Source: Toho


A brand new collaboration of movie and music causing an uproar within the Japanese movie industry, Iwai Shunji and Kobayashi Takeshi whom created the [Swallowtail Butterfly] tagging together once again, with the popular group KAT-TUN's Akanishi Jin first time as the main actor for the movie [BANDAGE], the finished movie premiere was held in Tokyo, Yuurakuchou's Tokyo International Forum on November 2nd, Akanishi-san, Kitano Kie-san, Kora-Kengo-san, Shibamoto Yuki-san, Kasahara Hideyuki-san, Kaneko Nobuaki-san, Anne-san, Itou Ayumi-san, Iwai-san, and director Kobayashi appeared on the stage to give their introduction.

As soon as Akanishi-san appeared on the stage, the female fans filled the hall with cheers and screams, which immediately brought up the atmosphere! In addition, after the film, Akanishi-san and Kaneko-san whom played the vocal and drummer of the band "LANDS" that appeared within the film, also director Kobayashi himself playing keyboard, held their secret live which brought the audience to stand up all at once!! An event wrapped with affection and excitement is brought to you by this report.


Q&A from the media

Q: After finishing the piece, please give your thoughts on it.

Akanishi Jin-san (Natsu):
I thought the world outlook was great. You couldn't have imagined it. I watched it without any bias, it was quite different from what I have thought of, and left quite an impact afterwards. It felt like I've actually entered this kind of world outlook.

Q: How does Kitano-san think?

Kitano Kie-san (Asako):
As those scenes without a script came up, it became something I couldn't have imagined in the end. Up until now, during filming where I had feelings like "it'll turn out like this", I couldn't imagine it at all this time. After watching, I really had the "it actually turned out like this" feeling. All the characters are human-like within the unbelievable world outlook, it was a not-movie-like movie.

Q: It was betrayed in a good sense, is that what you mean?

Kitano-san:
Hai. Watching director Kobayashi's world outlook, feelings that I've never had before, it was quite a new experience.

Q: How do you think after these two's comments?

Kobayashi Takeshi-san (Producer, director, music director):
I was truly supported by these two. I had the luck of working with Kie-chan before, though Akanishi-kun was a first. I somehow had the feeling with "Akanishi Jin would be a good Natsu", and it was way better than how I imagined it would be. How to put it, you can see it like a documentary, they were really natural. The filming atmosphere was like that too, I worked with the two and actually completed the unscripted scenes together.

Q: How were the two at shooting?

Director Kobayashi:
These two had their own characteristics and character. Probably, they had their good parts out. (To akanishi-san) You were good friends right?

Akanishi-san:
That's right. Everyone became good friends.

Kitano-san:
Hai, everyone were in harmony.

Q: How does Akanishi-san think of working with Kitano-san?

Akanishi-san:
I thought, after all "she's an actress"

Kitano-san:
Eh!? (Crowd laugh)

Akanishi-san:
She's really kyapikyapi normally, but as soon as the camera started rolling, she focuses. Seeing how she focus gave me the "she is an actress after all" feeling.

Q: Kitano-san, what's your image of Akanishi-san?

Kitano-san:
At first...(Akanishi-san clears his throat, crowd laugh) If I had to tell the truth, I thought he was a really cool person, and thought he probably won't talk much.

Q: Is that wrong?

Kitano-san:
He had the "yay!" feeling to him (laugh). I thought acting Natsu had that kind of tension to it, he was acting as a mood-maker at filming and brought up the atmosphere.

Akanishi-san:
I'm satisfied (crowd laugh).

Q: After Kitano-san actually listening to the songs LANDS (band in film) performed, how did you think of it?

Kitano-san:
Being able to listen to it before the movie makes me really happy. It was a song that good. A very Natsu-like song. Of course, that probably equals to director Kobayashi as well. I worked with Kobayashi-san with other few movies before, Kobayashi-san has not only one world outlook, but is able to create completely different world's music according to the movie, this time it's also completely different and I thought it was wonderful. I like "Genki" amongst LANDS' songs.

Q: Being very keen on music, Akanishi-san as the vocal Natsu, how do you think of the band LANDS?

Akanishi-san:
It's truly a nice band. With Kobayashi-san and Kaneko (Nobuaki)-kun, it's even better. When rehearsing, I would think "aren't I causing the problem" (crowd laugh).

Q: How was Akanishi-san as the vocal?

Director Kobayashi:
He considered many things his own way. Before the filming when I was writing the song in my studio, we sent ideas back-and-forth. I also say what I think, Akanishi-kun also answered accordingly, and in the end we had a band LANDS with his "singing habit". To adjust, it would be like David Bowie kind of glam rock which started in the 90s, I thought Akanishi-kun's singing habits catches that quite nicely. A quite unique style of music was created. Moreover, considering the actual elements during the 90s' music, wanting to create music like that, we succeeded.

Q: It's almost time for the audiences to watch, how do you feel right now?

Akanishi-san:
Letting people watch on the big screen is kind of embarrassing.

Q: Any pressure from your first time as the main actor?

Akanishi-san:
No, not feeling anything like that, the filming was like at home.

Q: The audiences will be watching from now on, how does Kitano-san feel?

Kitano-san:
I really look forward to it. I think the audiences are looking forward to it as well, it's also been a year (from filming) for me, I look forward in having everyone watch it today for the first time.

Q: Which part would you want to point out when watching?

Kitano-san:
It's different from regular movies of saying ones and twos, in a good sense, a not-movie-like movie. It's not a movie with only pretty scenes, it's really down-to-earth and I love it, if you get the feeling from watching, I would be really happy.

Q: How does the director feel?

Director Kobayashi:
I'm quite confident. I kind of understand how Kie means from saying "not-movie-like movie" (laugh), in a sense, I think it was quite a masterpiece of youth movie, I have the pride of people getting fulfilled no matter which angle they choose to watch the movie.

Q: Akanishi-san, about the band LANDS, is there anything like KAT-TUN?

Akanishi-san:
Anything like KAT-TUN? None...number of people if you really had to say it (crowd laugh). It's the same number of people as when I wasn't here, something like that. Here's where you laugh everyone (crowd laugh).

Q: Did members say things like "I'll go watch"?

Akanishi-san:
I don't think so (laugh).

Q: Do you want them to come?

Akanishi-san:
Right. For sure, since it's made, I want them to pay the money properly and come watch (crowd laugh).

Q: Acting as Natsu this time, what's the hardest thing?

Akanishi-san:
Since I was working with the director at filming together, there wasn't a hard thing.

Q: Oppositely you had fun?

Akanishi-san:
That's right.

Q: From Kitano-san, she says Akanishi-san is bringing up the atmosphere at filming, do you have the intension of doing so?

Akanishi-san:
Iya, I didn't. Since I was surrounded with such a feeling, I never intensionally went "yay!" (crowd laugh).

Q: About how LANDS' vocal Natsu, what image does Kitano-san have?

Kitano-san:
This is only my opinion, since I've heard everything, it's not just Natsu, the band is formed from guitarist as well as the drummer. Rather than saying who individually, I like the band LANDS as a whole.

Q: There's a strong love scene between Akanishi-san and Kitano-san within the movie, were you nervous?

Akanishi-san:
Rather than saying nervous...

Kitano-san:
I didn't think of anything.

Akanishi-san:
It just went pass by.

Director Kobayashi:
Including me, that was where we focused the most. It was almost a 1 take, very high impacted scene.

Q: It describes how the band members fight and grow up, do you have any real experiences like that?

Akanishi-san:
I had fought when I was young, but not anymore.

Q: You're releasing a CD with solo debut, how do you feel?

Akanishi-san:
Created songs for the band LANDS, it's quite gorgeous. Really glad.

Q: First time acting with solo debut, what would you like to try later on?

Akanishi-san:
Directing (crowd laugh)!

Q: Director Kobayashi, what do you think?

Director Kobayashi:
When we first started it seems that he had created some (works), got some nice responses.

Q: He's got talents?

Director Kobayashi:
Maa, I wouldn't say that yet (crowd laugh). I think he likes to produce.

Q: If you become a director, what kind of movie would you produce?

Akanishi-san:
I don't have a slight image yet, but I want to create a piece that exceed Kobayashi-san's (crowd laugh).

Q: Is there any plans for KAT-TUN members to be in that movie?

Akanishi-san:
Not at all (crowd laugh)! It would become a comedy then.

Q: About the secret live after, how do you feel right now?

Akanishi-san:
I look forward to it. I will perform enjoyably.

Q: Please say something to the fans.

Kitano-san:
This will be a movie where you go the theatre thinking "should I watch this" and afterwards get surprised going "Ha! It's a movie like this!", you can't imagine how it will be like. The music is also very cool. It's a movie where you'll start thinking after you finishes watching. Please definitely come to the theatre to watch.

Akanishi-san:
It has truly an amazing world outlook. It's a piece both adults and kids will enjoy.

Director Kobayashi:
Since it's a band movie, including how I directed the film, to those whom played music or formed bands, those (who knows the band boom) generation will also enjoy this. It's a youth movie throughout, the range is quite wide. From 10 year-olds to 60 year-olds, you'll love it no matter how old you are, and get touched by the movie, please definitely watch.




Stage introduction (in order)

Akanishi Jin-san (Natsu)
Thank you for bringing your feets and coming during your busy days. You'll be fulfilled!

Kitano Kie-san (Asako)
Although it's short, please enjoy it!

Kora Kengo-san (Yukiya)
Thank you all for coming today to watch the movie.

Shibamoto Yuki-san (Arumi)
Thank you for coming. Please enjoy it to the end.

Kasahara Hideyuki-san (Kenji)
Thank you for coming during your busy schedules.

Kaneko Nobuaki-san (Ryuji)
I think both the image and music are really amazing works. Please enjoy it.

Anne-san (Miharu)
Konnichiwa. You will have this unbelievable feeling after you finish watching, please look forward to that.

Itou Ayumi-san (Yukari)
Everyone, thank you for coming on this cold day. Since it's quite an amazing work, please enjoy watching.

Iwai Shunji-san (Producer+Scripter)
This is an amazing movie. Please carry your love for this movie and bring to schools or work to tell your friends, "It was great".

Director Kobayashi Takeshi (Producer+Director+Music director)
The filming was 1 year ago, it's been a long since we've all met that we gather here, everyone, this brings back the great memories at that time. It was really a great movie made with great interactions, I just thought of getting that across to everyone.




Q&A

MC: As the director, please tell us your feelings towards the movie once again.

Director Kobayashi:
My base is a musician, I've always worked under these directions, now I've exchanged place into the movie world. Having the powers of those that stand here, not feeling any stress, filming naturally and relaxing, also the editing. Not having thoughts like "I wish I didn't do it", coming here is quite a luck thing.

MC: How do you think of Akanishi-san's acting?

Director Kobayashi:
I've said a lot of things, it was me who suggested Akanishi-kun to be the main actor. It was even better than how I imagined. It was a pin-point of the main character Natsu, him changing feelings happily and reacting fast to things makes him really easy to work with. On top of working together, he was the central character.

MC: Iwai-san, seeing Kobayashi-san from the side, how do you feel?

Iwai-san:
"I'll do it myself so don't come", "It's alright if you want to hang around" kinda thing (laugh). Getting to his own creations, leaving everything to Kobayashi-san, I'm just a viewer.

Rather than collaboration, this time (Kobayashi-san) even directed. Even being a professional director, things to do with music might not be clear, although there are things like that, he managed to do both. In that sense he's quite seamless. Being free in both fields. He can create music and film movies. I think this is a movie only someone like him can make.

MC: Akanishi-san, it's finally here.

Akanishi-san:
That's right. For me, I'm kinda tired from the wait.

MC: Once again, what did you think of the finished work?

Akanishi-san:
How should I put it, having the movie's (unique) world, I'm completely drawn into this world outlook. It was very enjoyable.

MC: It's an unusual world outlook, what's difficult of entering in?

Akanishi-san:
The filming was like at home, there was no pressure at all.

MC: Everyone were friends.

Akanishi-san:
It seems that we've driven out Iwai-san though (laugh). Everyone were friends. But we've gotten better as we've met.

MC: Kitano-san has the "at last" feeling or the "finally" feeling?

Kitano-san:
"Finally".

MC: Is this a change from the usual movies?

Kitano-san:
That's right. It's a change from the ones and twos. It's a brand new world outlook that I've never watched before. It's hard to say it out. You'd understand after watching.

MC: How do you feel acting with Akanishi-san?

Kitano-san:
(Akanishi-san, whispering something to Kitano-san)...he was straight forward (crowd laugh). Like a mood-maker during filming. It's not only Akanishi-san but the whole team, a friendly environment at filming, really amazing casts and staffs.

MC: Does Akanishi-san has that cool image?

Kitano-san:
I had that kind of image. First it was really hard to communicate (crowd laugh). I thought he doesn't like to talk much, but after seeing him go "yay!", I thought it was ok (crowd laugh).

MC: The genius music-sense guitarist Kora Kengo-san, how do you feel?

Kora-san:
I'm not a genius guitarist...(crowd laugh).

MC: Is it hard to portray such a character?

Kora-san:
Above my acting, staff filmed even more (genius-like), and I'm thankful for that (crowd laugh).

Akanishi-san:
In another sense he is a genius. He's quite shy.

MC: Is he shy even at filming?

Akanishi-san:
Very shy (crowd laugh).

Kora-san:
Although I wasn't nervous at the filming, doing a intro on these kind of stages, I am nervous (crowd laugh).

MC: Shibamoto-san had quite an image change.

Shibamoto-san:
That's right, I cut (my hair) without a doubt.

MC: Arumi is a rocker very keen on music right?

Shibamoto-san:
I acted as someone who's purely focused on music. But towards keyboard I asked Kobayashi-san to teach me. Playing in front of me, imitating a numerous time, it was really heart felt.

Director Kobayashi:
(Shibamoto-san towards music) had the talent. She was really good with rhythm. Within these, she's an excellent student.

MC: Continuing on, it might be really impolite to introduce him like this, the not having enough confidence, leaves everything to the people around, bassist of the band, Kasahara Hideaki-san who plays Kenji.

Kasahara-san:
That's actually very true (crowd laugh). I'm the not having enough confidence and leaving everything to people around, bassist of the band, Kasahara as Kenji (crowd laugh). Within this band full of character, he takes on a balance of LANDS, quite a light-hearted young man. Also got quite some love for LANDS.

MC: After acting, how do you feel about the filming environment?

Kasahara-san:
How is it, Akanishi-san?

Akanishi-san:
Eh? He's not asking me right (crowd laugh)?

MC: I was asking Kasahara-san...(laugh).

Kasahara-san:
Ah ah, is that so (crowd laugh). From my view, the filming was really fun, all of the cast made me the mood-maker, that was Kenji at the filming.

MC: Kaneko-san standing right beside had that wanting-to-punch-him kind of look (laugh).

Kaneko-san:
Iya iya iya (crowd laugh).

MC: Kaneko-san is actually a musician, how do you feel when joining this movie?

Kaneko-san:
Although I play music, these type of music movies where you had to play instruments was never something I had imagined before, for me personally, it was definitely really helpful for Kobayashi-san to stand in front of me. It was really fun.

Director Kobayashi:
He's quite a great drummer. Those that know him as an actor probably cannot imagine this. Although this is the first time working with him, all of the music recording from this movie are from what he requested...

Kaneko-san:
Although I said this in the beginning, it was really enjoyable.

Director Kobayashi:
Being a great drummer, also acting like so. The drum part was like a root of the band, and that was really made easy for me, which also appeared within the movie.

MC: Anne-san, filming with quite a gorgeous cast and staff, how do you feel?

Anne-san:
I had only spend 2, 3 days with members of LANDS during the filming, totaling 1 week only, but such a fun and friendly filming environment, which I think appeared in the movie a lot of times.

MC: You've been in many movies, this time it's quite a unique movie. What kind of image do you have after watching it?

Anne-san:
Since the background is in the 90s, it left quite an impression of recapturing the 90s to me. Since it's a generation where myself have been through, the adult world I've seen when I was a child, how youth was spent was quite fun.

MC: For Itou Ayumi-san, acting as the character to scold Natsu=Akanishi-san, how do you feel?

Itou-san:
Although I've tried to control him, I failed.

MC: That's not [Akanishi-san], but within the movie, right?

Itou-san:
That's right.

Akanishi-san:
You scared me~ (crowd laugh)!

MC: Working with Akanishi-san, what kind of image do you have of him?

Itou-san:
Like everyone said, although I had the image of him being cool and all that, he's actually really careful of things. Having the look like "it doesn't matter to me", but actually cares about everyone around. That I think is really a gentle person.

MC: For sure the manager knows everything. Akanishi-san, you've been praised?

Akanishi-san:
Like what she said (crowd laugh).

MC: Is there any points the audiences should watch out for?

Itou-san:
To me, a band named LANDS seems so real to actually exist at that time. As being a youth movie, the members of LANDS living at that time, people supporting at that time, all kinds of stories will appear before everyone, this is a movie that contains all these components, there are not just one point. So it would be that everyone can feel something after watching the film.

MC: Lastly, is there something you want to say, Kasahara-san (crowd laugh)?

Kasahara-san:
That's right, it's really an interesting piece of work. I think it's a work that will leave something within the hearts of everyone. Please enjoy watching.

MC: The audiences here are those that has won from a 300x polling rate. From predicted 600 people, there are about 300,000 that applied. To these lucky people who got chosen, can Akanishi-san say a last message to them?

Akanishi-san:
From kids to adults, it's an enjoyable movie with an unique world outlook that will drag you into this atmosphere. Staff and cast all put their hearts into this film, everyone, please enjoy watching. Thank you so much!