Kazuki Iio of the comedy duo "Zun" is appearing in the TBS Friday drama "Takusari Brothers" (Fridays at 10 PM). He plays the mysterious non-fiction writer Yuji Tsuda, and the "Takusari Brothers"—his older brother, detective Makoto Takusari (Masaki Okada), and his younger brother, medical examiner Minoru Takusari (Shota Sometani)—are searching for him. This is Iio's fourth appearance in a work by producer Junko Arai, following the dramas "Unnatural" (aired in 2018), "MIU404" (aired in 2020), and "Kikazari Koi ni wa Riyuu ga Atte" (aired in 2021). We asked Iio, who is "giving a remarkable performance" in this drama, about some behind-the-scenes stories from filming.
◇Tsuda is "a person who leads a rather sad life."
The drama follows Detective Makoto and Medical Examiner Minoru as they investigate heinous crimes that occur daily and pursue the true culprit in the murder of two parents, a case that reached its statute of limitations just two days before the abolition of the statute of limitations.
Looking back on when he received the offer, Iio revealed, "Since it was an offer from Arai-san, with whom I worked on 'Unnatural,' I had no hesitation in accepting the role." While he was looking forward to seeing what kind of role it would be, the character of Tsuda that was actually presented to him was "a person who leads a rather sad life."
This is Iio's fourth time participating in a project produced by Arai. Iio has great confidence in Arai's personality, saying, "He's very easy to talk to and friendly. He's so capable at his job, yet he's approachable." Arai told Iio that Tsuda, the character he plays, is "a sad person," and Iio used that as a basis to develop the character.
Regarding the script, he frankly stated, "I thought it was really interesting, but at the same time, I also felt it was an unpleasant story." As for the main character brothers, he showed understanding for their choice, saying, "If I were in the same position, I would want to find out for myself why it happened and who did it."
On the other hand, he reflected on the historical context, saying, "Considering that there was a statute of limitations back then, there are many things to think about," and added, "That's why I think it's understandable that he would have those feelings." He further added, "At that age, he could have aimed to be in a position to pursue the matter, and I can understand why he would have made that choice."
Regarding his approach to the role, he said he focused on the situation Tsuda was in. However, during a rehearsal for a scene where Tsuda is running away from an incident, he unintentionally moved too quickly, and his manager, who was watching, pointed out, "You should be more conscious of the character's state of mind," which made him realize something. He said, "I'm glad I noticed it during the rehearsal." In understanding the life that Tsuda is leading, he said, "Because it's a situation I've never experienced myself, I had no choice but to imagine it."
◇Impressive special effects makeup
When asked about his impression of Okada and Someya, he recalled, "They have such a gentle demeanor that I wish I could have talked to them more."
Regarding the two actors' performances, she said they were so realistic that she could picture the scenes even with her eyes closed. "They were so realistic, I could picture what their faces looked like. There was a sense of sadness and frustration, and I thought it was amazing," she exclaimed. "I was listening to their exchanges like a radio drama, and even that was interesting," she added, revealing how captivated she was by their acting skills.
On the other hand, she was also surprised by the contrast, saying, "They are such gentle people when the cameras aren't rolling, so I was surprised when they suddenly switched into that kind of acting. I was watching and wondering when they made that switch."
Furthermore, he expressed his admiration for Atsuko Sendo, who played the role of Fumi Karashima, saying, "She was smiling and chatting right up until the moment of filming, but when it came time for the actual performance, she became the character. Actors are truly amazing." He recalled, "I was drawn in by Ms. Sendo's poignant expression, and I naturally got into character myself."
Regarding the filming set, she shared her impression, saying, "Although it's a poignant story, the atmosphere on set is cheerful," and added, "Otherwise, the emotions would become too tense," revealing that the atmosphere on set was in stark contrast to the tone of the story.
One of the most memorable things about the filming process for Iio was the special effects makeup. Having rarely experienced long periods of waiting before, the makeup, which took about an hour to apply, was a novel experience for him. "The makeup artist was so cheerful, yet they were able to create such a horrible face (laughs)," he recalls.
When he saw the finished product, he said, "I thought to myself, 'I'll work hard so that my life doesn't end up like this,'" because the injuries were so realistically reproduced. He added, "When I go out in this outfit, I try to hide my face a little (laughs)."
Regarding Tsuda, the author states, "He must have had several opportunities that could have been turning points in his life," and urges readers to "look at him as a cautionary tale."
While touching upon the appeal of the work, describing it as "an interesting but unpleasant story," he sent a message to viewers saying, "Many different kinds of people appear. I hope you'll watch it while thinking about what you would do in their situation."
