Lily Franky on Solo Living at 60 and Drawing Boundaries from Society

Behind Lily’s carefree character, there may have been a state of mind resembling a sense of acceptance that one can live without belonging anywhere. The change in this mindset has also influenced his view of work.

“I wonder what it is. I’m not doing it with a firm belief or anything. For me, work is a place for communication. Dealing with people who I find bothersome in daily life isn’t stressful at all when it’s part of the filmmaking process. It’s fascinating to see various talents come together from different places, and I’ve always felt that way.”

There have been changes in his way of working as well.

“Recently, I can’t stay up late at night anymore (laughs). Even with writing, I used to start writing in the middle of the night and finish in the morning, but now it’s impossible. I’ve started paying more attention to my health. On the set of a drama, I talked a lot about gut health with Saito-kun (Koji, 42), who I co-starred with.”

Delving deeper into his work philosophy, Lily also left these words for the weekly magazine:

“I always looked forward to reading women’s magazines at the barber shop I frequent, but recently, they’ve replaced magazines with electronic tablets. I liked the experience of unknowingly learning something new that came from reading magazines rather than searching for things myself, so it’s a bit disappointing. When I used to ride the Shinkansen, I would also buy FRIDAY and other weekly magazines. But recently, the kiosk at Shinagawa Station where I used to buy magazines has disappeared. It’s a bit lonely to see the presence of my favorite magazines dwindling.”

Approaching his elder years, Lily continues to value not only the voices of others but also his own senses in his activities. He will continue to walk at his own pace in the future.

From the March 15, 2024 issue of FRIDAY