The TV anime "The Drops of God," based on the popular wine manga, will begin airing on TOKYO MX and other channels from April 10th. This marks the first time the work has been adapted into an anime, and it has become a hot topic that Kazuya Kamenashi, who played the main character Shizuku Kanzaki in the 2009 TV drama version broadcast on Nippon Television, will also star in the anime. Shizuku Kanzaki, the daughter of world-renowned wine critic Yutaka Kanzaki, has received an elite wine education from a young age. Following his father's will, he steps into the world of wine, embarking on a battle over the legendary wine "The Drops of God." We spoke to Kazuya Kamenashi, who plays Shizuku Kanzaki, Takuya Sato, who plays the young charismatic wine critic Takuya Sato, and Maaya Uchida, who plays the sommelier-in-training Miyabi Murasakihara, about behind-the-scenes stories from the recording.
◇ Inspired by "The Drops of God," I started drinking wine.
--What is the appeal of the work?
While I 've learned a lot about wine from watching it, I've also really enjoyed seeing the human drama unfolding through the lens of wine, and how Shizuku grows as a character.
Mr. Sato said , "I had assumed it was a 'grown-up' kind of thing, but I was impressed by the work's dignified yet unpretentious and warm feel. I've never been particularly familiar with wine before, but now when I go to the liquor section, I find myself wondering, 'Where is this wine from?' and 'What kind of wines are available?' My life has changed."
Ms. Uchida, I've never really had much contact with wine in my life, so I learned a lot of things I didn't know about this world for the first time. I had the impression that it was difficult, but seeing the characters who are so passionate about wine made me think, "Maybe it's fun," and "Maybe it's not as intimidating as I thought." I thought it was a work that made me realize, "What an amazing world there is!" and was truly surprising.
--Do you usually drink wine, Kamenashi-san?
I started drinking wine after playing Shizuku in the live-action adaptation of "The Drops of God" starring Kazuya Kamenashi , and learning a lot from the experience. I even bought a wine cellar while we were filming the drama.
Uchida-san and Sato-san, wow!
When I go to restaurants like Kamenashi's , the sommeliers always mention "Shizuku" and bring out wines they recommend, so I end up buying them. That's why I always have wine in my wine cellar.
◇I was extremely nervous during the first recording session.
--Was there an atmosphere on set like, "It looks like Kamenashi-san is coming..."?
That's right, Uchida-san . He was already on set for the first episode. He was standing there waiting and greeted us saying, "I'm Kazuya Kamenashi," and his eyes were really sharp at the time (laughs).
Kamenashi-san , that's because you're nervous (laughs).
I thought Ms. Uchida was probably nervous. But by episodes 2 and 3, she was already talking with everyone on set, full of energy, and leading the group as the lead actress. I thought, "What an amazing person!"
Kamenashi-san was really extremely nervous. He didn't know where he was supposed to be, or the rules at all. He was gathering information, so he might have come on very sharp.
Sato-san is like a cat visiting a new home for the first time (laughs). We were all nervous thinking, "We get to do this together!" But with each recording session, Kame-chan keeps improving. His desire to portray Shizuku in a specific way keeps growing, and it's wonderful, so we were really positively influenced by it.
--Kamenashi-san also played Shizuku in the live-action version.
I tried not to consciously think about Kamenashi-san . Sometimes a nostalgic feeling would waft through me, but basically I was thinking about how I could live as Shizuku from the anime in a neutral way. So I didn't compare it to when I was doing the drama. I do have an attachment to the character, and she's a character that has gone through my body once, so maybe some things might come out unconsciously. When playing Shizuku, I want to be as pure as possible.
--What do you think of Shizuku, played by Kamenashi, Ms. Sato and Ms. Uchida?
I feel that Ms. Sato is incredibly fresh and really brings out the character of Shizuku. We're having a back-and-forth discussion about how to reciprocate what she's given us.
I think Uchida-san's Shizuku is like a newborn baby, absorbing all sorts of things. In contrast, Hitoto is more mature, and I felt that contrast during the recording. The intensity of Shizuku's worries also changes little by little, and there are parts that resonate with Kamenashi-san, who is in the voice recording studio for the first time.
Mr. Kamenashi, that's certainly true. I'm learning a lot on set, not only about technique but also about how to behave. Even with the same lines, the expression changes depending on which part of the sound you emphasize, and I have many scenes where I interact with Ms. Uchida, so she's been leading the way. She's also helping me to get up to the level of energy in the anime world. I'm able to naturally immerse myself in this world, and she's accepted me, so I'm very grateful.
◇Kazuya Kamenashi is "fully open"
--It seems like you had many first-time experiences, Mr. Kamenashi. What surprised you the most?
Kamenashi-san said that the animation wasn't finished when he recorded, so he felt the difficulty of acting while watching a placeholder video. He sometimes watches anime and tries to imitate the voice actors, and there are parts of the acting that are possible because there is animation, but it's difficult without the animation, and he felt how amazing everyone is. It's incredible skill. Another thing is the sense of speed. The expressions change so quickly, and the scenes change so quickly, so at first he struggled to keep up with the speed. He felt like he was going to be left behind.
Even Uchida-san is an amazing learner, so she participates in recordings as a regular member of the team.
Even after Mr. Sato has given his approval, he's still exploring whether there might have been a different way to express it... his desire for improvement is incredible. He also has a lot of respect for us.
We also have a lot of respect for Ms. Uchida .
--Did you also find voice acting interesting?
Kamenashi-san, yes, that's true. But it must have been tough.
--What surprised you while recording with Kamenashi-san?
I got the impression that Ms. Uchida is a more open person than I had imagined (laughs).
Kamenashi-san , someone I know said the same thing to me the other day (laughs). They said I was "fully open."
Mr. Uchida was willing to talk about anything, and it felt like I was learning "how to become Kazuya Kamenashi" (laughs). I was often impressed by his open-mindedness.
Until the night before recording the first episode, I thought Ms. Sato might be a sensitive character, but that feeling only lasted until the night before (laughs). She's very frank and open, to the point where it's almost worrying (laughs). It was a wonderful set to work on.
--Do you usually watch anime, Kamenashi-san?
I'm not an expert on Kamenashi-san , but I do watch his shows. When I was a kid, I watched classics like "Dragon Ball," "Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go!!," "Honoo no Toukyuuji Dodge Danpei," "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon," and "SLAM DUNK." More recently, I've been watching "The Promised Neverland," so when I saw Uchida-san, I was like, "Oh, he's in that!" Amazing!
I'm so happy, Uchida-san .
Kamenashi-san , having actually experienced voice acting myself, I think the way I watch anime from now on will change. My respect for it has grown even stronger. It was a luxurious experience. When I watch works featuring my co-stars, I might find myself imagining their faces. It's a strange feeling.
◇Voice actors are truly amazing.
--What were your impressions after watching the finished animation?
Since it's Kamenashi's own voice, it feels a little strange. Those two are truly amazing. They're so perfectly suited to the characters, and I still feel a disconnect because it's my own voice. It really made me realize how incredible voice actors are.
I think Mr. Sato's way of feeling about wine and food has changed. When he takes a sip of wine, a landscape unfolds in his mind, and he reflects on his life so far, dramatically expressing how wine and food are intimately connected to his life. I think that breath and dynamism are expressed in the animation he recorded with Kame-chan.
I felt that Ms. Uchida's sound production was gorgeous. There are so many strong characters that even though I've been a voice actress for about 15 years, when I go to the set, it's all seniors. It's a "festival of great voices." I felt that it wasn't just the wine, but something that had matured. The visuals clearly convey that this wine must have a wonderful aroma. Although some difficult things are said, they are depicted in an easy-to-understand way in the anime. I felt the director's attention to detail, and I felt that it is an anime that can be enjoyed even by people who don't know much about wine.
--Finally, do you have a message for the anime's broadcast?
In this drama, Shizuku , after his father's death, confronts his father once again, realizes how his father lived through wine, and considers how he himself should live from now on. I think the human relationships that are built through wine are the charm of this work and its characters. I'm enjoying playing Shizuku and feeling his growth, so I hope everyone will enjoy watching him grow as well.
I think Sato-san's character, Hitoto, had his life changed by meeting Shizuku. Shizuku, too, is forced to confront wine and her own upbringing after her father's death. She is tossed about by wine, but that leads to a future landscape. Working on this project with Kame-chan allowed me to experience a world I never imagined. I hope it becomes a show that can provide a moment of respite each week. I would be happy if you could watch it casually without thinking too hard about it.
I think Miyabi Uchida is a character that viewers can relate to. She has her immature moments, but I hope you'll enjoy watching her grow together with Shizuku. Thank you!
Kamenashi's words convey a deep respect for his co-stars. The energy on set must have directly translated into the dynamism of the anime. (Manami Anima/MANTANWEB)
