"DOPE" Interview with Teppei Koike

The drama series " DOPE " (TBS, Friday 10pm) stars Takahashi Kaito of the popular group "King & Prince" and actor Tomoya Nakamura . In the seventh episode, which aired on August 15th, it was revealed that Tokura Toshihito (Koike Teppei), a police sergeant from the First Investigation Division who had supported Jinnai (Nakamura) up until that point, was involved in the murder of Jinnai's wife Kaori (Iriyama Noriko) and the "500 million yen theft incident" that led to the murder. We spoke to Koike in detail about how he approached the role of Tokura and how he approached filming.

◇ "Protecting his daughter is his justice."

-What impression did you get when you read the script?

The character I play, Tokura, is a detective in the First Investigative Division who cares about his family and is dedicated to his work. He is also a close friend of Jinnai, and has played a very important role. His daughter is a very important person to Tokura. Protecting her is his justice and everything. That's why I think he sometimes justifies his actions, or even thinks that even bad things are "right."

Even though he did kill Kaori, he still did it to save his daughter... In a sense, there is an "abnormal" love in that. I found that very sad, and I thought he was a pitiful character. I created Tokura while consulting with producer Hasegawa (Haruhiko) about how to portray such unwavering feelings.

-What do you think Tokura thought about DOPE?

The members of the Special Investigation Division are born with supernatural powers. Seeing them fight for justice, he accepts the reality that he has to rely on them, while also having pride as a member of the First Investigation Division. He himself must have known the pain of having supernatural powers, so I don't think he wanted them.

◇Co-starring with Tomoya Nakamura: "We were able to work together at a good time." What is your impression of Takahashi Kaito?

--Tokura and Jinnai were set to be classmates and best friends. Were you on friendly terms with Nakamura?

It was the first time we had worked together on a full-scale play. We had met through a mutual acquaintance, but we hadn't had a chance to talk properly, so I said to him, "Finally" (laughs). I think we were able to work together at a good time.

-Was there anything you talked about as you two were building your relationship?

Since Tokura is also revealed to be a doper, I was always wondering, "When will he start drinking?" My character acquires supernatural powers after birth, so I understand how desperate he must have been to decide to drink for his daughter, even though drinking has a high mortality rate. On set, Tomoya and I talked about our roles, saying things like, "I can understand why he would want to rely on the supernatural power of healing" and "I'm sure Tokura was tempted by Jiu (Iura Arata) to give him that supernatural power," and we also had a lot of general conversation.

-What is your impression of Takahashi Kaito?

He's a soft-spoken and cute guy. I watch him with a smile on my face, and sometimes he looks sleepy in the morning, so I cheer him on from the shadows, saying "Do your best!" (laughs). I've acted with (Nagase) Ren before, so when I spoke to him, he said, "I talked to Ren about Teppei the other day," which made me really happy.

-Is there any supernatural power that you would like to have?

Infinite stamina! I wish I had a supernatural power that would allow me to stay energetic all the time, like not needing to sleep (lol). Supernatural powers seem convenient, but they also seem difficult. Having eyesight that's too good would probably give you a headache, having powers that are too strong would mean you'd have to be careful in your daily life, and producing fire or electricity would be difficult to control. Teleportation would be nice, but wouldn't the time it takes to travel to your destination be fun? When I go out somewhere, I don't want my family or friends to say, "You're ahead of me," and even if I could fly, it's cold up in the sky, so I'd have to bundle up. So I thought it would be best to always be energetic.

◇ "Pay attention to the anguish and determination behind Tokura's decision and his final moments."

-What kind of story was this episode 7 for you, Koike-san?

Tokura is a former colleague of Jinnai and has known him for a long time, and has always been concerned about him, as he changed after the "500 million yen theft incident" that occurred in the past. He is honest and loyal, and is able to treat everyone equally, so he is trusted not only by the First Investigation Division but also by other divisions. But Tokura, with the sole desire to save his daughter, strays from justice. I think the big point is how viewers will interpret the "feelings for his family" that lie behind this. I would be happy if you would watch the story again, paying attention to the anguish and resolve behind Tokura's decision and final moments.

-Finally, please tell us what the appeal of this work is.

While the supernatural action scenes are spectacular and worth watching, it is also a deep human drama that explores the characters' worries, relationships with their families, and questions the very nature of justice. In a world where a drug called DOPE is circulating, what kind of justice do each person uphold? The way it is portrayed is truly detailed, and I personally found it fascinating to read. I hope you will keep an eye on it until the very end.