Q
What was your first reaction when you were offered a role in "NAOMI & KANAKO"?
A
I thought this would be a very difficult series to make, because at the very beginning of the story, it is already revealed that Naomi and Kanako are to kill Kanako's husband Tatsuro and why they've decided to kill him. So, (starting the series from there,) I wondered how we could go about developing the story, and from what angle the story should be depicted. Also, I felt we needed to think real carefully and thoroughly about how we could keep our audience captivated despite having revealed all of the things that should normally be kept as mystery.
Q
What was your initial impression after reading the script?
A
I read the original novel before the script, and my first thought after reading the book was that the story was depicted in a way that felt strangely real. For example, there are some obvious flaws in their murder plan, and their reasoning behind why their plan would work is sort of immature. Also, even though they try to pull off the perfect crime, sometimes they act impulsively on emotions, or there are times where they are not thorough enough with their plan. So it made me so nervous and agitated while reading. *laugh* In adapting the novel to a drama series, the crew members and I discussed how we could best portray the change within the characters of Naomi and Kanako--from a pair of just ordinary women to becoming partners in crime.
Q
Kanako and Naomi seem to get tougher and tougher after they decided to kill Tatsuro.
A
Kanako suddenly becomes very strong once she's made up her mind about killing Tatsuro. I mean, essentially it's for her own sake, so I think her mental switch has been flipped on all the way and she's convinced herself to never cry or lament about the situation from that point on. I think Kanako is the type of person who can turn on her mental switch easily. She's very genuine-hearted and innocent, so when she believes in something, she wouldn't give it any hesitation or second thoughts. If only Tatsuro were a nice husband and treated Kanako differently, she would have made a really wonderful wife. I can sympathize greatly with her feelings and pain, and feel compassion towards Kanako as I play this role.
Q
Lastly, could you give a message to the viewers of the show?
A
I hope this drama will give viewers a refreshing feeling through watching the story of these women who find themselves standing at the crossroads of life and decide to thread out the strength to break out of their situation. Out of desperation, Kanako and Naomi have gone down a very dark, dangerous path, but I hope viewers will follow their journey and cheer them on through the end. In order to achieve that, I know I have to give my whole self to this drama, and I'm determined to continue working hard together with all the cast and crew members, so please continue watching and enjoy the show!
