It's going to end tomorrow," but you never know how you'll feel until that moment comes. It was a really fun set. At the beginning of filming, I had a culture shock from the old-fashioned atmosphere on set, but I gradually got used to it. Now I'm so impatient that it scares me (laughs). As the times change, various sets change, but "Tokuso9" remains the same and I was always happy.
The cast and staff who have been seeing each other since the beginning... they really are like family. Even with the final episode of every season, they made me think, "We'll meet again anyway!" And even now, I still think, "We'll meet again." So I'm not sad. I think that around next spring, I'll think, "Ah, we'll never see each other again..." and I'll have a lot of thoughts at that point. Everyone's presence gives me strength, and I think that even as I get older, I'll remember these friends.
Everyone, take care of yourself. Please live your life thinking of yourself first. If you really have the time, please help someone else. I am also ready to go and help anytime if something happens to these friends. And please continue to bloom beautiful flowers in new places. I hope that "Tokuso9" will be a source of nourishment for you all in the future. It's no good... I get teary-eyed when I say this kind of greeting recently (laughs). Once again, thank you very much for the past 20 years!
