NHK's historical drama "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）", starring actor Taiga Nakano, airs on NHK General and Sundays at 8 PM. In the 18th episode, "Hashiba Brothers!", which aired on May 10th, Leo Matsumoto made his first appearance as Ishida Mitsunari. Matsumoto, who won the role through an audition, said, "I would be happy if I could show Mitsunari's endearing side in the future."
◇My father told me, "If you pass the audition, you'll be cast as Ishida Mitsunari."
"BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）" is the 65th Taiga drama. With Toyotomi Hidenaga (Koichiro) as the protagonist, it depicts the miraculous feat of unifying Japan together with his older brother Hideyoshi (Tokichiro) through their strong bond, a success story of dreams and hopes.
Ishida Mitsunari was a daimyo born in Omi Province who was highly favored by Hideyoshi. He distinguished himself in the Battle of Shizugatake, fought between Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie, and also demonstrated his numerical prowess in land surveys such as the Taiko Survey. In Hideyoshi's later years, at the young age of 25, he became one of the Five Commissioners and played a central role in the Toyotomi regime. He was "Hideyoshi's loyal retainer who supported the Toyotomi regime."
Matsumoto, who plays Mitsunari, was born on April 27, 2000, and is 26 years old and from Ehime Prefecture. This is his first appearance in a Taiga drama, and he said, "I was chosen to play Ishida Mitsunari after going through an audition."
"Among the warlords, I personally like Kato Kiyomasa the most, but for some reason, before the audition, my father told me, 'If you get the part, you'll play Ishida Mitsunari' (laughs)."
My father's prediction came true (?), and regarding Mitsunari, the character I'll be playing this time, I had the image of him as a calm and intelligent warrior.
"I think there are many fans of the Sengoku period who expect Mitsunari to be cool and composed. However, ' BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）' is also a work with many comedic elements, so I think it would be more enjoyable if there were scenes where Mitsunari is teased by the other warlords. I think he had some quirky sides, so I'd like to portray him not just as a tough guy all the time, but as a character with a range of emotions."
He revealed that working with Nakano, who plays Hidenaga, and Ikematsu Sosuke, who plays Hideyoshi, is "exciting every day."
"I was prepared for it, but actually acting alongside the two of them makes me acutely aware of how much more I still have to learn. While I want to have the same level of passion as them, I'm simply overwhelmed by how they continue to dedicate themselves to their roles without fail, even though they have dozens of times more scenes than me. Rather than feeling like I'm playing historical figures, it feels like there are real, breathing people right in front of me. It's difficult to put into words how amazing they are, but I want to cherish every single moment I have with them."
◇Thank you to Todo Takatora for carrying Kakyu So while he was still sitting in meditation.
Regarding his first appearance in episode 18, he said, "First of all, I thought it was interesting and very much in the spirit of ' BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）' that he was chosen as one of Hideyoshi's retainers through what was essentially an audition process."
"There were scenes where he demonstrated his speed in calculations, and I think there's something about his ability to anticipate things that I can relate to. In the middle of his explanation, I found myself thinking that I might have started counting the bales of rice (laughs)."
In the third trial, there was a scene where Mitsunari was carried away by Todo Takatora (played by So Kaku So) while still in a meditative pose.
"I told Mr. Kakyu, 'Wouldn't it be funny if I was carried while still meditating?' and he said, 'I can do that.' In fact, we filmed this scene many, many times, and he carried me each time. It was our first time meeting, but I felt that it was great that Mr. Kakyu played Takatora, and I was also happy that he was able to portray Mitsunari with humor right from his first appearance."
Then Mitsunari, defying orders, proposed to Hideyoshi that he take all four of them as his vassals.
"Normally, such a proposal wouldn't be accepted, and it wouldn't be surprising if he was disqualified, but he still made the proposal. Mitsunari is a straightforward person who follows what he believes is right, so I think at that moment he was only thinking about persuading his lord. To achieve one objective, he doesn't think about anything else. That was the impression I got from that scene."
