Hiyori Sakurada will be co-starring with Hayato Sano in the drama series "ESCAPE: It Was Supposed to be Kidnapping" (NTV, Wednesdays at 10pm), which starts on October 8th. She talked about what she does when she feels "so miserable that she wants to run away," in reference to the drama's title, and behind-the-scenes stories from filming with Sano.
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--Please tell us your honest thoughts when you received the offer.
I was very happy. I was really shocked by the unusual plot development, where the story begins with a kidnapping. And as I continued to read the script, I felt that while it was a human story that gave a glimpse into various human relationships, it also had some funny moments. I got the impression that it was a drama that was full of entertainment, with both serious and youthful elements.
--You're co-starring this time, how do you feel about that?
I'm in a position where I have to be the face of the drama, or rather, take the lead, so this time I feel like I'm carrying the weight of the production with Sano-san. However, thankfully, we are surrounded by wonderful staff and cast members, so although it's technically just the two of us, we want to borrow everyone's help and create it together.
-What impression did you have of the character you play, Yagami Yui?
Before she was kidnapped, Yui was the daughter of a wealthy man, and as such she was always surrounded and protected by adults, which made her seem a bit twisted and unable to express her feelings honestly. But after meeting Linda (Hayashida Daisuke), she was able to jump into the outside world and find herself in a free environment, and for the first time she was able to express her thoughts and feelings and act on her own will, and I think she became more life-sized, or rather, her true self, and it was a lot of fun to play her.
--What do you find fun about it?
This is something I feel in my work as an actor, including in this drama, but I really enjoy the communication between people, the dialogue exchange, and how a casual word can really hit the other person, or conversely, come back twice as hard, and how a different reaction occurs every time. There are many such scenes in this drama, so I cherish that feeling.
-What is the atmosphere like on set?
The cast and staff all get along really well, so I was able to face Yui-chan with peace of mind. I'm filled with gratitude.
--The atmosphere on set is also important when it comes to facing a role.
I think it's important. Especially with this production, there are many different human relationships hidden in the background, so I think that kind and warm relationships on set are very important when acting. For me, it's the best environment (laughs).
--Please let us know if there is any cast member you are interested in.
It was just me and Sano-san filming the whole time (filming had only progressed up to the middle of episode 3 at the time of the interview), so I haven't had a chance to act in depth with everyone yet, but I was looking forward to playing Bandai Shino, played by Uika (First Summer Uika). That's because I was personally very curious to see how Uika would play the role of Bandai. We acted together yesterday, and I was impressed by how Uika really brought out Bandai's charm. Thanks to her, I was able to easily imagine Yui-chan's past relationship with Bandai.
--This time you have a lot of dialogue with Sano-san, but are you communicating with him in any special way?
We often talk in our free time, so we don't make any special time to talk. She's a very friendly person, and always livens up the set. Even in her private life, there are some overlaps between her and Linda, so I think she's similar.
--In that sense, does it feel like a natural friendship emerges from the way you two act together?
That's right. There are also some ad-libs in the main story, so I think it's fun to watch. The dialogue is so natural that it's hard to tell what is ad-lib and what isn't, so I hope you'll look forward to that as well.
--This question is related to the drama's title, "ESCAPE." When you're in a difficult situation that makes you want to run away, how do you get through it?
"I just eat and sleep! It's a healthy escape (laughs)." I love to eat, and as long as I eat delicious food, I'm generally fine. And I also make sure to get plenty of sleep. If I don't get enough sleep, my performance drops and there's nothing good about it, so I just sleep.
--By the way, what kind of meal do you eat as a reward on such occasions?
Meat (lol)! Yakiniku, steak, or any meat is welcome.
-Finally, please tell us what you would like to convey to viewers through your work.
This time, the situation changes rapidly as they are kidnapping and being kidnapped, and at the same time, Hachi and Linda grow little by little as people. As I mentioned earlier, kidnapping is a major theme of this work, but the content is a mix of suspense and humanity, making it a drama full of the joys of entertainment. I hope you will enjoy it at your own pace. With each episode, each character, starting with Yui, grows as a person, so I hope you will pay attention to that as well.
◇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...?
