It has been announced that actor Kohei Matsushita will be appearing in the April Kansai TV/Fuji TV drama "Galaxy's Vote," starring Haru Kuroki and Kayo Noro as her partner. Matsushita will play a trusted childhood friend of the protagonist, played by Kuroki, and an accomplished member of parliament.
"Galaxy's Vote" is a new type of "election entertainment" in which Hoshino Mari (Kuroki), a daughter and secretary who loses everything after receiving an accusatory letter exposing the corruption of her father, the ruling party's secretary-general, runs in the election to help Akari Tsukioka (Noro), a bar hostess with no political experience, become the governor of Tokyo. The story follows a young woman who has been in politics since her youth and an ordinary woman who teams up to fight for the governorship over the course of 50 days.
The original work will be written by Hiruta Naomi, who has also written for "Shizuka-chan and Dad" (NHK), "Fake The Great Passage " (Kantele), and "The Tale of Genji: I'll Make a Dictionary" (2024, NHK), and will be produced by Sano Ayumi, who has worked on "Quartet" (TBS) and "Elpis: Hope, or Disaster" (2022, Kantele).
Matsushita plays Hiyama Ryusei, a young lawmaker for the ruling Democratic Party. He is a rising star in the faction of Mari's father, the Secretary-General, and has known Mari since she was a child, like an older brother. After the current governor of Tokyo suddenly resigned due to a scandal, the party was in a frenzy over the nomination of a successor, and Hiyama lent a hand to Mari, who was busy trying to uncover allegations of corruption against her father. How will the relationship between the two, who are like a strong brother and sister, develop through the Tokyo gubernatorial election?
It was also announced that the drama series "Galaxy's Vote" will start on April 20th on the Kansai TV/Fuji TV network. Matsushita's comments are as follows:
◇Comment from Kohei Matsushita
-How did you feel when you received the offer?
I was very happy because I had always wanted to work with producer Sano and my co-stars. At first, I wasn't very knowledgeable about politics, and I was rather ignorant, but the script was really interesting and I naturally began to want to know more about politics. Not all the characters are particularly shining. I was deeply moved by the way each one lived their life to the fullest, pursuing their own light.
--Please tell us about the appeal of the role you play.
Ryusei is a young politician from the Democratic Party who is expected to have a bright future. He is childhood friends with the main character, Mari, and the two know each other well. What will they share and what kind of relationship will they develop on the stage of national politics? I myself don't know the ending yet, so I'm excited from the perspective of a viewer.
-How do you act on set?
At the beginning of the story, he appears to be a perfect man, very cheerful and sociable, but also possessing the strength and cunning needed to survive in the political world. I am playing the role hoping that viewers will be able to sense a little of the "something" he is carrying behind the scenes. I also think about the small details of his mannerisms, such as the way he speaks, walks, stands, and sits, thinking "What would Ryusei do?", and creating each one in consultation with the staff. Even in my private life, I have started watching more news about the Diet than ever before in order to find clues for the role.
-What was the atmosphere like on set?
Although the drama is based on politics, the atmosphere on set is very friendly and I am having fun filming. Since it is an "entertainment" production, I hope I can deliver Ryusei's charming lines while having fun. It makes me really happy when the staff members smile warmly, and I work hard every day, supported by that atmosphere.
-Please give a message to our viewers.
This is an "election entertainment" production that hasn't been seen before. It not only depicts politics itself, but also the human drama that lies behind it in detail. I hope that the people who pursue the light will make you laugh, warm your heart, and give you a sudden burst of courage... I think it's a production that anyone can enjoy, regardless of whether they're knowledgeable about politics or not. I hope you'll look forward to it.
