Ai Mikami, the actor playing Juri Kosaka, the son of Countess Chikako Izumi (Yukie Nakama), a patient of Rin (Mikami), in the NHK morning drama series "Kaze,Kaoru" (NHK General, Monday-Saturday 8:00 AM, etc.), which stars Ai Mikami and Juri Uesaka, spoke about his feelings on his first appearance in a Asadora, what he learned on set, and his future goals.
◇Excited about co-starring with Yukie Nakama: "It really boosted my spirits."
Arai reflected on her feelings when she was cast in "Kaze,Kaoru," saying, "I was surprised that the day would come when I would actually appear in a Asadora, which I had watched regularly since I was a child."
"It didn't quite sink in, and when I imagined the first day of filming, I wondered, 'Will I be okay?' At the same time, I was excited, so I had a mix of anxiety and anticipation. I thought about how I could be involved in Rin and Naomi's (Uesaka's) story, and how I could make my performance interesting, and I approached the filming hoping to be a good addition."
Arai described his impression of Yukie Nakama, who plays his mother, as "someone from television." Having watched many of Nakama's shows since childhood, such as "Gokusen" (Nippon Television Network) and "TRICK" (TV Asahi), Arai expressed his delight, saying, "I was so happy and excited to have the opportunity to co-star with such an amazing person."
"Once I'm on set, I try to completely erase the feeling of 'Oh, this is someone I've seen on TV!' So, with the intention of learning as much as I can from a senior colleague who is at the forefront of the same industry, I was glued to the monitor watching Nakama-san's performance."
Since I was playing the role of Nakama-san's daughter, we communicated a lot even between takes.
"She talked to me a lot, and she's a very gentle and kind person, but when she acts, she completely immerses herself in the role without wavering...that was very impressive. Ms. Nakama complimented me, saying, 'Your skin is beautiful. Tell me what you use,' which made me happy (laughs). We didn't have many scenes together, but I think we were able to get closer to the feeling of being mother and daughter through the casual conversations we had between takes."
◇What inspired you to become an actor?
Arai was born on June 16, 1999, and is a 26-year-old from Miyagi Prefecture. He won the grand prize at "CAMPUS BOYS 2022," a contest to determine Japan's best male university student, which led to him joining his current agency and starting his acting career.
Arai decided to participate in the contest after a friend with whom she had played basketball since childhood became a player in the professional basketball league "B.LEAGUE," and she watched him play.
"In October of my senior year of university, I went to watch a game of a friend who plays in the B.League, and I was genuinely moved, thinking, 'That's so cool.' Until then, I had never even considered entering the entertainment industry, but the inspiration and courage I received from my friend through the game made me strongly want to become someone who could inspire many people and do work that could have an impact. So, as soon as I got home, I searched on my computer and found a contest called 'CAMPUS BOYS,' and I applied without hesitation."
When asked why he wanted to become an actor, he said, "I'm the youngest of five siblings. I grew up in a fairly strict household, but my parents allowed me to move to Tokyo to attend university. I thought that if I was going to Tokyo anyway, I'd rather have experiences that I could only have at my current age than just drift through everyday life. Just as I was moved and inspired by watching my friends play, I would be happy if I could become someone who can move the hearts of many people. That's why I decided to try acting."
"During my student days, I was the captain of the basketball team, so I was able to oversee the entire team. I believe that my insight has been honed through all of that experience. I think that insight is what helps me to read the atmosphere on set and to behave appropriately on set as an actor."
◇My future goal is "to star in movies and dramas."
After making his acting debut, he gained experience in various works, and last July he made his first regular appearance in a TV drama series, "School of love." (Fuji TV). He garnered attention for his excellent portrayal of Tsubasa Kamon, the number one host.
Arai has been steadily climbing the ladder as an actor, appearing as a regular in TV dramas and in Asadora. When asked about his future aspirations, he replied, "I want to become a trustworthy actor who can take on leading roles in movies and dramas."
"When I appeared in 'Ai no Gakkou,' I felt that I was very well trained on set. Being able to complete the task without hesitation boosted my confidence. I would be happy if I could one day become a trusted actor who can take on leading roles in dramas and movies. Ultimately, my dream is to stand on the stage of the Japan Academy Prize. To achieve that, I want to carefully approach each job I am given and grow as an actor."
Finally, regarding the highlights of "Kaze,Kaoru," he said, "I hope you will pay attention to Rin and Naomi as they grow throughout the story. I also appear as a young nobleman from the Meiji era. I approached the filming with the goal of becoming a character that would have a positive impact on the story, so I hope you will watch it without missing anything."
