(The Japan News/ANN) - Goro Inagaki broke new ground in the recently released film “Hansekai” (Half of the World), which depicts friendship among three men worried about their families and jobs as they approach age 40.
Inagaki plays Ko, a rugged, soil-stained, country man who works as a charcoal burner in the suburbs of a regional city.
One day, Ko’s friend Eisuke (Hiroki Hasegawa), a member of the Self-Defense Forces, returns from an overseas assignment. They get in touch with used car salesman Mitsuhiko (Kiyohiko Shibukawa), and the three old friends drink sake together.
Though Inagaki seems to be more frequently cast as a city man, director Junji Sakamoto said he thought soil and earth suit the actor.
“He [Sakamoto] discovered a very human side of me that’s a good fit for my age,” Inagaki said. “I never thought I’d be able to play such a character.”
His words reveal a hint of pride he takes in the role.
Ko is bearded and wears a knit cap. At home, he drinks shochu spirits poured from a plastic bottle. This craggy demeanor is very different from Inagaki’s traditional image.
The film was shot in the Ise-Shima district in Mie Prefecture, and a real charcoal-making workshop was used as Ko’s workplace.
“I watched how a charcoal maker worked, and learned a lot from his poise and personality,” Inagaki said.
Ko’s job, which he inherited from his father, is a dead end of sorts, and he has grown emotionally detached from his junior high school-aged son. He shoulders a great deal of angst, yet is a clumsy man who cannot properly articulate his feelings to his family.
A scene in which Ko lonesomely watches a fire for making charcoal makes a particular impression.
“He was probably thinking of his future, family and his life up to that point,” said Inagaki, who eloquently portrays the isolation of a man approaching 40.
The character seems to be the polar opposite of Inagaki, who has been in the entertainment industry since he was a child. Nevertheless, the veteran actor says he understands Ko’s loneliness.
“My father was an ordinary company employee. He wasn’t an artisan type, but he was shy and not good at dealing with children. If I had a child, I’d probably end up being like him,” Inagaki said with a smile.
Inagaki was a member of the mega-popular boyband SMAP, which has since disbanded. He is now embarking on a new career as an actor.
“It’s great to have this turning point,” he said. “I hope I can progress to the next stage of my life as an actor.”
This is the first time Inagaki has worked with Sakamoto, who treats each member with respect and as a pro. The experience evoked feelings of nostalgia.
“It was a very cinematic film set and brought back many memories. It reminded me of when I filmed ‘Private Lessons’ directed by Seiji Izumi, which was around when I made my debut,” he said.
Performing with Hasegawa and Shibukawa, two actors of a similar age, was another source of inspiration.
“Both are true actors. Hasegawa said he stopped drinking alcohol for many months before performing the fight scene. It’s not that we discussed acting techniques, but we saw each other’s acting and something clicked between us,” Inagaki said.
The film’s theme is bonds with family and friends.
“For the past few years, I’ve felt the importance of bonds with my fans and staff. It was the most appropriate film for me to do because it conveys what I want to convey more than anything else,” he said.
Inagaki faced many difficulties in his 30s and says his acting repertoire has broadened in his 40s. “Hansekai” seems to have boosted his confidence as an actor.
“This job is about endless pursuit. There’s no answer, but I’ll keeping on searching for it,” he said.
