TV Tokyo Communications announced that a short drama, "If I Were Not an Idol," starring Ichinose Misora of the idol group Nogizaka46 and Kanemura Miku of Hinatazaka46, will be released on the series' TikTok account (@if_idol_not) from February 13th.
The drama is a story about the "other dream that active idols have kept hidden deep in their hearts" that they wanted to achieve.
Ichinose stars in a story with a detective theme. Although Ichinose gives off a gentle and airy impression, in the film he pursues the culprit and confronts the case with a strong sense of justice, showing a completely different side to his usual idol self. Eventually, the detective played by Ichinose is faced with the reality that someone else is being hurt behind his righteous actions. The story depicts the conflict and pain that lies beyond the choice of "justice."
Ichinose commented, "Influenced by the detective dramas I loved since I was a child, I will be taking on the role of a detective, a role I have secretly dreamed of, for the first time. Idols and detectives seem like completely different professions at first glance, but I feel that they actually have something in common in that they both involve growing through interactions with people. This is a memorable human drama that depicts the conflict of when your own sense of justice can hurt someone else, and the difficulty and importance of being able to empathize with others. I hope that you will discover a new side of me through this work."
Alongside her idol activities, Kanemura, who also made headlines for graduating from the Department of Photography at Nihon University College of Art, will be starring in a story themed around "designers." Armed with a passion for photography, design, and expression, she plays a new UI/UX designer working at a design company in Shibuya. Although she joined the company with the burning desire to "change the world with my creativity," she gradually hits a wall, and the story depicts her wavering between ideals and reality, expression and work.
Kanemura said, "I studied photography at university and have always dreamed of working in a creative field like this, so meeting myself in a different world was a fresh and valuable experience for me. I think every job has its worries and conflicts, but I think what they all have in common is that they are not possible because of the support of those around you, but because of the work itself. I hope you will watch the drama and pay attention to how I grow as a designer. I would be happy if this work can give even a little hope to all of you who work hard every day."
Producer Miyake Yuki, who planned the drama, explained the intention behind the project, saying, "When I heard my wife, a former idol, mutter to herself, 'I wonder what kind of life I would have had if I hadn't been an idol,' I mumbled back, 'Ah, I wonder,' but at that moment I thought, 'This could be a good idea!' So I wrote a proposal based on whatever came to mind, and it became a reality."
The first episode of Ichinose's drama will be released on February 13th at 7pm, and the second episode on the 17th at 7pm. The first episode of Kanemura's drama will be released on the 21st at 7pm, and the second episode on the 25th at 7pm.
