The latest work by popular screenwriter Akiko Nogi , known for works such as "Unnatural," "MIU404," and " Diamonds Sleeping in the Sea ," the drama "A Little Esper" (TV Asahi, Tuesdays at 9 p.m.), is currently a hot topic.
Starring Yo Oizumi and featuring a star-studded cast including Aoi Miyazaki and Masaki Okada, this film tells the story of a salaryman at rock bottom who becomes a bit of a psychic and embarks on a mission to "save the world" with his friends. The film has been met with a great response, even reaching number one on Netflix's rankings. We spoke to Nogi about the production process of this film and what we can look forward to in the future.
◇ I wrote with a sense of security, knowing that "Miyazaki can definitely do it."
--This was your first time writing a drama series for TV Asahi. How did that come about?
I've known the producer of this work, Ayari Takashima, for about 10 years, but we've never worked together before. Around 2021, she asked me, "Wouldn't it be about time for you to write for us?" Due to various factors, including my schedule and the actors' schedules, the timing finally came to this.
--It's described as a "science fiction romance." Why did you decide to tackle this genre?
I've always loved science fiction and fantasy, so I've always said that I wanted to do science fiction someday. "Love" is your wish, isn't it?
--The setting in which the main character, Bunta, played by Oizumi, becomes a psychic at his new job is unique.
I thought it would be interesting to have a story about someone who gets a job as an esper. I'm not particularly interested in people with amazing natural talents, and I thought it would be better to show how an ordinary person steps into a strange world. So, I thought about why someone would get a job as an esper, and decided to make the main character a salaryman at rock bottom.
--Miyazaki's heroine, Shiki, has been talked about as being "too cute," but how did the character come about?
I asked him to appear after creating the setting, but when it came time to write the script, I had the mindset of wanting to see Miyazaki in a more lively role, something we haven't seen much of before. In the second half, the complex aspects of the four seasons start to emerge, and there are many difficult parts to act through, but I wrote with the confidence that "Miyazaki can definitely do it."
-Do you have that trust in Mr. Oizumi as well?
Of course. I had fun writing for Oizumi-san because I believe he can do anything I write. He's also the type of actor who can freely change his facial expressions, so there are many parts where I leave it up to his facial expressions. His acting in the margins is also interesting.
◇Episode 5 features a full-scale battle scene!?
--The story has some unique settings, including a "flower-blooming esper" and a "microwave esper," but were there any difficulties in incorporating such unrealistic settings?
The story gets more complicated from episode 6 onwards, so we worked hard to make it easy for viewers to understand. As for the esper abilities, the entire production team discussed what we could do in terms of budget and visuals, and we came up with them in conjunction with the battle scene in episode 5 (broadcast on November 18th).
--I'm looking forward to the battle scene in episode 5! Please tell us what we can look forward to in the future.
Director Murao (Yoshiaki) invited the action director of Netflix's "House of Ninjas" (2024), so we thought, "If someone like that is available, let's do an action episode!", and that's how the battle scene came to fruition. Although it was only "a little bit" (laughs).
As the story gets more serious, it may change the way you see it. Episode 5 is one example, but every episode thereafter will continue to blow away your expectations. Please stay with us until the end.
