Daito Shunsuke plays the protagonist, Sagara Shunichi, editor-in-chief of Shiba Inu magazine Shiba One, in NHK's "Drama 10: Shiba no Okite - Warera Inu Baka Editorial Department" (General TV, Tuesdays at 10pm), which starts on September 30th. With the drama's broadcast just around the corner, he spoke about the role he will be playing, highlights of the drama, and his impressions of acting alongside dogs.
◇The character Sagara plays is "a lot like me when I was in my 20s"
The drama is based on the non-fiction book "Heisei Dog Baka Editorial Department" by Yuka Katano. Set in the Shiba Inu magazine "Shiba One," the drama tells the human story of gently unraveling the tangled hearts of people.
Sagara, played by Daito, is clumsy and inconsiderate. As editor-in-chief of a pachinko magazine, he becomes a huge hit, selling 300,000 copies, but is boycotted by the entire staff. Unemployed within the company, he has no choice but to come up with ideas for a new magazine. One day, he catches sight of his beloved Shiba Inu, Fukusuke, who is his greatest source of comfort and solace. As a last resort, he launches a magazine specializing in Shiba Inu dogs, "Shiba ONE."
Daito says about the character he plays, Sagara, "When I watch Sagara in the drama, I see myself in my 20s, desperately pushing forward, anxious to prove who I am and what I am."
"He is completely oblivious to things that most people would notice, and although he is passionate about his work and has the ability to create hit magazines, people don't follow him. He is a man who believes that if he can do it, others can too. He is what we would now call a bullying boss; he is disliked by his subordinates, and in the end he is boycotted and demoted from editor-in-chief. He is doting on dogs and cannot stand up to his wife. He is not very good at communicating with others. This man decides to start a new magazine after seeing his beloved dog, but he is a typical man who is said to never change in character, no matter how old he gets."
◇The filming location of "Dog First"
The filming was apparently done with the dog as the first priority, and Daito recalls, "There was a scene on set where we had to give Noko, who played the Shiba Inu dog Fukusuke, the same acting as a human."
"Noko looked at the scene with a puzzled expression, wondering what she was talking about, so the actors knew it would be difficult, but she pulled it off perfectly. If you watch the drama, you'll see the charm of the fair relationship between dogs and humans, created by a dog-crazy production team that treats both dogs and humans equally."
Regarding acting with Noko, he said, "We stopped calling out 'Ready, set, go!' so the dog wouldn't get intimidated, and it was nice to have the atmosphere start naturally. The set became unique and in a sense very relaxed, matching the dog's vibe. The dog's free movement broke the planned rhythm of the play, and we had to catch what was happening on the spot and act accordingly. It really brought home to me that this is what acting is all about."
Finally, he addressed the viewers, saying, "I think this is a heartwarming drama that can be enjoyed by everyone, from children to adults. It is a work that teaches us the joy and happiness that comes with living with a dog. It is also a work that teaches us the mindset required to live with animals, to live with a precious life. Please be sure to watch it. And pay attention to Noko's acting. Woof!"
