Ai Mikami and Kaze,Kaoru Ae! group . He spoke about his feelings when he was cast in his first Asadora, the reactions of his family and fellow members, and the appeal of the character of Shimada that he plays.
◇First appearance in a Asadora, what was the reaction from those around you? "I was able to do something nice for my grandmother."
"Kaze,Kaoru" is based on the story of two trained nurses, Chika Ozeki and Masa Suzuki, who graduated from the same nursing school. The story depicts how these two women struggle with how to interact with patients and doctors, clash with each other, grow as individuals, and eventually become the "ultimate buddy duo." Mikami plays the main character, Rin Ichinose, while Uesaka plays the other main character, Naomi Oya.
This is Sano's first appearance in a Asadora. She says her grandmother, who loves Asadora, often asks her, "When are you going to be in a Asadora?" She recalls, "I thought there aren't many jobs that would make my family this happy, so even after I was cast, I deliberately kept quiet and didn't tell them."
"My grandmother found out right when the information was released, and before I could even contact her, she video-called me and cried tears of joy, saying, 'I'm so happy!' I think this was the first time she'd reacted like that since I deliberately didn't tell my family about the big dream of our group's CD debut. I'm glad I was able to do something to make my grandmother proud."
When asked about the reactions of the other group members, Sano smiled and said, "Our manager has set up a forum where information about individual activities is shared with the entire group, and that's where they found out about my appearance in the Asadora, and all the members were very happy."
Member Yoshinori Masakado is a "senior" who appeared as Masayuki Samejima in the second half of 2019's "Scarlet." Sano said, "I was once again struck by how amazing he is."
"She auditioned for that role at a time when AAe! group hadn't even appeared on TV in Kansai yet, and she landed that part. She played such an impressive character that I still remember the scene where she sneezes loudly at the end, and I think that's really amazing. She's a reassuring presence as a senior in the Asadora, asking things like, 'What's the atmosphere like during Asadora rehearsals?'"
◇What is the appeal of playing the "mysterious young man" Shimada?
Sano plays Shimada, a character who is well-versed in newly coined words and foreign languages, and who becomes a good confidant for Rin (Mikami). Sano commented on his impression of the character, saying, "The character description says 'mysterious young man,' and I thought that was particularly appealing."
"I had the opportunity to see his first appearance scene ahead of time, and he's shrouded in mystery. It's completely unclear what Shimada is doing, what he's aiming for, or how he'll be involved in this story. I think it's great that the character of Shimada remains a mystery throughout the 15-minute broadcast each morning."
As preparation for the shoot, she recalls, "I bought a pair of geta (wooden clogs) myself and wore them all the time during my private life in the summer. I wasn't used to wearing geta, so..."
"I was grateful that I had plenty of time to prepare before filming began, which allowed me to thoroughly read the script and deepen my understanding of the character. I'm planning to change my appearance and voice as the story progresses, so I'm really looking forward to it."
The scenes between Rin, played by Mikami, and Shimada have a "unique atmosphere."
"I thought it was really great how the atmosphere between the man and woman, who are naturally aware of each other through their acting, came about. I think Rin can be her most natural self in front of Shimada, so I'm on set thinking that my job is to figure out what kind of expression I can get Mikami to make."
When asked about Shimada's appeal, she said, "His clumsiness is what makes him charming," and added, "While he speaks his mind bluntly, there's also a side to him that can't quite take the next step... Shimada's curiosity, as he's interested in foreign countries and is knowledgeable about languages, will surely be a source of comfort for Rin, and I hope you'll look forward to seeing how the two of them develop."
"After reading the script, I strongly felt that 'effort can't be done alone' and 'life can change so much because of human relationships.' I'm able to do idol activities and acting work thanks to the support of wonderful people. This is a work that makes me want to move forward and live in such a wonderful environment. It's a really important time for AAe! group, and I'm grateful that we're able to appear in the traditional ' Asadora' slot. I feel a sense of responsibility to make the most of this great opportunity, and I'm approaching the filming with that in mind."
How will Shimada, played by Sano, meet Rin, and what kind of first appearance scene will he create to entertain viewers? We can't take our eyes off the upcoming developments.
