Sugai Yuuka and Nakamura Yurika talk about the highlights of the drama: “It portrays both the beautiful and challenging aspects of women living together.”

In Chaser Game W2: Beautiful Celestial Goddesses, Sugai Yuuka and Nakamura Yurika star as co-leads. The show airs on “Thursday Drama 24” (every Thursday midnight 12:30-1:00 AM, with the first episode airing at 12:40-1:10 AM, on TV Tokyo and other networks) starting from September 19th (Thursday).

This drama is the sequel to Chaser Game W, which aired in January 2024. The first season delved into societal issues such as LGBTQ+, labor issues, and sexual harassment, centering around a lesbian revenge drama filled with love and hate. In this second season, the story explores the one-year gap after Itsuki (played by Sugai) and Fuyu (played by Nakamura) broke up, and how they reunite, along with the various human relationships surrounding them.

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Nakamura: “It feels like we can approach this project with trust and peace of mind.”

Question: With many voices requesting a sequel, the highly anticipated Season 2 has been confirmed. Could you tell us your thoughts when you first heard about it?

Nakamura: When we were filming Season 1, I didn’t really know how much excitement it was generating, but after the broadcast started, I realized how many fans were supporting us. We even held a fan event, and it made me feel that people really appreciated the previous work. I’m extremely grateful that we get to make Season 2, and I’m honored to be part of it again.

Sugai: Not every show gets a second season, so when I first heard about it, I was really surprised. It’s because everyone poured so much love into the show that we’re able to continue, and I’m filled with gratitude. I’m also really excited for it. The fan event was a first for me, and this drama was my first big project, so I’m honored to have this opportunity, and I want to give it my all.

Question: When you heard that Season 2 was confirmed, did the two of you share the news and celebrate together?

Nakamura: While filming Season 1, we didn’t really have time to go out for meals or anything like that, so after it was all over, we got in touch and went out for dinner. Recently, we even went to Disneyland together. During those outings, we talked about how we wanted to collaborate more and make the next project even better. Since we both share a positive approach to the project, I feel like we can trust each other and work with peace of mind.

Sugai: There were periods where we were busy with other work and couldn’t meet up, but when things calmed down, I’d think, “I wonder if I can see Yurika-chan?” and reached out to her. We’ve been able to meet up quite frequently, and with Season 2, it feels like we’re starting with an even stronger connection, so I’m excited to see what new things we can create together. We also talked about wanting to express more of our own ideas this time.

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Sugai: “There’s a different kind of excitement this time.”

Question: What were your impressions when you read the script?

Nakamura: In the previous season, my character was Chinese, and the story revolved around collaborating on a project with a Chinese company. This time, the story also involves Korea, making it even more international. Also, Fuyu’s mother plays a bigger role, stirring things up in the story, so it feels like the plot is packed with even more elements.

Sugai: Definitely (laughs). There’s a different kind of excitement this time. The last season ended with Fuyu and Itsuki making the difficult decision to part ways for the sake of the people around them, but this time, the story picks up from there, focusing on how they confront those around them and figure out how to pursue their own happiness. I feel like this season will dig even deeper into that, and I want to approach it sincerely and keep learning along the way.

Question: In Season 2, a new character is introduced—Yeoreum, a Korean influencer and Itsuki’s first love. What were your impressions of Yeoreum?

Nakamura: Yeoreum seems like someone who doesn’t hide anything and is straightforward about expressing her own style. Fuyu has a lot to think about in relation to Yeoreum, and it might help her grow as well. I feel like Yeoreum represents the things we want to say but can’t always express.

Sugai: Yeoreum is definitely a cool, refreshing character. She’s someone Itsuki has known since high school, and she was a savior for her back then. Now, Itsuki is being shaken up by Yeoreum again, and she adds a lot of complexity to the story. But thanks to Yeoreum, the story between Itsuki and Fuyu also progresses, so I think Yeoreum is going to be a really important key character in this season.

Question: With Yeoreum’s introduction, will we see Fuyu showing jealousy and other new sides to her character?

Nakamura: I think so. This season is shaping up to be a work that really showcases a wide range of emotions, so I hope people will enjoy seeing how the characters’ feelings evolve.

Question: Can you tell us what you’re looking forward to in this filming?

Nakamura: This season has a lot of flashbacks to their college days, which weren’t really shown much in the previous season. There are some new discoveries, like “Oh, they were this lovey-dovey,” and you get to see expressions from both characters that we didn’t get to see last time, so I’m really excited about that.

Sugai: It also details how the two started dating and their time together back then. In Season 1, there were a lot of winter outfits, but this time, there are lots of summer memories and moments from different seasons, so I’m really looking forward to that.

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Nakamura: “She gives me the energy to push through filming.”

Question: This was your first time co-starring together in the previous season. How has your impression of each other changed?

Nakamura: At first, I was like, “If I joke around, will she make a face at me?” (laughs), so I was a bit cautious with my words. But as we spent more time together on set, I started to break out of my shell more and more.

When we were tired, we’d both show it on our faces, we’d get sleepy, and we’d even go grab snacks for a sugar boost at the same time (laughs). From those little interactions, we gradually started showing our true selves.

She’s really easy to talk to, and when I see her on set, she feels like such a reliable presence. She makes me think, “Let’s do our best filming today.” I think she’s a strong woman with a wonderful smile.

Sugai: That makes me so happy. Thank you. My first impression of Yurika-chan when we first met was that she had this soft, gentle air about her, which felt like a bit of a contrast to her outward beauty. But as I got to know her—like how she can’t stop laughing once she starts, and how she jokes around—I found myself able to be more and more my true self, too.

She’s such a bright presence on set, and I find her really dependable as well. The more I get to know her, the more I see how proactive she is and how she challenges herself with all sorts of things. It’s really impressive, and I admire her for that.

Nakamura: Thank you!

Question: You mentioned earlier that the two of you recently went to Disneyland together. What kinds of things do you talk about in your private time?

Nakamura: We talk about all sorts of things. She has a cat named Tom, and hearing about him is so soothing.

Sugai: We also show each other pictures (laughs).

Nakamura: Yes, exactly! We talk like we’re bragging about our own children (laughs). We also talk about work, and I feel like our bond has deepened through these conversations.

Sugai: When we were at Disneyland, we talked about work, and Yurika-chan said, “If you have passion and motivation, you can do anything!” That stuck with me, and now I live by those words (laughs).

Nakamura: Wow, you remembered!

Sugai: She always gives me such great words of encouragement. I feel really energized thanks to her.

Nakamura: That makes me so happy.

Sugai: While we were walking around, we happened to meet a high school girl who watched the first season. She had a picture of us in a Polaroid on the back of her phone and told us how much she loved the show. I was so surprised that people are carrying our photos around and it made me so happy.

Question: It must be a huge surprise for fans to see the two of you at Disneyland!

Nakamura: We were just casually wearing headbands, so I don’t think many people noticed us. We had a great time just being ourselves, and it was a really fun memory. We posted pictures on social media with subtle hints but didn’t reveal it was us at first (laughs). Later, we uploaded a picture of us together, and fans were like, “I knew it was them!”

Sugai: We coordinated the timing to post it, like, “Should we upload it now?” (laughs).

Nakamura: Fans were really hoping for a sequel, but at that time, we couldn’t say anything (laughs).

Sugai: It’s truly humbling to know how many people have been waiting for this. The production team is putting so much effort into this, and I really want to live up to the expectations.

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Question: Lastly, could you tell us what to look forward to in the drama?

Nakamura: There are scenes from Itsuki and Fuyu’s college days that couldn’t be fully portrayed in the previous series, and I think viewers will be happy to finally see those scenes they’ve been wanting to watch. It also delves into deeper aspects, like how Fuyu interacts with her mother, husband, and child, and how she overcomes these challenges while continuing her relationship with Itsuki. It’s packed with so many elements, so I hope everyone looks forward to it.

Sugai: There are characters returning from the previous series, along with some incredibly captivating new ones, and I hope everyone comes to love them as well. The series also highlights both the beautiful and challenging aspects of women living their lives together, so I hope viewers will cheer for the choices the two make as they watch.

(Source: TheTV.jp)