barbosa2007 | Monthly TV - Oguri Shun and Matsumoto Jun interview (2/2)

Second part of the interview in a separate entry because my computer turns weird when the post is too long.

Having experienced all these things, they’ve become friends who mingle together in private.

Jun: On the set of “Smile”, we don’t have the consciousness of having starred in Handan. I just have the pure pleasure of working together with him again, as an actor.

Shun: That’s right. We don’t want the audience to see this as Hana Yori Dango, version 2.1. However, if there’s any scripts and role where I can work with Jun and the Hanadan team, I would love to take part in something like that. Not surprisingly, there’s a sense of camaraderie between us. Even if I were to be relegated to a supporting role [lit: the radish that accompanies the sashimi (you gotta love Shun for his analogies)], I’m fine with it.

Jun: I don’t think you’ll become the radish accompaniment by playing the ultimate villain on this show. (laughs)

Shun: When my involvement in the drama was initially determined, it was something like, “I’m sorry for causing you some inconvenience~” Moreover, it was because of me that the drama schedule turned into a big mess.

Jun: It’s not your fault. It can’t be helped as you had a stage play going on at the same time. However, we managed to collaborate in a drama each year for the past 3 years. I didn’t think that we’d come together for another project so quickly. Like what Shun and our producer said, it’s not because we acted previously in Hanadan that we’re able to act together in the drama this time round. As individual actors holding our jobs, this was just another collaboration which incidentally came to past.

Shun: We’ve said as much before, the two of us for a long time have wanted to put all our heart and soul into our acting. We have scenes like that which involve the two of us, so that makes us very happy.

Jun: Eh, aren’t you only appearing in the flashback scenes? (laughs)

Shun: Well, if I only appeared in the flashbacks that would be rather interesting! (laughs)

Jun: I can’t believe that Oguri Shun was cast in this drama [only to be playing a role in a flashback]! (laughs)

Shun: Well, it’s a character that comes in to stir the pot, and does just that. This may seem a bit rude to Jun who’s playing the lead character, but there were times when I thoroughly enjoyed doing that.

TV monthly: With regards to the relationship between the two characters, is it tough for Vito who’s confronting Hayashi?

Jun: No, no, I trust Shun [not to ruin the tension of the relationship]. When Shun plays this character, it’s like I would [be seeing] where his character will lead mine to.

Shun: It’s a challenging role that Jun, as a top idol, would like to take on. With that in mind, this project promises to be interesting. Jun gets to increase his appeal to the audience in this drama, again. He’s dazzling [with heroism], somehow.

Jun: That’s how the character is.

Shun: Although he doesn’t show his smiling face when it comes to Hayashi.

Jun: Hayashi is the worst person ever! Most actors wouldn’t want to take on this role, right? It’s not someone you can or would want to portray. In that sense, Shun’s management company is rather liberal.

Shun: Actually, I think I might have failed at that role! I was told by the director that Hayashi is someone who needs a brain surgery before he can act like a human being. For a character like him, it’s rather easy to overact. I was looking for a way to portray [Hayashi] realistically.

Jun: As for me, I had this preconception that Shun would portray [Hayashi] in a certain way, and it was a pleasant surprise when he didn’t interpret the character the way I thought he would.

Shun: Oh, someone’s turning up the pressure here. I wonder… In any case it’s been a pleasure to have had this opportunity to do this.

Jun: [uses a baseball analogy here] It’s been a different ball to pitch as a drama. But it’s precisely because it’s a difficult pitch that we’d like to go at it with all our might.

Shun: Even with a role like Hayashi, I’m gonna go at it with all I’ve got! In any case I’ve got to discard any concerns about my appeal or image. However, there’s no doubt that Jun’s popularity will just go up with this drama.

Jun: I wasn’t targeting that! (laughs)