On January 8th, actor Hayato Sano attended a press conference at TV Asahi (Minato-ku, Tokyo) for the drama "Okome no Onna - National Tax Agency Materials Investigation Division, Miscellaneous Affairs Room" (TV Asahi, Thursdays 9pm), which starts that evening, along with lead actress Nanako Matsushima.
Sano, who is also a member of the five-member vocal and dance group "M!LK," made his first appearance at the 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen on New Year's Eve last year. When asked about an episode that happened on set with guest judge Matsushima, he said with a smile, "We started in front of the judges, so just before the start, I made eye contact with Matsushima, and it was an amazing performance!"
On the other hand, Matsushima said of Sano, "He's really busy, and he's juggling a hectic schedule...I was worried about his health...I was cheering him on, thinking he's doing his best!"
This is the first time Sano and Matsushima have acted together in about 10 years since the drama "Suna no Tou ~ Shiritsugino Tonari no Neighbor" (TBS, 2016), in which they played the roles of mother and daughter. Sano recalled, "I was nervous at the time, but Matsushima supported me a lot," and asked, "Are you able to show how much you've grown?" When Matsushima replied, "Yes!", he looked happy.
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.
Neru Nagahama, Katsumi Takahashi, and Mao Daichi also attended the press conference.
