Number 52 in a series
Others in this series: Basil Rathbone (Fox), Martin Freeman, Jude Law, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Jonny Lee Miller, Vinette Robinson, Jeremy Brett, David Burke, Andrew Scott, Nigel Bruce (Fox), Robert Downey, Jr., Jon Michael Hill, Two Violets, Mark Gatiss, Basil Rathbone (Universal), Nigel Bruce (Universal), Rupert Graves, Evelyn Ankers, Louise Brealey, Lucy Liu, Edward Hardwicke, Christopher Plummer, James Mason, Una Stubbs, Gayle Hunnicut, Hugh Laurie. Robert Sean Leonard, Yasmine Akram, Ronald Howard, Martin Freeman (TAB), Benedict Cumberbatch (TAB), Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan/Richard Larke, Peter Cushing, Nigel Stock, William Gillette, Edward Fielding/Burford Hampden, Kay Fielding, Rosalie Williams, Andrei Panin, Ingeborga Dapkunayte, Igor Petrenko, Rosalyn Landor, Gareth David-Lloyd, Ben Syder, Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Jared Harris, George Zucco/Ida Lupino. Yuko Takeuchi, Shihori Kanjiya
@randomnessoffiction
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The opportunity to binge #KamenRiderBlackSun came to me the past weekend and I finished it today.
The series is an unapologetic attack and commentary on contemporary Japanese societal issues, the undercurrents of #unseenjapan that #cooljapan probably tried to paper over throughout the Olympics and decades of LDP rule, and it just grew keener with the assassination of Shinzo Abe and the near-interminable desire to demand change in a society unable to accept it. It is an attempt at portraying, through fiction, that Japan is more multicultural than it tends to see itself, it is harming its soul by denying that, and it deserves better by listening to its youth, and it better do so before they swallow them and their most vulnerable.
Perhaps it is inevitable that this will be another battleground in the role of political commentary/applicability especially when it is appearing in long-running franchises. This is currently the biggest dilemma of franchises like the ones owned by Disney (Marvel and Star Wars), not to mention fantasy (the recent tussles between House of the Dragon and The Rings of Powder for ex.). The fact that *Kamen Rider Black Sun* is in Amazon Prime further highlights this. And yet if Japanese fiction can begin coming to terms with contemporary issues through the medium of its classical heroes (the way *Shin Godzilla* and *Shin Ultraman* already did, not to mention *Shin Kamen Rider* will do soon again), why not this way?
It is a testament that *Black Sun*, based off *BLACK*, probably the most successfully exported Kamen Rider before the Heisei period, is the best way to do this unbridled revisioning. (I personally grew up on BLACK on IBC13 in the Philippines.) This series speaks not only to the child who grew up with Kotaro Minami/Kuya Robert, but to the man, scholar & advocate I grew up as.
This is an unrivalled opportunity to revisit how Kamen Rider stories are told, what kind of storytelling the original creator Shotaro Ishinomori is interested in, and what can heroism possibly mean in a post-nuclear, heavily polarized and infuriating time. It is finding your lines, those who will hold your hands and back, and passing them on.
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🏆 The 113th Japanese Drama Academy Award for Supporting Actor
🎊 Akaso Eiji won the award for his healing charm!
\ -Award winner Interview-
Q. Please tell us your thoughts on winning the Best Supporting Actor Award for "Shiko and Haneo".
Frankly speaking I'm very happy. This is the first time I have participated in a TV series by Producer Arai and Director Tsukahara. The main actors are Arimura Kasumi and Nakamura Tomoya, who are also excellent. Of course, the story is also very interesting. Again, it's great to be part of something like this. I am also very happy to win the award together with Arimura San and Nakamura san.
Q. The person who voted said: "Oba was an unreliable young man in the beginning. After he confessed to Ishiko (Arimura Kasumi), he became a boyfriend, but he was arrested on suspicion of murder in the second half. Some people think that he is a bad guy, let the audience see all kinds of faces."
Oba is too upright and kind. In episode 1, it was found that his company cheated on him and in episode 9, it was found that the company that lent the name was doing real estate fraud. I was like "Have you been cheated again?", even I was desperate. You can't lend your name to an unfamiliar company... Although Nakamura and the others say that I am a natural character, I myself would not do such a stupid thing.
However, for Oba, the meeting with Ishiko and Haneo is very important, if there is no two of them, he will be mentally damaged due to the harassment of power, and even if he change jobs, he will still be deceived. Although I don't know what will happen after the ending, but from the past experience, there will be anxiety like "he will definitely be...". I want to tell him "don't be fooled".
Q. Wouldn't be better if Oba works at Ushio Law Firm like this?
A. Yes. Maybe that can be reassuring. If there is a sequel, I wonder if Oba has entered a new company, so there will be no chance to appear. Then I was deceived again, so I could only bring the incident to the office to discuss? or something like that (laugh).
Q. When filming started, did you know that this character would become Ishiko's boyfriend?
A. Yes, I heard that. However, there are many people who predict that Ishiko will end up with Haneo. In fact, I myself feel that I will be dumped in Chapter 9. Thanks to Ishiko's broad-mindedness, I can keep the boyfriend status. In episode 5, there is a scene of carrying Ishiko on my back. Although Arimura is very light, but because the steps are a little steep, I was worried about "in case she falls backward and hurts her", so I focused on the front and climbs the steps.
Q. How do you feel about co-starring with Kasumi Arimura for the first time?
A. I have seen Arimura's work before. She is an actress who can capture people's hearts with her lines and charm. I respect her very much, so I was very happy when I decided to work together. Treat each scene with care.
In the third episode, the two watched a movie together for the first time. Oba was a fan of the director, but at the same time, the studio was defending the film stealing. When he was worried about how to face the director, Arimura came over to say hello to me & Think together about the process of acting.
Because I was helped by her advice, when I'm became the lead role, if there were co-stars who were troubled, I wanted to help them like Arimura San. At times like this, the sense of distance from Arimura san is inadvertently just right. The approach of sitting next to me and taking the initiative saying, "What a nice weather," makes me think she's a great person.
Q. How do you feel about co-starring with Nakamura?
A. Nakamura is a trustworthy older brother. Grasping the whole of the work objectively, as soon as I have troubles, he immediately points me in the direction. Because of the unwavering Nakamura, there are many scenes of being relied upon. In episode 5, Oba, who confessed to Ishiko, rubbed his nose to give a hint, and the scene where Nakamura rubbed his nose with each other. The action in that scene was more intense than expected (laughs).
Q. Are there any other scenes that impressed you on the set?
A. In the 9th episode, the oba was detained by the police. When he said "sorry", Haneo said, "It is wrong to lend a name and lie about the murderer, but you are too self-blame." Nakamura suggested: "In this case, If it’s not right, it’s not right, but it’s better to say it clearly.” As Oba, I think this can also clarify what should and shouldn’t reflect on and be saved.
Q. In the 9th episode, Ishiko and Haneo were running around for Oba, and the scene where Oba was released without incident was impressive. Oba hugged Haneo before his girlfriend...
A. It's interesting. At that moment, I could see the emotions that Ishiko and Haneo had accumulated. Because of these two outstanding people, I could feel the mood of working hard again. It was a great scene. As for Oba, Ishiko and Haneo is about the same. The relationship between the three of them feels very good. Ishiko and Haneo are good partners.
Q. In that scene, Oba was detained, so he grew a beard. Not by makeup, but by yourself?
A. Yes (laughs). Accidentally grows very quickly, so only did not shave the day before the shoot. After discussing with Director Tsukahara, I wanted to show a feeling of exhaustion at the moment of the relase, so the shirt I was wearing was also wrinkled.
Q. How is the guidance of Director Tsukahara who won the Director Award?
A. Benefit a lot. Up until now, I have been abstained from no overlapping lines with the co stars & not adding improvisations in inappropriate places, but it is okay to say lines at the same time in this group. Director Tsukahara said, "I hope you can cherish the feeling of acting."
How to convey the character's impulse and how to respond to the opponent's acting skills. While acting while being conscious, I was told, "The scene just now was with this expression. That's what happened." Although it was a feeling, I could understand it... I learned that acting is "alive".
Q. For you, what was your experience with this work?
A. I feel like I have taken a special course. If you ask me, do you understand 100% what "live" acting is? Although it is still unclear, the barrier that I should cross has become clear. I think from now on, I will continue to do it while worrying about it. Then, it would be happy to be able to join the team again after improving a little bit
🔸Mention
Acceptance award interview from Tomoya & Kasumi
There's an anecdote that involves Eiji & bugs🐛😂
Source: Eiji's interview, Tomoya's Interview, Kasumi's interview
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Life's Punchline / Konto ga Hajimaru (Ep 8)
Two things I learn from this scene :
1) Even though she doesn’t have experience in managing entertainers, she has experience managing sportsmen and she uses transferable skills to apply.
2) He seems tired of his job, probably he has difficulty handling criticism which is why he tend to admires her a bit for being able to withstand them.
The difference between the two is, she knows what it’s like being a manager, being criticised by those she managed. He didn’t know what it’s like as he wanted to be an entertainer not a manager but he end up being one.
I guess different people are driven and motivated by different things. She likes the challenges of managing people. He accepted the role of the manager without thinking much as he thinks that opportunity comes once in a lifetime.
Which makes you wonder when should you accept an opportunity and when should you let it go? It’s one of the many things that make people regret.
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