Laughing Matryoshka Explained

Laughing Matryoshka (Japanese:) 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

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

Government people

Michiue's family

Seike's family

Suzuki's family

Tōto Shinbun

Seike's Uni era

Other

Plot

As the drama opens, recently appointed Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare of the new Cabinet, Ichiro Seike, a young politician, candidate to be the next Prime Minister, gives a press conference [17] Yoshitaka Wadajima, Chief Cabinet Secretary who gave a support speech when Seike first ran for office, was Seike's father, fact unknown for many years, until revealed in Seike's autobiography. They never lived together. Wadajima died of cancer the year before.[18]

Tōto Shinbun reporter, Kanae Michue, went to Seike's hometown to learn more about this charismatic politician. Nothing seems to 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 Toshiya Suzuki, his former mentor and current secretary. More surprising is Seike never mentions him in his autobiography. Another person of interest is Koichi Sasaki, Seike and Suzuki's former classmate. Sasaki is chairman of Seike's Supporters' Association. Chef by trade, as his father, he owns "Haruyoshi", a restaurant in his hometown of Matsuyama. However, it seems that there is more to the person than meets the eye.

Michiue's parents had divorced 5 years before. Michiue's mother, Kaori, runs the family restaurant. She is very supportive of her daughter, who struggles to balance work and family time. Michiue is also divorced. She and Kentaro Hatade separated after an incident from a scoop 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.

Michiue had been distanced of her father, Kanetaka, when she receives a sudden call from him. Kanetaka, a reporter in the social affairs department of a major newspaper, had been investigating a bribery case, known as the "BG stock case".[19] Time had passed since. Kanetaka retook the story and wanted advice from Michiue. While on the phone, Kanetaka is killed in a freak traffic accident.[20] [21] 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.[22]

Michiue tries on vain to talk to Suzuki regarding the BG case and the link to her father's death, to no avail. But takes the chance when an opportunity to talk to Seike opens, confronting Suzuki in that interview. Later, Michiue receives a call from Seike. They talk about their lives. Michiue had received the (incomplete) belongings found in her late father's car, among which are keys to a bank safe, and some notebooks, which, shortly after Michiue examined them, were stolen. The notebooks had information about the BG case, in which Suzuki's father was allegedly involved. This makes Michiue's suspicions about Suzuki grow, and become strengthened by the words that Seike told her after their meeting: "From now on, keep your eyes on me too" (just like with her son). Seike may have been manipulated by Suzuki, and could be in danger.[23] During one of their one-on-one meetings, Seike receives a call informing him that Suzuki had an accident, while Michiue learns that Aoyama, a junior colleague, was also in that incident. Both are in the hospital.

Michiue tries to gather more information, but is met with resistance from Seike's office, threatening to stop all meetings with him.[24] Michiue noticed a strange similarity between Suzuki and so-called "Hitler Mentalist" Erik Jan Hanussen: besides having influence on their respective person, their ages coincided. Hanussen was 43 when he died, Suzuki was 43 at the time of what could have been a fatal accident. As she continues investigating who Seike really is, and if any of the incidents are related to Suzuki, Michiue thinks about "Mieko", Seike's girlfriend in university. Could she be involved? This makes her focus shift from Suzuki to "Mieko". At the same time, Suzuki, still in the hospital, reminisces about "Mieko" and how, for him, she became a crutch in Seike's road into politics.[25] [26]

Michiue continues prodding into the "Mieko mystery". She discovers from a former Seike classmate, and confirms from Fujita, Takechi's former policy manager, that the woman's name is Miwako Miyoshi, and that her dream was to be a screenwriter. The classmate also tells her that Miwako applied for a competition with a script modeled after Seike, called "The Last Laughing Matryoshka", details of which Miwako had told Suzuki.[27] Michiue goes to the University where Miwako is supposed to have studied in, only to learn that no one under that name registered there.[28] Michiue then goes to Suzuki and, with his help, gets ahold of the script, only to find out that instead of Miwako being the author, it is "Arisa Manaka", prompting Michiue to think it could be a false name.[29]

With her sights set in the Seike/Mieko case, Michiue's journalistic work begins to falter, forcing the newspaper to pressure her, so she quits to become a freelance journalist and concentrate on her task. Seike calls her and, in the few moments they have alone, he tells her he will not contact her again, that he is doing it for her sake, that as she is watching out for him, so is he watching out for her. As he is driven away, he turns to see a still wondering Michiue standing on the sidewalk.[30]

Michiue goes to Miwako/Manaka's family home and learns important facts about her. With all the information that Michiue has shared with Suzuki, he starts having flashbacks to when he and Seike were in uni. About him and Seike, them and Miwako... and of them and Hiroko, Seike's mother, a mysterious (and probably dangerous) person that Michiue saw at her mother's restaurant, and of whom Suzuki has hidden the fact that he knows.[31]

Something keeps bothering Michiue, as she continues to investigate Hiroko, whose presence continues to overshadow Seike's political dream. With the probability that Hiroko may have orchestrated the deaths of her ex-husband, Yoshikazu Seike, as well as Councilor Takechi, and the apparent certainty that she controls Seike, Michiue is sure that he must not be allowed to have power. And what Michiue discovers after following Hiroko gives definition to Seike's words.[32]

Seike and Suzuki's wish continues to see light, as Seike is appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary. But unexpectedly, Seike calls Suzuki into his office and fires him.[33] Feeling betrayed, and facing the reality that Seike used him, Suzuki goes to Michiue and helps her keep uncovering the truth on Hiroko. Suzuki uses the information Michiue has in an attempt to clear the image of his father, whose identity was revealed in a magazine, but notices the news about the Secretary of the former Foreign Minister, and together decide to visit his widow. She tells them that he didn't commit suicide as reported, but was killed.[34] As more and more information arises, including about the intimate relationship Suzuki had with Hiroko, Michiue goes on the road to search for her, when she finds Seike in one of his public meetings. Michiue asks him about his firing Suzuki. Seike takes Michiue's hands and pulls her to him, and whispers "I didn't do it because I wanted to".[35]

Michiue finds herself being followed, and, as she tries to flee, she runs into Hiroko. Michiue tries to confront her about the deaths, but Hiroko counters with a comment about Michiue's son's safety, previous to leaving. Yamanaka, Michiue's former colleague and current boss, finds information about the time Hiroko was working as a hostess in Ginza.[36]

Music

Theme song, "Sunshade", lyrics by singer-songwriter and music by One Ok Rock's Toru, is sung by its lyricist.[37] [38]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 笑うマトリョーシカ Tankobon Hardcover – November 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240503053248/https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/4163911502 . 3 May 2024 . 3 May 2024 . Amazon . Japanese, English.
  2. Web site: 3 May 2024 . 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 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240503051103/https://natalie.mu/music/news/572011 . 3 May 2024 . 3 May 2024 . Natalie . Japanese.
  3. Web site: 7 June 2024 . 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 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240607230345/https://natalie.mu/music/news/576676 . 7 June 2024 . 7 June 2024 . Natalie . Japanese.
  4. Web site: 3 May 2024 . 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 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240503044255/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2325460/full/ . 3 May 2024 . 3 May 2024 . Oricon . Japanese.
  5. Web site: 3 May 2024 . 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 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240503044136/https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202405020000809.html . 3 May 2024 . 3 May 2024 . Nikkan Sports . Japanese.
  6. Web site: 14 June 2024 . 笑うマトリョーシカ . https://web.archive.org/web/20240614062412/https://natalie.mu/eiga/drama/69 . 14 June 2024 . 14 June 2024 . Natalie Eiga . Japanese.
  7. Web site: 28 June 2024 . 『笑うマトリョーシカ』キャスト11人を紹介 水川あさみ×玉山鉄二×櫻井翔を囲む豪華な顔ぶれ . https://web.archive.org/web/20240628152831/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2333470/full/ . 28 June 2024 . 28 June 2024 . Oricon . Japanese.
  8. Web site: Chart . https://web.archive.org/web/20240706223832/https://www.tbs.co.jp/waraumatryoshka_tbs/chart/ . 6 July 2024 . 6 July 2024 . TBS Warau Matryoshka . Japanese.
  9. Web site: 24 May 2024 . 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 . https://archive.today/20240530052718/https://www.cinemacafe.net/article/2024/05/24/91746.html . 30 May 2024 . 30 May 2024 . Cinema Cafe . Japanese.
  10. Web site: Chart . https://archive.today/20240720015604/https://www.tbs.co.jp/waraumatryoshka_tbs/chart/ . 20 July 2024 . 20 July 2024 . TBS Warau Mattryoshka . Japanese.
  11. Web site: 梨本　謙次郎 ナシモト　ケンジロウ . https://archive.today/20240720021925/https://tver.jp/talents/t02bba1 . 20 July 2024 . 20 July 2024 . TVer . Japanese.
  12. Web site: 笑うマトリョーシカ Cast & Staff . https://web.archive.org/web/20240607223916/https://www.tbs.co.jp/waraumatryoshka_tbs/caststaff/ . 7 June 2024 . 7 June 2024 . TBS Warau Matryoshka official site . Japanese.
  13. Web site: 28 June 2024 . 田辺桃子が『笑うマトリョーシカ』出演決定！櫻井翔演じる人気政治家・清家の元恋人役【コメントあり . https://web.archive.org/web/20240628200147/https://www.tvlife.jp/drama/711623 . 28 June 2024 . 28 June 2024 . TV Life . Japanese.
  14. Web site: Cast & staff . https://archive.today/20240720021027/https://www.tbs.co.jp/waraumatryoshka_tbs/caststaff/ . 20 July 2024 . 20 July 2024 . TBS Warau Matryoshka . Japanese.
  15. Web site: 7 June 2024 . TBS 7月クール毎週金曜夜22時放送 「笑うマトリョーシカ」 . https://archive.today/20240608014538/https://www.instagram.com/p/C75h8sDyWYD/ . 8 June 2024 . 8 June 2024 . Sakuya's Instagram . Japanese.
  16. Web site: 18 July 2024 . 『笑うマトリョーシカ』真飛聖が“第2の謎の女”役で出演　「私自身も楽しみながら日々撮影」 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240720005509/https://realsound.jp/movie/2024/07/post-1723107.html . 20 July 2024 . 20 July 2024 . Real Sound . Japanese.
  17. Web site: 7 June 2024 . 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 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240608041302/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2330512/full/ . 8 June 2024 . 8 June 2024 . Oricon . Japanese.
  18. Web site: 31 May 2024 . 『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 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240602232344/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2329482/full/ . 2 June 2024 . 2 June 2024 . Oricon . Japanese.
  19. Web site: 19 July 2024 . 『笑うマトリョーシカ』前半のジェットコースター展開に追いつけ！道上香苗、闘いの記録 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240719214810/https://topics.tbs.co.jp/article/detail/?id=20559 . 19 July 2024 . 19 July 2024 . TBS Warau Matryoshika . Japanese.
  20. Web site: Story #1 2024. 6.28 FRI. ONAIR . https://web.archive.org/web/20240607223851/https://www.tbs.co.jp/waraumatryoshka_tbs/story/ . 7 June 2024 . 7 June 2024 . TBS Warau Matryoshka official site . Japanese.
  21. Web site: 7 June 2024 . 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』 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240607234234mp_/https://topics.tbs.co.jp/article/detail/?id=20415 . 7 June 2024 . 7 June 2024 . TBS Topics . Japanese.
  22. Web site: 7 June 2024 . 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 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240608035453/https://www.thefirsttimes.jp/news/0000434672/ . 8 June 2024 . 8 June 2024 . The First Times . Japanese.
  23. Web site: 28 June 2024 . #2 2024.7.5 FRI. ONAIR . https://web.archive.org/web/20240628144719/https://www.tbs.co.jp/waraumatryoshka_tbs/story/ . 28 June 2024 . 28 June 2024 . TBS Warau Matryoshka official site . Japanese.
  24. Web site: 12 July 2024 . 『笑うマトリョーシカ』清家の元恋人に「衝撃の事実」が… 橋本Pが予告 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240720023136/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2335879/full/ . 20 July 2024 . 20 July 2024 . Oricon . Japanese.
  25. Web site: Story #3 2024.7.12 FRI. ONAIR . https://web.archive.org/web/20240706223709/https://www.tbs.co.jp/waraumatryoshka_tbs/story/ . 6 July 2024 . 6 July 2024 . TBS Warau Matryoshka . Japanese.
  26. Web site: 5 July 2024 . 『笑うマトリョーシカ』再び衝撃展開 元恋人が黒幕? ネット戦慄「豹変ぶりにゾッとした」 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240707023837/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2335075/full/ . 7 July 2024 . 7 July 2024 . Oricon . Japanese.
  27. Web site: 12 July 2024 . 「笑うマトリョーシカ」タイトル回収に視聴者ざわつく「鳥肌」「込められた意味が怖い」 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240713010238/https://mdpr.jp/drama/detail/4325382 . 13 July 2024 . 13 July 2024 . Model Press . Japanese.
  28. Web site: 12 July 2024 . 「笑うマトリョーシカ」高岡早紀、田辺桃子と同一人物か「3話で辻褄が合った」「謎が増えるばかり」の声 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240713010306/https://mdpr.jp/drama/detail/4325452 . 13 July 2024 . 12 July 2024 . Model Press . Japanese.
  29. Web site: #4 2024.7.19 FRI. ONAIR . https://web.archive.org/web/20240712220353/https://www.tbs.co.jp/waraumatryoshka_tbs/story/ . 12 July 2024 . 12 July 2024 . TBS Warau Matryoshka . Japanese.
  30. Web site: 12 July 2024 . 「笑うマトリョーシカ」清家（櫻井翔）が乗り込んだ車ナンバーに反響「粋な小ネタ」「束の間のほっこり」 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240713030117/https://mdpr.jp/drama/detail/4325431 . 13 July 2024 . 13 July 2024 . Model Press . Japanese.
  31. Web site: #5 2024.7.26 FRI. ONAIR . https://web.archive.org/web/20240719223738/https://www.tbs.co.jp/waraumatryoshka_tbs/story/ . 19 July 2024 . 19 July 2024 . TBS Warau Matryoshka . Japanese.
  32. Web site: #6 2024.8.2 FRI. ONAIR . https://web.archive.org/web/20240729231239/https://www.tbs.co.jp/waraumatryoshka_tbs/story/ . 29 July 2024 . 29 July 2024 . TBS Warau Matryoshka . Japanese.
  33. Web site: 2 August 2024 . 「笑うマトリョーシカ」清家（櫻井翔）＆鈴木（玉山鉄二）、ハグの対比が話題「関係性の変化が感じられる」「俊哉くん呼びがフラグだった」 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811052141/https://mdpr.jp/drama/detail/4342516 . 11 August 2024 . 11 August 2024 . Model Press . Japanese.
  34. Web site: 10 August 2024 . 『笑うマトリョーシカ』櫻井翔×青木柚＆玉山鉄二×西山潤、“2人で1人”の驚くべき演技の一致 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811050651/https://realsound.jp/movie/2024/08/post-1745237.html . 11 August 2024 . 11 August 2024 . Real Sound . Japanese.
  35. Web site: 9 August 2024 . 「笑うマトリョーシカ」清家（櫻井翔）の一言で視聴者翻弄「まだ裏がありそう」「戦ってるようにも見える」 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811052048/https://mdpr.jp/drama/detail/4347960 . 11 August 2024 . 11 August 2024 . Model Press . Japanese.
  36. Web site: #8 2024.8.16 FRI. ONAIR . https://web.archive.org/web/20240810223918/https://www.tbs.co.jp/waraumatryoshka_tbs/story/ . 10 August 2024 . 10 August 2024 . TBS Warau Matryoshka official page . Japanese.
  37. Web site: 22 June 2024 . 来週スタート！金曜ドラマ『笑うマトリョーシカ』メインビジュアルが解禁＆主題歌は由薫「Sunshade」に決定！ . https://archive.today/20240621223616/https://www.talent-databank.co.jp/special/topics/14875/ . 21 June 2024 . 21 June 2024 . Talent Data Bank . Japanese.
  38. Web site: 22 June 2024 . 『笑うマトリョーシカ』メインビジュアル解禁 主題歌は由薫が歌う「Sunshade」 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240621225301/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2332936/full/ . 21 June 2024 . 21 June 2024 . Oricon . Japanese.

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