For actor Sakaguchi Kentaro, What Comes after Love holds numerous meanings.
Not solely is it a venture created by way of a uncommon collaboration between Korean and Japanese artists, nevertheless it additionally marks the Japanese actor’s first filming expertise in Korea.
In a current interview held at a café in Seoul, he shared his ideas on filming in Korea, saying, “It was chilly. It was actually chilly.”
“Once we have been filming in Korea in winter, the tree branches have been naked, all of the leaves had fallen, and the water was frozen. This chilly ambiance appeared to completely match Jungo’s feelings.”
Within the sequence, Sakaguchi Kentaro performs the function of Aoki Jungo, who components methods with Choi Hong (Lee Se Younger) after a fateful love. The 2 reunite after 5 years. Whereas on a enterprise journey to Korea, Jungo occurs to fulfill Hong by probability.
The story of Hong and Jungo assembly for the primary time was primarily filmed in Japan throughout the heat spring. Nevertheless, the story of their reunion was filmed within the chilly winter of Korea. Sakaguchi Kentaro recalled that Jungo’s unresolved emotions for Hong mirrored the chilly ambiance of the Korean winter.
Concerning the venture, Kentaro stated, “I used to be first supplied it as a movie about 4 or 5 years in the past. I puzzled if it might be doable to seize the feelings of the 2 characters in a one or two-hour movie, so I made a decision to supply it as a sequence.”
Was there any stress about visualizing What Comes after Love, which has been a bestseller for 20 years? He responded, “Despite the fact that it is a work from 20 years in the past, I consider it might nonetheless be fashionable as a drama right this moment. Again then, folks could not attain one another instantly, so they might usually surprise, ‘What are they doing?’ and suppose extra about one another.” He continued, “The one distinction now could be the gap between Korea and Japan. In any other case, not a lot has modified from 20 years in the past.”
Speaking in regards to the nuances of the Japanese language, the actor shared that he proposed decreasing the variety of occasions the phrase aishiteru (愛してる), which means “I really like you”, appeared in Jungo’s script.
He defined that in Japan, the expression of affection is reserved for essential and decisive moments, and suki da yo (好きだよ), which means “I such as you”, is normally used.
He stated, “I believed it is likely to be a cultural distinction.” “At first, each the director and Lee Se Younger needed to make use of the expression ‘I really like you’ extra usually, however later, the director stated, ‘If Kentaro feels that means about Jungo’s character, then that is the proper reply,’ so we ended up utilizing the expression much less variety of occasions.”
Kentaro has persistently proven quite a lot of sides to the general public, no matter whether or not he performs main or supporting roles. When requested about his standards for selecting tasks, he responded, “It simply turned out that means. I did not got down to rigorously select tasks from the start. I’ve labored on tasks that I felt affection for. Whether or not it is a lover, buddy, household, or instructor — I’ve chosen tasks I can really feel affection for. Feeling affection for a venture additionally means with the ability to love the venture.”
As for his most well-liked genres and roles, he stated, “Affection is what’s essential. There is likely to be one thing inside me that leads me to sure genres, however I haven’t got a specific style that I favor. In a means, I feel affection itself could possibly be thought of my style.”
The actor additionally stated that by way of his current filming expertise in Korea, he developed an curiosity in taking part in a bodyguard function, attributable to the truth that a bodyguard was with him always throughout his keep in Korea, together with the filming interval. He stated, “Every part they did appeared so cool,” including, “I wish to tackle a venture that tells the story of individuals like them, those that work out of the highlight.”
He additionally talked about his friendship with actor Park Bo Gum.
Sakaguchi Kentaro recalled how he and Park Bo Gum first met: “We met on the music awards ceremony MAMA and turned shut.” “At our first assembly, we simply exchanged greetings, however we received nearer once we met once more in Osaka.”
He added, “I meet Park Bo Gum each time I come to Korea,” and, “If the chance arises, I would like to work on a venture with him.”
With the speedy rise of OTT platforms, the boundaries between nations, by way of genres, are disappearing. Kentaro defined, “Because the variety of streaming platforms will increase, so does the variety of tasks. As competitors intensifies, we’ve entered an period the place solely good works get acknowledged. I positively suppose there’s been a change.”
Regardless of his rising reputation in Korea, Kentaro has beforehand talked about that he would not fairly perceive why he is fashionable. He admitted, “It is true that I’ve gained a bit confidence. Even once I heard I used to be fashionable in Korea, I felt it was a bit ambiguous to say that, since I hadn’t labored on a venture right here. However because the obstacles to entry [between the two countries’ cinemas] have lowered, I wish to be extra assured once I say, ‘Sure, I am fashionable in Korea.'”
What Comes after Love will premiere on September 27. The Okay-drama will probably be accessible to stream on Viki.