Ryo Ryo Yoshizawa's starring film "National Treasure" becomes a "social phenomenon" - 3 films where his stunning acting shines

The film "National Treasure" (directed by Lee Sang-il), starring actor Ryo Yoshizawa, continues to enjoy success. With box office receipts exceeding ¥14.2 billion (as of September 14), it ranks second in the all-time rankings for Japanese live-action films, behind only "Bayside Shakedown 2: Blockade the Rainbow Bridge!" (released in 2003, ¥17.35 billion), making it a true "social phenomenon." Yoshizawa's performance as Kikuo, a kabuki actor who devotes his life to his art, has garnered praise. Here, we'd like to introduce three films that showcase Yoshizawa's charm as an actor and his overwhelming acting ability.

◇The crazy expressions will give you goosebumps! "River's Edge"

Yoshizawa's beautiful features, often referred to as "national treasure-level good looks," are often the subject of discussion. In "National Treasure," there's a scene in which Kikuo is told by Living National Treasure Onogawa Mankiku (played by Tanaka Min), "A pretty face is a nuisance, but it's going to eat you up." These words seem to express Yoshizawa's struggles as an actor. In an NHK interview on June 20th, Yoshizawa revealed, "I don't mind being called good-looking, but I always wanted people to see my acting." Yoshizawa's performance in "National Treasure" was intense and full of madness, revealing his boundless talent as an actor.

Yoshizawa completely "awakened" as an actor with "National Treasure," but in his previous roles he has played everything from leading roles to supporting roles, and has amazed audiences with his wide range of acting, from serious acting in "National Treasure" to over-the-top comical acting in live-action manga adaptations, and intense action scenes.

One film where you can fully enjoy Yoshizawa's excellent acting skills is "River's Edge" (directed by Yukisada Isao), released in 2018. The film is an ensemble story based on a coming-of-age manga by Okazaki Kyoko that was serialized in the fashion magazine "CUTiE" (Takarajimasha) from 1993 to 1994. Yoshizawa plays Yamada Ichiro, a handsome gay boy who is bullied by his classmates but who somehow possesses a unique, philosophical air.

With his lifeless eyes, Yamada brilliantly expresses his depressed emotions and dark side through just the changes in his facial expressions and posture. In one scene towards the end of the film, the look of madness he displays is enough to send goosebumps through your spine. He delicately plays a role that contrasts sharply with his public image as a "national treasure-level handsome man," demonstrating not just his looks but also his acting skills.

◇ "Kingdom" is a live-action manga adaptation that has earned a reputation for playing two roles.

Yoshizawa has appeared in numerous popular works, and with his handsome looks that seem to have jumped out of a 2D world, he has also earned a reputation for his acting in live-action adaptations of manga and anime. His high level of perfection in roles such as Okita Sougo in the "Gintama" film series (directed by Yuichi Fukuda) and Mikey in the " Tokyo Revengers " series (directed by Tsutomu Hanabusa) has been a hot topic.

Among these, Yoshizawa's acting prowess was most clearly displayed in the "Kingdom" film series, a live-action adaptation of the popular manga by Yasuhisa Hara, starring actor Kento Yamazaki. He brilliantly played two roles: Hyo, the childhood friend and best friend of the war orphan protagonist Shin (Yamazaki), and Ei Sei, the young king of Qin, for whom Hyo serves as a body double. He brilliantly portrayed the two characters, who are identical twins despite their different circumstances, and in the third film in the series, "Kingdom: Flames of Destiny," he also portrayed an episode from when Ei Sei was 9 years old, which drew a lot of attention.

◇ Delicate acting shines! "I Live in Two Worlds"

Among Yoshizawa's recent appearances, his delicate acting shone in the film "I Live in Two Worlds" (directed by Mipo O), which depicts the emotional journey of the protagonist, Igarashi Dai, who grew up with hearing-impaired parents.

Yoshizawa learned sign language from scratch and played the main character from junior high school to working life. He used his outstanding acting skills to portray the emotional changes of a sensitive young man as he ages, and his stunning performance earned him the Best Actor Award at the 34th Japan Film Critics Awards.

Yoshizawa leaves a vivid impression on viewers with his heart-stirring acting. In the Asadora"Bakebake," which starts on September 29th, he will be appearing as Nishikori Yuichi, an English teacher who has a major influence on the lives of the heroine Toki (Akari Takaishi) and her future husband Heaven (Tommy Bastow). What kind of expressions will Yoshizawa show us in "Bakebake" and other future works? We can't wait to see.