A press conference for the April drama series "Tsukiyo Koro - The Answer Lies in Masterpieces -" (Nippon Television Network, Wednesdays at 10 PM, starting April 8), starring actresses Haru and Kumiko Aso, was held on March 25 at Nippon Television (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).
The film is based on the novel of the same name by mystery writer Rikako Akiyoshi, known for works such as "Snow Flower" and "Absolute Justice." The story follows Luna Nomiya (Haru), a bar owner who is a literature enthusiast, and Ryoko Sawatsuji (Aso), a housewife whose life is constantly being tossed around by her cheating husband and spoiled children. The two women meet by chance and take a trip to Osaka, where a murder occurs. Luna uses her knowledge of literature, including Natsume Soseki, Osamu Dazai, Edogawa Ranpo, and Junichiro Tanizaki, to unravel the truth behind the case...
Haru spoke about her role as a bar owner, a transgender woman, and a self-proclaimed aspiring novelist and literature enthusiast who uses her vast knowledge of classic literature and excellent deductive skills to uncover the truth behind incidents she encounters while traveling. She said, "She's a character with so many elements. A vast amount of classic literature is etched into Luna's mind as knowledge, and she's a knowledgeable woman who knows everything, not just literature. She's a character who can explain anything, so I'm struggling every day during filming."
Aso said, "I've found this role to be very difficult. I don't have a distinctive personality like Luna, and I've been struggling to figure out how to portray Ryoko in a way that people can relate to, and how to create a sense of camaraderie between the two of us. But after about a month of filming, I finally saw a glimmer of hope during yesterday's shoot."
After showing some behind-the-scenes photos from the Osaka shoot, Haru revealed, "On the first day in Osaka, I was able to have dinner with Aso-san. When we're filming every day in Tokyo, opportunities like that don't come along very often, so I was really happy that we were able to do it in Osaka." Aso then apologized, "I'm sorry I made you eat so much."
He continued, "Haru eats a lot. She eats so much that it's really satisfying, so I want to give her lots of things, and I often bring her snacks, coffee, and all sorts of other things."
When asked about their impressions of each other, Haru confessed, "Even though she's a senior actress, she talks a lot and it's fun, but sometimes she's kind of cute. No, she's mostly cute. She's very soothing." Aso praised Haru, saying, "I'm a bit of a mess, so I really rely on her a lot. From the first day, she delivered a huge amount of lines flawlessly without making a single mistake. It was really impressive, and thanks to her, the set moved along really quickly. Not just me, but all the staff are grateful, and Haru is a really reliable person who leads the set."
Haru commented, "The two meet by chance, but Ryoko and Luna live completely different lives. They are completely different types of adult women, and they travel to Osaka to find someone. Watching them travel together is like a coming-of-age story and is very exciting. You'll be really curious to see how their journey ends, and at the same time, you'll feel a sense of sadness as a bond develops between the two of them, wondering if they'll never see each other again once the journey is over. Also, the secrets that each of them is hiding will be revealed as the story progresses, so I hope you'll enjoy the whole thing."
Aso commented, "I think a really new genre of work has been created, where the mystery is solved using classic literature. The story is very captivating, and Luna's character is truly outstanding, so I think everyone who watches it will feel a sense of exhilaration. The buddy dynamic between Ryoko and Luna is growing stronger and stronger, and as the 'Watson,' I would like to support them as well."
Also in attendance at the press conference were Shuntaro Yanagi, and Ryuto Sakuma Sakuma, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, and Naoki Tanaka. The event was emceed by the station's announcer, Yoshido Tsujioka.
