The final episode of the TBS Tuesday drama "Toki Sude ni Osushi!?" (Tuesdays at 10 PM), starring actress Hiromi Nagasaku, will air on June Getsuku. Producer Chiaki Masuda spoke about the highlights and behind-the-scenes stories from the filming.
The drama tells the story of Minato Machiyama (played by Nagasaku), who, having finished raising her children, is bewildered by the "time to herself" that she finally has again at the age of 50, but begins her second life and jumps into a "sushi academy" where she can become a sushi chef in three months.
◇Highlights of the final episode
After a rather impulsive leap into the sushi academy, graduation is finally approaching! Minato and his friends are faced with a fitting graduation challenge: creating "the one and only sushi they've ever made."
Three months ago, Minato never imagined she'd be in this place, where she met Oedo (Kenichi Matsuyama) and her friends, updated her relationship with her son Nagisa (Motoki Nakazawa), and faced life not just for others, but for herself. What will she create on her final stage as a sushi academy student? We hope you'll witness the "soul poured into every single piece" of sushi from each member of Oedo's class.
Many of the cast members wrapped up filming with this exam scene, and it truly felt like everyone was graduating. It was an emotionally charged time for the entire cast and crew. The supervising professors were also deeply moved, and it is the culmination of the hard work of the cast members who practiced so much in between their busy schedules. Please pay attention to the results of their efforts.
And of course, graduation comes with goodbyes. What awaits Minato and Oedo after their parting? We hope you'll enjoy the awkwardness that flows between the two of them. We would also be delighted if you would warmly watch over the future that each member of Oedo's class envisions.
Furthermore, for Minato, there is another moment that could be considered a milestone in her role as a mother, a kind of "graduation."
We also consulted with the supervisor for this scene, and Ms. Nagasaku truly embodied it wonderfully. Because Ms. Nagasaku is actually a mother, there is something special about her performance that comes from her, making it a deeply moving scene. Ms. Nagasaku's acting in that scene is simply irresistible... I can't wait to share it with everyone.
I realized once again that my own parents, who always try to be "parents" no matter how old I get, must have felt the same way as Minato did at that time, without me even knowing it. After watching the final episode, I think you'll be able to enjoy it in a different way if you rewatch it while comparing it to Minato and the others in the first episode. I think it's a final episode that is very much in line with this show, as it depicts the beginnings of each character. I really hope many people will watch it.
◇Behind-the-scenes stories from the filming of Episode 9
Taiyo Nishikawa, played by Ryuhei Maruyama, is a man who faces his work in a world completely different from Edo, and has built something up by overcoming various challenges. Although they have walked different paths, they are somehow like comrades. Because he is a character who suddenly appears towards the end, I wanted someone who could tell his story and convey his life even in a limited amount of time to play him.
It's a moment when you can acknowledge yourself, even just a little, for how hard you've worked to get this far. It's an encounter with a "delicious" place that offers solace and praise for the unrewarded feelings you've carried until now. I think it's a taste that no other "delicious" thing you encounter can surpass.
Filming for Oedo and Nishikawa began with a flashback scene depicting their first meeting at Sushi Kaimiya. Matsuyama and Maruyama, who were working together for the first time, gradually warmed up to each other, and the set gradually became a place where smiles were always present.
When the filming cuts changed, Maruyama had to act out eating sushi again for editing purposes, and it seems she loves tuna. She was a little embarrassed, saying, "I'm sorry for eating so much!", but her enjoyment of the sushi was memorable.
This was the first time we filmed Oedo standing behind the counter as a sushi chef, but Matsuyama's sushi-making had become so natural that the director and the supervising master chef were surprised and said, "You don't need to say anything more."
In the scene where they reunite during the counter training, which was filmed a few days later, a natural relationship had already developed between the two of them, and I think that atmosphere was reflected on screen.
The filming of the counter training took place on a day when many of the cast members gathered. Because filming time was limited, we filmed everything in one go. It was a truly festive and exciting day, like a school festival. Tasuku Sato, who appeared as the grandson of Tateishi Funao, played by Sano Shiro, played rock-paper-scissors with Matsuyama, with whom he had previously worked. It was also the first time that all three members of the "Fukutoku" supermarket team were together outside of the supermarket. Anka and Hirai Masaaki both tackled the filming with sparkling eyes as they looked at the sushi in front of them.
Filming the market scene felt like a field trip for all the Academy members. Some people were buying seafood, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves in their own way. Shinya Kote and Matsuyama, who played the market broker Matsuki, also had a great time chatting between takes.
While we were making episode 9, the supervising master chef told me, "Sometimes I feel like the sushi I make is a part of that person's (the customer's) life. That's why I'm not just going through the motions at work, but I'm determined to carefully sushi each one as if I'm sushi-making a part of their life."
And to get to the heart of the matter, sourcing is crucial. He said that it's built up over many years of connections with people, trust built through daily visits, and a unique bond that's like a team and family. I was reminded once again that these words apply to any job, and they've stayed with me.
Episode 9 is filled with many emotions and encounters. I hope you'll enjoy it again and again.
