Movie “TOKYO, I LOVE YOU” released on November 10, 2023

The main character, Licht, is someone who can honestly express his thoughts and feelings. I'm the type of person who puts up a wall and is careful when expressing things, so playing the role was the complete opposite of my usual self, which made it fresh and fun. One of my goals as an actor - to one day play a leading role - was fulfilled, so I was overwhelmed with joy, but at the same time I was anxious, but I did a lot of research by watching the works of many different people.
This film is based on the story of the passionate friendship between seven men. It's a story about "doing your best for someone," so I think it's a work that expresses a wide range of emotions. I usually tend to hide my emotions, but acting allows me to release them, and by talking to different people and facing them through acting, I can feel a deeper connection with them. I hope to have more opportunities to act in the future.
I hope that watching this film will energize you in your daily lives.

When I was chosen to appear in the film, I wondered if I was the right person for the role, but at the same time I was happy. Noah is a character who lives in his own world, and even when the people around him are having a great time, he takes a step back and watches everyone. I like spending time alone, so I worked hard to create a character that would allow me to blend in with everyone and not stand out too much.
This movie focuses on friendship, asking how far six people will go for one person. As they get older and their circumstances change, they may not be able to see each other even if they are close friends, so it's interesting to see how far they will go for their best friend.
I didn't have anything I wanted to do, but I happened to enter the entertainment industry. Once I started acting, I found it fun, and that's how I got to where I am today. Students, if you can't find what you want to do, don't panic or feel ashamed. If you have found something, I think it will become your weapon if you continue to enjoy it with pride.

I met with Director Nakajima in person to discuss the matter, and he offered me the role of Eugene. I was very happy because I had always wanted to play this role. Eugene is the leader of the group. As the oldest of the seven, I have a bit of a leadership nature myself, so I approached the role with the desire to lead everyone.
I hope you'll pay attention to the scene where Eugene leads the other two, as we reshot it over and over again until we were satisfied with the overall feel. This film is based on the theme of the "three loves" of romantic love, familial love, and friendship. I believe that the things we love, our goals, and the things that are important to us are actually the closest to us. This film will give you the opportunity to reexamine the things that are important to you.
It's been six years since I started acting, and at first, my motivation was simply to become famous. However, with such a shallow mindset, I would be left behind by those around me. I think that when you achieve something difficult, you will understand the true meaning of that work. It doesn't matter if it was something small that motivated you. I encourage everyone to honestly try to do what they want to do.

This was my first time playing the role of a terminally ill patient, and because it was a role I had never played before, I approached filming with the intention of researching more than usual and acting carefully. Simon is the best friend of the main character, Licht, and despite suffering from a serious illness, he is a very kind and compassionate man who cares for his friends. The appeal of this film is the way the best friends push forward with one goal in mind. It is a work that is easy for everyone to empathize with, and will remind you of what it means to be passionate about something.
I believe that being an actor is a job that allows you to experience many different lives. I am truly happy to have had the opportunity to experience a new life as Simon. I will do my best to bring a smile to the faces of my co-stars, those I work with on set, and those who get to know me through my work.
The time you spend as a student is a very short time in your life, but it is a time when you can create memories that will last a lifetime. I hope you will use your passion as your driving force to take on new challenges and have a fun time as a student. These experiences will surely become an asset in the future.

During the audition, the director told me, "You're totally Haru," and that's how I got the role. It was my first time to appear as a main cast member, so I was very happy. Haru has had a difficult experience in his family environment. That's why he's the kind of mood maker who always makes everyone laugh. When a friend falls seriously ill, Haru somehow manages to cheer up his friends in a gloomy atmosphere. I paid particular attention to even the smallest of exquisite reactions.
The film's theme is the "three kinds of love": romantic love, family love, and friendship love. It would make me happy if this film, which reminds us that the things that are most important are closest to us, can bring a smile to the faces of those who watch it.
I want all students to enjoy what they are doing now to the fullest. I believe that it is only when you are enjoying what you are doing that you can see things and open up new paths. If you are not enjoying what you are doing, it is okay to take a step back sometimes. If you have the courage to take a step back and the courage to enjoy what you are doing, I believe it will come in handy when you enter society.

Although Ray is a bit of a joker, he watches over everyone with a kind eye and makes an effort to make those around him shine. I'm not the type of person who gets excited normally, so there was a gap between me and him, but as we practiced more and more, I learned about Ray's position among the other members.
To be honest, it's a standard story, but it's a work that reminds us of the passionate emotions that we all have, but which we tend to forget.
There is a scene in the movie where Ray sings, and I love singing, so I was offered the role of Ray. It made me realize that what you love is not worth throwing away. Since I was able to get work through singing, I would like to continue with music as an extension of my hobby. I would also like to one day relive the experience by playing a character who is completely different from my own logic, such as a yakuza.
It's easy to get caught up in the typical process of graduating from university and finding a job, but I think your time as a student is a time to find your own measure of happiness. I hope you will find what makes you happiest and move forward with your life.

The theme of this work is the bonds between friends. Everyone knows that friendship is important, but it's difficult to put into words why we shouldn't let it slip away. Whether it's a rediscovery, a reaffirmation, or a discovery, it's different for each person, but this work shows how much friendship holds a place in our hearts. Dan isn't the most energetic member of the group, but he is a caring character who communicates well with others and values ​​relationships.
I haven't had much experience playing roles that require expressing strong emotions, so I really enjoyed digging through the drawers of my imagination while getting ideas from everyone, and I was able to discover a side of myself through the character development process.
The appeal of being an actor is that you can try new things. You can become someone new. I would be happy if the emotions of the people who watch are moved by the way I express myself through my body.
No challenge or adventure is irreversible. Taking on a challenge is a wonderful thing, so I encourage everyone to take a step forward.

When I saw the script, I thought it was wonderful because of the mysterious worldview that was unlike any other work, and I wanted to appear in it, so I was very happy when I was cast. We had a thorough rehearsal, which is rare these days, so we were able to share everyone's opinions more than usual. As with any work, I always think of myself and the characters in the work as completely separate entities.
The character I played this time, Mika, speaks everything, even important lines, at a fast tempo. The director asked me to "speak quickly and smoothly," but it was difficult because even very important lines had to be spoken at a fast tempo. I also tried to be conscious of leaving an impression on the viewers.
This film brings together a diverse cast of actors with unique personalities, so it is full of charm that has never been seen in a film before.
This is a story about seven young people who each have their own conflicts and overcome them. I think students in particular have a lot of conflicts. If you identify with one of the seven characters, you may find a clue to resolving them.

The reason I decided to make this film is because I wanted to make a film that is full of entertainment that people all over the world would find genuinely entertaining. I decided to make this film with a strong desire to create an entertainment film that thoroughly pursues entertainment value, so that Japanese films will be more highly acclaimed not only by Japanese audiences but also by audiences overseas.
So the three keywords that came to mind for me were "orthodox," "direct," and "universal relatability." Therefore, I avoided metaphorical and distorted expressions and was conscious of expressing fundamental human emotions in the film that would resonate equally with people all over the world.
These are the three loves that are the theme of this film: romantic love, parental love, and friendship. I believe these are instinctive desires and emotions that everyone feels, regardless of country. This film explores these three themes with hyper-realistic depictions that are impossible in reality, but are just about believable, so I would encourage everyone to see it in the theater.
I always thought that when I grew up I had to become something. However, in reality there is no need to become anything. The theme of this work is, "The most important things are actually the closest to you." The most important things are the things you already have. I would like everyone to take another look at their own individuality and use it to grow.