First Summer Uika is currently appearing in the Tuesday drama "Toki Sude ni Osushi!?" (TBS, Tuesdays at 10 PM). She plays Kurumi Kakigi, a classmate of the protagonist Minato (Hiromi Nagasaku) at the sushi academy. Kurumi is a powerful character who used to work hard at a major consulting firm but came to learn sushi in order to change her career. We asked First Summer Uika about her impressions of Kurumi and her experiences with her co-stars.
◇"It looks like it will be a drama that can be of help to someone."
The drama tells the story of Minato Machiyama, 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 about your impressions when you received the offer to appear in the film, and what you felt was the appeal of this work from the script and title.
I don't recall ever seeing a drama series with a sushi academy as its theme. I also thought it was unusual to see a "school drama" about an adult school, so I thought it sounded really interesting.
When I was first approached about the project, the title wasn't "Is it Already Too Late!?", but now that it's been changed to this title, I think it's wonderful because it conveys a message about starting over in life and having a second career. I felt like it could become a drama that could be helpful to someone.
--How do you perceive and portray the character of Kurumi?
There aren't any so-called "bad people" in this story. Instead, people's perspectives and ways of thinking change depending on their position and past experiences. Because it's a group of people who have lived diverse lives, even something as simple as a cooking test using horse mackerel can lead to different approaches and objectives, causing misunderstandings. Ultimately, it all comes down to "differences in perspective."
Since each viewer has lived a different life, some may understand Kurumi's feelings, others may sympathize with Professor Oedo (Kenichi Matsuyama), and still others may not take either side. Those who have had similar experiences and think, "There are people like that," will feel uneasy, while those who have overcome similar experiences may be able to watch with a little more perspective and think, "I've been through that too." Personally, I have a similar way of thinking to Kurumi, so while I think about how I phrase things and express them, my fundamental feelings are very similar.
On the other hand, there are parts of Professor Oedo's actions where I feel like, "He should have just said that to Kurumi herself." I think there are things to criticize about both sides, but that's precisely why I think it's a story that many different people can relate to from their own perspectives.
--In episode 3, we noticed that Kurumi unconsciously takes a fighting stance towards Professor Oedo.
I think a fighting stance is meant to show the intention to fight, but in boxing, it's also a "guard," right? It's like tensing your body to protect your chin and head. I got that impression from Kurumi's fighting stance.
I think that while Kurumi was taking a fighting stance, there was also an unconscious part of her that was protecting herself. It seemed like she was arming herself with words and determination, but I feel like she was actually guarding herself at times. After all, offense is also the best defense.
—That perspective of "protecting" is very interesting.
My impression of Kurumi is that she's not a particularly skillful person, but rather the type who climbs to the top through sheer effort, perseverance, momentum, and efficiency. She's an overwhelmingly hardworking person, so I think she wanted to attack first, and that was her way of protecting herself. That's why I think both Oedo-sensei and Kurumi had stubborn sides to them, and I feel that there were many things they wouldn't have realized without these conflicts.
As adults, we encounter new values in new environments and jobs, and in those moments, we become aware of our own "unconscious" beliefs. This is something that's less likely to happen when we're surrounded by people who share similar values.
As we get older, we tend to avoid people whose values don't align with ours. If our schools of thought are different, we don't even cross paths in the first place. For example, just as boxers and judo practitioners don't typically fight each other, different styles belong in different arenas, so they don't meet. But this time, the mixed martial arts venue where people who would normally never have crossed paths came together was the Sushi Academy (laughs). I think it was precisely because of that environment that mutual insights were born.
It's not about who's right or wrong, but rather about the fact that they were people who could properly accept the discoveries they made within that context. I hope that comes across that it wasn't a simple matter of friend or foe.
The story revolves around Minato and Professor Oedo, so it's easy to see things from their perspectives, and I completely understand that. However, I think Professor Oedo's words and actions also look different from Kurumi's point of view (laughs).
I think this isn't a story of rewarding good and punishing evil, but rather a work whose impression changes depending on the perspective from which you view it. I completely understand that there are many different ways of interpreting Kurumi, and depending on your viewpoint, you might even feel that Kurumi is in the right. I would be happy if people could view it from various angles.
◇Hiromi Nagasaku & Kenichi Matsuyama are "very calm"
--What is the atmosphere like on set? Please share any anecdotes about working with Ms. Nagasaku, Mr. Matsuyama, Mr. Soma Santoki who plays Funao Tateishi, Mr. Soma Yamaji who plays Aoto Mori, and Ms. Yumiko Udo who plays Izumi Isoda.
Everyone is really talkative, and they chat whenever they have free time (laughs). Ms. Nagasaku and Mr. Matsuyama are both very gentle and knowledgeable, and they not only talk about acting, but also share lots of heartwarming stories like "this food was delicious" or "I went to this place."
I talked with Sano-san about music, and he also shared some nostalgic stories about his past experiences, like "Back when we were working on this drama." Yamaji-kun laughs easily and is often trying to hold back his laughter at everyone's ad-libs (laughs), he's a really cheerful person.
Since it was Ms. Udo's first time acting, she showed interest in the technical terms, things that only happen on a drama set, and every single item used, asking "What is this?", which I felt showed a journalistic spirit.
On top of that, she approaches her own acting, lines, and characters with such sincerity that I really think she's an amazing person. She has a vitality that Izumi also shares, and just like the meaning of the kanji in her name "Udo," it feels like it's overflowing from within.
Everyone has something in common with their characters, but they're also energetic, cheerful, and brighten the atmosphere around them, making it a very comfortable set to be on.
--In episode 3, Aoki Macho from the comedy duo Kakeochi made a guest appearance as the husband, Jin.
He gives off a quiet impression, which I felt suited the role of Jin. In the play, there's a scene where Kurumi finds Jin's words a little cold, but in reality, he's a very kind person. Even when he was acting in scenes that weren't on camera, he would go along with the acting, not slamming doors shut but closing them gently so as not to make any noise.
However, since the actor needed to follow the door closing with his eyes, closing it slowly would change the timing, so ultimately that was a no-go. But at that time, he said, "I don't usually slam doors shut." I felt that his careful lifestyle was reflected in his actions, and it was impressive, especially considering the contrast with the role.
--You've also received instruction on proper etiquette as a student at the Sushi Academy. What has your experience been like?
Kurumi is the type who prioritizes speed and time performance (effectiveness per unit of time), so her movements are fast, but that also means they can sometimes be a little sloppy. Of course, those aspects are part of the acting, but even during rehearsals, I realized how difficult it is to maintain a good environment and keep things polished.
I don't find knife skills too difficult since I do them regularly, but I feel that making thin and thick rolls of sushi really reveals a lot about one's personality and mental state. It's interesting to do.
--Finally, do you have a message for our viewers?
Episode 3 continued from where Episode 2 left off, showing how Kurumi and Professor Oedo's lives gradually intertwined, leading to clashes and eventual reconciliation. I think the lives of the other characters will also intersect with Minato and Professor Oedo in the future. This episode focusing on Kurumi felt like the first step in that direction.
I think some new characters will be introduced from now on, but I don't think there will be any so-called "unpleasant" characters in this work, so I hope that those who were feeling uneasy will be able to watch with peace of mind from now on.
