Kusanagi - Nakama as lovers in a war-period drama!
Kusanagi lead a 5-Nights Drama SP
Feb 12, Sponichi Annex
TBS will produce a 5-nights special drama lead by Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (35) of SMAP. To celebrate TBS 60th Year Anniversary, they will make a Hashida Sugako (84) drama, "JAPANESE AMERICANS" and it will be broadcasted in autumn this year. Kusanagi will play the role of the 2nd generation of a Japanese-American immigrant and also the role of his father. This would be the first time Tsuyoshi has to play 2 roles in one drama. Tsuyoshi is overwhelmed to be challenged a Hashida masterpiece with so many lines to memorize. Referring to this drama, Hashida said, "This is my will,".
The drama is also to celebrate the 65th year anniversary since the war ended. Hashida depicted "War and Peace" through telling the story of the Japanese-American family.
Kusanagi will play the role of the first generation of Japanese-American who worked as a farmer, but for his family, he joined the US armed forces. He will also play the role of the second generation of Japanese-American who has to depart to the front line to Europe.
Hashida is well-known for writing a script with so much lines. This time, each episode will have 2 hours duration of 10 hours total. The script is divided to 5 volumes of 574 pages in total.
Kusanagi comments, "There's so much lines. It will be hard to memorize them,". Furthermore he has to play 2 roles, "Such a luxurious thing that I get to play 2 roles in 1 drama... What will it be like, I wonder?".
He asked for an advice to Izumi Pinko (62) who starred many Hashida's dramas and she said, "There's no special way, you just have to normally memorize them all,". She will play the role of mother of the second generation man.
The filming period is 2 months filming in America, of 5 months in total. Kusanagi said, "It will be like filming 5 movies at once. What will happen to me? I might die in the middle of it,".
Furthermore, the director is Fukuzawa Katsuo (46) who directed "Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai", and asked for the lead, Nakai Masahiro to not eat anything a week before the climax scene filming. He is known as a director who gives evil instructions to achieve something.
Kusanagi feared a certain army training scene that was only written in 2 lines in the script. "It is not written that much in the script. But it looks like its gonna be the same like filming 2 pages scene. This is bad."
The filming will crank-in soon starting from the army training scene. The filming for this scene is scheduled to take 2 days. "Although I feel so nervous and anxious, this is a big chance. It's about family love, human love, the importance of peace and the dreadful war. I would like to give my body and soul for this drama!" Kusanagi said.
source: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20100212-00000045-spn-ent
Kusanagi Tsuyoshi will lead Hashida Sugako's Compilation Drama
Feb 12, Sankei Sports
In the occasion of TBS 60th Year Anniversay, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi of SMAP will lead a TBS 5-Nights Drama special, "JAPANESE AMERICANS" that will be broadcasted in autumn this year. It is an original script by scriptwriter, Hashida Sugako (84), about a Japanese-American immigrant family who is being made fun of in the WWII and emigrated to America 100 years ago. It is a big scale drama. This is the first time for Kusanagi to star a Hashida masterpiece and he said, "I will give my body and soul for this drama!".
"This is my first time to star such a big-scale drama like this. I feel nervous and anxious but its a big chance. I think its going to be a very special drama,"
During the interview, Kusanagi look very excited. To welcome the TBS 60th Year Anniversary next year, this will be the first anniversary drama. Furthermore, this is TBS first time to produce a 2 hours X 5 night drama and TBS trusted the leading role to Kusanagi.
The scriptwriter, Hashida, has written scripts for "OSHIN" and "Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari". She describes a Japanese pride and courage through war and peace. Kusanagi will play the role of the 2nd generation of Japanese-American who joined the US army forces in WWII, Hiramatsu Ichiro. He will also play the role of the young Nagayoshi, Ichiro's father. (Nakai Kiichi will play the old Nagayoshi)
This would be Kusanagi's first experience in both playing 2 roles in 1 drama and to star a Hashida drama. But he said, "I'll do my best!!". Regarding the long lines Hashida wrote in the script, Kusanagi bitterly laughed, "It is a full volume, indeed. Sensei's thoughts were all packed in the 5-episodes script. I think sensei is a genius,"
Kusanagi had also won the Hashida award in 2005. It is an award established by Hashida Sugako to reward those who has contributed to the on-screen culture. "In the award ceremony, Hashida-san said to me, 'I think Kusanagi-kun will be perfect to play in one of my work',"
Hashida-san worked on this "JAPANESE AMERICANS" script for 4 years, and since the beginning she wrote the leading character with an image of Kusanagi Tsuyoshi in her mind. Hashida-san said she has never wrote a character before with a specific actor image in her mind.
Hashida-san said, "Through the Japanese-American immigrant family, I wrote all my thoughts of war and peace, and this is my compilation. I think this would be my last attempt in writing a story with this theme,".
The filming will start in the middle of this months. The schedule is 5 months filming in total, including 2 months filming in America. "I would like to think of the hard times Japanese-American immigrants has to go through, while playing this role with all my heart,". Kusanagi Tsuyoshi will give his all might as an actor, while keeping the scriptwriter's thoughts in his mind.
source: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20100212-00000031-sanspo-ent
Kusanagi leads TBS 60th Anniversary Drama
First Time Acting Together with Nakama Yukie!
Feb 12, Sports Hochi
In autumn this year, a 5-nights drama, "JAPANESE AMERICANS", lead by Kusanagi Tsuyoshi of SMAP will be broadcasted, in the occasion of TBS 60th Year Anniversary. It is a script written by Hashida Sugako. It depicts the story of Japanese American immigrants who emigrated to America 100 years ago, and was being mocked while keep striving to live.
Kusanagi will play the role of the 2nd generation of Japanese-American, Hiramatsu Ichiro, also the role of the young version of his father. Ichiro's girlfriend will be played by Nakama Yukie (30) who will act together with Kusanagi for the first time. Nakai Kiichi (48) will play Ichiro's father role. Izumi Pinko (62) as his mother. And Matsuyama Ken'ichi (24) as his younger brother.
Kusanagi said, "It is big-scaled, so I want to give my all for it. I'll definitely go for it! Nakama-san seem to be tolerant (to other's misbehaviour), so I think she'll accept(understand) me,". Nakama said, "I see Ichiro who has faith and Kusanagi-san who seem to have a strong heart overlapping. I look forward to act together with him,".
Hashida said, "I was 20 years old during the war period. I've experienced before, in the middle, and after the war. This story will be my testament,".
This is the first time for TBS to broadcast a 5-nights drama. It will be handled by producer Setoguchi Katsuaki and director Fukuzawa Katsuo who worked on drama "Karei-naru Ichizoku" and movie "Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai". The filming will start in the middle of this month. It is also planned that they will have a filming in Manzanar, US.
source: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20100212-00000031-sph-ent
Kusanagi Feels Overwhelmed! First Time Work with Hashida Sugako
Feb 12, Daily Sports
(only translated a part that hasn't been mentioned)
Hashida who has never requested any casting for her characters, unusually requested Kusanagi to be the leading character. Actually, she started writing the script after they got a deal with Kusanagi's side. In other words, this is a drama made for Kusanagi.
source: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20100212-00000000-dal-ent
Nakama Yukie's role is Shinobu, a Consulate personnel's daughter who falls in love with Hiramatsu Ichiro (Kusanagi Tsuyoshi).
source: http://www.chunichi.co.jp/chuspo/article/entertainment/news/CK2010021202000124.html
According to this article, not only Tsuyoshi, but Hashida also had Nakama Yukie in her mind when she wrote Shinobu character.
She was the one who requested, "Please cast Kusanagi-san and Nakama-san for these roles,". She wrote the character with their image in mind.
source: http://www.asahi.com/showbiz/nikkan/NIK201002120026.html
In other words, Tsuyoshi and Nakama has been casted to play these roles since 2006 right before Hashida started writing the script! Sugoi!
Official website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/japanese-americans/
English synopsis of the story: http://jdramas.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/tbs-drama-specials-2010-third-quarter/
Wow! I had goosebumps reading the story @_@ Sounds amazing!
Music scores composer of this drama is SENJU AKIRA, composer of Suna no Utsuwa and Yomigaeri's scores. I love his scores!!^o^ If I'm not mistaken, as a composer he is just as big as Hisaishi Jo, in Japan.
Senju Akira had once appear in Utaban, playing Waga Eiryo's piece, 'Shukumei', while Nakai pretend to play the piano, lol.