Ayano Go Drives 46 Million Yen Ferrari and Delivers Intense Performance on Jimenshi-tachi Set

More than a month has passed since its distribution began, and the momentum continues to build.

On July 25, “The Groundhogs” was distributed exclusively on Netflix. Director Jin Oneda’s live-action adaptation of Shinjo Koh’s crime novel of the same title, which was said to be difficult to make into a film. In addition to Go Ayano (42) and Etsushi Toyokawa (62), who double-star in the lead roles, the film is also attracting attention for the superb performances of famous actors Pierre Taki (57) and Lily Franky (60).

Based on an original story, the film is modeled on the “Sekisui House jichishi case” that actually took place in 2005. As soon as the film was released on Netflix, it ranked No. 1 in Japan for the first time. It is still at the top of the list.

While the production cost of a commercial TV drama is said to be around 30 million yen per episode, “Jijishitachi” had a huge budget of 100 million yen per episode. The realistic and powerful screen shots, which were thoroughly pursued, and the superb performances by the splendid cast have captured the hearts of the viewers.

It was in mid-September last year, when the summer heat and humidity were still lingering, that I encountered the filming of such a hot drama. A drama film crew was gathered in a corner of Shinjuku, Tokyo, on a tropical night when the temperature was nearly 30 degrees Celsius even after 9:00 pm. At the center of the group was Go Ayano, who played the lead role. Actor Kaito Yoshimura (31) can also be seen nearby.

There were nearly 30 staff members on site, and extensive filming preparations were underway. Soon after, filming began using a Ferrari, the “F8 Spyder,” with an estimated price of no less than 46 million yen. What a luxurious location.

The scene being shot that day was an important scene in the middle of the film, in which Ms. Ayano infiltrates a host club. Mr. Ayano seemed relaxed, smoking cigarettes with Mr. Yoshimura during breaks and resting in the office shuttle. Nevertheless, when the camera rolled, Ms. Ayano gave a convincing performance, much to the amazement of Director Oneda. The filming continued even after the sun went down, but he never showed any signs of fatigue.

Ayano showed once again in “The Groundhogs” that he is a talented actor. This fall and winter, he will appear in two more films, “Maru” and “Honshin. His personal life is also going well, with the birth of his first child with Sakuma Yui (29) this spring. It seems that his rapid progress will continue.