'Marry My Husband' Japanese version is expected to captivate global viewers with a different charm from the original and the Korean drama.

On the afternoon of the 26th, a press conference for the production of the Japanese version of the drama 'Marry My Husband,' planned by CJ ENM and Studio Dragon, was held at the Ramada Hotel in Sindorim, Guro-gu, Seoul. At the press conference, actors Fukuka Koshiba, Takeru Sato, and executive producer Jaeyoung Son shared their stories.

'Marry My Husband' is based on a web novel of the same name about a woman who witnesses her best friend and husband’s infidelity and is murdered, leading her to seek revenge through reincarnation. After being aired as a tvN drama last year, where it provided thrilling catharsis and gained immense popularity, it is being reborn as the Japanese drama '私の夫と結婚して' to meet global viewers.

The Japanese adaptation '私の夫と結婚して' depicts the story of the protagonist, who has lived as a supporting character in her own life. After losing her life to her best friend and husband, she returns to ten years prior and strives to reclaim her life as the lead character in her second life. CJ ENM JAPAN and Studio Dragon are in charge of planning, and participating in the production are the production company Jiyuro Pictures, known for the film 'That Girl We Loved,' and the major Japanese production company Shochiku.

The direction is led by director Gil-ho Ahn, known for 'The Glory,' 'Memories of the Alhambra,' and 'Stranger.' The screenplay is by Satomi Ooshima, a well-known screenwriter in Korea for '1 Liter of Tears,' who also won a distinguished award for the Japanese Academy screenplay for 'Ninety Years, What's Worth Celebrating' this year. Joining her are producer Jaeyoung Son from Studio Dragon, who worked on the tvN 'Marry My Husband,' and PD Sanghwa Lee from CJ ENM's global content production team, both serving as executive producers for the Japanese version of 'Marry My Husband' to demonstrate the production capabilities of K-drama.

'私の夫と結婚して' is not a remake of the Korean drama but a drama adapted into a Japanese version based on the original web novel. Executive producer Jaeyoung Son noted, "When we were planning the Korean version after the original web novel was released, the webtoon launched and became a hit in Japan. Then we thought, why not plan the Japanese version of the drama simultaneously? Typically, when Korean dramas are produced overseas, they take the form of a remake, but since the Japanese version of 'Marry My Husband' was planned even before the Korean version was filmed, it's not a remake but an original drama version from Japan. This is a new attempt for us and a significant challenge. Just like in K-pop, if the Korean production team plans and directly produces in the local area, it could be a meaningful effort to expand the horizons of K-drama."

As it is being adapted into the Japanese version, there are also differences from the original. Executive producer Jaeyoung Son stated, "While the Korean version focused on delivering immediate thrills, fun that you can feel straight away, the Japanese version, being a 10-part series, is planned to explore relationships, psychology, and deep emotions. We added distinctive features unique to the Japanese version. This involves depicting the protagonist's fate in the form of a life script. It's about looking at life as a theatrical stage where a woman, who has never been the protagonist before, gains the opportunity to reclaim her leading role and struggles to achieve that. We made efforts to express this life script and stage visually and effectively."

The emotional differences were also one of the important points in the adaptation. He spoke about the 'emotional differences' between Japan and Korea, saying, "There is a refined emotion. During the script meetings, the writer showed us scenes of infidelity from other Japanese dramas, where the husband and his mistress sit down and have tea with the wife. We were surprised by this. We wondered why the wife didn't slap the mistress and instead spoke calmly; this is said to reflect Japanese emotions. Such aspects have been incorporated into the script, allowing for a more refined expression of feelings."

The characters played by actors Park Min-young and Na In-woo in the Korean drama have been reborn in the performances of Fukuka Koshiba and Takeru Sato as 'Kanbe Misa' and 'Suzuki Wataru,' respectively. Fukuka Koshiba, who plays Kanbe Misa, living her second life, described her character: "In the first life, I am betrayed by my friend and husband. In the second life, she is a strong character who vows to take revenge. Despite being swayed by her friend and husband, she still believes in love, making her a character with a strong heart who fights to reclaim her life as the protagonist, even if it means entangling with those who killed her. She has a strong conviction to push through until the end."

He, who has always had a keen interest in Korean dramas and films, revealing that 'Miracle in Cell No. 7' is his favorite movie, said, "I was happy to work with Korean directors and producers, and when I received the offer, I immediately said I would do it out of joy." He added, "The director is charming. He praises the actors, saying 'Well done' after each shoot and actively communicates. Initially, I was worried about whether there would be any mismatch due to the language barrier regarding delicate expressions, but he understood my emotions well during acting, dispelling much of my initial anxiety. I also spent a fulfilling time on set."

Takeru Sato, who plays the role of Suzuki Wataru, Misa's superior, said, "Suzuki Wataru holds a secret, which makes it difficult to explain. I decided to create a central axis for my acting. I resolved to use my life for Misa's happiness. I thought that if I could hold this central axis well, it would certainly become an attractive character."

He also often watches Korean dramas. Particularly impressed by the works of director Gil-ho Ahn, he said, "I thought they were excellent." He felt glad to work together this time, saying he learned a lot on set. He expressed gratitude for the good experience. He added, "I thought there would be bigger differences in the filming environment, but in reality, what we do is not very different. It's about facing my character well and living as that character, imagining their emotions. I thought communicating with the staff might be tough due to the language barrier, but even though I don’t know Korean, I understood the essence of what the director wanted to convey. As we faced the same work, creating something together, I realized that even though the language is different, I didn’t find it difficult; rather, we understood each other well. I found acting easier than expected, and it was a rewarding experience."

'Marry My Husband' is particularly special as it is the first Japanese drama created by a Korean production team. When asked if she felt any pressure regarding this, Fukuka Koshiba replied, "I felt a lot of pressure. The Korean version was highly popular, and since it has many fans in Korea, I worried it wouldn't be viewed as just a simple remake," but added, "It's a work created with Japanese actors that Korean producers made, and the latter part of the drama also includes original Japanese stories. I am confident that those fans who watched the Korean version will find elements they can enjoy in the Japanese version." Takeru Sato also expressed, "I felt a tremendous burden,” but noted, "This kind of pressure is something I can carry. I think it's worth the risk."

Executive producer Jaeyoung Son expressed confidence about the response from viewers who have already seen the Korean version of 'Marry My Husband,' stating, "They will probably find the fun in the variations possible with the same item. It has both the feel of a Korean drama and a Japanese drama. A very unique drama has emerged with a different feel. I believe the strengths of both countries have mixed together to create what is unique to our drama." He also added, "For those who have seen the Korean version, they will experience something different, and for newcomers, they will discover the charm of the Japanese version. It would be appreciated if you enjoy it."

Takeru Sato also mentioned, "I have only seen up to the second episode. I enjoyed the Korean version, so I realized good is good no matter how many times you watch it. But I felt a bit of a difference in the emotions that emerge, even if the same events occur. After the middle part, it develops into an original story unique to the Japanese version. While reading the script, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. I expect viewers will enjoy it as well."

He continued, "It's been a long time since I've read a script that made my heart flutter. I found the unseen parts of the story interesting, and in the Japanese version, the backstories of the characters are expressed, and even the villains are crafted to be relatable." Fukuka Koshiba added, "There are original stories specific to the Japanese version, and all the actors have worked hard to execute them perfectly. The villains are not just simple villains; they are more human, and I hope viewers want to look deeper into their stories."

Meanwhile, the Japanese version of 'Marry My Husband,' titled '私の夫と結婚して,' will be available for its premiere on Amazon's video streaming service Prime Video at midnight on the 27th.

[Photo] OSEN DB

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