Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Ikuta Toma
Starring in Japan's first Lay Judge System Drama
It was revealed on the 10th that Ikuta Toma (24) will play the lead role in Fuji TV's Majo Saiban (Witch Trial) which starts on 25th April (Saturdays at 11:10). This is his first lead role in a drama. The drama's theme centers around the lay judge system which will take effect in May. Ikuta said enthusiastically,"This production will get people interested in the system."
With the introduction of a new justice system where ordinary citizens participate in trials as lay judges in May, ikemen actor Ikuta Toma who has been showing remarkable progress, is playing the role of a lay judge.
Ikuta has been a part of the Johnny's agency for more than 10 years. In 2007, he had his break in Fuji TV's Hanazakari no Kimitachi e Ikemen Paradise. Last summer, he played one of the two lead roles in TBS's Maou with Arashi's Ohno Satoshi.
Currently, he is a regular in Fuji TV's Voice. Commenting on his first lead role in a drama, he said,"Honestly I'm surprised, while at the same time I feel a sense of responsibility. I feel many emotions jumbled together."
He plays the role of a job-hopping part-timer who has little interest in social matters, just an ordinary young man. The setting of the drama revolves around him being chosen by chance to be a lay judge.
For his role, he attended trials. "I felt, time and again, the austerity of the place. From May onwards, this isn't just going to be somebody else's problem, you feel its complexity. There is going to be a big social response to the drama and I feel the pressure," he said, looking to filming, shouldering the responsibility.
The trial involves a murder and inheritance of a large sum of money in the prosecution of a woman referred to as a 'witch'. But the lay judges who are going to judge her innocent or guilty are being secretly bribed and maneuvered by a mysterious group. Baffling incidents starts to surround the young man in this suspense drama. This drama anticipates of the problems that might arise once the new legal system is enforced.
Producer Seki Takuya said,"When the lay judge system becomes a part of life, how would our lives and our way of thinking change? Look forward to the drama, and I hope it makes people think." The new system will be enforced from 21st May and in the summer, lay judges will start participating in courts. Naturally then, this is the drama that cannot be said to be of other people's problems!
Similarly chosen, Kato Ai (26) plays a housewife who has her happy family life threatened by the mysterious group. This is her first time playing a housewife role. Higa Manami (22), who is currently in NHK's Tenchijin, plays the role of Ikuta's newspaper reporter girlfriend. The defendant, who is being called the 'witch' is played by Ishida Yuriko (39). It will be noted how Ishida, who leaves a strong impression of being neat tackles the role of the 'witch'.
Sanspo
http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/090311/gng0903110505000-n2.htm
Read more about the new lay judge system in Japan here and here.
生田斗真が裁く日本初「裁判員制度ドラマ」
ジャニーズ事務所所属の俳優、生田斗真（２４）が、４月２５日スタートのフジテレビ系「魔女裁判」（土曜後１１・１０）で主演することが１０日、分かった。単独で連続ドラマ主演を務めるのは初めて。５月から導入される裁判員制度が初めて連ドラのテーマになることも注目。生田は「制度に興味を持ってもらえる作品になれば」と意気込んでいる。
一般市民が裁判員として審理に参加する新司法制度導入を５月に控え、進境著しいイケメン俳優が裁判員を演じる。
生田はジャニーズ事務所に入って１０年以上になるが、０７年のフジ系「花ざかりの君たちへ～イケメン♂パラダイス～」で一気にブレーク。昨夏のＴＢＳ系「魔王」では、嵐の大野智（２８）とダブル主演を果たした。
現在はフジ系月９「ヴォイス～命なき者の声～」にレギュラー出演中。この勢いに乗って単独での連ドラ初主演となるが、「素直に驚いたと同時に、責任感と色々な気持ちが入り乱れてきた感じ」と冷静に話す。
役どころは、社会事象には関心が薄いフリーターという、どこにでもいそうな普通の若者。たまたま裁判員に選ばれるという設定だ。
役作りも兼ねて裁判の傍聴もした。「厳格な場だと改めて感じたし、５月からは他人事ではなくなると思うと複雑な気がした」と生田。「（ドラマの）社会的反応も大きいのでは。すごく身の引き締まる思い」と、責任感を胸に撮影に臨む。
巨額遺産をめぐる殺人罪で起訴された「魔女」と呼ばれる女性被告の裁判に携わる。だが、有罪・無罪を判断する裁判員たちを買収しようとするナゾの集団が暗躍。若者の周囲で不可解な事件が起き始める－というサスペンス。制度が始まれば実際に起こり得る問題を“先取り”したドラマともいえそう。
同局の関卓也プロデューサーは「裁判員制度が暮らしの一部になったとき、生活や考え方はどう変わるのか。ドラマを通して楽しみ、考えてほしい」と訴えた。５月２１日に制度が施行され、夏には実際に裁判員が参加する法廷が開かれる。まさに「他人事」とは呼べないドラマの誕生だ！！
★加藤あいは主婦役
同様に裁判員に選ばれる主婦で、ナゾの脅迫を受け幸せな家庭生活が危険にさらされる女性役に加藤あい（２６）。主婦役は初挑戦だ。生田の恋人で新聞記者の女性には、ＮＨＫ大河「天地人」に出演中の比嘉愛未（２２）を抜てき。また、「魔女」と呼ばれる事件の被告役に石田ゆり子（３９）。清楚な印象が強い石田が、どう謎めいた“魔女”役に挑むのかにも注目だ。
Labels: Ikuta Toma, Spring 2009 Drama
