The WOWOW drama series "Shadow Work," starring actress Mikako Tabe, will begin airing on November 23rd. We spoke to Yuki Sakurai, who plays Kitagawa Kaoru, a detective investigating the suspicious death of a woman, and Kawanishi Takumi of the popular global boy band "JO1," who plays Araki Yuma, a junior detective who teams up with her, about their impressions of the series, how they prepared for their roles, and each other.
The drama is based on the novel of the same name by Edogawa Rampo Prize-winning author Hiromi Sano. It is a human mystery that depicts the "ultimate sisterhood" of women who end up living in a shared house after suffering from domestic violence from their husbands.
◇ "If you're going to do it, do it with realism"
--The film deals with the heavy theme of domestic violence. What were your honest thoughts when you first read the script, and what kind of resolve did you have when you took on the role?
Sakurai: When I first read the plot and the original novel, I honestly thought, "I want to do this." On the other hand, I also felt pressure because there are people who have actually been affected and it is still an unresolved issue with no end in sight. I was unsure whether I could properly embody the story, but I decided to go for it because I wanted to approach it with realism.
Kawanishi: When I started reading the original work, I was hooked and thought, "It's so interesting!", and before I knew it, I had finished it. It conveyed both the good and the bad sides of human beings, and I even wondered if I was fit to be involved in such a substantial work. (The theme) is something that some people are actually suffering from, so I felt a strong sense of "responsibility." I myself have not had the opportunity to learn deeply about domestic violence until now, so I want to reach people who might tend to avoid such themes.
--You both play detectives, but how did you perceive and interpret your characters and how did you create them?
Sakurai: Kaoru is outspoken and expresses her opinions clearly, but that's just her "bluffing." I talked to the director about it, but I didn't want to portray her as a typical "strong woman." In her private life, she's troubled by her relationship with her husband, and her heart is always "wavering." Normally, I try to find a balance, but this time I tried to portray her as she is.
-Can you relate to the idea of acting as a strong woman despite having inner conflicts?
Sakurai: I think situations like that are surprisingly common, and I can relate to the feeling of having a gaping hole in my heart when I think, "I want to be seen in a certain way, but I don't have the strength to do so." I felt that this unsettled part is what makes Kaoru so human, and what makes her so appealing. There are about half parts of Kaoru's humanity that I can sympathize with and half that I can't, but if I pushed away the parts I couldn't, the role wouldn't work, so I tried to be close to her, or rather, to make sure we "coexisted."
--What do you think of Kawanishi, who played the role of Kaoru's junior detective?
Kawanishi: I see Araki as a character who represents young people and men, and has an objective perspective that is closest to the viewers. I wanted to be able to reach people who might be a little distant from the theme through Araki's perspective.
--This is your first time playing a working adult, so was there anything you paid particular attention to?
Kawanishi: I was also playing a detective, so I paid particular attention to my hairstyle. I'm usually a pretty lazy person, but I went to get my hair styled many times during filming and did my best to look a little more mature (laughs).
◇ The "gap" and "respect" felt during their first collaboration
--This is your first time acting together, but did your impressions of each other change before and after you met?
Sakurai: Before we worked together, I had seen him in action as a performer in JO1, so I imagined him to be an artistic person in his everyday life as well. But the reality was completely different (laughs). Filming began on a hot day, but when I saw him without a parasol, saying, "A parasol is fine! A man's worth is in the sun!", I thought he was very natural. I'm sure he switches between being a member of JO1 and being an actor, but I thought he had a nice contrast.
--Are you conscious of making those kinds of changes, Mr. Kawanishi?
Kawanishi: I don't think about it particularly, but I feel that it has many different faces. That being said, it's not like I'm creating it in any particular way; it just feels like it's naturally created that way.
-So, Mr. Kawanishi, what was your impression of Mr. Sakurai?
Before meeting Mr. Kawanishi, I had a cool image of him, so I thought, "Is he scary?" (laughs). But when I met him, he was completely different. He was very friendly on set and was very considerate of the staff. And yet, there were moments when I felt he might actually be a bit shy.
Sakurai: That may be a side of you that you don't even realize.
--Was there a specific episode that made you feel that way?
Kawanishi: Hmm... it's just intuition.
Sakurai-san: I see. Then please write that Yuki Sakurai is shy (laughs).
--You got a glimpse of an unexpected side of each other.
Sakurai: That's right. We have a lot of scenes together as buddies, so on the first day I felt relieved that filming would be fun.
--While filming, was there anything about each other that you found amazing that inspired you?
Sakurai: The transition between his role and the acting was so natural, or should I say seamless, that I was really impressed by the first exchange of acting. Just when you thought they were chatting, he smoothly slipped into the role of Araki, maintaining the same level of excitement. Kaoru, the character I play, thinks deeply and hesitates before speaking, so there are a lot of pauses in my lines, but he was able to accurately sense those pauses, which was very comfortable. I thought it was wonderful and enjoyed acting with him.
Kawanishi: "I was overwhelmed, thinking, 'This is Yuki Sakurai the actor!' What was particularly impressive was when I accidentally did one of Sakurai's movements first, and although it would normally be a scene that would cause her to stop, Sakurai instantly changed her acting and adapted to the situation. I couldn't do that, so I felt really frustrated. I thought it was really amazing.
◇Life decisions: consultation and intuition
--The depiction of many of the characters in this work being forced to make decisions is striking. When you two make decisions in your lives, do you consult with someone? Or do you make the decision on your own?
Sakurai: I consult with them. I have a set number of people I consult with, and that is my friends. If I talk to a lot of different people, I end up getting even more confused. Even when I consult with them, rather than coming to a decision, I listen to their opinions in a neutral manner, asking "What do you think?", and then I take that back and use it as a reference to make a final decision.
Kawanishi: Not at all. When it comes to making decisions, I take the stance that "I only trust myself." Especially when it comes to things like music production, where there is no right answer, I try to trust my intuition.
--If you had to name one decision that was the most memorable out of all the ones you've made so far, what would it be?
Sakurai: There were times when I had to decide whether to continue my current job or not, and I struggled with it every time. However, I have no regrets. I think the decision I made at the time was the right one.
Kawanishi: For me, it would have to be when I auditioned for JO1. Up until then I had been working as a company employee, so the decision to quit and audition was one of the biggest decisions in my life.
-Finally, please tell us what the highlights of this film are and your message to the viewers.
Sakurai: The theme of domestic violence may be a little intimidating, but it also goes beyond that to depict the human drama. It depicts the relationships and connections between people. I think it's a work that will give viewers many realizations, such as the importance of asking someone for help and the weight of making their own decisions about their own lives. I hope you will feel the depth of the story.
Kawanishi: Araki, the character I play, is someone who can "ease" the tension a little amidst the ongoing tension, and he is the character whose perspective is closest to that of the viewers. The story is filled with many lessons that can be learned from life, and I think it is a work that should be seen in this day and age. You should definitely watch it!
"Drama W Shadow Work" is a five-episode series that will be broadcast and streamed on WOWOW Prime and WOWOW On Demand every Sunday at 10pm. The first episode is available for free streaming on WOWOW's official YouTube channel. (Interview, text, and photography: Endo Masaki)
