UTA, the eldest son of actor Masahiro Motoki and essayist Yayako Uchida, and a model himself, appeared at a launch event for the Netflix series "The Human Vapor" (streaming from July 2nd) held in Tokyo on June 29th. UTA, who made his acting debut in the series, said with a fresh expression, "This is my first time doing a stage greeting, so I hope to get used to it slowly."
The series is a reboot of the 1960 special effects film "The Human Vapor" (directed by Ishiro Honda), a collaboration between Netflix and Toho. It will air in eight episodes.
UTA will play the Gas Man, the perpetrator of a previous murder case in which people suddenly swelled up and exploded. He can freely transform his body into gas and pass through any obstacle.
The event kicked off with UTA's appearance, dressed as a gas man. "I was so nervous I could barely breathe while I was getting ready. Since I work as a model, I walked the runway with the feeling of being in a fashion show (laughs)," he revealed.
Reflecting on the filming that took place about two years ago, he said, "I got to do something for the first time in my life that I had never done before. I worked closely with the director to create the bizarre and mysterious 'gas man,' consulting on everything from the makeup to the way he walked and spoke. Every day was a learning experience."
Co-star Yutaka Takenouchi gave his seal of approval, saying, "UTA was absolutely perfect for the role. This is definitely a film that will be enjoyed all over the world," to which UTA responded with a smile, "Thank you, Mr. Takenouchi."
The event featured appearances by Shun Oguri Oguri, Yu Aoi, Suzu Hirose, Kento Hayashi, executive producer Yeon Sang-ho, and director Shinzo Katayama.
