Kyoko Saito:Co-starring with Mizuno Miki as the same character, she takes on her first role in a "revenge drama" as a 55-year-old mother who has had plastic surgery on her entire body (full comment)

It has been revealed that actors Kyoko Saito and Mizuno Miki will be playing the same character in the drama series "Is it a sin to kill the guy who took my daughter's life?", which will begin airing on October 7th in the "Ka Dora★Eleven" time slot (Kantele/Fuji TV, Tuesdays at 11pm). The story follows Mizuno as a 55-year-old mother who loses her daughter and undergoes full-body plastic surgery to exact revenge as a new mother, played by Saito. This will be Saito's first role as a mother, and also her first attempt at a so-called "revenge drama."

The original work is a popular manga (digital comic) of the same name by Aoi Sei and illustrated by Ashida Kaoru. After divorcing her husband, Shinohara Reiko (Mizuno), a dedicated caregiver, raised her 27-year-old daughter and 4-year-old grandson as a single mother and lived a happy life watching over their growth. However, one day, in front of Reiko's eyes, her daughter and grandson jump from an apartment building, leaving her grandson unconscious and in critical condition, while her daughter dies. Reiko is overcome with grief at the loss of her beloved family. Then, she receives a call from an anonymous number saying, "Your daughter has been killed by a mom friend."

As Reiko stands on the edge of the roof of an abandoned building, overcome with despair, a mysterious plastic surgeon appears before her and says, "Instead of dying, why not be reborn?" This remark inspires Reiko to come up with a shocking plan for revenge. She undergoes full-body plastic surgery to transform herself into a young, beautiful mother, Shinohara Reiko (Saito), and socially eliminate the mommy friends who drove her daughter to death. Reiko, who has somehow adopted a neighbor's child as her own, conceals her identity and infiltrates the mommy friends' group. She loses her temper and uses every means at her disposal to punish each of them, but beyond that lurks a "mastermind" no one could have foreseen... This is the story.

◇Comments from Kyoko Saito and Miki Mizuno

-What were your thoughts when you received the offer?

Saito: When I first heard the title, it was a shock because it felt different from anything I'd ever done before. I was also confused, thinking, "Are Mizuno and I the same person? Before and after plastic surgery? What does that mean!?" (laughs). I was stunned even before I knew the story, but as I read through the script, I became more and more emotionally involved, and the more I read, the more interesting the story became. I look 25, but inside I'm 55. This is the first time I've played this genre and role, so I'm feeling very excited. I'll study the role and do my best until the end!

Mizuno: My first reaction was also, "Saito and I are playing the same role? What does that mean?" (laughs). It's impossible to transform myself into Saito through full-body plastic surgery. The over-the-top worldview and the story, which focuses on revenge, are very interesting. I've appeared in works about revenge up until now, but I'm also a mother in my private life, so when a child is involved like in this one, it really moves me. When I think of it as my own child, the feelings of anger and sadness well up in my mind.

--This is the first time you two have acted together. What are your impressions of each other?

Saito: I can't believe I'm getting to co-star with Mizuno, who I've always seen on TV, it feels like a dream. Mizuno is not only active as an actor, but he also has a funny image on variety shows. It's a difficult role, with two people playing one role, but I'll do my best in sync with Mizuno. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming filming!

Mizuno: Saito-san has a strong image from his talk show with Hikorohee, so I have the impression that he is a very quick-witted, intelligent, skillful person who can also keep the conversation going. This was the first time I met him, but I got the impression that he is someone who can read the mood around him and think things through calmly.

-Is there anything you're looking forward to about filming?

Saito: My character is 55 years old inside, so I'm really looking forward to the scenes that are "unique" to me, like sewing with reading glasses on, or being unable to walk in painful heels. I also need to be creative with the way I speak, so I've been thinking about how to act.

Mizuno: There are scenes in the film where I explode with strong emotions of anger and sadness, so I want to release the frustrations I have from everyday life. I'm going to do an emotional detox (laughs). I'm also looking forward to seeing Saito-san's various expressions. I want to convey to Saito-san the lethargy that is unique to people in their 50s and the heaviness of the body when you wake up in the morning (laughs)!

--Please give a message to our viewers!

Saito: This is my first revenge drama, and my first time playing a mother. I think I'll be able to show you a new side of me that you've never seen before. Every episode will be full of dizzying developments, but don't forget that Mizuno and I are playing the same roles (laughs), so please enjoy!

Mizuno: The mommy friends are clearly villains with no room for sympathy, so I think viewers will feel frustrated and angry along with the main character, and will want to root for them to defeat evil. It's a drama that's easy to understand and really grabs your emotions. It's a refreshing revenge story, which is rare in this genre, so I hope you enjoy it!

◇Comment from manga artist Ashida Kaoru

It's been made into a TV drama!!! I still can't believe that something so spectacular has happened in my life. This work depicts a mother's desire for revenge that transcends law and morality and the conflict that it brings. Posing the serious question, "Is it a sin to kill the person who took my daughter's life?", the protagonist, Reiko, pursues the perpetrators, using surprising methods to exact her revenge. As a mother myself, I kept asking myself until the very end: What if I were faced with the same situation? A life lost cannot be brought back. Despair, anger, and guilt for not being able to help as a mother... Reiko's realization that she chose revenge despite the pain and suffering that will never go away... I'm excited to be able to depict the background and characters' detailed emotions that couldn't be fully conveyed in the manga with the unique structure and expression of a drama. I also look forward to seeing the actors breathe new life into the characters. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved in the production of this drama for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

◇Comment from the original author, Aoi Sei

I am extremely honored that the work I wrote as the original author is being adapted into a TV drama. The story is about a mother who loses her precious family, undergoes cosmetic surgery to look younger, and then infiltrates her fellow moms as a completely different person, enacting her revenge... but at its core are questions like, "How do people recover when they lose someone they love?" and "What does it mean to be a mother?" The original work depicts the gradual change in the protagonist's heart as her appearance changes. I believe that this dramatization will bring about an even more realistic experience than the original, with the power and tension that only a film can provide, and the passionate performances of the actors! I hope that many people will be able to witness the life of the mother, Reiko. I can't wait for it to air!

◇ Comment from producer Koji Tanaka

A 55-year-old "grandmother" becomes 30 years younger, takes the hand of a fake child, and infiltrates a group of mommy friends... This won't end as just a "revenge drama." I want to make it an intense entertainment drama that will make you tremble at the madness of a "kind mother."

Kyoko Saito's calm voice tone is very impressive. I thought she would be a good fit for a role where she is "caring something deep inside." This time she plays a mother who has lost her child. What's more, she is 55 years old inside. It's a difficult role, no doubt, but I'm sure she'll go wild.

I think Mizuno Miki is a wonderful actor who can express things that other actors cannot. She has entertained us with a variety of roles, both hard and soft, and I believe she will create another legend with this drama.