It was revealed on May 29th that Yokoyama Yu of the popular group "SUPER EIGHT" will star in "Tonight I'm Meeting a Serial Killer Again," the first drama in the new Kansai TV/Fuji TV drama slot "SuiDora★Eleven" (Wednesdays at 11 PM), which starts on July 1st. This will be Yokoyama's sixth time playing a detective and his first leading role in a Fuji TV drama. His partner will be actress Nagisa Sekimizu, and the suspense drama will follow the secret partnership between Isogai (Yokoyama), a lone wolf detective in the community safety division, and Hinata (Sekimizu), a woman with a sixth sense who can see the number of people killed, as they take down a serial killer.
◇The protagonist is a dangerous and unconventional man who prioritizes revenge over justice as a detective.
The "SuiDora★Eleven" slot is a newly established drama slot created through a joint production between Kansai TV and TV Nishinippon. This first installment is a live-action adaptation of the manga of the same name (original story by Kon Iguchi / manga by Yuji Nakamura) currently serialized in the manga magazine "good! Afternoon" (Kodansha). A lone wolf detective who doesn't like to be part of a group and a woman with the unique ability to see the number of people a serial killer has killed when she touches them secretly team up as partners to take revenge for the loss of loved ones they have each had, and confront a serial killer who blends into everyday life.
Yokoyama plays Shiro Isogai, a police sergeant in the Community Safety Division, a cool lone wolf who doesn't like to socialize with people. He was once the ace of the Detective Division, but after his fiancée, Azusa Kawada, disappeared and he became convinced she had been murdered by a serial killer, he transferred to the Community Safety Division. He figured that in the Community Safety Division he could get information on missing persons and track down the person who killed Azusa. Since then, he has always shown up at the scene of serial murders, and he is a dangerous and unconventional man who prioritizes revenge over his sense of justice as a detective, saying, "If I find the person who killed Azusa, I will kill them."
◇Hinata's "seven transformations," where she changes her appearance to achieve her goals, are also a highlight.
Sekimizu plays Hinata Kuroi, a woman who deliberately makes herself a target in order to find the serial killer who murdered someone she cared about. She possesses a strange and harsh "sixth sense" that allows her to see the number of people a murderer has killed as a number when she touches them. Although she is normally friendly and cheerful, her special power makes her a difficult person to trust and hard to pin down. After meeting Isogai (Yokoyama), who shares the same goal, they form a dangerous partnership for revenge.
Many serial killers commit crimes based on their own unique obsessions and preferences. Hinata takes advantage of this characteristic, analyzing the commonalities among past disappearances. To impersonate her ideal target, she changes her hairstyle and fashion to blend into the city. From handing out tissues to becoming a glamorous nightclub hostess, Hinata's "seven transformations," as she changes her appearance to achieve her goals, will be one of the highlights of this film. Her cute and pop disguises provide a perfect accent to the tense suspense, adding vibrancy to the visuals and resulting in a pop entertainment film that everyone can enjoy.
The drama series retains the gripping tension of the original manga while adding the lighthearted banter between Isogai (Yokoyama) and Hinata (Sekimizu). Their comical exchanges, which will make you chuckle, create a pleasant contrast to the suspenseful tension. Furthermore, since the original manga is still being serialized, the drama series will feature an original ending unique to the genre.
At the heart of the story are the mysteries and desire for revenge harbored by the two characters. Did Isogai's fiancée really die, and who is the culprit? And what is the truth hidden in Hinata's past, and who is her loved one...?
The cast and staff comments are as follows:
◇Comment from the lead actor, Yu Yokoyama (playing the role of Shiro Isogai)
--Please tell us your impressions when you read the original story and script.
Simply put, the story was incredibly interesting, and I was eager to know what would happen next. Once I started reading, I was completely drawn into the narrative. The plot is very well-structured, so I highly recommend reading the original novel. I'm also looking forward to the drama adaptation, as it seems they're planning an original ending.
--What kind of person is Shiro Isogai, the character you'll be playing this time? Also, you often play detective roles, Mr. Yokoyama, but how do you plan to portray this character this time?
It's true that I often get to play detective roles, and recently I've mostly played characters who use information manipulation and other tactics to smartly corner criminals. But this time, Isogai is more of a "Showa-era" type, a gritty character who does his work on the ground. I find that aspect very appealing and I'm looking forward to it. However, Isogai's trademark is his leather jacket... Since we're filming in the summer, that's my only concern (laughs), but I'll give it my all.
--Please share your impressions of your partner, Nagisa Sekimizu, and give a message to the viewers.
Sekimizu-san is always smiling and cheerful, which makes the atmosphere on set very pleasant. I'm also helped by her smile. This is a work with many fans of the original manga, and as a viewer myself, I'm excited to see how Hinata finds the culprit and how that memorable scene will be brought to life on screen. The cast and staff are all working together to deliver a great work, so I would be happy if you would watch the first episode!
◇Comment from Nagisa Sekimizu(who plays Hinata Kuroi)
--Please tell us your impressions when you read the original story and script.
I was so intrigued that I read it all in one go. Hinata lives with the burden of having lost someone important to her, but she has a bright personality that belies that past, making her a very charming character. I'm really looking forward to playing her.
--What are the highlights of this film?
As the title suggests, there are serious scenes, but I think you'll enjoy the pacing that includes the contrasting personalities of Detective Isogai and Hinata, as well as humorous moments! There are plenty of scenes where Hinata is headstrong and Isogai is cool, so I hope you'll pay attention to those.
--Please share your impressions of Yokoyama Yu, with whom you are co-starring for the first time, and give a message to the viewers.
Yokoyama-san is... just an incredibly funny person! I've always watched him on TV, so I'm actually still a little nervous (laughs), but he's a very reassuring presence who really leads the team. I think this will be a work that, while having a serious purpose like revenge, is also full of elements that you'll enjoy. The whole team is working together and we'll do our best, so please be sure to watch it. Thank you!
◇Comment from the original author, Kon Iguchi
"What if there was a girl who could tell if someone had killed someone?"
She is the only one who notices the killer lurking in everyday life. It's an unimaginable horror, but at the same time, it's a world that is irresistibly drawn into. This work was born from that idea.
We are delighted to have this wonderful opportunity to adapt the story into a live-action film, and we are pleased to announce that Yu Yokoyama will be playing the role of Shiro Isogai. Isogai is a complex character, possessing both calmness and roughness, kindness and vulnerability, but we are confident that Mr. Yokoyama's unique presence will bring him to life as an even more captivating character than in the original.
Furthermore, I am thrilled that the role of Hinata will be played by Nagisa Sekimizu, who perfectly embodies the image I had in mind. I am excited to see how the catharsis of the moment when the "number of murders" is revealed will be portrayed on screen, and what kind of presence the successive psychopathic killers will exude. As both the original author and a viewer, I am more excited than anyone to see the drama begin.
◇Comment from manga artist Yuji Nakamura
From the moment I received the offer to adapt it into a drama until the information was officially released, I wasn't allowed to tell anyone, so I was excited and kept quiet while drawing the manga.
Thanks to all the manga readers and everyone involved in the drama adaptation, the drama will now be broadcast successfully. I am filled with gratitude.
"Meeting a Serial Killer Tonight" is a story that suggests "a serial killer might be lurking near you." I hope you enjoy it.
◇Comment from producer Kanae Nakabayashi
The combination of the unusual word "serial killer" and the everyday word "meeting up" is intriguing, and the title sparks my imagination, making me wonder whether it's serious or pop, and what kind of world it is. That's why I started reading the original work.
The madness lurking in everyday life of a serial killer, the morbid curiosity about the incomprehensible, the battle of wits, the psychological warfare, and the unique abilities... there are so many elements to consider, which makes the process of figuring out what kind of world to create and how to translate it into film both enjoyable and thrilling.
We hope you'll enjoy the anticipation, as even the production team can't yet imagine what kind of chemistry Yokoyama-san and Sekimizu-san will create as a buddy duo, and how the suspenseful fantasy elements that are the highlight of the original work will blend together with the various original elements that will be added.
