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Laughing Matryoshka

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Laughing Matryoshka (Japanese: 笑うマトリョーシカ) is a Japanese drama based on the novel written by Kazumasa Hayami, which was published by Bungeishunjū on November 5, 2021,[1] scheduled to broadcast on TBS's "Friday Drama" slot starting June 28, 2024.[2][3]

Synopsis[edit]

Toshiya Suzuki has known Ichiro Seike, a popular politician, since high school. Suzuki recognized that Seike had the potential to be a politician since then. And now, as his secretary, he is devoted to making Seike a prime minister. They look like a perfect match. But for reporter Kanae Michiue, something feels off about their relationship, including the fact that Suzuki's name is not revealed in Seike's autobiography, a mystery that seems to be related to the secretary's past.[4] She begins to investigate them and notices the mysterious deaths surrounding Seike's rise in politics. Her own father's death is somehow connected.[5]

Cast[edit]

Plot[edit]

As the drama opens, newly inaugurated Cabinet's recently appointed Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, Ichiro Seike, gives a press conference. Seike is a young politician that has captured the attention of the people, enough to consider him as a candidate to be the next Prime Minister [9] Yoshitaka Wadajima was Chief Cabinet Secretary when he gave a speech of support when Seike first ran for office. He was Seike's father. This was unknown for many years, until it was revealed in Seike's autobiography. They never lived together. Wadajima died of cancer the year before.[10]

Tōto Shinbun reporter, Kanae Michue, has gone to Seike's hometown to learn more about this charismatic politician. But things seem to not be as sunny as his disposition. When Michue goes to his alma-mater, she learns that Seike's image there is far from the reliable image he has today. She also learns about Tetsuji Tamayama, his former mentor and current secretary. What is more surprising is that there is no mention of Tamayama in Seike's autobiography.[9]

Koichi Sasaki, Seike and Tamayama's former classmate, is chairman of Seike's Supporters' Association. He is a chef by trade, following the footsteps of his father, and owns "Haruyoshi", a restaurant in his hometown of Matsuyama. However, it seems that there is more to the person than meets the eye.[10]

Michiue's mother, Kaori, runs the family restaurant by herself. She is very supportive of her daughter, who struggles to balance work and family time. Michiue has been distanced of her father, Kanetaka, for some time. Michiue's parents divorced 5 years before. Kentaro Hatade is Michiue's ex-husband. They divorced after Michiue got involved in a scoop that developed into a scandal that also involved her family. They decided to divorce to protect their only child, an elementary school aged boy. Hatade has custody of their son, but is still in contact with Michiue.[10]

Michiue receives a sudden call from her father.[10] Kanetaka was a reporter in the social affairs department. As he says he's been looking into something from a past case he just re-took,[10] and asks Michiue for advice, Kanetaka is killed in a sudden traffic accident.[11][12] Michiue starts investigating a number of fatal accidents that seem related to Seike's rise to power. One of those may be her own father's recent death.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "笑うマトリョーシカ Tankobon Hardcover – November 5, 2021". Amazon (in Japanese and English). Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  2. ^ "櫻井翔がTBSの7月期ドラマ「笑うマトリョーシカ」に出演、物語を司る若き政治家に". Natalie (in Japanese). 3 May 2024. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ^ "櫻井翔出演ドラマ「笑うマトリョーシカ」初回放送日決定、政治家に扮する場面カット公開". Natalie (in Japanese). 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "水川あさみ、新聞記者役でTBS金曜ドラマ主演 櫻井翔が政治家役に初挑戦、玉山鉄二は謎めいた秘書に". Oricon (in Japanese). 3 May 2024. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  5. ^ "水川あさみ「笑うマトリョーシカ」新聞記者役で主演　若き人気政治家に櫻井翔、秘書に玉山鉄二". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 3 May 2024. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "笑うマトリョーシカ Cast & Staff". TBS Warau Matryoshka official site (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "高岡早紀＆丸山智己＆曽田陵介、水川あさみ主演「笑うマトリョーシカ」に出演". Cinema Cafe (in Japanese). 24 May 2024. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  8. ^ "TBS 7月クール毎週金曜夜22時放送 「笑うマトリョーシカ」". Sakuya's Instagram (in Japanese). 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  9. ^ a b "水川あさみ主演『笑うマトリョーシカ』場面写真&本編映像が公開 櫻井翔"大臣"の初入閣会見シーンに注目". Oricon (in Japanese). 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e "『笑うマトリョーシカ』新キャスト5人発表 水川あさみ×玉山鉄二×櫻井翔を囲む豪華な顔ぶれ". Oricon (in Japanese). 31 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Story #1 2024. 6.28 FRI. ONAIR". TBS Warau Matryoshka official site (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  12. ^ "初回放送は6月28日（金）に決定！場面写真も初解禁！水川あさみ主演・金曜ドラマ『笑うマトリョーシカ』". TBS Topics (in Japanese). 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  13. ^ "櫻井翔が初の政治家役に！水川あさみ主演ドラマ『笑うマトリョーシカ』の場面写真公開". The First Times (in Japanese). 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.

External links[edit]

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