It's just me and my fangirl scream. Libra Ravenclaw ENFJ Bi She/her. Into alot of things, especially female character, female friendship, female character that never received the attention they deserve, Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, MCU, HP, Ruyi's Royal Love, Yanxi Conquest and Goblin. Have even more OT3 than OTP
And while this is happening while people are buried under rubble, while children freeze in tents, while entire families vanish overnight powerful men sit comfortably and present plans for a “New Gaza.”
Clean slides. Perfect buildings. Investment numbers. A future imagined without the people who are currently being erased.
They talk about peace while bombs are still falling. They talk about rebuilding while destruction is ongoing. They draw maps over land that is soaked with blood and call it hope.
The ceasefire is a lie.
What’s happening is ethnic cleansing, repackaged with the language of development and diplomacy. You cannot build a “new” city by destroying the people who belong to it. You cannot promise a future while actively killing the present.
This isn’t peace. It’s violence with better branding.
Today, three journalists were killed in a single airstrike.
Not soldiers. Not fighters. Journalists. People who believed that if they kept documenting, if they kept filming, if they kept writing, the world would eventually care.
In Gaza, telling the truth has become one of the most dangerous things you can do. Holding a camera is treated like holding a weapon. Every photo risks your life. Every report could be your last.
They had names. Families. People waiting for them to come home. They were not numbers, and they were not mistakes. They were silenced because truth is inconvenient, because images expose what statements try to hide.
When journalists are killed, it’s not just lives that are lost it’s evidence. It’s memory. It’s the last barrier between reality and denial.
…
Donations for GAZA
This donation campaign is for ANAS family. Not for strangers, not for a cause I’m distant from but for the people who raised me, the people I love, the people I’m terrified of losing.
They are in Gaza, trying to survive something no human being should ever have to endure. Constant bombardment, displacement, hunger, fear, and the feeling that tomorrow is never guaranteed. Every day is about staying alive one more night.
If you choose to help, you are not donating to an abstract crisis. You are helping real people with names, memories, and lives that matter to me more than anything.
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Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger
Official Perfect Book: Bakuage All Right
Part 2 of 2: Ryu, Satoru and Yu's Interviews
(very long post, translations below)
(Part 1: Haruhi, Yuki and Miu's Interviews)
Publication: July 1, 2025
Saito Ryu (Jou Akuse/BoonBlack)
-The resolve to become the hero I've always admired-
"The Final Live Tour that visited the nine major cities across the country was a huge success, wasn't it?"
Saito: I was in high school during the covid pandemic, so we didn't have a school trip. The only time I had ever been west of Tokyo was when we went to Shizuoka to film the Summer movie, so I couldn't help but be excited for the Final Live Tour. Being able to travel all over the country for work made me really happy. Also, it was refreshing to see the reactions of people from the other regions who couldn't make it to the G-Rosso show when they saw us for the first time. The cheers when all of us came out during the opening were so incredible that I'd get goosebumps every single time. I'm glad that I was able to express my gratitude to so many different people.
"How are you feeling now that the year long broadcast has come to an end?"
Saito: It really feels like it went by in the blink of an eye. Costume fitting began around the end of the year before last, but before I knew it, about a year and a half had passed by. That costume fitting seriously feels like it was only a week ago. After we finished filming for the TV series, the G-Rosso performances started, where I initially thought it'd be long, but once it started, it was over before I knew it and the Final Live Tour had begun……Looking back, alot of things happened, but to make a long story short, it felt like everything all happened at once.
"Seems it was an intense year. Saito-san, you've been watching Super Sentai and Kamen Rider since you were little, but what was your impression when you first heard about Boonboomger's setting?"
Saito: A Car Sentai was coming back again! That said, in my mind, the image I have of Super Sentai Red's is that they're hot blooded, somewhat absent minded guys, so I was surprised to see that the Red this time was actually the cool type! On the other hand, I felt that Jou's character was closer to that of the classic Red's from long ago.
"How did you feel when you were chosen to play Jou, who felt similar to a traditional Red?"
Saito: Actually, when my manager first got the documents for Jou, his personality was so spot on with my own, that he apparently couldn't help but ask the Producer, "Did you specifically write this for him?" The characters are created before the auditions begin, so that clearly wasn't the case (laughs). Still, it seems as though the Producers thought "Jou's here" the moment I walked into the audition venue. To be honest, I was going through a rough patch around that time, and thought if I didn't get cast in Boonboomger, that I might not be able to continue this job anymore. So, if this was going to be my last chance, I thought I'd have fun while doing it, so I gave it my all, and as a result, I was chosen for the role, which made me truly happy.
"Bakuage 1 is the episode where Mira encounters Taiya and becomes a Boonboomger, but Jou also appears as a city police officer, right? Do you have any memories from your first day of filming?"
Saito: There's the scene where I spot Wedding Dress Grumer. It was like, I started to run when suddenly……! Looking back now, I'm like……what's up with the way I'm moving my body……?
"Do you still find things to think about when you look back at your early acting?"
Saito: There's so much! I almost can't bear to watch anymore (laughs). I can't believe they actually released this footage into the world (laughs). Also, it was on this day that I saw the Boonboomger suits for the first time, and the way the light hit BoonRed at the time was incredibly beautiful……Honestly, when I first saw the Boonboomgers visuals in the documents, I was pretty shocked and thought, "Tires?!," but I remember thinking right then and there, "No, this actually works!" It was seriously bizarre, but the tires suddenly started to look cool! This was truly due to the power all the Suit Actors have.
"Both the opening and ending credits were broadcast for the first time in Bakuage 2, but during the ending, the part where Saito-san messes up his chorus choreography just happened to be captured in the footage (laughs).
Saito: I knew it was a mistake the moment I did it. I was like, "I messed up!" Because of that, I told the Director, "I'm truly sorry, but I made a mistake!," where he said, "No, we won't use this cut anyway, so it's alright!" I thought, "What a relief~," but when it actually aired I was like, "Why'd they use it?!" (laughs).
"You were unaware of it until you saw the broadcast, huh?"
Saito: I had no idea. That big goofy look on my face is totally front and center in the footage. Still, it's become such a highlight, so if that actually was Director Nakazawa's decision, then I'm truly grateful.
"Bakuage 5 was Jou's first main episode, but what kind of conversations did you have with Director Watanabe Katsuya?"
Saito: In Bakuage 4, there's the scene where he says, "As a police officer, I can't just ignore their voices!" and dashes out of the Deliverer's garage, but to tell you the truth, we had to reshot that scene multiple times due to the Director saying, "You aren't conveying Jou's resolve and emotions." We probably had to reshoot it about ten times. At the time, it was pretty tough on me mentally, and was my first real challenge. Still, I heard later on that it was Producer Kuji who had asked Director Watanabe to handle Jou's main episodes. It seems he entrusted Director Watanabe, who excels at capturing passionate performances, with bringing out Jou's passionate side. I was very grateful when I heard that. Also, during the private screening of Bakuage 5, I heard that Director Watanabe told the people around him that "Saito-kun's really good," which made me really happy.
"You Changed into BoonBlack for the first time in Bakuage 5, but what are your thoughts on your first transformation?"
Saito: To put it in a few words, it was sheer joy. Up until that point, I had only casually thought, "I'm going to become a Boonboomger," but the moment I first said "Boonboom Change!" on set, I genuinely felt that I had become the hero I'd always dreamed of becoming since childhood, while at the same time, I also felt that I had to live my life as a hero going forward. It was physically demanding and exhausting, but because of that, I think that shoot was the motive for both Jou and I to solidify our resolve.
"What did you discuss with BoonBlack's Suit Actor Ito Shigeki-san at the time of your first transformation?"
Saito: Actually, and I can only say this now, but I initially couldn't talk to Shige-san at all. The age difference between Shige-san and I……is pretty big, you know? That's why I was really struggling with how to close the distance between us.
"Was there any kind of turning point?"
Saito: I happened to turn 20 during filming, but then the Suit Actors invited me out for drinks. I discussed this with Yume-san and Yone-san at that time, where they said, "Shige-san's just shy! He hates being alone, so give him some attention!" (laughs). I see, if he was just shy, then I thought I should be the one to approach, and when I did speak to him, he was overjoyed. Since then, Shige-san's been inviting me out to meals and to go to the gym together, and we're so close now that he even sends me messages asking, "When's the next time you're free?"
"In Bakuage 8, it's revealed that Boonboomger was originally a racing team, and Jou's confusion as he realizes he's not the evil fighting hero he thought he was is depicted."
Saito: I talked about this alot with Director Nakazawa. Jou became a Boonboomger because he wanted to protect people, but it was just a racing team, so when Shirabe-san called it "Taiya Hando's hobby," I thought that his goal of working hard turing out to be different from what he expected would absolutely cause Jou's anger and panic to surface. Genba and Ishiro aren't the type to show much emotion, so I decided to make up for that by acting about five times more expressively. Jou generally doesn't take his anger out on others, but I wanted to show that even he has feelings he can't control, so after discussing it with Satoru-kun, we also included the scene where he swiftly brushes Genba's hand off his shoulder.
"Following that in Bakuage 9, the climax where everyone learns about Taiya's dream and unites once more was a suitable scene to bring the 1st Lap's final episode to a close."
Saito: For the scene where the four of them are lying on the road and Shirabe-san delivers Taiya by saying, "I've got a delivery!," I was looking up at Taiya from the ground as he got out of the Boonboom Super Car, and he looked so cool in that moment, that it's become burned in my mind like a scene from a movie. The way he appeared put me at ease, like, "Taiya's here, it's gonna be alright," so I was also genuinely moved by it, and as we filmed, I thought it would become a scene that would definitely move all of the viewers as well. Also, the sunset at the very end was absolutely breathtaking. To be honest, they didn't plan on capturing that shot, as by the time we finished shooting the action scenes, it had gotten dark, so this scene was captured by chance. It was incredibly lucky.
"Bakuage 12 was the collab episode with Go-Onger. Saito-san is from the Go-Onger generation, right?"
Saito: That's right. I was only about 4 years old though, so I didn't fully understand the content of the story, but I definitely remember having the impression that Go-OnRed was cool. That's why when I saw Go-OnRed on set during filming, memories from long ago came flooding back. What's more, the Suit Actor for Go-OnRed was still Fukuzawa-san, just like during the original broadcast, and he looked insanely cool. His skilled technique, or rather, his movements were so refined and efficient, so watching him was just incredible.
-Performing was a tearful ordeal-
"We think the following episode, Bakuage 15's "Lock and Key," is an essential one when talking about Jou, but what were your thoughts when you first read the script?"
Saito: A difficult story was approaching……I'd heard abit about there being an episode for Jou around episode 15, so while I was expecting some kind of hot blooded story, I was surprised that it turned out to be such a solemn one. Also, this was the first episode where I had to do a crying scene. I'd never done one before, so I was incredibly nervous about whether I could pull it off or not.
"Were you able to pull off the crying scene on the actual day?"
Saito: No, it was incredibly difficult. The Director had even told me, "It's okay to take your time so you can slowly get into the right mood," but when it came to crying in this situation, with all the cameras and other people present, I just couldn't focus at all. This was really due to my lack of experience, or I guess my inability to concentrate……Then, Director Hayama came to my side and told me that during the Robo battle that was filmed earlier on, Shige-san stopped his hand for a moment just before pressing the button to deliver the finishing blow to the rampaging Keytarou. Hearing that, tears finally started to come out naturally, and we were able to successfully complete the shoot.
"The final scene where the Boonboomgers meet with Jou as he passed by a family calling out dinosaur names in front of the dinosaur exhibit sign was also memorable."
Saito: I was really happy when Taiya silently placed his hand on Jou's shoulder. That was also something Haruhi adlibbed on the spot, saying, "I think this is what Taiya would do." As Jou, he was naturally feeling sad about losing Keytarou, but I remember how we all discussed wanting to make it a scene that showed Jou taking a step forward without being too depressed, while still being conscious that he had friends now.
"ATM Grumer appeared in Bakuage 19, which gave birth to the mysterious technique known as the "Cranked Up BoonBlack Shield," where the low on cash Jou was used as a shield."
Saito: I laughed as soon as I got to that part in the script (laughs). This is where Jou's character trait of always being broke comes from, as he impulsively buys exercise machines and other stuff right away, but it's really funny, don't you think? It felt like it added a delightful extra touch. At the time, I was actually buying tons of stuff like protein products that I didn't have the money for, so I was in the same financial situation as Jou (laughs).
"Bakuage 21 depicts him as buddies with Genba, who appeared as the "candy detective." Do you have any memories of working with Genba's Soma-san?"
Saito: Since it was a unique costume change for Genba, I remember how much fun Satoru-kun seemed to be having during the candy detective story. I also became the "afro detective" on that day, so it was fun applying soot to my face and wearing an afro wig. Both Genba and Satoru-kun appear mysterious at first glance, but they're actually incredibly soft spoken people. We're eight years apart, so he'd interact with me as both an older brother and friend, which really helped me out. Whenever something was on my mind, I'd immediately discuss it with Satoru-kun, and Satoru-kun would likewise also come to me for advice.
"Around this time, Promise the Circuit was screened, but what was most memorable about filming it?"
Saito: I guess it'd have to be the action. I'd kept telling Action Director Jun-san that I wanted to do some action. Then, during the film's production, he asked me, "Can you do a backflip?" I didn't have much confidence at the time, so I said, "I'll do my best!" and practiced while Shige-san and Jun-san watched over me. Challenging myself to do jump kicks also made me really happy. And then, I fell into water! (laughs). The cut was supposed to show Ishiro, Genba, and Jou resisting but eventually falling down in that order, but then Ishiro suddenly tripped during the first take, so we all ended up tumbling down together in a domino effect (laughs).
"Bakuage 23 is the episode featuring the "Cranked Up Baseball Sentai," who were also released as acrylic stands at the "Rokuwa no Kiseki Exhibition." How was it filming the baseball scenes?"
Saito: My personal pastime is watching baseball games, so I had alot of fun. That reminds me, I'm right handed, but Shige-san's left handed. Because of this, I tried to match him by using my left hand too, but I couldn't hit anything, so it was really difficult. I was swinging the bat while the children from the youth baseball team, who were there as extras, shouted things like, "hit a proper grounder!" (laughs).
"Including the baseball uniform in this episode, we got the impression that Jou had quite a few costume changes, but did you have a favorite costume?"
Saito: Honestly, his normal overalls are the ones that really made me feel like "a new door had opened." The last time I wore a pair was sometime back in elementary school (laughs). Still, they're relatively easy to come by and can be worn by both men and women, so seeing that fans often wore overalls as a way of dressing up as Jou made me really happy. Currently, whenever I see someone wearing overalls on the street I think, "They must be a fan of Jou" (laughs). Also, there was the tuxedo in Bakuage 17.
"The official site revealed the anecdote that you deliberately slicked your hair back since you thought just styling it like that looked way too cool.
Saito: That's right. I think everyone tends to forget because of Jou's character, but I am a Junon Super Boy Grand Prix winner! (laughs). When I tried on the tuxedo during costume fitting, Director Kato said, "You look pretty cool," where I was like, "I am trying to sell myself as the handsome one here!," but after much trial and error to capture Jou's personality, we ended on slicking my hair back and attaching flowers to my chest (laughs).
"Bakuage 24 was filmed on location at an after school facility. We understand that Saito-san once aimed to become an educator, but how was it filming with children?"
Saito: All of them were seriously adorable. During the final scene, there's the part where everyone sings "Niji" along to Taiya's guitar, but since I'm terrible at singing, my heart was pounding like crazy during filming. Even though it's such a great scene, I was the only one who couldn't stop myself from breaking out into a cold (laughs).
-The final main episode where I floored the accelerator-
"After that, Bakuage 25 had Sakito officially joining the Boonboomgers. What kind of person was Sakito's Miyazawa Yu-san?"
Saito: He's incredibly passionate about acting, so I learned alot from how thoroughly he thought through every detail. He'd even ask me about my own acting, like, "If someone asked why you did that scene like that, would you be able to answer them?" I realized there were times where I myself hadn't been thoroughly thinking things through, so it was a learning experience, and he taught me all sorts of things at times like that. Zawa-nii generally gives off the vibe of "not wanting to comment on someone else's acting," but when he drinks, his passionate side for acting opens up just alittle, so when we'd go out for drinks, I'd ask him things like, "What did you think about my performance the other day?" Everyone else probably did the same thing, huh? I think much of what I learned and was motivated by were from Zawa-nii. In fact, after Haruhi started performing with Zawa-nii, he seemed to become much more serious about his own acting. I'm truly grateful that Zawa-nii became Boonboomger's additional member. If it hadn't been Zawa-nii, I don't think we would've become this close, and I don't think our commitment to acting would've been this strong either.
"Just as we were thinking that Sakito had become such a reliable friend, Genba withdraws. What did you think of the scene where Genba announced that he was leaving Boonboomger?"
Saito: The atmosphere on set that day was probably the heaviest in Boonboomger history, and we had to act with those exact vibes in mind. Genba has his own thoughts, so Jou couldn't just meddle with things there, and while I also felt like Taiya should've stopped him, he wouldn't do it……This is also one of Jou's good points, but when it comes to choosing between one side or the other, he's the kind of person who can't choose either. He wants to cherish both. This is exactly why I performed while carrying that sense of helplessness, where there's nothing he can do about it being left unfinished.
"The scene in Bakuage 28, where Jou motivates everyone despite Genba's absence, was really hot."
Saito: Post recording for that episode was pretty challenging. The scene where I attack while fighting Neon Grumer was divided into three segments, so increasing the intensity of my voice was really difficult, as the first had to be about 30-40%, the second had to be 80-90%, and the final one had to be 120%. Being able to transform helmetless on set made me really happy. After this, Mira also transforms helmetless, but since no one else besides Taiya had done it up to this point, I kept it a secret in order to surprise everyone. On the actual day, they said, "It only being Jou is so unfair!" (laughs).
"After that, we learned that Boonboom was a former Hashiriyan, where Jou was often seen encouraging Boonboom together with Mira. We think Jou was often paired up with Mira in order to liven up the mood, but how did you create your performances with Suzuki-san?"
Saito: The Boonboomgers are often divided into "team humidifier," who deliver subtle performances, and "team dehumidifier, who act as the counter to them, but Miu-chan and I are team dehumidifier, aren't we? (laughs). The Directors would just tell us things like, "You two will adlib this part to look like you're having abit of fun," so it was always trial and error when Miu-chan and I discussed how to look like we were upbeat and having fun. Then, the viewers started saying things like, "The pairing of Jou and Mira is adorable," and "Those two are so healing," so hearing that made me feel like our hard work had paid off.
"Bakuage 40 was an episode about Jou's past, and was also the culminating final main episode."
Saito: I really liked the scene where he tells Itsuki-kun, "Hitting the brakes on yourself out of fear would be a waste!" Children who watched the broadcast may not have fully grasped it now, but it'd make me happy if they look back on this someday when they're older and remember what he said, and for the adults that watched, I performed this scene hoping it would make you feel something, that it would move your heart. Honestly, Bakuage 15 benefited from the Director's filming style, as my own lack of skill showed through, but Assistant Producer Yoshikawa told me that Bakuage 40 showcased both Jou's growth and my own growth as Saito Ryu, which made me incredibly happy. Now that we had come this far and the end was finally in sight, my final main episode came into focus, so I approached filming with the determination to floor the accelerator.
"In Bakuage 46, Saito-san's passionate performance in the scene where he and Sakito clashed with the ISA's riot police also caught our attention."
Saito: Jou's a police officer after all, so I didn't initiate any attacks, and performed the action of receiving and deflecting while unmasked. In the scene where he angrily rebukes Maimi, I was aiming to fully convey Jou's resolve, so I think I was able to give it my all in my performance. Maimi's Sakurai-san also created a cool villainous look, so I really went all out, almost to the point of snapping at her. Zawa-nii told me after that cut that "it was good," which made me really happy. Sakito calls Jou by his name for the first time in that scene instead of by his color, but the script originally had the same "Black" that had always been written in it, so Zawa-nii discussed it with the Director on set with, "I'd like to call him Jou here," where they changed it. I could really sense Zawa-nii's feelings as well as the relationship between the two of them, so I think it turned out to be a great scene.
"In Bakuage 47, the scene where the Sanseaters help out, with Decotrade protecting children, became a hot topic."
Saito: I was also moved by how Decotrade put his life on the line in order to protect the children. In that scene, I say to him, "You've got some good points, huh!," where at that moment, Decotrade's Suit Actor Ogura-san turned around for a split second to respond with a "Heh heh." It made me feel like, "That was so Decotrade!," and is why it's one of my favorite scenes.
-Overflowing tears the day before the wrap up-
"How did you feel when the wrap up arrived?"
Saito: I started crying the day before the wrap up (laughs). The night before, I suddenly started to cry when I thought, "Tomorrow's the final day," and was so sad that I ended up sending messages to everyone at around 2 in the morning. The content of the messages are abit embarrassing, so I'm gonna keep them a secret (laughs). I thought I'd be fine on the actual day since my tears had pretty much dried up, but the moment I saw Shige-san's face, I couldn't hold it together and started bawling my eyes out. I cried so much that it actually stopped Miu-chan, who was standing next to me and very emotional, from crying (laughs).
"Do you have a favorite scene from the final episode?"
Saito: I wanna say "all of them!," but first would be the scene where Ishiro takes down Grantu. There's a small flashback of Grantu and Spindo's past at that moment, but I really love this scene since it makes you feel like there's something between them that nobody else knows about. Spindo's defeat wasn't "some big explosion and that was it," as he said, "See you later, my dear Boon," and dissolved into sand, leaving only his hat behind, but even as an enemy, that was pretty cool. I also loved the scene at the end with Sakito and Byundi. After appearing like he went to space, Byundi returns to where Sakito is and says, "There's a novel I still haven't shown Sakito yet." And then, Zawa-nii's performance of being shocked but gradually breaking into a smile and saying, "You're such a cute guy!" was truly wonderful. Another scene that left an impression on me is when Taiya talks to Naito-san after he goes to prison. To a certain extent, Taiya reverted back to a child when talking with Naito-san. The fact that he makes a face that he only shows to Naito-san, one he's never shown us, is another favorite part of mine.
"Saito-san, you previously said in an interview that you thought Iuchi-san would become Red during the time of the auditions, but what was it like performing with Iuchi-san for a whole year?"
Saito: Haruhi's pretty clueless outside of work (laughs), but the atmosphere once he entered the set and started performing was one I felt that only Haruhi could create. Watching Haruhi perform made all of us feel like we needed to properly do our part too, and above all else, I felt at ease when Taiya spoke. That was the result of Haruhi's efforts, as he possesses an aura that only he can radiate, which I believe is exactly why he's Red.
"How was it filming the Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger VS King-Ohger V-Cinext?"
Saito: Filming in the shopping district was alot of fun. I'm glad we were able to convey how happy Jou was to return to Earth after so long and see everyone back home through that scene. Their roll calls during the 14 member lineup was incredibly powerful, And when it comes to the finer details, when everyone enters the manhole, each person had a different way of jumping in. After all, that kind of performance was only possible because of the people who spent the past year developing their characters, so it's my favorite scene.
"We've reached the end, but after playing the role of Jou for a year, what would you say if you could speak to him right now?"
Saito: This is something those around me always tell me, but "you need to save money!" (laughs). Still, while playing Jou, there were many moments that really made me stop and think, as I learned so much from Jou every day, and he was also of great help to me. It's truly wonderful that Jou's character is loved by everyone around him, so I'd like to become the kind of person Jou is, and I think it's because I played Jou that I was able to receive so much love from so many people. So, I want to tell him that I'll carry that love and support with me and continue to work hard. If I could reunite with Jou in maybe 10 years or so, I hope that he'll have moved up the ranks abit, like maybe to a detective or even chief, instead of just staying as a police officer! (laughs).
Soma Satoru (Genba Bureki/BoonOrange)
-Going from a sketchy guy to a kind adult-
"How much did you initially know regarding Genba's general setup?"
Soma: The only thing I was told at the start was that he was an alien. While we were filming the movie (Promise the Circuit), I was told that Genba's past was "like this," and that Disrace, the next enemy set to appear, was his sworn enemy. It was also at that time that I learned about the developments that would lead to him leaving Boonboomgers.
"How did your impression of him change before and after learning about his past as a Burekiian?"
Soma: The initial image I had of his character was of someone that heads off to procure something as soon as he appears, and that his thoughts were impossible to understand. He's always smiling, and I felt that he lacked humanity, but what he had been hiding behind his smile gradually became clear. After that, what he did in terms of expression changed, like how his facial expressions became alittle sharper so that he could avoid raising suspicion from those around him. Even though he's an alien, seeing his backstory made me realize, "Genba's a human after all," which personally made me incredibly happy.
"We understand that you told Taiya's Iuchi Haruhi-san that Genba was an alien long before it was revealed within the story."
Soma: Yes. Taiya and Genba are friends who've known each other the longest, and considering Taiya's personality, I came to have this belief that "Taiya most likely understands that Genba's an alien, but is still sticking by his side anyways." As a precaution, the Producers had asked me "not to tell anyone else," but I thought it'd be "weird if Taiya didn't know," so I only told Haruhi.
"Speaking of, did Soma-san personally ever think about Genba's past?"
Soma: I avoided digging into things like his past. I hated the idea of acting by overthinking "what kind of person he is," as I wanted to understand "what had happened" and be able to properly express that, so I consciously tried not to think too deeply about it.
"Even during Bakuage 1-6, before he became BoonOrange, Genba appeared in some form every episode."
Soma: I had to think of ways to capture the viewers attention even without transforming. The Directors and Producers had told me, "We want you to be conscious of creating a sense of mystery," so I wanted to create the vibes that would make people feel like, "The hell's up with this guy?"
"Watching the part with the invoice in Bakuage 3 now, it's interesting to imagine that the reason he was so obsessed with money was due to him being the successor to the Galactic Mail Order King."
Soma: That's right! He handed out a proper invoice. He's pretty aggressive when it comes to money, huh? (laughs).
"In Bakuage 7, he finally became the fifth member of the Boonboomger team."
Soma: I remember seeing the Boonboomgers forming as a team and excitedly thinking, "It'd be fun if I could join them too," so I made sure to put importance on portraying that emotion. In my mind, I had predicted that I'd Boonboom Change around episode 3 or 4, so I thought, "It's actually taking longer than expected." I had fewer scenes than everyone else, and since I often acted alone, I think my happiness at finally being able to "Boonboom Change with everyone!" was perfectly in sync with Genba's.
"BoonOrange's roll call became a hot topic with his distinct way of phrasing. How did you come up with that roll call?"
Soma: The Directors told me that they "wanted to go with a mysterious character," and since Genba usually speaks in a laid back manner, I also discussed how I wanted to completely change the vibes of his roll call compared to everyone else. Looking at the character balance, I also targeted a few spots where I thought, "This area still has room." Because of that, I recorded various takes, including some more "steamy" versions, but I settled on the slightly sexy roll call that's somewhere between steamy and refreshing. On SNS, when people said things like, "What's with this roll call?," I was like, "All according to plan……" (laughs). Since things had dragged on for so long, I was hoping to add alittle something extra, so I'm really glad people took notice of it.
"In Bakuage 9, the differing stances he has towards Ishiro and Taiya was depicted."
Soma: Unlike Taiya, who he trusts due to their long standing relationship, I don't think he initially had any confidence in Chasshiro at all. The impression he had of him was like, "The Blue guy who always seems to be standing next to Taiya" (laughs). I know he was doing it on purpose, but he kept saying unnecessary things like, "The Informer really spoils Taiya." On the other hand, I think it was because of this period that something developed in the latter half that allowed them to understand each other without words.
"Bakuage 10 depicts Genba's first job as a Deliverer, where you showed off unmasked action scenes, right?"
Soma: I've always loved action and physical activities, so I'd always wanted to take on the challenge and do unmasked action at some point, but I was nervous since I never imagined it'd come true so soon. Action Director Watanabe Jun was the Director of this episode, so it made me really happy that I got to do tons of action moves. Genba's costume flutters, which makes his footwork really stand out, and BoonOrange's Suit Actor Ono-kun's specialty is kicking, so we discussed how to incorporate more kicking action and tried out various techniques like the whirlwind kick. I felt that the action scenes with Koinobori Grumer were beautifully executed, and I also loved the scene where he took down enemies within seven seconds after transforming, as it was a moment that really made me feel Genba's strength.
"The scene where he spoke about his commitment as a Procurer was also very memorable."
Soma: It's when he's having the one on one conversation with Mira. I feel like this episode was the first time we heard Genba's true feelings, or rather, what he really thinks. And it wasn't just me, as the Director also placed great importance on the dialogue here, so we shot multiple takes a countless number of times.
"Bakuage 13 depicts a comical scene where he tries to butter up the Sanseaters."
Soma: The Sanseaters are pretty clueless characters, so it felt incredibly satisfying seeing them get pulled along by everything Genba did (laughs). We filmed it while happily laughing. And, it was a moment that showed us a glimpse of Genba's kindness and the feelings he has for his friends, that he'll take the lead when it comes to doing things like this for their sake. It's scenes like this one that influenced later developments in the story.
"We got the impression that he had fully settled in as a member of Boonboomger during this period."
Soma: As he became more involved with the Boonboomgers, I figured that Genba's frame of mind would also change, so I planned to gradually increase his percentage of kindness, starting from before his first transformation, where he was at max level sketchy. Also, while I wasn't told his exact age, I had heard he was older than the others, so I was conscious of trying to convey the feeling of watching over them as an adult as much as I could.
"Old is old, but we would've never imagined that he was over the unbelievable age of 100,000."
Soma: I know, right? Even if I had asked about his age along the way, I probably wouldn't have been able to include expressions typical of a 100,000 year old (laughs).
"In Bakuage 21, he suddenly took on the appearance of a detective and started calling himself the candy detective."
Soma: I had nothing but fun as the candy detective (laughs). The story takes place around the time we filmed the movie, where I already knew that he'd be leaving Boonboomger, so I felt like it'd be one of the last few episodes where I could enjoy myself. As the story unfolded, I was vigorously trying to show how "fun of a person Genba was" in order to create a sharp contrast in the 3rd Lap, and to shock everyone when the time came for him to leave. I made sure to fully enjoy the fun parts and clearly show the facial expressions I wanted the viewers to notice. Making that distinct switch was something I remained conscious of over the past year.
"What was it like filming the movie after learning about Genba's past?"
Soma: Nicola and Genba's circumstances are incredibly similar, which is exactly why I consulted with Nakazawa-san on how to incorporate Nicola's lines in the final scene, as I wanted her facial expression to differ from everyone else who was listening to her with smiling faces. It's the part that resonates with you after watching the 3rd Lap, and makes you realize that the film is connected to the main story, so I'm glad that we managed to properly capture that expression. That scene might've been the most important one in the entire film.
-The feelings I suppressed from my friends-
"Bakuage 26 featured a shocking final scene, with an enraged Genba lunging at Disrace."
Soma: In order to create the sharp contrast that I mentioned earlier, I wanted to shatter the image of Genba that I had built up until then all at once. It's because of that intense resentment that seeing Disrace's figure caused his emotions to explode. I hope I was able to get that emotional shift across.
"The sight of him swinging the Boonboom Change Axe with all his might was unsettling."
Soma: I was by myself up until the very moment of filming, fully immersed in the mindset of "I have to concentrate." I feel like I was able to naturally convey the feeling of "surrendering to anger" through my movements.
"We think this was the first scene where Genba displayed his anger, but were there any parts that were difficult to perform?"
Soma: Up until then, I'd been adjusting myself by thinking things like, "Showing off this much is okay, right?" or "If I go any further, it'll ruin Genba's vibes, won't it?," so this time, it was surprisingly easy. I decided I wouldn't suppress it at all, and to let his anger explode at full throttle.
"How did you feel about his Burekiian form?"
Soma: I imagined that he'd have a monstrous face, or a grotesque looking arm like Jeramie from King-Ohger. In reality, since he's a Bureki"jin," he was surprisingly human like. The response to his Burekiian form was incredible, which I'm truly grateful for. (*jin = person)
"In Bakuage 27, Genba revealed his true identity and explained the events leading up to his arrival on Earth."
Soma: Explanatory lines are really tough, you know? (bitter smile). I remember struggling tremendously, as I wanted people to feel Genba's background just from the tone of his lines, while adding just abit of emotion.
"You were meticulous about the tone of the dialogue, huh?"
Soma: Tone is probably the second most important thing to me right after facial expressions. Miu-chan would occasionally say to me, "Your tone is amazing!" (laughs). The way my tone was conveyed changed between the viewers looking at the screen and the actors I performed with in person, you know? It made me think about a variety of things like, "Which tone would be best suited for this?"
"The scene at the very end, where he announces that he'd be withdrawing from the Boonboomgers, was memorable due to his calm tone."
Soma: He said it while trying to keep his feelings bottled up. He really wanted to stay with them, but he didn't want to drag everyone into his personal revenge and let his friends get hurt. As for myself, I felt like saying, "Let's all fight him together!" (laughs), but I think that's exactly why that kind of performance came about, as I had to suppress even that feeling. Performing face to face with Taiya was also very rewarding since we were both putting all of our emotion into it.
"While he was absent from Boonboomger, he was missing from the opening credits as well, right?"
Soma: I was the first member to be cut from the opening (laughs). Including in my private time, I refrained from seeing everyone until I returned. I thought it wouldn't be right for me to go and hang out with everyone while Genba was absent, as I wanted to avoid that affecting my performance.
"On the other hand, you ended up having more scenes with Sakito."
Soma: Before Zawa-kun joined, I was the oldest member of the team, so I was usually the one they came to for advice. The ones I'd consult with were mainly the Producers or Directors, but when Zawa-kun joined, having someone close by to confide in made me so happy, that I ended up talking to him all the time. He has a plethora of acting experience and is only a year older than me, but gradually, I started to feel like, "I don't wanna lose to him." I'd perform while thinking about a variety of things like, "Sakito will probably do something like that, so I'll try this" or, "So that's what he did! Well, I'm not gonna lose, so I'll respond like this."
"Bakuage 32 marked a major turning point for Genba, as both he and Sakito shared their true feelings with each other and he met Nijino Akira."
Soma: The words Akira-san spoke to Genba were also a very important point for him, but in the scenes with Akira-san, there's a part of him that's more or less just letting things take their course. Personally, I was most focused on the scene where he clashes with Sakito. I feel like it was because of Sakito's unique way of compromising and venting his feelings that Genba also had an emotional outburst, causing him to unconsciously let out what he really thinks. If it had been Jou or Mira, I don't think he would've let his feelings show to that extent. I think sumo was a great way for them to let their feelings out.
"Bakuage 33 depicts Genba's return."
Soma: Since Genba wasn't the additional member, I expected him to return after about two or three episodes, but things dragged on for quite awhile, so I was surprised. Still, the longer he was away, the more satisfying his return was, so it felt rewarding. I was also happy that his return was marked by him receiving his Champion Jacket, so I really savored every single scene as I performed them.
"Seeing him shed tears over his own Champion Jacket was great. Being moved by his friends feelings is true to Genba's character."
Soma: We reshot the scene at the Deliverer's garage multiple times, trying to find the right emotional "boiling point." At first, my emotions were torn between the joy of thinking, "Today's the day I return!," and feeling sympathy for Madrex, and by the time we got to the scene where we were watching the fight with Madrex on the monitor, I was completely worn out. I remember doing that while talking with the Director about things like, "It's still too early" and, "This isn't the right place yet." When I saw the broadcast and watched the footage of all the scenes with everyone up to that point playing along to Bundorio's dialog, I once again thought to myself, "It's great having friends."
"Since Soma-san himself had kept his distance from everyone, we wonder if that made it even more moving."
Soma: I think so. I wanted to convey my feelings for my friends through my facial expressions, so during the scene in the first half, where everyone's talking about Genba at the Deliverer's garage, I snuck over to check out how filming was going. I wanted to keep the idea that "this is how everyone feels in regards to Genba" in a mental drawer.
"For the scene where he ran up to the four of them, it was a nice touch that he and Taiya had the same exchange as in Bakuage 7."
Soma: I said "myself, of course" with an incredibly smug look on my face! I was so happy to be able to spend time with everyone again after such a long time, that I was actually on the verge of tears, but I had cried during the previous scene, so I talked with the Director about returning as Genba, who had regained his composure. I also really loved Taiya's, "So, what has the Procurer procured for us?," and I think I was able to pull off that smug look because I was able to connect with Haruhi's performance. I really enjoyed doing that part.
"It was also great to see everyone throwing a party to celebrate Genba's return at the beginning of Bakuage 34."
Soma: Including the part where Chasshiro made him apologize to everyone, seeing how they accepted him as one of the group made me think "that's nice" even as I was performing.
"In Bakuage 35, which brought the 3rd Lap to a close, the conclusion with Disrace was depicted."
Soma: I myself poured all my feelings into the lines starting from, "My father's anger." I also told Ono-kun, "I want you to convey his emotions through your movements as well," so it became a scene that we created together.
-What only Genba can do-
"During the Final Lap, Genba seemed to be more relaxed than ever before."
Soma: Even though he hadn't reclaimed planet Bureki yet, Genba managed to move past his resentment and anger toward Disrace and took the first step towards growth, so I wondered if it'd be okay for him to gradually start showing his friends the parts of himself that he wouldn't have shown before. For example, during the scene where he's under the kotatsu (Bakuage 43), I asked the Director, "Is it okay if I go inside of it?," but if it had been before that, I probably would've just sat on the sofa with my legs crossed. As for the kotatsu, when I heard that his Burekiian form uses a serval cat motif, I thought, "If I were to include a cat themed element, he'd probably be inside of the kotatsu" (laughs).
"I see (laughs). In Bakuage 41, his relationship with Sakito was featured once again."
Soma: Ever since he regained control of his wheel, I'd been expressing his gratitude towards Sakito and the change in their relationship every now and again, but there hadn't really been any moments where I could clearly tell that their dynamic had changed. We also wanted a chance to show that off ourselves, so I was really happy to be able to fight alongside Sakito here.
"The theme of this episode was based on soccer, which is Soma-san and Miyazawa-san's special skill, right?"
Soma: That's right. We had mentioned quite some time ago that we "want to do a soccer episode!," but I never imagined they'd actually go ahead and do it. What’s more, a team called Pulse Ace appeared, which is an homage to my beloved Shimizu S-Pulse (laughs), so I was incredibly grateful that they went out of their way to tailor it to us. It was partially because his beloved soccer was being stepped on, but it was great that we got to catch a glimpse of Genba's childlike side when it came to sports. However, the scene of them playing soccer while wearing those Boonboom suits was surreal (laughs).
"The soccer scene between Genba and Sakito towards the very end, where they wore those suits and even had explosions going off, made for a scene that left a tremendous impact, huh? (laughs)."
Soma: Those explosions were a one take deal, so we were incredibly nervous. We even practiced together during our lunch break. There was tons of gravel, which made it hard to run, and the ball would also bounce off in weird directions, but the front of the shoes were all lumpy, which felt completely different from playing barefoot or in soccer cleats, so I had to make various adjustments as we went along.
"In Bakuage 43, Ishiro leaves Boonboomger and joins the ISA, but how do you think Genba felt about his betrayal at that time?"
Soma: I believe that Genba and Taiya understood that this was part of a plan. Ishiro was fulfilling his role as an Informer for the sake of his friends. Personally, watching the way Taiya was acting, I also had a feeling that he "hadn't actually betrayed us." He does fight against Ishiro in a later episode, but even then, I didn't feel like he was fighting a traitor. Even though the enemy was watching, he gave it his all, but we were also consciously trying to express that silent trust between them, where it's like, "I know Ishiro will be fine even if I attack him like this."
"In Bakuage 45, he hurled some harsh words at Taiya, who was trying to revive Bundorio."
Soma: Genba was originally like this too, but Taiya's the type of person who doesn't show his true feelings or emotions to his friends, right? That's probably why Genba sensed a similar vibe in Taiya, and I wonder if the depth of those words came from the fact that the matured Genba was the one throwing them. Mira and Jou were also present in that scene, but I think this was a role that only Genba could've taken on.
"Bakuage 46 featured the battle with Ishiro that was mentioned just now, but it was also an episode that really made you feel the bond between Genba and his friends, as he entrusted the acquired Star Soul Mirror to Sakito and fought alongside team Booster's Jou."
Soma: It was nice to see how everyone's individual roles and the relationships they'd built up until then were front and center as we headed toward the final battle. Unlike with the soccer episode with Sakito, there weren't actually that many scenes where Genba and Jou did things together, but I think Jou probably trusts Genba, and it seems like Genba found it easy to get along with people like Jou and Mira, as they're the type to directly express their feelings.
"How did you feel when you read the script for the final two episodes?"
Soma: I felt numb……! Before reading the script, we all said, "Can things really end in just two more episodes?," but we were surprised to see how perfectly it all came together. We were like, "Tomioka-san, you're amazing!" The episodes depict everyone's activities as a professional, that being as a Procurer, Deliverer and so on, and I thought the most important point was to be able to show people that "this is what Boonboomger is all about!," so I made sure to emphasize that aspect.
"In Bakuage FINAL, there was also a scene where he spoke about love to Spindo."
Soma: I was talking about this with everyone else, but I couldn't help but think of songs by the group Sambomaster, so that line was incredibly difficult (laughs). However, it was something only Genba, who had overcome his past, could say, so there was a certain weight to his words, and it was also a moment when I could clearly see that change, which made me happy too.
"You also took on the challenge of doing your roll call unmasked, huh?"
Soma: When I received the script and heard that we'd be doing unmasked roll calls, I practiced with everyone else and consulted with Ono-kun. It was on the final day of filming, so there were about three times the usual number of staff members there, which made me incredibly nervous (laughs). I performed it at the Theater G-Rosso shows and Final Live Tour too, so I think my current version is closer to Ono-kun’s BoonOrange.
"The final scene has him and his friends fulfilling Bundorio's dream by competing in BBG."
Soma: It's great that the reverse happens, that being that the Boonboomgers went to space to enter the BBG, and Sakito stayed behind to protect Earth. Up until then, I don't think he would've ever left the matter with planet Bureki in someone else's hands. I think the reason his final lines and expressions came out so naturally was because his feelings towards his friends had changed.
-Feelings full of love-
"In the V-Cinext, the fans desire to see Jeramie and Genba paired up was depicted."
Soma: During the broadcast, I'd often see impressions like, "His voice has a Jeramie vibe to it," where I had also predicted that if there was a VS, he'd probably interact with Jeramie, so I feel like this outcome really lived up to the fans expectations. Since they had already taken everything back in this story, I was enjoying it while in a good mood, and even made the scenes with Jeramie extra steamy as abit of fan service (laughs). When we went to go check out the monitor during the shoot, Ikeda-san and I said things like, "Huh? doesn't it sound way too thick?" and, "It feels abit more steamy than usual, doesn't it?"
"During the Final Live Tour's show, it was mentioned that he freed his father from imprisonment on Planet Bureki, and had became a sponsor for the Boonboomgers."
Soma: I was so, so happy when I said those lines……I felt like I delivered those lines filled with both joy and gratitude. It'd make me happy if they could depict the process of reclaiming Planet Bureki in some form going forward. I had absolutely no idea the Suit Actors would be appearing during the final performance, which was so unfair (laughs). We used to go out to eat together all the time, and would often stay behind on set after filming to observe and discuss things with each other. That's why I believe we've built a relationship so deep that it can't be summed up with just the word "bond." I don't usually cry in front of people, but during the wrap up and the FLT's final performance, I cried so hard that I shocked even myself. That alone made me really realize just how much I truly loved Boonboomger and all of the staff and cast.
"Looking back, how were the days you spent racing through life as a Boonboomger?"
Soma: It was a year and a half in which I grew both physically and mentally, and through my interactions with so many different people, I both learned and received so much when it came to acting. When I reread the scripts, I noticed that the more we got through the story, the more notes I had written in them. My desire to "not to lose to anyone" and "fulfill my role on this team until the end" grew stronger, which I think allowed me to truly immerse myself in Boonboomger.
"It was a fulfilling time for you as an actor, wasn't it?"
Soma: To be honest, there were times during filming where things were kinda tough, and moments where I felt exhausted. Still, it was because of the support from all the fans that I wanted to live up to their expectations, and that allowed me to work with the determination to make Genba even better. It was the same with the results for the "All Super Sentai Grand Poll," but I was truly delighted that so many people loved BoonOrange and Boonboomger throughout the year. Thank you very much. I don't know if it'll be for our 10th or 20th anniversary, or even in just a month from now, but I'm hoping for the day when we can all meet again, so in the meantime, we'll continue to work even harder as actors. I'd appreciate your continued support!
Miyazawa Yu (Sakito Homura/BoonViolet)
-The Sakito we created together-
"Please tell us your first impression of Sakito."
Miyazawa: The strength and intimidating vibes that came from him surviving life or death situations left a strong impression on me, and I consciously focused on portraying that during my audition performance. After they decided on me for Sakito, I had the opportunity to read the script in front of Haruhi, Director Nakazawa, Director Hayama, and Director Kato. When they said, "He's something like Peter Quill from Guardians of the Galaxy," I could see their direction, but couldn't quite grasp the role on the spot. BoonViolet's Suit Actor Tsuta-san was also with us at the time, so we read the script together. While listening to the image of Sakito that Tsuta-san had in mind, I envisioned creating a character that coexists as both an adult and child, where he's cheerful and positive on the outside, but harbors abit of darkness deep down. Also, I knew that the other five were commonly divided into "team dehumidifier" and "team humidifier," so I was always conscious of wanting to express a nuance unique to Sakito that could fit into both sides.
"You were communicating with Tsuta-san even before you entered filming, huh?"
Miyazawa: Yes. After the reading, Tsuta-san messaged me through LINE saying, "Yu-kun, you'll do fine," which made me happy, and I replied with, "I'll definitely deliver something good!" During filming for Bakuage 16-18, I'd stay on set to watch Tsuta-san perform, while Tsuta-san in turn would also watch my performance on set. We incorporated each other's gestures, such as the sideways thumb tilt Tsuta-san came up with, and the upwards finger pointing pose that I did, and we coordinated not only our acting, but also our movements.
"Sakito made his striking debut in Bakuage 16, where he appeared before the Boonboomgers, who were working, and outshined each of them one after another."
Miyazawa: I wanted to leave an impact not just on the five members, but also on the viewers, to show that a really strong guy had arrived, someone who was a step ahead of the others. And, since Taiya was the only one who could handle him, this was also where the contrast between Sakito and Taiya began to emerge.
"In Bakuage 17, the line "I abandoned this planet" hinted at Sakito's past, and in Bakuage 18, it was revealed that he lost his parents at a young age, met Byundi when he was 10, and set off on a journey into space."
Miyazawa: I don't think Sakito ever received any sort of formal education, not even during the first ten years of his life. Given his living environment, I wonder if that's why the "answer" he came up with was, "I want to travel to space." Taking that kind of background into consideration, I acted out scenes like the one in Bakuage 17, where he stole the tomato juice Taiya was drinking and drank it himself, and in Bakuage 19, when he wrote on his tanzaku entirely in hiragana. I was conscious not only of his actions, but also of expressing the emotions that he kept hidden away. The first "I hate you" he said in Bakuage 17 was meant to convey the nuance that back then, there were plenty of adults like that too, but they never saved him or even gave him so much as a second glance.
"Through his conversation with Taiya in Bakuage 18, Sakito opened his heart and began to connect with Earth's Boonboomgers."
Miyazawa: Sakito left for space at 10 and returned to Earth after more than a decade, right? When talking with Taiya, I placed a tremendous amount of importance on how wide he should open the door residing within the depths of his heart. I think Sakito's "I've abandoned Earth" is the part of him that keeps trying to convince himself that he has no regrets about leaving Earth. If there weren't some other memories besides that, he would've never said the line, "If only there had been an adult like you." No matter how strong his opponent is, Sakito Homura never backs down, but after fighting Taiya and cancelling his transformation, the scene shows him looking into Taiya's eyes, where he's clearly overwhelmed, or rather, his heart couldn't take it. I wanted to express that through facial expressions rather than words, so I was conscious of how to convey his emotional state. Taiya had such a great look in his eyes when he said the line that starts with, "I'm right here." Seeing Taiya's facial expression is what allowed me to pull off the performance where I say, "I hate it. Guys like you who just sugarcoat crap," and I felt really good that I was able to do it with Haruhi.
"As the episodes progressed, he showed off various sides of himself, from his childish tendencies, to being attentive and caring, but no matter which instance it was, we got the impression that he remained true to his core as Sakito."
Miyazawa: I was always thinking about how to strike a balance between when to be screwing around and when to be serious, all while maintaining his sincerity as Sakito. Sakito puts on a tough guy attitude partly as a defense mechanism, but he's ultimately a pretty decent guy, don't you think? Through his encounter with the Boonboomgers, his compassionate side emerged, but the habits he formed from living in space for over a decade still lingered. I believe that's what served as the foundation for my performance.
"Originally, part of the reason he returned to Earth was for the sake of bringing Byundi and Bundorio together."
Miyazawa: That's right. It's the same with Genba, but I was surprised at how much he went out of his way for others. I have the impression that he started doing for those around him the same that he was able to do for Byundi, and I feel like his relationship with other people developed from his relationship with Byundi.
"How was it performing with Takada Masashi-san, who served as Byundi's Suit Actor?"
Miyazawa: It was the same with Tsuta-san, but Takada-san also has that experienced, veteran feel to him, and he was of great help. Takada-san and I exchanged suggestions on how to make Sakito and Byundi appear closer. In Bakuage 24, Byundi's intently listening to Taiya talk about his first love when he leans forward, which causes Sakito, who was using the tire on his leg as a seat, to fall off, and that performance was one Takada-san suggested when we were talking about wanting to present things as if they were everyday occurrences. Things like going out of their way to say something or having to make room just because Byundi's coming over, there's no need for that kind of consideration between those two. If Takada-san hadn't been Byundi, their relationship would've never developed to that level.
"In Bakuage 24, Sakito said within his dream, "I don't think the path I chose back then was a mistake," and we felt like that line really captured Sakito's stance."
Miyazawa: I think Sakito still has some regrets regarding Earth, but after living in space for over ten years, separation has become a normal thing for him. In Bakuage 18, Taiya's eyes conveyed to him that, "This guy genuinely believes that," but Kakeru in the dream world lacked that conviction. That's why I sensed the strength of Sakito's unwavering conviction, and I guess he was pissed at Akogi Grumer for pulling that kind of attack. I felt that there was still a certain amount of distance between him and the Boonboomgers around these episodes, and I was conscious of that in my performance as well. In the final scene where the five members sing "Niji," Sakito feels a new kind of emotion blossom within him, something like, "Having this kind of relationship is nice."
"In Bakuage 25, which brought the 2nd Lap to a close, it was great when he said, "My wish is……to watch fireworks with you guys!" Since it wasn't some weirdly cool line, it came across as something he said from the heart."
Miyazawa: I know what you mean. I think Scriptwriter Higuchi-san saw the childish tendencies I'd been portraying up to that point, and infused those words with Sakito's feelings of longing to do something together with everyone.
"In a past interview, you mentioned that for this episode, you went to observe the filming of the action scenes to help better visualize the post recording process."
Miyazawa: That's right. Tsuta-san is such a kind person, as he'd ask me things like, "Yu-kun, will you be alright with something like this?," but for me, I was like, "It's not just okay, it's amazing!" Beyond that, I saw it as a challenge to see how much realism I could bring to accompany Tsuta-san's incredible acting and action scenes.
"Did you feel pressured to respond to Tsutamune-san's best acting with your own best acting?"
Miyazawa: I seriously felt that. From the performance Tsuta-san would deliver, I'd get so much of Sakito's thoughts and energy, that I myself couldn't quite keep up. That's why it was easier when we coordinated the performance, and even for untransformed scenes, I'd directly ask him, "What would Tsuta-san do in this situation?," so we were truly progressing together as one. Also, for filming of episode 16, this episode was the first one I participated in, and Hayama-san, who had pushed for me during the audition stages, was the Director of it, so I wanted to live up to not only Tsuta-san's expectations, but also Hayama-san's.
-Clashing thoughts with Genba-
"Starting from Bakuage 26 was the 3rd Lap, and scenes with him and Genba increased."
Miyazawa: Genba was in a situation where he couldn't do anything on his own, had no one to rely on, and no emotional support, which are the parts of him that resemble Sakito when he was younger, you know? Sakito is surprisingly sensitive to others, and I think he had sensed that "something was troubling this guy" even before it was revealed that Genba was an alien. That's why when Genba withdrew from the Boonboomgers, Sakito must've thought, "Guess I'll take care of this on the other's behalf." Sakito knew what kind of guy Disrace was, and likely had different feelings from the other four, so I was also thinking about how to express that. Satoru gave a wonderful performance during the 3rd Lap. During that period, there were lots of scenes with just the two of us, so I remember Satoru and I would go to the sauna together to discuss Genba's feelings and a variety of other things.
"In Bakuage 32, during Nijino Akira's proposed sumo match, Sakito and Genba's true feelings clashed with each other's."
Miyazawa: After being thrown by Genba during sumo, he says, "It's been a complete mess! Ever since then!," and Genba's feelings overlapped with those of the old Sakito in some ways. He tried all sorts of things to deal with Genba, but I myself ended up feeling like there was nothing more that could be done, so I told Nakazawa-san, "I can't face Genba." Because of that, Nakazawa-san filmed the shot where I briefly looked up towards the sky, allowing us to understand Sakito's state of mind. I feel like that was the first and last moment within Boonboomger where Sakito gave up.
"In Bakuage 35, we saw how he supported Byundi after he had a falling out with Bundorio. Even as he angrily said, "Byundi's always been frustrated," you could sense his concern for Byundi."
Miyazawa: This is probably the only time where Byundi's spirits were so low. Sakito must've heard about the two of them during their BBG days, and I'm sure he knows just how important Bundorio is to him, so I put alot of effort into that scene, as I really wanted to highlight Byundi's feelings. Because of that, Sakito puts on a carefree act, but ended it when he said, "He's always been frustrated." When he asks Bundorio, "Why didn't you rely on him?," it's done in abit of a deceiving way. Sakito knows that Byundi's somewhat of a tsundere and wouldn't ask something like that on his own, so he didn't really want to bring it up either.
"It was nice that Byundi heard Bundorio's story through the Boonboom Controller."
Miyazawa: That was something Katsuya-san was particular about. Sakito's strong feelings for Byundi were evident, and I think Taiya and the others had realized once again that they could "trust these guys" after all. It was a really good scene that showed off the wonderful qualities of the Boonboomger team.
"Marking the breakthrough into the Final Lap was Bakuage 41, an episode that featured soccer, which is Miyazawa-san and Soma-san's special skill."
Miyazawa: Around the time we were filming the 3rd Lap, Producer Kuji said, "Yu-kun, Satoru-kun, we'll definitely fit a soccer episode in somewhere." It made me incredibly happy, but with a soccer episode being included during this point, I started to worry alittle, thinking, "How's this story gonna carry over into the final episode?" (laughs).
"It was fairly close to the end of the show (laughs). The scene where you and Genba were in your Boonboom suits playing soccer was a truly impactful sight."
Miyazawa: The suit itself was fine, but the shoes were an issue. In soccer, the sensation in the part of your foot closest to your toes is crucial. Even when juggling the ball, you use the top of your foot. However, the shoes worn with the suits protrude out so much around the toes, that I couldn't feel much of anything. The film location had paths covered in gravel, where the ball kept rolling off in strange directions, and with there being napalm explosions involved, I was a nervous wreck. Satoru and I kept saying things like, "Will this be alright?" and, "We've gotta do our best."
"With multiple factors all coming together at once, it was filmed under conditions that would be unthinkable in regular soccer, right?"
Miyazawa: That's right. Still, I had fun. I'd been wanting to do a soccer episode for so long, and up until then, I had practically never kicked a soccer ball during a TV drama or film scene, so getting to use my soccer skills made me really happy.
"His relationship with Genba, which had been depicted since the 3rd Lap, was also a major highlight."
Miyazawa: For Sakito, Genba became the partner he could really vent his feelings to, you know? It became clear through his relationship with Sakito that the seemingly gentle Genba actually had a passionate side, and I think the locker room fight only got that heated because it was between Genba and Sakito. I also liked the way Jou cooled down the heat between them. It's because he's such a passionate guy that he was able to get certain things across to them. The importance and passion of sports depicted through the baseball episode (Bakuage 23) was carried over into the soccer episode, and I was also impressed by the Scriptwriters skills in creating a script that delved deeper and conveyed the message even further.
"In this episode, he borrowed Jou's Champion Jacket, but BoonViolet's own jacket never ended up appearing in the TV series story."
Miyazawa: I really wanted a Champion Jacket too. When they first appeared I thought, "I'll probably get a powered up form near the end of the show too," but then that never happened (laughs). That's why I had so much fun getting to join the Champion Boonboomger's roll call during the soccer episode, and kept asking everyone, "How is "customize" pronounced?" (laughs).
"Your power up during the Final Live Tour must've made you even happier, huh?"
Miyazawa: Champion BoonViolet was my greatest desire, so I was incredibly happy. That was seriously the best! On top of that, the fact that Byundi had prepared it for him was another great part of the story. I'm absolutely certain that Sakito saw everyone else wearing their jackets, and had a feeling somewhere deep down that he wanted one too. Thanks to Tomioka-san writing the script, it was great that we could properly conclude the final story and battle in a satisfying way. Wasn't Sakito receiving his Champion Jacket such a big deal, that there were some fans that specifically came just to see that? I poured my heart into performing the scene where he became a Champion Boonboomger, and with it being the culmination of the entire production, it was deeply moving both for me personally as Miyazawa Yu and as Sakito Homura.
-The ultimate Cleaner pair is here-
"Starting from Bakuage 43, which depicted Ishiro's betrayal, the story was greeted with rapidfire developments as it headed towards the ending. Ishiro's true intentions came to light later on, but how do you think Sakito perceived his actions at this point?"
Miyazawa: The way he betrayed them was so underhanded, that Sakito probably didn't even notice at all. He can be standoffish towards them, but no matter what, Sakito really loves the Boonboomgers, so I wanted to convey his feelings of disbelief at Ishiro's betrayal. When he said, "Have you lost your mind?," he was still thinking something like, "He's probably got some sort of plan," but when he pointed his gun at Sakito, his feelings shifted to, "Is this guy for real?" In the boxing episode (Bakuage 29), they were both involved in a one on one fight, and it was because of the trust they had developed through running together up to that point that it shocked Sakito when the gun was pointed at him and made him furious. Mira and Jou were more taken aback by the shock, so I assumed that Sakito would be the one to get angry during the situation, which is why I acted it out that way when he said, "I'm disappointed in you, Informer!"
"Bakuage 45 was undoubtedly the most memorable episode for the Cleaner pair. His conversation with Byundi on the rooftop was particularly memorable, as we could sense the change in his relationship with Taiya."
Miyazawa: I put a considerable amount of thought into that part at the time. When I look back at the script, I had written down tons of notes. Watching Taiya, he must've felt frustrated and tormented from wanting to do something for him, but being unable to, and since this was happening around the very end, there were various other parts that ended up overlapping. Such as everything Taiya had done up to that point, and everything he had done as a Boonboomger. It genuinely hurt my heart while performing.
"We were deeply moved when Sakito uttered the phrase "scream," which Taiya often says."
Miyazawa: For me, it felt like those words just came out because he'd been watching Taiya, so I wasn't really thinking about it that much. If anything, I placed a great amount of importance on the lines that followed the one starting with, "There are guys like that, huh…" It's the part where he's telling this to Byundi since he can't say it directly to Taiya, but Byundi must've also been in shock by what happened to Bundorio. Although, I think it might've been beautiful, since the exchange goes like, "……He's begging for help," "You want to help him, don't you? Sakito," "You're frustrated too, right? About Bundorio." Even though it was just a casual conversation where they didn't have to try and be particularly considerate of each other, they naturally showed consideration for each other, so I could feel that good relationship between the Cleaner pair.
"We wonder if Sakito was able to speak so angrily to the Earthlings, who were incited by Disrace to condemn the Boonboomgers, because he had deepened his bond with them from an outsider's perspective."
Miyazawa: No, I really think that was it. There were other moments that showed Sakito's growth, but I think this scene was the decisive one. Still, his beliefs haven't changed. It's been like that ever since he said, "I just want to protect my one and only friend and his family!" in Bakuage 18. As what mattered to Sakito grew, his vocabulary really developed to where he could say, "Calling those guys villains……I won't tolerate it!!," right? I feel like all the encounters he'd had on Earth up to that point led to the change in Sakito's emotions, so I thought it was a really great line. For the line, "If you wanna call me evil, then go ahead!," I was supposed to say it in front of the crowd, but Hayama-san added the direction where I push my way through the crowd while saying it. It's because Hayama-san understood Sakito that it turned into such a wonderful scene.
"It was the same with the fireworks scene in Bakuage 25, but we think Sakito's appeal lies in how authentic his values are."
Miyazawa: For sure. Rather than abstract ideas, Sakito consistently talked about things that he could actually do. I feel like that was Sakito's driving force.
"The script originally had Sakito delivering the Cleaner's speech alone, but on set, it was changed to start with "we" so that both he and Byundi could say it together."
Miyazawa: That's right. Byundi and him are both Cleaners after all, so I consulted with Hayama-san about things like the breakdown of our lines. I also talked to Tsuta-san and Takada-san about the post transformation roll call, and had them strike the poses they used before teaming up with Taiya and the others. For their self introductions, I also wanted to express the, "We're not Boonboomgers right now," and "We're moving as Cleaners" within the dialogue we spoke.
"It was also memorable how both Byundi and him fought Disrace from there. What's more, they utterly crushed him."
Miyazawa: What exactly made their first battle against Disrace (Bakuage 27) so difficult? (laughs). In Bakuage 25 he said, "With those guys, I can run even faster!," but it felt like the two of them really embodied that.
"In Bakuage 46, after hearing Jou's resolve, he changed how he addressed him, going from "Black" to "Jou," but what did you think about Sakito's change in how he addressed people?"
Miyazawa: He held off on addressing Taiya as "Taiya" until Bakuage 25. However, I started wondering how he should address the others, and in the end, I decided to just call them by whatever fit the mood at the time. Even now, he sometimes calls Taiya "Red," and he's got various ways of addressing Chasshiro too, like "Blue-kun" or "Informer." That's why when he called him "Jou" there, it was because Jou Akuse's words resonated with Sakito's heart, and he said it while being conscious that he had become "cranked up."
"We understand that you were able to do the post recording together with Byundi's Hanae Natsuki-san during Bakuage 45 and 46."
Miyazawa: Yes. I was already familiar with the kind of works Hanae-san had appeared in up to that point, and had the chance to observe him perform multiple times, where I'd been wanting to perform together with him, so it was alot of fun. For me, even though my recording techniques are totally different from his, I approached it with the mindset of, "I'm not gonna lose!" It was a very insightful recording session, as I learned things like, "He came up with a funny line to match the movements" and, "There's no lines, but he's adding in these kinds of adlibs."
-"You're such a cute guy!" just came out naturally-
"Ultimately, Sakito chose to remain on Earth to carry on Taiya's dream."
Miyazawa: It was an absolutely amazing final episode. To be honest, the reason why Sakito was the only one left on Earth was explained to me by the Producer when I asked why he appeared in the Earth scenes while everyone else was in space during the VS that we filmed ahead of time. I was determined to effectively convey all the effort Sakito went through to protect Earth, and I think the scenes I was given to work with were wonderful. I think it was proof of everything Sakito had achieved up to that point since meeting Taiya and the Boonboomgers. I thought everything about it was beautiful, from Sakito declaring that he'll "carry on Taiya's dream" so that everyone could compete in the BBG, to how cool Taiya was for entrusting him with his dream. There's Sakito's desire to have Byundi and Bundorio race alongside each other in the BBG, but the fact that it wasn't such a simple matter is part of what made Boonboomger so good.
"The final exchange with Byundi, who had returned to Sakito, was also wonderful."
Miyazawa: Even though he sees him off, when the guy you've been together with for over 10 years is gone, it's still sad, you know? When Byundi returned, I was personally really happy as well.
"When Byundi says, "There's a novel I haven't shown Sakito yet," he responds with, "You're such a cute guy!," which was also nice."
Miyazawa: You could say that what came after that novel line was Nakazawa-san's playful side. On set he said, "Do some adlibs" (laughs). Including Shirabe-san, they captured some wonderful shots of the three of us having a lively time together. The "you're such a cute guy!" feels like it sorta slipped out from the mixed emotion of surprise and relief at his return. Byundi's like a big brother to Sakito, so while he relies on and respects him, he's also someone he treats as an equal, like a close friend. I don't think I'd normally use "cute" when referring to a big brother, but there are actually quite a few times when Byundi looks that way. That's why for Sakito, it's a way for him to hide his embarrassment, but also what he's actually thinking, like, "So you came back after all, how cute." After spending a year thinking over various things and fleshing him out, he really started to take shape, so those words and expressions came out because I had established Sakito Homura's character within my mind. It may sound strange, but I feel like it was something that could've only come out through an adlib.
"Now that you've reflected on the Boonboomger days that flew by, how do you feel?"
Miyazawa: A whole year……the filming period took over a year, but I seriously gave it my all the entire time, and it feels like it was both long and over in an instant. I've said this multiple times before, but I really never thought that I could become a hero. I had auditioned for tokusatsu productions many times before, where I kept getting rejected, and I even auditioned for one of the initial Boonboomger members, but was passed over in the final round. As I approached 30, there were parts of me that felt like, "I wanna continue to be an actor, but I guess I just don't have what it takes to become a hero" However, when I encountered the character named Sakito Homura, the feeling was, "Over the next year, I wanna give my all to portraying Sakito Homura." Because of that, when I heard that I had passed the audition, I felt some pressure, wondering if I'd be able to fit in and be accepted as part of such a wonderful show like Boonboomger, but more than anything, I was incredibly happy. Settling into Sakito, I had finally become the hero I'd always wanted to be, so I thought, "I've got no choice but to do this."
"For Miyazawa-san, Sakito was the hero role he'd been longing for, huh?"
Miyazawa: Yes. For abit over a year, I've basically been living as Sakito, and even in my daily life I never forgot to think about, "What would Sakito do?," so I feel alittle sad now that it's come to an end. Still, when I saw the faces of the cast and everyone who supported us during the Final Live Tour, I felt like, "I'm so glad I did this for the past year." "I'm glad I got to be a piece of everyone's beloved Boonboomger" and, "I'm glad I got to play Sakito Homura," is what I was feeling. It was a wonderful year that'll remain engraving in my heart as a treasure. It only just ended, so I'm still basking in the afterglow, but I really feel like, "I wish I could've done alittle more" and, "I'd love to play Sakito in a different production." I'm certain the experience I gained playing Sakito will definitely be of use going forward in my acting career, so I want to keep working hard for when I face that next moment.
Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger
Official Perfect Book: Bakuage All Right
Part 1 of 2: Haruhi, Yuki and Miu Interviews
(very long post, translations below)
(Part 2: Ryu, Satoru and Yu's Interviews)
Publication: July 1, 2025
Iuchi Haruhi (Taiya Hando/BoonRed)
-The likable Red-
"First, could you tell us your initial impression of Taiya Hando?"
Iuchi: In the beginning, I received his character description that included details like his age, but my immediate thought was, "He's complicating!" (laughs). For my own image of Sentai Reds, I just had a strong impression that they were the hot blooded types, so I was surprised to find out that this wasn't the case for him. I was told he was the type who keeps his passionate feelings hidden inside, has a fairly high mental age, is wealthy, and is a genius inventor (laughs), so I remember struggling to grasp that image since I couldn't find any relatable characters to use as reference either.
"He's a character with many secrets, but had you been provided a description of his general beliefs?"
Iuchi: That was completely absent……However, I was also told that it was "okay to make it up myself," so for example, I'd create backstories in my mind to act out in regards to why Taiya was initially so fixated on screams or why he had to act so mature, as I thought that something must've happened in his past. I think that him not being able to show his true self to others and trying to be an adult by retreating into his shell is the result of him growing up while still carrying some kind of childhood trauma and not having completely overcome it yet. I was surprised to find that my interpretation was pretty close to the Producer's.
"What else did you keep in mind while performing?"
Iuchi: During script readings, Director Nakazawa would constantly tell me, "Settle down more. Be more mature!" Even when we'd get on set, he'd say things like, "That's still childish" and, "Move more slowly." I guess I was rushing somewhere along the way. However, during post recording sessions, I was told things like, "Your voice is still too quiet!" and, "Get more excited!"……(laughs), which made me worry, as I wondered, "Is it really okay to raise my voice this much?" After watching the broadcast, I realized it was surprisingly alright as long as it was just my voice, so from then on, I felt at ease and things went smoothly……well, not always (laughs), but I figured it'd be fine to go that far.
"We can imagine that Suit Actor Mori Hirotsugu-san was fired up for his first time playing a Red, but what did you discuss regarding the role?"
Iuchi: For better or for worse, I felt like I'd get too hung up on things, so I tried not to get too deep into our conversations, but we did go over poses and movements on set. For example, the "Cranked up (Bakuage dana)" movement was something I suggested. I did some research on my own about the psychology behind touching one's chin, and figured if I acted decisively after that, it might make me look like a hero. After that, during the post recording sessions for episodes 1-3, I feel like the image of him somewhat solidified in my mind when I saw BoonRed fighting. He's cool and passionate when fighting……or rather, you could say that he appears cool on the surface, but gets incredibly excited when facing a crisis or danger.
"I see. Since you often performed together, how was it working with Boonboom's Fujita Yohei-san?"
Iuchi: I talked to Yohei-san quite abit while we were together. For example, things like, "Let's do a fist bump here." In that sense, I interacted with him just as I would with the unmasked cast, and the voice of Boonboom that played in my head was of Yohei-san's voice. Boonboom himself is over 2 meters tall, or to put it another way, he's large both vertically and horizontally, so it was incredibly intimidating, but I got used to that right away too. Still, whenever Boonboom or Byundi moved, they'd make such loud sounds, that we'd inevitably have to record our lines as well, so for the everyday scenes, we had to make sure it properly matched our lip movements, which was really tough. It was also difficult trying to recreate the atmosphere we had while performing on location.
"Did you have any tricks for getting the atmosphere just right?"
Iuchi: Just before the recording session, each of us would say our signature lines. For example, if it were Chasshiro, he'd mutter, "……I won't accept it!," in order to incorporate his character's energy before getting into his performance. This was something everyone did.
"This was obvious in Bakuage 1, but during the early stages, the one who was positioned to drive the story forward as the protagonist was Mira, not Taiya."
Iuchi: Mira and Jou are more like Reds, don't you think? I think it was pretty common for there to be situations where everyone around him transformed first, and then Red transforming last. It was like that in King-Ohger too, and I guess there must've also been patterns like that in the past, but I myself always struggled with what kind of approach to take.
"Just as he dismissively said that they should dispose of the dress, he accepts Mira's firm refusal with a smile on his face. He's a rather complex character, huh?"
Iuchi: Taiya's lines could come off as sarcastic or even abit mean spirited depending on how he said them, so I was always thinking about how to perform them aptly.
"We think a large part of it had to do with the certain touch of cuteness that would vaguely peek through him."
Iuchi: However, that wasn't something I was consciously doing. The Producers had told me that while Taiya himself is only 25, he wants to come across as older. While my actual age is 20, I was playing the 25 year old Taiya, and since both of us seem to be trying abit too hard to act grown up, it doesn't come off as sarcastic. In that sense, I'm thankful to everyone who took that into account and chose me.
"He was a rather difficult character to grasp, but on the other hand, we were also introduced to his unique catchphrases like, "This is what it means to take control of your own wheel" and, "This store, I've bought it!"
Iuchi: During the proposal stage, lines like "I've fallen for you!," "I've bought it!," and "take control of your own wheel" had already been written in, so when I read the script, I knew they were his signature lines, but I never practiced saying them during acting lessons, you know? (laughs). However, I remember thinking that if I "locked in" on their direction during the beginning, it would become difficult to change later on, so for the time being, I figured I'd turn them into catchphrases that could be said in a variety of ways. So whether it was with someone like Mira or the store clerks, I'd adjust the intensity of my voice depending on who I was speaking to.
In Bakuage 2, we thought the line directed at Chasshiro, "Has what I've fallen for ever let me down before?," was memorable."
Iuchi: I could tell from this line that things would progress based on those kinds of vibes going forward, so I thought this scene was an important one. What I was particularly conscious of was that their relationship appeared to be the kind where they both have each other's backs. After all, Taiya's partner is Chasshiro. I think that Boonboom in comparison is more like a family member than anything else. For example, when Jou said that he wanted to join the Boonboomgers, he was coldly brushed off with "that's impossible," right? That's not the kind of view he holds towards Chasshiro. Since they're equals, I was conscious of speaking to him in a gentle, or rather, an inquisitive manner.
"Since it signified that recruiting him wasn't a mistake, Chasshiro wasn't able to complain."
Iuchi: Right, right, it was pretty sneaky, huh? (laughs). It made me think that Taiya was quite a flirt.
"By the way, what were your thoughts on the JAF segments that promoted traffic safety during the ending credits? We imagine it required a different kind of performance compared to the main story."
Iuchi: It felt like we were just standing around, so I initially wasn't sure what to do. At some point though, it started to feel like it was okay for us to just be ourselves, so from then on, it became alot of fun. It felt like we had to "do what we could within those 5 seconds," where it sorta turned into a free for all as we kept doing it (laughs).
-Taiya is Taiya-
"Not long after the five Boonboomgers gathered, cracks began to form during Bakuage 8. Taiya's the kind of person who tends to not say what really needs to be said, is he?"
Iuchi: It's not that it was a secret, he just didn't go out of his way to say it. Even though he can talk to Boonboom, I guess he unconsciously tries to act like an adult when he's with everyone else, or maybe he just finds it difficult to show his vulnerabilities. Simply put, he's not very good at talking about himself. I had a feeling at that point that his lack of communication skills probably wouldn't change, and that it'd likely end up causing more trouble down the line (laughs).
"It was a serious development, in stark contrast to how things had been going so far, but what was the atmosphere like on set?"
Iuchi: Nothing in particular changed, I guess. I was still smiling. For myself as a viewer, I kept wondering when Taiya was going to get beaten up, so I thought, "Finally, he's gonna get covered in bandages" (laughs). Taiya's always resilient, don't you think? Even when the enemy is about to deliver a blow, everyone else flails while only Taiya stays on his feet and dodges with a quick spin. In that sense, it was the bloodshed I'd been eagerly waiting for. Watching characters like Jou transform while covered in dirt made me feel like, "He's such a hero!," so I was really envious.
"The "thank you, everyone" at the end was a significant moment that wrapped up the two part story."
Iuchi: It was only at that point that the atmosphere on set felt different. It was abit solemn, and very quiet. The plan was to first shoot the scene where everyone was crowded together, and then move onto the cuts where only Taiya's in frame, but everyone was so kind back then, as they silently mimicked similar movements from behind the camera in order to make things easier for me.
"Naito Raita made his appearance in Bakuage 11. When Taiya's together with Naito, his facial expressions seems abit more childlike, wouldn't you say?"
Iuchi: We agreed to have them give off something similar to a teacher and student vibe, so it'd make me happy if they came across that way. With King-Ohger, each of them had their own retainer, and I think they had the opportunity to interact with a wide range of people, but the Boonboomgers are isolated (laughs), or rather, it feels like a self contained group of five or six people, so interacting with Nagato-san was a really fresh experience.
"Following that in Bakuage 12 was the collab episode with "Engine Sentai Go-Onger." How was it working with Furuhara Yasuhisa-san?"
Iuchi: Up until then, it felt like only one person was Red and one person was Blue, so there wasn't anything in particular that overlapped in terms of character, but I was worried about what would happen if another Red showed up. While Sosuke and Taiya have completely different personalities, they both seem to have the same vibes when things quiet down abit, so I wondered how it'd turn out. However, since it was a show I grew up watching when I was little, it was an incredibly moving experience. When I first held Speedor, I was like, "I know him! I used to play with him!" (laughs).
"BoonViolet made his entrance in Bakuage 16, but Miyazawa Yu-san's participation had a huge influence on Iuchi-san, right?"
Iuchi: Yes. I think part of it had to do with Yu-kun's personality, but since he has experience from working on a variety of sets, there was a certain way of behaving that came from it, so I learned alot from that. As an example, up until then, even if I had an idea of how I wanted to move in certain situations, I couldn't really bring myself to tell the Directors. After all, the Directors have everything memorized in their heads, including the movements of the camera, so they build the direction based on that. However, seeing how Yu-kun was constantly exchanging ideas with the Directors made me realize that it was okay for me to consult with them too. My approach to reading the scripts changed after that, and I was able to adopt a perspective where I'd ask myself, "What can I do here?" or, "Wouldn't Taiya move more like this?" However, when the two of us did script reading, Violet was such a pushy character that I started to worry and think, "Oh no! If this keeps up, I'll get completely swept along!" (laughs). For this reason, I in turn couldn't budge. I realized that in order to not get pulled along by Sakito, Taiya had to continue being Taiya.
"In Bakuage 18, The exchange of, "Well isn't that great, but there wasn't a single Earthling who heard my screams!" and, "I'm right here, aren't I? If you're not in the right frame of mind, you can't hear what's right in front of you. But I can hear them now!" was also very memorable."
Iuchi: Taiya probably saw Sakito as a reflection of his former self. That's why he couldn't just leave him alone. We were running behind schedule on that scene, and just barely managed to capture the last moment of the transformed parts, but the sun had already set, so we had to reschedule the remaining shots for another day. We had been watching Mori-san and Tsuta-san perform, where we planned to keep that same energy going, so we were like……alright (laughs). Our emotions inevitably reset, you know? So, while the staff were still working on preparations, the two of us did a read through while standing there, checking in with each other to make sure we were both in the right mood before we went into filming. At that time, I felt like I was really acting, and my emotions were running high too, so it was alot of fun to perform.
"Bakuage 24 was a long awaited episode that was undoubtedly a Taiya main episode."
Iuchi: I personally had this feeling like, "Finally, it's here!" Even the episode featuring the appearance of BoonRed119 was really just about Boonboom, and more than that, it felt like the candy and afro detectives were the ones who stood out the most, so you know (laughs). Also, during our first meeting, when they asked me about my own weaknesses and strong points, I mentioned that "playing the guitar is my special skill." It also made me happy that they were able to incorporate that into the story.
"It's also an episode that delved into Taiya’s past, which we previously could only fill in with our imaginations."
Iuchi: I always thought he must've been a reserved kid. He still loves to develop things, so I think he probably used to do that on his own when he was younger. Because of that, I figured that meeting someone was what made him start to enjoy interacting with people, but I'd been wondering what exactly that event was, so it really felt like I got the exact answer I'd been looking for. I think that if they didn't depict a deeper exploration into his background, it likely would've also been hard for the viewers to really empathize with Taiya. In that sense, it made me happy that people could finally see a more human side of him. Still, it's a truly heartbreaking past, don't you think? It is a children's program after all, so we had to phrase it as "she went far away."
"How was it filming the movie Promise the Circuit?"
Iuchi: When I heard that it was going to be filmed at a racetrack, I thought, "The films are really on a whole different scale!" For the TV series, we'd usually film in Tokyo or the surrounding Kanto area, but this time we traveled by bus all the way to Shizuoka, which took two or three hours. Also, surprisingly enough, it was my first time inside of a forest. We went there again later on to film the Tent Grumer episode (Bakuage 22), but it felt incredibly fresh. More than that, it was the first time we filmed all six of us transforming at the same time. It was immediately after Sakito joined, so we had yet to do it together. It made me happy when Genba joined and the five of us transformed, but I felt the same kind of excitement at the time as I did back then. It made me once again realize that the Boonboomgers were finally a complete Sentai.
-Reaching a beautiful ending-
"As the story entered the second half, A series of serious episodes ensued, including the appearance of the obviously suspicious Tokoyari Eiichiro, the return of Madrex, and Genba's withdrawal."
Iuchi: It felt abrupt, didn't it? As you might expect, the set was completely silent when we filmed the scenes where they try to stop the rampaging Genba and the moment where he left. Well, that's also when we suddenly got an episode featuring a heartwarming curry story (laughs).
"That was Bakuage 31, right? It's a memorable episode as it shows Taiya, whose approach is completely out of touch, attempting to help others by throwing money at the problem."
Iuchi: It's the "spinning his wheels" Taiya that the Directors had been talking about since the very beginning. I thought, "It's finally here."
"He's kind toward everyone, but he doesn't really understand the nuances of the heart."
Iuchi: That's right. I thought that maybe his clumsiness was just a result of spending so much time alone.
"The line "the joy of creating…huh" in the flashback scene was also memorable since it perfectly fit with the show's theme."
Iuchi: It wasn't just to reinforce Taiya's wealthy status, but just as the story was starting to get pretty heavy, the structure deliberately returned to the basics of storytelling, which I think was another amazing aspect of it.
"One of the highlights of Bakuage 37 was the action scenes between him and Chasshiro."
Iuchi: That was alot of fun! Everyone else fought while transformed during the Antenna Grumer episode, but Taiya was the only one who didn't, right? When Sakito arrived, I practiced the moves together with everyone else, so while I thought, "Maybe I can do it this time," I ended up just dodging kicks again (laughs), but it was the first time I really went all out. Of course, I can't move as beautifully as the Suit Actors, so to put it bluntly, I was basically just fumbling around while we were filming, but I was amazed at how cool I looked due to the way they captured the shots. I felt like the ultimate hero. When I heard that we'd be fighting in Taiya's garage, I wondered, "How are we supposed to move around in a place that's packed with furniture and various other items?"
"Action Director Watanabe Jun's style is to create video storyboards in advance, but did Iuchi-san participate as well?"
Iuchi: Yes! I filmed it alongside Chasshiro and the Suit Actors. We also had about two action rehearsals. We see Taiya as a child in this episode, right? I'm not actually in that flashback scene, but I was allowed to visit the set, and after filming finished, I was given a brief moment to sit in the same chair and perform the same movements in order to get my emotions in order.
"During the end game, with his mentor's betrayal and the “parting” with Boonboom, Taiya faced a series of trials, so we think you must've been especially fired up for Bakuage 44."
Iuchi: I really was. What's more, since it was my first time working with Director Miyazaki, we spent about an hour discussing things beforehand, and even confirmed the plan multiple times on set as well, so it turned out to be an incredibly intense shoot. Because of this, I felt completely drained at the end of each day. After all, Taiya's emotions had never really broken down or been crushed to that extent, right? I was always conscious of trying to look cool on camera, but I was told to completely abandon that and be more unrefined, even vulgar if necessary. So, I wasn't thinking at all about how I'd look in the footage. Especially before filming the scene where the "rain bringing" Boonboom collapses, I had walked far away by myself in order to try and focus as much as possible, but I used up an incredible amount of energy in the process.
"What did you think of the broadcast?"
Iuchi: I'd stop myself from saying "it was satisfying!," but the tone of the production had shifted all at once, so as someone involved, I was really happy about it.
"By the way, since your schedule overlapped with Gozyuger, how did you manage to switch emotions?"
Iuchi: After I'd put my costume on and get my makeup done, and this was really right before filming, I had a routine where I'd close my eyes and say "Taiya Hando!" out loud in order to get into the right mindset, so I did that more often than usual. When I'm memorizing a script, I record myself reading it out loud and then repeatedly play it back, but when I need to switch my mood, I rely on my ears for that too. Still, it was tough. We actually filmed the scene where I transform into KuwagataOhger between the day Boonboom got taken down and the day with the rainy scene (laughs).
"In Bakuage 45, we see him desperately struggling to revive Boonboom, but what did you keep in mind while portraying Taiya, who'd never been in such a cornered situation before?"
Iuchi: The directions in the script had "a worn out Taiya" written down, and I think it also had Mira saying, "You haven't eaten a thing since then!," but I figured it'd be impossible to create that look and feel entirely through my acting skills alone, so I decided I had no choice but to put my physical state into it. And so, before filming this scene, I lost about 5 kgs, didn't sleep the night before the shoot, and even went for a run right before entering the set, so I pushed my body to the absolute limit, where I was on the verge of actually damaging my health, before taking on the shoot. That's why I had brain fog the entire time (laughs).
"It was also great that Mira was the one who had to nudge Taiya. Their roles had reversed compared to when they first met, which we thought was a genuinely beautiful narrative structure."
Iuchi: That was really great! They were in a pretty desperate situation by the time it reached Bakuage 44, right? That's why when I received the scripts for episode 45 and 46, I became uneasy and thought, "Is it really gonna end in two more episodes? Will it be carried over to a film or a V-Cinext?" (laughs), but I was surprised to see it end so beautifully. Taiya and the others, who had always wanted to go to space, set off on their journey, while Sakito, who had lived his life away from Earth, stayed behind. The development of their positions ultimately reversing really moved me. I was like, "So that's why Sakito didn't get a Champion Jacket!," and the way everything connects was also wonderful, don't you think?
"As the wrap up drew closer, what were you feeling going into shoots?"
Iuchi: I acted while savoring each and every scene. I had naturally put alot of care into the previous episodes as well, so emotionally, things felt the same to me, but there were many scenes that reminded me of the early days of filming, like the moment when Taiya rushed to Mira's wedding ceremony, so every day of filming was overwhelming, as I knew it'd really be coming to an end very soon.
"The Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger VS King-Ohger V-Cinext was filmed before the main series was finished, right?"
Iuchi: Yes. For the time being, I was told that Boonboom gets taken down once, but aside from that, I went into it knowing absolutely nothing about how the story would unfold toward the end, so that was difficult.
"How was it working together with characters from a completely different worldview?"
Iuchi: In a typical VS, each and every character works in a pair, right? I mentioned earlier that the Boonboomgers are pretty isolated, but just the fact that we got to interact so closely with other people was a fresh experience. In fact, the plot had Taiya stepping into King-Ohger's world, and it was the first time I'd ever filmed in such a crowded place. It was a set where you could constantly hear someone's voice, which wasn't the case with Boonboomger's, you know?
"You were able to experience live compositing, right?"
Iuchi: Was I the only Boonboomger member to do this in the V-Cinext? We filmed in front of an incredibly large green screen. I knew it'd be difficult, but there were way more things I didn't understand than I had expected, so it was challenging. However, the wedding scene in Boonboomger's final episode was also filmed using a green screen, so I was glad that I was able to experience that once before it. Just like with post recording, I'm truly grateful to have had such a valuable experience.
"And now finally, please share a few words reflecting on the past year of Boonboomger."
Iuchi: I chose to work as an actor after going through various experiences, so the fact that my first major project was with the long running Super Sentai series made me feel incredibly grateful and blessed over the past year. But right now, I can't even begin to imagine how I'll feel when it's all over (this interview took place in the middle of the FLT). That's why I'm trying to stop thinking about things for now, and am approaching this Final Live Tour with the feeling that each and every city and each and every show could truly be my last. Of course, I'd be happy if we get a VS with the Gozyugers next year. An interaction between Tsutsumi and Taiya would be really interesting too. Still, that in no way means it's definitely going to happen. I want to stay focused and give it my all right up until the very end, so that even if this Final Live Tour really is the last one, I won’t have any regrets. Thank you so much for this past year!
Hayama Yuki (Ishiro Meita/BoonBlue)
-A year facing the range of "cool"-
"What was the initial explanation you received about Ishiro Meita's character?"
Hayama: The first thing Director Nakazawa told me was that it's "okay to trust Taiya 100%." However, I heard that the other characters weren't as close to Taiya as he was, and when reading the script, I thought that if I didn't clearly convey that difference in closeness, he'd just come across as a rude person, so I was careful about that.
"What were you mindful of when portraying Ishiro?"
Hayama: Even when everyone else is making lots of noise in the garage, Ishiro often sits alone on the sofa, but honestly, he kinda wants to join in (laughs). I made a habit of gazing toward that lively direction, and giving off an aura that made it seem like he also wanted to join in. Ishiro's definitely a cool character, but after playing him for a year, I realized he puts on that cool front in order to hide his weaknesses from others, so he's probably not really that cool. This is something I incorporated that Ishiro has a tendency to do, but he often crosses his arms. Crossing your arms can imply that you're cautious of the other person or are trying to appear tough in front of them, so I thought that Ishiro would naturally do this kind of gesture, as even when it appeared unnecessary to do so, I'd make it a point to cross my arms.
"Do you have any memories of your first transformation?"
Hayama: I can now jump into action with a quick "Boonboom Change!," but at first, I couldn't help but feel self conscious, and since I transformed before fully solidifying my image of Ishiro's character, when I rewatch the first episode, my movements seem so incredibly small that I want to tell myself, "It's okay to go all out!”
"What discussions did you have with Suit Actor Yoneoka Takahiro-san before your first transformation?"
Hayama: I remember him saying, "Let's just do it coolly." After that, we naturally adjusted to each other as we watched the other's performance, but the first time the two of us had a proper discussion regarding our roles was before filming for Bakuage 6. We also talked before Bakuage 14, where Ishiro's painful past is revealed, and before I knew it, we had become close enough where we'd go out for drinks after filming finished, where I realized that "we got along surprisingly well." However, Takahiro-kun can seriously handle his alcohol! I always tried my best to keep up with him, but it was impossible, so I'd end up giving up and heading home alone (laughs).
"In Bakuage 2, when Mira said, "I think I might like working as a Deliverer," there's a wonderful shot of Ishiro smiling happily."
Hayama: To be honest, I struggled alot more with facial expressions compared to Haruhi or Miu-chan. Because Ishiro doesn't say very much, viewers have to rely on his on screen facial expressions in order to decipher his emotions, so if there's "too much information," it'll alter Ishiro's mood, but if there's too little, I won't be able to properly convey what the Director and Scriptwriter want to show, so Director Nakazawa gave me some rather strict guidance when it came to that. Still, because of that, as we progressed toward the final episode, the range of my acting as Ishiro also expanded, so I'm incredibly grateful to Director Nakazawa.
"Bakuage 6 began with the scene where Ishiro becomes suspicious of Jou for being too "pure" and starts to follow him."
Hayama: Up until then, Ishiro was a character who made smart movements and spoke very little, so I approached this scene thinking the key was how far I could go, and how I could break away from everything that had been built up to that point. The very fact that he's trying to find faults in Jou just shows how petty he is, huh? (laughs). It's simply lame for a spy to hide behind a post box. Still, I put alot of thought into just how lame I could make it. The scene where Ishiro slumps over in shock in the Deliverer's garage after blurting out his inner thoughts was something I proposed to the Director myself, where I was allowed to do it. I was worried that this might stray from the image the viewers had of Ishiro, but I'm glad I was able to take on the challenge here.
"During Bakuage 8, Jou and Mira learn that the Boonboomgers were originally a racing team for the BBG. Ishiro knew this from the start, but at what stage did Hayama-san learn about it?"
Hayama: I also learned about it for the first time from its script. So, while I thought that it'd only be natural for Mira and Jou to feel how they did, I did my best as Ishiro to give off the impression that he'd "known about it from the beginning." Which is to say, that Ishiro had quite a few scenes like that! (laughs). I hadn't originally been told much about Ishiro, and we shot the scene where he meets Taiya right after filming first began, but I didn’t even know in what way it'd be used (laughs). It was the same during the middle of the show, when it came to light that Bundorio was a Hashiriyan, but every time a new fact came out, I tried my best to put on a face that made it look like he had known all along.
"At the end of this episode, Ishiro stares in stunned silence at the fallen Taiya for a few seconds before rushing over to him and shouting "Taiya!," which became a hot topic."
Hayama: I thought that Ishiro probably couldn't comprehend the situation, that Taiya, who he'd always believed could never be defeated, ended up so badly beaten, and while that alone was hard for him to believe, Taiya then lost consciousness and collapsed, so that's why I acted in that way. When I heard about the response it got, it made me happy knowing that people were paying attention to the smallest of details.
-Overcoming the past and taking control of your own wheel-
"After that, the Boonboomgers learn about Taiya's dream and reunite again. The scene where each of them shared their feelings to Taiya was very touching."
Hayama: In that scene, after hearing everyone's thoughts, Ishiro sums it up by saying, "Well, there you have it," but I immediately thought, "Huh, you're the one summarizing it?! (laughs), and in a good way, the fact that he mistakenly assumes that he's the one in charge is so in line with Ishiro, don't you think? (laughs). After that he says, "Don't leave me behind this time," but I think that during the previous battle against Madrex, when Taiya left him behind to face the enemy alone, it must've been quite lonely for Ishiro. I think those words encompass not just the physical fact that Taiya was knocked out during the battle, but also the guilt he felt for not being able to fully support Taiya, as well as all the painful experiences Ishiro's gone through in his own past.
"In Bakuage 11, you took on the challenge of performing a Change scene while doing unmasked action."
Hayama: It was my first time doing action scenes, so I was given time in advance to practice and went into it feeling fully prepared, but as expected, I still wasn't used to it and we had to do countless retakes. The camera man got some good shots, so the end result is somewhat watchable, but for me personally, it was a shoot that left me feeling incredibly frustrated.
"Bakuage 14 was a main episode delving into Ishiro's past. How was it on location at an aquarium?"
Hayama: All of the fish were incredibly beautiful. To be honest, I've only been to an aquarium a couple of times before. Because of that, after reading the script, I went on location without fully grasping the feeling that Ishiro finds healing by watching fish, but when I actually saw the fish swimming around in the aquarium, I truly understood how seeing such a beautiful sight after enduring such a painful experience would make anyone cry. And then, another memorable thing from that day was the TTFC members who participated as extras. Being able to perform together with everyone made me very happy, and having so many small children participate was incredibly healing.
"The scene with Ishiro trying to take on Reizoko Grumer alone, where Mira comes to his aid and shouts, "You're so stupid, Chasshiro!" was memorable."
Hayama: I actually told Miu-chan this, but that paired performance was a total loss for me. It wasn't really about winning or losing, but honestly, I felt like I had been completely outdone by Miu-chan. I made various suggestions, and Miu-chan went along with them, but ultimately, I believe that scene worked because of the atmosphere Miu-chan created and the expressions on Ishiro's face that were drawn out by it, so while it was a shoot that left me feeling abit frustrated personally, it was also a day when I truly realized just how amazing of an actress Suzuki Miu is.
"The Summer film (Promise the Circuit) was released around this time, but were there any memorable moments from filming?"
Hayama: Finally meeting HIKAKIN-san, who I'd only ever seen through a screen, made me incredibly happy. When we greeted him, he had an incredibly gentle demeanor, and he in turn greeted us so politely that it made me think that even if I become famous in the future, I want to be the kind of person who can always maintain that kind of attitude. Also, towards the very end, when Ishiro stops the missile, I had an incredibly smug look on my face that the Director gave the OK to on the first take, but it must've looked like I was thinking, "That wasn't quite right," as Director Nakazawa picked up on it and let me do it one more time. Thanks to that, we were able to capture an even better smug look! (laughs).
"When asked what he wants from the food stalls at the fireworks festival in Bakuage 25, Ishiro shyly replies with a candy apple."
Hayama: At first glance, this scene seems cute, but I felt like I needed to take this line seriously. The reason being is that I think Ishiro probably wasn't raised with much affection when he was a child. This is just my own interpretation, but he was raised by his parents to follow in their footsteps as spies, so as an example, they likely never bought sweets for him or took him to exciting, lively places, so I'm certain he used to look at those kinds of treats and places with envy during his childhood. With that sort of longing in mind, when his friends asked him what he wanted, he found himself torn between wanting to be selfish with them and feeling too embarrassed to actually say it, which is when the words "ca…..candy apple" slipped out.
"It's really great that no one poked fun at it, and that they all said "alright!" with smiles on their faces."
Hayama: That's right! It's because they're people who say those kinds of things that Ishiro remains friends with them.
"After that, Genba withdraws from Boonboomger in Bakuage 27, but what did you think of the parting scene by the river?"
Hayama: Actually, while we were filming this scene, there was a moment when I realized that my vision of Ishiro and the Director’s vision of Ishiro were different. When Genba started to walk away from everyone, I initially performed the scene with Ishiro turning around to Genba. That's when the Director called for a cut and said, "You don't need to do that," but in my mind, Genba was a friend, and since Taiya was letting him go, I felt that Ishiro had no choice but to "pick him up." At a later date, I had the chance to speak with the Director directly, and after listening carefully to his perspective, I'm in agreeance with him, but at the time I remember thinking, "We've already done over 20 episodes, but what if my view of Ishiro differs from the Directors?"
"Bakuage 29 was a main episode for Ishiro and Sakito, but do you have any memories of working with Miyazawa Yu-san?"
Hayama: I always tried to prepare several different patterns for the scenes I was going to perform before entering the set, but Miyazawa-kun played Sakito in a way I could've never imagined, so just like in the scenes with Miu-chan in Bakuage 14, I instantly panicked and thought, "Oh no! He's gonna upstage me!" However, at the time, rather than feeling frustrated, it felt more like a learning experience for me as an actor. Miyazawa-kun is older than me and has been in the industry longer, but I think that difference alone makes such a difference in the presence he possesses.
-The culminating one on one showdown between two No.2s-
"Following that in Bakuage 31, Ishiro, Jou, Sakito and Byundi become addicted to Hashiriyan curry."
Hayama: Filming the scene where we ate that Hashiriyan curry was insanely funny (laughs). We sat at a four person table, where the arrangement had Jou next to me, Sakito in front of Jou, and Byundi across from me, and while we were told, "It's okay to go slow, but try to finish eating at the same time together," when I had about a quarter of my curry left, I glanced over to "see how everyone else was doing," and saw that Jou had already finished his portion and was scooping up the remaining curry sauce from his plate to eat! First of all, that was super funny, but sitting diagonally across from me was Sakito, who seemed exhausted while eating, as Miyazawa-kun looked like he was in constant pain, with the look on his face being hilarious too, and then when I looked in front of me, Byundi's Suit Actor Takada-san was just repeatedly raising and lowering an empty spoon to his face. It's only natural that this would happen since he's wearing a mask and couldn't actually eat, but there was something about his gestures that I found strangely hilarious. I was surrounded by a mechanical lifeform that couldn't eat, a suffering old man, and a young man with a big appetite, so I was seriously on the verge of bursting out laughing. However, I knew that if I laughed, the scene would become NG, so I bit my lip and held it in (laughs).
"At the start of Bakuage 34, a welcome back party was held for Genba. Ishiro's "is there anything you'd like to say?" was a nice assist."
Hayama: He was just trying to hide his embarrassment, don't you think? He wanted to say something to Genba now that he was back, but is too shy to just honestly say "welcome back," so he tried to create an opportunity for Genba to apologize while being abit mean. It's the same with this scene too, but Genba and Ishiro aren't exactly "chatty." While Ishiro is Boonboomger's No.2, Genba was assisting Taiya first, so both of them are pretty much positioned as Taiya's right hand men. I talked with Genba's Soma-kun about how it's because they have some similarities that the two of them are fine without having to say much. They both maintain a good distance from each other.
"In Bakuage 37, you played a duel role, that being Ishiro and the fake Ishiro, but how was filming?"
Hayama: First, I really enjoyed playing two roles in a single episode, and since I was so frustrated with my unmasked action scenes during Bakuage 11, I remember doing alot of practicing since I was determined not to make the same mistake again. When it came to differentiating my portrayal of the fake Ishiro from the real one, I don't know if it was visible on screen, but I focused on making his eyes look lifeless. Since Taiya and Ishiro locked eyes, I paid alot of attention to the look in his eyes.
"How was it working with Sutea's Naito Konomi-san?"
Hayama: Naito-san is a pro when it comes to action, so I have no doubt that she still remembers it all perfectly, but I really appreciated that she put up with me, a complete beginner at action, and practiced with me a countless amount of times. Naito-san and I agreed on our interpretation regarding Sutea, but I think it's more interesting to let the audience decide what kind of relationship the two of them once had, so I'll leave that up to your imaginations.
Bakuage 43 was the collab episode with Gokaiger that also featured Ishiro's betrayal, but how were you feeling as you went into filming?"
Hayama: I just tried to do it as coldly as I could. Still, Taiya knew what Ishiro was thinking from the very beginning, and there's a scene where Taiya was the only one who actually noticed what was going on when Ishiro pointed his gun at everyone, which served as a foreshadowing shot. After firing a shot at Sakito's feet as he comes running toward him with, “I'm disappointed in you, Informer!," the camera zooms in on everyone's shocked faces, but Taiya's face is the only one that isn't. When I watched the broadcast, I thought that Director Nakazawa was truly amazing. Also, during the filming of that episode, I was trying to keep my distance from everyone, but my birthday just so happened to be around that time (laughs). So, everyone gave me a cake and presents, but I had mixed feelings, like, "What kind of face should I make when I accept this……still, thanks……" (laughs).
"Starting from the following week, Ishiro no longer appeared in the opening and was no longer credited as a Boonboomger."
Hayama: It really made me think that Ishiro was going to leave……which was quite a shock, but that's exactly why I enjoyed seeing the reactions on SNS after the episode aired even more. Speaking of, when I was shopping at a convenience store during this period, after I finished paying and was about to leave, I felt something tapping my leg, where I was like "huh?" and saw a small child standing there. When this child said, "Ishiro, please come back," I thought, "Uwah~! I'm so sorry~!" (laughs).
"What were you feeling during filming of the climactic scene in Bakuage 47, where he summoned Boonboon Marine to the wedding ceremony for his dramatic comeback?"
Hayama: Personally, I was like, "I can finally perform together with everyone else! I'm so happy!," and as Ishiro, since he’d been used by the enemy for so long, I went into the shoot feeling like he could finally get his revenge. Even for the line, "Spindo! That monkey is your weak point, it's a Ghassolin tank!," I expressed abit more emotion than Ishiro normally would. However, the wedding ceremony scene was really difficult to perform since the background was a green screen. I had to perform while imagining where everything was, and since the angles of the props changed with every cut, it made me realize once again just how amazing the cast of King-Ohger really is.
"Do you have a favorite scene from the final episode?"
Hayama: I guess it'd have to be the confrontation with Grantu. This was the scene that gave me the most trouble during the post recording session, as the Director asked me to redo it multiple times, where I was also selfishly asking "to try it one more time" as I took on the challenge. I struggled quite abit trying to convey the feeling of, "Why are you like this?! You're so pathetic!" towards Grantu through my voice, but thanks to my persistence, I think it turned out to be a really great scene. Even though he calls him pathetic, the fact that he actually puts it into words like that is what I think makes Ishiro so endearing. Having lost sight of his own wheel, I personally think Ishiro could probably imagine how Grantu felt, but he just can't understand why he'd hand his wheel over to someone else, which is what caused his feelings to explode, leading to that final one on one confrontation. Takahiro-kun's performance was also wonderful, as it was the culmination of BoonBlue.
-I want to be the reason for why children "keep trying"-
"How did you feel when it came time for the wrap up?"
Hayama: I cried more than I thought I was capable of crying……When everyone was saying a few words during the wrap up, I turned away to hold back my tears since I knew I'd also start to cry if I looked at everyone else's crying faces, but when I saw Director Nakazawa’s face, I just couldn’t help it……He brought me my bouquet with an incredibly kind smile. Yeah, when I thought about how he had looked after me for a whole year……I just couldn't hold it together.
"Hayama-san is cheerful and good with his words, so at first glance, he seems like the polar opposite of the quiet and cool Ishiro, but do you see any similarities between yourself and Ishiro?"
Hayama: People often tell me that we're polar opposites, but I'm actually alot like Ishiro (laughs). First, the way we try to act cool is very similar, as I also feel like I have to put on a certain look around others, so I totally get Ishiro's desire to look cool, but we're very similar in that we spend time with the people we're close to no matter what, while at the same time, similar in that we also enjoy spending time alone
"And now, please tell us once again what you like most about Ishiro."
Hayama: That he overcame such a difficult situation. On top of that, I really love and respect the fact that he can properly smile now. Honestly, I think the reason I was able to pour so much love into this role is because I finally got to appear in the Super Sentai series, which was something I had been longing to do, but even putting all that aside, I think I genuinely love Ishiro.
"In the Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger VS King-Ohger V-Cinext, Ishiro ends up on the same team as Decotrade and Nkosopa's king Yanma Gast, but Yanma's Watanabe Aoto-san is actually a senior from your agency, right?"
Hayama: That's right. We were already really good friends, but Aoto-kun's my senior, so I was really nervous about performing with him. Still, I was simultaneously beyond happy to be able to carry on the legacy of my beloved senior and that our characters were interacting with each other.
"The moment connection with Shugoddam was established, there's a scene where he shoves Yanma aside and shouts, "Taiya! It's me!"
Hayama: The Director and I were of the same opinion that it was "something Ishiro would do," so that's how it turned out, but before I shoved Yanma, I wanted to make sure I told Aoto-kun properly, so I said, "Sorry. I'm gonna give you alittle push now," where he was surprised and said, "Why?!," so explained the relationship between Ishiro and Taiya before shoving him (laughs).
"After filming for the main series finished, there were events like G-Rosso and the Final Live Tour, but how was it performing in front of your fans in person?"
Hayama: I was really grateful that tons of guests came to both the G-Rosso shows and the Final Live Tour. Up until then, I had only seen reactions on SNS, so seeing nearly filled seats at every performance genuinely moved me as I realized that "this many people were supporting us." Especially for the FLT, many people from the other regions who couldn't make it to Tokyo came to a venue that was closer to their homes, and while there were lots of people who saw us live for the first time, there were also those who were having their last chance, so I wanted to express my gratitude properly at every performance, and above all else, seeing children was incredibly healing. This is just a personal opinion based on my own experience as someone who loves tokusatsu hero programs, but I really do think heroes should be there for the sake of children. For example, if a child manages to endure something or overcome a challenge, they might be rewarded with a toy of their favorite hero or a trip to a show……I want heroes to be that sort of "reason to keep trying" for children. When I saw children in the audience, I truly believed that "those children were what made us heroes in the truest sense." So, whether it was through the comments I made as Ishiro at the end of a performance or within the show itself, I believe it was my job to make the children who come to these venues think, even if just alittle, "I'm glad I came today, and I feel like I can do my best from now on.
"What are your memories with the members during the Final Live Tour?"
Hayama: Actually, the first time all six Boonboomgers had drinks together was in Nagano. It was so much fun, and really made me realize once again how much I love everyone. We talked about wanting to keep these bonds going for another 10 or 20 years, or rather, that we want to stay connected forever.
"What kind of year was Boonboomger for you Hayama-san?"
Hayama: For me, it was a dream come true to finally appear in a hero production, as I got to try out all sorts of things every day and experience so much both personally and as an actor, and if I were to put it in just a few words, it was an incredibly fulfilling and truly enjoyable year. Still, I don't just want it to end with a simple "it was really fun," as it was also valuable time that made me think about how I could use this experience in the future and what I needed to do in order to take the next steps. Ishiro was a cool role, so next time I'd like to try a role with a different kind of image, and desires I've never had before keep coming up one after another.
"What would you say to Ishiro if you could speak to him now?"
Hayama: Seriously, I just want you to be happy! Also, I want to say good luck as an Informer in space, and to express my gratitude for letting me encounter you and discover the joys of being an actor.
"Finally, please give a message to all of the Ishiro fans reading this book."
Hayama: Thank you very much for loving Ishiro. The saying "take control of your own wheel" is also the theme of Boonboomger, but I believe that Ishiro left the team for the sake of protecting his friends, and even though everyone hated him, he continued to hold onto his wheel, determined to help the team, which is why he was able to land that blow against Spindo, and I think that this can be applied to all of you supporters as well. Going forward, when you find a dream or something you want to do and take hold of your wheel, if you keep holding on no matter what others say, I believe that even if everything doesn't turn out perfectly, you'll be closer to achieving an incredibly rewarding outcome. If I can deliver courage to everyone through Ishiro's way of life, then as the one who played him, nothing would make me happier.
Suzuki Miu (Mira Shifuto/BoonPink)
-A Reddish Pink-
"Do you remember when you were first given an explanation regarding Mira's role?"
Suzuki: An explanation regarding Mira……was there one? (laughs). I think all I was told was, "You're the only woman in the group, so do your best!" In Super Sentai, a single team will often have two distinct types of girls, but this time, I had to bear the responsibility alone. That's why I was told that they wanted her to be both as cute and pretty as possible, but that's a fairly difficult thing to ask for, don't you think? (laughs). Filming ultimately started without any real answer of what to do though.
"Mira's just an ordinary girl, so compared to a spy or alien, there probably wasn't much that needed to be explained."
Suzuki: That's true. However, and this wasn't actually written in the script or anything, but as for the reason why she almost got married to that spoiled rich guy in the first episode, Director Nakazawa suggested, "Let's say for example, it's a situation where her father ran off after racking up debt, and she was told to marry some rich kid in order to clear it?" Also, one of the keywords that came up when discussing Mira was "easily influenced." Since the theme is about taking control of your own wheel, I was asked to depict the story of how Mira came to take hold of her own wheel within a single episode. Still, a kid as cheerful and energetic as Mira seems like the kind of person who'd speak her mind pretty clearly, don't you think? That's where it got difficult, but where we also resembled each other……I'm also told that I seem cheerful or straightforward, but when those around me voice their opinions, I often can't speak up even if deep down I disagree.
"When the program initially started, you mentioned aiming for the classic Pink look, but was that because you were conscious of being both cute and pretty?"
Suzuki: Maybe, I feel like that's how it went. She has a feminine side, but is also strong and resilient……is the kind of image I had. In reality however, people often wrote things on SNS like, "She's more like a Red" (laughs). It's true, she was in a position to drive the story forward, and her overflowing energy really strayed from that of a classic Pink. Still, I felt like they didn't mean it in a sarcastic way, and that they were saying it because it was what they liked about her, so it was ultimately alright. As of late, we're in an era where men can be Pink and women can be Black, so looking back now, I realize that I didn't really need to be worried about following what's considered classic.
"As the heroine of a children's program, was there anything in particular that you were conscious of?"
Suzuki: I remembered the anime I watched when I was little and tried to make my performance as easy to understand as possible. I think nuanced acting that's required in dramas geared towards adults is hard for children to grasp. At first, what surprised me the most about working on Boonboomger's set was just how many camera cuts there were. On other sets, they'll shoot a scene two or three times all the way from start to finish while changing the camera's position, but with Super Sentai, they cut after just one or two lines. I thought it was a really unusual way of filming, but when I was told they keep changing shots in order to keep children from getting bored, I realized that children really are prone to becoming bored. With that being the case, I figured my performance would be more enjoyable to watch if it was easier to understand.
"What kind of conversations did you have with BoonPink's Sakanashi Yume-san?"
Suzuki: I don't remember us talking that much during the beginning, but around the time we filmed Bakuage 7 or 8, I felt like our creative directions were drifting apart abit, so from then on, we started to coordinate things more frequently. Yume-san was the one who was moving around in a more tomboyish and aggressive way. When I consulted with Director Nakazawa, he suggested, "It might be best if Yume-chan tones it down abit, while Miu-chan in turn should be alittle more energetic," so rather than trying to match one approach or the other, we decided to meet in the middle (laughs). After we finished filming the final episode, when Director Nakazawa and all of the cast and actors gathered for a small closing party, Director Nakazawa said, "No, you were seriously linked up. You two looked so much alike," and that made me incredibly happy. It caused us to instinctively hug each other and high five. Yume-san is older in terms of age, but in a good way, I feel like we were able to talk as equals.
"What were your thoughts in regards to Mira's costumes?"
Suzuki: The shorts were something Director Nakazawa was particular about. However, I'm not the type to normally wear things like shorts or miniskirts, so I was abit uneasy at first (laughs). It was cold during Winter, I tanned during Summer, and even during filming, I had to keep pulling my pants down whenever I moved even the tiniest bit, so it was tough. Still, during costume fittings, I was bold enough to voice alot of my opinions. For example, I'd suggest things like, "This style of shorts looks more modern." Director Nakazawa also took my suggestions into account, and together with the female staff members, we worked to find items that were "just right."
"Nakazawa-san was probably trying to bring out Mira's lively image."
Suzuki: Right. He also mentioned something like, "Long pants make her look too grown up….." At that time, her age hadn't been decided on yet, but I was told that she was right around 20. I guess they ultimately settled on her being 23? That's why I felt that having energetic shorts might end up making the outfit look too childish, so I paired it with a slightly muted, deep pink turtleneck, and was careful to maintain the overall balance. I wanted to wear something that even I myself would find cute. That's why I especially love the one that has the white vest on pink, as it feels like it just screams Mira. It might even be my favorite Mira costume.
"In Bakuage 1, she played such an active role, that she was practically the protagonist."
Suzuki: While I felt grateful, I also felt pressured. I think that how much viewers enjoy the first episode is crucial for keeping them watching throughout the year, so when I read the script, I really wasn't sure what to do.
"Her screaming "kya!" upon seeing Wedding Dress Grumer was quite memorable."
Suzuki: That was often said online too. People were like, "This is the kind of Pink we've got this year" (laughs). I didn't think I was that forceful about it, so I never expected that part to be pointed out……However, in the script, it was written as, "Piyaaaaaaa!" So, I asked Director Nakazawa, "Instead of "piya!", would "gyah!" be alright?," and he said, "That's totally fine." Even he was like, "The heck is "piya" anyways?" (laughs). Since the script was by Tomioka-san, it must've been related to anime expressions. Still, it should be "gyah!" rather than "kya!" After all, "kya!" gives off a feminine impression, which doesn't suit Mira.
"Bakuage 2 is a Chasshiro episode, but it's also an episode where Mira plays a significant role."
Suzuki: I was amazed that she could fit in with the coolness of the two guys who were there from the start, with their clingy, or I guess, tender vibes (laughs). If you think about it normally, it'd be awkward. However, with Mira joining, it created this sense of familiarity, and made me think, "Maybe the viewers can also join me as apart of Boonboomger? Let's join!" Also, in the initial setup for Mira that I received, besides "doing her best at her part time jobs" and "easily influenced," it mentioned things like, "Watching over Taiya and Chasshiro's relationship with a smile on her face, thinking it's fine" (laughs). She won't get involved between those two, but is someone who'll watch over them.
"She's like a mother (laughs). Following that in Bakuage 3, it was purely a Mira episode."
Suzuki: It was quite some time ago, so I can't really remember exactly how I felt going into the shoot, but I don't think I was particularly nervous or anything. There's the scene at the end where she hands the hand mirror to the grandmother, but people are Mira's driving force. She's the kind of kid who finds strength in someone else's smile……is what I realized when I watched the broadcast. That's something I should've noticed before filming (laughs), but I felt this would become the starting point for my portrayal as Mira.
"You also experienced napalm explosions."
Suzuki: I received my Super Sentai baptism (laughs). It was our first experience with napalm during Boonboomger, but……I was up first, where I thought, "Riding a bike through an explosion is impossible!" The staff have been doing this for decades, so they just casually said, "Alright, let's do napalm~" like it was nothing, but I was so scared that I started crying. In the end, I managed to endure it with everyone's support, but napalm was something I was weak with until the end. I never got used to it. To my surprise, it's not that hot, but it still scared me. Even when I braced myself and thought, "Here it comes, it's coming," I'd still flinch, but they wouldn't be able to use it if I flinched, so I was under pressure. At that time though, it was fine since I was moving forward while yelling "gyah!" (laughs).
-Fulfilling my role as Mira-
"In Bakuage 8, cracks end up forming between the five members who had finally come together."
Suzuki: I remember thinking that this was a crucial two part story, as the Boonboomgers would truly come together and be bound by an even stronger bond. However, what I found abit difficult was that whether or not you reveal a secret is all a matter of personal choice, isn't it? At least, that's how I see it. However, the fact that Mira felt so strongly about it, to the point of speaking up like that, means she trusted Taiya as a friend and really wanted him to tell her, don't you think?
"Even in Bakuage 14, she angrily told Chasshiro things like, "Doing everything alone! Dying alongside them! What are you even fighting for then?!" and, "It'll all be meaningless if you die!," so we think what angered Mira the most was that she was thinking, "Why are you so quick to risk your life?!"
Suzuki: For sure! Both Taiya and Chasshiro tend to resort to self sacrifice, but there's definitely that question of, "If you die, what's gonna happen to Earth after that?" In that sense, women might actually be more down to earth, or rather, unexpectedly composed. It’s like she was saying, "This isn’t the time to be daydreaming." Of course, I think what lied at the core of it all was Mira's kindness.
"Following that, Bakuage 9 also had a major highlight."
Suzuki: "I'm here of my own free will. If Taiya's dream is to deliver Boon-chan's dream, then delivering that dream is my dream!," that one, right? When speaking on set, while I was the one who usually forgot my lines, the reason why I can still recite it so smoothly is partly because it's a scene I personally love, but also because I read it really carefully since I thought it was an incredibly important line for Boonboomger. Mira says some good things, doesn't he?
"For the scenes where she delivered decisive lines, we got the impression that they were just as memorable as Taiya's."
Suzuki: Right, right. In the episode right before the final one, there's a scene where Taiya declared, "How about it, this is Boonboomger!," but I actually said, "How about it, this is Boonboomger!," way earlier when we did the film. Maybe Taiya was just imitating Mira? (laughs).
"While Bakuage 10 was Genba's main episode, Mira also had alot of screen time with him, right? We feel like she was often given a role like that throughout the year."
Suzuki: It was like that for the Chasshiro episode from just a moment ago, and she was also part of the set during the episode where Jou gets an apprentice, right? Even though the story would work just fine without her, the fact that she's there every time means there must be some significance behind it or some role she's meant to play. So, I think most viewers were watching from Mira's perspective, as she's "in charge" of reactions. That's why I made a conscious effort to play my part skillfully, so that the main person's appeal would shine through.
"Bakuage 11 also featured some full bodied action scenes, but what did you think?"
Suzuki: That's right, Antenna Grumer! We had an action rehearsal before filming, but I was the only one who couldn't make it since I had other work. I did get the video footage later, but since I'd never done any action scenes before, just watching the footage didn't really help me understand anything other than how difficult it looked (laughs). On the day of filming, Yume-san taught me one on one starting in the morning, but since I'm so uncoordinated, I felt like giving up. Just before the cameras started rolling, Director Jun even said to me, "Miu-chan, your face! You look nervous!" What's more, the moment filming ended, for some reason I felt like I was going to cry. Maybe I was overwhelmed by the anxiety that I was holding various people back due to my inability to do it. Ultimately, I feel like those action scenes were the most challenging, but throughout the entire year, I felt anxious every day we had action scenes. It was challenging, but also very rewarding.
"In Bakuage 20, you also portrayed past Mira."
Suzuki: Back then, Mira was just as considerate as she is now, but she had a tendency to put the people right in front of her before herself, and that felt like it was working against her. Still, if it's a friend, you can't really become close unless you start expressing your own opinions, right? Ultimately, it wouldn’t be good for the other person either. As I mentioned earlier, I'm the type of person who doesn't clearly express my own opinions to others. After all, nobody wants to be disliked, right? That's why when the mood turns into "wanting to go somewhere," I really admire kids who can just say "I'm good!" and turn it down. It's possible Mira also has a weakness within her, where she doesn't want to be disliked simply because she likes the person. Still, Mira's always had a strong sense of responsibility. Once she properly commits to something, she'll follow through on it no matter what. What's more, she won't brag about it. Simply put, those are her beliefs, that she has to see things through to the end. I really love that about Mira.
"One of the highlights of Promise the Circuit was the interaction between the guest heroine Nicola and Mira."
Suzuki: Director Nakazawa had said, "Mira's probably reminded of her past self when she looks at Nicola." That's probably why she felt so strongly about wanting to help Nicola. Also, this was the first time we filmed scenes like this with just two girls. I think Mira has a cheerful personality that makes her very easy to get along with, even with men, but realizing that she was the kind of kid who could conduct herself like that even towards other girls was a huge plus when playing Mira. I of course knew she wasn't the type to change how she spoke to someone just because they were a man or woman, but I wondered if her ability to empathize was stronger when she was with men. Personally, I feel that Mira-chan's a really good kid.
"There was also a scene where she drove the Boonboom Super Car like a pro Driver."
Suzuki: I do have a driver's license, but I'm basically just a paper driver (*she rarely drives) who mainly uses it as an ID, so we were moved by a tow truck the entire time (laughs). So, while the staff gave me tips like, "Your shoulders are abit too high," I worked on getting into a cool driving pose before they took the shot. Still, it's amazing, isn't it? The lighting and the way it was shot really made it look like I was actually driving. It was her first big moment as a Driver, so I was incredibly grateful.
"Bakuage 31 was her first main episode in awhile, and in a good way, it stood out from the main storyline."
Suzuki: It really did! As someone involved, the 3rd Lap had a series of grueling episodes, so I guess you could say that this felt abit lighter. The scene where Chasshiro and Jou ate the curry and broke down in tears had all of us laughing so hard on set.
"We also like the part where she brought the curry."
Suzuki: The part where she says, "I'm here to deliver some delicious curry~!," right? Director Takemoto told me, "Just run at full speed with all your might," but it was really tough since I was afraid the curry would spill. Also, I remember practicing multiple times with an empty spoon for the part where I fed everyone a bite of it, as I was worried that if I didn't time it right, the curry might end up on their faces or costumes. It was an episode with quite a few simple yet difficult scenes.
"During Bakuage 36, Mori Hinami-san from "Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger" appeared as a guest. It wasn't just Mori-san though, as this series featured the appearance of many former cast members."
Suzuki: All of the staff members had really nostalgic looks on their faces, you know? Especially Hinamin……I used to call her that too, but the moment she walked onto the set, I could tell she was truly loved by everyone there. She'd even sit in the Director's chair in front of the monitor, where everyone would just watch her with smiles on their faces (laughs). She's just so incredibly lovable! She's so fluffy and cute herself, and has the kind of thing that makes everyone's eyes crinkle.
"As for the story itself, it was a bittersweet one, as Mira is naturally loved by everyone around her, but had been hurting her friend without realizing it."
Suzuki: It felt like a surprisingly mature theme. There were probably some children who experienced the emotion of jealousy for the first time from this. I did quite abit of exploration when it came to my performance. From Mira's perspective, she was just doing what came naturally, but was being envied by others, so acting spiteful in order to make the other person jealous wouldn't have been the correct approach either, right? It was fairly difficult. Still, for me, this episode has become one of my top three favorites out of the entire show. By the way, the other two are Bakuage 9, where the Boonboomgers first formed, and the final episode.
"We were surprised by the part time job those two had."
Suzuki: Toys R Us (laughs). When I read the script, I laughed thinking, "They're using a store that actually exists!" Still, I thought that when small children watched the broadcast, that they'd see Mira working there part time and think, "I love Toys R Us! I wanna go there!," which brought back all the excitement I felt as a young child, and I ended up having alot of fun filming it.
"She's had various part time jobs, but which one in particular was memorable?"
Suzuki: The aquarium onee-san! When it comes down to actually doing them, isn't its "hurdle" higher than any of her other part time jobs? The location was at an actual aquarium, and they even attached microphones similar to the ones used at sea lion shows, so I was personally really excited for it. However, in reality, the sea lions were filmed separately. All of the visitor extras were clapping, but they were actually watching the dolphin show (laughs).
-Wisdom, strength, and an unshakeable heart-
"In Bakuage 47, the story unfolds in a similar way to the first episode, and Mira ends up being made into Spindo's bride."
Suzuki: I was like, "Another wedding dress?!," and while it felt satisfying to see all these elements coming together as we headed toward the finale, it really is a cruel act, you know? The idea of offering up women……to put it bluntly, isn't that just abit creepy, even downright disgusting, and completely out of touch with modern times? Of course, it was setup to make the viewers see evil as even more evil, but I think this development also highlighted Mira's wisdom, strength, and unshakeable heart as she tries not just to stand on equal footing with those who have done such terrible things, but to fight against them more intensely.
"The scene where Mira accepts to the political marriage was captivating, as it was carried solely by the acting, without any background music."
Suzuki: I don't think there had ever been a scene up to that point where I had to rely so heavily on my emotions like that. I was feeling this unexpected pressure, like, "This is absolutely going to be the most important scene leading up to the final episode, the culmination of the entire year! This is crazy!" I remember being nervous the day before too, and trying to take my mind off it by talking with the other members. On the day of the shoot, everyone was incredibly focused, and we hardly spoke at all, which was unusual. So, Genba asked her, "Do you even know what you’re saying?," and when I replied with, "Of course I do!," I looked around at everyone's faces, but because we'd been working together for so long, just looking at each of their faces caused me to feel a surge of emotions. It really made me realize how much doing this for a year helped when it came to acting. However, at the end, when I said, "Taiya, this is the wheel I'm going to grab hold of," I was trying not to cry, but afterwards, Director Nakazawa told me, "You could've cried, you know," and said that by deliberately shedding tears, it would've connected to Mira's determination to persevere despite everything.
"I see. Not shedding tears may be more in line with Mira, but we understand his perspective as well. There really is no right answer in acting, is there?"
Suzuki: That's exactly what makes it fun, but also what makes it difficult. Director Nakazawa's words were persuasive, and he's the kind of person who made everyone think, "If Director Nakazawa says so, then……" That's why I still find myself wondering which one would've been better.
"It was also really cool how she asked Spindo for a wedding gift."
Suzuki: I personally thought that was cool too! I performed it while thinking, "Go for it!" (laughs). Mira knows how scary Spindo is, but still did it despite that. It wasn't the kind of strength that came from being fearless, so I could really feel Mira's growth. Also, the part at the end where she kicks him with an "oriya!" was so satisfying. Haruhi-kun provided skillful support, so I think that's what made it such a cool scene.
"What awaited you on the day of the wrap up?"
Suzuki: I felt so, so lonely, and had wanted to cry ever since that morning. First, we filmed the part where they walk on the BBG course during the final scene, then in the afternoon, we filmed the roll call, but even during the BBG course portion, I couldn't stop myself from crying. I was like, "Ah, so this is where Boonboomger's story ends." It really made me feel just how much I truly loved Boonboomger. The other members poked fun at me by saying, "Miu-chan, you're crying already?!," but by the afternoon, everyone was wailing, so I was like, "It's the same for all of us!" (laughs).
"Currently (at the time of this interview), you're touring nationwide for the Final Live Tour, but how's it going?"
Suzuki: Hinamin told me, "The Final Live Tour is alot of fun!," but it really has been. Even though we're doing three shows a day, so many people come to each one, and during our final messages, they cry, which made me realize just how much we're loved. I have no idea how many times I've cried during the FLT (laughs). Also, I'll never forget when the six of us had drinks together during the Nagano performance. For one reason or another, someone would always be missing, so there haven't been many opportunities where we go out and eat together as a group of six. We were all on the verge of tears as we talked about how we'd truly met some great members.
"Was the G-Rosso Unmasked Warrior performance challenging?"
Suzuki: (in a lowered voice) It was insanely challenging! Doing it six times a day will of course mess with your sense of time, and it was rough in terms of stamina. For guests who are watching for the first time, and those who might only come once, you can't cut corners, can you? That said, repeating the same thing over and over again multiple times made it hard to maintain motivation. That's why when the G-Rosso performances came to an end, we all encouraged each other by saying, "You did a great job!"
"The G-Rosso shows were also really wonderful."
Suzuki: Hearing something like that makes it feel rewarding. There was always the risk of getting injured, so every movement was seriously timed down to the very second, with even the backstage flow having to be precise. That really showed the professionalism of the actors. I thought it was a really incredible show.
"And now finally, can you share your current state of mind as you look back on the past year of Boonboomger?"
Suzuki: Everyday I count down the days until it'll be completely over, and it makes me feel lonely (laughs). When I think that I won't be able to play Mira anymore, it feels like losing someone incredibly important. When I play Mira, I find myself feeling more positive too. Of course, playing the same role for a whole year made me have doubts like, "Is this really okay?," but now, I truly feel glad that I was given the opportunity to perform. Going forward, I want to work hard and give back so that people will think, "Wow, this kid was in Super Sentai too!", and I want to continue to be involved in creating works that inspire people to stay positive.
Boonboomger is really about “the world is dark and run by monster paid by other monsters, and people with power are selfish, and the police will turn on you if the powers that be demand it, even the ones you think are your friends, and adults that help you “grow up fast” don’t see you as adults, but by god, why let it get worse? Why not stand up and fight anyways? Why not be the adult you needed when you were young and scared? There are people who will make you feel whole. Surely Tomorrow Will Be A Beautiful Day.”
Please Help a disabled Enby and their elderly disabled mother survive the winter while Homeless.
Remaking for February, same sitch, new Month.
I'm Casi, I'm a disabled enby who is the sole caregiver for my elderly disabled mother. We are Homeless, and staying in a hotel because it is the safest option for us. There are literally no shelters anywhere accessible, we have no family that could put us up, and the county sheriffs will arrest you if they find you on the streets or camping in the desert. We dont even have a car to live in. We have no transportation and no other options.
Mom has chronic bronchitis and severe arthritis and has difficulty breathing and walking, I have chronic pain and autoimmune issues.
Currently Moms SSI is our only stable income, and it only goes so far, I do sell my art and am looking for stable work but, so far not much luck on either front really.
The room costs $72 a night, $557 a week.
Literally anything that anyone could spare to help us is so incredibly appreciated, even $1 helps, a reblog especially helps because the more people who see this the more likely someone who can afford to help us will see it.
Right now we've got the room paid for until the 7th, and moms second check comes in tonight, which should cover another week. I'll update on the 7th when I know how far Moms second check will cover.
Update on March 7th: [I stg I'll remake a proper post for this month soon but I'm coming down with a cold or something and don't have the energy today]
💙💚💛🧡❤💓💜
We've got the room paid for until the 14th.
We've got a bit of food and the most important of our medications.
I'm so unbelievably grateful for every little bit of help that we've received and any further assistance would be so incredibly appreciated.
If you’re still up for headcanons for the Gods, Ifrit?
God of Flames and Smithing.
Concept art and DVD commentary mention he was the Heavenly Saint of Fire before Blagel, and Infershia didn’t have fire before he came, which is an idea I quite like.
Best idea I have for his name as a Heavenly Saint is Scorgel.
I'm not entirely certain why he fell, but probably not out of a desire for power to differentiate him from Raigel/Meemy. Perhaps it was something of a Prometheus thing where he took pity on Infershia for their lack of fire and gifted it to them which caused his fall.
His Marudeyõna World would obviously be a volcano.
Forged the weapons of the other Gods.
Served as Blagel’s teacher prior to his fall.
Unlike Raigel/Meemy, he does retain some of his virtues as a Heavenly Saint, which is why he told the Ozu siblings where their mother was as he was dying. Also partially why he gave a stay of execution before his Judgement.
Out of the Gods he was the closest with Titan, which I'm basing off their sparring match when the Gods were first introduced.
The face on his chest was actually his face when he was a Heavenly Saint, but it melted and was replaced by his current head when he fell.
yes the mirror monsters the riders have contracts with would devour them in an instant but im never immune to the idea of them just being cute little animal friends. based off talking with friends in a server about this concept. one sketch on the second page is based off a behind the scenes picture of shinjis actor
[ ID: three digital sketch drawings of kamen rider ryuki. the first drawing is a comic with three panels of shinji and ren. panel one shows shinji and ren holding toy versions of their contract monsters, playing with them. shinji says "woosh, go dragreder!!" and rens speech bubble has three dots as he looks over at shinji with a neutral expression. the second panel shows a close up of ren using his toy to hit shinjis, with text that reads "bonk" next to his hand as he says "hes dead." there is a small drawing of rens face next to the speech bubble. the third panel shows shinji throwing his head back to whine, saying, "reeen no faaair!" while ren looks at the viewer with a smirk. there is small text next to ren that says "heh." the second drawing shows three sketches on the page, two of shinji and one of ren. on the left shinji is shown drinking from a cup while holding a dragreder toy and looking off to the right. next to him is text that reads "slurp". on the top right, shinji is holding a small dragreder who is curled up in his hands as he happily says, "awww my cute lil dragon who might eat me" with a heart drawn at the end of the text. below this is a sketch of ren with a small darkwing perching on his shoulder, he looks down at it with a tender expression and lifts a hand to pet it. the third drawing shows two sketches of tezuka, kitaoka, and gorou. on the left, tezuka is drawn from chest up with a content expression as evildiver flops onto his head. on the right, kitaoka and gorou are walking together with magnugiga in a stroller. there is text next to them that reads "family on a walk". /END ID]
brightest and cutest smile ever (and has better teeth than me, that's for sure)
a bisexual LOSER (affectionate)
^ also adding he both intentionally and unintentionally flirts with his teammates
has broken the law.... many times
gets a job and then immediately quits the next day
his clothing just screams gender envy (imo)
can and will risk blowing himself up to kill trakeena at point blank range and came out with only a broken visor
also very much has adhd. my evidence? look at the man
great with kids (because he is still a kid at heart)
willingly touches a burning pot like its nbd (immediately regrets it afterwards)
the showrunners were aware of his hotness and tried to make excuses to have him shirtless by either injuring him or just have him rip it all off for dramatic effect (and to have him immediately morph right after)
drinks his respect women juice (literally was gonna throw hands with the magna defender for even looking at kendrix funny, what a man) literally he's like, "respect women or perish" only exception is trakeena
no matter who you ship leo with, he's always the malewife in every single scenario, no exceptions
and he has one of the best arcs of pr history, and you can fight me on that
As I continue to chew through Kamen Rider Ryuki, I’m definitely picking up on the fact that everyone is dying ironically, but I’m also really enjoying how the rider’s card decks and fighting styles reflect their user’s characterizations and backstories:
Raia became a rider in someone elses stead, and his armor is actually close to a pallete swap of the suit that his friend would have used as Kamen Rider Bleu. His fighting style revolves around copying the equipment of other fighters.
Gai is a spoiled rich kid computer programmer who thinks he’s a genius manipulator. His only special card is Confine Vent, which cancels the last card played by someone else- in other words, the only thing he’s actually got going for him is that he knows a cheat code.
Ouja’s ability to contract monsters from defeated riders makes him the only rider who gets immediately obviously stronger by winning fights, but each new monster is so high-maintenance that it starts pushing him into a corner even as he’s ostensibly getting stronger- which in turn reflects how attacking people at random got him nothing but homelessness and jail time, no matter how good it made him feel.
Imperer is most on the nose within the narrative itself; his motif is that of a herd animal, his only goals are to make allies and get security, he’s the only rider who has multiple monsters backing him up from the get go.
Scissors is a scavenger, opportunist, ambush predator and short term thinker; the story never makes it clear if he even knew there was a prize for the last rider, or if he just contracted Volcancer because it made the crimes he was already doing slightly easier. His fighting style is similarly one-note in that all he really does is try to grab and pin down whatever is directly in front of him, often in ways that leave him vulnerable to attack.
Tiger, with his freezing ability, Is a moral absolutist who thinks he can only be an effective hero if he severs all his emotional connections. Probably not coincidentally, his finisher move involves Destwilder having to close the distance while Tiger just stands there and waits instead of meeting his partner halfway.
Zolda is kept in the running by the absurd, gamebreaking ranged firepower provided by his contract monster, Magnugiga; Unlike the other contract monsters, Magnugiga doesn’t seem sentient and might not even be able to move without a direct order from Zolda. In his civillian life Zolda is serviced and shielded from the consequences of his fuckups by Goro, a perfectly, unhealthily loyal and stoic manservant who’s a complete gamebreaker in any context besides the rider War.
Knight’s fighting style revolves around creating multiple versions of himself to conceal where he truly stands, and his trump card when cornered is a hypersonic, debilitating scream. How do most of his early interactions with Shinji go?
Ryuki got into the fight by making peace with a monster that was actively trying to kill him and resolving to use the power as a tool to better the world, which serves as a template for how he engages with everyone else. In line with his focus on using Dragredder as a tool for good, He’s got the most equipment sourced directly from his monster, and no power cards (trick, copy, confine, freeze) that aren’t directly invoking Dragredder,
