Hideaki Takizawa has been dashing through the Heisei era (1989-) as a superstar and will retire from show business at the end of this year.
In his final work, a new serial TV drama "Koko no Mesu" (The solitary scalpel), he will play a surgeon who makes every effort to perform the first liver transplant in Japan in the late 1980s.
The eight-part show will start at 10 p.m. on Jan. 13 on paid satellite channel WOWOW. The first episode can be viewed for free.
The surgeon he plays is Tetsuhiko Toma, who has returned from the United States to a private hospital in a regional Japanese city. He successfully performs various types of difficult operations one after another.
"He's up to a new challenge if he thinks it necessary to help a patient. He's a very cool guy," Takizawa said.
One day, he meets a patient whose days would be numbered without a liver transplant. But Toma faces the obstacle of resistance to transplant operations from senior doctors who are obedient to old conventions.
This serious medical story, which is based on the novel "Koko no Mesu -- Gekai Toma Tetsuhiko" by Naruhiko Ogane, is set at a time when organ transplants were considered taboo.
To prepare for the role, Takizawa observed liver surgeries. Watching the tense procedures from beginning to end, he felt that the medical front was much like a battlefield.
"He [Toma] saves people's lives. Playing such a role requires a higher-than-ever level of determination. That's what I felt strongly when I was allowed to watch the surgeries," the actor said.
The highlight scenes are surgeries by Toma, who has accomplished surgical skills. In order to show the character's brilliant techniques, including postoperative closures, Takizawa practiced the movements of his hands repeatedly and regularly, using surgical equipment for the purpose.
"It's not that he's just doing some sewing, you've got to gain control of your fingers, which was difficult. I've practiced so many times that sometimes I find myself moving my fingers without thinking," he said.
Asked if he has a special thought toward his last show, he said: "No. When you're emotionally involved in the show in such a way, it could spoil the character. It is my mission to faithfully express the world in which this work unfolds."
Clearly, he is determined to cross the finish line as a pro.
Decisive about second career
It was in September that he announced he would retire and focus on training young performers at Johnny & Associates, Inc., the management company he belongs to, and also work as a producer.
"I have no fear. This is what I have decided," he said of his retirement. He spontaneously gave this resolute answer to the question of whether he had any fear about quitting his career as an idol star even though he had been single-mindedly pursuing the path.
He continued in a strong tone: "My second life is beginning. I'll just do my best there. I want to express Hideaki Takizawa in a different way."
Born on March 29, 1982, Takizawa comes from Tokyo and joined Johnny & Associates when he was 13. Since then, he has been a front-runner on the idol star road. Together with Tsubasa Imai, he formed the pop duo Tackey & Tsubasa, making his CD debut in 2002. He starred in many films and TV shows, including NHK's epic historical drama "Yoshitsune" in 2005, and the film "Kodomo Tsukai" (Child master) in 2017. He also likes to explore volcanoes, having trekked near craters in many countries.
In 2006, he launched the Takizawa Kabuki theatrical extravaganza, which has since been staged more than 700 times. He is the leader of the cast in the annual show, which has also featured many members of Johnny's Jr., a group of young performers at Johnny & Associates. As Takizawa helped train them, they look up on him for his caring leadership, sometimes calling him "Little Johnny," likening him to Johnny Kitagawa, the chief executive officer of the company.
The news of his imminent retirement came as a shock to many. To him, however, it is one of the various challenges he has taken on repeatedly.
"When you are in Johnny's, continuing to challenge new things is taken for granted. No matter what we do, it's over once we seek stability," he said.
Asked for a message to young people, he said: "When there's something you want to do, you must not keep on waiting, because then it will never come true. Continue running all the way."
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