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Animage February 2024 Issue ft. Masato Yano Interview (translation below)

Publication: January 10, 2024 (between episodes 43-44)

"It's time to save the universe."

Up until now, Dagded Dujardin has been playing a game of destroying the planets and life that exist in outer space, calling it "tidying up," by making different beings hate and fight each other. The war between humans and Bugnarak that took place on Chikyu was also due to Dagded's actions.

The succeeding Shugoddam kings were destined to serve Dagded, and Gira's former king and brother, Racules Husty, was also at the mercy of Dagded. However, Racules was carrying out an ambitious plan behind the scenes to overthrow the invulnerable Dagded and save the universe.

Gira, who had inherited Dagded's power, would be trained to obtain the power to kill immortals…to achieve this goal, Racules tried to be a king of evil and tyranny. Gira once confronted Racules, who had said, "People are tools. I am the country," and declared that he would become an evil king. With the brothers belief in saving their people, and daring to go down a false and evil path, it can be said that they have the same underlying motivation.

Although he was sentenced to death, Racules decides to now live as a tool for the Royal Sentai in order to defeat the resurrected Dagded. At last, the paths of Gira, the other members of the Royal Sentai, and Racules cross. The battle against Dagded advances into its final phase!

-Did you find it surprising? Thoughts on Suzume-

"Racules's true objective has finally been revealed, but Yano-san, how much knowledge did you have about Racules's secret?"

Yano: During costume fitting, aside from the Bugnarak, I had heard that there was another enemy, the Uchu King, and that Racules had to play the role of a bad king under his instructions, and that there was a spy in the castle so that the Uchu King was always watching him.

"After understanding the gist of his secret, you played out that role starting from episode 1."

Yano: Right. I wasn't told all the details, but I was in a position where I knew alot more than everyone else did. Still, I knew of future developments, and in the beginning, I played the role wondering if I was going to become an enemy or an ally to Gira and the others. Now, I'm trying to soften my demeanor alittle, hoping to present a genuine image of Racules. In episode 42, there's a scene where he acts like a big brother towards Gira for the first time, but from this point on, I think we'll see more scenes where we can feel that those two are brothers.

"Yano-san mentioned it in another interview, but in episode 42, Gira and Racules fighting together for a common cause was achieved."

Yano: That's right! At the time, when I gave that answer, I didn't know that we'd be fighting together, so my ambitions were achieved. However, while a joint struggle is a joint struggle, Gira is overwhelmingly more powerful than him. The power balance is like, Racules: 10, Gira: 90 (laughs). While it's a very dramatic scene that I like, if possible, I feel that I'd like us to fight together with equal strength.

"Is there anything you're mindful of when expressing your current relationship with Gira?"

Yano: I haven't changed anything in particular from before, but I feel that the atmosphere between the two of us has softened considerably. As for Racules, he'll no longer have to play the role of a bad king, and he won't have to oppose Gira.

"Then, have your impressions of Sakai Taisei-san, who plays Gira, changed?"

Yano: I worked together with Sakai-kun on another production before we appeared in King-Ohger, and I think that he's become very strong. Around the first episode, it felt like he had alot of work to do, and that he was doing his best to learn. However, by the time I came back from my early exit, the look in his eyes had changed. I could see from his behavior that his position was to lead others, and that he was starting to look more like a leader.

"In the interview from the previous issue, we heard from Kaku So-san that the speech scene in episode 34, in which Racules was revived, was met with applause on the film set."

Yano: Everyone likes to imitate Racules's self introduction. I think that was the first time in a long time that I announced myself, so they were like, "Whoa, it's really him!" (laughs).

"It's like if during an impersonation show, the actual person appeared (laughs). What do you consider to be important in your dialogue with Kaguragi, who's played by Kaku-san?"

Yano: Kakkun (Kaku-san) has appeared in Taiga dramas, has a well built body, and his line delivery is also impressive. I clash with him seriously, and although Kakkun also responds, I try to be considerate about it. At times like those, I sometimes consult with him and ask, "Would you prefer if I did this way?"

"The scenes with Suzume, Kaguragi's sister and Racules's wife, are impressive for showing a different side to him than usual."

Yano: Racules doesn't often get closely involved with female characters. When a partner is as close to me as Suzume is, there's a part of me that feels embarrassed as Masato Yano. I think that Racules probably has something like that too, so I feel like I'm expressing a mixture of my feelings and Racules's feelings (laughs). In Suzume's case, I was impressed by the line he says to her in episode 42, "Meeting you was the greatest luck of my life." Does Racules trust Suzume? Does he have romantic feelings for her? I wasn't sure about either. When I saw that line in the script, I thought that Racules was quite devoted to Suzume, and that there was an element of true love for her.

"Was it unexpected that Racules had those feelings for Suzume?"

Yano: I think so. I thought that even if he had romantic feelings for her, he wouldn't express them in words, so it felt like an unexpected side to him.

-Joining forces with Gira, whose feelings overlap-

"Do you have any memorable interactions with Imai Yasuhiko-san, the Suit Actor in charge of OhkuwagataOhger?"

Yano: I often consult with Imai-san on the spot about the untransformed action scenes. He's very kind and answers everything I ask. In the second trial by combat scene (episode 20), there's an untransformed action scene with Gira. I worked on it while talking with Imai-san, Action Director Watanabe Jun-san, and Shige-san (Ito Shigeki-san), who plays KuwagataOhger. I also have fond memories of Imai-san using an air blower from the action department to blow air onto my back during filming. It was very hot that day, and because Racules's costume was designed to prevent heat from escaping, it was difficult. The makeup artists and production staff also used large fans to blow air, but the blower Imai-san brought with him made me feel much better and was very helpful.

"It's the kind of wisdom only a Suit Actor can offer."

Yano: Yes. It was my first experience putting an air blower inside my costume (laughs).

"Other than Racules, if you had to name your favorite character, who would it be?"

Yano: That's a tough one……This is going to be a pretty bland answer, but it's Reiniol. Reiniol's (costume) decorations are more dignified and flashy than that of Gira, Racules, and Causus, his father, also played by Nakamura Shido-san. In the wedding scene with Suzume (episode 20), I wore the gorgeous cape that Reiniol wore, but I felt that it was still too early for me (bitter smile). When I get alittle older, I'd like to play a role similar to Reiniol.

"Including filming and events such as the first pitch ceremony, please tell us about any memorable memories you had while working on King-Ohger."

Yano: Kakkun may be older than me, but it was great to stay involved with cast members who were younger than me for an entire year. I haven't had much experience with that, and even when I was in my early 20s, I spent my life as an actor with few opportunities to play student roles and such. It was fun for me to work with younger people on the same production. I think the first pitch you mentioned earlier was something I was able to do because I appeared in King-Ohger. It was very emotional for me to stand on the mound of Seibu Dome (currently Belluna Dome), where I used to go and watch baseball games with my father.

"For Yano-san, this production was a valuable experience."

Yano: Yeah. The fact that I was able to transform into a Sentai hero, and a silver one at that, gives it a special feeling. Actually, in my second or third year of elementary school, I appeared in "Kamen Rider" (Agito, episode 4). At that time, my role was that of a child being killed by the enemy, but now, I'm the one who transforms and protects them from enemies, which is pretty amazing.

"I sense a strange connection. From the episodes so far, which scenes have left the strongest impression on you?"

Yano: It's episode 42, where Gira and Racules fight against Dagded together. Even though he's attacked by Dagded and is about to die from being pierced by the sword, he asks Gira one final question. Since his revival, he hasn't had a chance to properly interact with Gira, so I was acting with the feeling of "do your best" not only to Gira, but also to Sakai-kun.

"In a sense, was it a scene where Racules and Yano-san's feelings for Gira and Sakai-san overlapped?"

Yano: Yeah, that might be it.

"Finally, please tell us about some future highlights."

Yano: The climax is approaching, and every episode until the final episode is full of highlights, but there'll be "break" episodes inbetween. There's a mysterious episode that makes me think, "Is it really okay to have such an exciting episode now?" (laughs). While everyone is playing a certain game, Racules becomes the referee. I feel like he looks more like Masato Yano than Racules (laughs). There was a previous episode (episode 11) that depicted Racules in everyone's imagination. I feel like you can watch it with a similar feeling to that one, so I'd like to mention it as a highlight (laughs). _

Question from Kaku So-san! (Kaguragi Dybowski's Actor)

Q: Why do you think Shugo Mask's mask makes noises, and that he has a raspy voice even though his mouth is sticking out?

I was also surprised when I saw the broadcast (laughs). The Director of that story (Kato Hiroyuki-san) likes comedic elements, so I think that's why he intentionally chose that kind of direction. As for my own theory, it's that the mouth of the mask is actually covered with some kind of transparent screen. There's various types of technology in the world of King-Ohger. Since he's actually speaking through a screen, you can hear the sound of his breathing, and his voice is different than usual……so, what do you think? (laughs). (-Yano)

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