Actresses Rosa Kato and Akane Osawa will co-star as the heroines in the new drama series "Hadakanbou-tachi" (TV Asahi, Saturdays at 11 PM), which will begin airing on October 3rd. The network announced this on September 3rd.
This film centers around Ryo Sabasaki, who innocently approaches any woman he's interested in, regardless of whether she has a boyfriend or spouse, and depicts a dangerous love triangle among adults. Genta Matsuda of the popular group "Travis Japan" stars as Sabasaki.
Kato plays Momoko Tsutsui, a dentist who becomes engrossed in her relationship with Sabasaki. Momoko had been living a "serious and steady life" as her parents expected, and was about to marry her fiancé, Taku Ishiba, who was an ideal husband. However, her life changes completely when she meets Sabasaki, and she realizes her true feelings.
Osawa plays Kyoko Hotta, Momo's best friend since high school, who is a mother of three and busy raising her children. Kyoko feels inferior when she compares herself to Momo, who is single and remains beautiful, and endures hardships in an attempt to be a good mother and wife for the sake of her family. At such times, she finds her heart wavering without realizing it when Sabasaki shows her innocent kindness.
The original work is a full-length novel of the same name by Naoki Prize-winning author Kaori Eguni, published in 2013. Another work by Eguni, "Tokyo Tower," was adapted into a TV drama series in the same "Oshidora Saturday" time slot in April 2024, starring Ren Nagase of King & Prince, and surpassed 20 million total views on its on-demand streaming service, setting a new record for the time slot. Matsuda played Koji Ohara, a friend of Toru Kojima (played by Nagase) in "Tokyo Tower," and garnered attention for his daring portrayal of a forbidden love affair with Kimiko Kawano (played by MEGUMI), who has a 21-year age difference with Matsuda.
The comments from Rosa Kato and Akane Osawa are as follows:
◇Comment from Rosa Kato
--Please tell us how you felt when you were cast in this project.
This is the first time I've worked on a project based on a novel by Kaori Ekuni since the movie "Tokyo Tower," which I appeared in when I was a teenager, so I was very happy to receive the offer. When I was a teenager, I think I was trying to understand Kaori Ekuni's worldview in my own way while filming, but now that I'm finally old enough to fully appreciate her worldview, I thoroughly enjoyed reading both the original novel and the script this time.
--What were your impressions after reading the original work and the script for this film?
In Ms. Ekuni's works, the characters don't speak clearly, and major events don't occur in an easily understandable way, so it's difficult to portray the shifts in their emotions. Because there are few clues to help you think, I felt it was difficult, but I wanted to think carefully about how to express Ms. Ekuni's unique worldview in film.
--What impression did you get of the character Momo that you play?
I thought he was a very kind and generally passive person. However, he called off his marriage after meeting Sabasaki, but rather than something shocking happening, I think it was because he had always had anxieties like, "Is marriage really necessary?" and "Is this person right for me?", so I felt I could understand his feelings.
--How do you want to portray Momo?
Sabasaki is the complete opposite of Momo; I think she's someone who lives life on her own terms. I think that seeing Sabasaki like that will gradually change something within Momo. If Sabasaki is "dynamic," then Momo is "static." I hope to convey that contrast and make a clear difference in my acting.
--This will be your first time working with Genta Matsuda. What are your impressions of him after meeting him?
I thought Ms. Matsuda was a little quieter than the impression I got from seeing her on TV. But her demeanor is exactly the same! The character she plays, Sabasaki, is a calm person, so that might be a factor. The same goes for Ms. Osawa; they were both very easy to talk to, which put me at ease.
--You'll be co-starring with Akane Osawa as best friends. What are your impressions of her?
Mr. Osawa and I are the same age. I've always thought he seemed like an easy person to talk to, and I felt like we'd have a lot in common. I think we'll be able to have a fun and lively time together on set, along with the other cast members. I've been able to talk to Mr. Osawa like we're friends right from the start.
--Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the drama.
The drama features men and women from various walks of life, and their individual emotions intertwine, so I hope you'll look forward to it.
◇Comment from Akane Osawa
--I understand you're a fan of Kaori Eguni. Could you tell us how you felt when you were cast in this project?
I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to be involved with Ms. Kaori Ekuni in this way in my life, so I was incredibly happy. However, because it's such a substantial drama, I wasn't just happy; I also felt a sense of "there's no escaping it."
I've finally come to terms with it and I'm ready to go for it. Plus, I haven't had much experience with romance dramas before, so I'm incredibly nervous.
--What were your impressions after reading the original work and the script for this film?
It was truly refreshing to read about people from different walks of life living honestly according to their own desires. Ms. Ekuni's worldview has so much potential to enrich the reader's imagination, making it a very rewarding role to play, and I feel like I've been given a huge opportunity, which I'm really looking forward to.
--The character you play, Kyoko, is a mother of three, and I think there are some similarities between her and you, Ms. Osawa. What are your thoughts and feelings when you approach the role?
I think Kyoko is a brave woman who works hard for her family and others. But I felt that, without her even realizing it, a very deep sense of loneliness and dissatisfaction was gradually emerging. I myself have had similar feelings to Kyoko's while raising children, so I really empathized with her when I read the script.
I know that many other mothers around me feel the same way as Kyoko, so I hope to take those experiences into consideration and portray her with care.
--This is your first time working with Genta Matsuda. What are your impressions of him after meeting him on set?
I had a strong image of Ms. Matsuda as someone who is active in variety shows, but when I saw her in "Tokyo Tower," I realized that she is an actress who can deliver such passionate and nuanced performances. It was a show that I looked forward to every week, so I am very much looking forward to working with Ms. Matsuda.
--Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the drama.
I think this is a work where the characters, regardless of whether they are lovers, spouses, or friends, all truly live honestly according to their own desires and emotions. I would be happy if everyone could see that aspect of it.
◇Comment from Genta Matsuda
Meeting you both was very reassuring; you were both incredibly warm and friendly, and your smiles put me at ease. I was actually quite nervous, but your presence was a great help. I'm really looking forward to the photoshoot with you both.
I have many scenes with Rosa Kato, and I think there will be times when we converse and act with a variety of emotions, so I hope to work with the directors to deliver a great film to everyone.
I'm really looking forward to working with Akane Osawa on this project. I'm excited to see how she'll portray Kyoko within the world of the story.
