On January 8th, actress Nanako Matsushima attended a press conference at TV Asahi (Minato Ward, Tokyo) for the drama "Okome no Onna - National Tax Agency Materials Investigation Division, Miscellaneous Affairs Room" (TV Asahi, Thursdays 9pm), which starts that evening. She shared a heartwarming story about her relationship with her husband, Takashi Sorimachi.
Matsushima, whose latest work marks her first lead role in a TV drama series in about nine and a half years, said with a smile, "I was surprised to realize that it's been nine years since my last appearance. I was worried about whether I would have enough stamina, but about a third of filming is done, and I'm relieved that I'm feeling energetic and enjoying filming."
This season, her husband Sorimachi is also starring in the Fuji TV drama "Ramune Monkey" (Wednesdays at 10pm, starting January 14th), and she revealed, "I get work-related messages (from the set) like, 'Are you working late today?', 'What time are you up until today?', 'Are you eating dinner?' (laughs). We tell each other things like, 'Let's do our best,'" she said, bringing a sense of humor to the press conference.
The drama is set in the newly established "Complex National Tax Case Processing Office (commonly known as Zakkoku)" of the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau's Document Investigation Division (commonly known as Kome, because of the character for rice, which means "fee"), which boasts high information gathering capabilities and investigative skills in tax investigations. The talented investigator Seiko Yoneda (played by Matsushima) and her team of unique individuals will punish unscrupulous tax evaders. The first episode will be extended by six minutes.
Co-stars Hayato Sano, Neru Nagahama, Katsumi Takahashi, and Mao Daichi also attended the press conference.
