Hiroshi Tachi on Acting: “I’m not a good actor, but an actor should be someone who leaves a lasting impression on people’s hearts.”

“Hijikata Toshizo is someone I have wanted to play for a long time. Hijikata, who was the deputy chief of the Shinsengumi, has the aesthetics of a number two. I myself spent a long time as the number two under Tetsuya Watari (78 years old), so I can relate to his way of life.”

Tachi Hiroshi, 73, now in his 48th year as an actor, plays the role of Hijikata Toshizo, a samurai in the final days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, in the film “Golden Comey,” which will be released on January 19, 2024. The film, a live-action adaptation of a popular comic book, is set in Hokkaido at the end of the Meiji period. As a battle unfolds over the Ainu people’s vast reserves of gold, Hijikata, who has actually survived the Boshin War, joins in the struggle.

 

“The person at the top needs to have the ability to drink from the same cup of water. The number two person is the one who organizes the organization to realize the future envisioned by the leader, and Hijikata tried to fulfill his mission with conviction. Hijikata, who I play, is over 70 years old, but he is risking his life to rebuild the Ezo Republic, which was once established by the Shogunate’s army. The movie is fiction, but if he had really survived, I think he would have continued to fight all his life. I am fascinated by the way he lived his life.”

Tachi has always respected Tetsuya Wataru, who led Ishihara Promotions after the death of Yujiro Ishihara (52 years old), calling him his “yakata” (mansion). He first met Wataru when he was 29 years old at a coffee shop in Tokyo to appear in the TV drama “Seibu Keisatsu” (Seibu Police), which had been broadcast since 1979.

“Mr. Wataru was there first, and when he saw me enter the store, he stood up and shook my hand, saying, ‘You must be Tachi-kun, I’m Wataru.’ That was very shocking to me, as there were many big-name actors who were so pompous. I had appeared in several films before, but I had never studied the basics of acting.”

“So for a long time, I never had confidence in my acting. But as if he could see right through me, Mr. Wataru suddenly praised me during the filming of the drama, saying, “Hiroshi, you have a lot of flair.” Those words gave me direction as an actor, even though I had been struggling with doubts. Meeting Mr. Watari is the biggest event in my life.”

A whip of love from the esteemed Wataru

Tachi joined Ishihara Productions in 1983 after appearing in the “Seibu Keisatsu” series. Since then, he says he has never received acting instruction from Ishihara or Wataru, nor has he ever been scolded by them.

He said, “Only once did Mr. Wataru give me a warning. When I was getting used to shooting “Seibu Keisatsu (Western Police),” I started to enjoy acting and began to insert some small plays. However, when Mr. Wataru saw that, he said to me, “You’re getting better at acting these days.” He also implicitly told me, “Don’t do that kind of acting.” I think he was trying to tell me that there were many actors who were good at acting, and that I couldn’t compete with them in technique, and that I should be charming with my presence instead of just doing small tricks.”

“In fact, I am not a good actor. I am not the only one. Yujiro and Wataru were not good actors either. But both of them could change the atmosphere of the place just by being on the screen. It may be necessary to interpret the script and perform well, but the most important thing for an actor is to be someone who will remain in people’s hearts. That is what Mr. Watari taught me.”

 

This is not something that can be done by studying plays or memorizing lines. That is why Tachi laughs and says that Ishihara’s motto was “Play well, play hard”. Golf and yachting are both games he learned to play after joining Ishihara Productions.

“I traveled to many countries and fell in love with many women. By taking in the impressions and surprises I gained in these ways, I formed myself as an actor. The same is true of Ishihara Productions’ soup kitchens in the aftermath of major disasters. It has been said that a soup kitchen does not improve one’s acting, and that it is a publicity stunt. But we are very serious.”

“We even bought a rice cake pounder with the money we raised to buy a camera for filming. We moved to cheer up the disaster area even a little, which is our way of life, and we believe that this experience will also help us as actors. Well, in this day and age, it might not be acceptable to say ‘play rather than memorize lines’ (laughs).”

Tachi has appeared in a variety of productions over the years, but one of his best-known works is the popular TV drama series “Abunai Keisatsu” (Nippon Television Network Corporation), which began airing in 1986. His latest film, “The Abhinai Detective Returns,” is scheduled to be released in May. The film features the light-hearted and flashy action of the detective buddy team of Taka (Toshiki Takayama), played by Tachi, and Yuji (Yuji Oshita), played by Kyouhei Shibata (72).

 

“I consider “Abunai Keisatsu” to be a major cultural undertaking. Until then, Japanese detective dramas were all heavy and tragic. Abu Detective” rejected this trend and presented a comical and fashionable detective drama. Kyohei Shibata created that lighthearted worldview. When the drama began in my late 30s, I was busy playing (laughs). I didn’t have time to read the script, so I just read my lines.”

“But that was how I knew the story. In other words, I was the basis for explaining the origin and conclusion of the story, and Kyo-sama was coloring the rhythm and worldview. That is why “Detective Abu” is a work of Kyohei Shibata, and I am very happy that I am still working with him. As you can imagine, he had his hands full with the action, though.”

The best dandyism in the entertainment world.

Tachi, however, still has the smart behavior and adult sex appeal of a “Dandy Takayama” himself. We wondered if he has a secret for staying so youthful.

He says, “I don’t do anything. I don’t like the gym and I don’t run. I used to ride a horse until recently, but it has become too physically demanding, so now I only play golf. If I had to guess, I would say that my secret is that I love women (laughs). I eat whatever I want, as much as I want.”

“I like junk food such as hamburgers and okonomiyaki. My father was a doctor, and his educational policy was ‘It’s OK to like and dislike things,’ saying that eating what you dislike is not nourishing. Maybe it is important to take in what you like, both in play and in food.”

 

Wataru became a demon, and Ishihara Productions terminated its management operations in January 2021. However, Tachi did not transfer to another office, but established “Tachi Productions” in April of the same year.

“I still want to make movies. I myself made my debut in movies, and above all, I want to carry on the passion for filmmaking that Yujiro and Wataru had. In fact, I am now making preparations little by little. As an actor, I believe that whatever will be, will be.”

“Thanks to the director and producer who never stopped using me, saying, “Tachi will eventually get better,” I have been blessed with films, but I still don’t have confidence in my own acting. However, I like creating things, so I would like to continue to participate in productions as one of the actors.”

Tachi, once the “number two” actor, now reigns supreme in the entertainment world as the “one and only” actor.

“I am where I am today because of my motto, “Play hard, play hard”. That includes playing with women.”

From the January 5 and 12, 2024 issue of FRIDAY