Interview Articles Interview to commemorate the commercialization of “SHINKOCCHOU SEIHOU MASKED RIDER BLACK” <2> MINAMI KOTARO /Tetsu Kurata who plays the role of MASKED RIDER BLACK
2020-11-06 10:00 Update
The much-talked-about "S.H.Figuarts (SHINKOCCHOU SEIHOU) MASKED RIDER BLACK" is the second part of a series of interviews with the actor Tetsuo Kurata, who plays the roles of MINAMI KOTARO and MASKED RIDER BLACK, in preparation for the November 6 release of the pre-order.
My Youth: The Encounter of Tetsuo Kurata and Kamen Rider
――What was the hero program you watched when you were a kid?
Kurata:I used to watch a lot in the real-time generation of "MASKED RIDER V3" played by Hiroshi Miyauchi. I also liked MASKED RIDER AMAZON. If it's the "Ultraman" series, it's "Ultraseven". However, if anything, I like anime more than special effects, and I remember looking forward to the "Time Bokan" series and "Manga Nihon Mukashibanashi".
――“ MASKED RIDER BLACK” started as a big project where the lead role was decided through public auditions and the pattern was broadcast on TV.
Kurata:I applied even though I had no experience in acting. There are still some final selection VTRs that I'm doing action on, but when I look back, I'm surprised at how poor they are (bitter smile). At the end of the audition, Dr. Shotaro Ishinomori was on the stage, and I was staring at me while smoking, so I thought, "Are you sure?" (Laughs).
――The audition winner was given a prize of 1 million yen as a supplementary prize. What was the prize used for?
Kurata:My parents saved money and used it to buy a car a few years later. However, the actual amount I received was 500,000 yen, which I split half with the runner-up Takato Horiuchi (AKIZUKI NOBUHIKO / SHADOW MOON) (lol). Although the winner and runner-up were decided in the audition, we did not know for a while which of us would be the leading role and who would be our rival. It was originally planned that the winner would be the main character, but Mr. Horiuchi had the neat and kind appearance of a hero, so I was skeptical, thinking, ``Maybe I'll be the villain, SHADOW MOON.''
――Since this work made your debut as an actor, did you practice acting in advance?
Kurata:First, I read the script with director Yoshiaki Kobayashi, but since there was no concrete character development and I had no acting experience myself, I was sent to Toei's training school for acting and vocal lessons. I got it. After about three months of short basic lessons, when I finally got on set, director Kobayashi said, ``Before talking about MINAMI KOTARO 's character, you can play Tetsu however you want.'' So I did my best to live up to their expectations. Director Kobayashi was a very passionate person, and even back then he was called the ``master director of pilot films and endings.'' Thank you very much for all your help from the preparation for filming to the start of the broadcast.
――What was the most impressive thing on the spot?
Kurata:I wasn't spoiled just because I was the main character, and I was forced to do various things. For example, the suit actor of the grasshopper man who appears in the first episode is myself. On the day of shooting, I was suddenly told to "wear this", and when I moved as I was told, "The innocent movement and awkwardness are real and good!" Was praised by Director Kobayashi for the first time. I really wanted Kotaro to praise him for his acting, but I was honestly happy at that time (laughs). In the shooting of the grasshopper man, there was no one who was as tall as me and BLACK suit actor Jiro Okamoto. In the scene where Kotaro, the grasshopper man, and BLACK are switched, isn't it strange if only the grasshopper man changes his height? So it seems that he suddenly decided, "In that case, Kurata has no choice but to wear it."
--It's a great debut, with all the experience of starring, transforming, and acting in a suit. So, was there anything you were careful about when playing MINAMI KOTARO?
Kurata:Anyway, I'm clumsy and have no acting experience, so the first thing I was aware of was that "Since I'm doing a program with 'Kamen Rider' for a year, I'll make it a success for everyone who chose me to star." . "BLACK" wasn't one of the ongoing series like the current Heisei Kamen Rider, and many people, including Mr. Ishinomori, are working hard to revive the once-dormant "Kamen Rider". I was. At the shooting site, not only children's magazines but also general magazines such as "The Television" came to interview, and the theme song was written and composed by a golden combination of Ryudo Uzaki and Yoko Aki. The enthusiasm and anticipation that people in the industry put on "BLACK" was amazing.
――The revival of Kamen Rider on TV was such a big event.
Kurata:Professor Ishinomori, Toei, and Mainichi Broadcasting System bet on me for such a big project. It's already overwhelming pressure (laughs). The only way to live up to that expectation was to play Gamshala instead of stopping. Even if I was immature, I wanted to perform hotly, so I put a lot of effort into the line of "Hu-san!" And made a powerful reservoir for the transformation pose. Then photographer Fumio Matsumura also said, "That's it!" Thanks to this, Kotaro's image became clearer, and children who watched TV began to imitate it.
――How did you feel about the popularity of the program?
Kurata:Perhaps because he appeared on a variety show, Kotaro became popular with teenage girls. Three months after the broadcast began, a large number of fans began to gather at the entrance of the filming location. Furthermore, around the same time, my colleague Eisaku Yoshida was appearing in ``Hagure Keiji Junjoha 2'', and his fans and ``BLACK'' fans crowded in, and we had to push our way through the crowd to get into the studio. It's gone. When I walked down the street, children would call out to me, ``It's MINAMI KOTARO!'' and I thought that I would never be able to do something that I wouldn't say to someone else. My agency also strongly reminded me not to destroy Kamen Rider's image. And the production side gradually began to switch to the ` MINAMI KOTARO-supporting'' route.
――Specifically?
Kurata:The ending of The Movie was a video of me walking along the beach while singing the insert song ``Ore no Seishun.'' It was a video completely aimed at MINAMI KOTARO fans, and I think it was the first time that a project like this had been done for Kamen Rider. Mr. Ishinomori also told me beforehand, ``You'll be singing the song I wrote the lyrics for in the movie, so please look forward to it.'' Many photo books were also released at a fast pace. I also heard that the all-important viewership ratings were also good and on the rise.
――It seems that Ishinomori-sensei also played the role of a fisherman in the The Movie, and was particularly attached to "BLACK". Please tell us about your memories with your teacher.
Kurata:Actually, I've lost 10kg since I decided to appear in "BLACK". I had a meal and had no problem with my physical condition, but I think that the mental pressure of the lead actor and other things caused me to lose my mental health. Mr. Ishinomori treated me with yakiniku and encouraged me, saying, "Please do your best not to get injured for a year" or "I'm really glad you played the role of BLACK." The words encouraged me many times as a newcomer under the age of 20. I also fell in love with the teacher from the bottom of my heart, and at first I called him "teacher", but he became "uncle", and Ishinomori-sensei told me to stop uncle (laughs).
――Please tell us your impression of Jiro Okamoto, a suit actor who played BLACK after the transformation.
Kurata:Jiro is a natural suit actor. Not to mention his high physical ability, his charm and style are top notch, and he is not afraid of anything. Mr. Kaneda, the action director, said, "Jiro, you can fly from there," and I jumped from a height of about 15 meters. Even though it's scary just to look up, I wear a mask with poor visibility and fall at a small air mat. Later, when I heard his impressions, he said, "That's scary, but if you say it's real, you have to do it." Never say that you can't do any dangerous stunts. He is a really great person. And at the scene, he was like a big brother. I was really taken care of by my stand-in (rehearsal to check the camera image and the safety of the actor). "Kura-chan, be careful here because it's dangerous in such a case," he showed me an example of the action, and he taught me how to walk around without getting hurt. He is a very caring and kind person.
-Did Mr. Kurata himself take action without using a substitute?
Kurata:Of course, I sometimes asked the stuntman, but I was also actively involved in the action. After all, the action scene is attractive (laughs). In particular, I practiced kicking with a trampoline because I definitely wanted to do it. The trampoline I used is Jiro-san's specification, and it is tighter than a normal trampoline and puts a strain on my lower back. However, when I actually tried it, it was easier to use if it was hard, and Jiro-san said, "Is that so?" (Laughs).
――Please tell us your favorite episodes of "BLACK" and your memories of shooting.
Kurata:It was fun to see the whale monster who became an ally even though he was a minion of Golgom. Also, when I played the role of Ryusuke Taki with Masaki Kyomoto, I was very inspired. Not only does he have a career as an actor, but he also has a love and enthusiasm for superhuman special effects.
■ througn the decades ――To RX, and beyond the age of 20 years
――And after MASKED RIDER BLACK ended, the sequel, MASKED RIDER BLACK RX, began. At what stage did the sequel come about?
Kurata:During the filming of ``BLACK,'' I heard rumors that ``Kamen Rider would continue for another year.'' However, in the past, the lead roles have changed for each program, and auditions have been held for subsequent programs, so I personally only had the impression that a new program was about to begin. Then, I was surprised when the agency told me, ``I'll be playing MINAMI KOTARO.''
――How was your feeling at that time?
Kurata:To be honest, I was thinking, "Please give me a break! Why me again?" What I had cultivated in the one year I worked on ``BLACK'' was put into full use in ``BLACK.'' That's how much I tried my best to go beyond the physical and mental world, so even if I was told it would be ``one more year,'' I wasn't confident that I would be able to fulfill my role. . Also, as an actor, I was afraid of dragging down the image of MINAMI KOTARO. I know many actors who suffered because they couldn't break free from the image of a so-called "hit role." My manager agreed with my intentions, but Mr. Ishinomori told me directly, ``There is no one better than you for the lead role.I understand how you feel and I'm sorry, but please do it for another year.'' As expected, I was prepared.
--Then, time has passed, and you made a guest appearance as MINAMI KOTARO in The Movie and the main story of "MASKED RIDER DECADE" Why did you decide to play MINAMI KOTARO again, a role that you had once tried to break away from?
Kurata:Even after “RX” ended, requests for interviews related to Kamen Rider continued. When it was decided that I would be starring in the NHK drama series ``Your Name,'' I was contacted by the media asking for ``Tetsuo Kurata to play the role of MINAMI KOTARO.'' I didn't like that, so I said ``I won't talk about that.'' ” and asked NHK to shut it down. Since then, I haven't talked about that time, but when I opened a steakhouse, many fans of ``BLACK'' came and told me their impressions of the time and their hopes for a repeat performance. As I had more opportunities to hear such voices directly, a change of mind occurred within me, and I began to think that it was my destiny to continue to be MASKED RIDER BLACK = MINAMI KOTARO. I decided to appear in ``Decade'' because I wanted to give back to everyone who has loved my work for such a long time. I now accept this as my destiny.
――How did you get the offer to appear in "Decade" in the first place?
Kurata:It all started in 2008, when I held a talk event about ``BLACK'' and ``RX'' at the Shotaro Ishinomori Furusato Memorial Museum in Miyagi Prefecture. On the day of the talk show, I wore a costume that was reminiscent of MINAMI KOTARO, and everyone in the venue got really excited. I realized that ``BLACK'' and ``RX'' are still popular even after 20 years since they aired. The scene was featured in a local newspaper and became a bit of news, and Toei's producer Shinichiro Shirakura saw it and offered him, ``Next year is the 10th anniversary of Heisei Kamen Rider, so I'd like you to appear in a commemorative work to commemorate that milestone.'' I received it. I myself was hoping for BLACK to be revived in a way that would please the fans, so I readily agreed.
――After “Decade”, you appeared in The Movie “Super Hero Taisen GP Kamen Rider 3”.
Kurata:Personally, I thought that the ``best MINAMI KOTARO'' was played in ``No. 3''. In a world where Kamen Riders belong to the evil Shocker, he dies after conveying his sense of justice to Drive, an active Kamen Rider. It was the most exciting and cool situation to be revived as RX (lol). After the movie was released, I searched the internet for reviews. I was happy to see that the fans of ``BLACK'' liked it too (lol).
■ Shinkocchou rider ?! ――Message to the fans
-- Now I would like to ask you about the "S.H.Figuarts (SHINKOCCHOU SEIHOU) MASKED RIDER BLACK" that you have just announced. This product was created based on the concept of "pursuit of authenticity.
Kurata:When you touch it, you can feel it is close to the real thing. It is good to use soft material for the pants. Actually, I've worn a BLACK suit, so I know. There is an episode that was shot as it was when I tried it on. I'm doing a little action, but I'll keep it a secret. I'm going to bring it to the graveyard (laughs).
――Mr. Kurata, what do you like about BLACK design?
Kurata:After all it is the contrast of black and red. The red eyes that shine on the black body are cool. Aside from the fact that it's the work I starred in, I think BLACK is a simple is best, or even now, it's a really wonderful design. I think that it is a unique personality of BLACK and RX, which is different from the Showa series, which is the origin, and the Heisei series, which has elaborate tastes. It may look simple because there is no muffler.
――This is a coloring prototype called Decomas, but how do you play when the actual product arrives?
Kurata:I want to decorate the transformation pose in a cool way. There are also replacement wrists that can reproduce such poses, and each wrist is well made. Of course, I will put it in the store, and I also want to decorate it in the "BLACK room" at home, which collects gifts from fans.
――What kind of works do you think MASKED RIDER BLACK and MASKED RIDER BLACK RX are for you?
Kurata:These two works are my starting point. Everything about me at that time, including Ishinomori-sensei's memories and words, is packed into it, and now I feel once again that it's a work that will continue to be loved by people all over the world. Mr. Ishinomori likened "BLACK" to "Kamen Rider 0" and was doing his best to revive "Kamen Rider" on TV. I think that the co-stars and staff at the time who made it happen are all amazing people. I am sure that Mr. Ishinomori will be pleased if he sees how "BLACK" is loved even after Heisei ends and Reiwa.
――Finally, please give a message to your fans.
Kurata:This "S.H.Figuarts (SHINKOCCHOU SEIHOU) MASKED RIDER BLACK" is a really good product. The "BLACK" and "RX" products are memories for me and my fans, and I hope that this product will be a part of your collection. I think it is such a valuable item.
[PROFILE]
Kurata Tetsuo(Kurata / Tetsuo)
Born September 11, 1968 in Tokyo. Belongs to infini. He made his acting debut in ` MASKED RIDER BLACK'' in 1987, and the following year he played the role of the main character, MINAMI KOTARO in ` MASKED RIDER BLACK RX.'' He also starred in the 1991 NHK TV drama series ``Your Name.'' His most famous works are the movies ``Beppin no Machi'' and ``Hey! Brother,” “The Life I Almost Abandoned,” and “The World I Cross is Full of Demons.” In the Heisei KAMEN RIDER Series, he appeared as MINAMI KOTARO in episodes 26 and 27 of `` MASKED RIDER DECADE'', ` MASKED RIDER DECADE The Movie All Riders vs. Dai Shocker'', and ``Super Hero Taisen GP Kamen Rider 3''. In addition, in the movie "Ghost Diaries" scheduled to be released in 2021, he will co-star with his son Kotaro Kakimoto for the first time as a father and son. Currently, he is also the owner of the steakhouse ``Billy the Kid'' Toyocho branch.
Interview cooperation: World Photo Press "Figure King" editorial department / shooting cooperation: Fumiya Kato
S.H.Figuarts (SHINKOCCHOU SEIHOU)
MASKED RIDER BLACK
Release date: Scheduled for April 2021
Recommended Retail Price: 7,700 yen (incl. 10% tax)
Product Details
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This series uses one of S.H.Figuarts's new ways of manufacturing figures to reproduce the soul of the small-screen heroes as dynamic, 14 cm figures. In the "true bone carving method" (Shinkoccho Seihou), figures are constructed from the inside-out, starting from the skeleton instead of the exterior. This results in more natural movement while preserving the character's personality. |
©石森プロ・東映
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