<figure id="attachment_432830" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 5076px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-432830"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ffc061c0"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/07/9408b1bf09c645bfedb534e7a0a2939e.jpeg" alt=""></a>Yamazaki Ikusaburo sitting on a park bench, looking worn and haggard</figure>
<h2>Secretly filming a large-scale drama</h2>
<p data-start="72" data-end="377">In the park, a mother and her small child were playing. A short distance away, a middle-aged man sat wearily on a bench. Noticing the mother and child, the man gazed at them with a pained, contemplative expression&#8230; That man was actor Yamazaki Ikusaburo (39).</p>
<p data-start="379" data-end="522">In early July, a drama shoot took place inside a large multi-purpose park in Shinjuku Ward, which houses athletic facilities and open spaces.</p>
<p data-start="379" data-end="522"><strong>“That day’s shoot was set in a park, so there were many extras including parents with children and people exercising. The details haven&#8217;t been officially announced yet, but it looks like a new drama production. I&#8217;ve heard that further large-scale location shoots are planned,”</strong></p>
<p data-start="526" data-end="847">said a reporter from a sports newspaper.</p>
<p data-start="849" data-end="1089">Yamazaki starred in the musical Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju, which he also planned, from February to April this year. However, he hasn’t appeared in a TV drama since The Travel Nurse (TV Asahi), which aired in the October 2024 season.</p>
<p data-start="1091" data-end="1411">More recently, on June 1, he performed the national anthem in front of nearly 80,000 people at the 92nd Japan Derby held at Tokyo Racecourse (Fuchu City), receiving thunderous applause. Afterward, FRIDAY DIGITAL (June 12 release) reported that he reunited with his wife, Abe Natsumi (43), to enjoy the race together.</p>
<p data-start="1413" data-end="1455">A commercial TV drama insider commented:</p>
<p data-start="1413" data-end="1455"><strong>“It struck me as odd that the only publicly known item on his schedule this year was a dinner show slated for November 9, especially considering how in-demand he is for both stage and screen. Now we know—he&#8217;s been quietly filming a major drama.”</strong></p>
<p data-start="1707" data-end="1921">During filming, detailed makeup was applied to Yamazaki as he sat on the bench—his cheeks hollowed, with dark circles under his eyes. He repeatedly sighed while seated, acting out a sense of emotional exhaustion.</p>
<p data-start="1923" data-end="2130">Playing the mother in the mother-child duo was actress Renbutsu Misako (34). Yamazaki’s gaze toward the pair, as they played with a small ball, blended nostalgia with a heavy, possibly regretful intensity.</p>
<p data-start="2132" data-end="2236" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">When the shoot paused for a break, it was said that the extras’ eyes were immediately drawn to Yamazaki.</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="Ikusaburo Yamazaki, who will turn 40 next year, spoke of his aspirations..."></div>
<h2>Even looking worn out, he’s still handsome!</h2>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 16px;">“There were lots of extras that day. Many of them were mothers with young children, and during breaks, Yamazaki-san stayed seated on a bench using his smartphone. But all around him, you’d hear people saying things like, ‘He’s </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">so</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> cool!’ and ‘OMG, he’s way too gorgeous,’”</span></strong></p>
<p data-start="47" data-end="363">said one of the extras who participated.</p>
<p data-start="365" data-end="501">As expected from someone dubbed the Prince of the Musical World, Yamazaki’s good looks remained unmistakable—even in a fatigued state.</p>
<p data-start="503" data-end="665">In an interview published by the entertainment news site KANSAIPRESS (February 18, 2025), Yamazaki reflected on turning 40 next year and shared his aspirations:</p>
<p data-start="503" data-end="665"><strong>“I first started working in media when I was 29.  Since then, I’ve been going non-stop to the point I can’t remember when I last took a break. But I’ve had the chance to appear in morning dramas, historical dramas, and the Kohaku Uta Gassen, and I’ve seen some truly incredible sights. Right now, I’m preparing to take the next step.”</strong></p>
<p data-start="503" data-end="665"><strong>“Someday, I want to create something like Japan’s first musical-film hybrid or combine musicals with other genres. It’ll be a huge challenge, but I won’t let that stop me—I’ll keep pushing forward!”</strong></p>
<p data-start="1215" data-end="1274">All eyes are on Yamazaki as he embarks on this new chapter.</p>
<p data-start="1276" data-end="1424" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Note: “FRIDAY DIGITAL” welcomes tips and information from readers. Please use the submission form below or send tips via our official X (Twitter).</p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="Ikusaburo Yamazaki carefully applies his makeup before the photo shoot."></div>
<figure id="attachment_432832" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6542px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-432832"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ff6927f4"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/07/021b3d86827a95ded9d716f5e0cc2f09.jpeg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-432832" class="wp-caption-text">Yamazaki Ikusaburo receiving detailed makeup before filming</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_432833" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6542px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-432833"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="507e577c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/07/9a8f3f24a12f53aaa66f11ea6e42458d.jpeg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-432833" class="wp-caption-text">What lies ahead of Yamazaki Ikusaburo’s sharp gaze?</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_432834" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6542px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-432834"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="39876fcc"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/07/97040e4d78a440ce2d1adfd8d64b78c3.jpeg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-432834" class="wp-caption-text">Yamazaki Ikusaburo checking his phone between takes</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_432835" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2751px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-432835"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="1c561dd8"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/07/2c133ef8dc099338b81b78cd9a3d1b8c.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-432835" class="wp-caption-text">Yamazaki Ikusaburo and Natsumi Abe watching the Japan Derby on June 1</figcaption></figure>


 Kumataro Arai

 In early July, a drama was being filmed on location at a park in Shinjuku City. Ikusaburo Yamazaki was there. He had dark circles under his eyes and was staring at a mother and her child playing in the park. We look forward to seeing Yamazaki's performance in the "big drama distributed worldwide!

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