The casting and behind-the-scenes stories from the filming of the ongoing drama series "Kenzo Kitakata's Water Margin" (WOWOW/Lemino, Sundays at 10pm), starring actor Yuji Oda, have been revealed. The cast includes Oda as Song Jiang, Takashi Sorimachi as Chao Gai, and Kazuya Kamenashi as Lin Chong.
The drama is based on the historical epic novel series "Water Margin" (19 volumes in total, Shueisha Bunko) by Kenzo Kitakata. Set in China during the late Northern Song dynasty (early 12th century), it tells the story of a rebellion by "outcasts" who gather at "Liangshan Marsh" with Song Jiang, who rises up against the rampant corruption of the world.
◇Kazuya Kamenashi's sincere and stoic attitude led to his casting.
First, let's talk about Kazuya Kamenashi, who played the role of Lin Chong. He is the strongest character in the story and is extremely popular among fans of the original work. WOWOW producer Yasuaki Ohara said, "I had the opportunity to work with Mr. Kamenashi on another drama series before, and I was struck not only by the charm of his acting, but also by the professionalism I felt from the dignified presence he always had on set. I was confident that if Mr. Kamenashi played the role, he would be able to portray Lin Chong in a way that viewers would find convincing." He revealed that Kamenashi's sincere and stoic attitude led to his casting as Lin Chong.
In the film, Lin Chong is portrayed in many extremely harsh scenes, including the death of a loved one, torture, and action sequences while walking through snowy mountains. Ohara recalled the filming, saying, "For example, during a scene filmed in the snowy mountains, for about eight minutes, he endured a fierce wind and snow being blasted at his face by a fan, pushing his way through the snow with his bare hands. Kamenashi himself even requested the staff to 'put more snow on his head' to make the scene more realistic, and I was once again overwhelmed by his attitude."
Lin Chong is a role that requires not only the strength of a warrior but also inner sensitivity, and Kamenashi recalls a filming episode that is very typical of him, saying, "Kamenashi was always thinking about 'Lin Chong's character' and communicating closely with the production team, and I got the impression that he was very particular about the psychological portrayal. In fact, Kamenashi was shedding tears from the script reading of the first episode. That was definitely one of the moments when I was convinced that 'this work is going to be amazing.'"
◇ Takashi Sorimachi: "The epitome of a dynamic leader who leads by example."
Next up is Sorimachi, who plays the role of Chao Gai. Chao Gai is a rebellious hero who possesses both outstanding martial prowess and charisma, and Ohara says, "He is brave and boisterous, but sometimes you can also see a playful side to him. The presence of Chao Gai, a 'hero' who leads people like the sun, perfectly overlaps with the energy and manly figure that Sorimachi has shown in his previous works, pulling and guiding lost people with his actions and attitude." This suggests that the casting fully showcases the charm of Sorimachi, who has consistently embodied characters that are bold and manly, yet also have a charming side that makes them loved by those around him.
Regarding Sorimachi's demeanor on set as Chao Gai, the leader of Liangshan, Ohara cited the scene at the beginning of the first episode where they attack the government army's wagon as an example, saying, "He gave us various ideas, such as anticipating the camera and horse positions, and how to present the scene in a way that would make it more dynamic. He also incorporated his own unique sense of ferocity and bravery, which was impressive. He truly embodied the image of a dynamic leader who leads by example."
The golden partnership between him and Oda, who played Song Jiang, also generated a lot of buzz. He shared a heartwarming anecdote about filming with Oda, saying, "The day before we filmed the scene where Song Jiang and Chao Gai clash and are in direct conflict, I was very impressed to see the two of them rehearsing the lines together in a very cold cave. We, the production team, considered it a very important scene, and I remember being deeply moved by how much the two of them were dedicated to it."
◇Producers were excited by Yuji Oda's "overwhelming presence and persuasiveness."
Finally, there's Oda, who plays the lead role of Song Jiang. The casting of Oda as Song Jiang, who stands up to rebuild a fallen country while empathizing with the hearts of the people, was apparently a suggestion from director Setsuro Wakamatsu, who is known for his familiar collaboration with Oda through many masterpieces. Ohara says, "It seems the director had the feeling that the 'current' Oda would be able to perfectly portray Song Jiang, a gentle person with a great capacity to accept people, rather than the protagonists that Oda has played in the past."
He added, "In response to that, the 'passion' and 'anger' that Oda had portrayed up until then suddenly overlapped with the character of Song Jiang in this work, who, while outwardly calm, harbors a burning passion and anger towards a corrupt world deep within his heart. I still remember how excited I was when Song Jiang suddenly came to life in the drama thanks to Oda's overwhelming presence and persuasiveness."
Regarding Oda's demeanor on set, Ohara revealed, "He was truly 'Song Jiang himself'." "He was always smiling and communicated with the cast and crew without discrimination, which saved the entire set. Everyone around Oda naturally started smiling. When I reread the original novel after filming, even though I had read it many times before, Song Jiang's words came alive in Oda's voice," she recalled with gratitude and deep emotion.
