Exclusive Interview Winter, 2017
Model/actress Koyuki plays the protagonist Yuzuko Nanakusa in "Flat Broke Mom" currently on-air every Sunday at 9pm. Ever since her acting debut, she has starred in various hit dramas and movies and climbed her way up to becoming one of the top actresses in Japan. In her private life, Koyuki is a mother of three children and continues to shine more brightly. In this interview, she shared her genuine, candid thoughts about her role as well as the story.
Q
How did you feel when you were offered your role in this drama?
A
I'm a mother myself, and I have friends who are single mothers. When the producer told me he wanted to create a story about a single mother, it made me want to be involved so that I can help encourage all women out there, with or without children, who are striving in today's society.
Q
Tell us what you thought when you read the script.
A
My character Yuzuko is a single mom. Through my role, I want to show things like true strength to live. In the story, Yuzuko faces various sudden changes and challenges. She stumbles and struggles but continues to fight her way through. I'd like to keep on developing my character and story by constantly trying out new, different things.
Q
How do you prepare for your role?
A
I do research and also interview single moms. But I felt it would be sort of problematic if this drama were to focus only on the element of "single mother." In reality, being a single mom is extremely tough and situations differ from person to person. So, it'd be rather dark and too serious if the story depicted just the social issues surrounding single-parent families. Being a single mom is merely one element of Yuzuko's character, and we still don't know what sorts of happenings await her from here. This is a fictional drama, so I'd like to explore how I can bring out the fun and entertaining qualities of the story.
Q
What's Yuzuko's personality like?
A
She's a hard worker and doesn't like to ask others to help her. She has a bit of a competitive side to her, and that's probably why she's not good at adjusting to the society.
Q
This drama also has comedic elements, correct?
A
When you try to make something funny, people can see through that it's intentional and then it's not funny anymore. I hope we can make viewers chuckle by just doing something so seriously to the point it becomes quirky and funny.
Q
Yuzuko loses her job and her money at the very beginning of the story.
A
Well, I've never played a character like her before. *laugh* I mean, the title being "Flat Broke Mom," I can't help but wonder how the story will turn out. With my costumes, we don't use any expensive clothes from famous designers in order to make Yuzuko more real and believable. Regardless of their financial situations, the single moms that I know are all very minimalist. Although they don't own a lot of things, they are always so chic and sophisticated. I think taking this sort of things into the drama can make it even more interesting.
Q
So, Yuzuko tries to uncover the hidden side of her company's bankruptcy.
A
Yes. Well, she was sort of pushed into it by Kakihara (Atsushi Ito). In reality, I think it'd be quite difficult for one single mother to fight against a big corporation. In this series, Yuzuko decides to stand up and take actions to protect her and her children's lives. Unraveling of the dark, hidden sides of the society is the highlight of this drama, along with how Yuzuko deals with her life's ups and downs.
