Actors Ryo Katsuji and Miori Takimoto co-star in the new Thursday drama "Ransom is Kidnapping" (Thursdays 11:59 PM) on Yomiuri TV and Nippon TV. They play the lead couple, whose daughter is kidnapped and who end up committing the unwanted crime of "kidnapping another child." When the first episode aired on January 8th, speculation began on social media about who the culprit behind the kidnapping was. "I think all the characters look suspicious, so I hope you'll enjoy looking at the various gestures and behaviors of the different people in each episode and have fun speculating!" Katsuji and Takimoto said in a statement.
◇ This is their fifth time acting together, and their first time playing a married couple
This investigative drama is brought to you by the same production team behind "The Me I Don't Know," which aired in January 2025. The protagonist, Takeru Washio (Katsuji) and his wife, Miu (Takimoto), receive a call from the kidnapper after their daughter, Shion (Izumiya Sena), is kidnapped. Instead of paying the ransom, the kidnapper demands that they kidnap Aozora (Takashima Ryunosuke), the son of Eiji Arima (Kiriyama Terufumi), the president of an online securities company. While struggling with the crime they have committed, Takeru and Miu are driven to uncover the identity of the culprit for the sake of their beloved child.
This is Katsuji's first lead role in a terrestrial TV drama series. "It's my first lead role in a TV drama series, so I was grateful, and I don't think people really think of me as doing serious stuff, so I wanted to do my best to show a different side of myself," he reflected.
Takimoto, who is acting with Katsuji for the fifth time, said, "I really trust Katsuji and was able to act with him with peace of mind, so I was happy. This was the first time we acted together as a married couple, so there was something that was conveyed not only through his facial expressions but also through his eyes, and I'm happy that I was able to feel that." The filming location was fun, and he said he was comforted by the child actors, including Takashima, who played Aozora, as he worked on the set.
As there are many serious scenes, they consciously try to keep a cheerful attitude on set. Takimoto revealed, "I try to create moments that will lighten the mood so that the atmosphere doesn't become too tense." Katsuji also tries to create such moments as much as possible, and said with a smile, "The theory of laughter is 'tension and relaxation.' When you're doing something serious, the tension and relaxation make you laugh again..."
◇ Filming began with knowledge of the perpetrator
In the first episode, Takeru and Miu, whose daughter Shion has been kidnapped, decide to commit a crime in accordance with the kidnapper's demands. The thrilling exchanges with the mysterious kidnapper are depicted. Takimoto revealed her thoughts after reading the script, saying, "The story unfolds so quickly that I was out of breath even while reading it, so I felt it would be very difficult to express my feelings (as Miu)."
When asked what if they found themselves in the same situation as Takeru and Miu, Katsuji pondered, "If it were me, I would contact the police immediately! But you never know until it actually happens. It's difficult." Takimoto seemed to empathize with her role, saying, "I might follow the criminal...just like the Washio couple."
When the first episode aired, social media erupted with comments like, "Everyone seems suspicious," and "This is a drama that makes you want to know what's going to happen next." Some people were suspicious of Takeru's friend from college, Sosuke Kumamori (played by Kodai Asaka), and Teppei Koike, who made a surprise appearance as Kanata Nishijima, the character he played in "The Me I Don't Know."
Katsuji and Takimoto apparently knew who the culprit was before filming began. Takimoto said, "Even our family has moments where we seem a little suspicious, and there are times when we get a glimpse of something going on, so I don't think we'll know who the culprit is until the very end. Don't miss a single move!" Katsuji appealed, "At the beginning of the drama, there's a section where we recap what's happened so far, so I think you'll be able to follow along even if you start midway through. I hope you enjoy it."
