The first drama series planned and produced by Japanese comedian Sanma Akashiya debuted on video streaming provider Netflix on July 20.
Titled "Jimmy -- Ahomitaina Honmano Hanashi"( Jimmy: The True Story of a True Idiot) the show depicts the life of Japanese comedian and painter Jimmy Onishi. It centers on the relationship between Jimmy and Sanma, who supported Jimmy in his career.
Each of the season's nine episodes lasts about an hour and all were available to watch on the day of the launch. The drama series is distributed not only in Japan but also in about 190 countries.
Jimmy is played by Akiyoshi Nakao and Sanma by Tetsuji Tamayama; other actors that also appear in the show include Koichi Sato and Chizuru Ikewaki.
Sanma, in his first time as a producer, demonstrated his distinctive abilities from the start. The veteran entertainer began reading the script with Jimmy in front of the actors at the first rehearsal. "We didn't read our parts," Nakao said. "Instead, the two of them read the dialogue for two or three hours."
As Sanma was leaving after he and Jimmy had finished reading through the script, Nakao recalled Sanma saying to him, "When we shoot the scenes, the tension and tone are meant to be like that. I'll leave it up to you from here onward."
"I was surprised, but I included the mood of the pair's reading into my performance," Nakao said.
Nakao practiced a habit Jimmy has of saying "Uo" whenever he nods -- a habit Jimmy himself said he cannot explain. "I practiced it loads of times. I don't know why, but Sanma made Jimmy do it, too, saying 'Nakao, do it -- Now, Jimmy,'" Nakao said with a laugh.
The story starts in Osaka in the 1980s. Hideaki Onishi joins Yoshimoto Kogyo Co. entertainment agency as a stage assistant, but he finds that his idiosyncrasies always got him into trouble. Backstage one day, he meets Sanma, who is at the pinnacle of his popularity.
Hideaki manages to catch the interest of Sanma, eventually making his stage debut. However, he makes a mistake during his performance, which is broadcast live on TV, and the company tells him he will be fired. Sanma steps in to save him from the predicament by putting his job on the line.
Under the name "Jimmy Onishi," Hideaki subsequently launches his career in entertainment in which his artistic talent -- as a painter -- is recognized.
"It isn't a simple comedy," Nakao said. "I hope viewers will feel the close relationship between Sanma and Jimmy and the enthusiasm of comedians."
"Most of the story is true," Jimmy said. "I want people to enjoy the human story of comedians."
Netflix monthly subscription fees start from 650, yen excluding tax. For more information, visit www.netflix.com/jp-en/
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