Premiere screening event of new Netflix drama "Boku dake ga inai machi"

The premiere screening event of new Netflix drama "Boku dake ga inai machi" was held at United Cinema Aquacity in Tokyo on 8 December which was attended by the director Shimoyama Ten and cast members Furukawa Yuuki Kurotani Tomoka, Yuuki Mio, Shirasu Jin and child actors Uchikawa Reo and Kakihara Rinka. An unexpected happening took place at the beginning of the event when the lights suddenly went off while the cast was getting onto the stage. The MC explained that the blackout was due to the electrical switch's breaker and spotlights were used to light up the place which was still rather dimly lit. Although this is the third adaptation of the same story (there were a movie and anime versions made), Furukawa expressed his confidence that the viewers will be hooked to this drama right from the first episode.


The drama which is based on the same-titled manga serialised in "Young Ace" by Sanbe Kei, features Furukawa as the lead character Fujinuma Satoru who experiences a "revival" to the past repeatedly by himself whenever something bad happens and the cycle would keep repeating itself until he gets rid of the reason behind it. In order to find the murderer of his mother and solve the mystery of a serial murder case involving primary school children which he believes is related to his mother's case, Satoru goes through repeated revivals back to when he was in Primary 5 and staying in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, 18 years ago. Co-stars also include Eguchi Noriko, Mashima Hidekazu, Totsugi Shigeyuki and Yano Masato.

When asked about the filming, Furukawa remarked that it was tough because he had little experience playing someone who's constantly being chased so in a way, it was a refreshing thing to be running till he was covered in sweat. As for Kurotani, she was wondering how she should play her character who was the mother of Satoru especially since this is the first time she has such a grown-up son (Furukawa is 29 years old). Uchikawa who plays the childhood version of Satoru 18 years ago, said that he had to make sure that his actions and mannerisms show the fact that the Satoru who looks like a child actually has the soul of the 29-year-old version.

In line with the drama's theme, the cast were asked which period of their lives they would like to return to if given the chance. Shirasu said that it would be good to go back to being a kindergarten kid with his current knowledge and intelligence because he would then be fawned over by everyone and regarded as a genius. Furukawa had a similar wish to return to his primary school days as he spent this period abroad so he would like to attend primary school in Japan from Primary 5 which could have changed his life after that.

Totsugi who couldn't be at the event, sent a surprise message which was played to everyone. There was also a birthday celebration for Kurotani and Furukawa who celebrate their 42nd and 30th birthdays respectively on the 11th and 18th of the same month.

The drama begins streaming on Netflix from 15 December worldwide.

Sources: Oricon / Eiga.com