Tokyo Color Sonic!! the Stage | Interview with Kazuma Yasui, Kurahashi Kairi's actor

[odorekijin]

Interview with Kazuma Yasui, playing as Kurahashi Kairi, by Animate.

Published on September 30th, 2022.  (original article)

 

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――What were your first impressions of Tokyo Color Sonic's world, characters, and overall setting? What appealed to you in it?

Yasui：First, the characters, the fashion and overall visuals looked very trendy and fashion-conscious. Although it’s a story set in the future, in 208X’s Japan, it still felt down-to-earth and realistic. The only unrealistic element could be their fashion design, and yet they look extremely stylish and cool.

Secondly, I feel like Japan still struggles to recognize or respect anything that is not critically-acclaimed classics or classical music: I hope that a time will come when rock and pop music can be widely accepted, supported by the country even, just like how Tokyo Color Sonic!! portrays this struggle. I’ll be a grandpa by the time 208X comes though, so I hope we can speed-up that change, please, that’ll be cool (laughs).

On the other hand, as someone who studied music-making and singing at a conservatory, I feel great sympathy not only for Kairi, but for every character in this story.

Plus, most musical careers begin either as solo artists or as bands, yet here we’ve got novelty as all characters have been paired in buddy duos. I find that division of work between the songwriting and singing practices fascinating.

This time around, and as rare as that may be, the creators get their fair amount of spotlight, with multiple and increasing TV appearances: as someone who’s also active in the music industry, I was really happy to see such wonderful attention put in their work.

Thanks to this portrayal, we get to see the interesting humanity and relationship between creators and the music they compose.

 

――Do you have a favorite song from “Tokyo Color Sonic”?

Yasui：Tokyo Color Sonic!! covers a wide range of genres, each pair having its own signature and palette: it’s made with music freaks’ particular musical resonance in mind. My favorite among them is Iori’s "measly"—of course, I also love Kairi's "Don't back down"! (laughs)

 

――How did you feel when you got cast for Tokyo Color Sonic the Stage?

Yasui：Being offered such a role, ten years after I graduated from the conservatory, felt like destiny wanted it to go down as a milestone.

 

――It looks like this role was released just for you to embody it.

Yasui：Seems like it (laughs), but I'm more looking forward to the feeling of reviving that era of my youth. I’m just really excited that they’re going to adapt this franchise to the stage.

You know, when I’m composing music at home, it’s nothing really fancy: it’s just my computer on a cardboard box and me playing the guitar. I’m curious and have great expectations as to how the staging will sublimate this processus into actual entertainment.

 

――That being said, what kind of music do you tackle in your own musical career?

Yasui：It’s nothing consistent and a bit of everything (laughs). At the very beginning, I liked typical Japanese pop songs, so naturally the first single I released was based upon that; yet, my latest releases are more centered around trendy city-pop melodies with hip-hop elements and inspirations. I’m the type that composes what I want depending on what I like at the moment.

 

――What were your first impressions of Kairi? Did you find any differences or anything you could relate with him?

Yasui：He’s literally just like me. Both Kairi and I have a thing for improvisation: while he can come up with anything on the spot, I pride myself in being able to copy almost any song if there’s a piano or guitar around, thus winding up in improvisation. He is also downright indifferent to anything that doesn’t tickle his interest, which I understand a lot: I used to stubbornly refuse to do any outdoor activities or go skiing (laughs).

That being said, I also used to think that our personalities were pretty different, but I realized how wrong I was. Kairi has this air about him that tells me he still thinks like older musicians do: I, too, am influenced by the music industry’s giants, those who paved the way, and I sense a bit of that in Kairi.

The only wildly different thing between us is Kairi’s eccentric fashion (laughs). Even though I’ve been in a fashion & vocal group for about two years, I know little to nothing when it comes to having a fashion sense—I still don’t get why they picked me for that group (laughs). That’s mainly why I have a positive impression and respect for Kairi.

 

――One of Kairi's fortes is that he’s "eccentric unlike any other," but it doesn’t feel like Yasui-san is like that?

Yasui：I don’t really show it, but let’s say I’m pretty rowdy on the edges too (laughs). That’s perhaps the way of the artist, a necessary side for every musician.

Kairi’s weakness is that he only approves of his own abilities: I feel like I sort of relate to that, in some way. I entered the theater world relatively late, and I have great respect for all actors regardless of their age or career: theater is something built upon the work of many, acting as one single entity. However, when it comes to my musical activities, I work all on my own: regardless of how others may appreciate my music, only I can show confidence in my composition and singing—I am self-made, and I’m the only one who can act upon my music.

 

――What was  your first impression of your buddy, Kagura?

Yasui：Kagura is typically the type of person I don’t really like (laughs). He’s diametrically opposed to Kairi’s whimsical artistic personality, which I assumed Kagura would be pretty bad at handling… Or maybe he hates those kinds of people? (laughs) Right, that can’t be it; Kagura just prefers classical music compared to Kairi’s impeccable taste and ability in improvisation.

What I like about their duo is how fascinating it is that they even got paired up: Kagura probably composes based on logic, while I am more on the intuitive side and get inspiration as I play my instrument.

 

――Have you ever worked with Kagura’s actor, Kohatsu Allen-san, for private or professional means?

Yasui：This was my first ever casting and meeting with him: I got extremely nervous since our buddy photoshoot session was scheduled so suddenly.

The night before the photoshoot, I kept overthinking: “What if he’s a freak? What if he’s a terrible person?”; even entering the studio, I kept pestering the makeup artists about whether or not Allen-san was scary to them (laughs).

When we got to work together, I immediately realized that he was a nice person: he is kind, open minded, receptive, and I cannot wait for all the things I will learn from him during our lessons.

 

――A message to Kohatsu-san?

Yasui：”I think I’ll be the one causing you a bit of trouble and slowing things down, so I’m counting on your help!”.

I love acting, but I think my level is not quite there yet, so I would like to work with people that understand what good acting is through movie directors or playwrights.

Personally, I have a knack for filming, so much so that I shoot and edit my own music videos—as an actor? I’m still way too inexperienced, so I hope to learn a lot from Allen-san and everyone who I will be acting with for the first time.

 

――This project has a music battle as its core. In that regard, what is a song that you like the most, one that left a strong impact on you?

Yasui：It’s Koji Tamaki’s “Ikanaide”. I like Koji-san so much that I even used to mimic his singing style (laughs). I’ve always loved the original version of “Ikanaide”, but when I saw a foreigner’s reaction video of a Korean singer covering that song, bursting into tears around the chorus, something in me clicked: I deeply wanted to write and sing a song that would move someone in the same way, even without understanding the language.

 

――Have you ever been to a music festival before?

Yasui：Festivals are generally outdoors and crowded, so it's a bit too much for me… Also, I have a pretty sensitive stomach, so any bass could overstimulate it—it’s fine when I’m the one performing on stage though. I would like to try and go to one, but I don't think I ever will since I like listening to music in the comfort of my own home so much (laughs).

 

――Do you have any manga or anime you like or are currently into?

Yasui：I’ve recently been really into the manga version of "Kamen Rider" by Ishinomori Shotaro, the original author of the series. There are many pop-culture adaptations of the "Kamen Rider" franchise: I’m more drawn to the much darker 90s version, even though I used to find them pretty scary when I was still in elementary school, when the show was still airing.

Then, a year or two ago, I happened to find the two first manga volumes: I gave them a try, liked that sinister atmosphere in the writing, and got even more into it. In the past, many manga were much more somber and not as strictly restricted in terms of ethics or social norms as they are now—I’m really digging reading this genre.

 

――To you, what’s the appeal of 2.5 dimension stages?

Yasui：I like American movies based on comics, so obviously I’m into Marvel movies: every time I watch one, I can’t help but think that this is just like 2.5 stages. Manga and anime are subcultures considered as weapons in the global market: only in 2.5 stages can these franchises be embodied in the flesh by actors. I believe it’s something unique to Japan that the country can be proud of.

Furthermore, actors are required to not only play their roles, but perform acrobatics, dance and sing a lot. There’s this wonderful sense of accomplishment when our efforts come together to properly recreate those fictional worlds and settings, and I hope I can continue down this path for the years to come.

 

――Is there any memorable role or stage you can tell us about?

Yasui：It’s most definitely “The Theater “Dramatica” ACT1/Journey to the West: Eternity Tale”, which we performed in October 2021. “Dramatica” is a fictional theater company in which the characters from the “Ensemble Stars!” franchise act: here, I acted as Sanzo in a play based on Journey to the West. Having the character I play actually embody another character on stage was a fascinating experience.

I’m the kind of person who’s interested in how characters spend their time outside of the scenes they’re depicted in, so I was hoping there would be that kind of extra play to show those moments.

This stage allowed the fans to see what they wanted to know and what they wanted us to delve into—I got to discover things about myself as well in the process. I hope to have another opportunity like this in the future.

 

――A message to the audience?

Yasui：The Tokyo Color Sonic’s visuals have been faithfully reproduced when it comes to the costume designs, hairstyles, makeup and so forth. Upon wearing my makeup and costume, I felt that I had become one with Kairi. I believe that everyone will get to witness an unprecedented, once in a lifetime 2.5 stage.

This story is a thrilling coming-of-age drama in which both singers and creators partner up, form bonds, and face the ups and downs of producing songs ultimately culminating in a competition in a massive music festival.

As each duo’s song paints their feelings and relationships, the music and main titles manage to directly impact the audience, which makes it easy to get emotionally involved in their stories.

To those who know nothing about Tokyo Color Sonic!! or 2.5-dimension stages: we hope you’ll come see our show!

“Kairi-kyun only sings bangers and songs that entertain him, so keep your pwetty peepers wide open!”