Leo Matsumoto stars in the TV drama "Taigan no Kaji ~Kore ga, Watashi no Ikiru Michi~" (TBS, Tuesdays at 10pm). He plays Imai Naoki, a modern-day young employee who keeps his work and private life separate and is a colleague of Nagano Reiko (Noriko Eguchi) in the General Affairs Department. We asked Matsumoto about his impression of Eguchi and his role.
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The story is based on the novel "Taigan no Kaji" (Housework on the Other Side) by Akeno Kiko (Kodansha Bunko). It depicts the never-ending task of "housework" through Shiho (Tabe)'s interactions with "people on the other side" who have different positions and ways of thinking than her.
-What impression did you have when you read the script?
As I continued reading the script, I was surprised to discover that the reason for the current trend of child-rearing and the declining birthrate and aging population is that it is not good to prioritize children. Seeing the characters fighting to raise their children in such an environment made me think, "That's cool" and "That's amazing."
On the other hand, I want more people to know about this reality. I'm sure there are people somewhere out there who are feeling the same way right now. I feel a strong desire to convey their feelings to many people through this film.
--Matsumoto-san, you're currently 24 years old. I think many people around you don't have families yet. Many of them may not realize that they are in an environment where it's difficult to speak up when it comes to raising children.
It's true that they may not have noticed. Also, it is said that there are more and more young people who have no desire to get married these days. This may be because they are in an environment where they have many choices, such as being busy with work or having a fulfilling private life. I think that many people of our generation have the impression that raising children is "harsh" rather than "a joyful thing."
-- In this film, there are a full-time housewife, a working mother, and a father who takes parental leave to spend time with his children. Did your perception of them change as the filming progressed?
My mother was a full-time housewife, so I didn't have the feeling that "full-time housewives are an endangered species" that was mentioned in the first episode. That being said, I didn't think it would be difficult to take parental leave. I thought that in that kind of environment, people would probably worry about taking parental leave, and that they might take out their frustrations on others. If there were people around me who had those kinds of worries or frustrations, I would like to actively support them. I hope that the experience of this work will be useful to me in the future.
-Was there anything you kept in mind when playing the role of Imai?
Imai is a character who can say things to Nagano that other people find difficult to say. It was difficult to find the right balance, and at first I seemed a little cheeky, so I consulted with the director. I adjusted my tone to be a cute junior, while keeping in mind the director's request that I "make him respectful" and not speak too harshly. By actually facing Nagano, played by Eguchi, the role of Imai is gradually taking shape in my mind.
--In episode 3, various Imais appear in Reiko's delusions.
There is a bizarre scene that makes you think that Nagano-san thought of Imai like that. I didn't think Imai was a character with a high level of humor, but he sometimes says things that are a little off (laughs). When I glared at Nagano-san from close range and raised my voice, I said, "I'm going to be loud, so it might be noisy," and he replied, "It's fine," so I acted out my character to the best of my ability. Those scenes were fresh, and the contrast with the usual Imai made it fun.
-Please tell us your impression of Eguchi.
Eguchi-san is a very kind person. He is a senior to me, so it is difficult for me to start a conversation with him, but Eguchi-san talks to me in Kansai dialect. He says things like, "It's cold today, isn't it?" and "Can you dance?" It's a trivial thing, but it makes me feel warm inside. Thanks to Eguchi-san, I can relax and concentrate on my role, so I'm very grateful.
--Mr. Matsumoto, you left your parents' home to go to university and started living on your own. What household chores surprised you the most?
What surprised me the most was taking out the trash. Before I started living alone, I just threw the trash in the trash can. But I realized that the trash that can be taken out varies depending on the day of the week, and it has to be separated, and it's a hassle to gather all the trash in the house. I like cleaning and I'm the type to do it all at once, but I really hate taking out the trash (laughs).
--Are you the type of person who can clean or take out the trash once you feel motivated?
I do it when I feel like it. I want to clean because cleaning makes the next day feel good, but I don't want to clean the day before I go to work (laughs). I don't move things around much, so when my clothes start to get messy, I clean them up.
-Finally, please give a message to our viewers.
Watching Shiho, played by Tabe, may give you some hints on how to overcome difficult situations. No matter your position, even if you are worried about relationships, there is surely a solution. This is a work that will encourage those who have started a new life this April. You may find some hints on how to change your own behavior, so please watch it.
