It was announced on March 15th that Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro will appear in the TBS Sunday drama "Reboot" (Sundays at 9 PM), starring Suzuki Ryohei. This will be Danjuro's first appearance in a Sunday drama, and he will play Makita Yaichi, a powerful politician aiming for the prime ministership as the "last great man."
The drama is a suspense story in which Riku Hayase (Suzuki), who is falsely accused of murdering his wife, abandons his family and past and reboots himself as a corrupt detective, Gido, in pursuit of the real culprit.
In episode 7 (aired March 8th), "Kujira," a powerful politician pursued by inspector Masachika Makita (Hideaki Ito) and also his own brother, makes his appearance. However, since his face wasn't shown in episode 7, there was much discussion on social media about who was playing him.
Danjuro is the thirteenth generation to bear the prestigious Naritaya name in the Kabuki world. He has appeared in many television dramas, mainly period dramas, but this is his first appearance in a Sunday Theater drama, and his first drama appearance since succeeding to the name of the thirteenth Ichikawa Danjuro in 2022.
The character played by Makita Yaichi is the leader of the largest opposition party. He aims to seize power in order to become prime minister, and is prepared to take on any dirty job to achieve that. On the other hand, he is also close to Goroku (played by Kitamura Yukiya), so are his actions good or evil? And will he become an enemy or an ally to Hayase? He will appear in episodes 9 and 10.
◇Comment from Ichikawa Danjuro
From my first impression, I felt that Mr. Suzuki is a very gentlemanly person. In this production, he takes on the challenging role of playing two characters, and I was impressed by how carefully he pays attention to even the smallest details of each role; he is a very meticulous actor.
I've known Mr. Ito since we were young, so there were moments when I almost burst out laughing at his serious acting (laughs). In reality, he's two years older than me, but in this drama, I played the role of his older brother, so I consciously tried to look older when creating the character. Specifically, I gained weight and so on, and I think I was able to approach the role by expanding on the image in my own way. It was a really fun and wonderful experience to work with the two of them on this project.
I don't know how Yaichi will come across to everyone, but he's a character who acts with the desire to make Japan a better country. In the process, he lives while being aware that he's walking a dangerous tightrope. He's not simply a bad person. If he were entirely evil, I could play him as completely evil, but that's not the case. It was very difficult to portray that "part that can't be definitively called good or evil," and also to portray him as a character who possesses both the kind of indulgence and coldness that comes from being family, within his relationship with his younger brother. However, I think that's also the highlight of this role and the part that made it worthwhile to play.
◇Comment from producer Keigo Higashinaka
After a reboot, losing everything, and getting caught up in everything, Hayase has continued to face the challenges with an extreme love, still clinging to the single wish in his heart: to return to his family.
Before that, however, the "final big shot" will finally stand in their way. We are pleased to announce that Ichikawa Danjuro will be playing the role of Makita Yaichi. Makita Yaichi is a man with such popularity, charisma, and irresistible charm that he could even aim for the position of Prime Minister. He is a man of both light and shadow, who, while holding high ideals, is prepared to swallow both good and evil in order to achieve them.
It was impossible to imagine anyone other than Ichikawa Danjuro embodying this overwhelming presence. No explanation is needed. His sheer presence and power are conveyed simply by standing there. At the same time, he occasionally shows a humane gaze and a friendly expression that draws people in. His unique presence, imbued with both strength and warmth, propels the story to its final chapter.
Will Yaichi truly be Hayase's final enemy? Or will he become someone whose path crosses his in an unexpected way? A man striving to remain true to his love, and a man aiming for the pinnacle of power. Please don't take your eyes off their clash.
