Completion press conference of "Tsugunai"

The completion press conference of NHK drama "Tsugunai" was held on 18 October which the lead cast members Tanihara Shosuke and Ashina Sei attended. Tanihara plays Hidaka Eisuke, an elite brain surgeon who focuses too much on his work and fails to pay attention to his family until his wife and child die suddenly. As a result, he loses his job and home thus has to live on the streets but is unexpectedly implicated in a serial murder case. The drama which is based on a best-selling novel by Yaguchi Atsuko, sold more than 600,000 copies to date.

In order to prepare for his role as a homeless man, Tanihara had to go on a strict diet of no carbohydrates for 3 months and lost 9kg as a result. However, as this isn't a healthy way to lose weight, Tanihara remarked that he would not recommend this method to anyone who wants to go on a diet.

As for Ashina, she plays Hiroe, the wife of Eisuke who commits suicide and another character Yuko who Eisuke meets when he wanders into the town she lives in. Other cast members include Kimura Tae who plays Eisuke's former girlfriend Miwako, a psychologist who wants to help him get back on his feet, as well as Imai Yuuki, Koumoto Masahiro and Nakahara Takeo. The first episode of this 3-part drama will be shown via NHK BS Premium on 17 November.

Source: Eiga.com