It has been revealed that actress Shuri will star in the July Thursday drama "GATE24" (Thursdays at 9 PM) on TV Asahi. This will be Shuri's first drama appearance in about a year and a half, and her first leading role in a TV Asahi drama series. She will play Machi Mori, a customs officer with an extraordinary eye for detail and a strong personality.
The drama is an exhilarating entertainment piece set in an airport, where a newly formed team, comprised of customs officers and members gathered from various government ministries, awakens as the "ultimate gatekeepers" and fights to protect Japan's peace and security.
As international crimes such as smuggling, forged passports, human trafficking, and terrorism become increasingly sophisticated and serious, airport immigration and customs serve as the country's final line of defense, preventing these crimes from entering the country. With the number of foreign visitors to Japan rapidly increasing, the situation on the ground has become extremely difficult. To enable a swift and unified response, a special unit called "GATE24 (Global Airport Task Enforcement)" has been established under the direct control of the Cabinet Secretariat, eliminating the siloed structure.
However, the reality was far from that grand vision. In the airport, where the jurisdictions of various ministries are intricately intertwined, cooperation from each ministry was impossible to obtain, and the project was treated as an outcast by those on the ground. It was under these difficult circumstances that "GATE24" was launched, and the story depicts how they overcome organizational barriers and grow into professionals standing on Japan's borders, navigating the intense interplay of laws, systems, and human emotions in the inspection process.
Shuri plays Machi Mori, a highly motivated new customs officer. Although "GATE24" is her first job, she uses her exceptional observational skills to decipher the truth from "things." She is also deeply knowledgeable about world cultures, customs, and goods, possessing an astonishing breadth of knowledge, but what she did before becoming a customs officer remains a mystery. On the other hand, when it comes to "people," her observational skills are completely absent, and she has virtually no interpersonal skills. She prioritizes the faint SOS signals emitted by "things" over organizational logic and constraints, and continues to investigate thoroughly until she is satisfied. She is such a focused character that she often forgets rules and regulations, and is unable to hear what is being said around her.
◇ Shuri's comment
--Please tell us how you felt when you received the offer.
I feel incredibly honored and humbled to be working with TV Asahi, a network that has produced so many memorable and wonderful dramas. I look forward to working together with the amazing cast and staff to carefully convey the charm of this work. I also want to approach this project with sincerity so that we can deliver a show that viewers can look forward to every week.
--The story is set in an airport. What were your initial thoughts when you first heard about it? Also, what are your impressions of airport work, including customs officers?
I believe airports are places where the thoughts and moments of many different people intersect, and even when I use them on a regular basis, I often feel like I'm witnessing various stories, so I was excited by the sheer scale of it all. However, beyond that glamorous image, I think it's a place that thrives on the tension of many people working to maintain the safety of the airport. In particular, I think customs officers need the concentration and observational skills to not overlook even the slightest discrepancy in their work, dealing with a huge amount of luggage and people every day, and I feel that they are supporting our everyday lives and safety in ways that we, as regular users, don't even notice.
--Please tell us your impressions after reading the script.
The script has a good pace, yet each "unusual" detail is carefully built up, drawing me in more and more as I read. It's not just about solving a case; it also depicts the differences in perspectives and values between immigration officials who "look at people" and customs officials who "look at things," which I found very interesting. Machi isn't the type to be good at communicating with people, but she's someone who notices people's emotions and cries for help through objects. That's why I think the process of her gradually building relationships with the GATE24 members and becoming a team is a major appeal of this work.
--What impression did you get of the character Machi Mori, whom you play in this film? Do you see any similarities between her and yourself?
Manchi might seem a little strange to those around her, but I think she's a very straightforward person when it comes to the things she likes and the things that interest her. She observes things very carefully and can stop and think about even the smallest inconsistencies. I find it appealing that this sensitivity ultimately leads to her saving someone. I myself am the type of person who dwells on things that catch my attention in everyday life, so I can relate to that aspect of her to some extent. I hope to enjoy portraying Manchi's unique sense of pace and perspective.
-- Do you have a message for our viewers?
"Gate 24" is a drama set in an airport, where people, things, and various emotions intersect. While it features thrilling developments and the unique interactions of the team, I believe it is a work that carefully explores the background and emotions of each individual. I would be happy if we could deliver exciting entertainment that will make viewers look forward to Thursday nights every week. Please look forward to it.
