Hiroki Kaji stars in the drama "Pipuru: AI to Kekkonosei Hajimetemashita," revealing full cast information and a poster visual.

The full cast information and a poster visual have been released from the drama series "Pipuru: AI to Kekkonosei Hajimete" starring voice actor Yuki Kaji, which will be broadcast on WOWOW Prime from May 18, 2020.

The drama is based on his first novel "Nietzsche Came to Kyoto and Taught Me Philosophy at the Age of 17" which won the 5th Kyoto Book Award. The novel "Pippuru" is written by Mariru Harada, a young writer who won the 5th Kyoto Book Award for her first novel "Nietzsche Came to Kyoto and Taught Me About Philosophy at the Age of 17. It was serialized in the November 2018 to March 2019 issues of the magazine "Da Vinci" (KADOKAWA).

Set in the near future in 2030, when humans and AI can marry, the work is a science fiction human comedy about the love and married life of Kenichi Tsumiki, an office worker who chooses to marry a humanoid AI, and his wife, the humanoid AI "Pippuru".

⇒ Hiroki Kaji plays the leading role in a live-action drama series for the first time! Drama adaptation of the novel "Pipuru" about the married life of an AI and a human

Full Cast Information Announced

The humanoid AI Pipuru will be played by actress Ayaka Wilson, who gave a great performance as the heroine Paco in the movie "Paco and the Magical Book" and also appeared in the movie "Hibiki-HIBIKI-". She will play the role of the charming Pippuru, who is taken in as a wife by Hiroki Kaji's character, Tameki.

The mysterious AI researcher Kaede Fukayama will be played by actress Ayaka Wilson, who has appeared in several high-profile productions including the movie "Kanojo wa Uso wa Loves Lies Too Much" and the drama "Soaking Wet Detective Hagoromo Mizuno," as well as the "56th Shine! Japan Record Award "Rookie of the Year" award. Fukayama is the opposite of Pippuru, with zero empathy and an AI-like inner life even though she is a human being. Ohara delicately portrays Fukayama's gradual change as she interacts with characters such as Tameki and Pippuru.

Shugo Oshinari will play the role of Yasunari Shukugawa, a medical doctor who is also a business partner of Tsuki's, while Shusuke Yamada will play the role of Shusuke Takuma, a childhood friend of Shukugawa and also Tsuki's friend, and Asami Usuda will play Rinko Yoshino, a colleague whom Tsuki has had a crush on for 5 years. Mari Hamada will play Sanae Kobayakawa, a quirky female president of an AI company who is willing to turn AI into scrap metal.

Comments from Ayaka Wilson and Sakurako Ohara have been received, and are introduced below.

Comment from Ayaka Wilson (Pipple)
How did you feel when you were chosen to play the role of Pippuru?
It was my first time to play an AI role, and when I learned that the character I was playing, "Pippuru," was a growing AI, I was looking forward to playing the role. I was very excited to have the opportunity to play a role in the film, and I was grateful for the opportunity to be involved as an actor.

What did you think when you first read the script?
The coexistence of AI and humans is described in a very comical and surrealistic way, but I thought I could relate to it because it is linked to various problems that occur in our daily lives today. It was already interesting when I was reading the script that each character has quite a few quirks.

Message to the audience
I would be happy if I could bring love and smiles to the viewers as they feel close to the coexistence of AI and humans that could occur in the near future, 10 years from now! I hope everyone will look forward to seeing how Pipple will grow up.

Comment from Sakurako Ohara (playing the role of Kaede Fukayama)
How did you feel when you were chosen to play the role?
I was really happy! Many of my friends who are working as actors and actresses, as well as the staff, said, "I love WOWOW original dramas because they are interesting! Many of my friends who work as actors and actresses, as well as staff members, say, "WOWOW original drama is fun and I love it! I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of work it will be!

What did you think when you first read the script?
I thought my first line had quite an impact. （You can tell what kind of character I am from the very beginning. I was happy that they cast me for this role. The story is set in the future, but it makes me think that this is really how things are going to be. The development of AI is amazing these days. I think it's interesting that it doesn't seem unrealistic.

Message to viewers
This is my first WOWOW original drama. I am looking forward to playing a role that I can have a lot of fun with, so I will enjoy myself to the fullest. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of chemical reactions will occur with my co-stars, all of whom I have never met before!

Poster visual also unveiled

The poster visual for the film has also been released. Pippuru is like a clamp connecting Pipuru and Fukayama, who have never crossed paths before, as they face outward from each other. The box graphic around Pippuru is reminiscent of a humanoid AI being shipped.

Drama Outline
Pipuru: I started married life with an AI.
＜Broadcast Information
Monday, May 18, 2012, midnight broadcast start on WOWOW Prime (total of 8 episodes)
The first two episodes will be broadcast consecutively, and only the first episode will be broadcast free of charge.

<Staff
Original Story : Mariru Harada
Screenplay : Kazuhisa Kodera
Director：Mai Sakai, Yusuke Taki
Production: Drama "Pipuru" Production Committee

<Cast
Cast: Yuki Kaji, Ayaka Wilson, Sakurako Ohara, Shugo Oshinari, Yusuke Yamada, Tasuku Kamio, Masaki Kaji, Hazuki Shimizu, Tomi Fujita, Asami Usuda, Mari Hamada

<Story
It is the year 2030, a year in which people are able to marry and welcome AI into their families. Kenichi Nabiki, an unattractive salaryman, fails to go on a date with his senior colleague, whom he has had a crush on for many years. In shock, he buys a beautiful AI girl equipped with sexual intercourse functions, takes her as his wife, and names her "Pipple. However, for some reason, she refuses to have sexual intercourse with him on their first night together. He visits the developer of "Pippuru" and meets a mysterious AI researcher, Kaede Fukayama, who has zero empathy, and learns that there was a problem with his initial settings. Unfortunately, however, she is told that she cannot change "Pipuru's" settings. Instead, Fukayama makes a surprising proposal to Tameki and ......!

Recommended Articles