"Valuing the Performance of Immaturity" - Interview with Koshi Mizukami, who plays Haruka Sakura [Live-Action Film "WIND BREAKER"]

——I heard that you also had conflicts in playing Sakura.

Mizukami: That's right. I anticipated that considerable challenges and problems would pile up regarding actual flesh-and-blood humans performing, so I thought a lot about finding that balance and how much I could meet the expectations of those who offered me the role. I believe this work originally established itself as one form of entertainment as manga and anime (like a kind of fantasy).

——In a live-action film, it becomes a performance with real bodies, so the foundation of expression changes, doesn't it?

Mizukami: For example, during interviews for this work, I asked high school student interviewers in return, "Are there boys around you who are fighting while saying they want to reach the top with their fists?" and the answer came back that there aren't any.

How much does it hurt if you punch someone? What kind of sound does it make when bone hits bone? I think the number of minors who actually know has decreased compared to the past.

——In such circumstances, what was the deciding factor in accepting the role of Sakura?

Mizukami: This time, the producers and directors conveyed their passion and feelings (about the work) to me with great enthusiasm, so the number one reason was that I wanted to work with these people. My aesthetic is to touch the hearts of those who watch, but even if I can work with a really good budget, that doesn't necessarily mean I can reach that goal...

So what makes me think it was good work? For me, it's "I'm glad I could work with these people." Whether I have good or bad experiences, whether I can think I want to go all the way with these people felt important when I received the offer for this work.

——What approach did you take in confronting the role when actually playing Sakura?

Mizukami: Not just for Sakura this time, but regarding the acting I'm trying to do and the acting I'm doing, I always have the feeling of wondering if this is okay. By playing a role 10 years younger than my actual age this time, I kept casting quite a bit of doubt (on myself), but it's not good for that to become hesitation, and in the first place, it's impossible for me to actually become 15 years old.

As an actor, how do I express being 15 years old? I fully felt the conflict, distrust, and aggression toward immaturity within myself, and tried to release it. Starting from discomfort, rejecting even warmth that should really feel comfortable—I valued performing such immaturity.