We wanted joint development of the “original story”.
Preparation for the project started 4-5 years ago. It originated with the idea of whether we could create a drama set in Paris and Shanghai, where our company’s overseas bureaus are located, as well as Japan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the launch of Kansai TV. With the increase in dramas based on novels and mangas, we wanted to develop an original story together with an author and not borrow an original work. The author of this story, Niitsu Kiyomi-san, has also been to Shanghai and Osaka, and has written a story that draws fully on her nature as an writer. So this drama has an original style. In short, this time there’s a big framework where the styles and differences of original work and the drama can each be enjoyed at the same time.
A suspense drama to prove once again that TV dramas are interesting.
I’ve often heard that current Japanese TV dramas have lost the sparkle of the past. Viewer preferences are not in TV. They have, for example moved to overseas dramas like X Files, 24 and Prison Break … But I thought, “I wish they would go home and watch Kansai TV at 10.00 pm on Tuesday nights (laughs)”. I want to prove with this drama that people can watch perfectly interesting dramas on TV even if they don’t fork out money for rentals. I want to attempt a suspense that viewers are thrilled to see each week; where the truth isn’t known each week in each episode rather than in the final episode … For example, the development for last week and this week differs … questions come thick and fast until you can’t take your eyes off … That is embodied in this drama, “Triangle”. In addition to a case dominated by suspense, I also want to portray a human drama of the characters concerned.
The entire cast is shadowy! We are in the dark until the end …
We don’t know who the criminal is. Everyone seems to be the criminal. We’re making it feeling that way. Furthermore, the criminal in the original story doesn’t appear in the drama …! Viewers have an experienced eye so we don’t want a situation where the criminal can be guessed by looking at the casting. Because of that, we have assembled people who rank as leading actors. They are performing because Mizuhashi Fumie-san’s script will certainly be interesting. Mizuhashi-san is really good at depicting people. Both the dialogue and the casting are very good.
Whatever combination it is, they are pairings that haven’t been seen before.
Eguchi Yosuke-san, Inagaki Goro-san, Sakai Masato-san, Tanihara Shosuke-san, Sasaki Kuranosuke-san, Osugi Ren-san, Kohinata Fumiyo-san and Kitaoji Kinya-san. It’s rare to assemble such fascinating actors. For the actresses we have Hirosue Ryoko-san, Aibu Saki-san and Fubuki Jun-san. Whatever combination it is, they are pairings that haven’t been seen before. Eguchi-san facing off against Inagaki-san as policemen; Kitaoji-san and Inagaki-san as father and son; Eguchi-san, Sasaki-san and Tanihara-san as classmates … Every scene has surprise and appeal!
What is the allure of Eguchi Yosuke’s emotionally-scarred character?
The central character, Goda Ryoji, is a man who has lived to the age of 35 bearing the emotional scars from his encounter with his murdered classmate 25 years ago. She had been his first love. Born as the second son in family that has been doctors for generations, he practiced as a doctor but when the statute of limitation for the incident 25 years ago approached, he quit and became a policeman. He couldn’t do anything 25 years ago but with the passage of time and because of his involvement in the truth of the case, he starts to live his life afresh. Eguchi Yosuke-san is the right actor to portray this. There’s also the image that the older brother in “Hitotsu Yane no Shita” (1993) would probably be like this when he became an adult. Along the way, Eguchi-san has gained life experience and also matured. He’s a man whom men admire as an actor and as a family man. I admire him too. That said, we also wanted to define a man near 40 in a TV drama. This is the sort of man he’ll be! … which Eguchi-san is playing.
Hirosue Ryoko earnestly plays the difficult role of the heroine
Ryoji, played by Eguchi-san, is the person who resigns as a doctor and gets involved with the truth of the case. In doing so, he regains his own life. On the other hand, Hirosue Ryoko-san’s character Sachi is a girl who is living but has suppressed her true self. It is a very difficult role. I think it is a very suitable part for Hirosue-san. She is a person who cherishes her lifestyle as a female. She tackles the role point blank without reading too much into it.
The attraction of the endless cast.
I think Inagaki-san’s role is also interesting. His character has a strong sense of justice and immaculateness which Inagaki-san himself exhibits. Aibu Saki-san is Ryoji’s younger sister. She’s the only kin with whom Ryoji can be himself. She loves her older brother but is meddlesome. Isn’t Saki-chan just the person to play an admiring younger sister? (laughs)
Are you really living your own life …?
This is a case about the murder of a girl 25 years ago. In addition to being a suspense centred on the investigation of the truth surrounding the case in which the statute of limitation passed without the arrest of the criminal, the theme “Are you really living your own life?” is the whole basis of the drama. Are you really living as yourself and not as a substitute for someone, or for the sake of someone or a projection of someone else …? The choice of this theme is because we think that in this modern age, there probably isn’t a single person, myself included, who can say with self-confidence that they are living their own life. It’s a theme that applies to everyone. That’s why we hope that when viewers watch this drama, they will reflect on their way of life a little and gather the courage to try to say what they think is right tomorrow. I’m 42 now but I think this holds true for me everyday.
Many triangles in the story outline.
The title “Triangle”, signifies Paris-Shanghai-Japan — the three settings, and the past-present-future. There’s maybe the triangle of true self – substitute self – real culprit too, resulting in a single image containing many, many different triangles. The sterling cast and staff give an all-out portrayal in Triangle. Don’t miss it. It’s a human drama of speed, scale and suspense. We want to show and have people say, “TV dramas are interesting!”
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Thank you so much for translating, reading this making me anticipate the future episode of this drama even more. I hope I won’t be disappointed.
Very disappointed in translation as the first DVD was excellent and the second DVD in the series very poor English translation. Also the names of the characters changed from the first to second DVD which made following the story for a non Japanese speaking person very difficult.
It seemed like a good series but was spoilt for these reasons.
Peter West