Marika Matsumoto Nearly Falls—Rescued During Filming of “Ubai Ai, Manatsu”

(Pumped her fist when she heard she’d be co-starring with Yasuda!)

In late June, a sophisticated-looking man and woman were seen walking closely together on a promenade in Mihama Ward, Chiba City. Suddenly, the woman tripped over the toe of her heel and nearly fell forward—only to be caught in a strong embrace from the man behind her.

This was actually a scene being filmed for the July drama Ubai Ai, Manatsu (Stolen Love, Midsummer) airing on TV Asahi. The woman was lead actress Marika Matsumoto (40), and the man was actor Ken Yasuda (51).

“Ubai Ai is a dramatic love story series written by Osamu Suzuki (53), known for blending intense, tangled relationships with heart-throbbing moments. It began with Ubai Ai, Fuyu (Stolen Love, Winter) in January 2017, followed by Ubai Ai, Natsu on ABEMA in 2019, and Ubai Ai, Koko Kyoshi (Stolen Love, High School Teacher) on TV Asahi in 2021. Each installment has drawn significant attention,” explains a TV magazine writer.

In the latest series, Matsumoto plays Manatsu Umino, a single woman who ends a serious affair with a man she once considered marrying. Disillusioned with her job as a scoop-hungry reporter, she changes careers and becomes a PR rep for a watch company. Yasuda plays Taimu Sorachi, the heir and CEO of that company.

This marks Matsumoto’s third appearance in the series, following Ubai Ai, Natsu and Ubai Ai, Koko Kyoshi, though this is her first time as the lead. When asked how she felt about landing the role, she said:

“When I heard Yasuda-san would be in it, I was overjoyed—I literally did a fist pump! I never imagined he would take on this kind of role, so to be doing Ubai Ai with him is good, I think it’s going to be something really exciting.” (Cinema Today, June 6)

True to her words, the two delivered compelling performances during the shoot. Matsumoto carefully rehearsed her fall scene multiple times, while Yasuda exuded the charisma of a mature man—even while getting his makeup done. Their scene carried a taut tension, yet was laced with subtle humor.

The latest installment of the Ubai Ai series promises another round of high-drama romance. Just what kind of tangled love triangle—or quadrangle—will unfold this time? Fans will no doubt be watching closely.

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