Today, Model Press published the first part of an interview to the leads of Otona ni Nattemo / Even Though We're Adults, Mizuki Yamamoto and Chiaki Kuriyama. Here it is, in English. I'm not sure when the second part will be published, but I'll make sure to translate that as well! For now, enjoy part one!
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Mizuki Yamamoto (33) stars as Ayano, and Chiaki Kuriyama (40) plays Akari in Hulu’s original drama “Otona ni Nattemo / Even Though We're Adults” (12 episodes), streaming from April 26 (note by me: not one, but two episodes will be out in the first week!). In the first part of this interview, we asked the two actresses to talk about their thoughts going into the project and their impressions of story of the series.
Based on Takako Shimura’s popular manga serialized in the comics magazine Kiss (from May 2019 to October 2023), Otona ni Nattemo / Even Though We're Adults has been adapted into a drama series. The story delicately depicts various bittersweet experiences many people face as they “become adults”, including marriage, relationships with in-laws, workplace struggles, and more. The plot centers around Ayano Ookubo (Yamamoto), a married elementary school teacher who lives an ordinary life and meets Akari Hirayama (Kuriyama), a staff member at her regular dining bar; encounter that will mark the beginning of the love between them.
This is the first time Yamamoto and Kuriyama have worked together. In the first half of the interview, they discuss their attitude in regard to the project, and the sort of mood they aimed to treasure in portraying the story. The second half will explore their first impressions of each other, some behind-the-scenes stories from the set, and the key to making dreams come true.
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Q: The series depicts a love story between two women, how did you feel when you were cast in the project?
Yamamoto: I’ve been reading Shimura’s works since I was in high school, so it made me really happy to be offered a role in the very first drama adaptation of one of her mangas.
Kuriyama: I read the original manga after getting the offer, and I was really impressed by how charming and interesting every character is. I thought Akari was a lovely woman, so I was truly happy to be able to portray her.
Q: The story begins with a sudden kiss. What was it like performing intimate scenes with a same-sex co-star?
Kuriyama: Before every scene involving intimacy, there was a lot of review and communication, which made it possible for me to go into the scenes without any hesitation.
Yamamoto: That's right. There was proper preparation beforehand. Regardless of whether the scenes are with a man or another woman, having someone take care of the intimacy aspect is really important, as it brings a sense of security.
Q: I felt that the way kiss scenes are portrayed might differ between same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Was there anything you especially focused on in those scenes?
Yamamoto: More than about the difference between it being with someone of the same sex, rather than of the opposite sex, since I hadn't had many scenes where I was the one initiating kisses before, I was a bit unsure as to how to approach that.
Kuriyama: Even though it may look like Akari is the one taking the lead, a lot of the moments between them are initiated by Ayano. So maybe that’s also why you felt that way.
Yamamoto: Kuriyama's performances are really beautiful, so my focus was on trying not to disrupt them. At the same time, I kept acting while thinking "I need to express Ayano's love for Akari!". I believe that communicating love can be very difficult, but I did my best to portray Ayano, so I'd be happy if the viewers could perceive her feelings for Akari.
Kuriyama: Each and every one of us, from the staff and cast, really did their best to bring to life this work we all love through beautiful visuals. We all felt the same way, so even the filming of the kiss scenes was approached from a united perspective and sense of direction. Everything was carefully thought out, even details like specific movements meant to convey the feelings of love.
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Q: What were your impressions of the overall story?
Yamamoto: I really love the unique atmosphere in all of Shimura’s works, including Otona ni Nattemo / Even Though We're Adults. Everything is portrayed with care, from the characters' personalities and stories, to the gradual passage of time. Even though they're not real, strictly speaking, her works are portrayed in a very realistic way. The stories are wonderful and I also love Shimura's clean and refined art.
Kuriyama: What I perceived first and foremost is the gentleness of the story. As Yamamoto has also mentioned, every single character is lovable. The story is full of deeply human, charming individuals. So much so that, as I was reading, I found myself cheering them on, thinking "Come on, you can do it!". By the end, I felt like it gave me a lot of courage. The characters grow, and are made to face their own selves, as they experience meaningful moments. The warmth the story emanates lingers even after it's all over.
Q: Seeming real while not being real is part of the beauty of this story. Where did that come through the most, for you?
Yamamoto: One of the most realistic aspects has to do with the characters, who feel like people you might know in real life. The way Shimura portrays them is never too raw or heavy, so it's easy to end up drawn into the worlds she creates.
Kuriyama: The story starts with Ayano cheating on her husband. It's very easy for narratives involving adultery to end up being overly dramatic or sordid, right? But here, even that element of the story is portrayed with a sort of softer, mild touch.
Yamamoto: Right, it never feels too grave. Of course, this doesn't mean it's portrayed as something that's okay to do.
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Q: The realism of the characters is clearly a very interesting aspect of the series. What do you find especially charming about the ones you played?
Yamamoto: I love everything about Ayano. I even like her scenes with her husband, Wataru. Seeing how bad and guilty she feels was really painful for me, coming from the perspective of someone who is also married. While the pain was surely there, the moments she has to spend with her husband's family are portrayed very realistically, and that made it easy for me to empathize and act. Also, Ayano is an elementary school teacher, and I find her approach to working with children really wonderful.
Kuriyama: Akari might come off as cool and composed at first glance, but I think she’s actually the most girlish and also possesses some of the most relatable qualities in the whole cast. While at times she might think she's the one in charge, turns out she's usually just being pulled along by Ayano. I also appreciate how honest she is, as she struggles at home alone.
Q: Were there any scenes that left a particularly strong impression in you?
Yamamoto: The beach scene! I hadn’t been to the sea in a long time, so I genuinely enjoyed it a lot!
Kuriyama: The atmosphere in that scene is truly something else!
Yamamoto: I agree!
Kuriyama: There’s this scene in the story where we go to the beach. It’s a sort of long-awaited moment, but also the start of something new. A turning point, in a way. Ayano looks so beautiful in that scene, which I think captures the essence of the series more than any other moment.
Yamamoto: The light from the ocean was sparkling in the background, and Akari's beauty as she was wrapped up in that light left such a strong impression on me.
Q: A beach scene is also featured in the opening sequence, isn't it?
Kuriyama: At first, we filmed it sort of going with the flow, acting while being unsure of what exactly we were supposed to do. But when I saw the final version, I personally thought it turned out very well!
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