■A “Shogi x Courtroom” drama depicting the struggles of a “novice lawyer who can read a hundred moves ahead but can’t read the atmosphere” and an “too kind young lawyer who can’t read two moves ahead”!
The drama “Dragon of the Court” starring Mone Kamishiraishi and co-starring Mahiro Takasugi will be broadcast on TV Tokyo from January 17, 2025.
In this work, the main character, who was expected to become the first professional female shogi player but turned to become a lawyer, works hard with the young director of a law firm whose survival is at risk. A shogi x exciting legal drama with a completely original script about a “novice lawyer who can read a hundred moves ahead but can’t read the atmosphere” and a “too kind young lawyer who can’t read two moves ahead” who solve cases by comparing them to their favorite game of shogi.
The main character, Tatsumi Tendo, is played by a person who has been active in all fields of film, television, and stage, including the movie “All About Dawn”, the TV drama series “Come Come Everybody” (NHK), and the stage play “Spirited Away”. , Mone Kamishiraishi will be starring in a TV Tokyo drama for the first time as she prepares to tour nationwide as an artist. He plays a novice lawyer who doesn’t read the mood, but solves cases using courtroom strategies that incorporate his specialty, shogi.
Tatsumi’s buddy, lawyer Kotaro Ayuda, will be played by Mahiro Takasugi, who has appeared in various dramas and movies such as the taiga drama “Hikaru Kimi e” (NHK) and the movie “Oasis”, and is expanding his range of activities. . He plays an “too kind” lawyer who puts his clients first and whose firm, which he inherited from his father, is at risk of survival.
Completely original screenplay by Masashi Todayama, who also worked on “Aibo” and “Kasouken no Onna.” The director is “The Demon King of Job Change” and “Teacher, could you please sit next to me?” Takahiro Horie, who is known for his works such as
A shogi genius who doesn’t read the atmosphere makes an unprecedented move as a novice lawyer!? What is the path to victory? Pay attention to the shogi x exciting legal drama “Dragon of the Court”, brought to you by Mone Kamishiraishi and Mahiro Takasugi’s lawyer buddy.
■ Mone Kamishiraishi role & comment
A novice lawyer at Ayuda Law Office whose father is a judge. He originally wanted to become a professional shogi player, but something led him to become a lawyer. Although he doesn’t read the atmosphere, he uses courtroom strategies that incorporate his specialty, shogi, to help solve cases…!? He usually wears glasses, but in important situations, he takes them off and enters the courtroom in Japanese attire.
Q. Please tell us how you felt when you were chosen to appear in the drama and what you thought after reading the script.
Kamishiraishi:The unusual combination of “shogi and courtroom” got my heart racing, and my excitement grew each time the cast was decided. While replaying the fast-paced and expressive script in my head with each person’s voices, I was eagerly waiting for filming to begin while playing shogi and studying law.Q. Please tell us your enthusiasm for playing Tatsumi Tendo and your impressions of the role you will be playing.
Kamishiraishi:I think there comes a moment in everyone’s life when they have to come to terms with something they love. Ryumi, who searches for her own way even though she is troubled and hurt, is a strong, dazzling, sometimes dangerous, and very interesting person. I learned a lot from his attitude of aiming straight for “winning” while being blessed with the people around him. I would be happy if everyone could love it.Q. Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the drama.
Kamishiraishi:With a great team, we all continued to take on difficult lines and scenes, and we continued to improve step by step. I started from scratch with both shogi and law, but now I love both. I think this drama conveys that charm to the viewers. I would be happy if you could look forward to further updates and broadcasts!■Mahiro Takasugi role & comments
Director and attorney at Ayuda Law Office. He is a “too kind” lawyer who puts his clients first, but the firm he inherited from his father is in crisis. Even though they are being swayed by Ryumi, they struggle together.
Q. Please tell us how you felt when you were chosen to appear in the drama and what you thought after reading the script.
Takasugi:I’ve always wanted to play the role of a lawyer someday, so finally! Along with this feeling, I also felt anxious about whether I would be able to play the role. It was the first time in my life that I had read a script that included explanations of shogi, as well as a lot of lawyer terms. However, it’s not a difficult story, and there are interesting elements scattered throughout, so I enjoyed reading it.Q. Please tell us your enthusiasm for playing Torataro Ayuda and your impressions of the role you will be playing.
Takasugi:I can’t help but love the director, Torataro, who puts his clients first, but is somewhat unreliable. When I read the script, I imagined her working hard while being helped by many people, so I would be happy if I could portray her like that.Q. Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the drama.
Takasugi:When you hear that it’s about a lawyer, some people may think it’s difficult or think they don’t understand shogi, but we also explain it in the movie so that you don’t get left behind. I’m here! There are comedic elements, and the cast is all great, so I hope everyone will look forward to it.■TV Tokyo Drama Room Koichi Hamaya (producer) comment
When I researched female shogi players, I was shocked to find out that there has never been a professional female shogi player, and that the path to becoming a professional shogi player is extremely difficult, and that many geniuses fail mid-way through their dreams. This work is a story about the main character, who disappears just before the birth of the first female shogi player, and her new start.
Mr. Kamishiraishi’s appearance in Japanese attire makes him perfect for the role. She loves this role so much that she brought her shogi pieces to the London production of the play in order to get used to the game. The normally quiet Tatsumi is captivating as she turns into a fighter, and Kamishiraishi breathes life into this unique protagonist who attends court in Japanese attire.
Also, we have a very, very wonderful co-star, including Mahiro Takasugi! Another highlight is the shogi courtroom strategy that goes beyond imagination, thanks to the skills of Mr. Todayama, who has been leading the Japanese mystery drama world, and the up-and-coming director Horie.
There are still many things I would like to explain, but I feel embarrassed for the producer’s comments to be so long, so please watch the drama itself!
Program information
Drama 9 “Dragon in the Court”
Starts on January 17, 2025
Every Friday from 21:00
*10 minutes expanded for the first time 21:00-22:04
Broadcasting stations: TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TV Setouchi, TV Hokkaido, TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting
Distribution: Real-time distribution with “TVer”
Missed delivery on the ad-supported free distribution service “Netmo TV Tokyo” (TV Tokyo HP, TVer, Lemino)
Starring: Mone Kamishiraishi
Co-star: Mahiro Takasugi
Screenplay: Masashi Todayama
Director: Takahiro Horie, Yuichi Katayama
Music: Daisuke Shinoda
(C) “Dragon of the Court” Production Committee
■Introduction
Torataro Ayuda (Mahiro Takasugi) is the director of Ayuda Law Office, who inherited his father’s office. After his father’s time when he had many lawyers, Torataro is now the only lawyer he works with. One day, a suspicious woman, Tatsumi Tendo (Mone Kamishiraishi), whom he meets at the courthouse, suddenly hands him an envelope. Inside the envelope labeled “Sealing Hand” was written a prediction of the outcome of the verdict, and it turned out to be perfectly accurate… Although she has no experience as a lawyer, Torataro and paralegal Rie Inui, impressed by her ability to foresee the future, decide to hire Ryumi as a lawyer on a trial basis. Ryumi, who used to play shogi, compares the incident to the standard of shogi and leads to a solution!?
Program site
https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/dragon/
