Mamoru's feelings for Usagi-chan are somewhat superimposed on Mr. Mitsuishi's. - In commemoration of the release of "Sailor Moon Eternal" (Part 2) the movie version! Interview with Kenji Nojima as Mamoru Jiba/Tuxedo Mask

The legendary girls' manga "Sailor Moon," which has been loved beyond time and generation, returns to the screen after 25 years!

The "Dead Moon" version, which depicts Chibi-Usa and Elyos' "first love" and the "growth" of the Sailor Senshi, has been made into a movie in two parts: the front and back!　The hit theatrical version of "Sailor Moon Eternal" (Part 1) is now in theaters nationwide, and Part 2 will be released on February 11 (Thursday, national holiday).

The trailer for "Part 2," which will finally bring the Sailor Senshi together for the climax of the film, is exciting even if you only watch the trailer! We hope you will experience this excitement on the big screen in the theater.

The last in our series of interviews on "Sailor Moon Eternal" is Kenji Nojima, who plays the role of Mamoru Jiba/Tuxedo Mask.

If the director gives the OK, it's OK! I have such a sense of security and trust.

Q: What did you think when you heard that a movie version would be released?

Nojima: The production team told me about the idea of making a movie version quite some time ago. Sailor Moon Crystal" has been distributed since its inception, but at a very early stage, we were told that we were going to go all the way to the theater version, so let's all work hard! and we are going to make it to the theater version. I was able to witness the strength and underlying power of this work.

I also have always loved movies, so I can't stop the excitement that comes naturally from within me. I'm so happy! I'm really going to do a theater version!　I'm going to be able to hear my voice and everyone else's in the theater! I was so happy.

Q: It's a great feeling to be able to see those images in the sound of a movie theater, isn't it?

Nojima: This movie is really powerful, too!　The reason I became an actor was because I wanted to be in movies, so I am deeply moved to be in a theater production that is also my starting point.

Q: What was your impression of "Sailor Moon"?

Nojima: Of course I knew the name of the work. However, being a boy, I never had the chance to watch the anime (of the 90's) on air. When I was offered the chance to act in the film, I heard from people around me that "the atmosphere (of the work) was completely different from the previous one," and while I was curious about how it was different, I felt that I should not watch the previous work.

（I am sure it will have a positive effect on me, but there is a part of me that cannot find the courage to watch it. When I thought about what that courage was, I realized that it was not the fact that I was affected by the play.

I thought about the girl's world ...... and I realized that if I went to a friend's house and saw her sister's room next door, that would be an area that I would not be allowed to enter. In other words, I had the impression that the world of "Sailor Moon" was a forbidden world, and since it was a girl's world, I felt that I should not let it get away from me. Now that I am playing the role myself, I am allowed to be a part of it, but I am trying to work on it so that I don't lose my sense of humor about this work (laughs).

(Laughs) - Certainly, there may have been a point where I felt that you had to have an older sister or younger sister to see the film. In fact, many women were into this work.

Nojima When I talk to women of that generation, everyone knows about it, and they are all passionate about it, so it's already common knowledge. I am glad that I am a man, but that is the only thing I wish I had been a woman. If I had been a woman, I could have enjoyed watching "Sailor Moon" with them!

Now that I'm in the show, I think I should be more passionate about it than the female fans, but I feel like I'm losing the chance to get into it because I feel like I shouldn't destroy a work that everyone cares about so much.

That is why I am concentrating on how to fulfill my role.

I didn't have the first chance in the 90s to accept "Sailor Moon" as a special existence, so I'm chasing after it with my current work.

Q: What is your impression of director Chiaki Kon?

Nojima: The director embodies the fact that he really loves "Sailor Moon. He is the kind of person who, if left alone, would come straight to the studio dressed in a Sailor Moon costume (laughs). (Laughs) I have actually seen her in cosplay, and she loves "Sailor Moon" that much, so I have a sense of security and trust that as long as Mr. Kon gives the OK during postrecording, it will be OK.

Q: Did he ever tell you that Jibouei is like this?

Nojima: The difference from the 90's anime is that this time we have the concept of adhering to the original work. So I was told that it might be a little different (from the 90's anime version of Mamoru), but when I said, "I haven't seen the previous work," he said, "If that's the case, it's fine! He said. We confirmed that we shared a common understanding of what we needed to emphasize, such as his princely beauty and core.

Mr. Mitsuishi quickly created the world of "Sailor Moon" for us.

Q: I heard that you were able to work together with everyone during the postrecording of "Part I." What was your impression of the scene?

Nojima: I think the Sailor Senshi were all together rather well. I was in the position of being ill, so I have to get my memory back a bit to recall the recording. ...... (laughs)

I heard from Mitsuishi (Kotono) and others that you were worried about not being useful in the battle.

Nojima That's right (laughs). (laughs) I have always been a liability in the role, or rather, I have not been able to play the role of Usagi (Super Sailor Moon / Usagi Tsukino). I've been thinking about it since "Sailor Moon Crystal," but this time, especially when we all had to work hard together, I suddenly got sick. ...... And he said harsh words like, "Go home! I try to distance myself from Usagi by saying harsh words like "Go home!

I tried not to worry her and tried to find the best way to help her, but I think that kind of concern is something that is not easy to do. When I think about what I would do if I were in that situation, I tend to tell them everything.

I would tell them everything, "I might be sick and in trouble, but don't worry, I'll heal by myself.

But Mamoru doesn't do that. I thought that this delicacy was very feminine. I have always thought that Mamoru is a heroine in this series, and I felt this even more strongly when I played "Part I".

I also felt that Usagi, while keeping her distance from Mamoru and worrying about him, watched over him and tried to find out what she could do to help him, as if she didn't want to cause him any trouble. I felt that growth as I played the role of Mamoru.

Q: What did you feel when working with Mitsuishi-san this time?

Nojima: When we recorded the first part, it had been a long time since I played Mamoru, so I thought it would take me a while to get used to the role, but when I entered the studio and saw everyone's faces and thought that Mr. Mitsuishi was there (...... Usagi), I was freed from that feeling of anxiety. I was relieved from such anxieties. I was able to think, "I'll be fine!" I thought.

In other words, Mr. Mitsuishi quickly created the world of "Sailor Moon" for me. With Mr. Mitsuishi's presence, everyone, including myself, felt at ease in our respective roles, creating a strange sense of solidarity. I think he is a leader.

You have been carrying "Sailor Moon" on your shoulders for a long time, haven't you?

Nojima That's right. I wonder how many years I've been carrying the show. I play the role of the lover, so I am conscious of Usagi-chan. However, she is much younger than Kenji Nojima, and although I find her endearing in some ways, it is difficult for me to create the "longing" that is contained within her.

However, I respect Mr. Mitsuishi, so it is easy for me to have feelings of "admiration" for him, so during postrecording, Mamoru's desire to cherish Usagi-chan and his feelings of love for her are somewhat superimposed on those of Mr. Mitsuishi. I was able to play the part with Mr. Mitsuishi in some ways.

In the second part, Mamoru also grows up, so I would like you to see his growth as well.

Q: What did you think of "Part 1"?

Nojima The key point is the Dead Moon Circus' Amazones Quartet. Why are they so cute even though they are the enemy? (laugh). I had the impression that the circus troupe was a waste of time because they had to fight, but the fun and the fear behind the fun - the light and the shadow - were very clear. And then there was the Amazon trio, with their rich variety. How could they have gathered such a wide variety of enemies? It was truly a brilliant performance.

Among them, Hawks Eye (CV. Toshiyuki Toyonaga) is the most notable. He said he was able to fulfill his dream of owning an herb store, even if only for a moment, and even though he is an enemy? I thought. I was more like "I got him! We did it!" (laughs). (laughs). It was very sad.

There were elements that made me cry, but also made me laugh in unexpected places. The postcard from Ami Mizuno's (Super Sailor Mercury: CV. Hisako Kanemoto) father, an artist, had a rather eccentric picture of a fish on it.　I was a little worried, wondering what kind of feelings he had in mind when he sent it. There were all sorts of little nods and tsk tsk's like that. I felt that the film had a lot of interesting elements scattered throughout it, which kept me from being bored.

Also, the existence of Elyos (Pegasus: CV. Sadayoshi Matsuoka) was too mysterious!　I wish he would have told us all about himself when he came out, but he didn't reveal his true identity very often (laughs). (Laughs.) When Chibi-Usa-chan (Super Sailor Chibi Moon: CV. Misato Fukuen) suddenly appears in front of him in her human form, he suddenly kisses her!　What do you think?　I thought it was quite a sneaky way for him to appear, kissing Chibi-Usa-chan out of the blue to reassure her (laughs). (Laughs) His presence will be a major key in "Part 2," so please look forward to it.

Q: So, what are the highlights of the "second part"?

Nojima: "Part 2" is an all-star show. It's like all the heroes will appear. Just looking at the cast list, I thought it was amazing, so you can definitely expect a lot from it!

Mamoru is finally freed from the depression of his position, his weakness, and his inability to protect Usagi, and discovers what he is supposed to do and his true strength. In this sense, Mamoru's growth will be depicted.

In the first part, we saw Usagi-chan and the other Sailor Senshi grow up, and in the second part, Mamoru also grows up, so I would like you to see that as well.

I also hope that you will enjoy the beauty of the transformation scenes and the power of the music on the big screen!

(Reporting, writing, and photography by Junichi Tsukagoshi)

Film Information

Sailor Moon Eternal the Movie Part 1 / Sailor Moon Eternal the Movie Part 2

Release date: January 8, 2021 (Friday) for the first part, February 11, 2021 (Thursday, national holiday) for the second part

<Cast

Kotono Mitsuishi, Toshiko Kanemoto, Rina Sato, Ami Koshimizu, Shizuka Ito, Misato Fukuen, Kenji Nojima, Junko Minagawa, Sayaka Ohara, Ai Maeda, Yukiyo Fujii, Ryo Hirohashi, Taishi Murata, Shoko Nakagawa, Sadako Matsuoka, Naomi Watanabe, Nanao

＜Staff

Original Story/ Supervisor : Naoko Takeuchi

Director : Chiaki Kon

Screenplay : Kazuyuki Fudeyasu

Character Design : Kazuko Tadano

Animation Production: Toei Animation/Studio Deen

Distributor: Toei

＜Theme Song

Tsukiiro Chainon

Momoiro Clover Z with Sailor Moon (CV: Kotono Mitsuishi) & Sailor Mercury (CV: Hisako Kanemoto) & Sailor Mars (CV: Rina Sato) & Sailor Jupiter (CV: Ami Komizu) & Sailor Venus (CV: Shizuka Ito)

Lyrics: Shirobara sumire Composed by Akiko Kosaka Arranged by Gesshoku Kaikan