In the TBS Sunday drama "GIFT" (Sundays at 9 PM), starring actor Shinichi Tsutsumi, Yuki Yamada, and Kyohei Honda plays the new ace candidate, Keijiro Asatani. Calling each other "Kyo-chan" and "Yamada-san," the two passionately portray the two pillars of the team, we spoke to them about their approach to their roles, behind-the-scenes stories from the set, and what to look forward to in the future.
◇Honda Kyoya: "Mr. Yamada is extending a helping hand."
--In episode 4, we saw scenes where the distance between Ryo and Keijiro gradually narrowed. Did you discuss how to portray that distance on set?
Yamada: In some scenes, we would coordinate our movements and such, but I didn't want to disrupt the feeling of us acting freely, so we deliberately refrained from having a thorough discussion and saying things like, "Let's do it this way, let's do it that way." Instead, I approached it with the feeling that I would accept Keijiro as played by Hibiki-chan.
Honda: Whenever I'm struggling with a role and want to talk to the director about it, Yamada-san understands all of that and says, "Keijiro is like this," respecting my feelings as well. I think the reason I can act so freely is because Yamada-san extends a helping hand like that.
Yamada: At first glance, the role of Keijiro might seem like something you could do if you were very energetic, but if you only do that, it can come across as too easy, so I kind of understand the difficulty of it. When I think, "Hmm? Maybe..." I try to talk to them about it.
Ms. Honda: You always seem to see right through me and understand everything, so I'm truly grateful!
◇The producer said, "You need to be a little slimmer."
-- How long did you spend preparing your physique for the role of a wheelchair rugby player?
Yamada: When I joined last year, the producer told me, "You need to slim down a bit" (laughs).
Regarding physical training, I'm the type of person who builds muscle relatively easily, but I didn't want to get too big, so I started training to increase the range of motion of my shoulder blades even before joining the team. When paddling a rugby wheelchair, you can transfer more power by coordinating the movement of your shoulder blades as well as your arms, so it's important to be able to use your body flexibly.
Honda: My coach asked me to make my arms and upper body a bit bigger, so I focused on weight training, such as bench press, to build up my physique. I also paid attention to my diet, trying to get as much protein as possible from food, and drinking protein shakes when I couldn't get enough from food.
--What do you find interesting about playing Ryo and Keijiro, and conversely, what do you find challenging?
Yamada: The biggest challenge is that the shooting order is all mixed up. We'd shoot a scene for episode 3, and then, due to scheduling constraints, we'd have to shoot a scene for episode 8, which is towards the end of the series. In those situations, we have to discuss on set each time to organize and align everyone's thoughts on things like the continuity of the scenes before and after, and the current state of the characters' emotions, before we start shooting.
Honda: I also feel that's the most difficult part. On the other hand, what's interesting is that my own personality as Kyohei Honda and the personality of Keijiro that I play are completely opposite. There are things that I would never be able to do as my normal self, but Keijiro can do, and his words, actions, and way of thinking are completely different, so it's fun to play him and I always find it interesting.
◇The reliable presence of Shinichi Tsutsumi
--What kind of interactions do you have with Shinichi Tsutsumi on set?
Yamada: Mr. Tsutsumi has a very broad perspective on the set, and when we're in trouble, he'll give us advice at the very last minute, like saying, "No, let's do it this way," which is really reassuring.
As I play Ryo, the relationship between him and Gotetsu changes a lot after the Memorial Cup in episode 5, and there are many expressions that I can only make because my co-star is Tsutsumi-san. It's presumptuous of me to say this, but he treats me like a friend on a regular basis, so I strongly feel that Ryo and Gotetsu will continue to deepen their bond in this way.
Honda: As Yamada-san said, when we're stuck and stop for a moment, he's quick to offer advice. I think that's really cool, and he always creates an atmosphere where we feel comfortable asking him questions, so I'm very grateful.
He's truly on-set and approachable, which allows us to act freely and comfortably, and I also feel that he's someone we want to follow as a coach for the Bulls.
◇Because of the battle in the Memorial Cup
--In episode 5, the distance between Ryo and Gotetsu, as well as between Keijiro and his teammates, shrinks considerably through the Memorial Cup. What are some of the points to look out for?
Yamada: Whether they win or lose is something you'll have to see for yourself (laughs), but I think the expressions on the Bulls' faces after the game in episode 5, which are completely different from those in episode 1, were truly wonderful.
Throughout the filming process, with each episode, we felt a growing sense of connection to various elements such as wheelchair rugby, the Bulls, and each character. When I think about how everyone carefully built up their individual feelings, and how that led to those triumphant expressions in the post-match scene, I grew to love everyone even more.
This scene in the Memorial Cup makes you feel that the Bulls have come together as a team and are able to move forward to the further developments in the second half of the story, so I hope you will pay close attention to it.
Honda: In the first episode, during the Japan Championship, Keijiro wasn't with the Bulls yet, so the "new Bulls" game at the Memorial Cup was my first game scene.
That's why I feel so attached to this project, and I'm really pleased to see how the long hours the cast members spent developing their characters and training, including the preparation period, have come to fruition. We all worked together as one, so I hope you'll enjoy watching our performances in the match scenes.
