The second episode of the Tuesday drama "Toki Sude ni Osushi!?" (TBS, Tuesdays at 10 PM), starring actress Hiromi Nagasaku, will air on April 14th. We spoke to producer Chiaki Masuda about the highlights and behind-the-scenes stories from the filming.
The drama tells the story of Minato Machiyama (played by Nagasaku), who, having finished raising her children, is bewildered by the "time to herself" that she finally has again at the age of 50, but begins her second life and jumps into a "sushi academy" where she can become a sushi chef in three months.
◇Highlights of Episode 2
Minato decides to attend the sushi academy, but in episode 2, he finds himself in the strict Oedo (Kenichi Matsuyama) class, where Oedo is slow to teach him how to make nigiri sushi. Oedo gives him a challenge: "If you can express your own taste in the horse mackerel test, you can move on to making nigiri sushi."
This episode prompts Minato to confront the question of what her "unique flavor = strength" is, beyond being a mother. Through her experience with sushi, she learns that "everything about a person becomes part of their flavor," and this theme is also explored in the episode.
We don't often think about our own strengths in our daily lives. I think you'll enjoy it even more if you watch while thinking about what kind of dish you would create based on your own strengths. The scenes at the snack bar "Veteran-ko" also have conversation topics that are related to this story, so I hope you'll enjoy watching them and nodding along.
This episode also gives us a glimpse into the true nature of the strict and dedicated Professor Oedo. With various events unfolding in the story, it will be impossible to look away, and above all, it's guaranteed to make your stomach rumble, so please look forward to episode 2!
◇Behind-the-scenes stories from the filming of Episode 1
In the climactic scene of the first episode, in the park, Minato wipes away tears while disassembling the practice "sushi balls" that she received from Oedo. Actually, that scene was conceived by Nagasaku-san.
During the pre-production lessons at the sushi academy, the cast members received the same practice rice balls that appeared in the film, and it seems they were thinking about how they could use them for something. One day, Ms. Nagasaku suggested, "How about having Minato wipe away her tears with the rice ball at a moment when her emotions are welling up?" The director and I both thought it was a great idea, and we immediately used it in the first episode.
I think the scene was memorable because it combined the mother's characteristic impulsive use of whatever was available, the feelings of Minato who had persevered as a mother up until then, and Nagasaku's acting as she tearfully says, "I used it up," which was unexpectedly charming in a good way.
