The drama series "Futari Escape" (TV Osaka, airs Saturday nights at 12:55am) is currently airing, starring Iwamoto Renka and Tomiri Nao from the idol group Nogizaka46. The two, who are actually senior and junior in the group, play the roles of a "professional unemployed" senior and a "struggling manga artist" junior who live together. We spoke to the two about what went on behind the scenes of filming.
The drama is a live-action adaptation of the manga of the same name by Koichi Taguchi (Ichijinsha). It is an escapist comedy about an unemployed professional manga artist who is trying to escape reality, and a junior manga artist who is busy writing manuscripts every day.
- Before you co-starred in this film, did you talk often?
Iwamoto-san: Not really. We're in the same group, but there weren't many projects where it was just the two of us...
Tomisato: Because we were senior and junior, we didn't have many opportunities to talk.
-Did you feel any gap when you started speaking?
Iwamoto: There wasn't much of a gap. But it was really easy to talk to her! I'm quite shy, so I don't often go up to talk to people myself, but Nao would always come up to me, so I think she really liked me (laughs).
Tomisato: Even when I went to mess with Renka, she took good care of me, which made me happy (laughs).
--At a recent press conference, Iwamoto said that Tomisato has "strong junior dynamics."
Iwamoto-san: Whenever something happens, she immediately calls out to me, "Renka-san!" (laughs). Sometimes I'll comfort her by saying, "It'll be okay," and other times I'll tell her to "Just do it!" But when things get really tough, I try to be there for her so she can rely on me. I try to strike a balance (laughs).
Tomisato: He would give me advice like, "Nao, I think it would be better if you did it this way," and I thought it was invaluable that he would communicate his advice so directly and clearly. I decided to take his advice seriously and do my best.
--What did you think was good about each other's acting?
Iwamoto: I thought Nao's acting was natural. I thought it was wonderful how she naturally portrayed the "no good, but cute enough to make you want to root for her" junior character. And she has a cute voice! It's cute, but also carries, so I think it's amazing.
Tomisato: I'm so happy! Renka is amazing at taking the time to pause in her acting. I also started to pay more attention to the pauses halfway through the performance.
-Do you have any memorable memories from filming?
Iwamoto: Playing sumo in the park in the heat (laughs).
Tomisato: There were about 50 elementary school kids watching from behind me... (laughs).
Iwamoto-san: It was probably around the time when the kids were going home from school, so there were a lot of kids there to play and they were cheering me on, saying, "Do your best!" What's more, the theme was "Let's get our childlike spirits back," so I was dressed up in childish clothes, so it was a bit embarrassing... (laughs).
Tomisato: It was embarrassing... (laughs). But it was something I could only do in a drama, so it was fun!
The drama will consist of 10 episodes. After airing on TV Osaka, it will be streamed exclusively on Lemino Premium.
