We interviewed Kentaro Maeda, Aoto Watanabe, and Atsuhiro Inukai, who appear in the TV Asahi drama series "PJ ~Air Rescue Team~" (Thursdays 9pm). The three actors, who share a common thread of being from Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, and "Sunday Morning" shows, talked to us about the six months they spent training for their roles, and the behind-the-scenes story of the grueling training scenes, which they undertook 90% of without stunt doubles.
The drama is an original work that depicts trainees aiming to become pararescue jumpers (PJs) of the Air Self-Defense Force's Air Rescue Wing, an elite rescue unit known as the "last line of defense for saving lives," as they go through rigorous training under the strict and unconventional chief instructor Usami (Seiyo Uchino). The three actors play trainees Tomoki Shirakawa (Maeda), Tatsuya Hasebe (Watanabe), and Yuuki Tokairin (Inukai), respectively.
--Will this be the first time all three of you have acted together?
Inukai: Yes. I've had the opportunity to talk briefly with Maeda on a variety show, but this is the first time we've acted together.
Watanabe: This is the first time for both of us to work together, but Kentaro and I have a mutual acquaintance and we once went out to eat Japanese food (laughs).
Maeda: It was delicious (laughs).
--All three of you are from "Nichiasa" so would you like to talk about that?
Maeda: (The three of us) talk about memories of Sentai and Kamen Rider.
Inukai: Since we're both with TV Asahi, the atmosphere on set is somewhat similar, and the staff who helped us out with Kamen Rider sometimes drop by to take a peek.
--I heard that for the role you're playing, you aim to become a rescuer for the Air Self-Defense Force's Air Rescue Wing, so you spent six months building up your physique through weight training and other activities.
Maeda: Before filming began, we did strength training, as well as pool practice, which is necessary for lifeguards, and rappelling training together, so from the very start we felt a sense of unity as a team.
Inukai: We both respect each other for sharing tough times, so I think a relationship of trust was already formed even before filming began.
--I was surprised at how Watanabe's body has changed.
Watanabe: I've always been quite thin, but when I saw a video of a rescue worker, I thought, "This is no good!" (laughs) So I gained 12 kilos. I was constantly eating and doing muscle training every day.
--Have you gained weight, Inukai and Maeda?
Inukai: On the contrary, I lost weight (laughs). It's a gradual process of weight loss through hard training, so I'm trying not to lose it.
Maeda: So you're saying I slimmed down (laughs). I had to gain weight for a project last year, so I gained about 10kg from my original weight, but after filming started I lost 3kg.... When you're filming in the pool, you use up energy, so no matter how much you eat, you end up losing weight.
Watanabe: When you shoot outside, you end up sweating...
--Which shoot was the most difficult?
Watanabe: The Self-Defense Forces have a training called physical fitness exercises, but the most difficult and scary part was when I was pushed to my limits by an actual Self-Defense Force instructor, and the most frightening scene was when we had to hold our breath and work underwater.
Maeda: At first, my limit was five meters (in the pool), but as I trained, I gradually got used to it.
Watanabe-san: I was surprised when I was told to take off my goggles and dive five meters.
Maeda: I was surprised at how good goggles were underwater (laughs). Inukai, you couldn't swim originally, right?
Inukai: That's right. So I've been taking personal swimming training since last year. But when we started filming, there are no scenes where I have to swim (for now), so I just learned to swim (laughs). Even when I was doing Kamen Rider, I got a medium-sized license but never drove a motorcycle, so I was reminded of the times when I was doing Kamen Rider (laughs). But being able to swim is a big deal.
--Please tell us what we can look forward to in the future.
Maeda-san: (I play) Shirakawa, who was in the spotlight in episode 3, but I'd like you to see how he has grown mentally. He's been a bit of a stretch as a character up until now, so I think I'll be able to show him becoming stronger.
Watanabe: While the training continues in a rigorous manner, there are also scenes of them relaxing in the dormitory, and I would like people to pay attention to these scenes where they take a break and try to overcome the difficulties together.
Inukai: In normal years, only 60 to 70 percent of the participants become rescue workers, so will they all be able to leave the nest, or will some drop out? Be sure to watch!
