"The Girl in the Sea" Ruka Ishikawa x Yuzu Aoki The summer that was there as Koume and Isobe [Actor's Interview Vol.15]

I was there as Koume and Isobe.

Q: I heard that Mr. Ishikawa was 22 years old and Mr. Aoki was 19 years old at the time of filming, but in the movie they look like middle school students. I think he was a complete junior high school student, not just in his appearance, but also in his heart and the childish atmosphere he exuded. It must have been difficult to create the role.

Ishikawa: Most of the classmates in the class were played by actual junior high school students. It was great that these kids didn't treat me like an older adult, but treated me as an equal.

Aoki: Because there were real people around me.

Ishikawa: Yes. Being surrounded by real junior high school students and having conversations with them from the same perspective meant I didn't have to be an adult and was able to fit in.

Q: Even in the classroom scene, you fit in without any discomfort. What did you think of Mr. Aoki?

Aoki: I didn't do superficial things like change my tone of voice just because I was a junior high school student. I tried to focus on the spiritual side of Isobe and just try to "be" as Isobe. Although Isobe is a junior high school student, he is a bit far-sighted, but he also has some misunderstandings. That's what I was conscious of. Oh, and I shaved my shin hair anyway.

“Umibe Girl” Yuzu Aoki

Q: Certainly, there were many scenes where you wore shorts.

Aoki: That's right. That's why it was so smooth (lol).

Q: Although he is a junior high school student, it seems that it is very difficult to balance that aspect of him showing his adult side. While giving off an air of trying to become an adult, it is also necessary to allow the childish side to live with the child. What do you think about that area?

Ishikawa: Isobe is certainly like that, but Koume has no adult side at all; in fact, she is truly childish, selfish, and selfish. However, I am more mature than Koume, so I have a part of me that can understand Koume. But if you understand it and act it out, I think it's no longer Koume. I've always had that kind of conflict.

Q: You were there as Koume. Does that mean?

Ishikawa: That's right. Koume's conflict in the movie may have been a real conflict within myself rather than her acting. During this shoot, I may not have been able to turn it on and off properly.

Aoki: I saw Ruka-chan and the director talking on set many times, and Ruka-chan had stronger feelings for Koume than anyone else, and her feelings for Koume overflowed.