Iura Arata: "It was really fun" playing Jiu in "DOPE"

In the drama series " DOPE " (TBS, Fridays at 10pm), co-starring Takahashi Kaito of the popular group "King & Prince" and actor Tomoya Nakamura , Iura Arata plays the "mysterious man" Jiu. He has even changed his hair color and posture for each scene he appears in to create the omnipotent Jiu. Before the climax, we spoke to him about behind the scenes of filming and his thoughts on the role.

◇ "Every scene is a series of challenges"

--Please tell us your thoughts on playing Jiu so far.

Frankly speaking, it was a lot of fun. When I first heard about "DOPE" from producer Hasegawa Haruhiko, I heard that "Jiu is an omnipotent, all-knowing character who can do anything." So, rather than creating the character, I decided to focus on the costume and creating a visual image. I also got character designer Takahashi Takeshi involved, and we created him to the point of going overboard.

Even the hairstyle was carefully thought out down to the smallest details, such as changing the position of the black part for each scene. I felt that the freedom of the costume allowed me to act freely, and I tried and tested different things on set, such as making my entrance by floating rather than just walking. The camera and lighting departments all worked together to think about how we could turn this into a visual, and it was a lot of fun to come up with new ideas and direction together.

Because there were no rules, the hurdles were high, and every scene was a continuous challenge. Sometimes I overdid it, and sometimes it was fun. It was a filming location where I could continue to challenge myself without giving up on what I felt in the moment, and that was the kind of role I played, so I can honestly say that it was fun.

--The scene in episode 1 where Ji-woo unleashes his supernatural powers in front of the National Diet Building was apparently Iura-san's suggestion.

In the script I received, Jiu is a "silent" being, and I felt that "aren't his supernatural powers not being shown enough?" So I suggested showing them from an early stage. Moreover, this action comes in response to Izumi Ruka's ( Rinka Kumada) line just before, "If you're going to destroy something, you might as well destroy a country like this quickly," so it makes sense. Also, I thought that by showing his supernatural powers without limit, the mystery would deepen, and it would be more interesting that way.

Rather than improvising, I'm constantly trying to breathe life into the character of Jiwoo in the world of "DOPE" with a sense of "just trying it out." If there's any unnecessary behavior, the director will surely point it out, and if it's interesting, we'll look for ways to visualize it. Since I've been given this opportunity, I'm enjoying it to the fullest and using my imagination.

-How did you feel when Takahashi Takeshi, who was in charge of Jiu's costumes, suggested coats, vests, accessories, etc. that suited Jiu's character?

I'm really glad that Takahashi Takeshi was in charge. We get a sense of Jiu's untold background, and he even suggested meaning to Producer Hasegawa and me with every accessory.

Jiwoo's details are imbued with meaning, from the color of her hair and nails and where they are stained, to the tears she shows in episode 9. Up until now, Jiwoo's identity has been a mystery, but I'm sure that even after watching episode 9, she will be even more confusing. To portray Jiwoo like that, in addition to the acting, Takahashi Takeshi's costumes, the hair and makeup artists, the props, and the combined skills of each department were essential. Among these, the costumes play a central role in Jiwoo's character image. The leather coat was heavy and difficult to wear during hot daytime shoots, but it was a secret battle to keep a cool face as Jiwoo (laughs).

-- Jiwoo is elusive and shows off a variety of different costumes. Is there any costume that left an impression on you?

All of them were fun, but the ramen stall owner was particularly impressive. I even had the chance to drain the noodles myself, and was taught how to do it by an actual ramen stall owner. I learned there are various styles, such as gently rotating your wrist, and it was interesting to learn not only the costume but also the mannerisms of the profession.

◇Takahashi Kaito: "Someone who can act with delicate detail." What is his impression of Tomoya Nakamura?

-Please tell us your impressions of Takahashi and Nakamura, who you are co-starring with for the first time in this film.

I felt that Kaito-kun is someone who can act with great sensitivity. I think that only Kaito-kun could express the sensitivity of the character Saiki Yuto. It's comfortable acting together, and we have the same interests in our private lives, so we have a lot of fun sharing our time together.

Although we didn't have any scenes together, I worked with Tomoya on the film "The Last Mile" (2024). At the time, I felt that Tomoya's ability to add color to a work was amazing. It's not easy to color what is required with your own color. I was looking forward to acting with someone who can do that kind of acting, as I thought it would be exciting and suspenseful. In fact, as Jinnai, he properly absorbed Jiu's acting, and as Jinnai, he was able to easily let go of unnecessary parts, so it was very easy to act with him.

--In an interview, Kumada (Rinka) said, "Iura-san's presence has been a great help to me." What kind of interaction do you have with him?

"I wonder what kind of person Izumi Ruka (played by Kumada) is," they said. Assuming that villains have their own lives and ways of thinking, they discussed what kind of background Izumi has that leads her to work with Jiu, the appeal of heroes and villains, and more.

-What are the highlights towards the end?

The relationship between Jinnai and Jiu is revealed in episode 9 and is summarized in episode 10. Jiu's relationship with Saiki, which he has been conscious of, also becomes intertwined, and the relationships between the three intersect in the final episode. Be sure to enjoy the moment when the accumulation of events from episode 1 comes together.