Neru Nagahama will be appearing in the TV Asahi Thursday drama "Okome no Onna - National Tax Agency Document Investigation Division, Miscellaneous Affairs Room" (Thursdays at 9pm), which starts on January 8th. She will be playing a character who speaks bluntly, saying things like "That's annoying", which will completely change her image.
Nanako Matsushima stars in this socially conscious entertainment drama set in the "Complex National Tax Case Processing Room (commonly known as Zakkoku)," a newly established department within the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau's Document Investigation Division (commonly known as Kome), which boasts high information gathering and investigative skills in tax investigations. A unique team of individuals, led by the talented tax investigator Masako Yoneda, played by Matsushima, will punish malicious tax evaders.
His first impression after reading the script was "exhilarating." "In each episode, the characters face various problems, but Masako solves them in a refreshing way. There are many themes that are close to real life, such as beauty salons, so I think viewers will be able to relate to them."
The character played by Tawara Yuka was active at a young age at "Kome" and was expected to have a bright future by those around her, but she was transferred to "Zakkoku" to prioritize work-life balance. She always made sure to leave work on time, but was recruited by Masako and came to "Zakkoku." She is a genius at winning people over with her knowledge of psychology. She is always low-key, speaks her mind, and gets straight to the point regardless of age or position.
"Until now, I've played a lot of roles that were 'Smile! Cheerful!', but this time I'm playing a character with a dry personality who says harsh things. It's a fresh experience for me, and I'm having fun acting. There's a scene where I tell Katsumi Takahashi that I'm annoying, and when I apologized later, he comforted me by saying, 'It's okay, I'm used to being told that by my daughter' (laughs)." In preparing for the role, she researched the structure of the National Tax Agency and carefully dug into how Yuka has lived within the organization. "She may seem to have given up on career advancement early on, but she must have studied a lot. I'm imagining that background as I play the role."
Regarding Yuka, he analyzes, "She's good at her job, but she deliberately conserves her energy and chooses to live a life that values the things she values." "It's not that she doesn't work hard, but rather that she clearly separates the boundaries between her work and herself. When the time comes, she says, 'Thank you for your hard work,' and goes home, but she doesn't slack off at work, and she uses psychology to help others and fulfills her own sense of justice, which I think is what makes her so appealing. She's by no means slacking off, and I get the impression that she's able to separate her work and private life."
Yuka's outspoken personality is the polar opposite of her own. Growing up as the youngest child, she naturally learned to "read the mood" by watching her rebellious older brother get scolded. "It's become so natural to go along with others that sometimes you lose sight of your own true feelings. Playing the role of Yuka made me think again, 'Why have I given up on getting my opinion across?'"
The atmosphere on set was friendly and harmonious. "There is a scene in the film where Matsushima makes rice balls, and after filming I was allowed to secretly take some home with me. They were really delicious (laughs). I thought she hadn't noticed, but she asked me, 'Wasn't it hard?' I was so embarrassed to find out she had noticed (laughs)."
Last year marked the 10th anniversary of her entertainment career. "I want to take on more acting challenges," she says. "I enjoy the process of reading the script, researching, imagining, and creating something together with everyone, even though there is no right answer." She says that more than anything, she enjoys the time she spends thinking deeply about her roles.
This year's theme is "growth." "As I approach my 30s, I've often been on set with the feeling that I'm not causing any trouble, but from now on I want to be an actor who can be trusted with pride. To achieve this, I want to make sure I don't miss out on any learning opportunities and continue to improve my skills." Like Yuka, she has a calm tone, but her heart is passionate. Through her role, Nagahama herself is also taking a new step forward.
