The first episode of Fuji TV's Wednesday 10pm drama "If This World Were a Stage, Where Would the Dressing Room Be?" (Wednesdays at 10pm, first episode extended by 30 minutes), written by Koki Mitani and starring Masaki Suda, aired on October 1st. The episode depicts a scene in which the protagonist, Hisabe, played by Suda, gets lost in the suspicious shopping street "Hachibunzaka", where the mysterious dancer Koda Rika (Nikaido Fumi) appears. This became a hot topic on social media.
◇The following contains spoilers.
In the first episode, in the fall of 1984, Hisabe, an aspiring director who admires Yukio Ninagawa, finds himself at a loss. He has been expelled from his theater company for being too tyrannical.
Wandering aimlessly, Kube stumbles into a suspicious shopping arcade. The shopping street, lit by the neon lights of strip clubs, is called "Hachibunzaka." It's called Hachibunzaka because it's eight minutes from Shibuya Station, and there's a sign inscribed on the arcade that reads, "Pray speak what has happened."
With the introduction of an old lady (Rinko Kikuchi) at the free information center, Hisabe opens the door to a shop called "Pelo Gries"...and so the story goes.
When Hisabe visits the bar, he is confronted by Rika, a dancer from the WS Theatre. As he drinks with Rika, Hisabe continues to complain about the theatre company. After drinking too much, Hisabe tries to leave the bar, but Rika charges him more than he expected and pressures him to bring 90,000 yen by the next night. When Hisabe resists, Rika blows cigarette smoke into him and smiles, saying, "If you're willing to die, you can do it, big brother."
On social media, Nikaido was showered with praise for her performance as the dangerous Rika. Comments included, "Fumi-chan is sexy and suits the Showa-era woman," "Fumi-sama is so lovely as a Showa-era woman," "Nikaido Fumi's aura is incredible," "She suits that long shag hairstyle so well," and "Her sex appeal and dignity are amazing." The episode also ended with a dance scene at the WS Theater, where Rika is dressed in a sexy red outfit, with comments such as, "Fumi-chan's dance is so elegant and beautiful," "Rika-sama's stage performance is the best," and "She's so beautiful."
