■ “I was worried that I would look like a student” (Yamashita Mizuki)
Narita Ryo stars in the Yomiuri TV/Nippon TV Sunday drama “Furitsumore Kodoku na Shi yo.” This human suspense drama, in which two incidents, one from the present and one from the past, intertwine, draws viewers into a vortex of mystery. A comment has arrived from Yamashita Mizuki, who plays Mori Touko, one of the protagonists in the modern-day story.
Touko Mori (Mizuki Yamashita)
Seven years after the so-called “Haikawa House Incident” in which the skeletal remains of 13 children were found in a certain mansion, a girl named Miku (Mizuno Kyoko) who has a tattoo of the mark left at the scene, known as the Rikka mark, goes missing. Is the Haikawa House Incident not over yet?
Saeki Jin (Narita Ryo), a former detective who once investigated the Haikawa House case, is pursuing the whereabouts of Miku with Mori Touko (Yamashita Mizuki), a weekly magazine reporter. At the same time, one of the children who survived the Haikawa House case, Okishima Maya (Naka Mami), falls to her death. Rensui Kanon (Yoshikawa Ai), another survivor of the Haikawa House case, is suspected of being involved in the disappearance and fall death of the girl.
In the eighth episode, which aired on August 25th, the reason why Mori, a weekly magazine reporter played by Yamashita Mizuki, is investigating the disappearance of a young girl is revealed. In high school, Mori wanted to get closer to her classmate Higashino Azusa (Asakawa Rina), who was unable to fit in with the people around her, so she lied and said that she also had a difficult family life so that she could understand Azusa. However, when Azusa found out about the lie and committed suicide shortly after, Mori became a reporter to atone for her sins and is investigating the case.
Mori (Yamashita Mizuki) and her high school classmate Higashino Azusa (Asakawa Rina)
“She died because I pretended to understand,” he said. “This time, I don’t want to just pretend to understand and let it end there.” Mori said that this is the thought that keeps him investigating the case.
Saeki and Mori, who are investigating the disappearance of a young girl, discover Miku in a shelter. She says she was with Kanon while she was missing. Kanon disappeared after leaving Miku a poem that begins with “Pile up lonely death.” Meanwhile, a new skeleton is found near the Haikawa residence, and it turns out to be Kamishiro Takeru (Mokushiro Kazuto), who was thought to be one of the survivors of the Haikawa residence incident.
The deaths of the children at the Haikawa residence are revealed one after another. What truth will Saeki and Mori find at the end of the mystery they are pursuing?
■ Episode 8 (broadcast on August 25th) Synopsis
“What did you do…?”
When Saeki (Ryo Narita) reunites with Kanon (Ai Yoshikawa), he can’t help but ask her about the murder of Maya (Mami Naka) and the disappearance of a girl named Miku. Kanon’s involvement in both cases is suspected. However, Kanon says, “I have no intention of involving Saeki-san again,” and leaves.
At the same time, a skeletonized body was discovered near the Haikawa residence. Mori (Yamashita Mizuki) worries that it may be Miku. Furthermore, it turns out that Kanon was seen at the location where the body was found a few days earlier…!?
Later, Saeki and Mori are listening to the story from Satoru (Matsumoto Reiji). Satoru says, “Kenryu (Mokushiro Kazuto) tore my family apart,” and begins to talk about the events at the Haikawa residence.
As Takeru’s past becomes clear, a certain survivor of the Haikawa residence incident is in danger.
Kenryu (Kazuto Mokudai)
■ Episode 9 (broadcast on September 1st) Synopsis
Saeki (Ryo Narita) finds Kanon (Ai Yoshikawa) in Kurado Village, the hometown of Haikawa Juzo (Fumiyo Kohinata). He suggests that they “run away” together, but then a man with a scar on his face appears. Saeki is attacked with a knife, but manages to hold the man down.
“Run, Kanon!”
Saeki is surprised by the man’s unexpected words. Kanon looks at him sadly, then turns away and runs off…!?
Just then, Gomi (Kuroki Meisa) arrives. The man is arrested on the spot for attempted murder, but refuses to reveal anything about his motive or his identity. Meanwhile, the skeletonized body found near the Haikawa residence turns out to be that of Takeru (Mokushiro Kazuto).
Meanwhile, Saeki finds out that he had kept quiet about meeting Kanon at the cemetery. Gomi tells him, “I can’t let you get any more involved.”
Jin Saeki (Ryo Narita) and Mori (Mizuki Yamashita)
Interview with Mizuki Yamashita
Q. How did it feel to wear a school uniform after such a long time?
Mizuki Yamashita:At this age (25), I haven’t played many student roles, so it’s been a while since I last did so. I was worried about whether I would look like a student, but the staff, Narita-san, and other cast members on set said, “Show us a bit of your uniform!” and livened up the atmosphere, so I think I was able to act without feeling awkward.Q. The reason why Mori pursues the case is because of his school days. Please tell us your impressions of playing Mori as a student.
Yamashita:The fact that one’s actions and words have caused someone pain is a cross that must be borne for the rest of one’s life, and even though Mori knows that he has killed someone, he is not punished or arrested. I think that this must have been more difficult for Mori. I feel that living in a world where no one blames oneself while feeling guilty about what one has done is perhaps a heavier burden to bear than being arrested or being tried by law.As Mori’s own past and his desire to “find Miku-chan. I want to investigate this case properly” are connected, if it turns out that he is acting because of his past, it feels like he is letting his personal feelings get in the way a little too much… The fact that Mori chose to work as a reporter for a weekly magazine means that he carries his own past with him, but also values his own sense of justice.
I think that from episode 9 onwards, we will be able to see Mori’s sense of mission as he pursues the case, hoping that by conveying the truth about this incident to the world, he can send a message not only to those involved in the Haikawa Residence incident, but also to the suffering children and the adults around them. In episode 8, we were finally able to tell the viewers about Mori’s past, and I hope that you will look forward to the story progressing from here.
Q. The modern-day story continues with a fast-paced development, so please tell viewers what highlights and points of interest they should look out for.
Yamashita:The modern-day setting of 2024 is an original part of the drama that is not in the original work, so be sure to enjoy episodes 9 and 10, where you will see how the series of events so far will come to an end and all the hints and mysteries up to now will come together to reveal the truth!
Program Information
Yomiuri TV/Nippon TVSunday Drama “Pile up lonely deaths”
Every Sunday from 22:30
Screenplay: Natsu Hashimoto
Directed by: Eisuke Naito, Takashi Ninomiya, Takahiro Takasugi
Theme song: Aimyon “Zarame” (unBORDE/Warner Music Japan)
Cast: Ryo Narita, Ai Yoshikawa, Rikyu Hagiwara, Daiki Sato, Mami Naka, Rei Matsumoto, Kazuto Mokudai, Kakaroni Kuriya, Mizuki Yamashita, Meisa Kuroki, Toru Nomaguchi, Fumiyo Kohinata
Original story: “Fall, Pile Up, Lonely Death” by Ryuichi Ii, manga by Shota Ito (serialized in Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket)
(C)Ryuichi Ii, Shota Ito/Kodansha (C)ytv
“Fall, Lonely Death” program site
https://www.ytv.co.jp/furitsumore/
