Motoki Nakazawa is currently appearing in the TBS Tuesday drama "Toki Sude ni Osushi!?" (Tuesdays at 10 PM). He plays Nagisa, the only son of the main character, Minato Machiyama (Hiromi Nagasaku). We asked Nakazawa about his experiences playing Nagisa and some behind-the-scenes stories from filming with Nagasaku.
◇ Struggling with the distance between Minato and Nagisa
The drama tells the story of Minato, 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.
--Please tell us your honest feelings when you heard you would be appearing in this film.
When I heard I'd be playing Ms. Nagasaku's son, I was incredibly happy about that. Since we're both from Ibaraki Prefecture, I felt a sense of kinship. I also felt that our personalities and pacing might be somewhat similar even before meeting her. It's just a feeling, but I was looking forward to it, including those aspects.
--What are your thoughts on appearing in a TBS drama for the first time since the Sunday drama "Gekokujo Kyuji" (aired in 2023)?
Although it's a different broadcast slot, I was happy to be back on TBS, and there were staff members who I worked with on "Gekokujo Kyuji" as well. I hope I was able to show them how much I've grown.
I'm happy because Katsu (Isami Hyodo), who I co-starred with, also appeared in the previous season, so it's like a pitching change.
--What kind of reactions have you received from those around you?
The baseball players from "Gekokujo Kyuji" gave us comments like, "He's like our son" (laughs). We also get a lot of feedback from new employees, with messages like, "I'm working hard after watching 'Toki Sushi'" and "I'm moving to Tokyo soon."
I think there's a special meaning to this show airing on Tuesdays instead of Mondays. It makes you feel like, "Okay, I'm going to do my best," but without the pressure of Mondays, and it warms your heart and makes you feel a little more positive. I think that feeling is perfect for Tuesdays, and I'm happy to receive that kind of feedback.
--In episode 2, we saw a good son treating his mother to a meal with his first paycheck, and in episode 6, we saw a scene where his suppressed emotions towards his mother explode. How did you create the distance between Nagisa and his mother, Minato?
It's difficult. I've been struggling with it since the first episode. Because he's an only son and has a one-on-one relationship with his mother, I thought there would be things he could only say to his mother, and things he couldn't say precisely because she was his mother. As Nagisa said in his lines, "You can't tell the most important things to the people you care about the most," and I thought a lot about that sense of distance.
Actually, when we were working on the ending of episode 6, I consulted with Ms. Nagasaku and we discussed various options to ensure it would be a natural conclusion to the relationship depicted in the story.
I think this is a time when Nagisa is about to take another step towards becoming an adult, so finding the right balance in her relationship with her mother is really difficult. But I think episode 6 ended up being just right. Of course, Nagisa's choice isn't necessarily the right one, and I hope you can see it as just one form of parent-child relationship.
--The reconciliation between parent and child depicted in episode 7, following that sequence of events, was also wonderful.
I think episode 7 came after they clashed, made up properly, and were able to honestly express their feelings to each other, so I think they've developed a really good sense of distance between them.
Nagisa is gradually developing her own sense of self, and she's also starting to understand how to maintain a healthy distance from her mother. I felt like this was a step towards becoming an adult.
◇I empathize with Nagisa. What similarities do you share?
--When you were playing Nagisa, did the director or producer make any requests to you?
When I think about my real-life relationship with my mother, I'm the type who doesn't make much eye contact when we talk. Of course, I don't mean that in a bad way; I thought it was natural. However, since dramas are also entertainment, I was asked to "make eye contact a little more."
I don't think the words Nagisa hurled at her mother in episode 6 were her true feelings. Maybe she had thought that for a moment, but as a new working adult, she was overwhelmed by her new environment and lost her composure, so those words just slipped out. That's why I was conscious of that while acting.
Since the director also has children, I think we were able to work together and come to an agreement while listening to his thoughts on being a father to his children.
-- How do you communicate with Ms. Nagasaku?
It's really flat, just like a parent and child. We don't talk a lot, and we're not always together, but we don't stay silent either. That distance feels very natural.
In episode 7, Ms. Nagasaku was playing catch with young Nagisa, and she asked me to join her in practice. So, we played catch between takes, talked about coffee, and shared local stories like, "People from Ibaraki are really good at withstanding the cold." I think those kinds of lighthearted moments contributed to the natural feeling of mother-daughter chemistry. I'm really grateful that she's so open and friendly.
--Please also tell us your impressions of the other cast members.
Kenichi Matsuyama has a 360-degree camera in the waiting area, and he's very knowledgeable about technology. He takes the initiative to make sure everyone can enjoy seeing what goes on behind the scenes of the drama, and I think that's wonderful.
Even in the scene where he makes sushi, Mr. Matsuyama makes it himself from scratch. I really learn a lot from his approach to the work, and I feel that these kinds of experiences add depth to his character.
--In episode 7, there was a scene where Nagisa goes to eat pancakes with Mori Aoto, played by Soma Santoki.
San-chan (Yamaji-san) and I are both prone to laughing, so we were worried about the pancake scene (laughs). In the end, it was fine, so I'm glad.
San-chan is adorable, and she's very good at getting close to people. It's the same in acting; she's incredibly mature for someone six years younger than me, and I often think, "She's so grown-up."
I think it's similar to the relationship between Nagisa and Mori-kun. You don't really feel the age difference, and they have a relationship like friends.
--You made sushi not only in episode 6, but also at the Sushi Academy trial lesson event. What was it like actually doing it?
It's really fun. I'm so interested that I'm even thinking of trying to prepare fish at home (laughs).
During the filming of episode 6, I first learned that "the rice sticks to your hands." During the sushi academy experience event, I felt like I was able to make sushi with just the right amount of moisture, without the rice becoming too wet.
We use a special vinegar called "tezu" to prepare the sushi, but if you use too much, it becomes sour and also absorbs moisture, so I realized there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. Appearance is also important, and I hope that the charm of Japanese tradition can be conveyed to those who are watching.
At my parents' house, we often made hand-rolled sushi for celebrations, so if you're going to make it for your family, that might be a good time.
--Nagisa tends to try too hard, but are you the type of person who keeps trying until you can do something you can't do, or do you tend to rely on others?
I tend to push myself too hard. I felt that I was similar to Nagisa in that respect, and I really empathized with her. When you enter a new environment, you naturally feel anxious about having to catch up with everyone around you, right? And I completely understand that feeling of not being able to focus on anything else. That's why I tend to push myself too hard, but it made me realize again how important it is to rely on others.
For Nagisa, that person could be her mother or her colleague Kumai (Kenta) (played by Kento Yamada), so it would be good if she could talk to someone and take a break before she explodes.
--Finally, do you have a message for our viewers?
I'm sure many of you are curious about the relationship between the mother and Professor Oedo, as well as what happens to everyone after they graduate from the Sushi Academy.
In that context, I hope you'll pay attention to whether Nagisa will be able to eat the sushi her mother made.
