Tao Tsuchiya and Shori Sato Exude Team Spirit During Production of Their Well-Received Detective Series

A drama performing well, with a harmonious atmosphere on set

A woman smiling happily at a nighttime amusement park illuminated by dazzling lights and decorations. It was actress Tao Tsuchiya (31).

In late April, filming for the currently airing drama Borderless: Wide-Area Mobile Investigation Unit (TV Asahi) was taking place at an amusement park in Chiba Prefecture. Alongside Tsuchiya, who stars in the series, were her co-star Shori Sato (29) of timelesz, as well as Yuka (45) and Yoshihiko Inohara (50).

“The drama is a completely original work by screenwriter Ryoichi Kimizuka, known for creating major police drama hits such as Bayside Shakedown and The Classroom (both Fuji TV). To respond quickly to wide-area designated incidents spanning multiple regions, investigators use a large truck called Ichibanboshi as a mobile investigation headquarters, heading directly to crime scenes while overcoming territorial disputes between the Metropolitan Police Department, other prefectural police forces, and local jurisdictions to solve cases. It presents an entirely new premise unlike previous detective dramas.

The four actors portray members of the National Police Agency’s Kanto Regional Police Bureau Mobile Investigation Division. Tsuchiya plays Momoko Nakazawa, a non-career-track detective, while Sato portrays rookie detective Tsubomi Kizawa,” explained a television magazine writer.

On this day, the four actors filmed scenes dressed in black suits and black coats—attire completely unsuited to an amusement park setting. A large crowd had gathered at a distance to watch. Some were families who had happened to be visiting the amusement park that day, while others appeared to be fans who had learned of the filming and came specifically to catch a glimpse of the cast. Once filming began, the four walked silently side by side with intensely serious expressions. Tsuchiya and Sato, leading the group, wore particularly stern looks, creating a heavy atmosphere.

However, once the director called cut and filming paused for a break, Tsuchiya enjoyed chatting with staff members, just as described at the beginning of this article. Sato and Yuka were also seen conversing cheerfully with other staff members. The atmosphere was remarkably relaxed.

Tsuchiya, who graduated from a sports-oriented university, has performed intense action scenes numerous times in the films and dramas in which she has appeared. On May 13, she updated her Instagram account, sharing a photo of herself climbing a ladder attached to Ichibanboshi during a break in filming. She added the comment:

“The photo shows Momoko trying to climb Ichibanboshi! Standing next to it, I look like a cicada clinging to a tree, which really shows just how enormous Ichibanboshi is.”

As of the broadcast of its fifth episode (May 13), the drama had maintained strong performance with an average household viewership rating exceeding 7 percent (according to Video Research data for the Kanto region). With Tsuchiya and Sato sharing top billing, the series appears poised to continue its momentum.

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