Shingo Katori stars in a drama series for the first time in 11 years! New drama “Japan’s Worst Man *My Family Was Fake” to be broadcast

■“Because I was away from the TV world for a while, I actually came to understand it better.” (Shingo Katori)

Shingo Katori will star in the drama “Japan’s Worst Man *My Family Was a Fake” on Fuji TV’s Thursday Theater (every Thursday from 10:00 p.m. to 10:54 p.m.) in January 2025. It was decided.

A man who hates his family and hates children, who has been pushed to the brink of life, decides to live with his single father brother-in-law and his children in order to win the election. As he faces the problems of his family, society, and Japan in his daily life, the worst man gradually builds a relationship like a real family with his brother-in-law and their children, and gradually comes to realize that he wants to create a better society. Eventually, he seriously decides to run for office.

This is the first time in about 11 years that Shingo Katori has starred in a Fuji TV drama series since “SMOKING GUN ~Decisive Evidence~” aired in April 2014. How will he express his first role as a “man who aspires to become a politician”? “Japan’s worst man” struggles to change the world and rebuild his life, moving back and forth between his strong self, who cannot give up his vanity and pride, and his weak self, who is too kind and difficult to live with. ” Expectations are high for the birth of a new hero image.

■Introduction
The main character of the story is Ippei Omori (Shingo Katori). As a newsman for a television station, he was a working man who did not take care of his family at all, but his Showa-style values caused a scandal and he was forced to leave the company. Now, he has moved into the family home left by his father, whom he hated, and although he calls himself a freelance journalist, he has no job and is living a dull life as if he were unemployed. One day, Ippei approaches his late sister’s husband, Shosuke Kohara, who is raising their two remaining children as a single father, and they begin living together at his parents’ house. Ippei is supposed to hate his family and children, but he and Shosuke devote themselves to housework and childcare. However, behind this unexpected action, there was a certain “worst” purpose. Ippei, who has decided to become a politician in order to make a comeback in society and look back on the world, meets Shosuke and his partner so that he can show off that he has a consumer’s point of view in the upcoming ward assembly election. They started living together with their two children. In other words, he was simply acting out a “home drama” to improve his own image during the election.

However, as Ippei interacts with his single father Shosuke, his children, and the people he met while raising his children, he begins to seriously face various daily issues such as family and social issues, and his outlook on life gradually changes. It starts to change. Ippei, who has lived his life avoiding his family, gradually becomes like a real father to him, and his “fake” family eventually becomes a “real” family. And in order to solve everyday problems, Ippei decides to run for election with the support of his family and those around him! Will Ippei, the worst man in Japan, be able to change his family, society, and Japan?

As times change rapidly, there are many changes in daily life, such as the diversifying images of fathers and men, the value of care work that has recently been reconsidered, and the new way families should be in today’s times. A major feature of this work is that it cuts sharply into the social issues that exist within the world. Please pay attention to the growth story of the worst man, Ippei, who, despite his struggles, updates his values, reconsiders his career and future lifestyle, and eventually decides to run for election in order to change the world.

■Shingo Katori interview
–This is Katori’s first starring role in a Fuji TV drama series in about 11 years.
Katori:Seven or eight years ago, the program I had been regularly appearing on on Fuji TV was coming to an end, and when I finished recording the final episode, I crossed the Rainbow Bridge and went home. Since then, I almost never cross that bridge to get to Odaiba. But over the years, I’ve come to realize that while television is wonderful and glamorous, it’s also extremely difficult to make it. Because I was away from the TV world for a while, I actually started to understand it better. So right now, I’m experiencing both the joy of stepping into such a glamorous world again, and the pressure I feel because I’ve been away. When I think about it, I think that out of all the TV work…or rather, out of all the activities, working on a drama series is the most difficult. Movies, theater, music, and I’ve also done solo art exhibitions, but even compared to those activities, I think serial dramas are the most difficult. …I’ve been talking about this a lot with Kusanagi (Tsuyoshi/“Nagi” is officially spelled as “front” + “sword”) recently (lol).
–How did you feel when you received the offer for this work?
Katori:First of all, I was surprised. However, my feeling quickly changed to wanting to try it. Well, even though I am going to take on the challenge, I will not forget the attitude of “having fun while acting,” and I want to do a good job together with the staff and cast. I hope it becomes a drama that will make everyone in front of the TV say, “That was interesting.” …I’m saying something very accurate, right? (lol)
――What impression did you have about the synopsis and plot of this work?
Katori:An important role of TV dramas is to depict dream worlds and other worlds that are far from reality, but in this drama, we are trying to depict something more familiar, a glimpse into people’s lives. I think this will also be depicted. That’s why I hope these simple things can serve as “hints for living tomorrow” for everyone living in the real world. I think we live in an era where no one would be able to proudly answer the question, “Are you honestly looking forward to your life?” …Well, that’s a really valid comment (lol).
–What is your impression of the character Ippei Omori? Also, if you have any enthusiasm or things you are trying to keep in mind when playing Ippei, please let us know.
Katori:Ippei is what you would call a “worst man,” but Shingo-chan is actually a very nice person (lol), so I want to do my best to become a real “worst man”! If someone says, “Shingo-chan is the worst this time,” I’ll probably win (lol). That said, of course I would like you to see how such a horrible man grows from there. What exactly does he think and what kind of realizations does he get? I would like to explore this area while discussing it with the director and all the staff.”
–The main character, Ippei, decides to run for election in order to change society. Do you feel any sympathy for Ippei?
Katori:A politician’s job is completely different from mine, but when I think about it, I feel like there are some similarities. I usually express my thoughts through songs and other things. There are people who sympathize with that, and a lot of them come together…that’s what we do as a job. I feel that this is somewhat similar to the way politicians convey to their voters their aspirations and thoughts of wanting to change the world, and then try to implement them. Having said that, there is still a huge gap between people like me who watch the news every day and say, “Isn’t there someone who can do a better job?” and people who are seriously considering running for office. There’s no doubt about it. I think it’s really difficult to decide that you want to change the world and take the first step of voting. So I’m looking forward to seeing what big step Ippei will take when he decides to run for election. I’m sure Ippei, the character I play, takes it lightly at first (lol).
–Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the broadcast.
Katori:Shingo Katori will appear in a Fuji TV drama series for the first time in a while! Lately, there are so many dramas being aired on each station that I think it’s hard to choose, but next January, please choose Shingo-chan! (lol)
■Producer: Taku Kitano (Fuji Television Drama Production Department) Comments
The various issues that abound in daily life are inextricably linked to politics. Even if it seems difficult to solve at first glance, if you start with the small things right in front of you, you can change the world for the better.
I wanted to deliver that kind of hope to today’s times, so I thought of combining the unique genres of election and family to create a story about the worst man in Japan trying to change his family, society, and Japan. .
I couldn’t be more excited to have Shingo Katori as the lead role in this grand challenge. Be sure to tune in every week to see how Ippei Omori, the worst man in Japan, played by Katori, will face the challenges faced by his family and the people around him, and how he will change society in the future. I hope you watch it until the end.
Now that everyone is living with anxiety about the future, I would like to work together with Katori-san and the cast and staff to deliver a drama that will make you laugh and cry every week and give you energy for tomorrow. . Please look forward to it!

Program information

Fuji TV seriesThursday Theater “Japan’s Worst Man *My Family Was a Fake”
Starts in January 2025
Every Thursday 22:00-22:54

Starring: Shingo Katori and others

staff
Screenplay: Yosuke Masaike (“Haken Anime!” etc.) Naomi Hiruta (“Knitting a Boat ~ I’ll Make a Dictionary ~” etc.) Satoko Okazaki (“Even If You Don’t Do It for Me” etc.) Sunto Miura ( etc.) “Zeichō – There’s a reason why I can’t pay” and others) *In order of number of episodes
Director: Takuro Oikawa (“Anonymous ~ Metropolitan Police Department “Finger Murder” Task Force”, “The Quiz Show”, etc.), etc.
Produced by: Taku Kitano (“Fence”, “Fake News, or Stories from a War Somewhere Far Away”, etc.)