Why No Big-Name Cast? The Surprising Appeal of Utokiri Rhetoric

The numbers are modest, but the reason for the high praise.

The numbers for the October dramas are starting to settle, and some dramas seem to be falling out of the ratings competition. Among them, there is one drama that stands out. “Uso Toki Rhetoric” (Fuji TV).

The drama, based on the popular comic by Toshiki To, with a cumulative total of 1 million copies sold, has the following description on its official website:

“This work features an unusual pair: a debt-ridden detective with an extraordinarily sharp eye for observation and a strange ability to distinguish lies, who solve intricate and mysterious cases where lies and truth intertwine, in a retro-modern, alleyway detective story.”

The detective role is played by Suzuka Oji (24), and the person with supernatural powers is portrayed by Honoka Matsumoto (27).

The story takes place in the fictional town of Tsukumo-yachō, set in the early Showa period. Unlike contemporary dramas, it requires attention to detail in set designs and costumes, and thus, it likely incurs higher production costs, but the atmosphere is well created.

As for the viewership, the first episode on October 7th had a rating of 7.1%, but the second episode dropped to 6.5%, a decrease of 0.6 points. The third episode further declined to 6.0%, but in the fourth episode, it bounced back slightly to 6.7% (according to Video Research, Kanto region, household ratings). However, it is still not considered a passing score.

A producer from a production company responsible for drama production on commercial TV states:

“With mysteries, if they’re not carefully crafted, they fail. While the first episode saw the criminal arrested, the only thing resolved was that a child was saved, and the murder case wasn’t clarified, leaving a sense of frustration. This could possibly be a setup for future developments, but it feels incomplete.

If the cast is weak, the numbers tend not to rise. Since this drama has invested in the set, costumes, and location shooting, some are even saying, ‘They probably saved on the acting fees, that’s why popular actors aren’t appearing.'”

Indeed, when it comes to “Monday 9pm dramas” (known as “Getsuku”), it has often featured super popular actors like Takuya Kimura (51) and Masaharu Fukuyama (55) in lead roles. In this drama, while the two leads are popular, they still give off a small-time vibe. Veteran actors like Kôji Ohkura (50), who plays an izakaya owner, and Hiroki Konno (45), who plays a greengrocer, support the cast, but there are no big names.

There are concerns that the drama might continue to lose momentum.

Will the numbers recover through social media word of mouth

However, after the fourth episode aired, praise began to pour in.

“Honoka Matsumoto expresses Kanoko’s emotions incredibly well.”
“Suzuka Oji’s role is a perfect fit. His charming face and laid-back detective persona match well, making him very likable. I hope it gets made into a movie.”

Why is the tide starting to turn now? A TV magazine writer explains:

“I think this drama is more enjoyable when watched as a fantasy rather than a mystery. It seems that viewers are starting to realize this. The two lead actors have also faithfully recreated the image of the characters from the original, which has been well received.

More viewers are now recording or watching the drama through streaming. These viewers are starting to say, ‘This drama is surprisingly interesting,’ and sharing it on social media. It’s gradually spreading through word of mouth now.”

Can Fuji TV’s flagship Monday 9pm time slot show its resolve?