Production of “Kyojo 3” Faces Major Delays as Takuya Kimura’s Schedule Proves Difficult to Secure

About three weeks after the final episode of Takuya Kimura’s (51) drama “Believe: A Bridge to You” (TV Asahi), fans are already eagerly awaiting his next project.

“This winter, the movie ‘Grand Maison Paris’ will be released. It is the theatrical version of the drama ‘Grand Maison Tokyo’ (TBS) that aired in 2019 and depicts the activities of a first-class restaurant chef played by Kimura. Along with the movie release, a new special drama will also be broadcast,” said a sports newspaper entertainment reporter.

As the countdown to the theatrical release begins, there is a work whose clock has stopped. It is the sequel to the drama series ‘Kyojo’ (Fuji TV).

“In September last year, it was revealed that the production of the special drama for ‘Kyojo’ had been postponed. It was planned to be filmed in the fall of 2023 and broadcast in the spring of 2024. According to the announcement, it was due to production troubles, but some weekly magazines reported that the reason might be the withdrawal of sponsors due to the sexual abuse issues involving the former Johnny’s agency (now STARTO ENTERTAINMENT). Filming has not yet resumed, and there are concerns within the industry that it may be shelved,” said a television station insider.

“Kyojo” is a story about Kazama Kimichika, a police academy instructor who lost his right eye, played by Kimura, and his strict yet loving guidance of various trainees, shaping them into fully-fledged police officers. “Kyojo” was broadcast as a New Year’s special in 2020, followed by “Kyojo II” in 2021. In April of last year, Kazama’s past was explored in the series “Kazama Kimichika – Kyojo 0.”

Even after nearly a year since the production was postponed, there has been no progress for the following reasons.

 

“It’s impossible to secure Kimura’s schedule. From January to March this year, he was in Paris filming ‘Grand Maison Paris,’ and from March to June, he was shooting ‘Believe.’ From September to December, he’s set to go on a live tour, so he’s currently preparing for that. His television appearances are also likely to increase in the fall to promote ‘Grand Maison Paris.’ I think it will be difficult to shoot ‘Kyojo’ within this year,” said the previously mentioned television station insider.

There’s no doubt that coordinating the schedule of Kimura, the lead actor, has been challenging. An entertainment industry insider comments, “It may be influenced by Kimura’s overly stoic actor’s spirit.”

“Kimura’s passion for ‘Kyojo’ is extremely high, starting his role preparation, such as mannerisms, several months before shooting. To meet his standards, the actors playing the students also have to cut their hair short and undergo training in marching and saluting. This naturally extends the required time commitment, making it difficult to secure a filming schedule.” 

There are many hurdles to overcome, such as coordinating the cast’s schedules and securing a filming period. However, the production side seems to be deeply invested in the sequel.

“Ever since the broadcast of ‘Kyojo 0’ was decided, we’ve been considering a sequel. In fact, the final episode of the series hinted at a continuation with a significant scene. Fuji Television must want to avoid shelving it at all costs. They’re probably revisiting everything from the cast selection to the script.

Since ‘Kyojo 0’ in the April season of last year, Fuji TV’s Monday night dramas have consistently failed to hit double-digit ratings for four consecutive shows. The network places great hope on ‘Kyojo’ as a means of regaining their former standing. They must be eager for the sequel,” commented the aforementioned entertainment industry insider.

Will the production side’s “Hold on a minute” be resolved, leading to the broadcast of ‘Kyojo 3’?