The drama series "DREAM STAGE" (TBS, Fridays at 10pm) starring actor Tomoya Nakamura will begin airing on January 16th. The series is a "K-POP version of a 'sports drama'" that depicts the passionate bonds between important friends that transcend differences of generation and nationality, and Nakamura plays a former genius music producer. We spoke to Nakamura, who said, "It's such a straightforward drama that you wonder if it's okay to be so straightforward in this day and age."
◇What is your impression of the "NAZE" members? "They're all nice, good-looking guys."
"DREAM STAGE" is the story of Jun Azuma (played by Nakamura), a former genius music producer who was expelled from the industry for causing trouble, and seven dropout trainees from a small Korean entertainment agency who form a boy band called "NAZE" and work together to pursue their dreams.
Nakamura explained his reason for appearing in the film, saying, "I felt that in recent years, there haven't been many classic coming-of-age dramas made that are filled with sweat, effort, and friendship, like the ones I used to watch, so I decided to take part." He also took on the challenge of filming on location in Korea and speaking lines in Korean, but added, "International exchange is truly stimulating. Creating something together on top of that feels like a major encounter that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Working in a foreign language is truly amazing."
NAZE was formed by CJ ENM Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of CJ ENM, Korea's largest entertainment company that has produced numerous K-pop groups, and C9 Entertainment, a Korean entertainment agency, after three years of selecting members from various Asian countries. The group is made up of seven members: Yoongi, Ato, Kim Gun, and Dohyuk, all from Korea; Tarn from Thailand; and Kaisei and Yuya, all from Japan.
Nakamura said of his impression, "They are young people from various countries, but they are all nice, good-looking guys." He considered not talking to the members before filming to create a sense of tension, but recalled, "They were so cute, I couldn't do it."
"There's the reliable Ato, the simple Kim Gun, the mischievous Yoongi, the wild-smelling Taan, the soft-spoken Yuya, Kaisei who's actually watching the whole picture from behind, and the mysterious youngest Do Hyuk. But when they sing and dance, they're all amazing. They're like rough diamonds that are saying, 'Yes, please become my fan.' I'll try my best to match their hard work and not be found out," he said, appearing to be inspired by them.
◇ Is Azuma actually a character that everyone teases? The contrast is charming
Azuma was once a music producer known as a "genius," but an incident led to him being expelled from the industry and abandoning his dreams. How did Nakamura himself deal with times when he felt frustrated?
"I think that being able to face your own weaknesses when you enter society is a very important point. I think that what determines your potential for growth as a person, even before talent or ability, is how you deal with setbacks. In that sense, I was of course blessed with good encounters, but looking back, I feel that the fact that I continued to thoroughly examine myself and society has nourished me to where I am today."
Regarding Azuma's character, he feels that there are some aspects that are difficult to understand but are also easy to understand. "He has the ability to grasp everything, but in reality he is also a character that everyone teases, and I think that this contrast makes him a fascinating person," he said.
Finally, Nakamura said, "Looking back, I think everyone has days of struggle that make them think, 'I could only have done that at that time.'" He continued, "At the time, they didn't realize that their time and physical strength were limited, and they just kept hitting walls and searching. Whatever the outcome, I now realize that those days were very beautiful. This work depicts the beautiful days of their challenge as they aim to become K-pop artists. It also depicts the gritty days of the adults who have experienced setbacks and loss, as they fight to make a comeback. I hope you will join in on the excitement and sympathy of the characters."
