Koseki Yuta stars in "Kimi to Shitashi Kiss wa Forever" (Kimi Kiss), currently airing on ABC TV's "Drama L" slot. The drama is an original story set in a lakeside hotel that has been fully renovated from a closed elementary school, and is a collection of fleeting yet precious and beautiful short stories that weave together various forms of love with loved ones. Koseki, who played the main role in episode 9, spoke about the appeal of the drama he felt and what "made him think a lot" through his role.
◇I found it useful by talking to various people
In addition to Koseki, "Kimi Kiss" also stars members of "Team Handsome!", a group of actors affiliated with Amuse, including Kanata Hosoda , Kenta Izuka Junsei Motojima , Inozuka Kenta, Aoyagi Ruito, Ota Masahiro, Mizoguchi Takuya, Fukuzaki Nayuta, and Matsuoka Kodai. Each of them plays a main role in a story, making it a so-called omnibus-style production.
What impression did Koseki himself have of the drama?
"The title has the word 'kiss' in it, but I thought each story depicted different forms of affection and love. The stories are all set in the same place (a lakeside hotel), so there is a connection between them, but they have completely different flavors. Episodes 7 to 10, in which I appear, have a lot of romantic elements, but there are also stories that make you feel a sense of loss, and some that are more comedic, so in that sense I feel it's a work that is rich in variety and has a wide range."
The charm of "Kimi Kiss" lies in the unique "pauses" that convey a somewhat leisurely flow of time, a certain tranquility, and the inner workings of the characters' minds.
"There are parts that reflect the style of the director I worked with this time, and I think that even as actors, we just felt it in our bones and it turned out that way without being told anything specific."
This time, Koseki plays Kamiya Yoji, one of the five childhood friends. He has been writing songs since his school days and is now attracting attention as a popular artist. The location he chose to shoot the music video for his new song was an elementary school that had been converted into a hotel. There he will be reunited with his childhood friends, and there seems to be another important reason for his visit...
Koseki said that he initially found it difficult to understand the character.
"I wondered what kind of person Yoji was, and I brought that with me to the set, but to be honest, there were many parts I couldn't understand. But by listening to the stories of various people on set, including my co-star Shimizu Kurumi, and by gaining various perspectives, I was finally able to interpret it. It all made sense to me, and I think I was able to express all the vague thoughts that had been floating around in the air together. It was a role that I struggled with quite a bit, or rather, thought about a lot. I think it was the type of role that I was able to arrive at by talking to various people, something that would be difficult to capture on my own."
◇The “gap” that Yoji felt between himself and those around him was…
Yohji chose an elementary school that had been converted into a hotel as the location for the music video for his new song. Koseki thinks that at a time when things were starting to get hectic for him as an artist, "he probably wanted to go back to basics."
"I think the gap he felt between himself and those around him is one of the themes of episode 9. He himself has troubles and wants answers by going back to his roots, but he wonders what the gap is between him and those around him thinking he's changed even though he hasn't. I've experienced this myself in the past, so this role really made me think about it."
As a former child actor, she has had to balance school and work from a young age, and because "the content of conversations, what was expected of her, and the influence she received were different" in each situation, she was probably unable to avoid the "gap" between herself and those around her.
There are two episodes left in the drama. One of the highlights of episodes 9 and 10 will be the relationship between Yoji and his childhood friend Sai (played by Matsuoka), whom Yoji asked to appear in his music video. Sai moved to Tokyo to become an actor, but was unable to achieve success. When he reunites with Yoji, who has made his dream come true, the relationship is awkward and strained...
"I feel that the common theme for each character in the second half of the drama is 'where they are now.' For me personally, regardless of age, there have been many turning points that have forced me to think about where I am, my past, and my future, and I believe there will continue to be more in the future. I think that both Yoji and Sai, in their own struggles, came to the hotel to confirm where they are now, so I would be happy if viewers can find out what they gained there, or if it serves as an opportunity for them to find their own 'where they are now.'"
"Kimi to Shitashi Kiss wa Forever" airs on ABC TV every Sunday at 12:10 AM and on TV Asahi every Saturday at 2:30 AM. Episodes 1 to 3 and the latest episode are available for catch-up streaming on TVer and ABEMA. All episodes are available on FOD and Prime Video.
