Actor Shogo Hama , who played the role of Takichi Shoda, also known as "Half-Slightly-Not-Quite-Beautiful," in the NHK serial drama " Bakebake ," which aired its final episode in March, has been attracting attention. On April 17th, his first starring film, "Owakare no Uta" (directed by Keisuke Shibata), was released after four years. We spoke with Hama, who is gaining momentum, about what he learned through filming, his thoughts on the release, and the reaction to his appearance in " Bakebake."
◇What did you learn through filming your first leading role in a movie?
"Farewell Song" is a human drama that explores life, death, and separation, using a pre-death funeral as its theme. Yumehiro (Hamada), who works at an old furniture store, and his girlfriend Haruko (Imaizumi Yui), who works at a funeral home, are approached one day by Yumehiro's grandfather, Shigeru (Rokuhira Naomasa), who has escaped from a nursing home and says he wants to have a pre-death funeral. The three embark on a journey to find the person Shigeru wants to see before he dies, but what was supposed to be a journey to prepare for farewells gradually transforms into a journey to re-examine "the present moment, while still alive."
Filmed several years ago, this film was screened at the "Tanabe-Benkei Film Festival" in 2022, but had not received a theatrical release until now. Thanks to crowdfunding, a theatrical release has finally been realized. Hama expressed his joy at the decision to release the film after four years, saying, "I really wanted people to see my first starring role, which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, in a theater, so I'm incredibly happy that it's finally going to be released."
When asked how he felt when he was cast, he recalled, "At the time, I mainly did guest appearances and supporting roles, and I didn't think of myself as a leading actor, so I was really surprised. It was my first leading role, so it didn't really feel real, and I felt like I was floating in mid-air."
"I had a lot of thoughts running through my head, like, 'How should I act?' and 'How should I be on set?' I was on set almost every day during filming, and for two weeks I was completely immersed in the world of 'Farewell Song.' It was a very intense time, and I learned the joy and wonder of making a film as a team with everyone on set, and the importance of being mindful of the whole picture and not becoming self-centered."
◇There are parts that overlap with the character Yumeta that he plays.
The character he plays, Yumehiro, is a listless young man who worked as a teacher but things didn't go well, so he returned to his hometown and works at a furniture store. Hama reveals, "I thought, 'That's painful...' (laughs). He's aware of his own weaknesses, but he tries to act cool. I think he was quite similar to me at the time I was playing the role."
"I was still an inexperienced actor at the time, so I related to the character's struggles during that period, and in that sense, I think I was able to really get into the role. In a way, the character is laid-back, and the fact that he's not a typical protagonist also suited me."
Regarding his preparation for the role, he said, "Yumehiro's character was supposed to smoke, so I decided to start developing the character from there, and I smoked a cigarette for the first time in my life."
"I practiced smoking for about one or two months before filming, but when I got to the set, it turned out they weren't real cigarettes. They were prop cigarettes, so I felt like all my practice had been pointless (laughs). I was a little disappointed, but I also thought that my mistake was similar to the somewhat uncool Yumehiro."
The film features many captivating locations, including an impressive furniture store and a train station with a local atmosphere. The entire film was shot in Shizuoka Prefecture, and Hama says, "We were able to film in truly miraculous and wonderful locations, and that's one of the highlights."
"I've been to Shizuoka for filming before, but this time I was able to film in a relaxed atmosphere, so it felt great just looking at the town and breathing in the air. The water was cold, and for some reason my skin became clearer when I washed my face with it."
◇What was the reaction to your appearance on "Bakebake"?
In stark contrast to his listless role in "Farewell Song," Hama charmingly portrayed Shoda, a talented yet somewhat "unfortunate" character, in "Bakebake." Reflecting on the filming, he smiled and said, "I was reminded once again how much fun acting is," and expressed his satisfaction, adding, "I was also happy with the great response from those who watched it."
"Until now, I've mostly played villains, so playing a pure character like Shoda was refreshing and fun, and it made me realize, 'I can play these kinds of roles too,' which boosted my confidence. I was also happy to participate in the show's events and see everyone's reactions firsthand. Being involved with ' Bakebake' gave me a lot as an actor, and I truly feel that it has become a valuable asset."
Having grown even further as an actor after appearing in "Bakebake," Hama says that "Owakare no Uta" (Farewell Song) holds a special place in his heart. He says, "It's a different style from ' Bakebake,' and I'm playing a completely different character, so I think it will feel fresh to everyone."
"The visuals are closer to the real thing, with sounds like the wind, rustling leaves, and the texture of the wood in the furniture shop, and you can almost smell the wood... It's a work that captures exactly what I felt with all my senses while I was there. It's meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail, so I definitely want everyone to see it in a theater, and I want them to feel the very breath of the struggling and desperate characters. I think the ending will be interpreted differently by each viewer, so I would love to hear your thoughts and how you felt about it."
