Actor Kohei Matsushita is appearing in the drama series "Galaxy Vote" (Kansai TV/Fuji TV, Mondays at 10 PM). He plays Ryusei Hiyama, the protagonist's childhood friend who is also his rival in the Tokyo gubernatorial election, which is the setting of the drama. Meanwhile, his role as Tokugawa Ieyasu in the NHK Taiga drama "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）" is attracting attention as it is a stark contrast to his previous image. From his role as the heroine's husband in the Asadora"Scarlet," which became a hot topic as "Hachiro Swamp," to his role as a deeply sinister murderer in "MIU404" (TBS), and his mysterious character in the NHK Taiga drama "To Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e)," Matsushita has evolved into an "unpredictable actor," and we explore the charm of him through these various roles.
Matsushita made his CD debut as a singer-songwriter in 2008, and began his acting career the following year with a stage appearance. In 2018, his performances in works such as "Nagasaki: Memories of My Son" were highly acclaimed, earning him the Yomiuri Theater Award for Best Actor, the Haruko Sugimura Award, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Newcomer Award.
Having built a strong track record on stage, he was chosen to play the male lead opposite the heroine in the 2019 second half of the morning Asadora"Scarlet." His earnest yet gentle character was well-received, and the word "Hachiro-numa" (Hachiro Swamp) was coined from his character's name, Hachiro Jūda, bringing him into the spotlight, especially on social media. Since then, he has played charming male roles opposite the heroine, such as "Ao-chan-numa" in "#Remolove" (NTV, 2020) and "Dai-chan-numa" in "Saiai" (TBS, 2021).
On the other hand, in "MIU404" (TBS, 2020), he surprised viewers with his role as a character who is suspected of murder and goes on the run, but ultimately turns out to have committed the murder. In "Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e) e" (2024), he also garnered attention for his poignant role as a character who cleverly tries to manipulate the protagonist but is actually attracted to him.
In "A Vote in the Galaxy," Matsushita plays Ryusei, a childhood friend of Hoshino Mari (played by Kuroki Haru), who betrays her without hesitation, putting Mari in a difficult position. Furthermore, in the Tokyo gubernatorial election, which serves as the setting for the story, he is the leading candidate and opponent of Tsukioka Akari (played by Noro Kayo), whom Mari has nominated. He has a tragic past in which his father tried to force him into a murder-suicide, and while he is surprisingly cold-hearted, when it comes to the "letter of accusation" that led him to betray Mari, he says something cryptic like, "Mari-chan has the right to know"... making him a complex character that is difficult to read, making it hard to tell whether he is good or evil.
Meanwhile, Matsushita's portrayal of Tokugawa Ieyasu in "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）" involves him telling Fujikichiro (Hideyoshi, played by Sosuke Ikematsu) for advice before his rise to power, "Passion moves people," and then sneering, "I told him the exact opposite." Furthermore, when they reunite after a long time, he goes along with the conversation, only to later ask those around him, "Who was that?" This portrayal highlights his cunning and manipulative nature, and the contrast with Matsushita's seemingly friendly appearance has become a topic of discussion.
Matsushita has the image of a kind and handsome man, but he is also known for his polite demeanor and responses during interviews, and this personality, combined with his image, has created numerous "fandoms." On the other hand, he has also attracted attention for roles that play on that image. However, Matsushita's one and only charm is his "unpredictability." "You think he's a good guy, but he's a bad guy," "You think he's a good guy, but he's a bad guy, or so you think, but he's actually a good guy," "You think he's a good guy, but he's a bad guy, or so you think, but he's actually a bad guy," and as he takes on more and more roles, the patterns of his characters have increased, and it has become increasingly difficult to predict whether they are good or evil.
Is Ryusei in "A Vote from the Galaxy" a good guy or a bad guy? It's nonsensical to even consider the good and evil of humanity, but the fact that Kohei Matsushita makes you think that far is a testament to his charm as an actor. (Tateyama Natsuyuki/MANTANWEB)
