Popular actors Shotaro Mamiya and Yuko Araki, both born in 1993, lead the Nippon TV mystery drama 'Iikoto Waruikoto' ('The Right to Judge'), airing Saturdays at 9 p.m. The plot begins at an elementary school reunion where a 22-year-old time capsule unearths a graduation album with six faces blacked out, sparking mysterious deaths among them. Despite shared bitter memories, the protagonists investigate the apparent serial murders.
In the drama, Shotaro Mamiya portrays Sho Takaki, a sixth-grade class leader, while Yuko Araki plays Sonoko Saruhashi, now a weekly magazine reporter and his former classmate. At the reunion, they unearth a time capsule buried 22 years ago, revealing a graduation album where six students' faces are blacked out. Soon, one of the six dies mysteriously, followed by more deaths, prompting Takaki and Saruhashi to probe what they suspect is a serial murder to halt it.
Mamiya reflected, 'When I heard that this drama is about former classmates who lived through the height of the Heisei era (1989-2019), I realized that the Heisei era in which we were born evokes a feeling of nostalgia and has already become a thing of the past.' Araki added with a smile, 'It’s rare for me to act with so many people of the same generation in the same drama. I want to enjoy it to the fullest.'
The pair shares an unwelcome past memory, yet collaborates despite lingering bitterness. Mamiya noted, 'Takaki is moved by Sonoko’s conviction to take action. He also gradually becomes convinced that he should confront his own past involving Sonoko. I think he’ll move forward with her, even though he feels a bit uncomfortable.' Araki said, 'The two are awkward at first, but Sonoko has something she’s determined to see through, and she’s resolved to team up with Takaki. I think their relationship will gradually change, so I’m personally looking forward to seeing how it develops.'
Described as an 'unpredictable, nonstop thought-provoking mystery,' Mamiya praised, 'It’s impressive how much has unfolded in just the first two episodes.' Araki observed, 'The main characters are all mysterious. Depending on your perspective, all of them seem suspicious, and yet none of them seem suspicious. It wouldn’t be surprising if any of them turned out to be the culprit.'
Mamiya, born June 11, 1993, in Kanagawa Prefecture, has led films like 'Hen na Ie' ('A Strange House'). Araki, born December 15, 1993, in Tokyo, starred in the popular drama 'MotoKare Mania' ('Ex-Enthusiasts: MotoKare Mania'). In elementary school, Mamiya dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, while Araki shyly wrote aspiring to be an actress in her graduation album.