Director Yoji Yamada and “IT’S A FLICKERING LIFE” awakened Mei Nagano in “Hakozume
The Wednesday drama “Hakodome” (NTV) received high ratings among summer dramas. Police Girls” (NTV). However, during the recording of the drama, Mei Nagano contracted a new type of coronavirus, and the airing of the drama on August 4 and 11 was replaced by a special edition, causing extreme confusion on the set.
The drama is based on the popular manga “Hakozume: Police Box Girls Strike Back” by former police officer Hata Mitsuko. It is a work comedy that incorporates “real-life police situations” with the uneven pairing of Seiko Fuji (Toda), an ex-cop with her own problems, and Mai Kawai (Nagano), a natural rookie.
In fact, this manga has been talked about many times to be made into a movie, and in that sense, it is a long-awaited work for fans. In particular, Kawai, played by Nagano, makes the most of the personality of actress Meika Nagano, and her cuteness is outstanding. In a word, it was said to be a “hit role. That’s why it was such a shock when it was announced on July 23 that she had been infected with the new coronavirus.
As for Nagano’s performance in the film, Mr. Hata, who wrote the original manga, said
“Mr. Hata, the author of the original manga, said, “When I draw Kawai, the main character, I always have a hard time controlling her facial expressions.
“When I draw Kawai, the main character, I always have a hard time controlling his facial expressions.
“Mr. Nagano, who plays Kawai, makes the best expression he can in each scene as if he were breathing.
“I especially like Mr. Nagano’s performance, as he can express his heart’s movement with just a flicker of his eyes. I especially like her performance, which tells us about the movement of her heart just by the flicker of her eyes. I can’t imitate her with my drawing ability, so that part is very frustrating.
He also praised her. It is true that Kawai, played by Nagano this time, suppresses the sense of discomfort created by acting to the very limit and plays the role naturally. It is evident that she has grown a lot as an actress. But from which film did Nagano acquire her new style?
Since her debut, actress Meika Nagano’s style has always been to play straight with her true self. For example, she throws a fastball on a sunny stage at Koshien (the national baseball stadium) and makes a pile of strikeouts, just like a hero.
“Born in 1999, Nagano made her debut as a child actress at the age of 10. After working as a model for a teen magazine, she won the audition for the movie “Ore Monogatari” starring Ryohei Suzuki in 2003. starring Ryohei Suzuki.
In addition, in 2006, she played the heroine in the morning drama “Half, Blue” (NHK). (NHK) in 2006, she was chosen from 2,366 people to play the heroine and emerged like a comet.
In the live-action adaptation of the popular manga, “Ore Monogatari! In the movie, “Ore Monogatari!!!”, a live-action adaptation of a popular manga, she plays the role of Rinko Yamato, who has feelings for a pure-hearted and clumsy giant high school student, Takeo Tsuchida (Suzuki). In a way, she has attracted more attention than Takeo played by Suzuki.
“After reading the original manga, Nagano realized that she and Rinko were similar in some ways, so when she entered the audition room, she focused on “showing her true self” rather than creating a role. Also, in the morning drama “Half, Blue. In the morning drama “Half, Blue,” she also expressed her unshakable confidence in her “true self,” saying, “I was very confident in my cheerfulness, and I thought Suzu Ai (the heroine) was the only one who could play the role freely in her “true self. I thought Suzu Ai (the heroine) was the only one who could play the role freely as she is.
Seeing Nagano, screenwriter Eriko Kitagawa also said, “I found a sparrow. There were other wonderful people, but since I named him Sparrow, I thought it would be better if he flew far away. It’s perfect for the ditzy, unpredictable, non-standard sparrow. Please fly far, Mr. Nagano,” he said, sending a strong message of encouragement. For Nagano, his ‘true self’ is his greatest weapon.” (Production company producer)
In “Half, Blue. In “Half, Blue,” there is a scene that shows the true face of Nagano. It is in the 81st episode broadcasted on July 4, 2006. It is a sad scene where Suzu Ai decides to give up being a manga artist and expresses her feelings to her teacher, Haori Akikaze (Etsushi Toyokawa). Nagano’s stiff arm growls.
“I have no wings. I’m a bird that can’t fly.
“I don’t want to be a flightless bird looking up and down at a bird that can fly. I don’t want to walk down the street looking up at a bird that can fly. I want my life to be clear. I want to clear the cloudy sky. I will live my life.”
Without even trying to wipe away her tears, Suzu Ai said the lines as if she was biting them. Her tears were beautiful, just like the tears of a high school baseball player who lost in the final game of Koshien.
However, after appearing in this morning drama, Nagano hit a big wall. Her chief manager left her just as she was about to complete a long and arduous assignment, and burnout set in.
At the time, Nagano appeared on the TV program “Honma de Tsukka! TV” (Fuji Television Network), she confessed her seriousness, saying, “I can’t find any fun in life. I can’t find anything to look forward to in life. I can’t find anything to look forward to in life.
Also, I was impressed by the way she got a sense of satisfaction when biologist Kiyohiko Ikeda told her, ‘If you can’t find enjoyment in life, it means you are at the peak of happiness.
Meiku Nagano has experienced a sense of fulfillment (i.e. the peak of happiness) on the stage of a morning drama. She needs a supplement to get out of the burnout syndrome. That is why she chose “3 Years A Class” (NTV) starring Masaki Sugata as her return to drama.
Sugata, who won the Galaxy Award for Best Individual in the TV category for this drama, said of Nagano’s performance at the award ceremony, “There were many moments when Nagano’s performance transcended acting and became something real. Nagano himself said, “Nagano’s passionate and warm words to me (while facing the teacher played by Sugata) really helped me to finish the three months safely. If she hadn’t chosen this drama, I doubt very much if she would have been able to get over the burnout syndrome.
There was even a possibility that Nagano herself would become a flightless bird. The movie “God of Kinema,” which was released in August of this year, was the one that convinced her that she had overcome this crisis, “awakened” and clearly entered a new stage.
The film, titled “The God of Kinema,” was released in August of this year, and was titled “Shochiku Film’s 100th Anniversary” and was directed by Yoji Yamada. In this film, Nagano was chosen to play the role of Yoshiko, the daughter of a diner owner who has feelings for the young Gou (Masaki Sugata), who spends his days filming as an assistant director. In particular, she wanted him to understand her love for Gou, and the scene in which she says, “Baka, insensitive,” with an endearing expression on her face, has become one of the most famous scenes in film history.
Nagano turned 22 years old on September 24th, and on October 29th, “And Then the Baton Was Passed” will be released, in which she plays the leading role, based on the best-selling book by Kazu Rei. I am sure I am not the only one who is looking forward to seeing Mei Nagano play the piano with the “God of Kinema” in her heart.
Text: Ukon Shima (Broadcast writer and video producer)
Involved in program production in a wide range of genres including variety, news, and sports programs. He has also planned and published many books on female announcers, idols, and the TV industry. While working on documentary programs, he developed an interest in history, and recently published "Ieyasu wa Sekigahara de shindaite.
PHOTO: Yusuke Kondo