Behind the Scenes of a Serious Showdown… Hidehiko Ishizuka of “Honjama-ka” Shares “Secret Stories from Toei Kyoto Studio”

Uzumasa is a sacred place that has produced many masterpieces.

Hello, everyone. I’m Hidehiko Ishizuka—the guy who picked up a product at the supermarket thinking it looked delicious, only to find out it was dog food.

Now, in this post, I’d like to write about the Toei Kyoto Studio in Uzumasa, Kyoto, where I was hosted in 2013 while filming a police drama.

When I received the offer, I already knew I’d be playing the lead role, that we’d be shooting five days a week, and that the location would be the Toei Kyoto Studio. “Am I really going to be away from home five days a week to go to Kyoto?” I thought. “But it’s the lead role…” I hesitated a bit, but then I realized that if I went to Kyoto, I’d get to eat fresh yatsuhashi five times a week, so I gladly accepted.

The day before filming began, I stuffed five days’ worth of underwear, socks, handkerchiefs, and other essentials into my bag until it was bursting at the seams, and headed to Kyoto. When I stood in front of the studio, I felt a slight tremor run through me.Many Japanese masterpieces—including *The Yakuza*, *The Legend of the Japanese Chivalrous Heroes*, *Mito Komon*, and *The Rowdy Shogun*—were born right here.

I wondered how many stars had passed through this gate over the years. I walked through the gate and headed to the Actors’ Hall on the left, where I introduced myself: “I’ll be working with you starting tomorrow. I’m Hidehiko Ishizuka.”

After that, an office staff member gave me a tour of the Actors’ Hall. We passed by the rooms of the wigmakers (craftsmen who style actors’ wigs) and the costume department before arriving at my dressing room. It was a private room with a window, located in the corner on the second floor. It had been about 30 years since my days as an extra, when a location bus served as my dressing room—and now, at last, I had my own private room in Uzumasa.

Since I had some time, I took a stroll around the building. The atmosphere on the upper floors felt a bit different, and “noren” curtains were hung at the entrances to the dressing rooms. For big stars like Kotaro Satomi, Hideki Takahashi, Hiroki Matsukata, Ken Matsudaira, and Kaoru Yumi, permanent dressing rooms are provided regardless of whether they have a shoot scheduled or not.Amazing. I could really feel Uzumasa’s love for actors and its rich history.

Uzumasa, Beloved by Actors

There’s a gym on the top floor, and when I opened the door, I saw a long row of equipment—bench presses, dumbbells, and more—lined up in a row. I decided to test my strength a little myself. As I lay on the bench and started lifting the bar up and down—wait, what? Someone was watching me.

I glanced at the wall and noticed several photos of Ken Takakura hanging there. Ken with his shirt off, Ken in a suit, Ken walking through the studio. It was Ken who had been watching me. Before I knew it, I was lifting a barbell with a weight I’d never lifted before.

I later learned that all the equipment in the gym had been donated by Ken-san himself. The large TV in the lobby was apparently donated by Kotaro Satomi. Uzumasa was truly loved by actors.

On the first day of filming, after greeting the staff, it was time for the first take. Even while I was receiving acting direction from the director, the craftspeople from the camera, lighting, and sound departments were moving with precision. When a veteran gave strict guidance to a junior, the atmosphere on set became tense. Not a single person was smiling. Every single take was a serious challenge.

However, once filming wrapped, those same crew members turned into friendly, smiling people. This contrast is what makes it so good. That’s probably why they’re so beloved by actors.

Although the set was strict, the costume designer was as kind as a mother. During an outdoor shoot on a hot day, she attached a pocket to the back of my dress shirt and put a cooling pack inside, which made the shoot much more comfortable. They take their work seriously to entertain people. I’d love to go back to Uzumasa again to meet these incredibly cool professionals.

From the August 7 & 14, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*