Aoki Yuzu stars in the TBS Tuesday drama "Jaa, Anta ga Tsukutte Miro yo It" (Tuesdays at 10pm), co-starring actors Kaho and Takeuchi Yuzu Aoki. In the second episode, Yuzu Aoki plays Minato, a liquor store clerk who aggressively pursues Ayumi (Kaho), drawing attention on social media with comments such as "Minato is a swamp man," "Aoki Yuzu Aoki approach is also good," and "I hope Minato isn't a loser." We asked Aoki about the similarities between him and his character and his impressions of his co-stars.
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The story is based on the manga of the same name by Natsuko Taniguchi, which is currently being serialized in the digital comic magazine Comic Tanto (Bunkasha). Yamagishi Ayumi, who always puts her lover first, and Ebihara Katsuo (Takeuchi), a patriarchal man who believes that "it's only natural for a woman to cook," have been dating since their university days. After living together, Katsuo proposed marriage, but Ayumi's response was an unexpected "no way." Through cooking, Katsuo reexamines the things he took for granted and grows as a person.
-What impression did you get when you read the script?
The story progresses at a very light pace, and although each character is lacking something, they all have a charm that makes them hard to dislike, and I can't wait to see everyone perform on screen.
--Please tell us about Minato's character and how you prepared for the role.
Minato works at a liquor store and is a young man who is close to people. He has a charming side to him, as he can easily call people by their first names, and although he's not completely thoughtless, I think he's a person who goes at his own pace. In order to bring out the charm that Minato possesses, I'm focusing on his personality of treating everyone equally and the sense of déjà vu that makes you think, "I know people like this."
--When it came to preparing for your role, were there any requests from the director or producer, or were there any suggestions you made yourself?
There were a lot of difficult orders for me, like looking cool, refreshing, and smiling (laughs). I worked together with everyone to create the hairstyle and costume that best suited me, while also coming up with ideas for what Minato would look like.
When the cut is called, I honestly feel happy when people say, "That was cool" (laughs). Everyone says that to me. If anything, I feel like I can't play Minato on my own potential alone, so I'm doing my best with everyone's help.
--Are there any similarities or things you can empathize with?
I can't say I can relate to everything about Minato, but we do share the same laid-back attitude. I don't have a wide circle of friends, but I do like meeting and talking with people. But sometimes I feel like going home at my own pace.
Of course, I make sure to let the other person know so as not to be rude, but I also tend to make an effort to leave early and honestly decline invitations by saying things like "I'm not in the mood today," so I think I'm someone who goes at my own pace.
-What was the atmosphere like on set?
The atmosphere is really good. I've acted in dramas before, but there were a lot of rules and it sometimes felt difficult. With this production, the director and producers are giving me a lot of freedom, and I'm able to create Minato on set while respecting the original work and consulting with everyone flexibly to make the character more appealing, so it's really rewarding.
--There are many scenes with Ayumi, so please tell us your impression of Kaho.
Kaho-san has always helped me out. This is our second time acting together, but it's the first time we've played a role together for such a long period of time. She even notices the incongruities in my role, and if she feels that I'm having difficulty, she suggests, "Why don't you try this?" and creates an atmosphere where it's easy to talk, so I'm also able to proactively make adjustments, saying, "Maybe it would be better to do this here." I think I'm able to play Minato thanks to Kaho-san.
-Please tell us your impression of Mr. Takeuchi.
I love him. Just having him there brightens up the set. He's so different from me that it's fun just watching him, and his acting is amazing too, so I respect him for expressing emotions in a way that I definitely can't. We talk a lot in between filming.
--When your appearance information was announced, you commented, "I want to root for all the characters because I understand the feeling of becoming insensitive to change or feeling stuck," but which character did you particularly want to root for?
You can't help but root for Katsuo and Minato. Katsuo's rigid way of thinking gradually loosens, and the way he clumsily moves forward is incredibly endearing, and the way Takeuchi expresses this makes him even more appealing.
It's hard to understand Minato (laughs), but he has his own things that he values, and although he is immature, I think that makes him human, including those aspects, so I'm rooting for him.
-Have you been surprised recently to learn that it's not something you take for granted?
I realized once again that I shouldn't go to a nice store in "sloppy clothes" (laughs). Lately, I've been preferring to wear loose clothes like pajamas. Because they're comfortable, I wear them when I meet friends or go to a nearby store.
The other day, I happened to go out without telling anyone where I was going, and ended up lost in a dark space with luxurious-looking interior, and I realized that this was definitely not for me (laughs).
No one said anything in particular, but I felt the staff stare at me, so I realized that as an adult I need to be mindful of the time, place and occasion. I usually only go to casual stores, so it was quite a trap (laughs).
-Is there anything you noticed while working on this film?
It's difficult to understand what the other person is thinking. Even if you think you understand each other, the other person may feel something is off. I was reminded that these misunderstandings and bumps are quite common in human relationships, and that it's because of these bumps that great relationships and moments are born when things click together. I think this film beautifully depicts those kinds of encounters and coincidences.
-Finally, please tell us what the highlights of episode 3 are and give a message to the viewers.
Please look at Minato with kind eyes (laughs). I mean no harm. I want you to watch over Minato in the long term, and as the many characters gradually change and reassess their values and ways of thinking, various depths are developed, so I hope you'll look forward to it.
