■“I want to do my best as an actor so as not to disappoint the expectations of the viewers.” (Hey! Say! JUMP Yuto Nakajima)
The drama “Himitsu~THE TOP SECRET~”, starring Ri Mitsuto Itagaki and Yuto Nakajima, has been selected as the “Monthly 10 Drama” on Kantele/Fuji TV’s Monday 22:00 slot for the January 2025 period.
This work is set in the Ninth Forensic Laboratory, commonly known as “The Ninth,” at the National Police Research Institute, and uses special MRI technology that can reproduce the deceased’s memories before they were alive in the form of images. , a human suspense film in which the buddy of novice investigator Kazuyuki Aoki uncovers the truth of a case that was considered unsolvable.
Rimitsu Itagaki will play the role of Tsuyoshi Takigi, Yuto Nakajima will play the role of Kazuyuki Aoki, and Katsuhiro Suzuki, a former 9th member who was more than a close friend of Takigi. Itagaki will be starring in a terrestrial golden band drama series for the first time. This will be Nakajima’s first leading role in a singing drama.
The Ninth Forensic Laboratory at the National Institute of Police Science, commonly known as the Ninth (a fictitious organization), uses a special MRI scanner to scan the brains of victims and perpetrators of heinous and serious crimes when they die. We will carry out an “MRI investigation” that will be visualized. Because the images are what the deceased “saw,” they can also reflect hallucinations, illnesses, delusions, and preconceived notions.
Tsuyoshi Maki, who has an extraordinary appearance, astounding memory, and keen insight, is the founding member and head of the 9th group. After losing his best friend and colleague Katsuhiro Suzuki in a certain incident, Suzuki is assigned a rookie investigator named Kazuyuki Aoki. Although they feel guilty and conflicted because they see the “feelings” and “secrets” that the deceased kept hidden until the very end, they struggle to solve difficult cases and find their irreplaceable buddies. It becomes.
■Mitsuto Itagaki, who was selected as Nikkei Trendy’s “Next Year’s Face”, will be starring in a terrestrial Golden Belt serial drama for the first time!
Tsuyoshi Takigaki, played by Itagaki, is calm and collected, but has the audacity to stand up to authority for the sake of justice. Although he doesn’t look like someone in his 30s, he has been the head of the Ninth since its founding, has been involved in all cases, and has seen all kinds of “secrets.” Although he sometimes treats Aoki and his subordinates in an overbearing and harsh manner, he is also more sensitive and considerate of his subordinates than anyone else.
Itagaki is a talented young actor who will celebrate his 10th anniversary since his debut in 2023. Recently, he has been appearing in popular movies such as “Blue Period”, “Hakkenden”, and “Cells at Work!”. He also shows a diverse side in the field of art, holding his first solo exhibition. He has been selected as the “Face of Next Year” by the magazine “Nikkei Trendy” and is one of the most popular actors currently attracting attention. Although he is young, what kind of side will he show in this work, armed with the delicate and rich expressive power he has cultivated over a career of over 10 years?
In fact, Itagaki is blood type AB like Tsuyoshi Takigi, whom he plays, and their birthday is also on January 28th. It can be said that the encounter between Itagaki and this work was truly “fate”.
■Yuto Nakajima, who is starring in a singing drama for the first time, takes on the challenge of playing two roles for the first time!
Nakajima will play Katsuhiro Suzuki, Takigi’s best friend from college and colleague at the Ninth, and Kazuyuki Aoki, a novice investigator assigned to the Ninth after Suzuki’s death, making this his first time playing two roles. Suzuki is an easy-going, sociable leader who is in contrast to Takigi, while Aoki is an elite but kind and pure person, and plays the role of the ninth bullied. Even though Aoki knows that he resembles the late Suzuki, he supports Kigi, grows up, and becomes an irreplaceable buddy for Kigi.
In addition to his activities as a member of Hey! Say! JUMP, Nakajima continues to engage in a wide range of activities as an actor, including starring in the dramas “SUITS” (Fuji Television), “Junai Dissonance” (Fuji Television), and the movie “#Manhole.” are. Her hobby is photography, and in addition to posting on Instagram, she is so good at it that she even has a serial in a magazine. This is his first time co-starring with Itagaki, and it will be interesting to see what kind of side he will show in this work.
Nakajima’s birthday is August 10th. This coincides with the anniversary of Suzuki’s death in the original work, and we can sense a deep connection to the work.
■The original work is a masterpiece that won the 15th Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Award!
The original work is a manga of the same name by Reiko Shimizu, which won the 15th Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Award. It was published in the magazine “MELODY” published by Hakusensha from 1999 to 2012, and was completed in 12 volumes. Currently, a spin-off of the same work, “Secret Season 0,” is being serialized.
The screenplay will be written by Tsugumako Sato, who has worked on numerous hit works such as the “Unfair” movie and TV drama series, the drama “Siren Detective x Kanojo x Completely Evil Woman,” and the movie “Onmyoji 0.”
■Comment from Ri Mitsuto Itagaki
I remember being overwhelmed by the energy of the work when I read the original work for the first time. It takes a great deal of determination to portray the work “Secret,” which Mr. Shimizu poured his heart and soul into and the love of so many people, as a drama, and to be given the role of Tsuyoshi Takigi. I felt that. However, as an actor, I also believe in the energy that real people have, so I will do my best to deliver the splendor and energy of this work. The role of Tsuyoshi Takigi, who I will be playing this time, is introduced as a cool and intelligent character who is strong towards his subordinates. However, I think his strength comes from knowing that the world is ruthless and impermanent, and that he knows that unless he is strong, he cannot protect himself and what is important to him. He is actually very weak, fragile, and sensitive, and I want to stand by him and walk with him, sharing his suffering and pain.
I had the opportunity to work with Mr. Nakajima for the first time, and I felt a great sense of acceptance and security in him. I feel that he will definitely help me a lot, both in working together on the project and as Tsuyoshi Takigi. Can an MRI investigation provide relief for people’s sadness, loneliness, and the huge cross they carry? What does justice and love mean to us? We will carefully create such a human drama, so please look forward to it.■Yuto Nakajima comment
While the character of Aoki in the original work is very cool, there is also a gap between him and his human-like loveliness. I think it would be great if I could bring out that kind of humanity in a live-action role. I’m a little nervous because the hurdles are high, but I want to enjoy the shoot and respect the work. I read the manga, and I was impressed that the script was the same as the original, so I want to do my best as an actor so as not to disappoint the viewers. It’s a setting where it’s possible to look into people’s heads, but how difficult is it ethically to do so? I think that part of it is the trigger for the human drama. Although each person plays two roles, I would like to borrow the help of the makeup and costume department for the appearance. As for acting, this is my first time acting with Mr. Itagaki, so I think there are some things that will change depending on the interaction between the two of us, and I hope we can somehow differentiate our roles.
When I first met Mr. Itagaki, it was as if he had come out of a manga, and I was just like, “Takigi-san.” I felt a very dignified, dignified, aura-like aura.
There are many shocking incidents in the drama, but the feelings and circumstances of the suspect as to why they happened, the sadness, the sadness, and the feeling of having nowhere to go, are often revealed. Although it has some sci-fi aspects, I think it is a work that also carefully depicts human emotions, so I hope people will pay attention to that aspect as well.■Original author Reiko Shimizu’s comment
When I was approached about making it into a drama, I readily agreed without much hesitation. The reason for this was that the script was written by Tsugumako Sato, who I respect and am a big fan of works such as “Unfair,” “K-20 Kaijin 20 Faces and Legend,” and “Onmyoji 0.” It has been decided that the rare actor “Itagaki Ri Mitsuto” who can easily play the role of Aoki will be participating, and the cool “Nakajima Yuto” will be playing the role of Aoki. Dramas and movies are not like manga, where you can draw everything from the main character’s hair to the shape of the clouds in the background, almost all by yourself. It is a world that can only be completed when tens or hundreds of times more people’s thoughts are involved than in manga. That’s why it’s scary, and that’s why miracles happen. I hope this drama will be a happy history for everyone, including the actors and staff who are fortunate enough to be participating in this project, as well as us viewers who will be watching the drama.■Screenwriter Shimako Sato’s comment
“Secret -Top Secret-” was published in the March issue of Monthly Melody in 1999 with an American presidential edition, and from the January 2001 issue, the story of Japan’s Science and Police Research Institute “Ninth” began. I tried to make it into a movie from the beginning of the series, and I launched several plans, but it wasn’t until 2025 that my dream finally came true. I love all of Reiko Shimizu’s works and am a fan. Mr. Shimizu himself remembers that the manga artist Moto Hagio introduced him to him a long time ago. The illustrations are beautiful, each story is detailed, full of originality, and the psychological depictions are detailed and moving, so I am very honored to be in charge of the script. Rimitsu Itagaki will play the role of Tsuyoshi Takigi, and Yuto Nakajima will play the dual roles of Kazuyuki Aoki and Katsuhiro Suzuki. The main director is Kana Matsumoto. I’m really looking forward to seeing how it looks and moves. Everyone please look forward to it. We will do our best to meet your expectations.■Producer Yoko Toyofuku comment
I wish I could make this wonderful work into a movie someday. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Shimizu for giving me the opportunity to make that dream come true. The power of the original story was like a thread of fate that connected screenwriter Tsugumako Sato and Rimitsu Itagaki and Yuto Nakajima, who felt that “if you want to play Takigi and Aoki, these are the only two people you can play.” I think it attracted me. People tend to keep things that are truly important to themselves. Through this work, I hope that you will be moved by the “truth that has never been told” near you, and that you will be able to watch the conflicts and lives of “Takigi and Aoki”, the “heartiest buddies” ever. is.
Program information
Kantele Fuji TV“Secret~THE TOP SECRET~”
Starting in January 2025
Every Monday 22:00-22:54
Starring: Mitsuto Itagaki, Yuto Nakajima, and others
Original work: Reiko Shimizu “Secret -Top Secret-” “Secret season0” (serialized in Hakusensha’s “Melody”)
Screenplay: Tsugumako Sato
Directed by: Kana Matsumoto, Tadaaki Horai, and others
Producer: Yoko Toyofuku, Tadashi Kondo, Tamon Kondo
Production cooperation: C&I Entertainment
Production work: Kantele
Official website
https://www.ktv.jp/top-secret/
