The TV anime " You and I Are Polar Opposites, " based on the manga by Kocha Agasawa that was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine app "Shonen Jump+," will be broadcast every Sunday at 5pm on MBS and TBS from January 11th. The youthful love comedy revolves around Suzuki, a lively girl who reads the atmosphere, and Tani, a quiet boy who can speak his mind. These two polar opposites respect each other and slowly deepen their understanding. This is a popular work that has been selected for numerous manga awards. We spoke to Sayumi Suzushiro, who plays Suzuki, and Sakata Shogo, who plays Tani, about what went on behind the scenes during the recording.
◇Mixing with Suzuki
-What was your impression when you read the original work?
The illustrations drawn by the author, such as Suzuyo's cover, really struck a chord with me, so I had read a bit of the original work before the audition. I felt that the story unfolded a little differently from the romantic comedies I'd read up until then, and while it would be a spoiler to give away the details, I was immediately captivated by the first episode, realizing it was starting from an incredible place. As I read, I realized that the charm of the story lies in the careful portrayal of each character's emotions, including those of Tani, Suzuki, and the other characters. All of the vague, unsettling feelings are explained, making them easy to understand and resonate with me. I enjoyed the story, thinking how incredibly detailed the psychological descriptions were. When I saw the ending, I cried out loud. There are still many characters I want to read more about, but it's a truly wonderful ending. I was so happy when I found out I'd be involved.
Sakata-san, have you been reading it since it was a one-shot?
I came across it when it was being talked about on Suzuyo-san X and other sites, and read a little bit from there. Maybe it's because of my job, but thinking about the time I had to audition, I was in a dilemma where I couldn't read manga as casually as I used to, but I still wanted to read it... (laughs). When I was given the opportunity to audition, I read it thoroughly and it really captured my heart.
Sakata: I've been reading the series since the first chapter was published on Jump+, and I've also been buying the comics. When I heard about the role, I was surprised, thinking, "It's going to be made into an anime?" and "What!?", but I went to the audition with a pounding heart. As a result, I was fortunate enough to be given the role of Tani-kun. As someone who has been a fan since the original work, I was very happy. As Suzuyo-san said, my impression of the original work is that it focuses on human relationships and subtle emotions, but I also like how it has a lot of playfulness as a comic. What I like is when the super ball goes out of the frame and then returns to the character's hand, and I enjoy reading about the sensei's playful little touches. The characters are also appealing, and somehow they seem like they could actually exist.
-What is your impression of Suzuki?
Suzuyo: Ever since I read the original manga, I've felt a similarity in my feelings to Suzuki. I'm not as energetic as Suzuki, but I'm similar in the way I feel, like I have a high level of enthusiasm and how I actually think. It felt like my own feelings were being explained to me through Suzuki, and it made me feel a little embarrassed (laughs). I thought, "I get it!" and felt a sense of sympathy. I don't have the same boldness as Suzuki that allows me to go all out when I need to, so I thought of Suzuki as a powerful girl! You portray the feelings of various characters so accurately, so I'm curious about your MBTI. I wonder if there's actually a character that's similar to me (laughs). Suzuki and Tani are the main characters, but because he's the main character, it's especially easy to dig deep into Suzuki. There's a lot of room for imagination, and there are elements that leave room for imagination, so it was fun to follow the character of Suzuki.
-How did you try to play Suzuki while feeling sympathy for him?
During the audition for Suzuyo , I heard that they were looking for a realistic acting feel... so in a good way, I tried to act naturally without being too conscious of the fact that it was an "anime". When I read manga, I somehow hear voices, so I thought it would be okay to act with the feeling that Suzuki is me! Rather than trying to fit in with the character, I tried to blend in with the role.
--What about Tani?
Sakata: Tani is simple and cool, and Suzuki says he's "a character who can speak his mind," but as I read the story, I get the feeling that he's not exactly cool. When I thought about what kind of life Tani has led, I wondered if he's not influenced by others, isn't very interested in others, isn't very interested in himself, and has just chosen to do what he thinks is right. I'm sure there are things he's interested in, but other than that, he may be a completely blank character. This is just my own subjective opinion, but when I was playing the character, I thought it was important for him to learn various things little by little as he meets Suzuki and interacts with various characters.
--Will the valley change little by little?
Sakata-san's actions and lines express his changes, so if I played him too strongly, he might have seemed a bit frivolous, so I tried to act with the intention of making as many changes as possible within the framework of Tani-kun. It's difficult to get the balance right. I did it many times.
◇Receive the ball with a fresh feeling
-What did you feel while interacting with him?
I have worked with Suzuyo and Sakata on another project, so when I heard that Sakata would be playing Tani, I was relieved, thinking, "Ah, it's Tani!" Dialogue is important in this production, and there were times when I felt like I was slipping into the role naturally. Suzuki is more of the throwing side of the game of catch, and is at the mercy of Tani, who is simple-minded and doesn't take any initiative, so I approached the role with the feeling that I don't mind hitting him against a wall, but that I just like him. At first, Suzuki seems particularly trouble-free, but in fact I think he is a very thoughtful, thoughtful person who thinks about what others think, so even though he seems pushy, he never does anything that the other person finds unpleasant. He pushes forward without being unpleasant, but while also thinking about his powerful side... The rest is just a matter of vibe!
Sakata-san's vibe?!
Suzuyo-san tried to go with the atmosphere of the moment (laughs). Sakata-san's Tani-kun is so Tani-kun, so I added some ad-libs, trusting that he would probably respond. That was something that was allowed on set. It was really fun.
Sakata and Suzuyo have an incredible ability to communicate, and their words flowed smoothly. At first, Tani played catch, returning the balls that Suzuki threw to him without overthinking it. As the innings went on, Tani didn't throw them back as quickly as he did at the beginning, but instead began to think it over a bit before returning them. I hate to say it myself, but I felt like our game of catch was going well. That's because Suzuyo throws the ball in a place where it's easy to catch. They communicated what they wanted to say clearly, and as Tani, there were many things I was learning for the first time, so I received it with a fresh feeling and acted with the awareness that I should do my best to return it as Tani. There are also parts where Tani drops the ball that Suzuki throws to him.
-What was the recording like?
When the cast was announced, Wataru KatoWataru, who plays Suzuyo Taira, commented that he "commutes to school in the recording studio," and it really did have a school-like atmosphere, and we took our time to record with careful direction. There were a lot of noises in the school scenes, and everyone was chatting away, and the cast members were all friendly with each other, so it felt like going to school every week, and it was a lot of fun. Sound director Kimura Eriko also really did seem like a teacher. Someone actually called her "teacher," right?
Sakata-san, I'm the only one who says it (laughs). When I say "teacher" over the microphone, Agazawa-sensei, who is in the booth, and we're like, "Which one are you?!" (laughs)
Suzuyo-san and Agazawa-sensei also often participate (laughs). The teacher told me to "please tell everyone that I'm having fun watching it with a smile on my face." I'm so happy! There are many cast members with similar careers and generations, so we all had fun recording together. It was a warm and welcoming set.
Mr. Sakata: It's a friendly and fun working environment.
◇Sakata Shogo is surprisingly cheerful!
-What is the opposite of the character you play?
I don't think many of you know this about Sakata-san , but he's surprisingly cheerful (laughs). He often plays quiet roles, but sometimes he gets excited.
When Suzuyo-san was leaving the studio for a break, I saw her humming! What!? I thought, but it was Sakata-san. So hilarious.
It just so happened that it was the right timing for Sakata-san , but he doesn't sing it that often. There are a few bright parts in it, too.
That must make you happy , Suzuyo-san . It means that you thought the set was fun. I want you to sing more (laughs). There were times when you laughed in a high-pitched voice that I'd never heard before.
Sakata: That was when I was making noises as a joke. I wasn't always joking around.
I had the impression that Suzuyo was a cool person, but I was happy that she started talking to me.
Sakata probably muttered it, so that night he thought maybe he was annoying.
Suzuyo-san isn't annoying! (laughs)
Sakata-san (Suzuyo-san and Suzuki-san) are similar in that they are both good at communicating. When I see them having such fun talking, I think they're just like Suzuki and I think that's wonderful.
Suzuyo-san, Suzuki has a sensitive side to him. I'm also a fairly sensitive type (laughs). When I'm feeling down, I get really down and dark, so I might not be as good at switching off as Suzuki.
--The anime will be broadcast in January. Finally, please tell us your aspirations for this year.
This is something I thought about while reading Suzuyo's "You and I Are Polar Opposites." I'm not good at explaining what I feel intuitively, so I want to make this year more clear about my feelings and thoughts. There must be a reason for the vagueness in my feelings, and in order to grow, I need to be able to truly understand my emotions.
I thought about it, but not many came to mind. I just want to be a person who is naturally considerate.
I think Suzuyo is a considerate person.
Sakata-san is so considerate. Seeing a senior who can be so considerate so naturally makes me want to follow in the footsteps of such a wonderful senior.
Anima Mitsuru/MANTANWEB
