Actress Kotone Hanase

Just doing my best to do what I can

actress　Chinese New Year　(Let's talk)

■ Profile
Born in 2002. Her major appearances include the film "Sparrow's Door Lock" as Chika Kaifu (2022/voice actor), TOKYO MX's "Foreign Object - Another Story" (2023), and the music video for Yuri "The Day We Came Out as Lovers" (2023).

"I admired Namie Amuro and stepped into the entertainment world when I was in elementary school," says actress Kotone Hanase."Far Away"She has been active in various fields, including as the main character Aoi in the movie "Far Away." We spoke to her about her future prospects, having entered the entertainment industry at a young age, and the highlights of the movie "Far Away."

■ Entering the entertainment industry inspires Namie Amuro

I first became seriously interested in the entertainment industry when I was in elementary school. It all started with the singer Namie Amuro. I was captivated by her singing voice when I was little, and I decided that I wanted to make singing my career in the future, so I enrolled in an entertainment school.
However, she realized early on that she had no talent for singing and could never become like Amuro-chan. At that moment, she gave up on singing and decided to pursue a career as an actress. Before making her debut, she gained a variety of experiences through stage performances.

I have never wanted to quit my job

I am the one who remains in all the images, whether it be movies, TV, or dramas, but behind the scenes there is the support of many people, including my parents, directors, assistants, and makeup artists, and I feel that without them I would not be able to create such great works.
On the other hand, because I am supported by so many people, I sometimes feel pressured to "absolutely not make any mistakes." In order to perform at my best every time, I practice over and over again, and I can't relax until filming is over and I see the finished product. There are many times like this when I feel a sense of responsibility in my work, but even so, I have never once thought about quitting this job.
In addition to the strong feeling that I have been supported by many people, being able to become the person I envisioned myself to be as a child is a major driving force for me. I now feel that this is the only profession for me. I would like to continue growing, carrying the weight of my work on my shoulders, while also giving back to my parents who have supported me for so long, and laughing together with the people who have been involved.

■映画"Far Away"　　

movies"Far Away"When I was chosen to appear in "Aoi", it didn't really feel real to me. The story is set in Okinawa, and I even thought, "Am I really going to Okinawa!?" (laughs). Aoi is an extremely strong woman who has experienced many hardships that I could never have imagined, such as raising a child from a young age and being abused by her husband. I was worried about how to act as this character, which is so far removed from my everyday life.
I spent a month and a half in Okinawa preparing for my role before filming began, and what surprised me when I arrived was that the customs, dialect, diet, and communication methods were all completely different from what I had come to expect. For example, the nights are brighter than in Tokyo. Before filming began, I was able to meet and talk with people in situations similar to Aoi, which finally helped me to get a real feel for the character. I think the month and a half I spent in Okinawa before filming was truly meaningful.
In fact, I wasn't given the script until just before filming began. This was because the director wanted to "deliver reality rather than a work of art." At first I was very anxious, but I was happy to be able to use the experience I had had in Okinawa before filming. I went with the flow and approached filming with the intention of "expressing" rather than "acting."
The most difficult thing about acting was that Aoi and I have absolutely nothing in common.
It may seem like an extraordinary situation to me, but it's a normal environment for Aoi. I tried not to deny anything, but to take in and accept everything, and to not create any barriers to her feelings, while always remembering to respect Aoi as I acted.

■The problems depicted in this work are close to me

I would be happy if people who watch this film realize that this is not fiction, but a problem that is actually happening in the real world, close to where we live. I also hope that the unique atmosphere, air, and beautiful sea that can only be found in Okinawa, where the film is set, will leave a lasting impression on them.
As an aside, there is a scene in the film where Aoi takes place in the bathroom, and the director enthusiastically asked me to let him film the scene in the bathroom. I had wondered why he was so hung up on the bathroom scene, but it was only when the film was completed that I realized that the scene played an important role in expressing "everyday life as it is." I felt that the presence of this scene allowed viewers to recognize that this was not "footage made for the film," but "a reality that is happening somewhere right now." This film was made with such attention to detail, so I would be thrilled if you could see it in the theater.

■Message to university students

movies"Far Away"I would most like young people of my generation to see this film. It is today's students who will shape the future.
I hope that through this film, people will be able to look at the reality that their predecessors have turned a blind eye to, and learn about the problems Japan is currently facing, and that this will give them an opportunity to think, "Is there something I can do?"

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on October 15, 2023 by Chuo University third-year student Renpo Maeda