Yusuke Hino, who brilliantly portrayed the "second rider," Kizuna Karakita/Kamen Rider Valen, in the tokusatsu drama "Kamen Rider Gavv" (TV Asahi), which aired from 2024 to 2025, will be showing a new side of himself in the movie "DOPPEL" (directed by Kenji Tani), which will be released on April 17th, playing an outlaw role, a complete departure from his heroic image. We asked him about the movie and his future prospects after gaining sudden fame through Kamen Rider.
◇ "I was confronted with where I really am right now," he said, expressing his frustration.
Appearing in a film directed by Tani was a "long-held dream come true." He revealed that Tani was a benefactor who had supported him since his early days as a boy group member in his hometown of Aichi Prefecture.
"Back when I was still going back and forth between Nagoya and Tokyo, you invited me to perform on stage many times and always looked after me. You would listen to my problems at family restaurants, and since there weren't many adults in Tokyo I could open up to, you were a great help. I had always thought, 'I want to be in one of Tani-san's films someday,' so I'm so happy that my wish has come true!"
The film is set in a popular theater troupe and depicts a rookie actor struggling with the troupe's shift in direction to cater to a new fan base. Hino plays Tomoyuki Sototachi, a former troupe member who holds the key to the story. He is a dark character, the complete opposite of a typical hero.
"It was a type of role I'd never experienced before. It was a challenge, especially considering the gap between it and the image of a hero I've played recently."
Voice actor and actor Shintaro Asanuma appears as Terada, the head of the theater troupe, marking their first collaboration since "Kamen Rider Gavv".
"I was so happy when I found out who the cast was. We don't have many scenes together, but I think it'll be something that fans who know me from Kamen Rider will enjoy. Asa-san's acting is amazing because he has so many different facets, and I learned a lot from him again this time. Personally, I think the scene where Asa-san's character, Terada, is smoking a cigarette alone is really cool!"
After seeing the finished product, he felt a sense of accomplishment, thinking he had been able to show a new side of himself, but he also felt a sense of regret.
"I admire Go Ayano, but I realized I'm still a long way from him. It made me confront my current position. But that experience made me want to grow even more, and it also made me want to get revenge on Mr. Tani's project again. I have to become an actor that makes Mr. Tani think, 'My judgment wasn't wrong after all' (laughs)."
◇Even the stage greetings were done with full effort: "I had an ulterior motive: I really wanted to make it interesting."
She entered the entertainment industry at the age of 16 and is currently 23 years old. Her period of struggle before her breakthrough with "Kamen Rider Gavv" was by no means short.
"I've experienced a lot of frustration and injustice. But looking back now, I don't think it was all in vain. I'm sure I'll still experience more frustrating moments in the future, but how I use those experiences to my advantage is up to me. I've decided to stay positive."
Despite the hardships, he has persevered in his acting career. He speaks about his determination to continue in this highly competitive world and his insatiable desire for improvement.
"Of course, I feel anxious because new people keep coming up, but unlike athletes, this is a job where there is no retirement. I think that's both the difficult and the interesting part. But as long as I have the ambition to 'have it all,' I don't think it will ever end. I want to continue to give my all to every job."
His dream is to become a "national actor." "I want to become an actor everyone knows and win an Academy Award. I'm working towards that goal with the determination to not lose to anyone."
During the interview, when I mentioned how impressed I was by his energetic performance at the stage greeting for "Kamen Rider Gavv," he smiled shyly and said, "When there are audience members and so many fascinating people around me, I can't help but want to make it fun, or get some good footage, I have ulterior motives (laughs). Maybe it's because I used to work surrounded by comedians when I was in Nagoya."
Having achieved a breakthrough with Kamen Rider, fueled by burning ambition and an insatiable desire to please, he has transformed his long years of hard work into strength and is poised for even greater success. (MANTAN/Kenichiro Kanemaki)
