[Translation] Tokyo Walker 2011 no.17 - Sakurai Sho Interview
Here's a translation from TokyoWalker 2011 no.17. Sho talks about his new movie, Kamisama no Karute, which I personally am super excited to see :D waiting, waiting... Also the director of the film, Fukagawa Yoshihiro, talks about his experiences in working and socialising with Sho. And then we end with some Q&A where Sho still wants to go to Cuba. Give the boy a break already and let him go to Cuba! Wait, no, after his sexy butler drama please. Oh, and then send him to New Zealand. Thank you :D
Scans are from saobang2211
Please excuse any mistakes, it's like almost 2am here >.> (I always choose the best times to do things, hah. I'll proofread in the morning :3)
"I practised different styles of speaking at home."
Based on the bestselling novel by writer and physician, Natsukawa Sousuke, is the film Kamisama no Karute (God’s Medical Records). Protagonist of the film, Kurihara Ichito, is a young physician working at a local hospital. With a love for Meiji Era novelist Natsume Soseki, he has a distinguishable old-fashioned tone and dishevelled appearance. Challenging the role of this difficult and peculiar character is Arashi’s Sakurai Sho.
“This was my first time challenging the role of a character like Ichito. A particular trouble I had was with his way of speaking. I wondered how I should approach it without taking away from the image of the original work; how to make the audience accept him without any kind of uneasiness. Before the filming started I practised different styles of speaking at home in preparation, and from there the director and I created the character of Ichito with great care.”
"Director Fukagawa’s warm direction was a great help."
The one holding the megaphone was director of 60-sai no Love Letter (a.k.a: Dear My Love), Fukagawa Yoshihiro. He expresses the delicate feelings of Ichito as a struggling physician facing a tangle of relationship, friendship and life dramas.
“Director Fukagawa has a very precise style of directing. That alone gave me a lot of guidance in how to approach the role of Ichito. There were a lot of elements to this character that I didn’t already hold within myself, so Fukagawa’s warm direction was a great help. It is thanks to the director that the film was able to become as strong and emotional as it is."
"It is a heart-warming film that is full of love"
This is also Sakurai’s first time working with Miyazaki Aoi, who plays Ichito’s wife, Haruna. Though working as a landscape photographer she is often away from home, she understands Ichito better than anyone, surrounding him deeply in her love.
“I think they’re a beautiful couple. Ichito and Haruna support and complete one another. Even their casual exchanges of “tadaima Haru” (“I’m home, Haru”) and “okaeri Ichi-san” (“welcome back, Ichi-san”) convey the warm feeling of an everyday couple - I like that. I think that it will leave a warm feeling in couples who can relate to Ichito and Haruna.
For Sakurai who said that “the original work brought tears to my eyes countless times as I read it”, what is the real charm of Kamisama no Karute?
“It’s a heart-warming work, overflowing with the love and affection of kind people in a gentle setting. I will be pleased if this is the kind of feeling people can get in watching the film.”
Director: Fukagawa Yoshihiro
Born in 1976. He has gained attention with films such as Giant Nakimushi [Giant Crybaby] (1999) and Jitensha to High Heel [Bicycles and High Heels] (2000), being selected consecutively for two years for the PFF Award. 60-sai no Love Letter [Dear My Love] (2009), Byakuyako [Into the White Night] (2011) and Yougashiten Koandoru [Patisserie Coin de rue] (2011) are among his other successes as a director.
How was working with actor Sakurai Sho?
Actually, before I’d even met Sakurai-kun I’d already kind of created this impression that he was this really fast-paced person in my mind. Because he’s so busy, you see. However once I got to meet and talk to him I found that he was actually quite a serious, careful thinking young man, and I immediately took a liking to him. Despite all of the discussion we had on the minute details of his character, even the specifics of how he should walk and breathe, he still approached his role very patiently and diligently. It is his ability to listen to others, his adaptability and positivity that are actor Sakurai Sho’s charms.
Later when the two of us went out to eat we were able to discuss the problems facing Japan, and that was something else that left an impression with me. I’m not one to make proper conversation under the influence of alcohol, but I remember listening to him and thinking it over (laugh). It’s his righteousness and kindness that I like. I think that this kind of Sakurai-kun is good, so I hope for him to continue as he is.
Q&A with Sakurai-kun!
Q. Do you soak in the bath, or prefer to shower?
A. I have a bath every day, definitely. But I don’t really do anything stylish in there like reading or having a bubble bath (laugh).
Q. Do you like fruits?
A. I love them! Is it okay if I have all of these? (laugh)
[Refer to picture of Sho with fruits :p]
Q. Where do you want to go out this Autumn?
A. The other day I was able to attend a concert of Nobuyuki Tsujii [T/N: Just by the way, this guy is awesome. And also I want to go to a classical concert with Sho :3], who did the theme song for the movie (Kamisama no Karute). It opened my eyes to the brilliance of classical music. Now I really want to go to a classical concert. They carry a real adult mood, and the space they’re performed in is fantastic.
Q. What do you do now when you’re given a long vacation?
A. I like to travel, so in the Spring I went to Russia. I’ve been talking with friends about how I think I’d like to go to Cuba next time. As well as that, there’s Cambodia, Ukraine, Czech Republic… there are a lot of countries I’d like to visit. I’d like to see the scenery of things I can’t see right now.
Q. What has left an impression with you recently?
A. High school volunteers. During reporting for News Zero in the disaster stricken Miyagi prefecture, I came across high school students who were there doing volunteer work. I found their strength and emotion inspirational.
Q. What have you been eating a lot of lately?
A. Green onion kimchi. Green onions and kimchi together with alcohol make an awesome combination! Only, eating it at home comes with the risk of it stinking out the place. I don’t think I’ll be eating it at home anymore (laugh).
Q. What kind of alcohol do you like?
A. Shochu! I like to have a light drink alone with dinner. While I drink it I do things like reply to mail on my phone, think of rap lyrics for Arashi songs, listen to music.
--------------------------------------
Oh Sho Sho Sho I want to see your movie!
He knows he's good. Powerhouse good. You hear that Nino!?!
Anyway, excuse me, it's late ^^;
Scans are from saobang2211
Please excuse any mistakes, it's like almost 2am here >.> (I always choose the best times to do things, hah. I'll proofread in the morning :3)
"I practised different styles of speaking at home."
Based on the bestselling novel by writer and physician, Natsukawa Sousuke, is the film Kamisama no Karute (God’s Medical Records). Protagonist of the film, Kurihara Ichito, is a young physician working at a local hospital. With a love for Meiji Era novelist Natsume Soseki, he has a distinguishable old-fashioned tone and dishevelled appearance. Challenging the role of this difficult and peculiar character is Arashi’s Sakurai Sho.
“This was my first time challenging the role of a character like Ichito. A particular trouble I had was with his way of speaking. I wondered how I should approach it without taking away from the image of the original work; how to make the audience accept him without any kind of uneasiness. Before the filming started I practised different styles of speaking at home in preparation, and from there the director and I created the character of Ichito with great care.”
"Director Fukagawa’s warm direction was a great help."
The one holding the megaphone was director of 60-sai no Love Letter (a.k.a: Dear My Love), Fukagawa Yoshihiro. He expresses the delicate feelings of Ichito as a struggling physician facing a tangle of relationship, friendship and life dramas.
“Director Fukagawa has a very precise style of directing. That alone gave me a lot of guidance in how to approach the role of Ichito. There were a lot of elements to this character that I didn’t already hold within myself, so Fukagawa’s warm direction was a great help. It is thanks to the director that the film was able to become as strong and emotional as it is."
"It is a heart-warming film that is full of love"
This is also Sakurai’s first time working with Miyazaki Aoi, who plays Ichito’s wife, Haruna. Though working as a landscape photographer she is often away from home, she understands Ichito better than anyone, surrounding him deeply in her love.
“I think they’re a beautiful couple. Ichito and Haruna support and complete one another. Even their casual exchanges of “tadaima Haru” (“I’m home, Haru”) and “okaeri Ichi-san” (“welcome back, Ichi-san”) convey the warm feeling of an everyday couple - I like that. I think that it will leave a warm feeling in couples who can relate to Ichito and Haruna.
For Sakurai who said that “the original work brought tears to my eyes countless times as I read it”, what is the real charm of Kamisama no Karute?
“It’s a heart-warming work, overflowing with the love and affection of kind people in a gentle setting. I will be pleased if this is the kind of feeling people can get in watching the film.”
Director: Fukagawa Yoshihiro
Born in 1976. He has gained attention with films such as Giant Nakimushi [Giant Crybaby] (1999) and Jitensha to High Heel [Bicycles and High Heels] (2000), being selected consecutively for two years for the PFF Award. 60-sai no Love Letter [Dear My Love] (2009), Byakuyako [Into the White Night] (2011) and Yougashiten Koandoru [Patisserie Coin de rue] (2011) are among his other successes as a director.
How was working with actor Sakurai Sho?
Actually, before I’d even met Sakurai-kun I’d already kind of created this impression that he was this really fast-paced person in my mind. Because he’s so busy, you see. However once I got to meet and talk to him I found that he was actually quite a serious, careful thinking young man, and I immediately took a liking to him. Despite all of the discussion we had on the minute details of his character, even the specifics of how he should walk and breathe, he still approached his role very patiently and diligently. It is his ability to listen to others, his adaptability and positivity that are actor Sakurai Sho’s charms.
Later when the two of us went out to eat we were able to discuss the problems facing Japan, and that was something else that left an impression with me. I’m not one to make proper conversation under the influence of alcohol, but I remember listening to him and thinking it over (laugh). It’s his righteousness and kindness that I like. I think that this kind of Sakurai-kun is good, so I hope for him to continue as he is.
Q&A with Sakurai-kun!
Q. Do you soak in the bath, or prefer to shower?
A. I have a bath every day, definitely. But I don’t really do anything stylish in there like reading or having a bubble bath (laugh).
Q. Do you like fruits?
A. I love them! Is it okay if I have all of these? (laugh)
[Refer to picture of Sho with fruits :p]
Q. Where do you want to go out this Autumn?
A. The other day I was able to attend a concert of Nobuyuki Tsujii [T/N: Just by the way, this guy is awesome. And also I want to go to a classical concert with Sho :3], who did the theme song for the movie (Kamisama no Karute). It opened my eyes to the brilliance of classical music. Now I really want to go to a classical concert. They carry a real adult mood, and the space they’re performed in is fantastic.
Q. What do you do now when you’re given a long vacation?
A. I like to travel, so in the Spring I went to Russia. I’ve been talking with friends about how I think I’d like to go to Cuba next time. As well as that, there’s Cambodia, Ukraine, Czech Republic… there are a lot of countries I’d like to visit. I’d like to see the scenery of things I can’t see right now.
Q. What has left an impression with you recently?
A. High school volunteers. During reporting for News Zero in the disaster stricken Miyagi prefecture, I came across high school students who were there doing volunteer work. I found their strength and emotion inspirational.
Q. What have you been eating a lot of lately?
A. Green onion kimchi. Green onions and kimchi together with alcohol make an awesome combination! Only, eating it at home comes with the risk of it stinking out the place. I don’t think I’ll be eating it at home anymore (laugh).
Q. What kind of alcohol do you like?
A. Shochu! I like to have a light drink alone with dinner. While I drink it I do things like reply to mail on my phone, think of rap lyrics for Arashi songs, listen to music.
--------------------------------------
Oh Sho Sho Sho I want to see your movie!
He knows he's good. Powerhouse good. You hear that Nino!?!
Anyway, excuse me, it's late ^^;