Satoshi Tsumabuki plays Nakajo Koichi, the illegitimate son of horse owner Kozo Sanno (Koichi Sato . He spoke about what he keeps in mind when playing a key character who holds the key to the story, as well as his impressions of Tsumabuki and Sato.
◇What do you keep in mind when playing the role of Koichi?
The name of Meguro's character, Koichi, was kept a secret until episode 4 (broadcast on November 2nd), which led to a flurry of speculation on online news and social media about what kind of role he would play and when he would appear, creating a lot of buzz. Meguro laughed and said, "I realized that everyone had thought about it."
"All the other members of the group were speculating, saying things like, 'Maybe it's this role?' or 'Maybe it's this kind of person?' But the staff had told me beforehand to 'run around a lot,' so I took that as a hint and kept saying, 'I'm a horse!' and somehow managed to get through the situation (laughs)."
When asked what he was conscious of when playing the role of Koichi, he gave a wry smile and said, "Well...even though I feel like he's finally come out, there are still many things I can't say..."
"When playing Koichi, I pay attention to even the smallest details of his father, Sanno Kozo, such as the way he sits and his posture. I carefully watch how Koichi plays Kozo, and although I don't watch everything, I pick out the points that make it clear that they are father and son, and try to incorporate them into my own acting."
He continued, "While the role has been kept secret, there are some aspects of Koichi that are close to the image people have of the character, but there are also some aspects that are a little different, which I'm conscious of when I'm acting. I want to create a character that isn't too lumped together, so I'm working together with (director) Tsukahara, discussing various things."
◇ Narration focus: "Assembling the story in my own mind"
Meguro has also been in charge of narration since the first episode. He only provided voice acting until the third episode, but in the fourth episode, part of his true identity was finally revealed. Regarding the difficulties of playing a role that appears midway through the story, he said, "Everyone had already started filming, and the team had already taken shape, so I don't have much experience of joining midway through, so I did feel a bit nervous about that. But the cast and staff were all really kind."
"Even though Tsumabuki and Koichi are talking right up until the very last minute, they quickly switch back to their roles and act, but Koichi kindly said to me, 'We can switch back quickly during the show, but if that makes it difficult for you, or if you ever feel like 'these people are constantly talking,' then please just let me know.' I was like, 'That's not the case at all!' but I really felt that the leaders Tsumabuki and Koichi were at the center of creating an environment where it was easy for me to fit in, even though I joined partway through."
When doing the narration, Meguro says, "I think about the meaning of my narration."
"Of course, it's important to explain the world of horse racing in an easy-to-understand way, but I'm also conscious that it's not just that, that it's not just about making things easy to understand. I'm not just providing a voice, I'm building a story in my mind that has other meanings that will be revealed later on."
Meguro's narration seems to have been well-received by those around him. He says that Snow Man members Tatsuya Fukazawa and Ryohei Abe are also watching the drama, and recalls, "They contacted me immediately after the first episode aired and said, 'I didn't know what role I was playing, but your narrator voice was really good.'"
"Also, when Tsukamoto-san praised me on set, or when the original author Hayami-san said things like, 'The flow of that part was good,' I felt really happy."
◇What is the appeal of the work and what are the highlights of episode 5?
One of the themes in this work is "inheritance." Has Meguro ever had anyone he looked up to as a role model or role model, such as "I want to learn this person's skills?"
"I think I am feeling that very strongly right now on set. This work is also a story of human inheritance, and as I watch Tsukamoto and Koichi's acting on set and work together with them, I am picking up as many things as I can, making them my own, and working with the feeling that I am 'passing on the legacy'."
This is his first time acting alongside lead actor Satoshi Tsumabuki. When asked about his impression of acting alongside him on set, he said, "Tsumabuki-san is someone who exudes kindness, and even after meeting him in person, I thought, 'He's so kind' (laughs)."
"He still contacts me frequently, even before I started filming, and in between takes he would say, 'Oh, stand there for a moment, I'm going to take a photo!' and take photos of me with the same enthusiasm as a secretary to Kurisu, played by Tsukamoto-san (laughs). He's like a father to me, or an older brother, and he's such a kind and loving person, so I want to give a good performance that will make him think, 'I'm glad I was in Meguro,' and give back even a little of the love he's given me."
Regarding the appeal of the work, Meguro said, "I think it has a lot of appeal, but there are some scenes in the race that will make you feel a little excited, like you're leaning forward and cheering, and even if you didn't mean to, you might find yourself shedding a few tears as you watch."
The fifth episode, which will be broadcast on Getsuku, will reportedly shed more light on the character of Koichi, who is "an important figure who holds the key to the story."
"Following the revelation in episode 4 that Kozo has a secret child, episode 5 delves deeper into Kozo's past and the background to his life. The story of 'The Royal Family' is becoming a little more chaotic, in a good way. I think the plot is developing in a way that will make you want to see the next episode as soon as possible."
