It has been announced that SixTONES‘ Taiga Kyomoto will appear in the NTV drama starring Jun Shison, titled “10回切って倒れない木はない” (“There’s No Tree That Won’t Fall After Being Cut 10 Times”), which premieres on April 12 (airing every Sunday at 10:30 p.m.).
The story is a pure love romance between Kim Minseok / Aoki Teru (played by Jun Shison), a young man who lost his Japanese parents in childhood and was adopted by a major South Korean conglomerate, and Kawase Momoko (played by Sawa Nimura), who lost her father in an accident when she was young and overcame poverty to become a doctor. The project is planned by Yasushi Akimoto and depicts a turbulent yet heartfelt original story set in Japan and Korea, following a man and woman who face hardships, struggle, and uncertainty, but never give up.
Taiga plays Yamashiro Takuto, the heir to a major hospital, athletically gifted, highly intelligent, and handsome. He is a popular and charming figure among women, but secretly harbors feelings for his childhood friend Momoko. Although he fears ruining their close relationship and cannot confess his love, he becomes emotionally shaken as he sees Minseok and Momoko growing closer.
Taiga and Jun Shison, who were classmates in high school and remain close friends, will be co-starring in a drama for the first time. Jun Shison praised Taiga’s casting, calling him “charming, attractive, and perfect for the role.” Taiga’s presence, which combines glamour and sensitivity, brings greater depth to Takuto’s character.
As Minseok and Momoko reunite by fate, and Takuto enters the picture, their feelings become increasingly intertwined in a complex way.
TAIGA KYOMOTO’s COMMENT
Q. How did you feel when your casting was decided?
“First of all, I felt grateful to receive the offer. Recently, I played a vampire role, so this is quite a contrast, and I thought it would be a challenging and rewarding role. Also, I was really excited about the fact that (Jun Shison) Jun is in it. When I heard “starring Jun Shison,” I felt like if I missed this chance, I didn’t know when the next opportunity would come, so I definitely wanted to work with him.”
Q. What has it been like co-starring with your close friend, Jun Shison?
“Jun and I became close in our private lives during our middle and high school years, and we’ve known each other for over 10 years now. We’ve visited each other’s homes and even went out to eat before this project was decided. We’ve appeared together on variety shows before, but we’ve never acted together, so it feels a bit embarrassing to suddenly be working together after more than a decade. Still, having Jun there gives me a sense of reassurance, and as a friend, I hope I can support him on set in any way I can.”
Q. What were your impressions after reading the script?
“First, I felt that the overall atmosphere of the work is soft and gentle, something that naturally makes you feel at ease. As the story progresses, I think it will incorporate many different elements, but it feels like the perfect drama for a Sunday night: a show you can watch and then start the next week with a warm feeling. The fact that it’s set in both Korea and Japan is also a major highlight, so I hope viewers will enjoy it as a truly unique drama.”
Q. What makes your character, Takuto, appealing?
“He’s a playful and quite cheerful character compared to the others. At the same time, I feel like part of that behavior might be intentional. In reality, he hides the fact that he has deeper feelings for Momoko beyond childhood friendship, and he carries various burdens and emotions. So I hope to portray not just his bright, carefree side, but also that other layer beneath the surface.”
Q. What have you been focusing on while preparing for the role ahead of filming?
“I hope I can be someone who brings a bright atmosphere to the story. I haven’t played many overly energetic roles before, so I want to carefully control that balance and consult with the director. Beyond being the heroine’s childhood friend, my character is deeply involved in the romance between Minseok and Momoko, so I want to approach the role with dedication.”
Q. What are you most looking forward to during filming?
“Jun and I were classmates, and Sawa Nimura is actually the same age as us too. It’s pretty rare to have so many people of the same age together. She previously appeared as a guest on “Golden SixTONES” but we didn’t really get a chance to talk then. Since she’s from Kansai and my parents are also from Kansai, I feel like we’ll be able to have fun conversations, maybe about comedy and such. I hope the three of us can help lead the set while I support the atmosphere in my own way.”
Q. A message to the viewers
“As a friend, I’ve gone to see many of Jun Shison’s stage performances and have watched his screen work for a long time. What I always feel is his “absolute sense of reliability” and “trustworthiness.” Because he provides such a strong foundation, it allows me and everyone else to shine alongside him. I hope we can deliver a compelling work that gives viewers the energy to think, “Let’s do our best again next week.””