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Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger Character Book: The Bonds Connected by Moffun and Racules?! Main Cast Member Interviews (translations below, long post)

(other pages)

Murakami Erica x Hirakawa Yuzuki x Hasegawa Kasumi

"Since this is a roundtable discussion, please introduce each other. Let's have Murakami-san with Morfonia, Hirakawa-san with Hymeno, and Hasegawa-san with Rita."

Hirakawa: Hymeno Ran is the queen of Ishabana, she's a beautifully gorgeous, strong and cool woman. Also, she's very compassionate…

Hasegawa: (to Murakami, in a low voice) This is pretty embarrassing.

Murakami: It's not about me, it's about the role I play.

Hirakawa: …If there's someone in trouble, she'll always reach out to them. She's a person who focuses on what she wants to protect and the path she believes she should take, and then pushes forward toward that goal.

Murakami: Morfonia is the retainer for Gokkan's king, Rita Kaniska. She works together with Rita, but is a lazy slacker who hates her job.

Hasegawa: (staring intensely at Murakami)

Hirakawa: She's mad (laughs).

Murakami: She also says, "I'm going home" as soon as the work day is over, but when it comes to Rita, she can become alittle emotional, and she watches over Rita and can't leave them alone.

Hasegawa: Rita Kaniska is the king of Gokkan and the Supreme Court Justice…..wait, that's not right.

Hirakawa: The Chief Judge of the International Court of Justice

Hasegawa: Right, the Chief Judge of the International Court of Justice. It's hard just saying it out loud again (laughs). At a glance, they appear strong, dignified, and unmoved by anything, but they're probably the most human among all the members of the Royal Sentai, or rather, they have alot of weaknesses…..they're cute (laughs). At the start of the broadcast, Rita stubbornly insisted about being strong and being equal, but as they came into contact with the kings, Morfonia, and various other people, they learned how to rely on others. In a real sense, I think they're getting stronger.

Murakami: Amazing. It's like there's nothing you don't know about Rita.

Hasegawa: (laughs). I think Rita will become stronger in the future by showing more of their vulnerabilities, so I'd like to see Rita like that….I'm just saying what Morfonia is thinking! (laughs). Regardless, Rita is a wonderful person.

"Next, in regards to the other two, we'd like to hear about the similarities and differences between them and the character they play."

Hirakawa: Marie (Murakami) is as elegant as a princess in her gestures, speech and actions. Also, she's strong and cool. Although, she's not as selfish as Hymeno.

Murakami: Eh~?

Hirakawa: She seems to be very similar to Hymeno, but Marie likes to mess around more than I expected, so I guess that part's alittle different. You like talking with everyone, right?

Murakami: I like it.

Hirakawa: When Hymeno sees everyone messing around, I feel like she'd say something like, "How childish…"

Hasegawa: I wonder, does Hymeno want to be around where banter is going on?

Murakami: I think she'd be strong and say, "I don't want to join in." That's definitely the opposite of me.

Hirakawa: Marie has a playful side, and I think that the description of "cute" fits her well. In reality, I think she tends to be described as "cool."

Murakami: Things like, "She's just like a ViVi Model" and such? (*fashion magazine)

Hirakawa: That's right. Of course there are many cool things about her, but I get the impression that she has more of a cute side. Also, I wonder if Morfonia and Kasumin (Hasegawa) are the opposite. Or atleast, the exact opposite when it comes to work. She definitely doesn't have an attitude of not wanting to do anything.

Hasegawa: Well, it's work (laughs).

Hirakawa: Kasumin is older than me, but she speaks from my point of view, so it's easy to talk to her. I think Kasumin is alot like Morfonia in the sense that she adjusts to the people around her, not just with me. She goes at her own pace, and also feels "floaty," which is just like Morfonia.

Hasegawa: I recently learned that I'm a person who likes to go at my own pace (laughs). I didn't think that was the case….

Hirakawa: I basically go at my own pace, but I can adapt to others depending on the situation.

"Now then Murakami-san, we'd like to ask you about Hirakawa-san and Rita, and Hasegawa-san and Morfonia."

Murakami: Yuzuyan (Hirakawa) and Rita are similar in that they're both dignified and unafraid. Also, Rita is the unmovable king who is "quiet", but Yuzuyan is a "movable" person (laughs). In episode 28, Rita and Yanma's bodies were swapped, and Rita, who had Yanma's personality, was just Yuzuyan's usual self. I think that difference is also appealing.

Hirakawa: I'd agree that I'm "the king of hyperactivity." It's really true (laughs).

Murakami: Kasumin and Morfonia are similar in that they both end their words in cute ways. Morfonia says things like "Sow~wy" but Kasumin also says things like "I'm sor~ry" (in a cute way), and the way they speak is abit similar, they also share the same loose slurring of their speech. Like Yuzuyan said, the difference is that Morfonia doesn't take her work too seriously.

Hasegawa: Now then, it's my turn. Hirakawa Yuzuki is a person who has the mindset that she has to behave herself in front of others, and is thinking about alot of things in her head. I guess she's similar to Rita in that respect. The difference is that she's "movable" (laughs).

Murakami: You're right about that.

Hasegawa: The only time Hirakawa Yuzuki is calm is when she's sleeping in the dressing room. When she's not talking to anyone….

Hirakawa: Is there ever a time when I'm not talking?

Hasegawa: Not really I guess (laughs). And then there's Marie and Hymeno. It might just be my imagination, but I think Marie has a firm idea of what she wants to be and how she wants to live her life. Isn't it the same way with Hymeno? Another similarity is that they're both beautiful. Her gestures, or rather her movements are so beautiful! I'm not sure how to describe it…..

Hirakawa: Picturesque?

Hasegawa: Right! It's picturesque!

Murakami: Uw~ow, I love that~ (laughs).

Hasegawa: Me too~ (laughs). I think that they're similar in that way, and I think she's a perfect fit for the role of Hymeno. The difference is that, like Yuzuchin mentioned, when there's a lively gathering, Hymeno is like, "I won't get involved with that," while Marie is like, "Let me in! Let me in!"

Hirakawa: Marie is adorable.

Hasegawa: Yeah, she's cute. Similar to Hymeno, she's also kind and attentive. Hymeno tries to be strong and not let it show.

"Now, we'd like to know how you interpret what the character you're playing thinks about the other two characters. For example, Hirakawa-san, if you could tell us what Rita thinks about Hymeno and Morfonia."

Hirakawa: Rita sees Hymeno as the closest thing to a friend among all the kings. They can't say for sure yet that, "This person is my friend", but their relationship definitely isn't just that they're kings to each other. Compared to the beginning, they can tolerate Hymeno's selfish personality. At first, Rita didn't necessarily reject Hymeno's behavior, but they didn't even try to understand them. They didn't have enough interest in not only Hymeno, but all the kings to want to understand them. But now, their stance is that they want to understand her feelings. They've developed a sense of camaraderie with everyone, and among them, Hymeno has become the person they want to understand the most.

"In episode 30, Hymeno called them a "friend," how do you imagine Rita felt about that?"

Hirakawa: I think they were happy. Rita is stopped by Hymeno when they try to seal away Grodie, the enemy of Karras, former king of Gokkan, as well as Hymeno's parents. While I was acting, I had about a 5% feeling that I wanted someone to stop them. I think that Hymeno, who actually stopped them, became a very special person, different from Morfonia. And since sealing him would freeze Rita as well, it can be said that she saved their life. After Hymeno stopped Rita, she told them, "(about Grodie) We'll defeat him. We'll do it together." Having someone who says, "Together," must be a great source of support for Rita.

"Regarding Morfonia, you previously said in the interview for "Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger Character Book: We're KING!!!!!!" that "For someone who finds their work to be a bother, she's a hard worker," but what about now?"

Hirakawa: Lately, Rita doesn't suppress their emotions so much in front of Morfonia anymore. They used to feel that they had to behave properly in front of Morfonia, that they couldn't let their retainer see them acting strange, but now I think they seem to recognize her as their partner. She has the utmost trust in Rita, that she will not leave their side no matter what, and that she will believe in Rita, even if they're accused of committing a crime

"Murakami-san, what do you think the two of them are like from Hymeno's point of view?"

Murakami: Hymeno's very excited that they recognize her as their friend.

Hirakawa: Are you also excited?

Murakami: Yeah. Because they're Hymeno's first friend. Hymeno lost her parents when she was young and became queen, and I don't think she had anyone she could talk to as an equal, but Rita is able to express their opinions to her. I think the reason why she invited Rita to tea in episode 30 was because she was excited that Rita, who she considers her first friend, came all the way to Ishabana. Rita's presence in Hymeno's life has grown, and a childlike feeling of happiness is building up inside her. Until now, Rita was just one of the kings, but now that they have a common enemy, they've grown closer and have become friends. I think this is a very happy relationship for Hymeno. I think Morfonia is recognized as an understanding person who is with Rita all the time, who as a friend, helps improve Rita's well being. There's a scene in episode 38 when Rita was having an idol audition, and although Hymeno doesn't often talk with the other members of the royal entourage, she was having a normal conversation with Morfonia as an equal. Hymeno was able to do that because she knows that she's a good and understanding friend. She probably met her more than other members of the king's entourage, and I think that in Hymeno's mind, Morfonia is a friend of a friend.

"On the other hand, How does Morfonia view Rita?"

Hasegawa: It's possible that she doesn't view Rita as a king. Her feelings are of parental love, rather than loyalty. They're just so cute that she can't stand it. Yuzuchin said that Morfonia would always be on Rita's side, which is the same as how I feel regarding my own parents. Of course, they're not a child (laughs), but they're her work partner, and is someone she wants to watch over all the time.

"Morfonia is also Rita's potential successor, so the relationship between the king and their retainer is quite different from that of the other countries. Gokkan has practically no people to rule over."

Hirakawa: If you think about it, it's only just the two of them.

Hasegawa: That's true.

Hirakawa: They're in a situation where they have no one to rely on but each other.

"How does Morfonia view Hymeno, the king of another country?"

Hasegawa: My own interpretation is that at first Hymeno was just like the other kings, and Morfonia honestly didn't care about her (laugh). However, when she found out that Hymeno was someone who understood Rita and became their friend, she felt happy, but she also felt like she couldn't let go of her feelings and be too pleased about it. It's kind of like the loneliness you feel when your child is about to leave your care…..But, while Hymeno may look like a selfish and troublesome person at first glance, she is in fact a kind and gentle person who is always looking out for those around her. If such a person were standing beside Rita and stirring them up, it would make Rita feel more human, and that they could live an easier life. In fact, I think they'd probably feel grateful.

"When performing with the people here, do you have any discussions about your performance or anything you need to be careful about?"

Murakami: When I'm in a scene with Yuzuyan, I try to clearly tell her, "Your spot is over here, and I'm right here." Yuzuyan's face is mostly hidden due to her costume and makeup, so her visibility is poor….Even in the scene in episode 36 where we did ballroom dancing, I said, "My hand's here. Don't worry, I'll move first."

Hirakawa: It's not just about having a performance plan, it's simply that I can't see (laughs). Even when we danced, I couldn't see her, so I had to remember her position before I could hold her hand.

Murakami: But, the only thing we talk about before acting is confirming those moves. I almost never have meetings related to acting. We both perform with what we have, and I think that brings out the best in each of us and has created the relationship we have now.

Hirakawa: The kings are just a clash of personalities, aren't they? That's why when we start talking, we all get together, or rather, we get strangely grouped together. I think it'd be better if the kings just expressed their own ideas instead of talking to each other, giving the impression that the kings were doing whatever they wanted. If we talk and try to get closer, then maybe…

Murakami: It wouldn't be interesting. We only talked about each other's roles during the body swap episode (episode 28). That episode was a great opportunity for me to learn things about each character that I didn't know before.

Hasegawa: Yuzuchin and I would talk alittle before shooting a scene between Morfonia and Rita. We both think alot about what kind of performance we want to do, and then we talk about it and make sure we have the same understanding.

Hirakawa: Ultimately, the understanding of what we want to do and what we want to convey in the scene has to align.

Hasegawa: Just don't go overboard……

Hirakawa: We're on the borderline

Hasegawa: Yeah. I remember having to decide for some important scenes.

Hirakawa: In episodes 10 and 25, regarding the scenes with just Rita and Morfonia, I'd say, "I'm thinking of doing it this way, but what about you Kasumin?" We tried it once, and if it wasn't right, we'd come to a good compromise. We also talked about the kabedon scene in episode 25. Morfonia's trying to escape from Rita's room, and at first Rita grabbed her arm and tried to hold her back, but then I thought, "Rita doesn't pull people's arms, do they?" I thought that if they did, it would give the impression that she was used to being restrained.

Hasegawa: We talked about how it'd be better if they were more clumsy.

Hirakawa: I wanted to express Rita's clumsiness due to their lack of human relationships, but I also wanted it to look cute. As a result, they ended up doing a kabedon.

Hasegawa: However, we don't always talk about the performance in detail.

Hirakawa: We don't talk about specifics like, "Let's do this at this moment," but rather about the nuance of matching the groove. When we need to pay attention to our movements, we communicate specifically to each other. Things like, "I'm going to put my hand here when I hit the wall, so be careful."

Hasegawa: For the kabedon scene, the staff behind the wall were trying to keep it together (laughs).

Murakami: They were holding back! The only scenes involving Hymeno and Morfonia was in episode 38, where they had a conversation, but that was about it…..

Hasegawa: I'd like to talk to you alittle more.

Murakami: I think I could if there was a time to visit Rita. Maybe Hymeno would ask Morfonia, "Prepare some tea" and she would respond in a slightly disgruntled voice, "Eh~?" (laughs).

Hasegawa: (in Morfonia's voice) "Is cocoa okay~?"

Murakami: (in Hymeno's voice) "Ishabana has black tea, but Gokkan's tea time is cocoa, huh? Hmmm~"

Hirakawa: I started this (laughs).

"We'd like to ask about any particularly memorable moments or scenes so far."

Hirakawa: I liked episode 10.

Hasegawa: Me too. There's the scene where Morfonia says, "I want to be with you," through the giant Moffun plushie.

Hirakawa: Rita was vulnerable for the first time…..

Hasegawa: Morfonia also stepped into Rita's mind for the first time.

Hirakawa: We were both still getting a feel for each other, but it was the moment when we tried to come out of our shells by telling each other how we really felt, and it was also the moment when our relationship started to change. After filming episode 10, Kasumin and I became closer.

Murakami: As I said before, Hymeno and Morfonia don't really interact, so it's hard to name any memorable scenes…I'd like a scene together with Morfonia by Takamina Sensei (screenwritter Takano Minato). Please! (laughs). I think episode 16 is the one that left an impression on me due to the interaction between Hymeno and Rita. Rita turned to Hymeno to get to the bottom of the murder of Karras, Rita's former king, from 15 years prior. Hymeno is a king who's full of hospitality as a doctor, so she's very happy when asked to do something for them. Furthermore, it was a big deal for Hymeno to be trusted by an equal king, and from there, she and Rita started working together to get to the root of the incident. After the truth was revealed, there's a scene at the end where Hymeno gave Rita a rare good called the "Chibi Moffun Premium," and I think that was the beginning of Hymeno's excited state of mind (laughs).

Hirakawa: She was so excited when she left the Chibi Moffun in front of Rita's room.

Murakami: She was so excited. It was her first time making a friend, so she couldn't help but be happy.

Hasegawa: That scene was great. Rita really wants the Chibi Moffun Premium, but they refused with, "I'm neutral," and won't accept the gift, so Hymeno tells them, "Then throw it away. It's garbage. It doesn't matter what you do with garbage, right?" and then leaves. Then, Rita accepts the gift and mumbles, "Thank you." I thought that Rita's understanding person had appeared.

Murakami: I'd say it was Hymeno's forceful kindness, knowing that Rita wouldn't accept it as a gift. In episode 3, which was Hymeno's main episode, there were multiple scenes where this forceful kindness is shown, and even if it doesn't appear that way on the surface, Hymeno often acts with the other person in mind. On the other hand, there's something about Rita that makes her want to do something for them, and that builds up from episode 16. In episode 30, Rita comes to Ishabana again, and they interact by inviting them to tea. As they deepened their relationship, Rita's presence within Hymeno grew. In episode 38, she was so moved by Rita's stage presence that she cried and cheered for them.

Hirakawa: That episode was amazing. The script said something like, "Rita will perform a spectacular dance," and for that one line, we had to put together a large set and have a large number of extras gather…..They filmed with four cameras, which is quite alot.

Hasegawa: We usually use alot of green screen, so it's normally one camera!

Hirakawa: I was nervous when I heard voices saying "Camera's rolling" from four different places~!

Murakami: It was much bigger than I had imagined from reading the script, and I got the sense that this is what happens when adults get serious. Going back to Hymeno in that episode, she thought Rita's dream was to become an idol and said, "I'll be the producer, you be the idol!" She can't leave Rita alone, so in true Hymeno fashion, she tries to drag Rita along in the way she wants. I think that kind of uniqueness to Hymeno came out.

Hasegawa: The ending of that episode made me happy. There's a scene where Morfonia says to Rita, "I think it's okay to be yourself in front of your friends."

Hirakawa: It was also good that there was some adlibbing. In the script, it ends with Morfonia saying "I…I like you," but Rita didn't hear it, so they said, "You were just complaining, right?," to which she replied, "It's okay if you didn't hear."

Hasegawa: It was a nice scene. Gokkan looked warm.

"Let's also ask a question unrelated to your roles. You've been calling each other by your nicknames for awhile now, but what do you usually call each other?"

Murakami: I'm often called "Marie" on set, as well as from these two. I call Hirakawa-san "Yuzuyan."

Hasegawa: I call Hirakawa-san "Yuzuchin."

Hirakawa: Hasegawa-san is "Kasumin."

Hasegawa: At the beginning of filming, when the three of us were in the dressing room, I remember asking, "What would you like to be called?"

Hirakawa: That's right! At that time, I was already calling Murakami-san Marie.

Hasegawa: I said, "Who's Marie?" (laughs). From then on, I also called her Marie.

Hirakawa: I also asked Hasegawa-san, "What should I call you?" and she said, "People often call me Kasumin," so I decided I'd call her that too.

Murakami: When we first met, I called you "Yuzuki-chan." I think I said, "Yuzuki-chan, you're good at remembering directions."

Hirakawa: I also used "Erica-chan"! Uwah…..it doesn't feel right anymore (laughs). It feels like, "Wow"

Murakami: It's nostalgic (laughs).

"We'd like to know about any unexpected aspects of the other two that you've discovered between photo shoots or in your private life."

Hirakawa: Since we're always together, we have a common understanding.

Hasegawa: Ummm~, Hirakawa Yuzuki actually likes glasses.

Hirakawa: I love them!

Hasegawa: Those who know me know that I like glasses, but Yuzuchin also likes them.

Hirakawa: When Marie makes a joke, she gives a look that says, "I'm going to make a joke now, so please laugh."

Murakami: Ah~! I only get silly in front of people like Kaku-san, who definitely pick up my jokes (laughs). Yuzuyan will also definitely respond to them. She accepts them so willingly, that I end up getting carried away. For Kasumi-san, there was something strange in the book she was reading the other day. It was called "The Complete History of Sapiens."

Hasegawa: Ao-tan, who plays Yanma, told me, "It's interesting."

Murakami: The fans probably didn't know that we're reading such books, huh?

Hirakawa: Ah! Speaking of Kasumin, she really likes patterned items, like on clothes and such.

Hasegawa: That's true, I might have alot of things.

Hirakawa: You also like embroidery, don't you?

Hasegawa: I love embroidery! The cushions in my house have embroidery on them. I never thought about it until you mentioned it.

"Finally, we'd like to get a title suggestion for this Character Book."

Murakami: "Moffun and the Delightful Friends"?

Hirakawa: "The Bonds Connected by Moffun"

Hasegawa: That's good, that's good! We didn't take any pictures with him, but it looks like Racules will be making an appearance, so "Racules" should also be included.

Murakami: The relationship between these three people is centered around Rita.

Hirakawa: Then, how about, "The Miracle Connected by Rita"?……I thought about it, but it's not a good idea not to include the names of Hymeno and Morfonia.

Hasegawa: I hope it can give off a feeling of taking a step towards friendship.

Hirakawa: I think we've given you alot of hints, so please come up with a great title! (laughs).

Kaku So x Kamura Mami x Masato Yano

"Since this is the long awaited roundtable discussion, please introduce yourself with a role that you're not playing. We've prepared a lottery with the names of all the characters, so please draw and tell us about the role written on it."

Kaku: I got…..Racules? If I were to describe with one saying the character of Racules Husty, played by Yano-chan, it'd be that he's charismatically evil.

Kamura: Oh~ (applauding).

Kaku: His fans are extremely enthusiastic, which is understandable. When he makes an appearance, the atmosphere changes. Viewers often say, "It gives off the atmosphere of a night time drama." I get the impression that he spices up and enhances this production.

Yano: That makes me happy! Now, I'll introduce Suzume Dybowski. She's the cute younger sister of Kaguragi Dybowski and is also a schemer. Also, in episode 20, there was the wedding scene with Racules, and I thought that wedding dress looked really good on her.

Kamura: Yay~! (laughs).

Yano: Suzume said she liked Racules in the first chapter (episodes 1-26), but behind the scenes she was working for Kaguragi, I also wasn't sure, did she really have feelings for Racules or not? However, in the second chapter, there are many depictions that make you feel that it's real love. The scenes involving Racules and Suzume are always abit embarrassing for me, like when we look at each other (laughs).

Kamura: Next, I'll introduce Kaguragi. He's the lord of Toufu, but you can say he's a character in the gray area…..

Kaku: He's not very hero like (laughs).

Kamura: Right, there's a reverse side. But, he loves his sister, and he loves Toufu. He's a very cool king who dirties himself and lies for the sake of his country.

Kaku: Thank you so much.

Kamura: It's wonderful that he's able to tell lies and keep with it. King-Ohger is a show for children, and perhaps it should be portrayed that it's not good to lie. But, everything he does is for the good of the country and his people, and there's no lie in that. I like that he has a strong core and doesn't hesitate. Lying is part of being a "man" that ultimately makes them feel cool.

"Next, regarding the other two, please tell us about the differences and similarities between their role and themselves."

Kaku: Yano-chan is a very playful person. We joke around with each other between takes. He's also very funny. That's one of the things that separate him from Racules.

Yano: There are times when I feel like I'm just screwing around (laughs). If I only give off the impression of my role, people will think I'm a scary person.

Kaku: Suzume is the opposite of Racules, and is always smiling, which is something she shares with Kamura-san. But, you're not a schemer, right?

Kamura: I'm not (laughs).

Yano: I don't know. A schemer wouldn't admit, "I'm a schemer" (laughs). But my intuition tells me that Kamura-san and Suzume are close. (to Kamura) What do you think about Kaguragi and Kakkun (Kaku)?

Kamura: I wonder…(thinks for a moment). As her older brother, Kaguragi is always kind to Suzume-chan. I think they're similar. I think there's a sense of security.

Kaku: The only time Kaguragi shows real kindness is when it comes to Suzume. He always seems to be thinking about how to trick other people.

"Kamura-san, do you think there are any similarities between Yano-san and Racules?"

Kamura: Any similarities…

Yano: Well, it's a difficult question because you probably don't even know that much about what kind of person Masato Yano usually is.

Kamura: That's true, I don't really know Yano-san that well privately.

Kaku: All three of us, Chiwata Yuhei-kun, who plays Shiokara, and Hasegawa Kasumi-san, who plays Morfonia, all cast members in our 30s, went out to eat wanko soba (small bowls of soba eaten quickly, is immediately refilled, and repeated).

"Wanko soba?!"

Yano: That's the kind of reaction we get (laughs). It's not simply, "We went out to eat soba."

Kamura: I'm from Iwate Prefecture, so a conversation started of, "What kind of specialties are from there?"

Kaku: We were all excited saying, "Wanko soba is famous," "I've never had it before" and "Alright, let's go everyone!" That day, we ate wanko soba, walked around Yokohama Chinatown, and had our fortunes told.

Yano: I didn't enjoy it properly. I ate way too much wanko soba… (laughs).

Kaku & Kamura: (laughs).

Yano: My stomach was so full I couldn't think straight. I think I ate about 130 bowls. Kakkun ate about 150 bowls, right?

Kaku: I could've eaten more if I wanted to, and I was totally fine! That was a fun day. It's become a good memory.

"From Yano-san's point of view, do you see any similarities between Kaku-san, Kamura-san and the characters they play?"

Yano: Kaguragi's alittle scary, and I don't know what he's thinking behind that smile. But, is Kakkun easy to understand? (laughs). I think it shows on his face. Also, Kaguragi is kind only to Suzume, but Kakkun is kind to everyone. As for Kamura-san, I don't really know what kind of person she is, but I thought she wasn't that far off from Suzume…but now that I look at her face, I don't recognize her anymore.

Kamura: Eh? Why's that?

Yano: No, I think it resembles Suzume after all. Kamura-san is always smiling, just like Suzume, but I don't know what she's actually thinking (laughs).

"Continuing, we'd like to ask you about your perception of each other's characters. First, how do you think Kaguragi sees Racules?"

Kaku: At this point in time, there are some things I don't understand either. Racules, who was thought to have died after falling off a cliff in episode 20, reappeared in episode 34, but in reality, I'm wondering if Kaguragi actually knew that Racules was alive and had been colluding with him all along or not.

Yano: I'm definitely curious.

Kaku: Even in the interactions between the two of them so far, it's not clear how far in advance their actions were based. In the beginning, I thought that Kaguragi was playing political games with Racules for Toufu's sake, but I have a strong feeling that it's not the only reason. Furthermore, I was also aware that Suzume's love for Racules was just her acting for the sake of the country, but as the episode progressed, I came to believe that she was serious (laughs). I think Kaguragi's feelings are that he's shocked because she's his precious little sister, and he hates the idea of Racules and Suzume getting married, but he also wants to congratulate them. I can't help but feel that his feelings are similar to those of a father watching over his daughter who is about to get married.

Kamura: Fa~ther!

"Yano-san, what do you think Racules thinks about Kaguragi and Suzume? By the way, do you know what will happen next?"

Yano: Somewhat……

Kamura: Hmmm?~

Kaku: (in a monotone voice) What's gonna happen?

Yano: No, no, I can't say (laughs).

Kaku: You always keep your lips sealed.

Yano: People tend to say that, but the more I say, "I don't know," the more they think I definitely know (laughs).

Kaku: Maybe it's because of the way you sometimes smile with a sence of sarcasm? When I asked him if he knows what'll happen, he says, "No, I don't know. How much do you know?" When I replied, "I heard this happens," he replied, (with a blank expression) "Ah, I see" (laughs). I think Yano-chan probably knows what's going on!

Yano: But I really didn't know anything about Suzume either. When I was told that although he was holding Kaguragi's sister hostage, she was officially his fiancee, I was surprised and said, "They're getting married?!" (laughs). I often act without knowing what'll happen next. Come to think of it, the ring that Racules put on Suzume's left ring finger in episode 20 was actually important.

Kamura: It's a key item!

Kaku: Was that a calculated move by Racules in anticipation for the future?

Kamura: When we were filming the wedding, Yano-san said, "Isn't this ring pretty important? I said, "Absolutely not!" But, in the end, it turned out just as Yano-san predicted (laughs).

"The ring was an important item, since it was thanks to it that the kings were able to return to Chikyu from Earth. What does Racules, who entrusted the ring to her, think about Suzume? Is there actually love…?

Kamura: I want to hear it!

Kaku: What does he think of my Suzume?!

Yano: I don't think he dislikes her. Well, I don't know if Racules has feelings to like people or not…

Kaku: It sounds like you're thinking if he's qualified to love someone.

Yano: There were also opinions on SNS that he may have been drawn towards Vedalia, who appeared in the spin off drama "The Secret of King Racules" currently being distributed on YouTube, and was working at Shugoddam's research institute…but what do you think? In the future, I think it'll be an interesting point to see how Racules interacts with various people, including Suzume.

Kaku: I wish he was alittle more "lovey dovey."

Kamura: I know, right~

Yano: But, in episode 22, there's a flashback scene where Suzume sleeps on a futon in front of Racules's throne. Maybe it's Racules's way of expressing his love for her that he's allowing that behavior. If he felt it was a nuisance, all he had to do was order someone to, "Take her away."

"It was interesting that Suzume described that scene as a "bedtime story." Kamura-san, what do you think Suzume thinks of Racules and Kaguragi?"

Kamura: When I was given the role of Suzume, I was told that she loves her brother, the country of Toufu, and that she doesn't dislike Racules. At first, that was my intention, but as I played the role more and more, I began to think, "I love Racules!" (laughs). There are similarities between Racules and Kaguragi, so it's not surprising that Suzume loves them. I'm not sure if what's in Racules's heart has been revealed yet though. On the other hand, although she still loves her brother, I think Suzume also thinks that working with Racles will ultimately benefit her brother.

"Kaguragi, Suzume and Racules all have alot of suspenseful scenes where they're trying to expose each other, but is there anything you keep in mind when performing together in confrontational scenes?"

Kaku: For scenes with Racules, I try to be conscious of overacting when I'm bluffing, and dropping my tone when I'm talking about something more serious. Also, I try to look as cool as possible! (laughs).

Kamura: You're so cool! The atmosphere between the two of us is different, isn't it?

Kaku: I try to make scenes with Suzume look as humorous as possible, as it's funny to see Kaguragi being pushed around. There's a scene in episode 15 where Suzume says, "I love you, Racules-sama!" and Kaguragi begins to hyperventilate. It wasn't written in the script, but I thought it'd be funnier if I played my character in such a stressed state. I think he feels that way because he dotes on his little sister. I enjoy the scenes with Suzume because I can have fun with her.

Yano: I don't have a specific plan for what I do, but I want scenes with Kaguragi to have some "weight" to them in the work of King-Ohger. Also, the scenes where I interact with Kakkun I can really feel emotionally. There are many scenes with Gira, but Taisei Sakai, who plays Gira, is still young, so I have a strong desire to watch over him and take him under my wings. But, when I'm performing with Kakkun, I have a sense of trust that no matter what I toss at him, he'll always react, so I can concentrate everything into the performance.

Kaku: (has a satisfied smile on his face)

Yano: (looks at Kaku) A smile of satisfaction!

Kamura: It really is a satisfied smile (laughs). What I pay attention to…I often have to worry about my brother and Racules, so I guess I'm just trying to, "Give it my all!"

Kaku: We need to raise the tension

Kamura: In episode 15, the first time I participated in filming, I was so close to Racules that I was hugging him. At that time, I really felt like my heart was going to jump out of my mouth (laughs).

Yano: You were nervous. You also had alot of lines.

Kamura: I was under alot of pressure on the first day. But I knew I couldn't give up, so I just gave it my all.

Yano: I thought it must've been difficult, but I was desperately trying to hold back my laughter (laughs). Just the thought of, "Suzume is approaching me, and getting closer!" is funny….

Kamura: Moreover, on the first day, we were filming on a set. Usually we film with a green screen background because of the CG.

Yano: Unlike the openness of a green screen, the space on set was cramped.

Kamura: That may be why I felt a difference in atmosphere on the set, which made me even more nervous. When we finished filming, I was drenched in sweat.

Yano: I see. I wish I could have helped you relax more.

Kamura: But, it was also the first time for me to hug someone I'd never met before, so it was good experience. In the scenes with Kaguragi, I still give it my all, but sometimes Suzume acts like a queen, and at those times I was instructed not to be too harsh and to act cute. So, I try to keep that in mind.

Yano: For me, I'm on the verge of grinning during scenes with Suzume. It's funny, but it's also really embarrassing. Doesn't Suzume just give off the feeling of, "Racules-sama~❤️"? When I play Racules, I get the feeling that he's apart of me, but that Racules is embarrassed.

Kaku: Racules is also shy.

Yano: "It's not Racules-sama, don't call me Racules-sama or anything like that…" (laughs).

Kamura: How cute~!

Yano: The scene where I put your ring on during the wedding almost made me start grinning (laughs).

Kaku: You did your best to endure it, huh?

Yano: I wish I could interact with Suzume in a less serious situation…

Kamura: Yeah~ I think it'd be fun.

Yano: The scene mentioned earlier where she sleeps in front of the throne was also fun. When I play the role of Racules, my shoulders tense up and I get tired, so I tend to act out when the cameras aren't rolling. I make alot of strange faces on set (laughs).

Kaku: It's true, even while we were getting ready, the cameras were rolling, and when we looked into the monitor, we could see him making strange faces (laughs).

Yano: I have to mess around to maintain a balance. That's why I hope there'll be more funny scenes with Suzume.

Kamura: On the contrary, Suzume always has alot of funny scenes, so I was nervous about the Toufu scenes in episode 37. This was the first time in this production where all the scenes involved were serious, so I wondered, "Am I doing the right thing?"

"Looking back on the past, please tell us about any scenes with either all three, or just two of you, that left a particularly strong impression on you."

Yano: It has to be the first time all three of us filmed together…

Kamura: Episode 15 right? I really liked that one!

Kaku: But, is that the only scene where the three of us were together?

Yano: There was also the three of us at the wedding ceremony. Although it wasn't all three, the scene where Racules and Kaguragi talk about Suzume for the first time left an impression on me.

Kaku: Ah, episode 12.

Yano: I like that scene, where they stood back to back and talked without looking at each other. When Kaguragi was reporting to Racules about Jeramie, who was still a mystery at the time, the subject of Suzume came up, and Kaguragi changed his tone of voice and asked, "Is Suzume doing well?" Racules replied, "Of course. But, depending on your attitude, that could change."

Kaku: I'm sure the viewers were surprised with, "Kaguragi has a younger sister, and she's also being held hostage by Racules?!"

Yano: I was surprised too (laughs). I remember thinking that her name sounded like the bird (sparrow). I later realized that it comes from the vespinae wasp.

Kamura: How interesting~ (laughs).

Yano: When we were filming that scene, everyone was wondering who would play Suzume, even though she would eventually make her appearance.

Kamura: I see!

Kaku: She made her first appearance in episode 15, where she suddenly hugs Racules…But, there's also the scene where she vows, "Let us dirty our hands together and defend Toufu. Brother!" She is indeed Kaguragi's sister, and she showed that she's not crazy about love, but is committed to her country.

Kamura: I really liked the part in episode 18, where Kaguragi appears in front of Racules and takes the OhgerLance and OhgerCrown. It was an intense development that revealed all the foreshadowing of Kaguragi's actions.

Kaku: Toufu's theme song, "It's a Banquet Ohger!" was playing. In episode 18, it was funny to see Kaguragi squeak "Gii Gii" when Suzume orders him with, "Show your respect for Racules-sama and pretend to be a rhino beetle."

Yano: I've seen alot of onomatopoeia in the scripts, like "Gii Gii." Especially recently, they seem to be getting more and more frequent…I guess screenwriter Takamina-san likes them.

"Do you have a favorite line as Suzume?"

Kamura: What would it be…..

Yano: I always have the image of her saying, "Racules-sama~❤️"

Kamura: Well then, "Racules-sama~❤️" it is (laughs). Just now, I thought of the scene in episode 33, where Suzume sticks the Ohger CrownLance under the floor of the throne to move Caucasuskabuto Castle. I like the line, "If that is your will, I'll make it all come true!" because it shows that she's determined. Especially since there's always so many comedic scenes.

"Kamura-san and Yano-san seem to be especially interested in doing funny scenes, but are there any scenes that the three of you would like to do in the future?"

Yano: I really want to do something comedic. You want to play around too, right?

Kamura: I want to, even if it's in a spinoff!

Yano: If we can joke around there, we might not have anything to say off camera (laughs). Also, a scene of Racules being bullied by Kaguragi and Suzume…that'd be good. He'd keep being served food endlessly and forced to eat. His body would swell up and he wouldn't be able to arm himself with the royal armor (laughs).

Kamura: That's good. I want to see it, right now!

"Kamura-san, are you interested in trying action scenes?"

Kamura: No, I'm afraid I'll just be an inconvenience…(bitter smile)

Yano: Kamura-san, you can move, can't you?

Kaku: However, it seems it'd be difficult since Suzume's costume is a kimono.

Kamura: That's right. However, in episode 15, I was about to pull a katana out of its sheath, so I thought there might be a scene where she'd do something with the katana when the time came, but so far nothing's happened.

Kaku: That katana, I was wondering if it had been passed down in the Dybowski family from generation to generation, but I guess not?

Yano: I wonder if there'll be a scene where Suzume slashes at Racules with that katana.

Kaku: Racules hasn't had any action scenes since episode 20. It can't be helped that he left the show at the time of that episode…

Yano: That's why I'm looking forward to seeing future action scenes where he doesn't transform. I think a sword fight with Gira will happen someday, and I think Sakai is getting better at it.

Kaku: In episodes 32 and 33, I experienced the production directed by Sakamoto Koichi, who's famous for his action direction.

Yano: Watching those two episodes, I was impressed with how well Sakai could move. In the scene in episode 20, where he confronts Racules in the trial by combat, it looked like he was having a hard time with some of the moves he wasn't good at. I co starred with Sakai in the drama "Shinyu wa Akujo" which was also his debut work, and right after that we started filming in King-Ohger, so we've been on the same set for a long time. I've been watching over him for about a year now, and he seems to be growing properly.

"As a viewer, I feel like I'd love to see Racules fight alongside someone."

Yano: That'd be nice. I'd love to fight with Gira for a given reason, or Kaguragi, with our backs against each other.

Kamura: It'd be cool if that happens.

Yano: It'd also be nice to see Kaguragi and Suzume get involved in the action scenes. Suzume would be fighting with a katana, but when she finds herself in a pinch, Kaguragi comes tackling in to help.

Kaku: It's not hard to imagine Kaguragi springing into action and saying, "What are you doing to my little sister?!" (laughs).

"We'd like to ask you about your private lives. Are there any aspects that only the other knows?"

Kaku: Yano-chan has been working hard on muscle training to gain weight. After losing weight for another production, he's not just trying to gain the weight back, he's trying to gain it back with muscle.

Yano: I lost around 10 kg (23 lbs)…..

Kaku: To be honest, he's quite macho. I do strength training myself, and I have a set menu made that'd surprise you.

Kamura: I don't know if I'm allowed to say this…

Yano: Is it something bad? (laughs).

Kamura: I'll say it! There's the cast's LINE group, and Yano-san sends us some playful photos (laughs).

Kaku: That's right! Seeing them, I think he must be bored on set. Yano-chan often films alone.

"In response, the general reaction was…"

Yano: They don't check them often. It makes me think that the kids of today aren't interested (laughs). As for Sakai, he probably hasn't even seen them. During this time, I contacted Sakai and asked, "Are you free?" I thought I'd invite him to dinner if he had time. Then, I received a reply saying, "Please invite me again." (Japanese gesture often used to decline a date)

Kamura: You're kidding?!

Yano: There was no, "I'm in the middle of filming right now" or anything like that. Even though I didn't say, "I love you" I feel like I was dumped…..

Kaku: He can be direct, so it's a shame that we understood his response (laughs).

Yano: Oh yeah, I'd love to mention this too, when I film alone, Kamura-san also stays behind to watch over me.

Kamura: But, the other day, I stayed behind thinking that there was just one more shot left, but then I realized I was wrong and said, "Ah, there's still more filming to do? Well then, I'm going home" (laughs).

Yano: At that time, Morioka Yutaka-san, who plays the role of Douga, was also there, and I overheard him saying, "Yano-chan, you're almost done, so I'll watch over you until you've finished." Then, just one minute later, he started leaving and said, "Good work today!" I was surprised and said, "Eh?!" (laughs).

Kaku: (laughs). In the show, we have a very tense relationship, but we get along well when filming! Please look forward to the second chapter!!

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