Junichi Okada Interview @ Gaki N Me

7 June,2007 12:27

Junichi Okada Interview

Unknown source but thank you to tommy for translating this article on the left.

When Bussan died, I thought his death was a great loss.

For the first time I heard about "KCE World Series", I guessed what it was going to be. If the Cats were growing up enough, it might be different. On the other hand, it might be nonsence that we still did nothing but drank beer.
However, Kudo-san said " I'll write about the Cats who are trying to become adults." and I quite agreed it.
Just not only for my role, I had not said good bye to Bussan yet, either.
So that we all the casts and the staff wanted to say good bye for the right moment.

My costumes were familiar, the same windbreaker and muffler for this time again.
That was really good because I had got Bussan's costumes for a memento when "KCE Japan Serie" ended.
For KCE dramas, Bussan's costumes were going to be changed in every episode at first. But looking back now, the same costumes and that hair style were making the character of Bussan, I think.
I was really into Bussan and tried to act an attractive guy.
It was valuable so when I previewed the film, I thought his death was a great loss.
Bussan is a person who can not be ignored.

"Kisarazu Cat's Eye", it was my turning point. I had not been considered to be an actor until then, but after KCE, it's certainly increasing.
Thanks to the Cats, we all five members have been developing. Maybe we got along very well.
I couldn't see the preview with all members, but Ani and Utchi were together.
Before then, Bambi had seen it and said, " It made me cry!" so that I was really looking forward to seeing it.
After seeing it, somehow we shook hands in silence. (laugh)
Even though the KCE has ended, it never ends in my heart.
I don't feel lonley. I'm not filled with deep emotion.
I don't know why but Bussan is still alive in my heart and it keeps me not to feel lonley.

Exclusive: Please do not repost this translation outside of this blog.

Okada junichi X Koreeda Hirokazu(the director)

The main cast needs to beat the same rhythm as mine.

Okada: For the first time I saw you, I felt I was seen by you from the bottom of my heart. Aagh...now you are seeing from the bottom.... I was really strained.(laugh)

koreeda: Was I staring at you so much?

Okada: Not staring, but I thought you were seeing deeply.

Koreeda: But at that time I realized that you would be alright. I thought you and me had the same language. I think the main cast should beat the same rhythm as mine. Actually your rhythm for acting was the same as I had thought.

Okada: Me, too. I felt the same. I didn't feel out of place, and it was enjoyable for me. It was amazing that you stood in for yourself though you were a directer. I haven't seen any other directers had done it before.

Koreeda: It was really fresh for me to see you act Soza while reading a script and playing for a rehearsal. You were more talented than I'd ever expected. What am I going to do then if I were Soza? How's Okada-kun doing next? I switched myself to Soza,too. I really enjoyed to see what you'd show me next.

Okada: I've just got it.

Koreeda: I couldn't keep up with your high level acting if I would stay easy there. Now, do you remember the scene?

Okada: What scene?

Koreeda: When Soza came back to his hometown, he was seeing his brother instructing students at the dojo.

Okada: Yes,yes.

Koreeda: At that rehearsal, I explained the dojo to you, where the namecards and the students were. Then you started to play, you turned the opposite and you didn't see the namecards.

Okada: Ah...

Koreeda: I was really surprized and thought what you were looking at. Normally, actors look toward what I pointed, but you looked the opposite. I was so shocked because I couldn't understand what you meant. (laugh) I asked you right away, "What were you looking at?" then you said, " I was looking at the courtyard."

Okada: I was thinking what Soza was going to think when he came home after a long time. I guessed that he was practicing for a long time here and this place made him look back the past. I just felt the opposite from the wall, there must have been a courtyard and certainly Soza would long to see.

Koreeda: I hadn't written so on the script. You were an amazing actor to bring the courtyard into existence. Because of your images, I had to fight with an actor Okada Junichi for my sake as a directer. It was so enjoyable though.

Exclusive: Please do not repost this translation outside of this blog.

tommy wrote March 2007 :

I'm just back from a bookstore now, I was reading Junichi's essay for an-an there

He says he's now into the Japanese tea ceremony, cool

He needs a quiet moment because he was said "There's no reason to push yourself so hard" by everyone, he said.
Really good! It's one of the traditional Japanese culture.

Junichi's essay for this week.

He says he owns his first car for 8 years, and still takes good care of it

very good! Ah, his car is SUV I guess.
But his car is always in trouble to get droppings! haha! no any other cars in the parking but only his car get them he says, omg!
He thinks he doesn't get along with birds, he has some terrible memories with them