Modelpress Interview with Seto Koji
translated by me, beta read by bellfry
Modelpress 2018.01.28 19:00 Drama “Kuragehime” Seto Koji interview: How does this handsome man in women’s clothes become super cute? Does he think about the film version’s Suda Masaki? [Seto Koji / Modelpress = January 28th] Seto Koji (29) is the actor who plays a “heroine” of sorts on Fuji TV‘s drama “Kuragehime” (Monday 9pm). In the same drama there are many girls, starting with Yoshine Kyoko who is playing Kurashita Tsukimi, who are hardcore otaku. It is a work that is full of very unusual characters and the pretty actresses Kinami Haruka, Matsui Rena, Uchida Rio and Tomiyama Eriko are showing a look 180 degrees different from usual. Amongst them, thanks to fashion, hair styling, and makeup, Seto shines as the beauty, a young man disguised in women’s clothing, Koibuchi Kuranosuke. Seto uses his attention to detail and his strong spirit for challenges in order to let the viewers enjoy his pretty-faced Kuranosuke. Becoming a pretty man dressing as a woman in “Kuragehime” The original work (manga) is by Higashimura Akiko who is known for works like “Tokyo Tarareba Musume” or “Omo ni naite imasu” and more. It’s a “Cinderella comedy” where a “otaku girl” falls in love although she thought that this would never happen to her and while being drawn into a complicated triangle relationship she starts to find a new self. Seto who is acting as a “pretty man dressing as a woman” is appearing in a Monday9 drama for the first time and challenges acting while being dressed as a woman for the first time in his life. Even before the drama aired the pictures of him got a lot of attention but after the drama started airing people didn’t only say stuff like “Seto is cute.” or “He is more of a woman than a woman.” but also talked about his fashion and hair “The skirt that Kuranosuke is wearing today is nice. I wanna have it, too.” or “Today’s hair style is so cute!”. Seto Koji, how to prepare for being a man dressing as a woman -I heard that you’re already filming for the fifth episode so did you get used to dressing as a woman by now? Seto: Of course I got used to it! -Every time when the drama is airing there is a lot of feedback. Seto: I’m thankful for it. Preparing Kuranosuke’s looks takes about one hour but I actually can’t look at him from an objective point of view so I’m not so sure what to think of it… When I look at him I only see a man (laugh). That’s why I’m really happy when the cast or the staff members and also the viewers say things like “pretty” and “cute” and I use it for my self-confidence and now I believe that “I’m cute”. Of course we did make up tests and film tests and so on before the filming so the preparation for it was perfect. -Your skin is also pretty, right? Seto: Thank you. But sometimes it’s chapped as well. I have hay fever and depending on the season my face gets itchy. It’s almost time for hay fever now so it’ll be a little dangerous (laugh). -You talked about it in your blog or in the press conference but it seemed that it was hard to prepare for the role because you had to lose 6 kg or get rid of unwanted hair. Seto: You’re right. Getting rid of unwanted hair is still troublesome now. Depending on my role I do need the hair so I can’t get rid of it forever. I went to get hair depilation twice and let it make thinner. Since then I shave it every day. Woman don’t have that problem but I really have to shave every day so it’s really troublesome. -Your nails look pretty, too. Did you do it by yourself? Seto: Because I’m doing a show where I make sweets I already took care of my nails before. But now I chose the nail colour according to Kuranosuke’s fashion and put it on by myself. I got more used to it by now compared to some weeks ago. -I also think that the makeup is cute every time so I wonder whether you discuss it with the staff members before you do it? Seto: The staff that always does my makeup and therefore knows me very well prepares makeup and wig that fit me and shows it to the filming staff. So I’m not involved in the process for my makeup. -I see. So apart from the looks, what did you do for the way of stance and gestures? Seto: About the gesture I was looking at pictures online or studied it in magazines… Since Kuranosuke is more the big-sister type when he’s dressed as a woman I used Yonekura Ryoko and Amami Yuki and others as reference for my way of standing. And also some foreign models. Because there are many that are cute but also have a cool aura so I mixed these images (of foreign and Japanese models). -What feedback have you gotten since the drama started airing? Seto: In my family we don’t interfere with each other’s work (in a positive meaning) so they say “I saw it” and how they found it but they know that I don’t like it if they talk about my acting so they didn’t really say anything (laugh). The only thing is that I really look similar to the younger of my two sisters when I’m dressed as a woman, so many of my relatives or people around me tell me that. Seto Koji had a past where he had a complex about being “cute” -I think you were told “cute” a lot until now. Seto: That’s true… Well, in my teens the only thing I was told was “You are cute” so I always felt the gap between the “myself I want to show to others” and the “myself that other people see”. I had a big conflict with myself because of this gap… But I only had this weapon… I felt really pent-up. But when I finally got 20, I became an adult, gathered a lot of experience in acting and realized that being “cute” is not my only weapon. So I accepted this “cute” part of myself. I changed my thinking from “I’ve been called ‘cute’ again” to “I’m thankful to be called ‘cute’”. -Was there a special occasion that made you change your way of thinking? Seto: There wasn’t anything special. I think I just started to accept many things when I gathered more and more experiences. But it might be that I won’t be able to accept it anymore when I become even more of an adult and get stubborn (laugh). -Maybe (laugh). But that means that you didn’t resist when you got the offer for this “cute” role, right? Seto: Resistance… I might have to dress up as a woman for one scene in other works from now on as well but dressing up as a woman for a whole series, that’s something that won’t happen in my actor’s life anymore I suppose. So I kinda felt that it was fate when I received the offer for Kuranosuke. There is a movie and an anime and the manga was really popular, too, so I also felt some pressure whether I could really do this but my feelings of wanting to challenge this as an actor won against the feeling of pressure. -In the movie it is Suda Masaki who plays the same role so do you think much about it? I think you can’t escape being compared to him… Seto: I don’t think about it at all! Especially because Suda’s face and my face are different (laugh). So I think that we’ll be different Kuranosukes. Besides, a movie has its own good sides but the drama has more time that it can use to show the story carefully so it has different good sides. Of course both have the same origin but they are still two different works in the end. To people comparing them I can only say “it can’t be helped / c’est la vie” (laugh). I don’t feel any pressure because of that. -Recently Shirota Yu and Shison Jun from the same agency as you also had roles where they dressed as a woman, right? Seto: Right! It’s a coincidence (laugh). I also watched those works! But they are completely different I think (laugh). That’s why there isn’t much to talk or think about and I think we should just give our best in our ways. -In the editorial department I heard people that said that you are the cutest of all of them (laugh). Seto: Of course, of course (laugh)! I think among these I’m the cutest (laugh). But I’m really happy being told this. Seto Koji, some parts that are similar to Kuranosuke -Kuranosuke has a strong will. By dressing up as a woman he crushes his father’s plan to make him a politician as well and he can also be involved with the fashion world that he loves so much. Do you have any similarities with Kuranosuke? Seto: I can be thankful about that but I grew up in a family with a lot of love and not in a complicated circumstance like Kuranosuke so I don’t have any rebellious feelings towards my father. But Kuranosuke has very strong feelings towards his mother who he had to be parted from when he was very young and he doesn’t know where she is now. I think that his “dressing up as a woman is my hobby” is maybe also “I want to feel my mother”. Because I came to Tokyo from Fukuoka when I was 17 years old and I could meet my family only about once a year I think I might have similar strong feelings towards my family and my mother. -Strong feelings towards your mother… Seto: I thought more than once about leaving the show business. After all it wasn’t my decision to enter the show business and I thought about giving up several times. I originally wanted to become a veterinarian but entered the entertainment world on the advice of my mother. I think I’m a person who changed his mother’s dream into his own dream. So the reason why I continued working in show business was not only because it was the only thing I had but somehow also because I felt that I didn’t want to disappoint my mother. Modelpress 2018.01.29 21:00 Drama "Kuragehime" Seto Koji interview: The girl talk on location? And 2 hour phone calls! What’s this relationship with Takahashi Issei? [Seto Koji / Modelpress = January 29th] The modelpress interview with Seto Koji who’s appearing in Fuji TV’s drama “Kuragehime” (Monday 9pm). In the second part of the interview he will talk about some episodes with co-actors of the drama and about Takahashi Issei who is “like a real big brother”. He will also introduce the key to make one’s dreams come true. Becoming a pretty man dressing as a woman in “Kuragehime” The original work (manga) is by Higashimura Akiko who is known for works like “Tokyo Tarareba Musume” or “Omo ni naite imasu” and more. It’s a “Cinderella comedy” where a “otaku girl” falls in love although she thought that this would never happen to her and while being drawn into a complicated triangle relationship she starts to find a new self. The man that dresses up as a woman Koibuchi Kuranosuke that is played by Seto is a stylish and pretty man who has a high fashion sense that makes him dress up as a woman. He meets the main character Kurashita Tsukimi (Yoshine Kyoko) and the other otaku girls who call themselves “Amars” and starts to be interested in them. Seto Koji, the transformation into the “Amars” “Despite being so cute girls…” -For this drama you have many scenes with everyone from “Amars” so it’s a location with many women. Do you often talk with everyone else in the lobby like today? Seto: Yes. Because there are many women the location is very cheerful. Kyoko also says that “this location is so much fun” but everyone is very fascinating and I really agree with that. Kyoko is always smiling so naturally everyone around her is smiling as well. Also I think that the staff is creating a friendly atmosphere even before we (actors) come to location. The work itself is a comedy and I really feel being helped by this. -What do you talk about? Seto: The other time Matsui Rena who likes Taiwan brought a guide book about Taiwan and she told us stuff like “This restaurant was delicious~” or “This can be found in Japan as well~” so we were saying things like “Oh, I might go there~” and “Maybe I should go to Taiwan as well~” (laugh). Like that. -Do you rather listen (than talk)? Seto: Yes, I’m the listening type. But I like to talk about some occult stuff and (Uchida) Rio likes it as well. That’s why we’re talking about occult things. Recently Rio talked about something she had heard somewhere but I don’t know whether that was true or not so I won’t talk about it here (laugh). -(laugh). Yoshine and every one of “Amars” is acting very extreme so did you get some excitement through it? Seto: I get some excitement. Everyone gives more than 100% of their power so I feel that I have to follow. On the other hand Kuranosuke has also some kind of overhead view so even when I see every one’s excitement I can’t join them completely but have to try to stay a little calm. But I really think that everyone is great with their acting. You wouldn’t think the actor and the character are the same person. “Despite being so cute girls…” (laugh). Seto Koji, what is the relationship to “big brother” Takahashi Issei? -I’m changing the topic but I heard that your meeting with Takahashi Issei had a big effect on you. Seto: That’s true, Issei is really the person that I would call my best friend. We’re really on the same wavelength. He spoils me a lot and I also approach him as if he was my big brother. There aren’t many people that you open up about everything, right? I don’t want my family to feel anxious so I only say positive stuff and don’t show my weakness. But I can tell Issei negative things as well and I can talk about everything with him. He’s my sempai, my friend and my brother… I feel like describing our relationship with those words doesn’t capture it completely but I really really respect him a lot. But recently Issei is in Osaka so we don’t have opportunities to meet anymore! That’s because, as you all know, Issei is a very busy person. That’s why we’re talking on the phone or so… -You talk on the phone? Seto: Yes! We’re talking like girls. About two hours (laugh). Starting with “How are you these days?” until stuff I can’t tell you about (laugh). Last year Issei said “Let’s make our own bicycle together!” so we both made an order made bicycle. This year we want to cycle somewhere with these bicycles. But we haven’t decided anything yet. -That sounds fun! You’re very active. Seto: I’m not an active person at all but I always think that I want to become active. But Issei is someone whose hobby is mountain climbing and much more so I hope that through this occasion I become an active person as well. How will Seto Koji continue from now on? -You don’t look like it at all but you’ll be 30 years old this year, right? Seto: Yes, I’ll be 30 years old. -Do you feel any changes? Seto: Staff members started to be younger. Until now most of them were older than me but now the assistant director or the staff for lighting, sound and art… there are more and more who are younger than me so I feel old. I realized my old age (laugh). My muscles feel sore later than they used to and when I’m standing next to some young person who bursts with youth and energy like Kyoko I’m not like that at all (laugh). -(laugh). Is there anything that you want to do before you turn 30 on the private side? Seto: Nothing in particular. I don’t really think something like “because I’m 30!”. Woman might think about children or marriage in that age but I don’t think about it. In my early twenties my desire to marry was a lot higher than now. I don’t have this desire anymore. I don’t know the reason why I feel like that now but I think it is because I’m completely taken up by work. I’m happy if things go on like now where I meet good works and good people and can be satisfied with my work. I want to continue this routine. -At the end of this routine what kind of a future would you be happy about? Seto: Definitely one where I continue to be an actor. Although it’s easier said than done (laugh). The good points are that there is no pension in this occupation and I can continue acting until any age. But the show business is a competitive society and I’ve already seen many people giving up and people that had no other way than leaving so I think that it’s a place where I can’t continue with just my own ability and skill. Maybe you could say that I had good luck and one good thing followed another so my situation right now could be called something like a miracle. So my dream is that things will continue like this forever. -I see. Seto: Of course acting is what I mainly do but I also like writing essays and drawing pictures and I’m able to do narrating on TV shows so I wish I can widen my way of performing. Seto Koji, the key to make one’s dream come true -So can you tell the readers at the end a way how you can make your dreams come true? Seto: Well, I think that the young people of today are reading this, right (laugh)? To be honest, I have no idea what I should say (laugh). Maybe… even if you don’t like it so much you should continue. Continuing something is a difficult thing itself. So continuing is one key, the other key is to not carry everything by yourself. Depend on other people. This is not about being spoiled but by depending on other people you can become someone that other can depend on as well and that is important I think. For me, Issei is someone like that. -Continuing… There are many people that give up on the way, right? Seto: There are really many. It might be the thinking that before I get hurt I change my way and start something new. But I think “If you couldn’t continue this way, other ways will be difficult as well”. Many think that by giving up they chose the easier way… Although there is nothing like an easier way. But I guess that young people don’t want to hear stuff like this (laugh)? Deep inside you might have noticed that it’s true and you feel hurt. You don’t want to hear it and think “So annoying~” maybe? But I think that listening to what other people say is really important. -You’re right. Thank you for your wonderful words. Pay attention to what’s going to happen in “Kuragehime” next On that day Seto was interviewed while being dressed as a woman. A small face that many woman lose to, long eyelashes, white skin, a beauty that is really enchanting… On the other hand the staff was fascinated by the gap of his manliness by talking calmly about his job and dream. Kuranosuke who’s not only freely doing what he wants but is also strongly determined and won’t let his surroundings take this away. Seto who looks at his surroundings objectively and has a consistent way of thinking has some traits that are similar to Kuranosuke. How does the heroine change by meeting Kuranosuke and how does Kuranosuke himself change? “Kuragehime” will become more and more interesting. Please pay attention to Kuranosuke who is of course very pretty but is also deeply thought about by Seto.
