Neo Actor Vol.17 Usui x Hashimoto interview
Translation of Neo Actor Vol.17 Usui Masahiro x Hashimoto Taito
Usui Masahiro x Hashimoto Taito
A story about the growing-up of 4 guys in the age of 9, 19 and 29, living in a small town close to the sea.
The 10th D-BOYS STAGE which deserves an anniversary is a famous story of Douglas Maxwell which will be performed in Japan for the first time, and it will even be performed at Theater Cocoon.
The 4 characters all have a double cast and the actors will shuffle for the play. This means that there are 4 different teams to enjoy.
We talked to Usui Masahiro and Hashimoto Taito who are acting in this anniversary stage play. And they also talk about the Coming of Age event that they had recently...
Congratulations! The event about becoming once and only 20 year old expresses your dreams of the future
-At the anniversary event, you got a lot of shouts of "Congratulations" and applause by your fans, right?
Hashimoto: Because it would be an anniversary for us as well, I wanted to discuss more with Usui before making everything, but we didn't have enough time... Because we were planning the event, while I was doing the stage play "Koi suru watashi no bakery" and also rehearsals for the next stage play "ALTAR BOYS".
Usui: But there were things we both wanted to do with each other, so it was really hard (laugh).
Hashimoto: I had an intense thought and always wanted to think about this as a theme when I get 20 years old, so I sang honesty as a theme song.
Usui: "HONESTY", right? A the opening I was in charge of the video and Taito was in charge of the music and dance steps. We know what each other can do, so there weren't many troubles, I guess.
-So you two already had a common ground?
Hashimoto: Since we're the same age we talk a lot with each other.
Usui: We really talk a lot. I think we're on the same wavelength.
-When we add Takahashi Ryuki here, it'll form some kind of an image.
Usui: That's true (laugh). We both acted together with him, go out to eat with him and are good friends, but since we got 20 years old before him, we won't be able to go to some places together anymore (laugh).
Hashimoto: That's right (laugh). Like places with alcohol and such.
Usui: And Ryuki is still busy (with "Kamen Rider Fourze") so I want him to concentrate on this.
Hashimoto: We sometimes talk on the phone. At times when I feel like it, one-sidedly (laugh).
-In "Samishii Magnet" you're also on the same team, right?
Usui: Yes, so it means that we'll be together in the next time as well, right?
Hashimoto: That's true. Recently we talk for a much longer time than we did before. And we he have some unexpected common point.
Usui: What is it?
Hashimoto: When Usui was in elementary school...
Usui: Eh, that topic (laugh).
Hashimoto: Usui was a good friend with someone until they fought, and with this guy I was a good friend in high school, but in the end we fought as well and weren't friends anymore.
Usui: When I first heard that Taito was friends with him, I was quite surprised. And it's funny that it had the same end like I had it (laugh).
Hashimoto: But i think it's important to say this as a common point that we couldn't forgive him. Because it means that we think similar.
-Who of you two usually takes the initiative to do something?
Hashimoto: I don't think any of us.
Usui: I was taking the responsibility for the event though.
Hashimoto: Because we have different sections where we are good at, we two have a good balance, I think. Usui was in charge of the video/pictures, I was in charge of the sounds and I think that we could do more events like that.
Usui: Taito is an honest person and when you ask him for a favor, he's doing it properly. And he actually does it really fast, so it's easy to make the schedule (laugh).
Hashimoto: I'm fast with stuff I like.
-Do you two have a lot in common as creators as well?
Hashimoto: Yes! We also like similar things.
Usui: It means that our field for understanding is wide.
Hashimoto: I think it's because we both have a lot of hobbies.
Usui: I want to increase what I like widely and lightly. But I also think that it's good that we both have our firm territory, that Taito likes music and that I like movies. But we don't enter each other's core. I won't tell Taito how I think about music either.
Hashimoto: This sense of distance is quite good, right?
The two of you who already gathered a lot of experiences in stage plays, what are you aiming for with "Samishii Magnet?"
-I want to talk about the stage play "Samishii Magnet". Usui and Taito will be together on the teams "Blues" and "Whites". Are your characters also together a lot?
Usui: A lot!
Hashimoto: I think they will be together a lot. I think that maybe the two of them together will be important. At first, there are only 4 people acting in the whole play, and then this time it's a double cast so that the actors will change every time, but these two are always together and the strength of the play will be built up through their relationship, I think.
-The cast is a double cast and the characters will shuffle. Watching it is extravagant, but how many times should one go and watch it?
Usui: As expected, seeing all 4 different teams would be good.
-That's true.
Hashimoto: Or, if you focus on us, it'll be only two different teams (laugh).
-Where we especially pay attention to, is the group of you two and the two D2 members (Jinnai Sho, Akutsu Shotaro) called "Blues" who has 4 performances. Also being called "fresh round", will there be a lot of people who look forward to it?
Usui: It's true that it has a sense of freshness, but I don't want the performance where I'm acting in be called boring. We will do it properly!
-Usui is portraying Gonzo, what image do you have of him?
Usui: The stage play is placed in a small town and I will be acting Gonzo from a 9 year old to a 29 year old. There will be some people who will leave their hometown, and I will be someone who's fighting against that. I think that I will need a lot of energy to act him. But it would great if I could enjoy acting it too.
-Taito with his character Toru, what image do you have of him?
Hashimoto: To say it shortly, someone who's thinking very fast, someone who's a little mean, I think.
-Being split in 4 group is something that hasn't been there in a D-BOYS STAGE yet, but what kind of an image do you have about changing the actors for the same characters?
Hashimoto: I'm a little afraid. I have to rehearse very hard.
Usui: I'm also a little afraid. The rehearsals are fun. I think that I can learn a lot from watching Endo (Yuya) who's portraying the same character as me. But I think it'll be the same for everyone who'll watch it, they might think that they want to watch it in this or that formation, and it will widen their imagination and they'll enjoy it a lot.
Hashimoto: Although it's the same character you will be able to enjoy the play as if it's a different play by watching it with the different actors.
-Because it's the 10th stage play, it will receive some special attention, I think.
Usui: Because it's the first time to have a famous play by Douglas Maxwell acted in Japan and because we'll perform at Theater Cocoon, there are some special thoughts about it. But it's not strange to give attention to his stage play. The script is really interesting, and it's amazing to stand in such an theater.
Hashimoto: We really have to give our best.
-It's been a long time since Kayano Isamu directed your play. Almost 2 years.
Usui: There it comes (laugh).
Hashimoto: In the past plays, it was a match between Kayano Isamu and us by confronting him, but now it would be great if we could make it one all together.
-Usui made experiences with many stage plays, so did your opinion change?
Usui: Last year I was able to make many experiences with "The merchant of Venice" and "Piaf". It was a really amazing year and I believe that I was able to make progress.
-Do you maybe have discussions sometimes?
Hashimoto: I don't think I have any with Usui. Because he's someone who's cooperating well.
Usui: I used to ask Endo for advices at D-BOYS STAGE rehearsals about acting. Maybe this time I'll ask him again, but I think that I can also talk about it with Taito. Although we're the same age, I respect him...
Hashimoto: Let's work on it with joy!
-Do you have some thoughts about how it should be or what you want to challenge this time?
Hashimoto: It's not that I certainly want to create something together with a known person like the director Kayano because I used to confront him in past plays, but it's because I confronted him that I'd be happy if I could loosen from the bonds at least a little. I wasn't able to show much to Kayano yet. I mean, I wasn't able to express how I think by acting that much yet and maybe I was a little afraid. This time I want to try to show Kayano a little bit at least. Like, I can make it this far, I made it this far by thinking myself, that's why I think recently.
Usui: Before I became 20, there were many things that I was hesitant about, and I was giving my best since I was 15 until now... I also tried everything that I wanted to try, so at this age the point and line connected and I was able to have confidence in the decision of yes and no. Though saying that, I'm just 20 years old so it might change again (laugh). But it's good to place myself in an environment where I have to clearly decide between black and white. Taito already said it but instead of confronting (Kayano) I firmly think that it's a yes to be aware of it that it's the actors who build the stage play.
Hashimoto: You quite said something. But I really think so, and we already came to some bad ends because we didn't think like that.
Usui: I went to watch Taito's "ALTAR BOYS" the other day. There were the genres "music" and "dance" which Taito likes a lot, and he even had a break dance solo. This solo was really good and he had the confidence, and Taito who was dancing something that he really wanted to do was so full of life, that I thought that I want to live like that as an actor as well. And actually I'm also feeling full of life when I'm doing what I want to do and it became an encouragement that I can do it too. Facing this stage play, I will also try to challenge a lot.
Hashimoto: Let's give our best together!
Usui: By the way, at Omotesando's BVLGARI IL CAFE, there was one chocolate bar that cost 1500 yen and I bought it to try it.
Hashimoto: Eh, why? Only one bar?
Usui: There was one bar inside a beautiful box.
Hashimoto: Why? (second time)
Usui: I also thought 'why?'. I wondered whether it was this delicious.
Hashimoto: I won't ever buy such an expensive chocolate!
Usui: I had this feelings that I want to try it.
Hashimoto: Usui wants to challenge on many fields.
Haven't done interview translations for quite some time. There might be mistakes, especially the last part was a little difficult.
Usui Masahiro x Hashimoto Taito
A story about the growing-up of 4 guys in the age of 9, 19 and 29, living in a small town close to the sea.
The 10th D-BOYS STAGE which deserves an anniversary is a famous story of Douglas Maxwell which will be performed in Japan for the first time, and it will even be performed at Theater Cocoon.
The 4 characters all have a double cast and the actors will shuffle for the play. This means that there are 4 different teams to enjoy.
We talked to Usui Masahiro and Hashimoto Taito who are acting in this anniversary stage play. And they also talk about the Coming of Age event that they had recently...
Congratulations! The event about becoming once and only 20 year old expresses your dreams of the future
-At the anniversary event, you got a lot of shouts of "Congratulations" and applause by your fans, right?
Hashimoto: Because it would be an anniversary for us as well, I wanted to discuss more with Usui before making everything, but we didn't have enough time... Because we were planning the event, while I was doing the stage play "Koi suru watashi no bakery" and also rehearsals for the next stage play "ALTAR BOYS".
Usui: But there were things we both wanted to do with each other, so it was really hard (laugh).
Hashimoto: I had an intense thought and always wanted to think about this as a theme when I get 20 years old, so I sang honesty as a theme song.
Usui: "HONESTY", right? A the opening I was in charge of the video and Taito was in charge of the music and dance steps. We know what each other can do, so there weren't many troubles, I guess.
-So you two already had a common ground?
Hashimoto: Since we're the same age we talk a lot with each other.
Usui: We really talk a lot. I think we're on the same wavelength.
-When we add Takahashi Ryuki here, it'll form some kind of an image.
Usui: That's true (laugh). We both acted together with him, go out to eat with him and are good friends, but since we got 20 years old before him, we won't be able to go to some places together anymore (laugh).
Hashimoto: That's right (laugh). Like places with alcohol and such.
Usui: And Ryuki is still busy (with "Kamen Rider Fourze") so I want him to concentrate on this.
Hashimoto: We sometimes talk on the phone. At times when I feel like it, one-sidedly (laugh).
-In "Samishii Magnet" you're also on the same team, right?
Usui: Yes, so it means that we'll be together in the next time as well, right?
Hashimoto: That's true. Recently we talk for a much longer time than we did before. And we he have some unexpected common point.
Usui: What is it?
Hashimoto: When Usui was in elementary school...
Usui: Eh, that topic (laugh).
Hashimoto: Usui was a good friend with someone until they fought, and with this guy I was a good friend in high school, but in the end we fought as well and weren't friends anymore.
Usui: When I first heard that Taito was friends with him, I was quite surprised. And it's funny that it had the same end like I had it (laugh).
Hashimoto: But i think it's important to say this as a common point that we couldn't forgive him. Because it means that we think similar.
-Who of you two usually takes the initiative to do something?
Hashimoto: I don't think any of us.
Usui: I was taking the responsibility for the event though.
Hashimoto: Because we have different sections where we are good at, we two have a good balance, I think. Usui was in charge of the video/pictures, I was in charge of the sounds and I think that we could do more events like that.
Usui: Taito is an honest person and when you ask him for a favor, he's doing it properly. And he actually does it really fast, so it's easy to make the schedule (laugh).
Hashimoto: I'm fast with stuff I like.
-Do you two have a lot in common as creators as well?
Hashimoto: Yes! We also like similar things.
Usui: It means that our field for understanding is wide.
Hashimoto: I think it's because we both have a lot of hobbies.
Usui: I want to increase what I like widely and lightly. But I also think that it's good that we both have our firm territory, that Taito likes music and that I like movies. But we don't enter each other's core. I won't tell Taito how I think about music either.
Hashimoto: This sense of distance is quite good, right?
The two of you who already gathered a lot of experiences in stage plays, what are you aiming for with "Samishii Magnet?"
-I want to talk about the stage play "Samishii Magnet". Usui and Taito will be together on the teams "Blues" and "Whites". Are your characters also together a lot?
Usui: A lot!
Hashimoto: I think they will be together a lot. I think that maybe the two of them together will be important. At first, there are only 4 people acting in the whole play, and then this time it's a double cast so that the actors will change every time, but these two are always together and the strength of the play will be built up through their relationship, I think.
-The cast is a double cast and the characters will shuffle. Watching it is extravagant, but how many times should one go and watch it?
Usui: As expected, seeing all 4 different teams would be good.
-That's true.
Hashimoto: Or, if you focus on us, it'll be only two different teams (laugh).
-Where we especially pay attention to, is the group of you two and the two D2 members (Jinnai Sho, Akutsu Shotaro) called "Blues" who has 4 performances. Also being called "fresh round", will there be a lot of people who look forward to it?
Usui: It's true that it has a sense of freshness, but I don't want the performance where I'm acting in be called boring. We will do it properly!
-Usui is portraying Gonzo, what image do you have of him?
Usui: The stage play is placed in a small town and I will be acting Gonzo from a 9 year old to a 29 year old. There will be some people who will leave their hometown, and I will be someone who's fighting against that. I think that I will need a lot of energy to act him. But it would great if I could enjoy acting it too.
-Taito with his character Toru, what image do you have of him?
Hashimoto: To say it shortly, someone who's thinking very fast, someone who's a little mean, I think.
-Being split in 4 group is something that hasn't been there in a D-BOYS STAGE yet, but what kind of an image do you have about changing the actors for the same characters?
Hashimoto: I'm a little afraid. I have to rehearse very hard.
Usui: I'm also a little afraid. The rehearsals are fun. I think that I can learn a lot from watching Endo (Yuya) who's portraying the same character as me. But I think it'll be the same for everyone who'll watch it, they might think that they want to watch it in this or that formation, and it will widen their imagination and they'll enjoy it a lot.
Hashimoto: Although it's the same character you will be able to enjoy the play as if it's a different play by watching it with the different actors.
-Because it's the 10th stage play, it will receive some special attention, I think.
Usui: Because it's the first time to have a famous play by Douglas Maxwell acted in Japan and because we'll perform at Theater Cocoon, there are some special thoughts about it. But it's not strange to give attention to his stage play. The script is really interesting, and it's amazing to stand in such an theater.
Hashimoto: We really have to give our best.
-It's been a long time since Kayano Isamu directed your play. Almost 2 years.
Usui: There it comes (laugh).
Hashimoto: In the past plays, it was a match between Kayano Isamu and us by confronting him, but now it would be great if we could make it one all together.
-Usui made experiences with many stage plays, so did your opinion change?
Usui: Last year I was able to make many experiences with "The merchant of Venice" and "Piaf". It was a really amazing year and I believe that I was able to make progress.
-Do you maybe have discussions sometimes?
Hashimoto: I don't think I have any with Usui. Because he's someone who's cooperating well.
Usui: I used to ask Endo for advices at D-BOYS STAGE rehearsals about acting. Maybe this time I'll ask him again, but I think that I can also talk about it with Taito. Although we're the same age, I respect him...
Hashimoto: Let's work on it with joy!
-Do you have some thoughts about how it should be or what you want to challenge this time?
Hashimoto: It's not that I certainly want to create something together with a known person like the director Kayano because I used to confront him in past plays, but it's because I confronted him that I'd be happy if I could loosen from the bonds at least a little. I wasn't able to show much to Kayano yet. I mean, I wasn't able to express how I think by acting that much yet and maybe I was a little afraid. This time I want to try to show Kayano a little bit at least. Like, I can make it this far, I made it this far by thinking myself, that's why I think recently.
Usui: Before I became 20, there were many things that I was hesitant about, and I was giving my best since I was 15 until now... I also tried everything that I wanted to try, so at this age the point and line connected and I was able to have confidence in the decision of yes and no. Though saying that, I'm just 20 years old so it might change again (laugh). But it's good to place myself in an environment where I have to clearly decide between black and white. Taito already said it but instead of confronting (Kayano) I firmly think that it's a yes to be aware of it that it's the actors who build the stage play.
Hashimoto: You quite said something. But I really think so, and we already came to some bad ends because we didn't think like that.
Usui: I went to watch Taito's "ALTAR BOYS" the other day. There were the genres "music" and "dance" which Taito likes a lot, and he even had a break dance solo. This solo was really good and he had the confidence, and Taito who was dancing something that he really wanted to do was so full of life, that I thought that I want to live like that as an actor as well. And actually I'm also feeling full of life when I'm doing what I want to do and it became an encouragement that I can do it too. Facing this stage play, I will also try to challenge a lot.
Hashimoto: Let's give our best together!
Usui: By the way, at Omotesando's BVLGARI IL CAFE, there was one chocolate bar that cost 1500 yen and I bought it to try it.
Hashimoto: Eh, why? Only one bar?
Usui: There was one bar inside a beautiful box.
Hashimoto: Why? (second time)
Usui: I also thought 'why?'. I wondered whether it was this delicious.
Hashimoto: I won't ever buy such an expensive chocolate!
Usui: I had this feelings that I want to try it.
Hashimoto: Usui wants to challenge on many fields.
Haven't done interview translations for quite some time. There might be mistakes, especially the last part was a little difficult.