■“I fell in love with Takaya Nipei, who is full of humanity, and I was really happy to be able to play him.” (Akiyoshi Nakao)
Highlights and latest cuts of the first episode of the new drama “Ensemble” (Nippon TV) starting January 18th have been released. Furthermore, it has been announced that Akiyoshi Nakao and Nagai Morisako will be making guest appearances, and comments have also arrived.
“Ensemble” is about a “realistic” female lawyer, Sena Koyama (Haruna Kawaguchi), and an “idealistic” new lawyer, Yu Madohara (SixTONES Hokuto Matsumura). A bright and slightly sad legal love story in which people apply the lessons learned in their own love lives.
■“Ensemble” Episode 1
Sena Koyama, 30 years old, works as a lawyer at Takanashi Law Office. She is a realist who puts emphasis on cost-effectiveness, but she is also a popular lawyer who has gained a reputation for her approach to helping clients, and receives many requests for romantic troubles.
However, Sena herself has taken a break from love after a heartbreak eight years ago, and now lives in a two-family house with her mother Shoko (Asaka Seto).
Then Sena receives a request to represent her regarding the “problem of breaking an engagement.” The client is a woman named Arisa Mitsunaga (Nagai Morisako), and while she was meeting her parents, her fiancé Takaya Nihei (Akiyoshi Nakao) suddenly ran away.
Sena can’t help but relate to her own heartbreak eight years ago, but she decides to accept the request from a client who wants to claim compensation. However, Arisa seems to have some kind of secret.
Sena goes to the wedding hall where the meeting was held to investigate, and there she meets Yu Madohara, an idealistic 28-year-old rookie lawyer who says, “I want to think about my client’s happiness more than whether I can win the case.”
The two disagree over whether or not Arisa and Nihei were actually engaged, but when they interrogate the employees at the ceremony hall, it seems that there is no doubt that they were engaged.
Sena learns that Nihei was planning to propose, and sneaks into a church with Madohara. When Madohara learns that an elaborate surprise has been prepared in which the entire church will be lit up, he realizes that Nihei did not hate Arisai, but that there was some kind of “reason why he had to run away.” Well then, I say. However, Sena, who experienced the sudden disappearance of her lover eight years ago, objects to Madohara, saying that there is no reason for him to have to run away. The next day, it is discovered that Nihei has a past “arrest record”.
[Realism x Idealism]These two opposites clash as they work towards resolving their love problems. Then, the trial comes to a surprising conclusion, and Sena and Madohara reconcile.
And for some reason, Sena’s love trauma also begins to resolve. Will love be born between the two, or…?
■Akiyoshi Nakao comment
The more I thought about Takaya Nihei during filming, the more I came to like him, who is full of humanity, including his past and past conflicts, and I was really glad to be able to play him.
Having had such a happy time early in the new year with Director Kawai, Mr. Kawaguchi, Mr. Matsumura, and other talented people, I may have already used up all my luck for 2025. lol
“Ensemble” Thank you for your support.
■Nagai Morisako comment
I was very happy to be cast, but at the same time, since it was only one episode, I felt that I had an important role in conveying the atmosphere of the drama to the viewers, so I was determined to do my best.
The cheerful and warm atmosphere of all the co-stars and staff on set helped me a lot, and I enjoyed every shoot.
Mr. Nakao, who plays my partner, was also very kind, and I was able to imagine the relationship between Arisa and Nihei while filming.
I wanted to convey something to everyone, and I went through a lot of trial and error to shoot! I hope you enjoy watching it.
Program information
Nippon TV Saturday drama 10“ensemble”
Broadcast starts on January 18, 2025
Every Saturday 22:00-22:54
Cast: Haruna Kawaguchi, Hokuto Matsumura
Neru Nagahama, Jiro, Ayaka Higashino, Yuka Itaya
Asaka Seto / Ken Mitsuishi, Akiko Yagi, Kanon
Screenplay: Saki Kuniyoshi, Hayato Morohashi, Neil Nishioka
Theme song: aiko “Cinema” (PONY CANYON)
Music: Kaori Sawada
Chief producer: Tetsuhiro Ogino
Producer: Yosuke Goto, Hiroko Okura, Maki Kanazawa
Director: Hayato Kawai and others
Production cooperation: NTV Axon
Production work: Nippon Television
“Ensemble” program site
https://www.ntv.co.jp/ensemble/
