Mackenyu Arata and Takumi Kitamura are two young actors who are constantly taking on new roles. Although they are known to be close in their private lives, they finally took on the role of sharing the same body in the movie “30 Minutes Until Goodbye.” He told me the story behind it. Futhermore, what are these two people who are looking ahead to their future focused on “NEXT?”
Mackenyu Arata and Takumi Kitamura will be starring together in the youth film “30 Minutes Until Goodbye,” in which two people share the same body and create miracles through music and love. The story begins when Souta (Takumi Kitamura) accidentally picks up a cassette tape left behind by Aki (Mackenyu Arata), a band vocalist who died a year ago. When Aki discovers that their bodies will be swapped for the 30 minutes that the tape is played, she attempts to reunite her former band using Souta’s body, but…
–The two of you have co-starred many times in dramas and movies, but how did you feel when this work was decided and you found out who your partner was?
Kitamura: Again! (laugh)
Nitta: It feels like it’s happening again. (lol)
Kitamura: However, I was happy to be able to work with Makken (Arata) as we both took on the roles of one person.
Nitta: Me too. When I thought about who I would connect with in the same role, Takumi was the only one that came to mind, so I was happy.
Kitamura: It might have been a little difficult for me, too, if my opponent wasn’t a real person. I think it was successful because it was really straight forward.
–With the two of you sharing one body, Mr. Kitamura was supposed to play both Souta and Aki, but it seems like it would be difficult to create the roles. Were there any commonalities or parts that you could relate to?
Kitamura: Souta is a “shadow character” who doesn’t like socializing with people, and I used to be like that too, so I still understand his feelings, but it was difficult to play Aki. Still, Souta and Aki shared a love of music, so I was encouraged every day by watching Souta gradually find his own way through Aki’s involvement.
Nitta: What do Aki and I have in common? I always think that when I take on any role, I never think about the similarities with myself. Hey, does Takumi always think of things in common and empathy that help him in his roles?
Kitamura: Maybe I don’t do it that much. When I was a student, I used to try to find similarities with myself in order to get roles, but I think I’ve gradually stopped looking at people in that way. An image of becoming a completely different person.
Nitta: That’s right. That’s why I was able to understand everything because Aki is a different person.
――There was a scene where you both sang in a band.
Nitta: That was quite difficult. I don’t normally sing, so it was a challenge to go into the actual performance with very little practice and not knowing how to sing. Toward the end of filming, I finally thought, oh, I guess I’m starting to understand.
Kitamura: I was rehearsing with my band (DISH//) just before I came here, so music is in my daily life 365 days a year, so it feels like home. However, before we started shooting, we had to record the music part, and at that point I had to sing as Souta and as Aki, who was replaced, so it was quite difficult. I was creating the role by listening to the songs that Makken had sung as Aki, but when it came to playing the role of Aki, whether it was singing or acting, I felt that unless Makken was satisfied with the role, it wouldn’t be Aki. . So I created Aki while watching Maken. By the way, the song is very good. Pay attention to each note. Even though I just sang “Bat”.
Nitta: I’m very picky…I really have to.
Kitamura: I was also involved in some music activities, but that didn’t happen (lol).
Nitta: When I saw the finished work, the switch from Souta to Aki was brilliant!
Kitamura: I’m glad Makken said that!
Nitta: I’m Aki, Souta is also Aki, and Takumi is Souta and Aki…so I didn’t think Aki was my only role.
Kitamura: It’s a strange feeling.
Nitta: I was objectively watching Aki entrusting Souta with Souta’s control of the real world, and after watching it, I realized that this was Souta’s movie.
Kitamura: Oh, really? After watching it, I thought it was Aki’s movie. When I thought about Aki, I cried a lot at the end.
Nitta: He’s a good guy!
–By the way, the theme of this year’s AnAn is “NEXT.” What do you two think when you hear the word “NEXT”?
Nitta: “Next Conan’s Hint!” (lol)
Kitamura: Ah, that Conan thing really came to mind for me too.
Nitta: Also, the “NEXT Breakout Actor Ranking”.
Kitamura: Don’t make decisions on your own (lol).
Nitta: I went on a trip to Italy with my friends in June, and I want to go there again next time.
Kitamura: It would be fun to go with someone you’re close to, that’s great. I’ve rarely traveled abroad privately, so I’d like to travel too. Oh, and I want to master the authentic curry making that I started six months ago!
Arata Mackenyu Born on November 16, 1996, from the United States. In 2020, she is scheduled to appear on the stage, Earth Gorgeous 25th Anniversary Celebration Performance “Tears Falling on the Earth of the Stars THE MUSICAL”. He is also planning to release the movie Brave Gunjo Senki in which he stars. Shirt ¥39,000 (Wonderland/Hemt PR TEL: 03-6721-0882) T-shirt ¥21,000 Pants ¥30,000 (both Cavan/Tomorrowland TEL: 0120-983-522) Other items are stylist’s personal belongings
Takumi Kitamura Born November 3, 1997 in Tokyo. He is not only an actor, but also the leader of the dance rock band DISH //. In 2020, his starring movies “Sakura” and “Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare” are scheduled to be released. Blouson ¥64,000 Shirt ¥39,000 Pants ¥32,000 (marker wear/parking TEL: 03-6412-8217) Shoes ¥52,000 (Adue/Edstrom Office TEL: 03-6427-5901) Other items are stylist’s personal belongings
“30 Minutes Until Sayonara” The two switch places and share one body while Souta plays the cassette tape that Aki left behind. Aki uses Souta’s body to visit his former lover and bandmates. “30 Minutes to Goodbye” Cast: Mackenyu Arata, Takumi Kitamura, Sayu Kubota, Yoshiyuki Hayama, Shuhei Uesugi, Sho Kiyohara, and others Nationwide roadshow on January 24, 2020.
*From the combined issue of “anan” January 1-8, 2020. Photos: Yusuke Kurie (aosora) Stylist: Kenyuki Sakurai (Mr. Nitta) Shinya Tokita (Mr. Kitamura) Hair & Makeup: Yusuke Kasuya (ADDICT_CASE/Mr. Nitta) Asako Satori (Mr. Kitamura) Interview, text: Aya Wakayama