- TRANSLATION - Ueda Tatsuya's interview about "Nemesis", his role, KAT-TUN, achievements...
Hey there!
I've found this interesting article about Ueda's role in his new drama with Sho, "Nemesis", so I thought it would be good to translate it and share it with you all!
I hope you'll enjoy reading it!
KAT-TUN's Ueda Tatsuya's interview, "Let's rage together" by his "aniki" Sakurai Sho and thoughts in regards of KAT-TUN's 15th anniversary from their debut as well as "Nemesis"
With the actress Hirose Suzu and Arashi's Sho Sakurai playing the lead roles, the NTV Sunday drama "Nemesis" (every week's Sunday from 10:30PM) is currently airing. This time, Model Press is interviewing KAT-TUN's Ueda Tatsuya (37 years old), who plays the role of Hoshi Kenshou in the same production. We asked him about his feelings in regards of him co-starring for the first time with his beloved aniki Sho Sakurai, his strong determination on the study of his role and the episode's shooting. In addition to his appearance in the drama, he's also fulfilling his big dream of celebrating his 15th anniversary's debut, his "words he cherishes" are...
The drama is about the genius assistant Mikami Anna, played by Hirose and an unreliable detective, Kazama Naoki, played by Sakurai. The two are inequal buddies who resolve the misteries happening one by one at their detective agency, Nemesis.
This time, Ueda plays the role of Hoshi Kenshou, "a mysterious amazing secondhand's shop's artisan who will make anything he's requested." In order to get into the place he's confined in to work, it's required a facial recognition, vein recognition and also a "password", the room is full of equipment and tools, overflowing with small accessories, so you can take a peep of what Hoshi's interests are. Also, he's an enthusiast for matchless ekiben (lunch boxes bought at station) and he trusts people only if they have a point in whether or not they're "funny", so, anyways, he's a character with a strong sense of habit.
So, gather your attention to what tools will Hoshi make in order to support Anna and Naoki's uneven reasonings.
Ueda Tatsuya: "Nemesis" is a great project
Since you said that "Nemesis" is a great projects, what were your thoughts when you've first heard of it?
Ueda: When I've first seen the proposal I thought "'s big!" /laugh/. Since the proposal's stage, the feeling was about focusing on the hereafter, discussing about "There's this kind of aspiration", so we had the feeling that rather than wanting it to be one drama, it should have been "A great project". For this reason, the cast is quite extravagant /laugh/.
How do you feel about you yourself being added as a member of this extravagant cast?
Ueda: Of course, I think it's a big honour to have been added into such a great project like this. However, Hoshi is an hikikomori, so it's more like "I don't wanna see anyone" /laugh/.
Please, tell us about your thoughts when you read the script.
Ueda: While it is a detective story, I had the impression that it's set with various commedy factors as well. Even on site, I thought, since it's a story with many playful contents and a margin, I'm looking forward to see the differences between the script and when we will actually shoot on set.
Ueda Tatsuya: "Let's together" by Sakurai Sho
How is it to be starring in a drama together with Sakurai Sho for the first time? What kind of talk you had?
Ueda: When it was decided that we had to play -in it together- he's contacted me and sent me a message saying "Let's rage together."
What kind of chairperson is Sakurai-san, standing in the centre of such a great project?
Ueda: Carrying the responsibility as the pillar of "Nemesis" and being at the centre of such a big project, of course, I think it's really amazing. Also, I think that they paid a lot of attention about the surrounding staff as well, making it a good site to work at. I think there are various ways to play a leading role, but, there again, I had the feeling I have been shown yet another different way as well. Me too, I told him that "I would be happy if I could help you even a little."
Were you surprised when it was decided that you would be co-starring?
Ueda: Rather than it being some sort of special feeling, it was more that feeling of "Ah, I have been given the chance to work together with him, huh." I think that if I had to play it as Ueda Tatsuya with aniki it would have been different, however this time I have been put into a role, so in that sense, I distinguish myself.
Ueda Tatsuya: I myself proposed Hoshi's visuals
In your comment when it was announced that you would co-star in the drama, you said about Hoshi that: "I'm looking forward to being able to call to mind various different patterns, whether it's better to have him being moody or if it's better to add some otaku-like format to him", but what kind of image have you actually developed for this role?
Ueda: I've made it talking with the director while on set about which format would have been the best to put more emphasis to.
So, what kind of feeling does he give actually?
Ueda: He's like an old man in a bike shop /laugh/. Since I thought that "wouldn't it be better to have him being moody", he is kind of like that. He is really determined, but he doesn't speak much.
The set too is very well done, what did you think of it when you saw it?
Ueda: It was amazing. I felt that they have been really particular about every detail, even just around the place I'm in. There are still parts I haven't seen yet, so I'm looking forward to it airing.
Is there any part of the set which you particularly liked?
Ueda: There are various devices in my workplace's entrance's security, but I haven't seen it yet. I wonder what kind of amazing devices there are, so I'm looking forward to that as well.
Since a lot of attention has been put to Hoshi's looks, like his hairstyle and dark circles, is there actually any point you have been more particular about?
Ueda: I have various opinions in relation to this. First, his stile was with black hair and with his fringe down, but I thought it would have been funnier if he was more like a careless person, so when I talked with the director at the meeting for the outfit, I told him: "Isn't it more like a toolmaker if he had unkept bed hair?"
So, when we tried it we said "Then shall we make it even more exaggerated?", and we have decided to go for that hairstyle.
Also, about giving him dark circles, I thought that since he's too immersed in making stuff, he wouldn't have any spare time to sleep, so I've proposed this on the very day we were filming it.
Hoshi's key to trust people is telling "whether or not they're funny", but, among all the comical scenes, was there any scene which made you unintentionally laugh or that you found funny?
Ueda: Nope, actually up till now we have filmed many serious scenes. So, I didn't really have to hold back any laughs /laugh/.
Later on, as Hoshi, do you have any desire to "Try to go out of your workplace"?
Ueda: I think it would be objectively moving to see an hikikomori like Hoshi going outside /laugh/. Even though it would be fun, even his workplace is comfortable for him so... I always ended up sitting on Hoshi's chair for this reason /laugh/.
Since there are extravagant co-stars, and there are also many guests coming, is there anyone who made you think "This person's acting is interesting" or "Great"?
Ueda: I still have only filmed with those two (Hirose and Sakurai). However, I heard that Ooshima Yoko's acting was "funky" /laugh/. I am also looking forward to seeing that, and pay attention to the particular characters appearing later on.
Hirose and Sakurai are playing as buddies, but, among the characters, is there any pair which made you think "Wouldn't it be interesting putting those two together"?
Ueda: I want to see Hoshi getting scared as he's in a car driven by the speed freak Kiiko (Ooshima) /laugh/.
Ueda Tatsuya: Hirose Suzu and Sakurai Sho's ad-libs too
Do you think you have been developing more and more your role as you speak with the director?
Ueda: Yes, since we are free to do what we want based on the atmosphere of the set and on the two characters' interactions, it's more a place where we get to have fun with the discussions rather than having to follow the script.
Is there somewhere you thought "If we did it more this way, wouldn't it be funnier"?
Ueda: I still have filmed just a bit of it, so I'm excited to see what way will the acting plans make progress in during the rest of the story. I really like to think of some plans or of how to create my character. Even the two (Hirose and Sho) are doing more than what's in the script, so I think we can challenge ourselves more freely than just seriously settling -to what's in the script(?)- and go like "I'll try to move this way." It's a warm place with a lot of freedom.
How do you get hints for your acting plans?
Ueda: Isn't it something coming from your life experiences? I read a lot of manga and I think I'm a person with a great imagination.
Do you read into the script carefully?
Ueda: I think that the atmosphere on set changes following the shooting, so I don't strictly stick to it. I read it till a certain extent and then add some words, then, after that, I would develop it consulting with the director.
Were there any ad-libs filmed with Hirose Suzu and Sakurai Sho?
Ueda: There were. As Hoshi, I got a little annoyed while interacting with Suzu-chan, so I clicked my tongue /laugh/. Then, aniki picked it up properly. Whenever I shoot something like that he properly picks it up, and is able to make it fun, so, in this way, I think we have a lot of freedom and I felt that we can make a real good team.
Ueda Tatsuya: "I watch" KAT-TUN's members' works
Did you inform KAT-TUN's members about this filming?
Ueda: Nope, I didn't. Do you think we do? /laugh/. Basically, we don't tell each other about our personal activities nor we say anything about each other's personal works as well.
Do you watch the other members' works?
Ueda: I relatively watch them. I am grateful that we often get asked to provide the theme songs for the drama the members are starring in, so I check it to see at what timing they will show our song.
In terms of acting, do you notice something new in the other members' works that made you think "This is interesting"?
Ueda: Nope, there wasn't anything in particular. I think that the work itself is interesting, but watching it objectively or as a viewer to the utmost.
Is Ueda Tatsuya suited to be a "detective"?
This time, Sakurai Sho plays the role of the detective, but do you think you would be suited to be a detective?
Ueda: No, how is it... I've always solved things with force, so I don't think I would be really suited for it /laugh/. However, I think it would be really good if I had something like powers of observation or reasoning skills.
Do you read manga about detectives or things like that?
Ueda: Back in the day I loved "Kindaichi shounen no jikenbo", and things like that. I've also read the manga and, of course, watched (Domoto) Tsuyoshi's drama.
Are you good at guessing the criminal? /laugh/
Ueda: When I watched it I was in elementary-middle school, so I used to judge them by their looks. So I was like "This guy's suspicious" /laugh/.
Ueda Tatsuya thinks "The secret of reaching your dreams" is...
So, now that you have achieved many of your dreams, please tell us what do you think is the "secret of making dreams come true."
Ueda: It's about not giving up, is it. Of course, I think there are times one would give up. But, I liked the words the boxer Tatsuyoshi Jouichirou said: "You should never give up, no matter if there will be some detours, you can get there after some struggles", there have been many moments in which I thought "That's so true."
Up until now, have there been dreams you've achieved because you haven't given up?
Ueda: It's KAT-TUN reaching their 15th anniversary. We had a live distribution, but we have been able to make some noise with our fans on our 15th anniversary, which is a critical juncture as we haven't been able to do this in the past... The three of us have wholeheartedly stood on one target, and we haven't given up so we were able to reach it despite all the struggles, we felt it deeply.
Finally, please tell us "Nemesis" highlights.
Ueda: There's a lot of freedom and I had a lot of fun, and I think, it's not only me, but also Suzu-chan, aniki, Eguchi-san, the relationship of all the members of the cast is coming out strongly.
original japanese source: https://mdpr.jp/interview/detail/2534007