First-day-screening event of new movie "Shoujo"

The first-day-screening event of new movie "Shoujo" was held at a Shinjuku cinema on 8 October which was attended by the director Mishima Yukiko, the original novel's author Minato Kanae and cast members Honda Tsubasa, Yamamoto Mizuki, Inagaki Goro, Kojima Kazuya and Sato Ryo. The movie features Honda and Yamamoto as a pair of senior high school students who try to find the meaning to live through witnessing the moment when people die.

As this was Inagaki's first public appearance since news of SMAP's impending disbandment came out in August, the media attention was naturally on him. When asked about his thoughts on the movie, Inagaki who played a staff member in an old folks' home with a mysterious past, commented that it is a film which touches on the darkness and wounds in people's hearts. He also praised the female leads Honda and Yamamoto for looking very pretty in their dresses and said that he only saw them in school uniforms during the filming. Inagaki commented that the two of them had very tough characters to play and he wondered if he would have been able to take on such a role in his 20s. Inagaki also revealed that his co-stars didn't quite talk to him which he attributed to the fact that he appeared quite aloof and apologised to them about this.

When asked about if he has experienced any form of darkness of late, Inagaki said that he is basically a dark person because his house is so dark that there are no fluorescent lights and he uses only candles at home so he is often teased for having a house which resembles a fortune telling shop. In response to the same question, Honda and Yamamoto both said that they enjoy playing games and watching anime alone at home on their off days. Honda revealed that she went without food for 18 hours and kept playing games while Yamamoto went to the movies alone for three days in a row when she had consecutive off days. This led Inagaki to wonder in amazement and ask them if they had no friends to go out with. He even jokingly remarked that he has a middle-aged male friend who would sometimes stay at his house so he feels sad whenever he doesn't see his friend around when he goes back.

At the end of the event, Inagaki was asked by the reporters to say something regarding the disbandment which he responded smilingly with a single sentence that he will work hard and apologised for the disturbance caused by this matter.

Sources: Nikkansports / Sanspo / Sponichi / Oricon

Completion press conference and screening of new movie "Shoujo"

The completion press conference of new movie "Shoujo" was held on 12 September which was attended by the director Mishima Yukiko, the author of the original novel Minato Kanae and cast members Honda Tsubasa, Yamamoto Mizuki, Mackenyu and Sato Ryo. After the press conference, GLIM SPARKY who sings the movie's theme song, also appeared at the completion screening event along with them. However, Inagaki Goro who also appears in this movie, did not appear at the event. The movie which will be shown in cinemas from 8 October, features Honda as Sakurai Yuki and Yamamoto as Kusano Atsuko who are second year senior high school students with dark secrets. In order to fulfill their desire of seeing the moment when people die, the two of them spend their summer in their own ways to achieve that goal.

Honda commented that as her character is very different from those she had played in the past, she engaged in regular discussions with the director so as to show a completely different side of herself. As for Yamamoto, she revealed that she felt at ease working with Honda and wanted to protect her since the latter is so frank and forthcoming about her insecurities. In the end, their relationship has become somewhat like their characters in the movie which Honda agreed with and said that she felt assured that Yamamoto will be around to help her whenever something happens.

Sources: Sanspo / Oricon

Honda Tsubasa & Yamamoto Mizuki work together in new movie "Shoujo"

Honda Tsubasa and Yamamoto Mizuki will be appearing together as the leads in the new movie "Shoujo" (Young Girl) based on Minato Kanae's same-titled bestselling novel. Filming has been completed and the movie is in post-production stage which is expected to end in March so as to meet the release date in autumn 2016.

Despite being 23 and 24 years old respectively, Honda and Yamamoto will be playing Year 2 senior high school girls who are 17 years old in this movie directed by Mishima Yukiko. According to the producer, they had deliberately chosen them who are in their twenties rather than someone around the same age as the characters because they have already gone through their teenager years and are able to show how it is like to grow from a teenager to a woman in a realistic way.

Honda takes on the role of Yuki who is a girl that nobody can understand and comprehend what she's thinking about. She comes from a family who has to take care of her grandmother who is suffering from dementia. Due to a past incident, Yuki suffered an injury which cannot be erased on her left hand thus leading her to hate her grandmother. On the other hand, Yamamoto plays her best friend Atsuko who is a naive and innocent girl who was bullied in the past. As a result of that experience, Atsuko would get a hyperpnea attack when she's overly nervous or treated badly by others. Bonded by their own emotional traumas, the girls start to have this idea of wanting to see the moment when someone dies so the movie describes what happens during their summer vacation from their respective viewpoints as they try to make this idea come true.

Honda who has played mostly cheerful characters to date, revealed that she was worried about playing such a dark character but also views it as a welcome challenge. As for Yamamoto, she also had a similar concern and commented that it was stressful in trying to convey the various emotions felt by her character. Having worked together four times to date, Honda praised her co-star for having a high level of concentration and is very observant towards people which helps in her acting. On the other hand, Yamamoto commented that Honda has her pace of doing things and they had fun playing games and chatting during the filming breaks

When interviewed about the leads, Minato praised them for fitting the image of the characters. She explained that Honda was who she had in mind for Yuki who may seem strong on the surface but is fragile inside. On the other hand, Yamamoto who plays Atsuko, may seem like someone who is weak but actually has a tough psychological state which is concealed under her appearance. Minato said that viewers will find it interesting to picture them in the characters even if they are to re-read the novel.

Source: Oricon