It was revealed on February 27th that actor Takumi Kitamura will be starring in the Fuji TV "Getsuku" drama "Sabakan, Uchuu ni Iku" (Mackerel Cans Go to Space), which starts on April 13th. The original coming-of-age story is based on a true story about students at a fisheries high school in Fukui Prefecture who take on the big dream of "developing space food." This will be the first time a school drama has aired in the Getsuku slot in 15 years, since "Everything You Need to Know, I Taught You" in January 2011.
Kitamura plays the main character, a rookie high school teacher, who grows as he supports and accompanies his students in their dreams. This will be Kitamura's first lead role in a terrestrial TV drama series, and he will be taking on the role of a teacher, something he has always wanted to do.
The original idea was a book called "Canned Mackerel Goes to Space" (East Press) written by Yasuyuki Kosaka, a teacher who accompanied high school students, and local writer Kimiyo Hayashi, about the remarkable achievement of high school students making canned mackerel as "Japanese Space Food" and having it certified by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and actually being enjoyed by astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). The book was published in 2022 and became a hot topic, including being included in high school English textbooks (Sanseido).
The filming took place in Obama City, Fukui Prefecture, where the high school that developed the space food is located. The script was written by Yuichi Tokunaga, who has worked on films such as "Cells at Work" and the "Fly Me to the Saitama" series, and the director is Masayuki Suzuki, who has produced numerous Fuji TV dramas such as the "Radiation House" series and the "HERO" series.
Kitamura plays the lead role of Asano Shunichi, a 24-year-old rookie teacher who has been assigned to Wakasa Fisheries High School in Obama City, Fukui Prefecture, fulfilling his dream of becoming a teacher and his wish to live near the ocean he loves.
On his first day at school, Asano walks through the gates, his heart filled with excitement, but a fellow teacher tells him, "Why did you come to this school? This place is going under." Wakasa Fisheries High School is facing the threat of closure due to a declining birthrate and higher costs than regular education. Though shaken, Asano heads to his class and begins his first lesson, but no one pays any attention to what he has to say. "Maybe I'm not cut out for this..." he thinks, feeling down, but with his natural honesty and straightforward personality, he gradually begins to find hope as he interacts with students, colleagues, and the people of the town.
Kitamura, who has played children and students in numerous school dramas and movies, said that playing a teacher was a special role that he had "wanted to try someday and saved for myself." He mentioned Satoshi Tsumabuki in the 2008 movie "A Pig in the Classroom," Hasegawa Hiroki in the "Suzuki Sensei" series (TV Tokyo 2011 drama, movie 2013), and Akira Terao in the drama "Aogeba Totoshi" (TBS 2016). He revealed that this was one of his motivations for continuing acting, saying, "I continued acting because I believed that the time would come for me to stand up as a teacher like those three."
Character visuals have also been released. Asano, played by Kitamura, is depicted standing in space with his feet firmly on the ground, with a gentle smile on his face as he watches over his students. The visuals symbolize the story of a group of students who take on the big dream of sending a can of mackerel they made with their own hands into space, and weave a miracle.
"Can we make space food?"... This is a miraculous story that began with one word: "dream." The cast members who will play the high school students who pursue their big dreams alongside Asano, as well as the adults who watch over them, will be announced in the future.
Comments from Takumi Kitamura and others are as follows:
◇Comment from Takumi Kitamura(role of Shunichi Asano)
--You've played the role of a student in a number of school-themed productions, but this is your first time playing a teacher. Please tell us your honest thoughts when you were chosen to appear in this production.
In my acting career, there are three people I can call "teachers": Satoshi Tsumabuki, Hasegawa Hiroki, and Akira Terao. I was in the fourth grade when I did "The Pig in the Classroom," in my first or second year of junior high when I did "Suzuki Sensei," and 18 when I did "Aogeba Totoshi." I see these roles as turning points for me, reflecting my memories, recollections, and approach to acting. I had always wanted to play a teacher, and it was a role I had saved for myself. I continued acting, believing that one day, like Tsumabuki Satoshi, Hasegawa Hiroki, and Terao Satoshi, I would play a teacher. It was during this time that they approached me and asked if I wanted to play a teacher. I accepted, thinking the timing was right for me. From there, we had many discussions about what educational philosophy I supported and what kind of story I wanted to tell, and that's when I came across this project. The role of a novice teacher is perfect for me, and since it is based on a true story, I read various of his books and said, "I'd love to do it."
-What does school drama mean to you, Kitamura-san?
It's a place where you can enjoy acting. To borrow Terao's words, the end credits don't list your acting career or the works you've done, but everyone is on the same starting line. There are central characters in the story, but how you shine is up to you. It's a place where you can think about such things, try things out, and it's okay to fail. For me, it was like a long-term rehearsal space. Looking back, I have many friends who spent that time with me. It was a place to find friends, but it was never a place to get too close. It was a place where I developed my sense of self as an actor, and it taught me the joy of acting.
-What are you looking forward to doing with the students?
I want to keep talking about acting. There isn't much of an age difference between us, so I'm sure there will be moments when it feels strange for me to be standing in front of them. The students all have experience as actors, so I want to be in a relationship where we can think together about the play, rather than just consult with each other. I see the role of Asano as that kind of teacher. Although I'm standing in front of the students, I'm a rookie teacher who isn't strong enough to just watch over them, but I hope we can think together and move forward together. I want to do my best to communicate with the students, and I'm really looking forward to it.
-About your first lead role in a terrestrial television drama series.
As for carrying the weight of the drama, I won't know how I'll feel until I get started, but that doesn't mean I need to be too tense. I hope I can stay on set as the character Asano. Even when I'm given the opportunity to play the lead role in a movie, I try not to think too much about it just because I'm the lead. I see actors as part of a section called the acting department, so I want everyone to think together, share the same burden, and carry the same burden. That said, as the lead, I want to be at the forefront and move forward hand in hand with everyone. A school-based drama is bound to be tough (laughs). I'm sure there will be many tricky moments, but I want to enjoy them, too. This drama is based on the true story of high school students turning canned mackerel into space food. But rather than what we achieve, the process is what's most meaningful. So I hope we can create it together without deciding on a goal in advance.
-Read the original idea and the script.
What I found refreshing was the way it depicts the trajectory of a long period of time. Until now, in all the school dramas I've played as a student, I've only prepared for one class. We've played dodgeball, gone to training camps, and lived a truly realistic school life, and I've often spent months outside of filming with those classmates. This time, the class and the era have changed, so how I communicate with the students in a short period of time...it's definitely going to depend on me...it's going to be tough (laughs). It looks like it will be an opportunity to meet a lot of the student actors, so I'm looking forward to it.
-Message to the viewers.
The story is a grand one on a cosmic scale, but it is a drama that has the strength of being based on true events. It is dotted with hopes and setbacks, big and small, and everyday life goes on in a simple way. I would be delighted if viewers would pursue their dreams with us. I hope that viewers will be illuminated by the light of hope, and I will do my best to make this a drama that does just that.
◇ Comment from producer Koji Ishii (Fuji TV)
A group of local high school students develop Japanese space food over many years. This miraculous story of a group working toward this ambitious dream begins with the arrival of a teacher. However, this teacher does not forcefully lead his students; rather, he values and appreciates each student's individual thoughts, supporting them with passion and conviction over the years, inspiring not only many students but even the local community. This role was perfect for Takumi Kitamura, a highly sought-after teacher. With his uniquely charming portrayal of a teacher, this "new image of a teacher" is sure to remain in viewers' memories, even among the many other school dramas. Furthermore, the roles of the space food development team who confront the teachers and students, the local residents who cheer them on, and the high school students are all played by a cast of brilliant young actors who will lead the next generation. Look forward to their moving and witty interactions with Kitamura. I hope to convey the importance of cherishing wonder, taking on challenges without fear of failure, and connecting ideas. We believe that the drama will be able to deliver energy, courage, and refreshing emotions to viewers, befitting a spring drama that will air on Mondays at 9pm.
