News On Japan

Hiromu Iijima Plays Teacher in Forbidden Love

TOKYO, Feb 26 (News On Japan) - A special screening and talk show was held in Tokyo on Sunday for the first episode of the new MBS drama series "Cinderella Complex," which stars Miku Tanaka and Hiromu Iijima, depicting a steamy affair between a teacher and student.

森愁斗、田中美久、飯島寛騎、宇垣美里

"Cinderella Complex" is a live-action adaptation of a popular Korean webtoon that has garnered over 400 million views. It is a "love psycho-thriller" that begins with a forbidden affair between a popular handsome teacher, Yosuke Aizawa (played by Iijima), and a bombshell female high school student, Yura Maezono (played by Tanaka). Tanaka plays the bewitching and addictively charming heroine, while Mori portrays Kudo Kaname, a high school student who attends the same school as Yura but has trouble fitting in and carries a shadowy presence. Ugaki plays Mai, Aizawa's wife, who also works as a teacher at the same high school.

Iijima introduced his character Aizawa with a wry smile, saying, "He's a bad guy, isn't he?" He continued, "The character of Aizawa is very broken. I thought about how to portray the real and heavy atmosphere of hell and the human desires that are packed into Aizawa." On playing the role of a man engaged in an affair, Iijima said, "I thought about how to lie and deceive effectively," and added, "But at the same time, I thought Aizawa was pure, so I also took care to portray that aspect." When asked by the host if he was good at lying, Iijima responded with a laugh, "Me? That's a secret."

Mori spoke about Iijima's likable off-camera demeanor, saying, "Being around Iijima-san, with his looks and voice, gives a sense of security during filming, and you naturally want to follow him. I thought it was great working with him." He also mentioned, "I thought he was a cool person, but he actually has a bright atmosphere, and I felt that gap. We talked about saunas, and I thought I'd like to go with him." Iijima responded with a pleased expression, saying, "Since I played a teacher, I tried to portray a more adult-like presence compared to the students."

Tanaka, who played the devilish heroine, said, "It's rare to come across such a role, so I worked hard. I stayed true to the original work because if I played it naturally, the impact would be lost and Yura-chan's uniqueness would disappear." Iijima praised Tanaka's passionate performance, saying, "The challenge and passion she brought to the role of Yura were incredible. I thought she truly has the soul of an actress." Iijima also commented on the intense scenes, "There are extreme scenes like slapping, and she said, 'Please slap me, Iijima-san!' It was a learning experience for me as an actor not to break that spirit."

When the talk theme "If you could use just one magic spell" came up, Tanaka recalled a kissing scene with Iijima. "I wasn't tall enough for the kissing scene. Iijima-san bent his knees where the camera couldn't see, and I felt sorry. I wish I were a bit taller," she shared.

Ugaki, who plays the wife being cheated on, reflected on her role, saying, "Nothing but pitiful things happen. It gets even worse after the first episode. I played Mai-chan, who gets dragged into terrible situations, while encouraging her to 'hang in there.' If I were Mai-chan, I think I would knock Aizawa out."

"Cinderella Complex" is set to bring a new twist to the drama landscape with its compelling storyline and dynamic characters.

The drama will begin airing on February 29th on MBS every Thursday at 24:59, among other times.

Source: MDPR

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A Tokyo District Court has ruled that addressing a colleague using the 'chan' suffix constitutes sexual harassment, ordering a male employee to pay 220,000 yen in damages.

A man wielding knives in both hands was arrested near the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo’s Minato Ward on the afternoon of October 25th after injuring a riot police officer on duty.

The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials.

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit.

After nearly a decade of construction, the newly rebuilt Haneda Line of the Metropolitan Expressway, one of Tokyo’s key arteries linking the city center with Haneda Airport, has been unveiled to the media ahead of its official switch to a new road on October 29th.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Entertainment NEWS

Renowned South Korean dancer and choreographer Lia Kim, known for creating routines for global acts such as TWICE and BLACKPINK, will open a dance studio in Japan next year as part of her plan to expand K-dance culture beyond Korea.

As the lines blur between memories and reality, Yoshiki loses control and attacks the confused Hikaru. (Netflix Anime)

A quiet cultural shift is taking place in Japan as cross-dressing experiences gain attention among men seeking both self-expression and understanding. Visiting Palette House, a long-established cross-dressing salon near Shin-Osaka Station, first-time participants are guided through wigs, makeup, and clothing to experience life from a woman’s perspective.

A special documentary revisits the streets of Osaka between 1959 and 1971, a period when the 'Osaka City Tram' ran through the heart of the city before being discontinued in 1969. The film opens with a scene from Yodoyabashi in 1959, capturing a moment of national anticipation as boxer Sato Hatta prepared to challenge Pascal Perez for the world flyweight title....

Tokyo’s infamous Yoshiwara red-light district is home to a wide variety of adult entertainment venues, but one attraction known as “Omega” has been creating a particular stir among visitors for its extreme and unconventional experience. (Japanese Comedian Meshida)

This week the turn out attention to the appearance of the Otowaya troupe at the Misono-za theatre in Nagoya! (Kabuki In-Depth)

Ever wondered how masterpieces like The Boy and the Heron came about? Hayao Miyazaki gives us a peek into his brain and how he creates.

A long-lost recording of acclaimed film director Kihachi Okamoto, known for his lifelong commitment to anti-war cinema, has been discovered, shedding new light on the convictions behind his influential body of work. The tape, found in January in a storage room at BSS San’in Broadcasting, captures Okamoto speaking on radio in 1968 and reveals deeply personal reflections shaped by his wartime experiences.