The third episode of the drama series " Who saw the peacock dance in the jungle? " starring Suzu Hirose Yoshiteru, a lawyer who teams up with Kokoro Mugi (Hirose) to investigate the truth behind the incident. We asked Matsuyama about what he keeps in mind when playing the role of a lawyer and some behind-the-scenes stories from filming.
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-Is there anything you keep in mind when playing the character of Matsukaze?
I want to perform the story while respecting the atmosphere of the original work. As I act, there are times when I feel like there is room for expression, and I am discussing and devising ways to properly show the relationship between Kokoro Mugi and Matsukaze, and the relationship between Matsukaze and Hasami Yukinobu, played by Morisaki Win.
Overall, there are many serious developments such as murder cases and criminal pursuits, but the original work also has fun conversations and clever exchanges amid the seriousness. I am conscious of being able to express that well, and am incorporating a moderate amount of playfulness as I proceed.
However, I had a hard time with the lines at first. There were a lot of words that I don't normally use and expressions that I'm not familiar with (as a lawyer), so it was difficult, but I've been getting used to it little by little recently, and now I can do it quite smoothly.
--Matsukaze has a collection of glasses, some of which are his personal belongings.
Originally, Matsukaze was a character who wore glasses, so I discussed with the production staff how to handle the glasses. Hasami is also a character who wears glasses, and since they are childhood friends, when I thought about playing around with glasses in a close relationship, I came up with the idea that it would be interesting to have them compete for dominance with their glasses.
--Please tell us about a scene that left an impression on you.
In the first episode, there was a scene where they ate pudding with coffee poured over it, and it was surprisingly delicious. Kokoro Mugi himself said, "This is pudding," but no matter how much you pour something on it or how it looks, pudding is pudding. I think Matsukaze did it because it was a fact he believed in.
--This is apparently your first time working closely with Hirose, so what did you feel while facing each other?
The "space" between Suzu-chan's Kokoro Mugi characters was very impressive. It's unique, but it doesn't get in the way of the performance, so it's easy for us to create new "space." For example, there is a rule that you can't put two pieces in the same place on a go board. Suzu-chan places them in perfectly drawn places, so it's easy to proceed. There is no guidance like "I put it here, so put it over there," which is very helpful. I myself don't want to act in a way that leads the other person in the same way, so we are both careful about that as we proceed.
However, we didn't discuss it in particular, so I'm curious to know how Suzu-chan thinks about it when she acts. It's the same in both comical and serious scenes, and I feel a sense of comfort as if we're interacting on a very large board.
I was surprised when we worked together on a variety show, but he's the kind of person who can do anything. So he has a very strong sense of trust, and he's also the kind of person who can make miracles happen. When I see someone who has that kind of power, or when I'm around someone who has that power, I feel a great sense of security. I can do my best, and I feel comfortable around him.
-Have you received any inspiration from your co-stars or staff?
Although this is my first time acting with many of the actors, everyone has their own unique personality and strength, so it's a lot of fun interacting with them. I'm surrounded by wonderful members and having fun acting. However, it's not just about having fun; there are also small details that can be overlooked if you don't think about them, so I want to act without missing those gaps. This is a work that is full of the charm of the original work, the co-stars, and the staff, so I want to express that well.
I was also very impressed by the staff members who came to the press conference. It was a day when there was no filming, so they could have rested, but seeing them come to the conference made me feel their love and passion for the filming location, and it really boosted morale. I felt that everyone cares about this production, and it made me want to work hard with all my might.
--I think the key point of this film is "belief," but what is something that you yourself consider particularly important when believing in something?
I guess it's intuition. There may be an optimal solution for something you're doing alone, but it's hard to know what the optimal solution is when you're working in a team. I try to work without thinking too much about how to move in the world that everyone is creating. There are some things you can't know until you jump in. That's why at the beginning I wanted an answer like "Matsukaze will be this kind of character." That makes me feel more at ease. But gradually I've started to just go with my intuition at the time.
--Please tell us what the highlights of Episode 3 are.
This episode confirms whether the buddy duo of Kokoro Mugi and Matsukaze can continue to work together from here on out, and whether they can really find the real culprit. I think you can feel the strength of Kokoro Mugi's will to "find the culprit at all costs." Matsukaze himself has also put a lid on himself, so when he sees Kokoro Mugi struggling in a completely different way than himself, he starts off wanting to respect Kokoro Mugi's will because he couldn't do it himself, and in episode 3 this feeling becomes even stronger.
Various incidents occur one after another, so I think it will lead to more speculation. I would also like to speculate on these issues, so I hope you will enjoy the story together.
