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