The first episode of the drama series "ESCAPE: It Was Supposed to Be a Kidnapping" (Nippon TV, Wednesdays at 10pm), starring actors Sakurada Hiyori and Hayato Sano, was broadcast on October 8th, and the average viewership rating (according to Video Research, Kanto region, same below) was 4.7% for households and 2.5% for individuals.
The drama is a human suspense story depicting the strange getaway of the daughter of a company president and her kidnapper, and this will be the first time that both Sakurada and Sano will star in a drama that will be aired during the golden prime time slot on a major commercial broadcasting station.
Yagami Yui (Sakurada), the only daughter of the president of Yagami Pharmaceuticals, one of Japan's leading companies, is kidnapped by Hayashida Daisuke (Sano) and his men on the day of her 20th birthday party. However, the plan fails miserably. As Daisuke stands there in shock, for some reason, Yui says, "Run away with me!", and the strange escape of the "hostage and kidnapper" begins... This is the story.
The original script is by Hikawa Kayo, who also wrote "After School Doctor" and "Hanasaki Mai Won't Stay Silent," and the production is directed by Komuro Naoko and Naganuma Makoto.
