■“The members sent me off saying, “Don’t worry about me, just enjoy the drama with all your might and do your best!” During the year-end and New Year holidays, I could feel the reassurance and warmth of the members.” ( Kaito Matsukura)
The new drama “Tokyo Camouflage Hour” will begin airing on ABC TV (Kansai) on January 19th at 24:10 and on TV Asahi (Kanto) from January 18th at 26:30 in the “Drama L” slot.
A pre-broadcast interview with leading actor Kaito Matsukura (Travis Japan) has been released.
This drama is based on the popular omnibus comic “Tokyo Camouflage Hour” by Chiaki Matsumoto, which depicts a love story between a troubled man and woman living in Tokyo who are torn between their true feelings and reason, and has gained a lot of sympathy not only from women but also from men. Live-action version. It is also attracting attention because it is Hikorohi’s first time writing a script for a drama series.
■Kaito Matsukura interview just before broadcast
Q: Please tell us about the time you received the offer to star in a drama series for the first time.
Anyway, I was really happy! While in New York on their world tour (the group’s first world tour, “Travis Japan World Tour 2024 Road to A,” which visited six cities around the world), I spoke to them about starring in “Tokyo Camouflage Hour.” I was just in a hotel room with the members, and I was so happy when they said “Congratulations!” to me. Genta Matsuda said to me, “Come on!” (lol).At the end of the year, filming for the drama and rehearsals for the “Travis Japan Concert Tour 2025 VIIsual” will be in full swing. There were times when I couldn’t attend rehearsals for the concert, but the members sent me off and said, “Don’t worry about us, just enjoy the drama to the best of your ability and do your best!” It was a year-end and New Year holiday where I felt the reassurance and warmth of the members.
Q: What was it like being on set for your first starring role?
This is my first time appearing in a full-fledged drama series, and I’m learning every day. Despite having the responsibility of being the lead role, the staff and co-stars are a really warm team. In a good sense, I went into filming without thinking that I was playing the lead role.Q: How do you play the role of Hiroto?
When I moved to Tokyo from Yamagata, I tried to camouflage myself while getting used to the city, but I feel that the part of me that tends to put on a pretense is that I’m the type of person who shows it honestly in my facial expressions and words. I hope to be able to portray that clumsiness that cannot be hidden in a natural way.When I talked with the director and Hikorohi, I noticed that they were conscious of expressing fragments of real daily life in Tokyo in a natural way. When acting myself, I take on the challenge of keeping the atmosphere and image of the original work in high regard, while also infusing Hiroto with the essence that is unique to me.
Q: Are there any similarities between you and Hiroto?
I think I may have that clumsy, honest feeling that I can’t fully camouflage (lol). However, as the story progresses, Hiroto, who has moved to Tokyo, becomes more humane as he lives in Tokyo, about Sone-chan and the company, and I think, “This is what Hiroto would think.” I play the parts while putting my own feelings into them.Q: So, please tell us your impressions of your co-stars.
Yuki Katayama, who plays the role of Sone-chan, had the atmosphere of Sone-chan from the first time I met her, but her acting was very natural and matched the tone and temperature of the world of “Tokyo Camouflage Hour”. I’m doing it. As we co-starred, I felt moved by my emotions… I felt like the Sone-chan played by Katayama-san was drawing out my own Hiroto.
Hina Higuchi, who plays Meguro-chan, doesn’t have many scenes together, but the scene in the taxi in the second episode was memorable. I can feel that she is trying her best to play the role of Meguro-chan, and I have to do my best too! That’s what I felt.
Reio Matsumoto, who plays the role of bartender Ryo-kun, was practicing how to use a stirrer when making cocktails even during breaks. I’m also practicing magic. He was really good at that! The detailed role creation is amazing.
We have many scenes together with Niiyama-san, who plays Noda-senpai, and Okura (Sorato)-kun, who plays Baba-kun, and we talk all the time during breaks. It also feels like Hiroto, who moved to Tokyo in the movie, blends in at his workplace in Tokyo.
Q: It’s just before the broadcast, but what was Hiroto’s memorable line in the first episode?
Well…I want to do it. Since this scene was shown in the teaser, we received a lot of feedback from the fans, so it left an impression on me (lol).Q: It was certainly impressive (lol).
It’s a line that I would never say (lol). But I think that part of it is Hiroto’s loveliness.Q: The interestingness of the original work and the wonderful conversational play written by Hikorohi are also highlights.
yes. I think people can watch it as if they are peeking into real life that a lot of people can relate to. There are lines and essences written by Hikorohi that are both hilarious and relatable, and the last scenes of each episode have interesting endings, so I hope you can enjoy them until the end every week. I think so.
(C)ABC
Program information
“Tokyo Camouflage Hour”
ABC TV (Kansai) 2025/01/19 (Sun) 24:10~
TV Asahi (Kanto) 2025/01/18 (Sat) 26:30~
*Scheduled to be broadcast in other regions
After being broadcast on ABC TV, you can catch it on TVer!
Cast: Kaito Matsukura
Yuki Katayama, Hina Higuchi, Reio Matsumoto, Sorato Okura, Mio Yuki, Niiyama (Sayaka)
Original work: Chiaki Matsumoto “Tokyo Camouflage Hour” (Young King Comics/Shonen Gahosha)
Screenplay: Hikorohi Mihiro Tomiyasu
Director: Ayuta Yoshikawa, Miyako Yasoshima, Taketo Muroi
Producer: Yudai Minami (ABC TV) Junpei Sakurada (Horipro)
Production Production: Horipro
Production work: ABC
[Synopsis]
Born and raised in Yamagata Prefecture.
An innocent, fair-skinned local boy who just transferred to Tokyo suddenly has a one-night stand on a gorgeous Friday!?
My partner is an unusual older woman from the city.
Is this love… real? Or is it fake?
“A man who doesn’t come in the morning isn’t worth staying over…”
The true feelings and lies of modern men and women who live with loneliness in the gorgeous metropolis of Tokyo.
A poisonous emotional chill love comedy by popular comedian Hikorohi begins!
“Tokyo Camouflage Hour” program site
https://www.asahi.co.jp/tokyo_camouflage_hour/
