[JO1] with online 220412

https://withonline.jp/people/ent-osyareol/FXfwu

Interview with Yahagi Honoka, who plays Tanimura Nao in the episode “Spring Call” (Shosei/Shinjo related parts)

On the set they passionately talked about “what acting is about”

How was the atmosphere at the set?
Yahagi: It was really harmonious and it was fun to film every day! The 3rd episode “Spring Call” in which I star is about 30 minutes long so the filming took about 3 days, but thanks to this drama at the end of the filming I felt a sense of comradeship with everyone who starred along with me as if we had spent our youths together.

In this drama the main character and the heroine change with every episode. What kind of conversations did you have with your co-stars such as Ohira Shosei-san from JO1, with whom you made a team?
Yahagi: As it was Ohira-san’s first time to act, it was impressive that he actively communicated with the director. Both me and Ikeda Junya, who played the role of drama club member Akahori, are acting for several years, so we passionately talked about “what acting is about” (laughs)

Did you also give him some advice?
Yahagi: For example, in regard to Ohira-san’s worry of “I can’t talk well”, I would give him advice based on my own experiences, like “If you do it like this, you will talk more smoothly”. While I remembered how I was guided as an actress by a lot of people, we talked about the basics such as the know-how of acting.

Please tell us your frank opinion after you actually watched the finished episode.
Yahagi: In the story of “Spring Call” the main character, Kohei Shinjo, and the heroine Tanimura Nao, played by me, are both members of the drama club of their university. They are troubled with the thoughts of “Is this script really okay?” “Can I face the end without saying my opinion?” before their last performance as students, while at the same time Tanimura tries her best to bring out Shinjo’s hidden inner feelings. Shinjo who can’t say what he wants to say, Tanimura who begins to have all sorts of feelings for Shinjo and Akahori of the drama club who is full of confidence in regard to his own script… Everything in this episode, including the characters, is so innocent!

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Lastly, what kind of message do you hope will the viewers of “Spring Call” take from it?
Yahagi: People who are worried about love, people who keep on moving forward to fulfil their dreams, people who want to challenge something new… I think there are a lot of people who carry troubles in their hearts. I hope that those people will think “I think I will take another step forward” through this episode. The main character Shinjo actually hides a wonderful talent and passionate feelings on his inside, but he ends up being frustrated because he is unable to let those feelings out. However, as a result of him trying “to do it” “to say it” “to change oneself”, the situation changes for the better. I hope that through this work people will realise that “a little courage can change your life”.