It has been announced that the Japanese-Finland co-production drama series "W BLOOD & SWEAT," starring actress Anne alongside popular Finnish actor Jasper Pääkönen, will be broadcast and streamed on WOWOW Prime and WOWOW On Demand from April 5th (Sundays at 10pm, 8 episodes in total, first episode free to broadcast and stream). The main visual and teaser trailer have also been released.
The drama is WOWOW's new overseas project, following the much talked about WOWOW/Hollywood co-production "TOKYO VICE." It is a co-production between Japanese production company AX-ON and Finnish production company ICS. Two detectives from Japan and Finland team up across a distance of approximately 7,800 kilometers to investigate a bizarre murder case that occurred in both countries. They discover an unimaginable truth.
The main visual is set on a snowy lakeside in Finland, and shows the determined expressions of two detectives who are trying to solve a series of bizarre murders across borders. There is also a mysterious "deer" in the center, and the meaning of this deer's presence is also intriguing.
◇The roles of the two detectives who crossed borders are also revealed.
The roles that Anne and Peakonen will play have also been revealed. Anne will play Suzumiya Aki, a detective with the First Investigative Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, while Peakonen will play Jon Laine, a detective with the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (FNBI).
Aki, played by Anne, is an exceptionally talented detective with exceptional nose and tenacity at crime scenes, having solved numerous difficult cases in the past, but her uncompromising investigative style makes her a nuisance to her superiors. Her father was the former head of the Public Security Bureau, but she is a strong yet flexible woman who never relies on his influence. In fact, she has a special ability, which she sometimes uses in investigations, but which also torments her. One day, Aki receives news that a body has been found drained of all blood, carrying a flower that symbolizes "love," and bearing a strange branding mark...
Jon, played by Peakonen, is a passionate and talented detective who tries to understand the psychology of criminals in detail, but he is emotionally scarred by a certain incident. While investigating a strange corpse discovered in Finland, he learns that a corpse with the same characteristics has also been found in Japan. He then teams up with Aki, who has come to Finland from Japan to investigate, and together they work hard to solve the case.
The two's comments are as follows:
◇Comment from An
Filming the drama in Finland was an unforgettable experience. I was able to sense the many cultural and character similarities between Japan and Finland, and the scenery I had never seen before coexisted with a sense of familiarity. This drama also intertwines historical backgrounds, cultures, and scenery. Amidst the mysterious murders that take place in the majestic winters of Finland and Japan, where will Aki and Yon end up? Be sure to watch!
◇Comment from Jasper Pääkönen
-What were your thoughts when you received the offer to appear in this film and when you read the script?
I was really excited when I received the offer. The script had a unique, quiet tension and rhythm that drew me in, and I felt it would be a crime drama with a new atmosphere. Rather than revealing everything to the viewer, I felt the script left it up to the story and the actors to weave together. I was also strongly attracted to the fact that it was a joint Finnish-Japanese drama that successfully blended the intense tension of Scandinavian crime dramas with the unique appeal of Japanese suspense.
I had been to Japan 11 years ago and had always wanted to visit again. I think Tokyo is one of the most fascinating cities in the world, and as someone who loves Japanese culture and food, being able to return to Japan for filming felt like a dream come true.
-What kind of person do you think the character you played is?
I gradually began to understand the true nature of the character of John Lai-ne, and rather than playing him as a stereotypical character, I wanted to express his strength as well as his contradictions, fears and inner impulses. He is a complex, flawed character, and a little unpredictable, which I feel makes him truly human.
-What are your impressions of filming in Japan?
Filming in Japan was a special experience. The shoot was long, but I didn't find it too difficult. I think this was largely due to the Japanese staff being so warm and the fact that we were able to shoot in beautiful locations. I have to take my hat off to the Japanese staff who were able to manage such incredibly long shoots.
- A message to your viewers and fans.
There are some large-scale, flashy scenes, but I hope you will also enjoy the quiet, dramatic parts of the story. I am proud of this work, which the cast and staff all worked together to create, and I look forward to everyone seeing it. I am also very happy to hear that there are many people in Japan who are interested in Finnish sauna culture. I personally run two saunas in Finland, and saunas appear in the drama. Having sauna scenes is so Finnish!
