Aoi Nakamura stars in the TBS Friday drama "Fake Mummy" (Fridays at 10pm), co-starring actors Haru and Rina Kawaei. He plays Tomoya Sasaki, a teacher at the prestigious private Ryuwa Gakuen Elementary School, where Hidaka Mamie (played by Kawaei)'s only daughter, Iroha (played by Aoi Ikemura), attends. We spoke to Nakamura about some of the episodes from the set and his impressions of his co-stars.
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The drama is a serial adaptation of the winning work by Sonomura Hikaru, who won the grand prize at the first TBS NEXT WRITERS CHALLENGE screenplay competition. Hanamura Kaoru (Haru), who suddenly quit her job and struggled to find a new one, meets Hidaka Makie, the company's president and single mother, at an interview with the venture company RAINBOWLAB. Makie asks Hanamura to act as a substitute for her daughter Iroha, who is applying to a prestigious private elementary school, at the parent-child interview.
-This is your first time playing the role of an elementary school teacher. How was it filming with the children?
It's a lively and lively atmosphere, just like a real elementary school. It's a fresh and strange feeling to see myself standing at the podium. There are various problems that can arise during filming, but when it comes to the actual shoot, the children are completely focused on their acting, and they manage to do things that you might think would be difficult for them given their age. I think it's really wonderful to see them like that.
-Was there anything you used as reference when playing the role of a teacher?
I may have thought back to my elementary school teachers. There were some scary teachers (laughs), but the ones I felt were "good teachers" didn't treat me like a child, and I had the impression they treated me as an equal. This time I'm playing a teacher at a private elementary school, so I'm hoping to be able to interact with the children not as "students" but as "people."
--What is your impression of Tomoya?
In the scenes where Haru-san, who plays Kaoru-san and Kawaei-san meet at Yanagiwa Gakuen, and Kawaei-san, who plays Mamieru-san and Kawaei-san meet at "Itteki", you can see them smiling a little and it feels like they're facing each other on an equal footing. So, there may be some similarities between me and them.
-What was the atmosphere like on set?
Many of the cast members are close in age, so things are progressing smoothly. Many of them have worked together before, so there's an atmosphere where we can talk freely. I've worked with Haru-san in particular several times since we were teenagers, so I feel like we're taking on the challenge based on a relationship of trust.
--Please tell us your impression of Kawaei-san.
I have the impression that she is always smiling innocently. In the play, she plays a powerful role as a company president who supports the company while raising a child, so I can feel that energy when I face her. She is a very energetic and cheerful person.
--You have many opportunities to interact with Koji Mukai, who plays Kuroki Ryuma, as Iroha's "fake dad."
Whenever Mukai is there, the set instantly becomes brighter. In the story, he often interacts with Ryoma as Iroha's "fake dad," but we haven't had a chance to see his true self as vice president yet. Even so, through the screen, you can see his smartness and reliability as he supports the president as his right-hand man.
-How do you communicate with Ikemura-san?
When the cameras aren't rolling, I listen to her talk about school and her favorite things. When it comes to acting, she naturally goes all out, and I envy her for how natural she is at switching gears. She's very cheerful, so everyone on set loves her.
Apparently, he plays all sorts of games with Haru and Kawaei, but he mainly talks with me. I feel like he keeps a bit of distance between them, perhaps because he sees me as his "teacher." That feeling is similar to the relationship between our characters, and I think it's just the right distance.
--Please tell us what the highlights of episode 4 are.
The vague feelings that Tomoya had in episodes 1 to 3 gradually come together in episode 4. This is the episode where he confronts his problems in his own way, and I think it will be the first big climax of the drama. I hope you will look forward to it.
At first glance, the Hidaka family appears to be a blessed family, but within that family there are worries that only the people involved know about. The students attending Ryuwa Gakuen also come from a variety of backgrounds. While the mothers compete with each other to show what they are doing, I think each one is carrying their own hidden suffering.
As the drama progresses, the story behind these events is revealed, which may help viewers realize that they are not the only ones struggling. Haru's character, Kaoru, is someone who forges her own path despite peer pressure. I hope viewers will find the strength to live from seeing her.
