■ “It was the first time I’d seen (Shota Watanabe) talking so fluently with a woman (laughs)” (Fuma Kikuchi)
It has been revealed that Kikuchi Fuma (timelesz), who is starring in the new drama “The Reason We Fall in Love” (starting October 12th), will appear in the final episode (broadcast on September 14th) of the drama “Aoshima-kun is Mean,” co-starring Watanabe Shota (Snow Man) and Nakamura Anne.
The age-gap romance between Aoshima (Watanabe), a 26-year-old employee in the systems department at beverage manufacturer Cat Beverage, and Yukino (Nakamura), a 35-year-old employee in the general affairs department, is plagued by issues such as marriage problems due to differing views on love, the question of whether to live together or not, and even family problems such as Yukino being pressured to break up with Aoshima’s biological mother, Sakamoto Kumi (Kimura Tae), which became a hot topic with the hashtag “#OkanBlock.”
To top it off, on the way home from a date filled with happiness, Aoshima suddenly tells Yukino, “I won’t be able to see you anymore.” What does Aoshima really mean? Why did he suddenly say something like that?
The shocking final scene of the eighth episode caused a series of scream-like comments from viewers who had been following the love story between the two, such as, “I don’t want it to end with a happy ending (crying),” and “Why can’t they meet? I want them to be happy…” And finally, in the final episode, the time for their love to be resolved comes.
■In the final episode, Kikuchi Fuma, the star of the next drama “Why We Fall in Love,” will appear!
It is still fresh in our memory that Kikuchi Fuma would be starring in the October episode of Oshidora Saturday’s “The Reason We Fall in Love,” which caused a big stir. Meanwhile, Kikuchi also appeared in the final episode of “Aoshima-kun is Mean,” making the dream collaboration between the two best friends a reality.
Both works are about “office love,” and Kikuchi said, “I’ve been able to pass on this wonderful baton in this way, and I’d like to make this into a drama of my own, with private advice from the “office love seniors” who are close to me!”
Kikuchi, who knows the shy Watanabe well, said after filming their scene together, “I thought the atmosphere between him and Nakamura Anne was very natural. It was the first time I’d seen him talking so fluently with a woman (laughs). I realized there’s a side of Watanabe that you can only see on this set.” He seemed surprised at seeing his best friend for the first time.
When asked by Kikuchi how to overcome embarrassment in an office romance, Watanabe, the “office romance senior,” dismissed him, saying, “I was really nervous during the first week, so there’s nothing I can give you as advice (laughs).” Furthermore, regarding Kikuchi, who plays the taciturn Kurosawa Tomoya in “The Reason We Fall in Love,” Watanabe said, “I’m a bit worried when I heard that you’d “ban on ad-libs and laughter.” If Fuma can’t ad-lib, he’ll have a fit! (laughs).”
The two, who know each other so well, will be co-starring in a drama for the first time in a year since the drama “Fake Marriage” (2023). What was the scene where they both said, “The embarrassment won out”?
■ Interview with Shota Watanabe
Q. The baton for the lead role in the Oshidora Saturday slot will be handed over to Kikuchi Fuma. How do you feel about that?
Watanabe: Handing over the Oshidora baton to Fuma… we’re friends in private too, so it’s kind of embarrassing! We were together the day before this shoot, so it feels weird to meet him at work (laughs). And, in fact, I didn’t even know that Fuma would be appearing in the final episode. Fuma told me about it first, rather than from the agency or the drama set. Because I heard it directly from him, I wondered, “Was it okay for me to ask!?” and it created a weird atmosphere for a moment (laughs).Q. This is your first time acting together in a drama in a year since “Fake Marriage.” How was it acting together?
Watanabe: I’m grateful to Fuma because I’ve been asked to do a lot of dramas since “Fake Marriage”. I’m grateful to him not only as a friend, but also in terms of work. This time, our scene together was only for a moment, but when we acted together, I was embarrassed. It was kind of ticklish (laughs).Q. “The Reason We Fall in Love” is an office love story just like “Aoshima-kun is Mean,” so I would like to ask Watanabe-san for some advice or a message of support for Kikuchi-san.
Watanabe: During the first week of filming, I was really nervous, so I don’t have any advice to give (laughs). But as our love grew and the distance between us got bigger, I gradually got used to it (laughs).
In “The Reason We Fall in Love,” I think that Fuma’s taciturn personality makes him interesting. But when I heard that “ad-lib and laughter are forbidden,” I’m a little worried. If he can’t ad-lib, he’ll have a fit! (laughs) We need to make sure there’s a break somewhere… Fuma has both a comical side and a serious side, so I’m worried that he might suddenly explode (laughs).■ Interview with Fuma Kikuchi
Q. How did you feel when you received the baton to star in the Oshidora Saturday slot from Watanabe Shota?
Kikuchi: We were together the day before filming, so it feels a little weird meeting up for work. He didn’t even know I was going to be appearing this time! He responded like, “You’re kidding!”, so I got worried, thinking, “Maybe I shouldn’t have told him…”, but when I looked at the schedule, my name was written prominently, so I was relieved (laughs).Q. This is your first time acting together in a drama in a year since “Fake Marriage.” How was it acting together?
Kikuchi: Since then, Watanabe has been in a ton of dramas. I’m happy to be able to meet him again on the set of a drama. I’m also grateful to Watanabe, both as a friend and in the workplace.
This time, when I came to the set of “Aoshima-kun is Mean,” I realized that he was truly shy. And although it was only for a moment, when we acted together, his embarrassment got the better of him. I was so embarrassed that I kept looking at Watanabe’s stripes (Aoshima’s costume).Q. “The Reason We Fall in Love” is an office romance story just like “Aoshima-kun is Mean,” so is there anything you would like to ask Watanabe-san?
KikuchiI want to ask him, “Isn’t office romance embarrassing? How did you overcome that?” He’s a shy person to begin with, but I thought the atmosphere between him and Anne Nakamura was natural. It was the first time I’d seen him talk so fluently with a woman (laughs). I realized there’s a side of Watanabe that can only be seen on this set.Q. Finally, please tell us about your enthusiasm for the new drama “Why We Fall in Love.”
Kikuchi: In this way, I was able to pass on the wonderful baton, and since the Office Love senior is nearby… I would like to get some private advice from the “Office Love senior” and create a drama in my own way!
Program Information
TV Asahi Oshidora Saturday “Aoshima-kun is mean”
09/14 (Sat) 23:00-23:30 *Final episode
Original work: “Aoshima-kun is mean” by Yu Yoshii
Screenplay: Erika Seki
Cast: Watanabe Shota (Snow Man), Nakamura Anne
Junki Tozuka, Manatsu Akimoto, Ryoko Kobayashi, and others
Theme song: Snow Man “You Are Mine”
TV AsahiOshidora Saturday “The reason we fall in love”
Broadcast starts on October 12th
Every Saturday from 23:00 to 23:30
Cast: Fuma Kikuchi, Rinka Kumagaya and others
Original work: ma2 “The reason we fall in love” (serialized in Shucream’s “OUR FEEL”)
Screenplay: Yuri Yamada, Aya Watatane, Hisako Fujihira
Directed by: Hiroaki Yuasa, Shu Yoshino, Takeshi Matsuura
“The reason we fall in love” program site
https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/watakoi/
“Aoshima-kun is mean” program site
https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/aoshima_ijiwaru/
Snow Man OFFICIAL SITE
https://mentrecording.jp/snowman/
timelesz OFFICIAL SITE
https://ovtp.jp/
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