Hiroshi Iwase stars in the drama series "DREAM STAGE" (TBS, Fridays at 10 PM) starring Tomoya Nakamura. He plays Ryo, the center of the boy band "TORINNER," and has been drawing attention with comments like "Iwase Hiroshi is so cool" and "TORINNER's aura is amazing." We spoke to Iwase about his role and the inside story behind TORINNER's Korean debut song, "Top Tier."
◇My impression of Ryo is that he is a very kind person
"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.
--Please tell us your thoughts on playing Ryo. How do you perceive the character?
When I first read the script, I felt that Ryo was a very kind person. As a TORINNER, he feels a sense of rivalry with NAZE, but at the same time, he also has a certain affection for him.
There's a scene where Yeonwoo (played by HOJIN) makes a disparaging remark about NAZE, and Ryo and Yeonwoo clash. I think Ryo is able to face Yeonwoo in a relatively calm position. Because they originally spent time together as trainees, he has a side to him that seems to protect NAZE, even though he's a member of TORINNER. I think that's where Ryo's kindness and affection are shown.
-Is there anything you would like to show as Ryo?
I hope to not only portray a prince-like image, but also become someone who can stimulate the maternal instincts of fans. This drama will not only show me shining as the center of a highly-anticipated team, but also depict the behind-the-scenes aspects of working in the entertainment industry.
Even though he has conflicts, he still works with the desire to deliver a good performance to his fans, to make them enjoy themselves, and to make them happy. I think it would be great if Ryo could convey the fragility, slight regret, and sadness that are part of that.
-What do you agree with?
Although his character isn't portrayed as being particularly bold, I can empathize with the pressure that Ryo feels. He's the center of TORINNER, and is what they call "a group that's going to be the center of attention in the future." I think there's a lot of pressure that comes with being at the top of the group.
I feel that kind of pressure a lot in my job, so I can really relate to that. I don't know about the feelings that come with brotherly relationships or the profession of being an idol, but because we both work in front of people, I could really relate to the unique pressure that comes with having high expectations of others.
--In episode 3, there is a scene with Yuya from NAZE, who plays your younger brother. How did you approach that?
I wanted to cherish the sense of distance between us as brothers, so I tried to create an environment where I could talk to Yuya as much as possible. I'm an only child, so to be honest, I don't understand what it feels like to have siblings... But I hope to show that in the play, I'm doing my best to be a reliable older brother.
-What was the atmosphere like on set?
Everyone is so kind, and I'm having a lot of fun filming. NAZE is so innocent and cute, and I've even gone out to eat with the TORINNER members, so we've become closer little by little.
-What is your impression of Nakamura?
He is truly a very kind person. He teaches me about acting and how to use my voice on set, so I learn a lot from him every day. In episode 3, there is a scene where Ryo visits NAZE's lesson room in Japan, and I saw him giving advice to the NAZE members about how to phrase their lines, saying things like, "It would be better if you did it this way," and "There's another way to say it like this." I felt his dignity as a senior, and he looked really cool.
◇Music has been a part of my life since I was a child. "I still listen to music every day."
－－The music video for TORINNER's Korean debut song "Top Tier," which appears in the drama, was released last December. Have you received any feedback?
People often say, "It's cool." Also, because I sing in Korean, they said, "It's amazing." We haven't talked much about the reaction amongst ourselves yet, but we all had a chance to watch the music video together as a group of five. At that time, we talked about things like, "I like this part."
-Please tell us the inside story about "Top Tier."
What made the biggest impression on me during the recording was my high-pitched part before the last chorus. The highest note is a high-pitched "La," which is apparently quite a difficult range for a man. The person singing the demo didn't sing that part in a mixed voice, but in his natural voice.
It was quite tough during practice and voice training, and I was nervous during the actual performance, but in the end I managed to hit the high-pitched "La" and that take was used.
-How did you feel about trying your hand at singing and dancing this time?
It's something I've always wanted to do, so first and foremost I'm happy. This time I also had the challenge of singing in Korean, which meant there were many unknowns, but it was a lot of fun. Pronunciation is difficult, but there are two people on my team who can speak Korean, so they carefully corrected my pronunciation when we were matching lines for the drama, which was a great help.
Everyone's dancing is at a really high level, so my goal this time is to try my best to catch up with them. When I actually filmed the "Top Tier" music video, I thought to myself, "This turned out really cool," so I hope you'll watch it many times.
What made you want to pursue a career in music?
I had many opportunities to come into contact with music from a young age, and my family also loved music, so before I knew it, it was close to me. I still listen to music every day, and the only time I don't listen to it is when I'm at work. I really love music. Classical music was often played at my parents' house, but now that I'm involved in this project, I may be listening to K-POP a lot.
-Is there anything you do on a daily basis to improve your dancing level?
I used to do karate for a long time. Back then, my body was quite flexible, but after I stopped, I stopped stretching and my body became stiff. However, this time, I was told that I needed to make my body more flexible, so I've been working hard on stretching every day. I feel like my flexibility is slowly returning.
We often have joint lessons with our dance teacher and the five members of TORINNER, but we also take time for individual lessons. On days when we don't have joint lessons or when we finish work early, we practice on our own or have a teacher help us.
--I heard that Shiga Riku, who plays Ike, is also the dance leader.
Shiga Riku is a really good dancer and uses her body beautifully. She also keeps count, so I leave it to her when we practice as a group of five, and she's very reliable. We also have HOJIN, who is like a hidden boss. When we practice without the teacher, she gives each of us advice on positions and choreography, saying things like, "It would be better if you did it this way," which is very helpful.
--What do you think is the appeal of TORINNER?
TORINNER's concept is charisma and star quality, and I think our appeal lies in our coolness and elegance. I want to make sure we show that. We're cool when we're singing or dancing, but at the same time, when we're acting or making videos for music videos, our cuteness suddenly comes out. That contrast is also part of TORINNER's charm, and I think it's a good thing about each member.
-What do you personally value most when pursuing your dreams?
It's about trusting your own sense. I think I'm good at expressing something, and at grasping things that are likely to become popular in the future, and things that are already starting to attract attention. In an age where social media accounts for the majority of information, I think how you express yourself is becoming increasingly important.
There's a saying that goes, "Talent is something that blossoms, but sense is something that needs to be honed" (Haikyu!!, Shueisha), and I agree with that idea. Everyone has different talents, but I think that sense is difficult to hone because it's hard to know where it lies within you. I think that believing in your own sense and pushing forward is what will determine your results.
--Please give a message to the viewers, including highlights of episode 3.
I think this is a challenging drama based on K-POP. With actors from both Japan and Korea participating, I think it will be exciting and inspiring. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to take on the world, or who has even the slightest interest in music or K-POP.
And in episode 3, we see not only Ryo as a TORINNER, but also scenes that give us a glimpse of the brotherly love between him and his younger brother, Yuya. Please enjoy paying attention to the relationship between the brothers. I would be happy if you could check it out again on "TVer" etc.
