The movie "Agito - Superpower War," commemorating the 55th anniversary of Kamen Rider's creation, will be released on April 29th. This is the latest theatrical film adaptation of "Kamen Rider Agito" (2001-2002), the second series in the Heisei Kamen Rider series, which recorded the highest average viewership rating in the series (11.7% in the Kanto region). Jun Kaname, who made his acting debut as Kamen Rider G3/Makoto Hikawa in "Kamen Rider Agito," is attracting attention for reprising his role as Hikawa. We asked Kaname, who is facing the role that started his acting career after about 25 years, about his thoughts on "Agito."
◇The bond between the original members after a 25-year hiatus
"Agito - The Psychic War" depicts a world where people are beginning to awaken to "psychic powers" one after another, and the resolve of those with powerless individuals who confront them as those with power run wild. Kaname takes on the lead role, and the original cast from the TV series "Kamen Rider Agito," including Toshiki Kashu as Kamen Rider Agito/Shoichi Tsugami, reunite. Ryuta Tasaki directs, as with the TV series, and Toshiki Inoue is in charge of the script. Rated PG12.
Kaname frankly admitted that when he was asked to reprise the role of Makoto Hikawa, the character he played in his debut work about 25 years ago, he initially "honestly wondered if I could do it." "Since 25 years had passed, when I received the offer, I felt both joy and anxiety."
Amidst his complex emotions, what ultimately pushed Kaname forward was the production team's unwavering commitment to creating something truly original.
"Just like with the TV series, with so many of the original cast and staff members reunited, I felt there was no way I could pass this up. It wasn't so much that I wanted to continue Hikawa's story, but rather that I wanted to work with this group again and create another project. And above all, my desire to fulfill the wishes of everyone who continues to love 'Agito' even after 25 years was paramount."
Although this was the first time the cast had reunited for a project in 25 years, Hikawa had kept in touch with the cast of the "G3 Unit," a special organization within the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department to which he belonged. He recalls that they regularly held dinner parties with the director and producer, and as a result, the atmosphere on set was surprisingly natural, just like back then.
"From the rhythm of our acting to the division of roles in our off-camera conversations, everything was exactly the same as it was back then, and I was able to return to playing Hikawa without any difficulty. In between takes, we talked about memories from that time, and it felt like I was back home. Everyone's stance on acting and their demeanor on set hadn't changed, and I felt that the essence of what it's like on the 'Agito' set had become ingrained in them."
◇The transformation scene is the most nerve-wracking moment.
One of the biggest shocks to fans in this film was the plot point that Hikawa is imprisoned. Kaname himself was surprised when he read the script.
"Before the film adaptation, the cast members and I were speculating about what the story would be like, but we never imagined that the setting would involve being arrested and imprisoned. That's typical of Mr. Inoue (the scriptwriter). The TV series ended with the characters returning to their hometown of Kagawa, so I thought it would start in Kagawa, but it turned out to be prison (laughs)."
The meal scene inside the prison includes a scene with Shoichi Tsugami that is reminiscent of the TV series.
"I felt like Kashu-kun hadn't changed at all, and he was using the same way of speaking as he did 25 years ago, which was really heartwarming (laughs)."
Unlike 25 years ago when he was a newcomer desperately trying to keep up, Kaname now possesses solid skills and confidence as an actor. This is evident even in his unmasked (pre-transformation) action scenes in this film.
"Back then, I didn't think about how it would look on camera, but now, drawing on my past experience, I focused on making the action look more realistic and effective. I didn't have any major difficulties with the action scenes; in fact, I enjoyed performing them."
He expressed surprise at the transformation scene for the newly introduced Kamen Rider G7, saying, "I thought it was something unique to this era."
"In the TV series, you couldn't transform unless you got into the 'G-Trailer,' but with the advancements in technology we've come up with a modern way to transform—I thought, 'Oh, that's a clever idea!' (laughs)"
G3 didn't have a transformation pose or catchphrase, and the same is true for G7. Nevertheless, the transformation scene is said to be the most tense moment.
"I'm the type of Kamen Rider who's 'put on the costume,' so the transformation scene is the moment where I do the least, but it's actually the most nerve-wracking. If it looks bad here, everything is ruined. It was the scene that required the most concentration. We filmed with rails laid out 360 degrees around me, and I was standing there imagining how the CG would look from every angle, so I felt like I was using both my right and left brain."
◇ "I was running away" from the children
Currently, Kaname-san appears in many dramas and films, including the NHK Taiga drama "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）". However, for a while after the broadcast of "Agito," he was sometimes referred to as a "Kamen Rider actor."
"I didn't dislike it because I was appearing on the show, but I was scared of kids asking me to 'transform!' when I was off-camera... I wanted to stay the same as my TV image, so I would run away from it (laughs)."
Some people may have learned through this work that Kaname is a "Kamen Rider actor." He proudly states that the title of "Kamen Rider actor" is "the greatest honor."
"I think there are very few people who play the same role in 'Kamen Rider' twice. Moreover, to recreate it with the original cast and staff from 25 years ago is probably rare even on a global scale. Having such a project in my acting career is a treasure."
"For us actors, I believe it's important how many signature works we can create. 'Agito' is undoubtedly one of those signature works, and it's an honor to be able to do it again at this milestone of 25 years in my acting career. My acting career began with 'Agito,' and I made my fellow actors through 'Agito.' It's my starting point."
Finally, though it may be premature, when asked about his desire for a sequel, he gave a positive response: "I would definitely like to do it again!" Mr. Kaname has once again faced "Agito," the starting point of his acting career. From his expression, it was clear that he has an unchanging affection for "Agito" and Makoto Hikawa. (Interview, text, and photography by Masaki Endo)
*The character "崎" in director Ryuta Tasaki's name is the one with the standing radical (tatsusaki).
