Soma Santoki is currently appearing in the TBS Tuesday drama "Toki Sude ni Osushi!?" (Tuesdays at 10 PM). He plays Aoto Mori, a classmate of the protagonist Minato (Hiromi Nagasaku) at the sushi academy. In episode 5, it was revealed that Aoto had a strong determination to take over his family's sushi restaurant, even to the point of dropping out of university. We asked Yamaji about his impressions of his co-stars and anecdotes from the set.
◇ "I want it to be cute" was requested.
The drama tells the story of Minato Machiyama, who, having finished raising her children, is bewildered by the "time to herself" she has gained at the age of 50, but begins her second life and jumps into a "sushi academy" where she can become a sushi chef in three months.
--In episode 5, the reason why Aoto joined the Sushi Academy was revealed.
I finally got to understand Aoto's feelings, and I got a glimpse of the humanity hidden within Aoto, who hasn't spoken much until now. Even I was wondering "What is Aoto thinking?" until I read the script for episode 5, so I felt like I gained a deeper understanding of the character as I played the role.
There were many things I could relate to, like things I couldn't talk about with my mother, and the importance of relying on adults. I think 20 is the age when you get help with things you couldn't do on your own. That really touched me. It made me realize once again that I, too, have been helped by various people.
--I think this story really brings out Aoto's cuteness.
There were so many scenes that made me think, "He's so cute!" It was clear that the people around Aoto also found him adorable. In episodes 6 and 7, there are even more scenes where he's treated that way, so that's something to look forward to.
--I was also struck by the scene where his mother opposes his desire to take over his grandfather's sushi restaurant. If you were in Aoto's position, what choice would you make?
I think I'd probably choose my mother's opinion. Not because I'm being pressured, but because I feel like I won't regret it if I listen to her.
However, I think things might be different if I were in Aoto's position. I don't like to cause trouble for those around me, so I tend to try to finish things on my own. Rather than involving people like Minato-san and Oedo-sensei, I might just give up on that path before it gets to that point.
--When you were playing Aoto, you said you wanted to be "like wasabi." Considering what we saw of Aoto's inner self in episode 5, how do you perceive him now?
I feel like wasabi is something that exists somewhere between childhood and adulthood. Like coffee, if you can eat wasabi, you're an adult; if you can't, you're a child. I thought that 20 is that boundary, so I used wasabi as an example. By the way, I still can't eat it (laughs).
At first, Aoto seems a bit gruff, but as we get to episode 5, we start to understand his feelings, and as we delve deeper, we see his endearing side and his human side. He's not what he seems at first glance.
In that sense, I hope that as the episodes progress, the character's personality will gradually emerge, and that he can become like wasabi.
--Were there any requests from the director or producer regarding your portrayal of Aoto?
From the script readings and costume fittings, I was told that they wanted me to have a "cute" look. So, I incorporated current trends into my hairstyle and clothing, while also leaning towards a cute image. Because of that, I was conscious of creating a contrast in my acting.
In terms of technical skills, I was told that I should be able to fillet horse mackerel better than the other members, so I practiced quite a lot.
On set, we receive detailed direction for each scene, and there's a lot of back-and-forth of opinions, such as, "I think you don't need to look away here."
--Do you find the movements and cooking techniques difficult?
There's pressure to keep improving from here on out. Since the character is supposed to be attending an academy, it's okay if he's not very good at first, but if he practices too much, he'll look good. I'm conscious of finding that balance. He's definitely going to grow towards the final episode, so it's difficult to show that progression. I think it's going to get increasingly challenging from here on out, including his posture.
I still live with my parents, so I hardly have any experience with knives, having only used one once in elementary school, and I didn't even know what kind they were. This time I'm using a deba knife, but because the blade is angled, if I cut with the same feeling as a regular knife, it doesn't cut cleanly. That's also difficult when filleting horse mackerel, and there are many obstacles I run into because I lack basic knowledge.
--I hear that this project has sparked your interest in cooking.
That's right! Lately, I've been finding cooking really enjoyable. The other day, I made sushi for my family at home, and they were so happy, saying things like "It's delicious!" and "That's amazing!" It made me realize how great it is to make something and make people happy, so I'd love to cook for my family again sometime.
-- Being able to make sushi is something you don't get to experience very often, isn't it?
My father also said, "That's great, I want to learn that too." I'd be happy if it sparked interest in viewers in that way.
◇A film set filled with laughter
--What was the atmosphere like on set?
There's a constant stream of laughter, and the atmosphere is fantastic. In between takes, we gather around the 360-degree camera that Kenichi Matsuyama brought, eat snacks, and enjoy the peanuts that Matsuyama brought as a treat.
But when it's time to concentrate, we can concentrate really well, and each of us reads our scripts. It's like we're all reading the atmosphere, and we're not overly considerate of each other; I appreciate that we maintain a comfortable distance and treat each other as equals.
Just like in this drama, I learn a lot from the values of people of a wide range of ages. When asked, "What's popular now?", we talk about social media, or conversely, I learn about alcohol, or I hear stories about past filming experiences. It's a set where we have a lot of conversations like that.
-- Does it have a different atmosphere from previous school-themed stories?
In school-themed stories where people of the same age gather, there's often an impression that many of the problems arise precisely because they live in the same place. However, in this case, people who have walked very different paths in life have gathered at the Sushi Academy.
That's why each person has their own values, and as they learn the same things, they come to understand each other's values, and there are many moments when those understandings come to life in their own lives. Children learn from adults, and adults learn from children. The age range is wide, but the distance of learning is very close. I think that feeling is unique to this work.
--The "BeReal"-style photo that Yamaji posted on Instagram when the first episode aired was also very impressive.
I was so happy that everyone cooperated. When I said, "I want to take photos like this (simultaneous shooting with the front and rear cameras, like with BeReal)," everyone gathered right away. However, it was difficult to get the BeReal explanation across (laughs). When I showed them the finished photos, Matsuyama-san, our "SNS leader," was surprised and said, "So that's what it looks like."
--What are your impressions of the cast members?
Nagasaku-san is like a mother figure who always watches over us on set. Her smile is truly lovely, and seeing it makes me feel at ease. Whenever I make a mistake, I instinctively look at Nagasaku-san's face, and I feel relieved when she smiles back at me.
Mr. Matsuyama is tackling the technical challenges without compromise, and I'm incredibly inspired by his approach. He must have a massive amount of lines to memorize, yet he's also thinking about social media strategies in the back of his mind—I really respect him for that.
(First Summer) Uika-san is really fun to watch, and she makes different expressions and ad-libs every time. She has also helped me a lot on variety shows, and when we were together on "Hamada Kayosai★Ookami Shonen" (TBS), she kindly supported me when I was feeling anxious, saying, "Your singing voice is good, so I think you can do it even if you get a role like that."
Mr. Sano (Shiro) is very kind and teaches me many things. I was impressed by how he improvised by adding French and how much he seemed to enjoy the filming process.
--Ms. Sano said that Ms. Yamaji is "cute, like a grandchild."
Really? That makes me so happy. I tend to be a bit pushy and ask you to teach me, but I'm always grateful that you respond so kindly.
--Are there any goals that have emerged from being inspired by this work?
Watching Mr. Matsuyama's approach to character development up close has been incredibly inspiring. I haven't had many roles that require such meticulous preparation, like going to the actual location to learn about the subject, so I want to become an actor who can do that kind of careful character development. I want to watch various works, develop an interest in them, and approach each role with dedication, learning thoroughly along the way.
The last time we worked together, on "Themis's Uncertain Court" (NHK), he played a judge, and this time he's a sushi chef. I was surprised by the change in such a short time, and I hope to become an actor who can delve into a role like that.
--Finally, do you have a message for us?
I'm personally looking forward to seeing how the students, who couldn't even make sushi at first, will grow. It will also be interesting to see how the wonderful relationships that develop amongst classmates who are learning the same thing come through.
I hope this work can give a little push to anyone who wants to take a step forward. That step might change your life, and I think it's a work that can resonate with people of all ages.
The characters will grow and develop in the second half. We've all been practicing hard, so we hope you'll look forward to seeing the results of our efforts. Please watch until the very end, including the relationship between Minato and Professor Oedo.
