It has been revealed that actress Haruka Kinami will be starring in the Fuji TV Thursday Theatre "Tonight, in the Secret Kitchen" (Thursdays at 10pm) from April. This will be Kinami's first time starring in this time slot, and she will play a housewife who falls in love with a mysterious Italian chef played by Mahiro Takasugi.
The story follows Tsubokura Ayumi, a housewife whose emotional breakdown is caused by her abusive husband, who happens to meet Italian chef Kei (played by Takasugi) and the two begin to grow closer. Along with the romance between the two, the "Italian Medicinal Cuisine" that appears in the play, a fusion of Italian cuisine and medicinal cuisine, is also one of the highlights. The script is written by Aso Kumiko, who has worked on "Marumo no Okite" and other works, and the director is Yamauchi Daisuke, who has worked on "Jinji no Hitomi."
The series is based on a manga jointly developed by Kyodo Television and Magazine House, and the manga and drama will be developed in parallel. The manga version was created by Akiyo Kurosawa, who also worked on the manga version of "2/1 Couple," and began serialization online in March. The manga and drama will share the same structure and theme, but will feature different story developments that take advantage of each other's unique characteristics, making this an unusual attempt to run the story in parallel.
◇Comment from Haruka Kinami
--Please tell us about your enthusiasm for this film and your starring role.
It's a story about a housewife who suffers from an oppressive life, but finds healing and regains herself through cooking and love. I want to portray her desire to be strong as a person.
--About the role of "Tsubokura Ayumi"
Her life, tormented by her abusive husband, gradually changes when she meets chef Kei. Watch to see how she gains the desire to live her life again.
-Please give a message to the viewers.
This is a love story about adults who struggle to find the courage to take a step forward. I hope that watching this film will give you the courage to be strong. Please check it out.
◇Comment from Mahiro Takasugi
--Please tell us about your enthusiasm for this film and your starring role.
I've played cooking roles a few times before, but I'm a little nervous about playing a chef, an Italian one at that.
--About the role of "Kei"
He's a mysterious character, but I think he's an Italian chef who's pretty good at getting closer to people. He's also knowledgeable about medicinal foods, and wants people to take care of their physical and mental health through cooking.
-Please give a message to the viewers.
I love eating Italian food, of course, but I've never had the chance to make it, so I've been practicing it, and I hope that little by little it will become more familiar to me. I think that just like me, viewers will want to make it as they watch. There are many elements to the show, so I hope that people will enjoy it in a variety of ways.
◇Original work: Akiyo Kurosawa
Usually, there is an original work, and then we are approached about adapting it into a drama, but this is a work that we have been developing through repeated correspondence with the producer for the past two years. We have repeatedly explored the differences between how to express it in a drama and how to express it in a manga. Having it adapted into a drama so soon after the serialization began feels like a turning point. I have heard that Kinami Haruka will be starring, and Takasugi Mahiro will be playing the role of the chef, and I am happy to be entrusted with this story. As the original author, I will continue to draw the work while cherishing its core.
◇Planning and Producer: Fumi Hashimoto (Kyodo Television)
"The project, which began development with Magazine House three years ago, has been brought to life as a wonderful manga by popular manga artist Akiyo Kurosawa, and now, as part of a new scheme, we are able to turn it into a TV drama at the same time as the manga is released, which makes me very happy and deeply moved. What I wanted to portray through this love story is the "rebirth" that comes from unexpected setbacks.
The main character, Ayumi, works hard and becomes a leading actress, and just when she thinks things are going smoothly, she is criticized by the public and put out of work due to her mother's scandal.She chooses to get married as her second life and envisions building a happy family as a full-time housewife, but in reality she is living a hellish life due to the treatment she receives from her abusive husband.
Despite working as hard as ever, nothing is going right. He feels as though he has lost sight of himself and is plunging into a long, dark tunnel. Then he meets Kei, an Italian chef with a secret.
Ayumi's encounter with Kei, who sees her for who she is, becomes a ray of light for her, and as he teaches her how to cook, Ayumi gradually begins to regain her true self and eventually falls in love with Kei.
I hope that through Ayumi's gradual recovery, I can inspire all those who work hard every day at their jobs, housework, and raising children to try their best again tomorrow.
As for the story, we want to present the ultimate adult love story that will have you looking forward to every Thursday night, one that will fill your heart with love and food, heal you, and even help you cry and detox! Please also look forward to the delicious and healthy "Italian Medicinal Cuisine" dishes!!
The other day, when I was doing a visual shoot with Kinami-san and Takasugi-san, "Ayumi and Kei" were already there, and the atmosphere between the two of them was wonderful, so I'm looking forward to filming the drama! When I heard the two of them read the script in one scene, I almost cried. I have a feeling that it will be such a memorable scene. With such wonderful cast members as Kinami-san and Takasugi-san, all the staff will do their best until the very end!
