Miyabe Nozomi plays the heroine Amane Sachika in the special effects drama "Kamen Rider Gavv" (TV Asahi, Sunday 9am). She says that the influence of playing the bright and positive gal Sachika over the course of a year has been felt in her personal life. We spoke to Miyabe about the film "Kamen Rider Gavv: Invaders of the House of Snacks" (directed by Sugihara Teruaki), which was released on July 25th, as well as the TV series, which is nearing its end.
◇ Yukika is everyone's sun, boss?
The movie "Kamen Rider Gavv: Invaders of the House of Snacks" tells the story of the main character Shoma (Hidekazu Chinen) who gets lost in a peaceful "other world" that is slightly different from the real world, and embarks on an adventure with Taorin (Souta Nakajima), a young man who has lost his memory.
In the alternate world, characters appear with the same appearance as in the TV series, but their personalities and atmospheres are subtly different. Miyabe also plays "Sachika from another world," but she said she didn't consciously try to differentiate between the two.
"The director told me, 'Sachika is Sachika no matter where she is,' and I thought that was certainly true. I played Sachika thinking of her as a person who can treat everyone equally no matter where she is. The only difference is that she always wears a headband, and her clothes haven't changed either (laughs)."
The TV series, which began airing last September, is currently approaching its climax. The fierce battle continues between the three Kamen Riders, Shoma, Kizuna (Yusuke Hino), and Rakia (Kohei Shoji ), and Bocca Zeludac(voice: Hiroki Yasumoto ), the president of the Granutes who is plotting to take over the human world.
"Before I knew it, a year had already passed and it went by in the blink of an eye. But I still feel like there are plenty of enemies to face (laughs). There are still developments that I can't imagine, so I hope you continue to enjoy the series!"
Yukika, the gal president of the general store "Happy Pare," has a bright and positive personality and has been a source of emotional support for Shoma, Kizuna, and Rakia. She said she played the role with the intention of being "a sunshine for everyone."
"I want to be a place for Umasho (Shoma's nickname), who has had nowhere to go until now, to return to, and I watch over Shoma and Kizuna, believing that it will be okay even when they fight. I basically trust everyone. I've received comments on social media from viewers saying things like, 'He's like a boss,' and 'I can watch it with peace of mind because there's a boss like Yukika,' so I guess I am the heroine, and it makes me happy (laughs)."
◇I was wondering if he would transform...
The story of " Kamen Rider Gavv" has some dark elements. Despite the difficult developments, Yukika's cheerfulness, always looking forward, is a relief for Shoma and the others, as well as the viewers. "She's a positive person at heart, so I think it's wonderful that she can find a ray of hope even in the midst of problems," Yukika says of her charm.
She is a woman with a strong sense of justice, and sometimes even goes to the battlefields where Shoma and the others fight without transforming. "When I was chosen as the heroine, I wondered if I would have to transform, but before I knew it, I was taking part in the battles without transforming (laughs). I think I might not be the strongest," she says with a laugh.
Yukika's cute fashion, which changes every time, is also the focus of attention. Miyabe herself said that she was influenced by it, revealing, "Since playing Yukika, my fashion sense has broadened. I've started wearing so many different types of clothes that I can't even answer when people ask me, 'What kind of clothes do you wear?'" She then smiled and said, "Yukika has changed me."
"Even though she's not wearing any clothes, Yukina goes after Granutes with a saw, and she takes action without thinking that it's impossible. Up until now, whenever I tried something new, I would think deep down, 'I probably won't be able to do it anyway,' but playing Yukina has instilled in me the gal mindset of, 'Let's just try!' Thanks to that, I've been able to take on more challenges, and my own possibilities have expanded."
He also realized once again how much fun it is to play a character who is the complete opposite of himself. He said he wants to continue working hard at acting, and smiled, saying, "I'd like to play a villain like Grotta (played by Chitose Machi). I hope to broaden the scope of my acting and appear in another Toei production someday."
