Hayato Sano will be co-starring with Sakurada Hiyori in the drama series "ESCAPE: It Was Supposed to be Kidnapping" (NTV, Wednesdays at 10pm), which starts on October 8th. This is Sano's first lead role in a prime-time drama, and he spoke about his thoughts on the series and behind-the-scenes stories from filming with Sakurada.
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-Please tell us your honest thoughts after reading the script.
When I first heard that it was a "kidnapping story," I imagined the story to be a bit heavy and filled with anguish, but when I actually read it, it wasn't like that at all. The scenes with Hachi, played by Sakurada, also had a youthful, brother-sister feel to them. When the producer told me that he wanted to make it a fugitive story with the human drama of overseas works, but also sprinkled with thrilling and suspenseful elements, I was instantly excited.
-What was it like when you actually got to the site?
Of course, there are many things to think about, and there are some delicate and difficult scenes, but all of that is fun.
--This is your first lead role in a prime-time drama, how do you feel about it?
I'm very happy. It's something I've always aimed for, and I grew up watching dramas in that time slot, so I'm especially happy. To be honest, I haven't fully realized it yet, but I think I'll start to feel a renewed sense of joy once the show starts airing.
--From the official video, you could see the friendly atmosphere and good relationship that was created on set, with Sakurada at the center. The "ESCAPE pose" was especially good.
Oh, so you watched it, thank you. Yes, I always try to work with that kind of atmosphere. Sakurada-san is five years younger than me, but he's very reliable. We have a relationship where we can naturally play the funny guy and the straight man, and it's very reliable to be with him. We work as good buddies.
--Since you have a lot of scenes with Sakurada-san, do you do any special communication with him outside of set?
No, nothing in particular. We often spend time together while waiting, but we don't do any rehearsals or anything like that, it just starts happening on its own. We mostly just do it naturally, and we also check each other's sense of tempo and lines, so I feel like the relationship between us as characters and the precision of our dialogue are improving naturally.
--It's amazing how it just comes together so naturally.
Really. Generally, those kinds of locations are good locations. It's really fun to work there.
--What do you think is amazing about Sakurada-san when you're with him?
Although he's only 22 years old, his demeanor on set is befitting of a leading actor; he takes the initiative to communicate with staff, shows consideration for his co-stars, and is a wonderful person. He's always paying attention to his surroundings. That's right, one time Sakurada, I, and three child actors were sitting together, and one of the children didn't have a cushion, so I casually offered it to him. Then Sakurada, who was sitting next to me, quickly offered his cushion to me. I don't think it's easy to act like that.
--This question is related to the title of the drama. What would you do if you were forced into a difficult situation that made you want to escape?
I'll face it head on. I'm a bit of a contrarian by nature, and when I feel like running away, I want to go in the opposite direction. I wonder if it's curiosity, or how painful and difficult it will be. I've always had that kind of personality, and I have a strong desire to experience all kinds of things, even if they are difficult.
--Please tell us if there is anything new you have gained as an actor from working on this production.
I'm sorry to keep repeating myself, but it's important to feel like you're having fun on set. When all the filming is over and I look back on it later, I often think, "That was fun," but this time, I was able to feel that it was even more fun in real time during the filming period.
--Specifically, what is the most enjoyable part of filming?
Like when I ad-libbed something during a conversation with Hachi, played by Sakurada, and Sakurada responded in a great way, and the moment the cut was called everyone burst out laughing. It's fun and makes me happy when the cameraman says, "That was crazy (in a good way), super funny (laughs)." It feels a bit like a school club. I think it's because everyone, performers and staff, can share that fun that it gets so exciting and fun.
-Finally, what would you like to convey to viewers through this work?
I said earlier that I personally won't run away, but I do think it's okay to run away. But I think there are some people who question why they've been running away for so long, who give up on their dreams halfway, or who turn a blind eye to reality even though they know what they need to do. That's the reason why Hachi, played by Sakurada, runs away in this work, and although I can't go into details yet, Linda, the character I play, has her own reasons too. I hope this drama will be one of the catalysts that makes people think about confronting the escapism that's keeping a lid on their lives.
◇Episode 1 Synopsis
A grand 20th birthday party is being held at a Tokyo hotel for Yagami Yui (Sakurada Hiyori), the daughter of the president of Yagami Pharmaceuticals, one of Japan's largest corporations. Having lost her mother at an early age, Yui has been lovingly raised by her father, Yagami Yoshishi (Kazuki Kitamura), the second-generation president of Yagami Pharmaceuticals. Still retaining the appearance of a young girl, Yui confidently takes to the stage in front of the assembled political and business leaders to announce the establishment of a "grant-based scholarship program" she has conceived. Yui's poise and graceful presence elicits cheers of praise and generous applause from the guests. Her father, Yoshishi, congratulates her and serves her wine, made in the year of Yui's birth, which he had prepared for the occasion. Immediately after the party, Yui is escorted back to the hotel waiting room by Bandai Shino (First Summer Uika), Yoshishi's secretary and watchdog. Just as she's finally able to relax and catch her breath, something happens! Two men disguised as cleaning staff were hiding in Yui's room and attacked her, and despite her futile resistance, she was hit with a stun gun and kidnapped!
The kidnapper, Hayashida Daisuke (Hayato Sano), is the complete opposite of Yui, having lived a life in the shadows. Together with his accomplice Yamaguchi Kenji (Yuki Kosei), they hide Yui in a sleeping bag, put her in a laundry cart, and leave the hotel in a car prepared by the ringleader, Saito Jouji (Iida Motosuke).
Meanwhile, Bandai, who was delivering food to Yui's waiting room, noticed something strange and immediately contacted Keishi. For some reason, a GPS showing Yui's location was displayed on her hand, and from her speed, he realized that she had been taken away in a car. Upon hearing the news of the suspected kidnapping, Keishi had something on his mind, so he called Yui's aunt, Kirio Kyo (Tomita Yasuko), who was also at the party. Keishi tries to find Kyo's whereabouts based on the false story of having left something behind. Kyo and her husband, Kirio Shinobu (Kamio Yu), who was sitting next to him, are suspicious of the phone call. There had been an unusual atmosphere between Keishi and Kyo since the party, and the "blood" of Yagami Pharmaceuticals is deeply connected to this. The original lineage of Yagami Pharmaceuticals was Kyo, the daughter of the late founder, Yagami Kyoichi (Mamiya Hiroyuki), but Keishi was recognized by Kyoichi and adopted as his successor to the company...Keishi then receives word from his secretary, Fuji Sota (Tanaka Shunsuke), that he has received a ransom demand: "If you want Yagami Yui back, prepare 300 million yen by 6pm today."
After being kidnapped, Yui is taken to an abandoned house in the mountains by the criminal group and handcuffed. Yamaguchi leaves in a car for the ransom delivery location. Yui wakes up and tries to persuade the criminals, saying, "Do you need money? If there's anything I can do to help...", but Saito interrupts her, saying, "It's not about money. I just want to make your father suffer." Yui can't hide her surprise at his answer.
Meanwhile, Bandai and the security guards, who had tracked the GPS, arrive in front of the vacant house. They begin to rush in to rescue Yui. The kidnappers panic at the sudden turn of events! Just after Saito instructs Daisuke to escape with Yui, he suffers a heart attack, which is a chronic condition, and collapses.
Yui and Daisuke get into a car while still handcuffed. The kidnapping plan is suddenly called off...! Daisuke can't turn back now... Yui, too, is hiding a secret that she can never tell anyone... Trying to escape from "despair," the two begin their escape! As if defying fate, the two run off with no destination in mind, in search of freedom!
Yamaguchi is furious, mistakenly believing that the failure of their plan is due to Daisuke's betrayal; influencer cousins Onishi Masaki (Kato Chihiro) and Onishi Misaki (Takatsuka Taimu), who happen to be in the vacant house where Yui is being held; Komiyama Taku (Matsuo Satoru), a detective from the Juvenile Investigation Division who has a past connection with Daisuke; a mysterious woman (Shida Mirai) who smiles fearlessly at the siren of a passing police car; and Shiraki Kota (Yamaguchi Makiya), a weekly magazine reporter who has been sniffing around Yagami Pharmaceuticals for some time... Furthermore, those who try to block Yui and Daisuke's path each begin to take action!
Yui and Daisuke were born and raised in completely different places and were never meant to meet. However, this encounter will change the fate of the people they are connected to...! What fate awaits the two at the end of their escape, fighting to change reality...?
