Actor Raku Kakeru stars in the TBS Tuesday drama "Jaa, Anta ga Tsukutte Miro yo It" (Tuesdays at 10pm), co-starring actors Kaho and Takeuchi Ryoma. He plays Yoshii Taihei, a well-informed bartender and husband of hairdresser Nagisa (Saya). Taihei accepts Ayumi (Kaho) when she suddenly shows up at their house, and watches over her together with Nagisa, occasionally giving her a push. We spoke to Raku Kakeru about what he keeps in mind when playing Taihei and some anecdotes from the set.
◇
The story is based on the manga of the same name by Natsuko Taniguchi, which is currently being serialized in the digital comic magazine Comic Tanto (Bunkasha). Yamagishi Ayumi, who always puts her lover first, and Ebihara Katsuo (Takeuchi), a patriarchal man who believes that "it's only natural for a woman to cook," have been dating since their university days. After living together, Katsuo proposed marriage, but Ayumi's response was an unexpected "no way." Through cooking, Katsuo reexamines the things he took for granted and grows as a person.
-What was your impression when you read the original novel and the script?
First of all, I thought it was a good title. After reading the contents, I realized that the values of men and women have changed dramatically since the Showa era. This is often dismissed with the words "it's different for each individual," which is not a bad thing at all, but I feel that there has been less dialogue about "what about me?" and "what about the other person?" I think this work describes how to live with others in this environment without being preachy. It is also a work that makes you reflect on yourself.
-What kind of person do you think Taihei is, the character you play?
Since he runs a bar, he has a broad perspective and treats everyone equally, looking down on everyone. I'm very envious of people like Taihei who live their daily lives without much desire. In acting, I place the utmost importance on my relationship with Nagisa, but I also think the relationship between Nagisa, Ayumi, and Taihei is important, so we discuss that on set and try to get the atmosphere right. In terms of appearance, I grew a beard (laughs).
--You say you envy people who "live each day without desires."
In life, we are easily influenced by various pieces of information and become troubled, but I envy the feeling that instead of that, you just go with the flow like the waves and let things take their course.
--Saya said about Raku, "He's calm and composed, but when it's time to step up, he's out there and I think he's a similar type to Taihei."
I wonder if there are any similarities between me and Taihei. It may sound strange for me to say this, but I think I'm also pretty level-headed. But I don't think I'm as nice as Taihei (laughs).
-Did the director have any requests for you regarding the role?
On the first day, the director told me, "Ayumi is older than Taihei, but I want Taihei to be more mature and poised in their relationship," so I was conscious of that. If there's too much action, it can come across as frivolous, so I tried to keep it to a minimum. Usually, I think I'd add a little more, but this time I didn't.
-Please tell us your impression of Saya, who plays your married partner.
She responds to whatever I do, so it's really fun to act with her, and there's a lot to learn from her. Saya's words and movements are natural. It doesn't feel like she's trying to say her lines, it feels like they're coming from her heart. I think the most difficult part is just being there as Nagisa, but I think it's wonderful how natural she is.
-How was it acting with Kaho and Takeuchi?
There's so much to learn from everyone. Kaho-san really thinks things through, and does each and every step carefully while respecting the other person. Takeuchi-san does something different for every cut, and I get the feeling that she's always searching for something interesting. I think all three of you, including Saya-san, are amazing.
--Please tell us about an episode that happened during filming with your co-stars.
There's a scene where Saya, Kaho and I drink tequila, and we had to drink the tequila and put limes in our mouths so many times that there was a day when we all ended up going to the bathroom at the same time (laughs).
I often end up on the same shooting days as Saya, and she always chimes in on what we're saying, which makes for an easy-going atmosphere for everyone to talk about. She's a comedian, so she's really funny.
--Who is the mood maker?
Takeuchi-san is always funny. He really livens up the set (laughs). I don't have that many scenes with Takeuchi-san, but whenever we're together, I always feel that way.
--This film is a story that overturns what is taken for granted, but what is something that surprised you recently that is not taken for granted?
Something I learned recently that surprised me is that restaurants and other places often have piles of salt. Apparently, the meaning of the salt changes depending on its shape and where it's placed. I happened to come across a video about piles of salt on YouTube, and it explained why they're often placed in restaurants, as well as whether they're conical or octagonal. That surprised me.
Speaking of myself, I recently discovered that my feet start to hurt when I walk more than 17,000 steps (laughs). That's about the time when I feel my feet are tired, so I think that's my limit. In terms of distance, it's probably about 10km.
Do you walk regularly?
Yes, I do. I make it a habit to go for walks. It was difficult in the summer because it was so hot, but now it's the best time of year. By the way, this drama starts in autumn, but Taihei has always been wearing short sleeves (laughs). Please pay attention to Taihei's outfit, where he still wears short sleeves even in autumn.
--There are many characters in this work who will give you a push, but if you were to get stuck, which character would you want to be the one to give you a push?
Wow, not Katsuo (laughs). I think it would probably be Kashiwakura Tsubaki (played by Ayami Nakajo) or Nagisa, but Tsubaki is a bit absent-minded... After all, isn't Nagisa the best? I feel like she's the one who cares about the other person the most and would give them a push.
--Please tell us what to look forward to from episode 5 onwards.
Ayumi changes when she meets us, then meets Minato (Yuzu Aoki), and they start dating. While she feels both fulfilled and dissatisfied with her new life, I hope you enjoy watching her change again from episode 5. There's also a scene where Taihei gives Ayumi a push. Katsuo also changes, and although the story develops rather quickly, I think the core is solid.
I think there are many moments in life when people think, "Well, you try it then." This drama gently depicts the importance of being there for others and forgiving them at times like that. I was taken aback myself, but there were many things that made sense to me and I think I learned a lot. You can enjoy it without being on guard, and I think you'll discover something new, so I hope you'll watch it casually.
