MBS "Mitsuya Sensei's Planned Feeding" production announcement press conference

2024.07.25

The popular manga "" by Ayaka Matsumoto was serialized in "Manga Yomonga" (Bunkasha) from 2020 to 2022 and was finally published in book form in January of this year.Mr. Mitsuya's planned feeding." will be adapted into a live-action drama and will begin airing on Thursday, July 25, 2024 on the MBS Dramaphile slot (MBS: every Thursday from 7:29 am, TVK every Thursday from 25:25 am, etc.).
This is a human gourmet love story about a famous, handsome, 50-something food expert with a mature sex appeal and a former baseball player and pure, straightforward magazine editor who connect through "delicious food" and "careful living."
The role of the famous, handsome, older cooking expert Mitsuya Ayumu will be played by singer-songwriter Yamazaki Masayoshi, while the role of the magazine editor Ishida Tomoya, whose heart and stomach are captured by Mitsuya, will be played by Sakai Taisei.
Masayoshi Yamazaki and Taisei Sakai appeared at the production announcement press conference for the drama on Wednesday, July 24th, the day before the broadcast.

■Masayoshi Yamazaki (role of Ayumu Mitsuya)

I play a character who is a cooking researcher and homosexual. Until now, I have often played slightly unusual roles such as criminals, but when I was approached about this role in this age of diversity, I thought it would be interesting to try it out, so I accepted. It was my first lead role in a terrestrial drama in 26 years, so I wondered if it was really okay, but I'm glad I gave it a try.
Taisei is a good young man, and what really struck me was how seriously he approached his acting. I tend to give up (laughs). But he's a professional. I respect the way he approaches his roles. He encouraged me on set by saying things like, "Let's do our best tomorrow," and "Let's go for a run."
Both the staff and the director were very professional, and their enthusiasm for the original work was very apparent on set. I'm sure it was very difficult in the heat, but they worked so hard, and I'm very grateful.

■Taisei Sakai (role of Tomoya Ishida)

The role is of a former baseball player and a young editor at a women's magazine. He has a pure and straightforward personality, but he meets Mitsuya-sensei while carrying feelings of inferiority and regret from the past, and grows as a person. I passed the audition and got the chance to play this role. Ishida-kun originally wanted to be a professional baseball player, and I've been playing soccer for a long time, so I was excited to be able to empathize with him and create the character.
I had the strong impression that Yamazaki Masayoshi was a great senior and a legend, so I was very nervous when I met him for the first time. However, as we spent a month together on set, I got to know many different sides to him, such as the kind Yamazaki, and the playful Yamazaki who brightens up the atmosphere on set with his puns. I learned that he has an unshakable core, and I wanted to become a wonderful adult like him.
All of the dishes that appeared in the drama were highly accurate and incredibly delicious. I was happy to be able to eat dishes that were directly adapted from the original manga in every episode.

◆What scene would you especially like people to see in episode 1?

Yamazaki: I guess it would have to be the scene where they meet. When he comes to visit, he comes out looking really strange (laughs). Like Carrie with sunglasses... It was really hot during filming.
However, it was only because of that encounter that the story unfolded, so it left a lasting impression on me.

Sakai: For me, it was Ishida's dream scene. Ishida's delusions were just too extreme (laughs).
It's not just in the first episode, but will be revealed more and more from now on. It's drawn in a comical way, so please look forward to it.

About the opening theme song, "Frito," written by Masayoshi Yamazaki

Yamazaki: I have the desire to love indiscriminately, whether it's homosexuals or animals.
The title of the song comes from Frito, the dog who plays a key role in overcoming age and gender differences in the play.

Sakai: Because I had the opportunity to work closely with him, when I heard the song I got goosebumps and thought, "Ah, that's the artist, Yamazaki Masayoshi!"

◆Message to viewers

Yamazaki: I think that if you watch it in this setting, it will make you think, "Oh, so there's another format like this." There is a genre called BL, but I don't think it's discriminatory, and I think it's something that makes you feel warm when you watch it, so please look forward to it.

Sakai: I hope that this work will make people think, "I want to see that person" or "I want to have dinner with them," and that they will feel grateful for having such people, and that they will feel the wonderful connection that food can have with emotions. And above all, I would be happy if people who watch the work have their hearts warmed.

"Mitsuya Sensei's planned feeding."

Cast: Masayoshi Yamazaki, Taisei Sakai
Chiaki Kawamata, Ugly Mihara, Maya Imamori
Tomoki Maruyama/Shohei Uno

Original work: Ayaka Matsumoto "Mitsuya Sensei's Planned Feeding" (Bunkasha Publishing)
Director: Katsumi Nojiri
Screenplay: Nami Yoshikawa
Music: Tomohide Harada
Production company: LesPros Entertainment
Production: "Mitsuya Sensei's Planned Feeding" Production Committee, MBS
https://www.mbs.jp/mitsuyasensei/

Student Newspaper Online, July 24, 2024, Interview by Toyo University, 2nd year student, Koshiyama Rinno