The TBS Sunday Theatre drama "The Royal Family" (Sundays at 9pm) stars actor Satoshi Tsumabuki and depicts the world of horse racing. Hitomi Kuroki plays Kyoko, the wife of horse owner Kozo Sanno (Koichi Sato), and Kotaro Koizumi plays his son Yutaro. They talk about the unique "family image" of the Sanno family, who support their family despite their differences with Kozo.
◇An unexpected response? "My husband doesn't usually watch horse racing..."
--What kind of reaction have you received from people around you since the drama began airing?
Kuroki: My husband, who normally only watches golf broadcasts, has started watching horse racing broadcasts (laughs). However, when I spoke with (original author) Hayami Kazuma-sensei, there was something about this change that somehow made sense to me. He told me that when he was serializing this work, every time he finished writing a manuscript, the first thing he would do was have his wife, who knew nothing about horse racing, read it, asking her what she didn't understand, and each time he would rewrite it so that she could understand.
After hearing that story, I thought, "That's why the original novel is so easy to understand," and I realized that this drama has been created to be enjoyed not only by people who are familiar with the world of horse racing, but also by those who are not.
Koizumi: Even people who don't know anything about the world of horse racing often tell me, "This drama is so interesting!" As Kuroki said, I think it's because of Hayami-sensei's efforts that the content is so great and the script also portrays the world of horse racing in an easy-to-understand way.
In a sense, the original work by Hayami-sensei could even be called a "horse racing anatomy book." It's written in a really easy-to-understand way.
Kuroki: Also, the drama scripts have a lot of warnings like "no shiny things," "no umbrellas," "keep audio microphones away," and so on, which are like "instruction manuals for horses." You can really feel the consideration for the horses in those little details, and I think that's why the horses, cast, and staff always seem to work together as one on set - that's what makes this show so appealing.
◇Kyoko's "pride" and Yutaro's "purity"
- Regarding Sanno Kyoko, played by Kuroki, and Sanno Yutaro, played by Koizumi, how do you each perceive them as characters and how do you play them?
Kuroki: Kyoko's true feelings can be a little unbalanced, and I imagine her as someone with a lot of different thoughts, so I'm playing her while imagining that she's a person with a lot of different thoughts. Despite her complexities, she also seems to have Kozo in the palm of her hand at home. However, I also feel that this is precisely why Kozo is able to immerse himself in his own dreams. In the end, she doesn't get along well with horses, but I think she gets along well with Kozo (laughs).
Koizumi: That's certainly true. On the other hand, I think some people have a cynical view of his son, Yutaro, as someone who has ulterior motives, like "I'm going to crush him." But I don't think that's the case; I see him as a very pure-hearted man. At first, Yutaro just couldn't forgive his father for being obsessed with horse racing, which he saw as nothing more than gambling, and I think his honest thoughts, like "Why doesn't he take it seriously like his mother?", are what make him seem that way.
--As you said, from the beginning of the story, when I looked at the relationships between Kozo, Kyoko, and Yutaro, I felt that it was a little different from a "conflict."
Koizumi: Yes, it's not. I would say it's more like we're both willing to accept both the good and the bad. No matter what happens, even if my mother is burning with anger, she always remains calm and collected. That's the kind of family relationship I'd say it is.
Kuroki: Frankly, I can't forgive him for having his mistress Mikiko (Nakajima Tomoko) give birth to his child (laughs). But that's all part of Kozo. I think that even though she harbors burning anger inside, she also has a sense of pride as a wife that makes her feel like she has to support him.
Koizumi: I really felt that unforgiveable atmosphere during the shoot. It was different from the usual Kuroki-san, she had this fiery aura that made me hesitate to even talk to her (laughs).
Kuroki-san (laughs) But Kyoko is always passive about the things that happen, so when she finds out about the lover and the secret child, I told the director that I wanted to "inject some movement," and in episode 5 (the scene where she visits Mikiko's hospital room), we were able to show a Kyoko that isn't passive.
◇Even his son is jealous!? The bond between Kurisu and Kozo
--The story is finally reaching its climax, but are there any scenes that have left an impression on you from the episodes broadcast so far?
Koizumi: From Yutaro's perspective, Kozo seems most lively when he's with Kurisu (Tsumabuki). Of course, they're doing what they love, horse racing, but sometimes they look like father and son, which I think is wonderful. Horse racing is sometimes called a "blood sport," but that's not the case. I like all the scenes that depict the relationship between Kozo and Kurisu, who are not related by blood but are connected by heart, and they make a big impression on me.
Kuroki: That's great. In the first episode, there was a scene where Kozo emphasized to Kurisu, "Don't betray me," and in a sense, it was like a master-servant relationship, but it wasn't really a master-servant relationship. And you said they were like father and son, but there's no dependency like between parent and child, and I think that's what makes them seem like such a wonderful couple. But as a son, don't you feel a little jealous?
Koizumi: That's right. Because he's my son, I was like, "Huh? That position is supposed to be mine..." (laughs).
Kuroki (laughs) But Yutaro has to protect the company and the Sanno family, and as the eldest son, it's his destiny, so I think that responsibility is great.
Koizumi: That's true. But that's also why, from his son's perspective, Kurisu is in a good position (laughs).
◇Episode 7: A glimpse into the "true face" of the Sanno family
--In episode 7, in addition to the succession from Kozo to Koichi (Ren Meguro) and the birth of the long-awaited new horse, Royal Family, important developments await for the Sanno family. Please tell us about the highlights.
Kuroki: I think you will really feel the ``family bond'' in episode 7.
Koizumi: There were scenes that really gave a clear picture of what the Sanno family is like, and moments where you could really feel the warmth of being a family.
Kuroki: It's like those feelings that were always so scattered have become one, and no matter what anyone says, the Sanno family is united with Kozo at the apex... In the end, even though they say they don't want it, they still support Kozo (laughs).
Koizumi: That's right. Of course, Kyoko and Yutaro each have feelings of love and respect for (Kozo) as his wife and son. Even though they may seem like a disjointed family at first glance, I think you'll get the sense that at their core they are united.
