The short drama app "BUMP" is currently streaming the BL (Boys Love) work "If Love Falls in This World, It's Love" produced by Nippon Television. The story is a new sensation with the theme of BL x reincarnation, and is co-starred by actor Gaku Oshida, who played Kamen Rider Geiz/Myokoin Geiz in the special effects drama "Kamen Rider Zi-O" (2018-2019), and Ryo Sekoguchi, who played Stacey Caesar/Stacey in the Super Sentai series "Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger" (2021-22). We spoke to the two actors, who are co-starring for the first time, about their impressions of each other and the kissing scenes they tried.
◇ Both of them have backgrounds in special effects, so "there is a sense of trust"
Oshida plays the shy young man Somei Aoi, while Sekoguchi plays the proactive Natsuno Nagi. The two are reincarnated in 1983, 1999, and 2025, and in each era they meet and fall in love, but each time they are united they are struck by lightning and die, repeating the same strange fate over and over again.
--This is your first time acting together. What impressions did you have of each other?
Oshida-san: I knew your name and knew of your existence, and I was always curious about you. I wanted to work with you!
Sekoguchi: I'm glad to hear that! This industry may seem small but it's actually quite large, so even if you want to work with someone, you might not have the chance.
-How was it working together with him?
Sekoguchi: I thought it had a calming atmosphere.
Oshida: I had a cool image of him, but when I acted with him, I found that he was really passionate about acting! It's easier for me to work with people who I can communicate with, so when I asked him, "How about this?" or "Why don't we try to work it out?" he immediately joined me. I was glad that we could ask each other about things we didn't understand.
--You both have experience working on special effects dramas, but did that topic ever come up on set?
Sekoguchi: Yes, there was. We talked about how the co-stars got along well, and things like that.
Oshida: We talked about how I wasn't sleeping in the location bus back then, I was unconscious... (laughs). It's easier to get along with someone from a special effects background, because we have one thing in common. We've had similar painful experiences (laughs).
Sekoguchi: There is definitely a sense of trust because we have had similar experiences.
--You both have built up your careers by appearing in many productions, but do you ever feel that your experience on the special effects set is still useful?
Sekoguchi: Yes, there is. Not only can you learn a lot about action scenes and other things on the special effects set, but you can also see the reactions of viewers, such as "this is how it looks to the viewers" when you appear on screen. Needless to say, it was an invaluable time to be able to experience that through my role for a year.
Oshida-san: I was really impressed with how carefully he taught me.
--Do you feel more grateful now than you did back then?
Sekoguchi: Of course.
Oshida: As everyone (from the special effects industry) often says, it's like a school where you can learn from scratch. I'm really grateful.
◇A convincing kissing scene
--There were many attractive scenes, but the kissing scene between the two of you was particularly memorable. Please tell us about an episode from the filming.
Sekoguchi: I don't have much experience with kissing scenes, and when I watched it on screen, it sometimes felt farther away than I thought it would be, so I learned about that on the spot and discussed it with the director as we created the scene.
Oshida: I've only been in a kissing scene once or twice, but (as an actor) I think the most important thing about kissing scenes is how it looks.
--Did you two discuss the kissing scene?
Sekoguchi: The director and I discussed the order in which we performed, and we agreed that it would be better to start from the neck, and we practiced many times so that we could perform it properly during the actual performance.
Oshida: The director and I tried it many times.
--So it seems like the kiss scene was satisfactory.
Sekoguchi: I think so (laughs)!
――Finally, please tell us again about the features of this work, how it differs from other BL works, and how to enjoy the drama even more.
Sekoguchi: It's a fantastical story. I think the fact that it depicts the extraordinary nature of reincarnation is one of the strengths of this drama and a key point of its attention. The way it's made and the images are drawn will make you want to see more after watching the first episode, so I hope you'll keep watching it.
Oshida-san: I think this is a work that focuses on the beauty of the images. I have the impression that many short dramas depict familiar elements, but this drama is different. Also, if you watch it a second time, I think the world view and story will become even deeper, so please try enjoying it that way too.
Sekoguchi: I really think so. I'd be very happy if someone said, "That film was great!" (Interview, text, and photography: Endo Masaki)
