translation: interviews with Seto Koji about Kuragehime
These are also "old" ones as well :)
Real Sound 2018.01.13
“Kuragehime” Interview Seto Koji
Seto Koji is talking about his anxiety and confidence towards his role as a pretty man who dresses as a woman: “My aim is to show my best side so that I look pretty.”
- Kuranosuke is doing as he likes and also has the confidence that he won‘t go with the flow. Can you symphasize with Kuranosuke?
Seto: Living with many problems is a point that not only me but many other can symphasize with I think. Kuranosuke seems to do whatever he likes but mostly he pretends to be likes this, despite not being free for real. For example it would be easy to just tell yourself “Even if I have a complex, that‘s all me.” but there are many people who can‘t accept themselves easily I think, I‘m also one of these. So one theme of the drama is also how Kuranosuke, Tsukimi and the others try to overcome their problems together.
And then, Kuranosuke is in the situation where he can‘t meet his mom but thinks a lot about her. Since I came to Tokyo when I was 17 years old and can meet my parents only about once a year, I can relate to those feelings of wanting to meet my parents and of thinking of them.
- “Kuragehime” was released as a movie in 2014 so are you making yourself aware of it?
Seto: Yes, I‘ve watched it. But I‘m not thinking much about it while filming the drama. Suda (Masaki) who played Kuranosuke and me have different faces and… well there are many differnt opinions about it I guess (laugh). When the movie was filmed the manga wasn‘t finished and because the drama is long, many things can be shown very thoroughly so I think there are many different aspects.
- Looking at the postings on SNS it seems that there‘s a friendly atmosphere at the film location.
Seto: At the film location everyone of the co-actos and staff are really in good terms. Even though the schedule is very tight I‘m looking forward to the filming every day. I got my own waiting room but I don‘t wanna be alone so I‘m always in the lobby. We really talk about trivial stuff and just to make sure, you could say that I‘m also joining in the girls‘ talk (laugh).
- For Kuranosuke it was very important to meet Tsukimi. Has there been an important encounter in your life as well?
Seto: Well, I guess meeting Takahashi Issei was very important for me. Although we‘re 8 years apart he‘s the closest friend I have. I‘m surprised by myself and wondering how it can be that we get along so well. Really as if we were real brothers.
- That’s really a nice relationship. So at the end, please tell us your ambition for 2018 as it‘s a turning point for you where you‘ll get 30 years old.
Seto: My motto is to not think much about the age but to do each and every job I get as good as I can. Of course I should also think about the future, but there is now and there is the future. It‘s not good to just think about the future and only dream I think. I‘m living now. I think that won‘t change when I‘m 30.
VoCE 2018.01.22
[Seto Koji] is too beautiful when he‘s dressed as a woman!
[Higashimura Akiko • Kuragehime]
Seto Koji who is appearing in Fuji TV‘s drama “Kuragehime” which is airing right now. We had an interview about backstage stories and about preparing for the role♥︎
VOCE vice editor-in-chief
by Takahashi Eriko
T/N: It‘s not written anywhere but I think the interview was held last year.
Right now I‘m really spending much effort on taking care of my body
The manga “Kuragehime” by Higashimura Akiko was finally finished this year. It was being published for 9 years. It‘s a story about Tsukimi who loves jellyfishes more than anyone else could (she is also called a jellyfish otaku) meeting Koibuchi Kuranosuke who is dressing as a woman; and through their meeting she‘s stepping more and more into the outside world. Among all of Higashimura Akiko‘s works this is one of those that is really highly evaluated. This is the work that will be made into a drama starting in January. So I guess, many girls/women will be curious about who will be acting as Kuranosuke who‘s too beautiful when dressed as a woman. It is Seto Koji who was selected for this role.
Oh, I feel quite under pressure. But meeting a role where you‘re dressing as a women for the whole show is really rare so I thought of it as my fate and accepted this challenge. Because even other women are envious of Kuranosuke‘s looks I‘m really spending much effort on taking care of my body now.
I didn‘t know that you needed a special make up remover to remove the eye make up or it won‘t get off!!
Seto Koji who is working hard on living his life similar to how women do. When asking what he found interesting while doing all these beauty treatments…
There are so many special beauty treatment products. I didn‘t know that you needed a special make up remover to remove the eye make up or it won‘t get off; and I was also surprised that there was soap on the shaver when I shaved off the unwanted hair. And then there‘s whitening creme, nails and so much more that woman have to do but they still have to find the make up that fits them the best, right? I never imagined that it‘s so hard for women.
Do you want to change yourself?
That Kuranosuke is dressing as a woman and that the women work hard doing beauty treatments is both because they want to change themselves. I think that this is also the main message of “Kuragehime”. Do you want to change yourself?
What bothers me the most are my looks. I have a complex because I have a baby face and I often get called “cute” so I really wondered what I should do about it. But recently I started to accept myself thinking that “I get chosen for roles due to these looks and there are many advantages” and I stopped to reject these looks. I‘ll be 30 years old this year but Kuranosuke is still an university student. [T/N: Usually Japanese students graduate when they‘re about 22 years old but Kuranosuke of the drama has delayed his graduation. I haven‘t found out for how many years.] I suppose that I got this role because of my looks.
What‘s your goal for 2018 where you get 30 years old?
I actually never travelled somewhere privately. But when I went to Vienna for work [T/N: for Gretel no kamado] there were so many beautiful cafés that looked like out of paintings. I couldn‘t go to all the places I wanted to see so if I get days off I would like to go there again!
Since your character dresses as a woman, what kind of body care do you do?
When I get hungry I eat natural nuts in order to not gain weight. Also because I heard that the skin gets more beautiful from eating them. Just by chewing them I‘ll feel full eventually so it‘s quite good. Apart from that I put on body creme every day after bathing. It‘s really exhausting but thanks to it my skin is really smooth now!
What do you think of otaku girls like Tsukimi, the heroine of “Kuragehime”?
I don‘t read girls‘ manga often but the characters in “Kuragehime” aren‘t cutesy, so it was easy to read. Because I like women who have a strong will I actually respect women like Tsukimi who really know a lot about one thing.
Since you are from Kyushu please tell us one aspect of Kyushu‘s men.
Eh, that‘s difficult. Because my mother was older than my father, my father wasn‘t much of a domineering husband… Oh but I want the woman to know how to cook, do laundry and clean up. Something like “I can‘t cook” would be unthinkable! Would you call this a domineering husband…?
Kuragehime Official Homepage Interview
Role: Kuranosuke
By: Seto Koji
Q: The recording is already going on for a while but please tell us how you like the atmopshere of the location.
I think that all co-actors will be saying it but it‘s really a pleasant atmosphere. This is because of the other actors who are all very fascinating and especially because of the staff members who cheer us on with their smiles that seem so full of energy even when they might be exhausted. I think that you can’t find such an atmosphere very often and I‘m happy about it.
Q: So the first episode already aired. How did you like it?
Well, what can I say? I can‘t really look at me being dressed as a woman by an objective point of view but apart from that I think that the drama is really interesting. I think the comedy element of the original work and stance of the characters is very carefully worked into the drama. And also I feel like not everything was shown yet or rather, I can‘t wait to watch the second and third episode. Besides, because the characters of the “Amars” are really intense I‘d be happy if people started to think less about me dressing as a woman but rather focused on them while watching the drama (laugh).
Q: You are really pretty when you‘re dressing as a woman. When I first saw you like that at the studio I was wondering which female model you were.
Really? Well, I‘m happy that you say this. But right now I‘m sharing pictures of me dressed as a woman on SNS on purpose. Of course you could call it my strategy but first of all I want everyone‘s eyes to get used to it (laugh).
Q: Is there anything else you did to prepare for playing Kuranosuke?
I lost some weight and I tried my best to look the most female as possible when I‘m dressed as a woman. I also thought that it‘s important to show the emotional differences between when I’m dressed as a woman = Kurako and when I’m Kuranosuke. When I‘m Kurako I try to show a lively and energetic person but when I‘m Kuranosuke I‘m trying to be rather more sentimental or show the inner emotions.
Q: The comparison between the younger brother Shu (Kuda Asuka) and Kuranosuke is also very interesting, right?
In the original work Shu is the older brother and Kuranosuke is the younger one but in the drama it‘s the opposite. But I don‘t think much about it. I think it’s okay as long as we act as the Kuranosuke and Shu how they are portrayed by Higashimura Akiko (without thinking of the age). The relationship between Kuranosuke and Shu is very typical for a manga and I want you to enjoy this. Shu is a natural airhead and when he gets in high spirits he is really cute (laugh). And Asuka-kun is doing a fascinating job acting as Shu.
Q: What kind of a person is Kudo-san?
He is a serious person with a strong sense of justice. You can feel that he grew up in a strict family that is also filled with love. He might not be a careless person as Shu but some part deep inside him might be similar to Shu.
Q: What do you think about the theme of the drama?
I read the original work in one go to the end. Of course this image can be seen in the script. And I believe that what Higashimura Akiko wanted to tell us with this work is that you can transform and that you should face your inner self. Of course the characters are funny and it‘s a comedy but I think that these two are the important messages of this work.
Q: Tsukimi (Yoshine Kyoko) and the others as “Amars”, Kuranosuke dressing as a woman, there are many otaku shown. What do you think about otaku?
I think otaku have often a negative image and many people look at them in this way. But I repect those people who are called otaku. Even when you‘re interested in something a lot and want to know more and more about it, it‘s difficult to continue this passion for a long time. I think that those who can continue passionately are great people. If you ask me what kind of otaku I am, there‘s nothing I can think of. The amount of what the “Amars” know about their hobbies is really really deep. If you don‘t like it a lot you‘ll never be able to know this much.
Q: Starting with Tsukimi, everyone is curious about how things will change. Have you also felt any changes or transformations?
I don‘t know if you can call it transformation but I wanted to become a veterinarian when I was young. I just became an actor because I coincidently passed the audition but I couldn‘t tell right apart from left, I didn‘t have a place where I felt that I belonged to and I had no idea what I should do. But when I was about 20 years old I realized the responsibility I had, the fun I had while acting, the excitement when you create a work from zero and I learned that I could get to know many different worlds by acting many different roles. I realized that I’m surrounded by many people and that it‘s a wonderful job. I think that was my change. After all veterinarian and show business are completely different worlds (laugh). Right now I think that even if I‘m only interested in something a little I want to try it.
Q: Is there any particular thing you want to try?
Acting is already my focal point but I also like to write essays and draw pictures so as a performer I‘d really try to go more into that direction as well. And, this is close to acting, but I‘m also interested in jobs with my voice. Right now I‘m already doing the narration for a tv show but I think there‘s more that I could do. As a performer I want to challenge anything that‘s possible.
Q: Tsukimi is also going to change from now on. What do you think about Tsukimi?
The death of Tsukimi‘s mother and other events put a break on herself. In order to free herself there‘s a lot of energy needed I think. I suppose there are many people out there who are caught in their past and who have difficulties with changing themselves. So I hope that by watching Kuragehime‘s Tsukimi or Kuranosuke they understand that it‘s okay to rely on other people and let them take care of yourself from time to time.
Q: How is acting with Yoshine-san?
I really like her. She‘s really a fascinating person and I already thought that we‘d get along well when we met for the first time. And while acting I realized that I was right about that (laugh). Yoshine-san said that it‘s the first comedy show for her and I think that Tsukimi is a role that you don‘t meet often and it‘s quite difficult. The same goes for Kuranosuke. But Yoshine-san manages it really well. She‘s following the director‘s instructions immediately with her explosive acting. Her own personality influences how she’s acting Tsukimi and this also influences us… and we‘re becoming a really good team I think.
Q: Please leave a message to the viewers.
Because this is a Monday 9 spot drama, the drama focuses more on the love story than the original work I think. If you take a look at the poster you can see that the drama is full of individual characters and this alone is already interesting to watch but the story will be shown carefully as well. I hope that you can emphasize with the conflicts that each of the characters is facing so please watch it until the end.
Real Sound 2018.01.13
“Kuragehime” Interview Seto Koji
Seto Koji is talking about his anxiety and confidence towards his role as a pretty man who dresses as a woman: “My aim is to show my best side so that I look pretty.”
- Kuranosuke is doing as he likes and also has the confidence that he won‘t go with the flow. Can you symphasize with Kuranosuke?
Seto: Living with many problems is a point that not only me but many other can symphasize with I think. Kuranosuke seems to do whatever he likes but mostly he pretends to be likes this, despite not being free for real. For example it would be easy to just tell yourself “Even if I have a complex, that‘s all me.” but there are many people who can‘t accept themselves easily I think, I‘m also one of these. So one theme of the drama is also how Kuranosuke, Tsukimi and the others try to overcome their problems together.
And then, Kuranosuke is in the situation where he can‘t meet his mom but thinks a lot about her. Since I came to Tokyo when I was 17 years old and can meet my parents only about once a year, I can relate to those feelings of wanting to meet my parents and of thinking of them.
- “Kuragehime” was released as a movie in 2014 so are you making yourself aware of it?
Seto: Yes, I‘ve watched it. But I‘m not thinking much about it while filming the drama. Suda (Masaki) who played Kuranosuke and me have different faces and… well there are many differnt opinions about it I guess (laugh). When the movie was filmed the manga wasn‘t finished and because the drama is long, many things can be shown very thoroughly so I think there are many different aspects.
- Looking at the postings on SNS it seems that there‘s a friendly atmosphere at the film location.
Seto: At the film location everyone of the co-actos and staff are really in good terms. Even though the schedule is very tight I‘m looking forward to the filming every day. I got my own waiting room but I don‘t wanna be alone so I‘m always in the lobby. We really talk about trivial stuff and just to make sure, you could say that I‘m also joining in the girls‘ talk (laugh).
- For Kuranosuke it was very important to meet Tsukimi. Has there been an important encounter in your life as well?
Seto: Well, I guess meeting Takahashi Issei was very important for me. Although we‘re 8 years apart he‘s the closest friend I have. I‘m surprised by myself and wondering how it can be that we get along so well. Really as if we were real brothers.
- That’s really a nice relationship. So at the end, please tell us your ambition for 2018 as it‘s a turning point for you where you‘ll get 30 years old.
Seto: My motto is to not think much about the age but to do each and every job I get as good as I can. Of course I should also think about the future, but there is now and there is the future. It‘s not good to just think about the future and only dream I think. I‘m living now. I think that won‘t change when I‘m 30.
VoCE 2018.01.22
[Seto Koji] is too beautiful when he‘s dressed as a woman!
[Higashimura Akiko • Kuragehime]
Seto Koji who is appearing in Fuji TV‘s drama “Kuragehime” which is airing right now. We had an interview about backstage stories and about preparing for the role♥︎
VOCE vice editor-in-chief
by Takahashi Eriko
T/N: It‘s not written anywhere but I think the interview was held last year.
Right now I‘m really spending much effort on taking care of my body
The manga “Kuragehime” by Higashimura Akiko was finally finished this year. It was being published for 9 years. It‘s a story about Tsukimi who loves jellyfishes more than anyone else could (she is also called a jellyfish otaku) meeting Koibuchi Kuranosuke who is dressing as a woman; and through their meeting she‘s stepping more and more into the outside world. Among all of Higashimura Akiko‘s works this is one of those that is really highly evaluated. This is the work that will be made into a drama starting in January. So I guess, many girls/women will be curious about who will be acting as Kuranosuke who‘s too beautiful when dressed as a woman. It is Seto Koji who was selected for this role.
Oh, I feel quite under pressure. But meeting a role where you‘re dressing as a women for the whole show is really rare so I thought of it as my fate and accepted this challenge. Because even other women are envious of Kuranosuke‘s looks I‘m really spending much effort on taking care of my body now.
I didn‘t know that you needed a special make up remover to remove the eye make up or it won‘t get off!!
Seto Koji who is working hard on living his life similar to how women do. When asking what he found interesting while doing all these beauty treatments…
There are so many special beauty treatment products. I didn‘t know that you needed a special make up remover to remove the eye make up or it won‘t get off; and I was also surprised that there was soap on the shaver when I shaved off the unwanted hair. And then there‘s whitening creme, nails and so much more that woman have to do but they still have to find the make up that fits them the best, right? I never imagined that it‘s so hard for women.
Do you want to change yourself?
That Kuranosuke is dressing as a woman and that the women work hard doing beauty treatments is both because they want to change themselves. I think that this is also the main message of “Kuragehime”. Do you want to change yourself?
What bothers me the most are my looks. I have a complex because I have a baby face and I often get called “cute” so I really wondered what I should do about it. But recently I started to accept myself thinking that “I get chosen for roles due to these looks and there are many advantages” and I stopped to reject these looks. I‘ll be 30 years old this year but Kuranosuke is still an university student. [T/N: Usually Japanese students graduate when they‘re about 22 years old but Kuranosuke of the drama has delayed his graduation. I haven‘t found out for how many years.] I suppose that I got this role because of my looks.
What‘s your goal for 2018 where you get 30 years old?
I actually never travelled somewhere privately. But when I went to Vienna for work [T/N: for Gretel no kamado] there were so many beautiful cafés that looked like out of paintings. I couldn‘t go to all the places I wanted to see so if I get days off I would like to go there again!
Since your character dresses as a woman, what kind of body care do you do?
When I get hungry I eat natural nuts in order to not gain weight. Also because I heard that the skin gets more beautiful from eating them. Just by chewing them I‘ll feel full eventually so it‘s quite good. Apart from that I put on body creme every day after bathing. It‘s really exhausting but thanks to it my skin is really smooth now!
What do you think of otaku girls like Tsukimi, the heroine of “Kuragehime”?
I don‘t read girls‘ manga often but the characters in “Kuragehime” aren‘t cutesy, so it was easy to read. Because I like women who have a strong will I actually respect women like Tsukimi who really know a lot about one thing.
Since you are from Kyushu please tell us one aspect of Kyushu‘s men.
Eh, that‘s difficult. Because my mother was older than my father, my father wasn‘t much of a domineering husband… Oh but I want the woman to know how to cook, do laundry and clean up. Something like “I can‘t cook” would be unthinkable! Would you call this a domineering husband…?
Kuragehime Official Homepage Interview
Role: Kuranosuke
By: Seto Koji
Q: The recording is already going on for a while but please tell us how you like the atmopshere of the location.
I think that all co-actors will be saying it but it‘s really a pleasant atmosphere. This is because of the other actors who are all very fascinating and especially because of the staff members who cheer us on with their smiles that seem so full of energy even when they might be exhausted. I think that you can’t find such an atmosphere very often and I‘m happy about it.
Q: So the first episode already aired. How did you like it?
Well, what can I say? I can‘t really look at me being dressed as a woman by an objective point of view but apart from that I think that the drama is really interesting. I think the comedy element of the original work and stance of the characters is very carefully worked into the drama. And also I feel like not everything was shown yet or rather, I can‘t wait to watch the second and third episode. Besides, because the characters of the “Amars” are really intense I‘d be happy if people started to think less about me dressing as a woman but rather focused on them while watching the drama (laugh).
Q: You are really pretty when you‘re dressing as a woman. When I first saw you like that at the studio I was wondering which female model you were.
Really? Well, I‘m happy that you say this. But right now I‘m sharing pictures of me dressed as a woman on SNS on purpose. Of course you could call it my strategy but first of all I want everyone‘s eyes to get used to it (laugh).
Q: Is there anything else you did to prepare for playing Kuranosuke?
I lost some weight and I tried my best to look the most female as possible when I‘m dressed as a woman. I also thought that it‘s important to show the emotional differences between when I’m dressed as a woman = Kurako and when I’m Kuranosuke. When I‘m Kurako I try to show a lively and energetic person but when I‘m Kuranosuke I‘m trying to be rather more sentimental or show the inner emotions.
Q: The comparison between the younger brother Shu (Kuda Asuka) and Kuranosuke is also very interesting, right?
In the original work Shu is the older brother and Kuranosuke is the younger one but in the drama it‘s the opposite. But I don‘t think much about it. I think it’s okay as long as we act as the Kuranosuke and Shu how they are portrayed by Higashimura Akiko (without thinking of the age). The relationship between Kuranosuke and Shu is very typical for a manga and I want you to enjoy this. Shu is a natural airhead and when he gets in high spirits he is really cute (laugh). And Asuka-kun is doing a fascinating job acting as Shu.
Q: What kind of a person is Kudo-san?
He is a serious person with a strong sense of justice. You can feel that he grew up in a strict family that is also filled with love. He might not be a careless person as Shu but some part deep inside him might be similar to Shu.
Q: What do you think about the theme of the drama?
I read the original work in one go to the end. Of course this image can be seen in the script. And I believe that what Higashimura Akiko wanted to tell us with this work is that you can transform and that you should face your inner self. Of course the characters are funny and it‘s a comedy but I think that these two are the important messages of this work.
Q: Tsukimi (Yoshine Kyoko) and the others as “Amars”, Kuranosuke dressing as a woman, there are many otaku shown. What do you think about otaku?
I think otaku have often a negative image and many people look at them in this way. But I repect those people who are called otaku. Even when you‘re interested in something a lot and want to know more and more about it, it‘s difficult to continue this passion for a long time. I think that those who can continue passionately are great people. If you ask me what kind of otaku I am, there‘s nothing I can think of. The amount of what the “Amars” know about their hobbies is really really deep. If you don‘t like it a lot you‘ll never be able to know this much.
Q: Starting with Tsukimi, everyone is curious about how things will change. Have you also felt any changes or transformations?
I don‘t know if you can call it transformation but I wanted to become a veterinarian when I was young. I just became an actor because I coincidently passed the audition but I couldn‘t tell right apart from left, I didn‘t have a place where I felt that I belonged to and I had no idea what I should do. But when I was about 20 years old I realized the responsibility I had, the fun I had while acting, the excitement when you create a work from zero and I learned that I could get to know many different worlds by acting many different roles. I realized that I’m surrounded by many people and that it‘s a wonderful job. I think that was my change. After all veterinarian and show business are completely different worlds (laugh). Right now I think that even if I‘m only interested in something a little I want to try it.
Q: Is there any particular thing you want to try?
Acting is already my focal point but I also like to write essays and draw pictures so as a performer I‘d really try to go more into that direction as well. And, this is close to acting, but I‘m also interested in jobs with my voice. Right now I‘m already doing the narration for a tv show but I think there‘s more that I could do. As a performer I want to challenge anything that‘s possible.
Q: Tsukimi is also going to change from now on. What do you think about Tsukimi?
The death of Tsukimi‘s mother and other events put a break on herself. In order to free herself there‘s a lot of energy needed I think. I suppose there are many people out there who are caught in their past and who have difficulties with changing themselves. So I hope that by watching Kuragehime‘s Tsukimi or Kuranosuke they understand that it‘s okay to rely on other people and let them take care of yourself from time to time.
Q: How is acting with Yoshine-san?
I really like her. She‘s really a fascinating person and I already thought that we‘d get along well when we met for the first time. And while acting I realized that I was right about that (laugh). Yoshine-san said that it‘s the first comedy show for her and I think that Tsukimi is a role that you don‘t meet often and it‘s quite difficult. The same goes for Kuranosuke. But Yoshine-san manages it really well. She‘s following the director‘s instructions immediately with her explosive acting. Her own personality influences how she’s acting Tsukimi and this also influences us… and we‘re becoming a really good team I think.
Q: Please leave a message to the viewers.
Because this is a Monday 9 spot drama, the drama focuses more on the love story than the original work I think. If you take a look at the poster you can see that the drama is full of individual characters and this alone is already interesting to watch but the story will be shown carefully as well. I hope that you can emphasize with the conflicts that each of the characters is facing so please watch it until the end.