B&ZAI’s Katsuki Motodaka Joins the Cast of “Tsuma wo Intai Shimasu”

B&ZAI member Katsuki Motodaka has been cast in the upcoming drama “Tsuma wo Intai Shimasu” (妻を引退します), which will premiere on October 5. Based on the web manga of the same name by Mana Akaishi, the production, which stars Nao Asahi and Yua Shinkaw, aims to deliver a thrilling entertainment-revenge story depicting the dark aspects of ‘showbiz.’

After being honored with the JACIII Young Researcher Award from the international and peer reviewed Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics, Katsuki—the first junior from STARTO ENTERTAINMENT to earn a PhD—joins a stellar supporting cast that includes Yuki Tokito, Atsuhiro Inukai, Konoka Matsuda, Yorie Yamashita, Masanobu Sakata and Masanobu Katsumura.

Synopsis

Honami Ayukawa was once a child prodigy who took the entertainment world by storm. Now retired from show business, she is enjoying a happy married life as the mother of one child.

At the encouragement of her husband, Renya Ayukawa, who runs a talent agency, Honami allows their daughter, Miyu, to make her debut as a child actress. However, during the filming of a commercial with popular actress Maika Izumi, Miyu falls down a flight of stairs at the studio and is left both unconscious and in critical condition. Honami‘s childhood friend, popular actor Subaru Wakui, happens to be at the scene of the accident and tells her that the cause of her daughter’s accident was “her husband’s affair.”

Driven to the depths of despair, Honami resolves to uncover the truth by making her comeback as a star actress. Leaving her role as a “wife” behind and transforming into a woman consumed by vengeance, Honami embarks on a quest for revenge that eventually engulfs the entire entertainment industry.

Comments from the cast

Yuki Tokito “I’m Yuki Tokito, and I will be playing Subaru Wakui. When I read the original work, I was drawn into its world and how entertaining it was, and I ended up reading it in one sitting. As I read, I found myself excited imagining how Wakui would become involved in the story and how I would portray the role. Please look forward to the gripping battle of wits and maneuvering that unfolds against the backdrop of the entertainment industry.”

Atsuhiro Inukai
“I’m Atsuhiro Inukai, and I will be playing Renya Ayukawa. Renya is an unforgivable character. So it’s perfectly fine to take all the stress of everyday life and all your pent-up anger and direct it at Renya. However, I sincerely hope that you distinguish the character from the actor playing him. The atmosphere on set is fun and makes it very easy to work. I’m looking forward to the day when we can bring this drama to everyone.”

Konoka Matsuda
“I’m Konoka Matsuda, and I’ll be playing Suzuko Osawa. I believe the relationship between a talent and their manager is one of the most important relationships in their professional lives. I hope you’ll pay close attention to how Osawa handles all the various things that happen day after day within that relationship. I’ll run all the way alongside everyone on Team Tsumaine! Thank you for your support!”

Katsuki Motodaka
“I’m B&ZAI’s Katsuki Motodaka, and I’ll be playing Jun Kageyama. After reading the original work, I was deeply moved by its twists and turns, which vividly defied my expectations, as well as by the human relationships portrayed beneath them. As Kageyama is an original character created for the drama, I will portray him with care so that he can bring a new perspective and added color to the story. I hope you enjoy the intertwining agendas and conflicts unfolding against the backdrop of the entertainment industry all the way to the end.”

Yorie Yamashita
“I love the characters of the two protagonists. They appear delicate at first glance, but inside they are filled with love, darkness, and cunning.
As a fellow woman, I find myself reading the script and grinning to myself, thinking, ‘Yes, exactly! Exactly!’ I can’t wait to watch the drama! I, too, am approaching this different role with a renewed sense of purpose. Let’s enjoy the long fall nights together!”

Masanobu Sakata
“I’m playing Soichiro Ayukawa. I’m looking forward to seeing the two leads engage in a fierce battle that you could never imagine from their usual public images, amid the dark side of the industry, its unwritten rules, absurdities, favoritism, jealousy, and the raging currents of revenge. That said, needless to say, the set itself is a bright, fun, and healthy group, with none of those dark conspiracies or ominous undercurrents swirling around. Or so I’ve heard.”

Masanobu Katsumura
“I’m very happy to have the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful production. I’m playing the president of a talent agency. I wasn’t sure how I should portray him, but then I realized that there are many agency presidents around me. So I’m using presidents I’ve worked with in the past as models while having fun with the role.”