Akihisa Shiono stars in the TBS Tuesday drama "Mirai no Musuko" (Tuesdays at 10pm), starring Mirai Shida. He plays Masaki Yoshizawa, the leader of the Albatross theatre company to which Mirai (Shida) belongs. We spoke to Shiono about his impressions of his co-stars and the highlights of episode 4 (aired February 3rd).
◇ "I got off to a good start with this work"
The drama is based on the popular manga "Mirai no Musuko: A Son Came Down From Heaven After 10 Years of Singles!" written by Kumiko Aso and illustrated by Hajime Kuromugi. Mirai (played by Shida), who is half-hearted in love, work and dreams, suddenly becomes a mother. Through raising her child, she learns about the importance of living and supporting others, and begins a new life. This is Shida's first role as a mother in 20 years, since the 2006 drama "14-Year-Old Mother" (NTV).
--What kind of response have you received?
I had the opportunity to watch the first episode before it aired, and I thought it was really interesting. It also gave me confidence that I was off to a good start (in 2026) with this series.
Since the show started airing, we've received a lot of comments like, "I was moved," and "Amano Yu (who plays Sota) is so cute." I think that from the advance promotions, many people had the impression that it was a heartwarming, soothing series with a strong comedy element, but through the broadcast, I feel that people have come to see that it also has a more human element.
-What were your thoughts when you read the script?
Although it gave off a pop and bright impression, there were also some touching moments, such as the scene in front of the vending machine where Mirai expresses her unbearable emotions to Sota. On set, as we were creating each scene, we had detailed discussions and refinements with the director, including details about the characters' inner selves and backgrounds, such as what kind of theater company "Albatross" is.
When watching the broadcast, at first glance, these aspects don't seem to be highlighted strongly, but I feel that there is a depth to them that comes from the thorough discussions they have had, and a sense that humans exist as a truly connected species.
--What kind of person is Yoshizawa Masaki?
He is the leader of the theater company "Albatross" that Mirai belongs to, and is Mirai's ex-lover, with whom she had a terrible breakup. As a person, he is also the person that Mirai has spent the most time with. Because they have shared so much time together, there is a bond between them, and I think that in a sense, Masashi feels that she is like a "family." I think that Mirai is that kind of existence from Masashi's perspective.
Whether or not their relationship develops into romance again will be something you'll have to watch, but because they're so close, they sometimes bicker and have awkward moments due to past events. However, these feelings are only born because they're so close. I think this kind of relationship is unique to Masao, and different from the other two "Ma-kun candidates" (Matsuoka Yuta, played by Kotaki Nozomu, and Yano Makoto, played by Hyodo Kokai), so I hope you'll pay attention to it when you watch.
-Please tell us about what goes on behind the scenes at the filming location.
As I communicate with everyone, I believe the basic premise is that the members of the theater company have created an environment where it's easy to talk. If there's anything that can be gleaned from the conversations that arise there, I might take the initiative to create an opportunity to share it with the director or producer. However, I myself rely quite a bit on (Itakura) Takeshi, who plays Kitayama Wataru.
There are scenes in the drama where we perform a play, and in those scenes I would first check with the director and then communicate with the actors playing the troupe members, saying, "This is what it looked like, so can I say it like this?"
-What did you think about doing a play within a play?
The Albatross Theatre Company is a company that has been active for a long time, so I think that persuasiveness must not be lacking. There are rehearsal scenes, but each company has its own color, so what color is the Albatross Theatre Company? For example, will they exchange lines face-to-face, or will they be slightly oblique, conscious of the audience? We all decided together on "what kind of expression this theatre company prefers," including things like the volume and tone of their voices. I hope that these small details can be conveyed at random moments.
◇Shida Mirai: "She's the one who leads the filming site"
-Please tell us your impression of Shida-san.
With filming every day, there were scenes with us theatre company members, scenes with her best friend (Imai Saori, played by Nishino Nanase), scenes with Souta, scenes with Yuta, and so on, so I think it must have been really tough with so many parts. The energy used for each scene must be different, and even though you have to switch between them rapidly, I get the impression that you are leading the set without making it seem difficult at all.
--What is your impression of Amano Yu?
The other day, when Mirai and I were in the same scene, he was taken into Yoshizumi Nursery School (where Sota goes) and we played by kicking a ball. Yu-kun kicked the ball with all his might, so the adults were paying close attention. I hope that in this way, the filming location can be a little fun. We often talk.
When you interact with her, she is a really cute and soothing presence, but when you see the finished video, you can see that her acting is so impressive that it leaves us in awe, and we feel a great sense of respect for her.
-Is there any episode that has particularly made an impression on you during filming so far?
The most memorable episodes are packed into episode 4. From around the second half of episode 3, you start to see that Masao is somewhat absent-minded and surprisingly simple-minded.
A large part of this unexpected side of Masao was created through discussions with the directors in charge of each episode. The characters and episodes that each director focuses on change slightly, so naturally the touch also changes.
I think episode 4 will be a relatively comedic episode, but I feel that it was possible to express it without it feeling too light-hearted because of the foundation of human drama that has been built up until now.
--Please give a message to the viewers, including highlights of episode 4.
This episode depicts the relationship between Masaki and Mirai more vividly. Because they are so close, they sometimes miss each other, and sometimes they believe too much that "because I think this way, the other person must think the same," which creates a gap, but this is a story in which Souta gradually melts away that relationship. I hope you enjoy the episode while paying attention to the changes in the distance between Masaki and Mirai.
