Actor Shougen: Don't be afraid of the headwinds and keep moving towards your goals.

■ Profile

In 2004, he made his debut in the film "Habu to Kenkotsu," which depicts post-war Okinawa.
He played the lead role of a sanshin player and was nominated for the Competition Section at the 20th Tokyo International Film Festival. He continued to focus on film, but in 2008 he encountered realist theater in New York and was so impressed that he decided to study acting in earnest there and moved to the United States. He is currently based in Japan and has appeared in numerous international films as well as Japanese films. Recent appearances include "Kokoro, Odoru" (19), "Come & Go" (21), "JOINT" (21), and "Sexual Drive" (22). His upcoming film "DECEMBER" (23) is scheduled for release.

After meeting Tsuchiyama Naozumi, a boxer with a prosthetic leg, actor Shogen has been working hard for the past eight years, thinking, "If I make a film based on Tsuchiyama's true story, it might inspire people." His efforts have paid off, and the film "GENSAN PUNCH: Boxer with a Prosthetic Leg" was born. We spoke to Shogen about the thoughts he put into the film and how it came about.

■ A fulfilling university life including basketball, modeling, and studying abroad, and after graduation, she tried her hand at Europe

I left Okinawa and went to university in Tokyo. Although I had no intention of continuing to play basketball, which I had played in high school, after entering university, I was recruited and ended up playing basketball for the university's athletic club for four years. I had always been interested in modeling, so I was introduced to a casting director and continued modeling work alongside university and basketball. In my second year, I also went to the United States on an exchange program. There, I found it difficult to keep up with classes unless I did my homework properly, and I was surprised by the difference in the way American and Japanese university students approached their studies. However, this experience helped me develop a study cycle and I began to enjoy studying. As a result, I was able to concentrate on my studies even after returning to Japan.

After graduating from university, I took a portfolio of my work and went to Europe. Acting was what I really wanted to do, so I decided to put an end to modeling and try my hand at Europe. I traveled to Milan, Paris, and London for a month each to see which place suited me. I've always loved fashion, so it was a stimulating and fun experience. Then, whenever I saved up enough money, I would go backpacking in search of new scenery and new encounters. I've always been curious and loved visiting unfamiliar places. Whenever I traveled, I made it a point not to bring Wi-Fi or have a set plan.

■About the film "The Boxer with the Prosthetic Leg"

My desire to make a film began when I met Tsuchiyama. I didn't realize it at first, but gradually I learned that he had a prosthetic leg and was deeply moved by the way he faced his challenges. I thought that his story might inspire not only me, but others as well, so I asked him if I could make a film based on Tsuchiyama. There were many challenges along the way to making this a reality, including financing, filming locations, and locating a director. Also, since it's not common for actors to initiate projects in Japan, I faced some headwinds. However, I think my single-minded determination to complete the film allowed me to work hard. Another notable feature of this film is that it has extremely few lines of dialogue. On the flip side, this means that a lot of the film's feelings are packed into the spaces between the lines and beyond the dialogue. I feel that I was able to portray many of the feelings that can only be conveyed by not exchanging words.

■ The struggles of preparing for the role of a boxer

First of all, when playing a boxer, you need to have the boxing skills as well as the appearance to be convincing. With respect to boxing, I wanted to bring it to a level that even experienced boxers would be convinced of. However, character development is never finished, so when I look back now, I sometimes think, "I could have prepared more."
Of course, I also did research on prosthetic legs. I got into the habit of rubbing my right knee on a regular basis, and created the mindset that I had a prosthetic leg. Although I was conscious of my prosthetic leg, when I saw the finished film, I was very impressed with the way the director portrayed it, as it wasn't exaggerated or treated as something special.

In addition, filming was delayed due to the spread of COVID-19 and additional filming, which made it difficult to maintain my physical condition. However, the most difficult part was maintaining my mental health, rather than my physical health. I was worried about whether I would be able to maintain the same level of enthusiasm I had built up for the main shoot for the subsequent shoots. I continued training, thinking, "Is this really how a boxer feels when their match is undecided?" I was able to continue my activities even under these circumstances thanks to the support of those around me, so I never forgot to be grateful and just continued to do what I could. I never expected to win an award at the Busan International Film Festival this time, but I feel that receiving the award has given me the opportunity to give back, even in some small way.

■ Experience a sense of realism that cannot be expressed in words alone

I hope you will watch it with an open mind and with your own thoughts. Although the subject matter is boxing, I think that at its core it is a human drama about a young man who travels to the Philippines to pursue his dream. Because it is a story that is told in few words, I feel that there are parts that many people can relate to, such as the love of a father, the feelings for the family waiting for him back home, and the timing of retiring from a dream and what lies beyond.
Also, unlike commercial films, the filming method utilized local people, troubles, and mistakes in dialogue, making the most of them. The camera was handheld without a tripod, which gives the film a sense of realism, and I think you can experience the feeling of being alive at every moment.

I would like to continue making films on my own initiative, and I would also like to try my hand at directing someday. I also hope to be able to make films with a broad perspective, without worrying about national borders. Having grown up in Okinawa, I would also like to make a film that shines a spotlight on Okinawa's unique culture and the things I inherited from my parents.

■Message to university students

Watching a movie is a special time, where you can turn off your smartphone and immerse yourself in the film, sharing time in the dark. It's a warm and unusual experience, so I encourage university students to go to the cinema in person and increase their opportunities to experience films. I also encourage students to travel, especially during their time at university, to experience new landscapes and beautiful people. If possible, I would encourage them to try traveling without Wi-Fi and without a set plan.

Interviewed on May 19, 2022 Nihon University 3rd year student Koji Ishida