Movie "YUKIKAZE" starring Okudaira Daiken and Touma Ami

Memories of war inherited in the heart through the film "YUKIKAZE"

■Actor Okudaira Daiken　

Born in Tokyo on September 20, 2003. He made his acting debut in the film "MOTHER" (20) and won the Newcomer Award at the 44th Japan Academy Awards. Recent appearances include the films "Kaguya-sama!", "Kakushi!", "Go!", and "Touken Ranbu!" (25), the Sunday Theatre drama "Mikami Sensei," and the NHK night drama "Someday, in Zero Gravity in the Sky."

■ Actress Ami Touma

Born November 2, 2006, in Okinawa Prefecture. She made her debut in a commercial in 2021, and made her drama debut the following year in "My Wife Becomes an Elementary School Student." She has attracted attention as the 14th TV commercial character for Asahi Soft Drinks' "Calpis Water." Other appearances include "What Will Ieyasu Do?", "Kekeke on Ke Day," and "The Best Teacher: One Year Later, I Was Killed by My Student." She is currently starring in her first drama series, "Chihayafuru Meguri," a new Wednesday drama series on Nippon Television that will begin airing in July 2025. Her first lead role in a feature film, "Strawberry Moon," is scheduled for release on October 17th.

Movies released on August 15, 2025"YUKIKAZEWe spoke to two of today's most promising young actors, Okudaira Daiken and Touma Ami, about everything from the appeal of acting to the thoughts they put into the film, the things they came up with to portray people during wartime, and the highlights of the film Yukikaze.

■Determination to face history

Okudaira: It was my first time to appear in a work with a war theme, so I had a strong desire to take on the challenge. After that, when I first spoke with the director, screenwriter, and producer, I was overwhelmed by their passion, and I remember feeling a strong desire to work with this team. I was also attracted to the background of the work, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to reexamine what I personally feel and how I can convey that.

Touma: When I was first approached about appearing in the film, I knew absolutely nothing about the ship "Yukikaze." So, I started by learning about it. It was my first time playing a character living during wartime, and I was a little scared, but I was able to approach the role with a positive attitude, knowing that I was learning as I went along.

■ Acting in a time that you have never experienced

Okudaira: The character I played, Inoue Sota, was close to the audience's perspective. That's why I was conscious of always keeping the perspective of "how would I feel if I were in that position?" After reading the script thoroughly, I actually visited the former Naval Academy in Etajima, Hiroshima, to see the training conditions and records from that time. Learning through words and "experiencing it with your own skin" are completely different. Standing there, I finally got a real sense that it "really happened." I was able to approach the role with that realization as the core.

Touma: I played the role of the younger sister who sends her older brother off to the battlefield. My character was not aboard the destroyer Yukikaze, but in order to imagine the atmosphere of the battlefield, I watched the video materials I was given in advance of filming, and read many letters from that time, family testimonies, and records of war veterans. In this way, I think I was able to develop my role between "imagination and records." Even in the voice-over scenes, I carefully combined the footage with my feelings.

■The changes that film has brought about and the meaning of communicating them

Okudaira: To be honest, I used to think of history as just something to memorize for tests. But this time, as I learned about the background and people's thoughts at the time through this work, I strongly felt that this is something that needs to be passed on. As the number of people who experienced the war decreases, how will we pass on this knowledge? I felt that we have a responsibility as the younger generation.

Touma: I'm from Okinawa, so I've had many opportunities to learn about the Battle of Okinawa and other events. But I didn't know about "Yukikaze," and it made me realize that there is still a lot of history that is unknown across the country. It's important not to just "wait" for an opportunity to learn, but to go out and learn about it yourself. I think I've come to think this way because of this work.

■Highlights of the work

Okudaira: Learning history through text is hard to absorb, but seeing it on film allows you to understand it from a different angle. "Yukikaze" is exactly that kind of work. The images convey the breathing and conflicts of the people of that time, so as someone living in the present, it gives you an opportunity to think, "How would I feel?" I think it's especially meaningful for generations who don't experience war to learn about it through film.

Touma: When you think of war movies, you might imagine a film with a tense atmosphere all the time, but this film has moments where that's not the case. There are scenes of family time and sudden laughter. That range conveys a more human quality, and that's why it feels so relatable. You don't have to be prepared to "learn about war." I think it's meaningful just to be able to see what the people who lived through that era were like.

■What is the appeal of acting?

Okudaira: I think the job of an actor is one that allows you to experience the lives of many different people. That's why it's interesting and you can learn a lot. This time, I was able to learn about "Yukikaze," something I would never have known about if I had lived a normal life. I think the appeal of this job is that it allows you to come into contact with a world that you would never have encountered.

Touma: I've always been terrible at speaking in front of people, and at first, even in interviews, I was the type of person who couldn't speak unless I had all my answers prepared. But through this job, I've met people and come into contact with values ​​that are different from my own, and I've begun to feel a change within myself. Through "acting," I can grow as a person. I think that's the best part of this job.

■Message to university students

Okudaira: I think that fourth-year university students of my generation are at a time when they should seriously think about their future. But I also want to tell them that life isn't just about work. I think it's also important to have a family, spend time with friends, and accumulate small joys. I want them to relax and choose a life that suits them, without being too tied down by job hunting.

Touma: I'm about the same age as first-year university students, so I understand how it feels to be overwhelmed by a new environment. But I think university is a place where you can take on the challenges of what you want to do, so even if you're feeling anxious, I encourage you to take the first step. You're sure to find something you love and something that will support you, so don't rush, but be true to your heart and cherish the various encounters you have.

Student Newspaper Online Interview June 21, 2025 Toyo University 6th year student Ota Fuuka

Showa Women's University, second-year student Abe Rurika / Toyo University, fourth-year student Ota Fuka / Josai International University, second-year student Watanabe Yurie / Aoyama Gakuin University, first-year student Matsuyama Ayami / Chuo University, first-year student Kato Mayuka