Actor Sakaguchi: 'Korean Directing Style Is More Daring... I Want to Do It Again'

연합뉴스 / 2024-09-13 15:33:46

▲ This photo of Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, the lead actor of Korean melodrama series "What Comes After Love," is provided by Coupang Play on Sept. 13, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Yonhap) -- "Is my pronunciation really good? Hmm, what else can I say?"

After briefly thinking over the interpreter’s words, Kentaro Sakaguchi greeted the room in clear Korean: "Did everyone have breakfast?"

The Japanese actor, who stars in the Coupang Play series "What Comes After Love," showcased his romantic acting skills in the drama. During an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 13th, Sakaguchi said, "I practiced Korean to communicate with the staff, and it seems like my skills have improved quite a bit," laughing.

"My goal was to memorize at least one Korean word or phrase each day," he recalled. "It became a habit to pick up the walkie-talkie and greet the staff in Korean before and after shooting."

"It was simple greetings like 'Good job,' 'It was so cold today, but let's work hard again tomorrow,' which allowed me to express my gratitude to everyone, and that's how my Korean naturally improved."

▲ This image, provided by Coupang Play, shows Coupang Play's original series "What Comes After Love," starring Korean actress Lee Se-young and Japanese actor Sakaguchi Kentaro. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

In What Comes After Love, Sakaguchi stars alongside actress Lee Se-young in a melodramatic love story. The plot follows 'Hong,' a Japanese student, and 'Jun-go,' a Korean woman, as they experience passionate love and separation, only to meet again five years later in Korea.

Sakaguchi plays Aoki Jun-go, who falls in love with a mysterious Korean woman he meets by chance. He described his character as "a man who thinks about the same woman for five years."

"Personally, loving someone for five years without any promise of seeing them again seems impossible, but Jun-go, as a novelist, is different. Writing a novel allowed him to relive those memories, which is why he couldn’t forget his old love," he explained.

Sakaguchi added, "I’m glad that the story could be shown in a long-form series rather than a movie, as it allowed us to depict the journey from love to separation, solitude, and reunion in more detail."

▲ This photo of Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, the lead actor of Korean melodrama series "What Comes After Love," is provided by Coupang Play on Sept. 13, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Debuting as a model in 2010, Sakaguchi has built a solid fanbase in Korea through his roles in films like Our Little Sister, The 100th Love With You, The Last 10 Years, and dramas like The Printers and Only Just Married. He has even drawn attention for his resemblance to Korean actor Seo Kang-jun.

Reflecting on his experiences in Korea, Sakaguchi said, "I've visited Korea a few times for promotional events, and each time, I wondered, 'Do I really deserve this much love?' This time, I’m thrilled and nervous to meet viewers with my first Korean project."

Deciding to participate in a project with a Korean director and crew was not an easy decision, but Sakaguchi noted, "Contrary to my concerns, I didn’t feel much of a language barrier while acting."

"The director praised the Japanese staff for their attention to detail, but I felt that the Korean staff's boldness was a great help. If given the chance, I’d love to work on another Korean project," he emphasized.

"When portraying love, there’s a risk of the performance feeling stale at some point. But the director wanted to capture moments that were alive and sparkling, and by continuing to film even before and after the cut, he was able to capture our natural expressions. I think the combination of subtlety and boldness created great synergy."

▲ This photo of Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, the lead actor of Korean melodrama series "What Comes After Love," is provided by Coupang Play on Sept. 13, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

When asked about cultural differences he experienced during filming, Sakaguchi mentioned that the phrase "Enjoy your meal" felt new to him.

"In Japan, we often ask if someone has eaten, but there isn’t a phrase you say before eating. I exchanged a lot of meal-related greetings with the Korean staff, and I thought it was a wonderful cultural practice," he explained.

Sakaguchi also made headlines at the press conference for showing off a playful "cheek heart" gesture. Laughing, he said, "After the event, I looked up my name, and I found that most of the photos showed my squished face, which I found hilarious."

"I’m actually quite playful," he admitted. "I like having fun on set, making jokes, and trying different things with those around me."