Mukai Osamu & Saito Takumi to star in new WOWOW drama "Akira to Akira"

Mukai Osamu and Saito Takumi will be the double leads in the new WOWOW drama "Akira to Akira" (Akira and Akira) which will begin its run from July in the Sundays 10pm timeslot. The drama is based on the same-titled novel by Ikeido Jun which was first serialised between 2006 and 2009 in the monthly novel magazine "Mondai Shosetsu" before Ikeido gave it an overhaul and will be releasing it in the novel book format for the first time on 31 May. As such, this marks the "fastest" real-life adaptation for WOWOW since the original material's release. This will be WOWOW's 4th adaptation of a Ikeido work since 2011's "Shitamachi Rocket" and the longest drama to date i.e. 9 episodes.

The story which is set during the days of the bubble economy, begins in April 1986 where Kaidou Akira (Mukai) who is an elite born as the heir of a large company Tokai Yuusen. On the other hand, his genius classmate from University of Tokyo, Yamazaki Akira had a tough life due the bankruptcy of his father's company and having to run away from creditors but overcomes the odds to graduate from the top-notch school. The two of them enter the same bank and gets caught in a battle lasting over 10 years which causes upheavals in their lives.

As this is the 4th time that Mukai and Saito are working together, Mukai revealed that as they are both of the same age, they have always chatted a lot during their free time but he did have the feeling that Saito was a strange person when they first met. Although this is the first time that they will be clashing on screen, he thinks that it will be enjoyable and fascinating at the same time. He also commented that he will go to his uncle for advice as the latter worked as a bank employee in that era.

On the other hand, Saito will be making a change to his usual straggly hairstyle so as to look convincing as a bank employee. He expressed his joy at being able to work with Mukai again in this drama which describes a special period in Japan's history and will offer a different insight into the past and future when viewed in this era.

Sources: Sanspo / Yomiuri Hochi / Oricon