Actor, screenwriter, and producer Akiko Iwase　

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Actor, screenwriter, producer　Akiko Iwase　(Iwase Akiko)

■ Profile

Born in Tochigi Prefecture, he is the leader of the theater company "Nichion-bion," which he plans, writes, and performs in.
He also works globally, appearing in overseas productions such as the film "Earthquake Bird," the film "MINAMATA" starring Johnny Depp, and the TV drama "TOKYO VICE."
In addition to writing the scripts for the TV drama "Tokusou 9," he is also in charge of writing the script and producing the film "The Law of Share" (starring Ono Takehiko), which will be released in the fall of 2023.

While acting as an actress, Akiko Iwase also creates works as a scriptwriter and producer. "I want to challenge myself to do many different things to create better works, convey messages in my own way, and bring smiles and energy to many people," says Iwase. We spoke to her about why she works on so many different projects and her thoughts on her work.

■The meaning of expression

I spent my university years in Virginia, USA. While I was there, I performed in musicals and served as vice president of the International Society, an organization that helps international students promote the cultures of their home countries. In the summer of my third year, I traveled around as a backpacker for three months, absorbing a wide range of things, and then returned to Japan. I then returned to the US and transferred to the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Because it was a high-level university, I didn't have much time to play and studied every day. During my student days, I was busy trying to keep up with classes, and I have many memories of spending time in the library.
My love for expression began with ballet lessons as a child. I loved both dancing and watching others. I was exposed to a lot of art and culture, so perhaps my love for expression came naturally. However, at the time, I didn't think of making it my career. What inspired me to choose my current job was volunteering at an orphanage in Mexico during my senior year of college, when I saw the children's delight in a play by a theater troupe. I realized that theater can nourish and energize people's hearts. I originally wanted to work for the United Nations or an NPO, but I began to feel a strong desire to be someone who could bring smiles to people's faces in a way that suited me. I myself was bullied by teachers in elementary school, so I think I longed for a world where I could escape reality. Perhaps that's why I found a place of refuge by living as a different person through acting.

■As an actor and a screenwriter

I work as an actress, writing scripts, and creating works, but I first entered the entertainment world as an actor. Acting is a job where you "wait." While overseas productions generally offer anyone a chance through auditions, in Japan, you mostly wait for an offer to come your way. Even when I receive a job offer, I often ask myself, "Is this really the kind of work I want to do?" I felt like just waiting wasn't for me. But I wanted to continue acting. So I decided to try creating something I had in mind. I actually started writing scripts because an acquaintance asked me to, and they were surprisingly well-received, and I began receiving requests to write more. While acting is fun, writing scripts and creating things is tough. But when my writing takes shape and people watch it and enjoy it, I feel truly happy and glad I did it.
One time, a TV drama producer who had seen my theater company's performance came to my dressing room immediately after the show and asked if I would like to try writing a drama script. I declined at the time, but he kept asking me, so I decided to give it a try. I feel like I'm expanding the scope of my work by getting offers from acquaintances like this and getting involved in more and more different jobs. That's why, when there's something I can't do, I research and learn on the spot, and try to create it.
Also, whether I'm an actor or on the production side, I try to keep the atmosphere on set bright so that everyone can participate in the production comfortably. I value smiles and saying "thank you."
I have also appeared in several Hollywood movies and TV dramas, but these were all decided through auditions. Auditions for overseas productions don't depend on how well-known you are in Japan, and you are judged based on whether you are suitable for the role, so there is no self-promotion or anything, and you are only judged on your acting.
When I auditioned for the film "MINAMATA," the setting was Minamata, Kumamoto, so I translated the lines written in standard Japanese into the Kumamoto dialect. I researched Minamata disease and learned the Kumamoto dialect, and made an effort to become fully immersed in the role.

■About the stage play "Omiso" and the film "The Law of Share" that he produced

stage"Omis" was born from the desire to convey the charm of miso, a traditional food. It is a heartwarming work that will make you laugh and cry, and is based on the theme of a family that runs a miso shop, with a son who is treated as an outcast and nicknamed "miso kasu."
movie"The Law of SharingThe theme of "Let's Live Together" is mutual acceptance of diversity. The story is about how the Earth is a big shared house, so we should respect each other and accept differences in values.
I'm makingNihonHer works often depict social issues such as war, discrimination, nursing care issues, and euthanasia, and with regard to war in particular, she has felt it her mission to convey the stories of war survivors, which she has been interviewing since her twenties.
Entertainment is the most effective means of communication. This is because it is easier to remember something if it is recorded. By watching a work, viewers can relive the emotional experience and empathize with the content, allowing them to think about what comes next. I think that is the strength of entertainment.

■Message to students

You may think "life is endless" when you're a university student, but life isn't that long. Even if you've been thinking about doing something someday, there are some things you can only do when you're young. I hope you'll take action on the things you want to do right away. I also think it's a good idea to travel while you're still mobile. See different parts of the world, learn about the values ​​of different countries, and talk to lots of people to broaden your horizons.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on March 3, 2023 by Mari Okabe, a first-year student at the Kunitachi College of Music