From Forensic Lab to Cybercrime: Yasuko Sawaguchi’s Surprising Lead Role in Monday 9 PM Drama

Starring in a popular Getsu-9 series

Actress Yasuko Sawaguchi (60) has been announced as the lead in the Fuji TV Monday 9 PM drama Absolute Zero: Special Investigation of Information Crimes, set to premiere in October. This marks Sawaguchi’s first appearance and lead role in a Fuji TV drama series in 35 years, since Oedo Torimono Nikki: Teruhime Nanahenge (1990). After 41 years in the entertainment industry, this will also be her first “Getsu-9” (Monday 9 PM) role.

Absolute Zero is a popular series that began in 2010, and the new installment is the fifth season.

“Seasons 1 and 2 were led by Aya Ueto (39), achieving double-digit average household ratings across all 22 episodes. Seasons 3 and 4 starred Ikki Sawamura (58), with most episodes scoring over 9%. When it was announced that Sawamura would lead season 3, there were some doubts, but the series’ popularity remained strong,” said a broadcasting reporter.

The new series is set in the Information Crime Special Investigation Unit (commonly called DICT), a task force that tracks criminals exploiting advanced information technologies to threaten citizens’ lives and property. Sawaguchi will play Nami Ninomiya, a detective in this unit.

Sawaguchi is best known for her long-running role as forensic researcher Mariko Sakaki in TV Asahi’s drama series Kasouken no Onna, which began in 1999 and celebrated its 25th anniversary last year with season 24. By comparison, the popular detective drama Aibou, which started in 2002, will air its 24th season this October. Kasouken no Onna remains the longest-running and most-series-rich ongoing drama in Japan.

“Kasouken released a movie in 2021, but it underperformed with box office revenue of 540 million yen. Recent ratings have been declining, and attempts to revamp the time slot had little effect. There were even whispers of cancellation. I’ve heard that TV Asahi internally decided not to continue the series. Given these circumstances, Sawaguchi likely accepted Fuji’s offer and decided to ‘transfer,’” said a TV industry insider.

“There must be deep-rooted fans.”

The Monday 9 PM slot aired Zoku Zoku Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi this April, depicting the adult romance of protagonists played by Kyoko Koizumi (59) and Kiichi Nakai (63), and received positive reviews.

Currently, Ashita wa Motto, Ii Hi ni Naru stars Haruka Fukuhara (27), and previous seasons have also focused on younger leads, such as Oji Suzuka (25) and Honoka Matsumoto (28) in last October’s Uso Toki Rhetoric, or Ren Meguro (28) from Snow Man in July’s Umi no Hajimari. Given this trend, will viewers accept the major shift of having Sawaguchi as the lead?

Entertainment journalist Kazuhiko Futa commented:

“Sawaguchi took on a variety of roles when she was younger, but now she is strongly associated with Mariko from Kasouken no Onna. Playing a wide range of roles is difficult. She played a newly elected politician and head of a flower arrangement house in TV Asahi’s SP drama Ohana no Sensei, but it didn’t quite resonate. However, even if Kasouken is no longer airing, her agency wants to keep her active. That’s likely why she accepted Fuji’s offer for a detective role similar to her Mariko image.”

Fuji TV has also been affected by ongoing issues stemming from troubles involving former talent Masahiro Nakai (53) and a former female announcer at the network, which have prevented full return of commercial sponsors and influenced casting decisions.

“Younger viewers may not be drawn to Sawaguchi’s Monday 9 PM lead, but longtime fans of Kasouken, who may never have watched Getsu-9 before, might tune in just because she’s starring, helping support the ratings. Kasouken has not officially ended, and it may continue in SP dramas,” Futa added.

Although the viewer demographic will shift significantly from Fukuhara’s drama, Fuji TV likely sees strategic advantage in casting Sawaguchi. As a detective pursuing information crimes, she could help launch yet another popular series.

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