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From the weakest AD in history to the industry leader, he has drawn in everyone with love and passion

Murase Ken, General Producer, Fuji Television Network, Inc.

At Fuji TV's Wangan Studio just before the start of filming for the new drama "Umi no Hajimari"

The Fuji TV drama "silent" broadcast in 2022, which attracted attention for the excellent performances of Haruna Kawaguchi and Ren Meguro. The drama became a social phenomenon, setting a new record for the highest cumulative number of catch-up broadcasts in the history of commercial broadcasting, and was produced by Murase Ken, a graduate of School of Social Sciences at Waseda University. Starting in July 2024, the new drama "Umi no Hajimari," starring Ren Meguro, will be broadcast under the production of Murase, with the same screenwriter and director as "Silent" teaming up, and is attracting attention again.

Murase has worked on a variety of popular and topical works in the past. We spoke to Murase about Murase’s time at university, which Murase says is the source of his vitality and creative drive, and about the "the power to get people involved" that Murase talks about as the key to forming an organization.

I don't have any special talent... How I paved the way to the TV industry after facing setbacks

During his high school days, Murase was absorbed in band activities in the light music club, but was also influenced by the profound human drama of the classic TV drama "From the North Country," and began writing screenplays. When Murase decided he wanted to devote one's self to music and screenplays in college, Murase's only was Waseda University.

"I thought that I would be able to meet many people with the same aspirations at Waseda University, which is said to have the most student club in Japan. In fact, many people in the music, theater, and film industries are from Waseda, so when I first entered a Waseda classroom after taking the entrance exam, I was deeply moved to think, 'So that musician and that film director were here...'"

1浪の末に入学後、音楽サークルGuitar Enjoy Clubやシネマ研究会などに籍を置き、八嶋智人さんらを輩出した劇団カムカムミニキーナでは音響を担当するなど、当初の予定通りさまざまなサークルで創作活動に没頭。さらには、自らサークルを立ち上げるバイタリティーも発揮した。

"I thought it would be interesting if people from various fields, such as music, film and theater, could come together, so I created an all-round arts student club. At the time, the fee for publishing an article Student Clubs in Milestone was 20,000 yen. The four founding members each chipped in 5,000 yen, which was a real shame, and we started recruiting members. We were fired up to start a business."

Involving people and creating creative groups... In a sense, Murase has been practicing a style that is still relevant today since Murase’s student days. But even with such a fulfilling campus life, the time to start job hunting soon comes.

"From the beginning of my enrollment, I was enthusiastic about becoming a professional band member and a scriptwriter, but by the time I was in my third year of university, I realized that I didn't have the talent for those things. I also received scholarship because my father died when I was in high school and I grew up in a single mother household. I also had to consider paying it back, so I was determined from the start to graduate in four years."

Murase wanted to continue creative work, but Murase also wanted a stable income. That's when Murase first became aware of the television industry as a future option.

"When I thought of my life plan's x-axis as 'stable income' and y-axis as 'what I want to do,' I thought that a TV station was the only place where both overlapped. I thought that a TV station would allow me to make dramas and maybe even get involved in music. But I only realized this right before the application deadline for major TV stations. I hadn't done any research on the industry."

Although Murase had no preparation when it came to job hunting, Murase  found a way forward by making full use of Murase's previous creative activities.

"I wrote about the kind of drama I would like to make on my application form. Even though it was a departure from the standard rules of job hunting, I'm confident that in the end, my application form made the TV station think, 'This guy really wants to make dramas.'"

At the university Convocation. On the left is Murase, and on the right is former announcer Noriko baba (graduated from School of Commerce), who joined Nippon Television at the same time.

Because I'm not a genius, how many people can I rely on?

Murase's hard work paid off, and Murase joined Nippon Television as a new graduate. However, looking back on Murase's time as a new employee, Murase says, "I was the worst AD, everyone agreed."

"I couldn't get up in the morning. I was physically weak. And I had no willpower either...I was so embarrassed at my own lack of ability to do my job. But my colleagues who started at the same time as me really helped me out."

Although Murase was not strong in AD work, Murase  was confident in Murase's planning skills, so while Murase was initially assigned to the variety team as an AD, Murase also continued to write drama proposals.

"One of my seniors in the same group was formerly in the drama group, and he said, 'If you really want to do a drama, I'll introduce you to them,' and introduced me to the drama group. I showed them the proposals I had written, and they were interested, and things went smoothly until we decided to make a drama for a late-night slot."

Even though it was a late-night slot, it was unheard of for a drama project to be selected in the first year of employment. Furthermore, the fact that Murase was able to participate in the drama production for a limited period of time as a "loan transfer" while still based in the variety team had a major impact on Murase's career development.

"It was just after I joined the company, so I couldn't do any directing or producing. Even though it was my own project, I was the lowest ranking AD. Of course, that was only natural, since I knew nothing about dramas. In other words, I was the planner, but the fact that the drama came to fruition was thanks to everyone else. In the first place, without the help of my peers, I wouldn't have had time to write a proposal while working as an AD for a variety show, and without the recommendation of my seniors, the proposal would never have seen the light of day. That first project taught me that you need friends to create a work."

After that, Murase officially moved to the drama team and worked as a producer on hits such as "14-Year-Old Mother," which depicts a middle school student's pregnancy, and "Bambino!", a youth drama about a chef starring Matsumoto Jun. After moving to Fuji TV at the end of 2007, Murase continued to produce various dramas and movies, starting with "Classroom of the Sun and the Sea."

Meguro Ren will star in the drama "Umi no Hajimari," which will air in the Monday 9pm slot (Mondays from 9pm to 9:54pm) from July 2024. This completely original work, themed on the love between parents and children, reunites screenwriter Ikukata Miku, director Kazama Taiki, and producer Murase Ken, who worked on the social phenomenon "silent" (October 2022). "The drama begins with the protagonist discovering that after his university sweetheart passes away, he has a child with her. I would love for many Waseda University students to watch it," says Murase. ©Fuji TV

Now, Murase is a recognized leader in the industry. Even now, having risen to this level, Murase insists that "I can't make a drama by myself" and "teamwork is essential." By getting help from those around Murase and involving young talent, Murase has created the strongest team and is using it as the driving force to create the next hot topic. How can Murase cultivate that "power to involve others"?

"Be bold and express your love for your coworkers. Who wouldn't like someone to express their love for you? But the important thing is not to lie. Be specific about why you love them. I believe that if you can convey to the other person how serious you are about your love, they will be able to give their best to the project."

From Murase's Instagram. Many actors are moved by Murase's passion, love and dedication and want to work with Murase again.

Murase also added, "It is precisely because I am not a genius that I can increase the number of people I can rely on," and Murase went on to tell students today, "I want you to cherish the encounters you make at Waseda."

"When you get a job and enter society, you only meet people in the same segment or community as you. But at university, it's the opposite. The person sitting next to you in class has a completely different background than you. After graduating, you'll all disperse into various industries. So cherish the chance encounters with the people sitting next to you now. They will surely come in handy later. In my case, my dramas are set in a variety of industries, and in each industry there is always someone I knew from my student days, which helps me as an interview subject."

In fact, Murase has a next ambition: to one day teach at Waseda University, the place where Murase met friends.

"Drama production is my life's work, but I'm already 50 years old. Physically, I have no choice but to limit the number of productions I make. Instead, I want to pass on my experience to the next generation. I'm no genius, and that's precisely why I've been able to get to where I am today with the help of many different talents. I think my story has something to say not only to creators, but to all kinds of students who are aiming to achieve something. I'd love to meet you all in a Waseda classroom someday."

Murase and Murase's family went on a pilgrimage to the filming location of "silent" in Setagaya Daita, which became a hit among fans of the film. It seems that they recreated famous scenes with their eldest son and daughter. They are filled with love not only for those around them, but also for their own work.

Interview and text: Naoto Oguma (2002 graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences II)
Photo by Makoto Ohno

【Profile】

Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1973. Graduated from Waseda University's School of Social Sciences in 1997 and joined Nippon Television. After working as a drama producer on popular dramas such as "Grave of the Fireflies: 60th Anniversary of the End of the War" and "14-Year-Old Mother," he moved to Fuji Television. He has produced hit TV dramas such as "Classroom of the Sun and the Sea," "BOSS," "Nobunaga Concerto," "Someday I'll Cry When I Remember This Love," and "My Favorite Flower," as well as movies such as "Nobunaga Concerto," "Teiichi no Kuni," and "The Promised Neverland." The drama "silent," which he worked on in 2022, was a huge hit. Starting in July 2024, the drama "Umi no Hajimari," starring Meguro Ren, will be broadcast by the same production team as "silent."

For the first time, Murase reveals the knowledge Murase has gained over the 20 years Murase has been producing hit dramas and movies! This is a passionate book that will give you courage when you read it. "The power of getting people involved creates hits: Work techniques driven by passion" (KADOKAWA)

Instagram：@kenmurase
X：@sellarm