Honjaka’s Eihiko Ishizuka Reflects on His First Line and Named Role at 21

There was love amidst the harshness on the set

Hello everyone. The days continue to alternate between warm and cold, and it’s tough deciding what kind of material to wear for a short-sleeved T-shirt. I’m Eihiko Ishizuka.

This time, I’d like to write about my acting debut. The reason I decided to become an actor was after watching the movie Rocky when I was in high school. After watching it, I strongly felt that I wanted to do a job that would inspire and move people.

Later, I took a leave of absence from university in my second year and joined an acting training program for a theater troupe at the age of 20. After working as an extra in war movies and dramas, at the age of 21, I was given my first line. It was for a youth drama broadcast on NHK, where I played the role of “Athletic Club Member B.” The line was just one sentence: “That’s not the right way to say it!”

Looking back, it seems like a trivial line, but at the time, it was a big deal for me. I would often repeat the line in my head, and sometimes practice it with my coworkers.

When the filming day arrived, I arrived at NHK more than an hour early, looking at the map. I changed into my costume, got my makeup done, and before I knew it, it was time for the shoot.

However, I ended up making three mistakes. I didn’t understand why I was getting them wrong. Red-faced and sweating, the Athletic Club Member A gave me some advice. Thanks to that, I finally got it right on take 4. Although the actor’s work is tough, I realized once again that it’s a job filled with love.

Big difference between extras and named roles

After that, I switched my route to becoming an actor through Watanabe Production. Soon after, I received a happy phone call from my manager.

“There’s a drama opportunity. Let’s meet at a café in Roppongi at 2 p.m.”

I thought it was about an audition, so I wore a comfortable, lint-free tracksuit to make it easier to move, and headed to the designated café. When I arrived, my manager waved at me from a table in the back. Upon seeing me, he raised his voice and said, “What’s with that outfit?!”

“Huh? Isn’t this an audition?”

“No, you’ve already got the job.”

Thinking about it, I realized there was no way I would be doing any action scenes in a café. The role I was offered was “Detective Wada” in the new TV Asahi drama Kokoro Kyuun Deka (“Heart-throbbing Detective”). It was the moment I got my first role with a name.

The difference between being an extra and having a named role is huge. As an extra, I would have to search through a mountain of costumes and shoes to find something that fit. But with a named role, they would prepare a perfect costume for me in advance. The way the assistant director would call me also changed—from “Hey, you” to “Ishizuka-san.”

What changed the most, however, was how I spent my time during equipment setups. Extras would wait outside the set or in the location vehicles, but those with named roles would gather in a circle at the edge of the set, discussing character development and how to communicate with the director and staff. I remember how much I learned from those conversations.

Feeling a little bold, I wanted to get a laugh during the camera rehearsal, so I improvised by handcuffing myself during the arrest scene. It got a laugh on set. When it came time for the actual shoot, I hesitated and ended up handcuffing the criminal in the usual way. Afterward, the director smiled and asked me, “Why didn’t you do that thing you did earlier?”

If you overdo it and get scolded, you’ll forget it in two days, but regrets from not doing something stay with you forever. So, let’s just get moving.

From “FRIDAY” April 4 & 11, 2025 combined issue.