Yuka Kageyama:"I want to give back to everyone who has given me a chance" - now active as an actor after graduating from idol

Since her days as an idol, Yuka Kageyama has appeared on various quiz and soccer shows, showcasing her vast knowledge of soccer and her intelligence. She is currently also active as an actress, and will appear in the TBS Sunday Theatre drama "Mikami Sensei" in January, as well as the movie "Salaryman Kintaro [Akatsuki]" (directed by Shimoyama Ten), due for release on January 10th. In "Salaryman Kintaro," she plays a role that seems perfectly suited to her, a capable career woman. We spoke to Kageyama about this production and how she takes a break from her busy days.

◇ Role preparation: "I didn't want to appear as a naive 23-year-old..."

The film is a live-action adaptation starring Suzuki Nobuyuki of the manga of the same name by Motomiya Hiroshi, which was serialized in "Weekly Young Jump" (Shueisha) from 1994 to 2016. It tells the success story of Yajima Kintaro, a former biker gang member and tuna fisherman who becomes the "lifesaver" of the chairman of construction company Yamato Construction, is granted special employment and moves to Tokyo, where he uses his natural talent to attract people and desperately rises through the world of office workers. The film is made into a two-part series, with the first and second halves being released on January 10th and the second halves being released on February 7th.

Kageyama plays Maeda Kazumi, Kintaro's (Suzuki's) boss. This is an original character for the movie that does not appear in the original work. When acting, he said, "The character was meant to be someone Kintaro would want to rely on, so I was conscious of the appearance and behavior of someone who could do the job."

"I've never worked in a company, so I thought about what it means to be 'good at your job,' and watched some dramas about office ladies, and since I'm not used to wearing high heels, I went out wearing some shoes that looked similar to those I had at home (laughs). I didn't want to come across as a naive 23-year-old at the time, so since I usually have a 'youthful roughness,' I tried to act more calmly than usual."

"Salaryman Kintaro" has been adapted into a TV drama and a movie in the past, but what is the appeal of this latest "revival" in the Reiwa era?

"The story is based on old-fashioned 'passion', but I think it's a work that will encourage us in the modern era too. When you're in an organization, there are probably scenes where you have to read the mood or suppress your own feelings, but Kintaro clears up those vague feelings, so I want everyone who is living their lives to the fullest in the modern age to watch it."

"This is a work that continues to be loved by many people. I hope that it will continue to be loved by the next generation as well. The entire cast explored together how to make Kintaro look appealing," he recalled, and appealed, "I want to live in a world where people who work hard are rewarded. I put my heart into the work to give courage and energy to people who are working hard in life."

◇Refresh time is "study" Studying on a whim

Speaking of Kintaro, his manly personality has captivated many women, but when asked what he thinks of men like Kintaro, Kageyama laughed and said, "If only he would turn down the volume of his voice."

"I'm not very good at speaking loudly... (laughs). But I think people like Kintaro, who warm your heart just by being around them, are really wonderful. I think if I had someone like that close to me, I would be able to live my life more positively. It would motivate me to try harder, and it's great to have a relationship where you can inspire each other like that."

However, it seems that Kageyama himself is currently in a period where he wants to focus on his work rather than romance.

"Although I lack experience and depth in acting, I have been given the opportunity to take on various challenges through dramas, movies and stage productions, and I feel that I am incredibly blessed to have such wonderful people around me. I feel that I need to give back to everyone who has given me these opportunities, and if I have the opportunity to work with them again, I would like to work hard and steadily to become an even bigger presence."

Kageyama is also known as a member of MENSA, an international group that only people with the top 2% of IQs in the population can join, and openly states that "studying is my hobby." He holds a number of qualifications, including dental assistant and fourth-class soccer referee, and recently became a hot topic when he obtained his 18th Tequila Maestro qualification on a variety show. Even in his busy days, Kageyama says, "Studying is a time to refresh myself."

"It's the same feeling as playing games or watching movies. I think it's a necessary element in order to be myself," he said, adding that he sometimes stays up late studying.

"When you're doing something you love, you don't often feel like you're forcing yourself, but in my case, studying is like that. It makes me feel refreshed, so even if I'm busy, I intentionally make time to do so."

When asked if she would be aiming to obtain further qualifications this year, she laughed and said, "I'm grateful that I'm being featured, but I've never really thought about the 'number'. I just want to study things that interest me, and I study on a whim, so I don't know... It would be good if I had a plan to use it in some way."