Masaki Okada stars in the TBS Friday drama "Takusari Brothers" (Fridays at 10 PM), which also features Shota Sometani. Naotaro Moriyama, who wrote the theme song "Ai Ai," and Junko Arai, the producer of the drama, had a conversation about the background of the offer and the secrets behind the song's creation.
◇What was the reason for offering the role to Naotaro Moriyama?
The drama follows the "Tagusari Brothers," detective Makoto Tagusari (played by Okada) and medical examiner Minoru Tagusari (played by Someya), as they investigate a whirlwind of heinous crimes and the true culprit behind the murder of their parents, a case that reached its statute of limitations just two days before the abolition of the statute of limitations. This is the latest work from producer Arai, who has worked on hit crime suspense films such as "Last Mile" and dramas such as "Unnatural," "MIU404," and "Saiai." The script is written by Kei Watanabe, known for "Tumbling," and directed by Takeshi Yamamoto, known for "Saiai," among others.
--Could you tell us how you came to offer Moriyama-san the opportunity to sing the theme song for this film?
Producer Arai: When I was writing the proposal for this project, I was actually listening to Moriyama's "Aishi Kimi e" (2004) on repeat. I had a strong image in my mind that "this song is synonymous with that drama ('Aishi Kimi e', Fuji TV, aired in 2004)." So, from the beginning, I wrote the proposal with the image of Moriyama singing the theme song for this project.
Moriyama: But actually, "To My Beloved" isn't the theme song, it's an insert song. The theme song is "To All Living Things." I think it's rare that people remember "To My Beloved."
Arai P: That's right. But for me, that drama is synonymous with "To My Beloved." I have a strong impression that it plays during really good scenes, so I just assumed it was the theme song. Plus, I own the album "In Search of New Spices," which includes "To My Beloved," and all the songs are truly wonderful, so I've been listening to it on repeat for ages. I was developing the project while listening to it like that, so I naturally imagined Moriyama's singing voice.
Moriyama: That said, it didn't necessarily have to be me, right? There are other people who can write songs like "To My Beloved."
Arai P: I love Moriyama's voice. I think of a voice as a sound, or rather, like an instrument. Just hearing his voice gives me chills. When I'm writing a project proposal, I often try to get in touch with the artist of the song that I'm listening to. I get rejected a lot, but it shows that if you wish hard enough, your wish can come true.
--Were you given a request such as, "Please create something that evokes the image of 'My Beloved'"?
Arai P: I didn't specifically say, "I want a song like this." I think it's better not to say too much. I did tell them that I had "To My Beloved" in mind, but I didn't make any detailed requests regarding the lyrics or melody.
Moriyama: That's right. However, I had heard that he was writing it while listening to "To My Beloved," so I felt that it would be a simple world with little information, just a piano. But I think that creating in a way that mirrors oneself, so-called "self-imitation," is like the "enemy" of creativity, so I tried to forget that for a while and took some time to feel the scenery and passion in the drama in an unbiased way.
So, if someone says, "This doesn't sound like 'My Beloved'," I think that's just how it is. There's a balance between time and quality, and if you rush it, it's all over. If it doesn't work out, I think Arai-san would forgive me if I just said "I'm sorry" (laughs).
However, it's very important to have that range of motion. The feeling of being chased by a deadline can be a driving force, but I also think it's not so much related to creativity itself.
--What were your impressions after actually listening to "Ai Ai"?
Arai P: I thought it was a really great song. It's different from "To My Beloved," but you can tell that the song was created with a deep understanding of this story, and I felt that it would definitely fit this work perfectly.
◇The fluctuations born from feelings that cannot be contained within a melody
--Could you tell us what you focused on when creating the lyrics and melody of "Ai Ai"?
Moriyama: Rather than saying I was particular about it, I think the identity of this song lies in the spoken-word style that doesn't quite fit within the melody. I think it's influenced by some older folk songs, such as those by Takuro Yoshida and Bob Dylan.
At first glance, it's an unremarkable song, but there are feelings and melodies that can't be contained within it, and these are expressed as a distorted melody and rhythm. I think that's what gives this song its "fluctuation." However, when it plays during the ending, it might overlap with the dialogue, so I was told to "cut it down a bit," and I thought that was certainly true.
Arai P: But then we decided that this is also what makes Moriyama Naotaro unique. When we received it the second time, it hadn't been reduced that much (laughs), but if we said any more, it would lose its unique character, and people would start asking "why did we offer him the job?", so we decided to proceed with what we received. I wonder what would have happened if we had asked for revisions.
Moriyama: It might have ended up being a much flatter song. It wouldn't have a hook, but that might make the drama easier to watch (laughs).
Arai P: The more you listen to it, the more you appreciate it, and the final chorus in particular gives you the feeling of a breeze blowing through.
Moriyama: That part was arranged by Marihiko Hara and An Suhara. There were moments where the boundary with the drama seemed to melt away, and the power of the visuals was immense, and the arrangement was a great help.
Arai P: Doesn't it sound like a cry from brothers? Those two don't show it much on the surface and are very reserved, but strong emotions are burning inside. The song seems to speak for those feelings, and I felt like, "This is a song for these brothers."
--Mr. Moriyama, I understand you watched the full episode before it aired.
Moriyama: I was genuinely moved. Of course, I was drawn into the story itself, but I was also amazed by the way the music and visuals were combined. It's not music or visuals on their own, but when they come together, such expression is born. I was reminded once again that it is a comprehensive art form, including Arai's vision and the process of bringing it to life.
I also heard that they wanted this song to be like a "ray of hope" at the end of the drama, and that they didn't want it to be a work that only depicted despair. I think the difficulties will continue beyond that point, but I thought Arai's attitude of "doing what he said he would do" was really cool.
--What thoughts are behind the title "Ai Ai"?
Moriyama: Not just with these brothers, but the songs depict one-on-one relationships. In each person's life, they are supported by various relationships such as parents, friends, seniors and juniors, and rivals. But sometimes those relationships continue forever, and sometimes there is a moment when they must be severed. In order to break free from dependence and attachment and move on to the next stage...
The world is made up of these small, interconnected relationships. I chose the word "Aiai" (愛々) to reflect this kind of overarching image. I also like the sound of Japanese words like "yoiyoi" (宵々) and "oriori" (折々), and I'm drawn to these repetitive words. The word "Aiai" also sounds familiar yet new. I chose this title because of its sound.
--Finally, do you have a message for our viewers?
Producer Arai: This time, we're releasing the song ahead of the broadcast. We thought that getting familiar with the song beforehand would make it easier to get into the story. We've actually received feedback from people who have seen the spot saying things like, "It made me cry," and I feel that this song helps to convey the story not just as a suspense thriller, but as a story of brotherly love. I'm sure you'll be drawn into the story naturally, so I hope you'll enjoy it while feeling each character's own "love."
