NHK's "Drama 10: The Uncertain Courtroom of Themis" (General TV, Tuesdays at 10pm), starring actor Matsuyama Kenichi, will resume broadcasting on February 24th after a three-week hiatus. The story is said to be heading towards its climax from episode 6, which will be broadcast on the same day, and the "two-minute promotional video previewing new developments" introduces "a request for a retrial," "a confrontation between parent and child," and "the truth that Ando (Matsuyama) will discover." Chief director Yoshikawa Hisataka spoke about Matsuyama's performance and what to look forward to in the future.
"The Uncertain Courtroom of Themis" is based on a unique legal mystery by Sho Naoshima. It is a courtroom drama about a judge with a developmental disorder who struggles with his own unique characteristics while taking on complex cases. The screenplay is written by Hideya Hamada, who has also written the Fuji TV series "Ichikei no Karasu" and the "Absolute Zero" series.
The protagonist, Ando Kiyoharu, was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) as a child, and based on the advice of his doctor, he learned how to communicate and behave in a "normal" way. Unable to fit into society due to his developmental disorder, he became a judge because the law is the only rule that remains constant regardless of individual characteristics. He believed that by studying law, he would become a part of society. However, he was afraid of interacting with others because of his uncontrollable impulses to speak without reading the mood or act impulsively. However, he truly wants to understand other people's feelings and blend into society.
Regarding Matsuyama, who plays Ando, Yoshikawa said, "The scene at the beginning of episode 1 where Ando walks straight along the sidewalk tiles is one of the most memorable scenes."
"I deliberately wanted to express the sadness that Ando is carrying without showing his facial expression, but I also thought it would be very difficult. On the first day of filming, Matsuyama was probably feeling his way around, but I felt that he had nailed it when I saw how sad his back looked with the backpack on. This scene is important in understanding the character Ando."
Yoshikawa will also be directing the upcoming episodes 7, "Court-Led Authoritarianism," and 8, "Prepared to Face the Problem."
"There are still many things I cannot talk about regarding episodes 7 and 8, but I think one of the highlights will be seeing how the people at the district court come to a deeper understanding of Ando and how their sense of teamwork becomes stronger as they investigate the truth behind the incident from 25 years ago. There are some surprising developments, as the foreshadowing from the first half of the story is connected to this point, and I hope you will also pay attention to what Ando says in court at the end. Matsuyama himself was surprised, saying, 'I never thought it would turn out like this,' so please look forward to the acting between Matsuyama and Ando coming together until the very end."
