It was revealed on March 11th that the drama "Borderless: Wide Area Mobile Investigation Team," starring actress Tao Tsuchiya Tao alongside Sato Shori of the popular group "Timelesz," will begin airing on TV Asahi on Wednesdays at 9pm on April 8th in the "Wednesday 9pm" time slot. The completely original work is written by Kimizuka Ryoichi, known for the "Bayside Shakedown" and "Tokuso9" series (both on Fuji TV), and is said to be an unprecedented detective drama set in a "speed-driving investigation headquarters" using trucks. Also appearing in the drama are actors Kitaoji Kinya and Yoshihiko Inohara, who have been active in the "Wednesday 9pm" time slot for detective dramas such as "Aibou," "Tokusou 9," and "Detective 7."
When an incident occurs that spans multiple regions, such as when a crime occurs and the perpetrator escapes to another area outside of the jurisdiction, or when a second crime is committed outside of the jurisdiction, it is designated as a wide-area incident, and both investigative agencies work together to solve the case. This creates a "turf war" between the Metropolitan Police Department and the local prefectural police, or between the Metropolitan Police Department and police headquarters of other prefectures. In order to break this situation, the National Police Agency has decided to experimentally operate a high-speed investigation headquarters, or Mobile Investigation Division.
They speed to crime scenes in trucks that serve multiple roles, including as an investigation headquarters, interrogation room, detention facility, and disaster relief supply transport vehicle. Truck No. 1, which serves as the investigation headquarters, is known as the "First Star" both inside and outside the organization. Seven detectives from the Mobile Investigation Division are in charge of this "First Star," which moves freely in all directions. With different genders, backgrounds, and personalities, these seven detectives, who were somewhat "outcasts" within the police organization, form a powerful team to corner suspects and solve cases. Along with the process of solving each case, the series also depicts the achievements, lifestyles, and human relationships of the seven detectives who have come to the Mobile Investigation Division with their various backgrounds and pasts.
Tsuchiya plays the lead role of Nakazawa Momoko, a non-career detective in the Mobile Investigation Division. She is passionate and speaks her mind without hesitation, and does not flatter anyone, but in fact, Momoko has a past that led her to join the division... She also shows a side of herself that seems uninterested in men, but she seems to be interested in a rookie detective who was recently assigned to the division...
The other lead role will be played by Sato, who will play Kizawa Tsubomi, a rookie detective who is assigned to the Mobile Investigation Division. Kizawa was a rookie detective in the Violent Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigation Department of the local police station, but one month ago, he made a mistake due to his passion during an incident. Just as he was about to be removed from the scene, he was picked up by the Mobile Investigation Division because he had a large vehicle license. It is said that Tsubomi is attracted to Momoko, a senior detective, and the relationship between the two is likely to develop in an intriguing way as the story progresses.
Kitaoji plays Midorikawa Soichiro, a car mechanic who backs up the Mobile Investigation Division. Nicknamed "Grandpa Mecha," he was a former Metropolitan Police Department detective who was transferred to the General Affairs Department's Equipment Division after being injured during an investigation. After retiring, he runs a small car factory and is also involved in modifying the Mobile Investigation Division's trucks as an alumnus. He occasionally comes to check on the trucks and leaves clues to solving cases, and is regarded as the Mobile Investigation Division's "seventh detective."
Inohara will be playing Akase Norifumi, the head of the Mobile Investigation Division and team leader. He is a career officer who previously belonged to the Second Investigation Division, but for certain reasons became the head of the Mobile Investigation Division. He is usually a moderate person who looks at things calmly and with a bird's-eye view, but inside he has a strong sense of responsibility and passion. Anticipation is building to see what kind of leader Inohara will show in this new role as a detective. The cast members who will play the other three detectives will be announced in due course. Comments from Tsuchiya, Sato, and others are as follows:
◇Comment from Tao Tsuchiya (role of Momoko Nakazawa)
--Please tell us what you thought when you read the proposal and script.
When I co-starred with Hiroshi Tachi and Kyohei Shibata in the movie "Return of the Abunai Deka ," I was so impressed with how wonderful they were... Since then, I've always wanted to try my hand at a buddy detective drama, so when I heard about this role, I raised my hand and said, "Yes, please!" I'm also attracted to the title "Borderless: Wide-area Mobile Investigation Team." I'm excited to see what the story will be like, and I'm waiting for it to begin.
-What kind of person is Nakazawa Momoko, played by Tsuchiya, and how do you want to play her?
At this stage, the script I get from Momoko's way of life is that she is portrayed as having a "strong self," but I'm going to take on the challenge of thinking about how to break that down within myself, what "strong" means to Momoko, how to infuse love into her strength, and so on. I'll be working with people with really great careers, like (Sato) Shori-kun and Inohara (Yoshihiko), so I hope to have fun on set and cherish the strength that is Momoko.
--This is your first time acting with Sato Shori. What are your impressions of each other?
They have been active as a group since I was a student, so I think it must be really tough to make a living in the world of performance art, but I was watching and thinking how amazing it is that there are people who work with such responsibility at such a young age. The character of Bud, played by Shori-kun, also faces people with a sense of responsibility and sincerity, so I think that there is something in common with Shori-kun, and I think his personality will come out through his acting.
-Is there anything you're looking forward to about working with Yoshihiko Inohara and Kitaoji Kinya?
I'm really looking forward to it (laughs)! When I was appearing in NHK's Asadora(serial television drama), I worked with Inohara-san on a morning program, and when I met him, how can I put it... it's like my heart is at peace, or I feel kind... I feel like he's a person with such warm power. Kitaoji Kinya-san is a legend in my household. My whole family loves "Kozure Okami," and I love all the sword fighting and action scenes so much that they all have their roots in "Kozure Okami," so when I get the chance to work with him, I'll be absorbing every moment and putting my all into the performance!
-Finally, please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the show.
It's an exciting work with strong characters and fascinating actors. I'm really happy to be able to take on a new challenge with the staff who have created the traditional Wednesday 9pm drama slot. I'm looking forward to seeing it through together with all the viewers!
◇Comment from Sato Shori (role of Kizawa Rei)
--Please tell us what you thought when you read the proposal and script.
I was simply surprised that I was offered such an amazing project. It's on TV Asahi's Wednesday 9pm slot, and I'll be working with Tao Tsuchiya Tao there, so I felt a sense of determination and had to work hard. When I saw the proposal, I knew I absolutely wanted to do it, so I'm going to tackle it head on and hope to make it a great production.
-What kind of person is Kizawa Rei, played by Sato, and how do you want to play her?
There are many parts of Tsubomi that make her rush headlong, but I think she is a character who runs straight ahead with only justice in her heart, so I want to cherish that part when I play her. If something happens, I'm sure she will have to move forward while being controlled by Momoko, played by Tsuchiya (laughs). I think she is the type of character who looks too straight ahead and loses sight of her surroundings, so I want to play her with the conviction to be able to concentrate to that extent.
--This is your first time acting with Tao Tsuchiya. What are your impressions of each other?
When I saw Tsuchiya's work, I felt a strong sense of responsibility and passion for her work. I also have always had the impression that she is a person who values words very much, and a lovely person.
-Is there anything you're looking forward to about working with Yoshihiko Inohara and Kitaoji Kinya?
Personally, I'm very happy to be working with Yoshihiko Inohara, a senior at the agency. This will be our first time working together on a project, but I'm looking forward to our relationship building to have a positive impact on the project. He's a kind person who is always very considerate of us juniors, and I hope to be able to repay him, even if just a little, for all the help he's given us in various situations.
Previously, Inohara said, "When he was working on Tokuso9, the filming location was nearby and I had the opportunity to meet him. At the time, I saw him in a suit playing the role of Asawa Naoki in Tokuso9, so I feel that it must have been fate that we are now working together again on the Wednesday 9pm slot.
Timelesz member Matsushima So has performed with So Matsushima, and I've heard a lot about him. I was a little envious, but now that I'm finally able to join him, I want to learn a lot, and I hope we can have a lot of conversations.
-Finally, please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the show.
I will do my best to make this a new production that will be stimulating and full of surprises for viewers. At the same time, I hope to act carefully so that it will be a drama that viewers can feel at ease watching at 9pm on Wednesdays, so I hope you will enjoy it.
◇Comment from Kinya Kitaoji (role of Soichiro Midorikawa)
--Please tell us what you thought when you read the proposal and script.
When we were kids, there was a bus that ran on charcoal. When I passed by the garage early in the morning, I could see the mechanic starting the engine by hand, and I would often stand there watching before going to school, and end up being late (laughs). This time, when I was given the role of Midorikawa, the old mechanic, it reminded me of the kind of admiration I had as a boy. I've had the opportunity to play such a wonderful role, so I want to use my current body and mind to give it my all.
First of all, I was really drawn to the title "Borderless." The wide world is somehow free, or rather, unconstrained. A free world is open to you, saying, "If you want to do it, go ahead and do it." However, I think that within that freedom there are many conflicts. I think the rhythm of this project is to somehow overcome those conflicts and move forward, one by one, in the right direction.
In this role, both as a character and as myself, I will be interacting with young people, people of my age, and people of all ages, and I hope to be able to communicate with them while making use of my own experiences.
-How do you want to play the character of Midorikawa Soichiro?
I felt a strong sense of affinity with the way they've overcome all sorts of obstacles to get to where they are now. Although we all have different paths, "working" means making life easier for those around us. It's the same in any world. I work, but when others work, it makes life easier for me and it makes life easier for them -- that interconnectedness works like one big gear to move things forward -- and I really felt that. Everyone is working hard in their own positions, and they contribute their wisdom and help each other out where they lack, moving forward. I felt that this team exuded that kind of atmosphere.
--This is a project that will be carried out as a team, so is there anything you are looking forward to about being part of it?
I think it's the first time I've met everyone, including the staff and my co-stars. It's exciting and nerve-wracking, isn't it? I'm given a lot of things there, and I might give them something too. I think I'm growing little by little through those things. That's why I've been given the opportunity to work on so many different projects, and there are always those kinds of encounters, and of course there may be some pain, but there's also great joy. Right now, I'm dreaming that it would be fantastic if I could finish this project together with everyone, with a sense of accomplishment.
-Finally, please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the show.
I think this will be a production that expresses very well the movements, thoughts, and brilliance of the regular cast members in their respective positions. Behind them, there is this "Mecha Grandpa," who, although it may be a bit presumptuous to say he is protecting them, watches over them and does his best to follow them. I would like to be a part of this great flow, so I would be very happy if you could watch that.
◇Comment from Yoshihiko Inohara(role of Norifumi Akase)
--Please tell us what you thought when you read the proposal and script.
My first impression was that I was very excited when I heard that the investigation headquarters would be traveling by truck. I love "Seibu Keisatsu" and I had all the miniature cars and stuff. So I would love to see a miniature car of the investigation headquarters truck "Ichibanboshi" released (laughs). That's how excited I am. The truck that serves as the investigation headquarters also has a living space where people can sleep and camp, so I think it's new that we get to see the private lives of the group, and I hope that this will be a drama that will have children saying, "Ichibanboshi has come!"
-What kind of person is Akase Norifumi, played by Inohara, and how do you want to play him?
Akase is a nonchalant person, but he gets things done. Rather than pulling his team members along by saying "Let's go!", he thinks that he first shows them what he's doing and then gets them to follow him. All the members on "Ichibanboshi" have had some kind of past. As the story progresses, you will gradually learn about that background, and I think that will completely change the impression of the story. Furthermore, because they have all come together for some reason, they are somewhat like dropouts from society, and I think the social aspect of this group of people coming together will be interesting in a way that we haven't seen before.
--What are your impressions of the co-stars, Tao Tsuchiya and Sato Shori?
I think this is the first time I've acted with Tao Tsuchiya Tao, but she's really beautiful and adorable. I just did a script reading, and she's a very respectable actress, as she's created a character with a strong core.
Sato Shori-kun is my junior at the company, but we talked about how we should put that aside and work hard as co-stars. He's really serious and reliable. So I want to support the two main actors as much as I can and work hard together with them. But they're both so reliable, so I can kind of imagine them looking after us in the end (laughs).
--Inohara-san, both the 9pm Wednesday time slot and Toei Studios are very familiar to you.
Yes, I really was going there all the time until last spring, and today, too, Kanpachi (Loop Route 8) was packed (laughs). I've been going there for 20 years, so it feels like home, but when the production changes, I start again from scratch, and I think I can take the same step as everyone else, and I think it's a different production for the viewers, so I want to approach my role with a fresh mindset.
-Do you have any advice for people who want to work at Toei Studios?
Shori asked me the same thing the other day (laughs), and I answered that since dressing rooms are often on the fourth floor, I try to walk as much as possible when going back and forth between the studio and my dressing room! Going up and down stairs is good exercise, so use the stairs! There are a lot of staff members who have been with Toei for a long time, so when I come to Toei for another job, they make the effort to come and see me. If you build good relationships with the staff members you meet, you will make more and more good friends over the years to come, and they will become more and more of your allies, so I hope you will make all kinds of friends.
-Finally, please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the show.
Filming hasn't started yet, but at the meetings and script readings, I could sense from both the staff and cast that they were trying to make something good, and it was very exciting. At times like this, I believe we can create something really good. I think we can make a masterpiece, so I hope you'll look forward to it.
