The five student cast members for the October drama series "Our Hakone Ekiden" (Nippon TV, broadcast time slot undecided), starring Yo Oizumi, were revealed on January 29th. The 18 student cast members have been announced over four consecutive days since the 27th.
The fifth notable young cast member announced for the third wave is Sugo Araki, Hinotsu Rintaro, Soma Osamu, Yamazaki Yudai, and Asahi Ibuki. Sugo will play Isayama Tenma, a fourth-year student at Shinagawa Institute of Technology, Hinotsu will play Murai Daichi, a third-year student at Toho University of Economics, Soma will play Minegishi Ren, a fourth-year student at Tamajuku University, Yamazaki will play Sakiyama Takumi, a first-year student at Kanto Chuo University, and Asahi will play Watase Taku, a third-year student at Tokyo Chuo University.
The drama is based on the novel of the same name (Bungeishunju), written by Jun Ikeido over a period of more than ten years. The story revolves around two main themes: the challenge of Meisei Gakuin University's track and field team, which has missed out on the Hakone Ekiden for two consecutive years, and the behind-the-scenes story of Dainichi TV, the TV station responsible for broadcasting the Hakone Ekiden live. Oizumi plays Tokushige Ryo, the chief producer of the TV station in charge of broadcasting the Hakone Ekiden live, and Yamashita Tomohisa plays Kai Masato, the new coach of his alma mater, Meisei Gakuin University's track and field team.
The athletics coaching and supervision will be provided by Ogo Eiji, vice president of the Kanto Student Athletics Federation and former head ekiden coach at Kanagawa University. The 18 young actors will undergo several months of intensive training and training camps to play the roles of Hakone Ekiden runners and their supporting managers, reducing their body fat percentage and building physiques comparable to those of real runners before taking on the Hakone course.
The roles and comments of the five cast members are as follows:
◇ Sugo Araki's role and comment
Tenma Isayama, Shinagawa Institute of Technology: A fourth-year student who is always cheerful, talkative, and a great mood maker. He jokes that he wants to run the first leg because he will be appearing on TV, but deep down he is a serious person who wants to participate in the Hakone Ekiden and make his father, a former track and field athlete, happy.
Comment: When I was chosen to appear, the first thing I felt was happiness, and then I realized I was about 12kg heavier than I am now, so I immediately thought, "Oh no! Will I make it? I have to do it!" and I immediately got fired up. At first I couldn't keep up with the practice, but at the training camp I was able to run with everyone without falling behind, and now I feel the joy of improving my time. During the read-through, I thought, "Oh, that's right, I'm acting" (laughs), and we've had so many practice sessions over a long period of time that we're confident in our teamwork when it comes to running. We'll be working on the acting on set, when filming begins. I'll do my best to convey the greatness of the traditional Hakone Ekiden!
◇Rintaro Hinotsu's role and comment
Daichi Murai, Toho Keizai University: An intelligent, calm, and collected third-year student. He has been the captain of Toho Keizai University since his first year and is talented, but he never forgets to maintain a humble attitude. He tends to underestimate himself, and has a hard time beating players he feels are difficult to beat.
Comment: I had originally read the original novel, so I was very happy to hear that it was being made into a TV drama. When I was chosen to appear in the role, it felt like a dream. Murai Daichi, the character I play, is a thoughtful and stoic character, so I myself value giving meaning and reason to even the smallest things in my daily life and living with consideration. I feel that I am in an extremely blessed environment to have colleagues who make me want to work hard for others. I feel that we are truly "one team," not only with everyone on the team, but also with the filming staff and the support team who look after us.
◇Soma Osamu's role and comment
Tamajuku University, Minegishi Ren: A handsome fourth-year student with a strong desire to be popular, he repeatedly watches competition footage to see how he runs. Thanks to this, he runs with an ideal form that is compact and dynamic.
Comment: Because I'd seen many of Ikeido Jun's works, when I was chosen to appear in the film I was happy and determined to "do my best." In order to play the somewhat narcissistic role of Minegishi Ren, I also began to observe myself. At first, we all worked individually, but with each practice session we started to improve as a team, which made me really happy. It reminded me of my school days. Also, the coaches and other staff members really supported each and every one of us, so I think we were able to properly train and get in shape.
◇Yamazaki Yudai's role and comment
Takumi Sakiyama, Kanto Chuo University: A first-year student who is a muscle training fanatic and will do muscle training whenever he has a chance. He takes everything seriously and gets excited, and because he has a loud voice and loud reactions, his teammates often call him hotheaded.
Comment: When I was chosen to appear, I was of course happy, but I also felt a sense of responsibility for being involved in the drama of the historic Hakone Ekiden, and before I knew it, I was crying. As the youngest, I had a lot of worries, but everyone was very willing to give me advice on things like practice and getting in shape, and I felt like we were all one team, including the staff. Knowing that I wasn't alone made me train even harder, and I feel happy once again to be able to participate as a part of the team.
◇ Asahi Yubuki's role and comment
Taku Watase, Tokyo Chuo University: A third-year student who runs at his own pace. He is kind, has a high level of femininity, and is a beauty guy who uses face masks before going to bed. He also posts information about sweets and cafes on social media, and is popular with female fans who think he is "cute."
Comment: When I was chosen to appear in the film, I was very happy, but at the same time, I was also anxious. However, I also felt that this production would allow me to grow to another level. In playing the role of Watase Taku, I am really using my imagination. I try to imagine what the runners are thinking as they run, what they feel when they make their final sprint, and whether they are running or walking. I feel humbled to be able to enter the world of Ikeido Jun, and I want to cherish each and every scene.
