Actor Nanoka Hara plays the lead role in the movie "Mieruko-chan" (directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura, to be released on June 6th). We asked her about the difficulties of filming and how she refreshes herself during her extremely busy days.
◇ "It was difficult to act calmly"
The film is based on the horror comedy manga by Tomoki Izumi, which has sold over 3 million copies in Japan and has also been adapted into a TV anime. Hara will play Miko Yotsuya, a high school girl who suddenly becomes able to see spirits one day.
"I was already familiar with the work, and I auditioned with a strong desire to play the role of Miko," said Hara. She also said that Miko has some similarities to herself.
"When I read the original novel and the script, I thought that she always thinks about what's best for others before she acts. She doesn't show her emotions very often, but I felt that she has a very deep affection for her family and friends. Miko is not the type to step forward and say, 'I'll protect you,' but rather, she's the type who quietly helps her friends to the best of her ability. I think that's a bit similar to me."
Miko's role is to pretend to be calm and continue to ignore the spirits, fearing what might happen if they realized she could see them. "It was difficult to act in a way that didn't show that I was surprised or scared," she recalls.
"Horror films have the image of showing a frightened appearance or a terrified expression, so I had a hard time suppressing that. The director told me to 'contain it even more,' so I had to act in a way that hides my feelings and doesn't want to be found out, but at the same time I'm scared deep inside. I found it very difficult to find that balance while acting."
◇The Coronavirus Generation "Reclaimed Their Youth" at the School Festival in the Movie
During filming, one of the most memorable scenes was when she entered a haunted house with Rinka Kumada and Nae Nano during the school festival scene.
"We wanted to get some fresh reactions, so we did it all in one take without a test run. The three of us had a lot of fun in a real haunted house."
When asked about his memories of his school days, he looked back with regret, saying, "I was part of the 'Corona generation,' so we weren't able to attend school events."
"On the other hand, through ' Mieruko-chan ' I was able to experience the school festival, so it was a really fun shoot and I felt like I was recapturing my youth."
He is currently 21 years old. "I still want to wear uniforms (for roles)! Until I get to the point where I think, 'This is too much,' and someone stops me... (laughs). I want to make memories as an actor that I wasn't able to make as a student," he says with a sparkle in his eyes.
◇ The "annoying type" who gets annoyed when things don't go according to plan
He made his debut in 2009. He says that what he values most in his long career is the spirit of "just give it a try."
"Until now, I would think things through carefully before filming, but that meant I couldn't always adapt to the situation on set. Now, I tend to have a rough idea in my mind before I go to the set, talk with my co-stars and the director, and then solidify it while actually doing it."
The more preparation he makes, the more he wants to follow it exactly, and his earnest nature also spills over into his private life.
"If I decide, 'Today I'm going to do this, and that...', I get annoyed if I don't follow through with it. I guess I'm a lazy type of person. Even when I go on a trip with friends, I want to plan everything down to the train I'm taking. So, even if I've already decided on a restaurant to eat at, if they suddenly suggest a different restaurant, like, 'That looks delicious, so let's go here,' I'm like, 'No!' (laughs)."
Hara-san said that if things don't go according to plan, "I get anxious and can't enjoy myself." She also revealed her playful side, saying, "If I want to go after making plans, it's a pain to make those plans, and in the end I don't get to go out... I always end up doing things that put the cart before the horse."
She plays Meiko, the younger sister of the heroine Nobu (played by Mio Imada ), in the currently airing NHK morning drama " Anpan " (General Asadora , Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. and others). With her extremely busy schedule, she takes walks to refresh herself.
"At night, I sometimes walk around my neighborhood for about 30 minutes while listening to my favorite music. When I walk around without thinking about anything, my mind becomes empty and I feel refreshed."
When on family trips, he also likes active leisure activities like rafting.
"Apparently there's a place in Kochi where you can go whitewater rafting, and I'd like to go this year. I've also got a connection with the area (as it's a filming location for a Asadora), so I'm plotting to see if I can go for work," he said, reflecting on the occasion.
