It has been revealed that actor Tomohisa Yamashita will be appearing in the drama series "Our Hakone Ekiden" (NTV), starring Yo Oizumi. Yamashita, a former Hakone Ekiden runner who plays the new track and field club coach, commented, "I will listen to the stories of people involved in the ekiden while reading the script, and do my best to convey the feelings and emotions that are contained in this story."
The story is based on the novel of the same name by Ikeido Jun. Meisei Gakuin University, a veteran university that has missed out on the finals of the Hakone Ekiden for two consecutive years. To participate in the Hakone Ekiden, they must pass the qualifying rounds held in October. Will Meisei Gakuin be able to run the Hakone course? An unexpected incident also occurs at the television station responsible for the broadcast... This is the story. Oizumi plays Tokushige Ryo, the chief producer of the television station in charge of the live broadcast of the Hakone Ekiden.
Yamashita plays Kai Masato, the new coach of the track and field team at his alma mater, Meisei Gakuin University. Although he has experience competing in the Hakone Ekiden, after graduating from university he left the world of track and field to become a salaryman working for a general trading company. He has no experience as a coach. Kai's unconventional coaching methods create anxiety and resentment among the track and field team members... This is his role.
"Our Hakone Ekiden" will be broadcast as a serial drama on Nippon Television in October. The broadcast time slot has yet to be decided.
◇Comment from Tomohisa Yamashita
I am very honored to have been offered this role in such a deeply moving production in which various human dramas unfold.
I play the role of Kai Masato, a former Hakone Ekiden runner who now works for a trading company and returns to his alma mater to serve as the coach of the track and field club.
I believe the Hakone Ekiden is a special stage that gives us the dignity of passing the sash, the strength to pursue one's dreams, and the miraculous moment that is born when hope is combined. I myself have not been fully involved in the world of sports until now, but I will try to decipher the script while listening to the stories of those involved in the ekiden and do my best to convey the thoughts and emotions that are contained in this story.
The ekiden coach taught me that "it's not just about verbal instruction," and I believe my job is to sharpen my eyes to see people and build relationships of trust with the students. I would like to focus on that and help develop the person Kai is.
I believe the drama "Our Hakone Ekiden" will awaken a passion that you had almost forgotten and light a warm flame in your heart. I will put my heart and soul into creating this drama carefully, so please look forward to it.
