{"id":655,"date":"2018-02-01T03:24:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T10:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/?p=655"},"modified":"2021-01-09T22:18:22","modified_gmt":"2021-01-10T05:18:22","slug":"my-hero-roundtable-talk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/2018\/02\/01\/my-hero-roundtable-talk\/","title":{"rendered":"MY HERO roundtable talk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This feature from the March 2017\u00a0Kageki<\/em>\u00a0is a discussion of the then-upcoming show\u00a0MY HERO<\/em>, starring Serika Toa. It took place very early in the production of the show, before rehearsals started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

MY HERO director roundtable talk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants: Saitou Yoshimasa (director), Serika Toa, Houzuki An, Asazuki Kiwa, Oto Kurisu<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> I feel a lot of happiness and also pressure in being assigned Serika-kun\u2019s second lead show and her first lead appearance in Tokyo. Currently, Serika\u2019s appeal is really blossoming, so I created this show in hopes of bringing her into full bloom, as it were, and showing everyone a Serika they\u2019ve never envisioned before. As shown in the poster, her character in this show is really over the top (laughs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika<\/em>: So over-the top (laughs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> It\u2019s a show styled after a comic book, with a strong comedic element, so while the plot is very simple and easy to follow, it contains themes of friendship, love, unwavering courage, and I also wanted all four characters to grow as people over the course of the story. The character Serika-kun plays, Noah Taylor, is a top-ranking young actor. His father was a suit actor, like those who perform the action scenes in Masked Rider. Noah bears a lot of resentment towards his father, and after deciding \u2018I don\u2019t want to be an actor like my father who never showed his face,\u2019 he became a big-time star. Personality-wise, he\u2019s an impudent, conceited star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika:<\/em> (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> Supporting Noah is Terry Bennet, a stunt actor played by Chinatsu (Houzuki). Therefore, Chinatsu will also be in a mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika:<\/em> Hahaha (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzuki:<\/em> What are you laughing at (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika:<\/em> I\u2019m looking forward to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> You said it was like a high when you put the mask on, didn\u2019t you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika: <\/em>It really raises the excitement level. Like \u2018I\u2019m becoming a hero!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> In the poster photoshoot, as soon as you put the mask on you could get the poses instantly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzuki:<\/em> It\u2019s not like I\u2019m really into Power Rangers type stuff, but when I saw Kiki (Serika) in that costume I was like \u2018That\u2019s so cool!!!\u2019 I think it\u2019ll get the audience really excited too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> The two of them were at college together, but Noah ended up in the spotlight, while Terry was pushed into the background\u2026they quarrel with each other intensely. But after Noah causes a scandal, he loses his film contract. While he is under orders not to cause any more trouble, he meets Hirame-chan (Asazuki), who plays Chloe Spencer, a struggling gravure idol who was formerly the 901st ranked pro tennis player in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzuki, Serika, Asazuki, Oto:<\/em> (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asazuki: <\/em>This show Director Saitou wrote has so many characters full of individuality, and when all those characters comes together it creates great synergy – I think it\u2019ll be a really fun show and I\u2019m really looking forward to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika:<\/em> When Kiwa-chan (Asazuki) was reading the script she was like ‘Wah~\u2019 ‘So that\u2019s it!\u2019 and acting it out, so that was a lot of fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asazuki:<\/em> Oh, stop it~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou: <\/em>Chloe is under an immense amount of debt. The tw of them meet at the worst dip in their fortunes, and while Chloe becomes Noah\u2019s manager and tries to be buddies with him, she only finds him really strange jobs. (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzuki:<\/em> That\u2019ll be fun (laughs). I wonder what it\u2019ll be like\u2026 (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> That culminates with the Mask*J Hero Show. There, Noah meets Oto-kun\u2019s character Myra, a volunteer at an old people\u2019s home. While due to an incident when she was 4 years old she lives in a wheelchair, she\u2019s high-spirited and puts her full effort into everything. Ah, the 4-year-old Myra will also be played by Oto-kun, if you don\u2019t mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzuki, Serika:<\/em> You\u2019ll do great~ (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> Look, your seniors have given it their seal of approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oto:<\/em> S-sure. (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> As Noah begins communicating with Myra, he gains courage from her, and also discovers unknown things about his father\u2019s past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oto:<\/em> Since I\u2019m supposed to be giving [Serika\u2019s character] courage, I\u2019m going to learn as much as I can from the senior actresses and give it my all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> An then, as Noah is falling, Terry rises to stardom and becomes more and more popular. He is sponsored by ‘Smile Company\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika, Houzuki, Asazuki, Oto:<\/em> ‘Smile Company\u2019!?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> They have plans of their own which become clear later. The goal of this show is through the bonds of father and son, and personal clashes that develop into mutual understanding and friendship, to give the audience energy and encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika:<\/em> I haven\u2019t had the chance to appear in one of Director Saitou\u2019s shows since El Halcon: The Falcon,<\/em> and when I first read the plot synopsis I thought ‘What? I can\u2019t show my face?\u2019 (laughs) But after hearing the story, I think it has a lot of fun and exciting elements to it. I\u2019m kind of worried about whether the rehearsals starting soon will be enough (laughs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> We\u2019re going to be doing filming, too. The idea is to screen a ‘trailer\u2019 for Mask*J The MOVIE<\/em> before the curtain rises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika, Houzuki, Asazuki, Oto:<\/em> Oh~! That\u2019s so fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> While Noah is egotistical, he\u2019s not completely hateful. He doesn\u2019t consider the effects of his words or actions, and subjects Terry to a lot of verbal abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika:<\/em> (to Houzuki) Sorry about that\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzuki:<\/em> (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika:<\/em> Since I\u2019ve had a string of ‘nice guy\u2019 roles for ages, I\u2019m pretty happy about this. And since it\u2019s an ‘Action Stage\u2019 then of course there has to be\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> There will be plenty of action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika: <\/em>I\u2019m still a bit worried about the action scenes, but I\u2019m looking forward to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzuki: <\/em>Even though Kiki keeps being cast as heroes on the side of good, she has a ton of imagination and so does Director Saitou, so I\u2019m really looking forward to seeing what kind of Kiki will appear in the show he\u2019s created for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika: <\/em>Thank you. But I\u2019m not a hero of justice at all in the dressing room makeup area. I do nothing but meddle (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzuki:<\/em> For sure (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika: <\/em>In Me and My Girl,<\/em> I was in a male-female couple with Chinatsu as Gerald and Jackie, but in terms of acting together as male characters\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzuki:<\/em> We haven\u2019t done that before so I can\u2019t help looking forward to seeing how it turns out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> I thought that as well, so I decided to make the two of them completely opposite character types and make them confront each other. The two musumeyaku roles are also very different; it\u2019s nice to show a lot of contrast, I think. To finish up, why don\u2019t we all say what we\u2019re excited for in this show, starting with Oto-kun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oto: <\/em>I\u2019m nervous since this is my first time appearing in one of Director Saitou\u2019s plays, but I\u2019m really looking forward to it, and I hope this wonderful show will raise the spirits of everyone in the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> I\u2019m hoping you will dive in fearlessly. While you\u2019ll have your movement ability limited by being in a wheelchair, you\u2019ll be able to dance popularly in the finale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika: <\/em>Ah! There\u2019s going to be a finale with it! Hurray!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> It\u2019s a Takarazuka Hero Show (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika, Houzuki, Asazuki, Oto:<\/em> (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> Then, Hirame-chan\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asazuki:<\/em> I got really excited hearing about the story, so I\u2019m certain the audience will be really excited too. I want to make sure I do my part thoroughly even though I\u2019m in the midst of so many different characters. I hope it will be a wonderful, fun production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> Some of Hirame-chan\u2019s scenes will be central to setting the tone of the show, so I\u2019m looking forward to seeing what you\u2019ll do with them in performance. What about you, Chinatsu?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzuki:<\/em> I think there are a lot of things about this show that will make people think ‘I want to watch that!\u2019 so I want to work hard at making Director Saitou\u2019s show the best it can be, as well as enjoying myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> I\u2019m hoping you will be a hero who is an opposite foil to Kiki-chan\u2019s character. Finally, Kiki-chan, go ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika:<\/em> Of course for Takarazuka, entertainment is the main point, but I think it\u2019s best when a show isn\u2019t just fun but also conveys some kind of message to the audience. I\u2019ll do my best!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> I\u2019m hoping this show will be great for Kiki-chan\u2019s growth. I ended up writing that in my New Year\u2019s statement for Kageki this year\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serika:<\/em> I read that (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzuki:<\/em> She was like ‘He\u2019s advertising MY HERO!\u2019 (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saitou:<\/em> It\u2019s true. I hope people will enjoy the passionate drama and coming-of-age story surrounding all the heroes and heroines, starting with your four characters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This feature from the March 2017\u00a0Kageki\u00a0is a discussion of the then-upcoming show\u00a0MY HERO, starring Serika Toa. It took place very early in the production of the show, before rehearsals started.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[30],"tags":[13,360,162,42,192,191,193,80,194],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=655"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":656,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655\/revisions\/656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}