Ayami Nakajo stars in the TBS Tuesday drama "Jaa, Anta ga Tsukutte Miro yo It" (Tuesdays at 10pm), co-starring actors Kaho and Takeuchi Ryoma. She plays Ayami Nakajo Tsubaki, who Katsuo (Takeuchi) meets on a dating app recommended to him by his junior colleagues, Shirasaki (Maehara Mizuki) and Minamigawa (Kyoka). Tsubaki is the president of a mail-order company, and is a cheerful, innocent woman who speaks her mind without fussing about small details. Nakajo says she "resonates with a lot" about Tsubaki, so we spoke to her about her role and her enthusiasm for the film.
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The original work is a manga of the same name by Natsuko Taniguchi, currently being serialized in the digital comic magazine "Comic Tanto" (Bunkasha). Yamagishi Ayumi (Kaho), who always puts her lover first, and Ebihara Katsuo, a patriarchal man who believes that "it's only natural for a woman to cook!", have been dating since their university days. After living together, Katsuo proposed marriage, but Ayumi's response was an unexpected "no way." Through cooking, Katsuo reexamines the things he took for granted and grows as a person.
-What were your impressions after reading the script?
There were parts that made me realize that I too have unconsciously thought, "Men are like this," or "Women are like this," and have unconsciously said things like that. I have nieces and nephews, and I think that as they grow up, the general values of men and women will continue to change. Because I grew up in an athletic environment, I realized that I need to be careful about what I say.
There were also many scenes that made me feel like, "I can relate to this part of this person," or "I have these kinds of worries too," and I felt that it was a work that allowed me to empathize with the characters in many ways.
There are many things I can relate to about Tsubaki. Just like my job, we don't all work at set times, so while I'm supported by my manager and staff, I'm aware that it's fundamentally an "individual battle." I wish I could rely on a variety of people, but there are also many moments when I wonder, "How should I ask for help?" In the end, I tend to think, "It's quicker if I do it myself," which is something I share with Tsubaki.
I can also sympathize with her impatience and her refreshing side, as she is a carnivorous woman who throws all her energy into getting Katsuo, wanting to get him, but then changes her mind when she realizes that he is not right.
-What do you think of Tsubaki, who has her own opinions?
She has a strong desire to do what she thinks is right and what she wants to do, and there will be many more scenes in the future where she takes action rather than worrying. It's interesting to watch Tsubaki's drive. I myself try to take on new challenges when I find something that interests me, so I think we are similar in that respect.
Takeuchi-san often tells me, "Ayami Nakajo Nakajo Ayami" (laughs). Hearing that has allowed me to approach the filming set with freedom. Because the role is so close to me, I sometimes wonder, "At what point does Tsubaki begin?" but it's fun to play Tsubaki while checking the balance.
-During the filming, were there any requests from the director or producer, or any suggestions of your own that were incorporated?
Up until now, I wasn't the type to actively add ad-libs, but this time I tried to express "what I felt in the moment." For example, when I went to Katsuo's house, I thought "That's a big room for a single person," which wasn't in the script, and when I said it out loud, the producer replied, "Please accept that." There are a lot of lines that come up on the spot, which is interesting.
--I have the impression that you've worked with Takeuchi-san on many occasions, but is there any side of him that you discovered again through this film?
People often say, "You've worked together a lot," but actually this is only our second film together (laughs). Our previous work together was a series, so it feels like a lot. Katsuo has some similarities to Takeuchi-san, but he also shows expressions that are different from the real him. There are many moments when Katsuo's emotions overflow, and I sometimes thought, "Oh, he makes that kind of face," which was refreshing. As Tsubaki, I want to support Katsuo and hope that he will get better.
-Please tell us about your impression of Kaho.
We haven't shot a scene where they face off head-on yet, so I hope to be able to talk about it in more detail during future filming. He's taking on a role he's never played before, so I'm looking forward to seeing how he plays it, and I'm excited to see how the pairing of Ayumi and Katsuo will be portrayed.
--Tsubaki is a good person for Katsuo to talk to and a key person who gives him a push, but is there any character you would like to have a push from when you are troubled?
When I saw Shirasaki, played by Maehara-san, standing close to Katsuo with an exquisite sense of distance, I thought, "I want someone like that by my side." He embraces everything, but he also has his own world and maintains a balance with his partner. I think that style is wonderful, and I feel that it must be having a positive influence on Katsuo.
-Have you been surprised to learn recently that something wasn't "commonplace"?
I've been doing this job since I was 14, so there are many things I don't know that are common "obvious things." For example, gummy candies and candies are wrapped in wafer paper. Until recently, I thought you had to peel the wafer paper off before eating it (laughs). I would peel it off and eat it, thinking, "It's so hard to remove," and I wondered why it was sticky.
-Finally, please tell us about the appeal of this work.
Rather than watching this drama while thinking deeply, it is a work that makes you question your own "obvious" things, making you think "I could have expressed myself more" or "Maybe that person thought like this" while enjoying the romantic comedy. I think it will help you rediscover things that you stop noticing as you grow up.
The points that resonate with you may change depending on when you watch it, and by peering into someone else's world, you may feel like you're reexamining your own. I would be happy if this work helps you to be a little kinder to yourself or others, and to feel the joy of connecting with people.
