All Hanshin-Kyojin:Debuted as an actor on the 50th anniversary of the group's formation. Co-starred with Ryohei Suzuki and Kasumi Arimura in the movie "Hanamanma." "It was like a reward." (Full comment)

It was revealed on January 10th that the comedy duo "All Hanshin-Kyojin" will appear in the movie "Hanamanma" (directed by Maeda Tetsu, to be released on April 25th), in which actors Suzuki Ryohei and Arimura Kasumi co-star as the main characters' siblings. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the pair's formation, and this will be their first time appearing in a movie together, marking their full-fledged acting debut.

All Hanshin-Kyojin is a traditional manzai duo that leads the Kamigata manzai world. They have won the Kamigata Manzai Grand Prize, the oldest award in the manzai world, a record four times, and were awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal in 2019.

Regarding his appearance, All Hanshin said with delight, "It was a truly memorable and rewarding experience. I can be proud of the fact that I co-starred with Suzuki-san and Arimura-san!" All Kyojin also said, "I'm very grateful to be able to say that I was also an actor in this production. I've always thought that being an actor is great, and I'm glad that I was able to have this experience in this milestone year."

The film is based on the short story collection of the same name (Bunshun Bunko) by Akegawa Minato, which won the 133rd Naoki Prize (2005). Set in the downtown area of ​​Osaka, the story revolves around the passionate brother Kato Toshiki (Suzuki), who lost his parents at an early age and lives as a parent figure for his younger sister, and his younger sister Fumiko (Arimura). When the sister decides to get married, the brother should finally be able to take a load off his shoulders, but a "secret" about Fumiko that the two of them sealed away a long time ago is suddenly resurrected... and so the story unfolds.

All Hanshin will play Sadao Miyoshi, the father of Miyoshi Komako (First Summer Uika), a childhood friend of the siblings, and the owner of the okonomiyaki restaurant "Miyoshi". All Kyojin will play Yamada, the president of Yamada Manufacturing, where Toshiki (Suzuki) works. He is like a parent to the siblings, who lost their parents at an early age, and plays an important role in watching over them with kindness.

The film also stars Suzuka Oji, Yoshi Sakou, Rokkaku Seiji, and Kimura Midoriko.

◇Full comment from All Hanshin and Giants

--What did you feel after watching the movie "Hanamanma"?

All Hanshin: I was so busy memorizing my lines on set that I only skimmed through the script, so it was a fresh experience for me to see that it was a movie like this. When it started, it seemed like it might be a scary movie, but it wasn't. It was a movie that really brought happiness, and I felt like it was a movie that you couldn't let your guard down until the very end in order to see it through.

All Kyojin-san: Of course I was curious about Hanshin-kun and my acting, but that's for you to enjoy (laughs). For some reason, I was crying the whole time from the middle to the latter half of the movie, and the tears just kept coming out. Those tears were all kinds of tears, happy, sad, lonely... I even remembered when my daughter got married, and it was a strange feeling. I'm honored to be a part of such a wonderful work, but I'm really grateful.

--You appeared in the film "Hana Manma" as an actor in the memorial year marking the 50th anniversary of your duo's formation. What kind of film was it for you personally?

All Hanshin: It was a truly memorable experience, like a reward. I'm most worried about whether I was bothering everyone. I was allowed to appear because it was the 50th anniversary, and the director was also considerate and gave me the feeling that I should just do as I pleased, so it was a great environment for someone who gets nervous (laughs). It's a work that I can be proud of, co-starring with Suzuki-san and Arimura-san!

All Kyojin: It's the 50th anniversary of the duo's formation, so I think I'll have to say "50 years, 50 years" in various places, but there wasn't much left to say. I was only told "We've been doing this for 50 years," but I'm very grateful to be able to say that I was also an actor in this work. It's a movie, after all. I said it at the end of filming, but I've always thought that being an actor is really great, and I'm glad that I was able to have this experience in this milestone year.

-What did you think of director Maeda Tetsu's direction on set?

All Hanshin: I don't know much about movie directors, so I had no idea who the strictest directors were, or who focused on the visuals and spent a lot of time on it. The only one who knew was the director from Osaka. I was grateful for that. But I can't help but worry that the director might have said a little more than usual, but didn't compromise and say, "That's enough," even in the parts that he thought were good.

All Kyojin-san: When the director decided to use us, he had to be prepared to use us. There's no way we'd be good, it's comedy after all (laughs). But I really thought that the way it was made was important. I had him create a scene with lines that weren't in the script, involving Toshiki-san and President Yamada. I remember thinking it was difficult when the director told me to make a face that said, "Toshiki, you're doing a great job as always." When I saw the finished scene, I felt that it was because of that that the trust between Toshiki-san and the president was visible. I don't know if I was able to express it properly (laughs).

--Please give a message to the audience who are looking forward to the release of the movie.

All Hanshin: I think it's a very easy-to-watch movie, in a good way. You can get into the story easily and it's not difficult. I think it's a wonderful movie that you can watch at your own pace.

All Kyojin-san: I found it a little difficult. I wondered if people would understand it. So, I want everyone to concentrate at first and organize the story in their minds. Along the way, you will feel happy, sad, frustrated, and many other emotions. It's a movie that will bring out all those emotions. I only shed one tear, but I really shed many different tears. I'm sure you will shed many different tears too.

◇Comment from Director Tetsu Maeda

From the early stages of developing the script with the producer, I felt that the two All Hanshin-Kyojin actors were the perfect fit for the roles of the father of the okonomiyaki restaurant "Miyoshi" and the president of Yamada Manufacturing. I thought that having the two, who are usually a duo, perform in different locations in the film would add a unique flavor to the work. The experience they have cultivated as stand-up comedians, and the presence they have built up over their lives, gave depth to the characters and brightly colored the film "Hanamanma."