Nakagawa Taishi, the Heartthrob of Eye Love You, Set for Breakthrough Role as a Love Decoy!

The Tuesday 10 drama “Eye Love You” (TBS) is slowly becoming more interesting.

The story centers on a love affair between Yuri Motomiya (Fumi Nikaido, 29), the president of a chocolate company, and Yoon Tae-oh (Jung-hyup Choi, 30), a Korean exchange student. The key to the story is whether the two will be able to overcome the age difference, language barrier, and Yuri’s troubled past to get together.

From episode 5, the spotlight finally falls on Hanaoka Akito (Nakagawa Taishi, 25), who reigns as the “guess-horse of love. He and Yuri have been friends since their college days and are comrades who started a company together. In fact, he has been hiding his feelings for Yuri since their college days.

This time, we would like to focus on the role of the love interest. Many actors have played this role in the past, and it has made viewers’ hearts flutter. I would like to say out loud that the most suitable actor for this role is Nakagawa Taishi.

An indispensable position in the “Tuesday 10” drama series full of love.

The 10:00 p.m. Tuesday broadcast slot in which “Eye Love You” airs is known as “Tuesday 10”. In the past few years, a series of heart-warming love story dramas have been aired in this slot.

It seems like many of the aired works give off an image of their broadcast time, as the word love is frequently used. In 2020, we had “Koi wa Tsuzuku yo Dokomademo,” “Okane no Kireme ga Koi no Hajimari,” and “Kono Koi Atatamemasu ka.” In 2021, there was “Oh! My Boss! Love is a Different Volume” (hereafter referred to as “Boss Love Strategem”) and “Reasons Why the Love You Dress Up In.” In 2022, we had “Is It a Sustainable Love? A March of Marriage Between Father and Daughter.” This spring, we’re anticipating “Who Fell in Love with Me?” starring Ikumi Mei in her first lead role in the prime time slot.

Even if a title doesn’t explicitly include love, like “Eye Love You,” the “Monday at 10 PM” slot still holds a romantic atmosphere. A crucial role here is the love decoy, who, even without being directly involved in the romance, ignites sparks between the two main characters each time they make a move.

The love decoy ultimately ends up alone. However, they often leave a lingering impression more so than the seemingly happy couple at the drama’s end. Looking back, during the trendy drama era, viewers would anxiously follow the main characters’ developments. It’s unexpected in today’s era that the spotlight now shines on the supporting roles standing by their side. Perhaps it’s because we can’t help but root for the bittersweet performances of these love decoys.