On May 28th, Fuji TV announced that young actress Takei Emi (18) and actor Eguchi Yosuke (46) are going to play a pair of lovers in the upcoming summer drama ‘Iki mo Dekinai Natsu‘.
A 19-year-old girl burdened by a cruel destiny, a 41-year-old man living in atonement, and a forbidden love that cannot be accepted by the people around them. ‘Iki mo Dekinai Natsu’ is as much a social drama as it is a love story.
Takei plays said girl who learns that her mother never recorded her birth in their family register. While falling into despair after finding out the secret about her birth yet wholeheartedly trying to live to regain ‘herself’, she happens to run into a former journalist (Eguchi) who is suffering from a deep scar in his heart himself. Although they could be father and daughter, they start to develop much stronger feelings for each other, a love forbidden by society.
Of course the drama’s main focus lies on the feelings of both protagonists, but it’s also heavily influenced by themes of ‘atonement’ and ‘forgiveness’.
Takei commented, “I seem to be able to playact [with Eguchi] a lot in the drama, which I’m looking forward to a lot.” It’s her first starring role on Fuji TV, about which she said, “You could call me a ‘Fuji Kid’, since I’ve been watching dramas on Fuji TV ever since I was a child. What I thought is impossible has now become reality, which makes me incredibly happy, but also very frightened.” About Eguchi, she added, “He’s a really fantastic person. I want to learn a lot from him.”
Eguchi commented, “I cannot wait to see how the souls of the protagonists played by Takei and I are going to collide. This will be a drama that is going to touch people’s hearts.”
The two actors will also have a great team of supporting actors to portray various intriguing characters around them. The mother of the 19-year-old girl, for example, will be played by no other than Kimura Yoshino (36).
Moreover, the lead female works at a shop that sells sweets and is often visited by a mysterious old man played by Kitaouji Kinya (69). There is also another lonely young man, played Nakamura Aoi (21), who is in love with her. Her grandmother will be played by Asada Miyoko (56). One man with a daring smile who seems to fudge with the destiny of all the characters involved will be played by Kaname Jun (31).
Fuji TV is going to air ‘Iki mo Dekinai Natsu’ every Tuesday at 9:00 pm, starting in July.
