The first interview in commemoration of the release of the movie "JUNKE JAR"! The long-sought movie appearance that was realized because of the Corona disaster!　The inside story of "Junryuke Jar" by 4 members of Junryuke [Autographed checkee as a present!

Last year, the mood singing group Junryoku made their third consecutive appearance at the "NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen" (Red and White Singing Contest). From Akiba Research Institute's point of view, three out of the four members of the group are former members of special effects heroes, with leader Kazukey Sakai having appeared in "Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger," Yujiro Shirakawa in "Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger," and Ryohei Odai in "Masked Rider Ryuki. Their first starring movie "Junryoku Jar" will finally be released on September 10, 2021!

Moreover, this film is unmistakably a "special effects hero work" by Junryuke. We sat down with the four members of Jun-ryoku to discuss the project. They discussed everything from how the project came about to the highlights of the film!

The Corona Disaster led us to the film

--Mr. Sakai, I understand that you were involved in the planning of this project.

Sakai: You remember the music from "Dracula" and "Final Fantasy" playing at the opening ceremony of the recently held Tokyo Olympics as the entrance music? I am from that generation, and in my elementary school graduation album, I wrote things like "I want to make Dracula in the future" and "I want to surpass Yuji Horii" (laughs). (Laughs.) Since I originally had that kind of feeling, I eventually grew up and became interested in staff work. When I appeared in "Gao Ranger," I asked the staff, "How did you learn about film and television? I asked the staff. I had become a professional actor by then, so I couldn't go to a vocational school, but through all these experiences, I was able to work on films like Ghibli, Takeshi Kitano's films, Studio Color led by Hideaki Anno, or even "Kimetsu (Blade)," but I was always trying to make films that would please everyone. I would like to do something that would make everyone excited, something that would go down in history. I've been thinking about this for a long time.

Kazuyoshi Sakai

--So you have finally realized your dream.

Sakai: Yes. I had always told people around me that Sakai wanted to do a film, and I could tell that he wanted to do something, but then, at the Corona Disaster last year, he said, "I can't do a live concert! So, the schedule became empty. At that time, I contacted Kohei Yamamoto, who played Hariken Yellow and was connected with the film crew for a long time, and said, "I can do it if we do it now, but please ask the Toei producers. After that, he said, "Let's do it! When I received the reply, I shouted aloud, "Yatta! I shouted aloud. Ever since we formed Junrei, I had hoped to return to Toei someday for a movie.

Gogami: We were approached with a certain degree of certainty. When we heard that we were going to do a movie, that it would star Junrei, and that we were going to transform ourselves, at first we were all a bit stunned. The amount of information was too much to take in all at once (laughs). (laughs) So, first of all, I started to crunch the information one by one in my head. Then, rather than being happy or excited, I slowly began to realize the seriousness of the situation and got scared (laugh). (Laughs) That is how it started for me.

Shirakawa: At the time we found out, the script was not yet ready and we were not informed of the content. When we heard that it would be the first movie starring Junrei, we were honestly a bit perplexed and wondered if it would be all right. I was more concerned about the number of people who would come to see the film. That's exactly how I felt about the number of viewers (laughs).

Odai: My first impression was, "You're really going to do this one! That was my first impression. We have been exploring and taking on various challenges as Junrei, but some of our projects did not come to fruition for various reasons. As our leader mentioned earlier, we were able to realize this project because of the Corona disaster. But now we know that the corona disaster has been prolonged, but at the time, we didn't know if we would be able to return to our usual schedule, so we felt that we had to start filming as soon as we had decided on the project. Of course, they spent a lot of time preparing for the shoot, but I remember that the conversation picked up quite quickly and we were able to start filming very quickly.

Shirakawa: When it was decided that we would do a film based on the so-called "Sentai Hero" motif, I think we couldn't bring out the same freshness as those who are currently playing the heroes. I was a little worried about that.

Odai: Talking about the Sentai motif, what about the enemies, for example? How much to be faithful, how much to be a parody, and how much to be our originality were not clear to us at first. But when we opened the door, we were really surprised to find that the content was quite serious. And the staff who participated in the project were all A-class. Even though we are B-class (laughs).

Sakai That's right!

(everyone laughs)

Odai That part really surprised me!

Yujiro Shirakawa

The filming location was a "reunion" after a 20-year absence.

--How was the filming?

Sakai: It was like having a reunion at the location with many of the people I had missed so much.

Shirakawa: There were people who I had not had a chance to meet since I appeared in "Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger" in 2002, so this was a real "reunion" for me. We were able to go to the Iwafuneyama mountain and other nostalgic locations from those days, and I will never forget the friendly atmosphere we created during the filming.

Sakai What made me happy was that there were many Junrei fans among the staff, who asked for photos, handshakes, and autographs one after another, and the scary action director Michihiro Takeda, who helped me with "Gaoranger" 20 years ago, said, "Oh, I'm sorry! I said, "You can have as many as you want! I said. I could feel that the staff who worked with us at that time were very proud of us, and I was deeply moved.

Shirakawa: I was also very moved when the staff at that time said to me on the set, "You've really worked hard to get this far. It was a wonderful reunion for me to see my friends with whom I spent my youth during the days of "Hurricane," and they came to the site.

Sakai: And to make a film with all those people. I was convinced that this site would definitely make an interesting film.

Gogami That part is a world I don't understand (laugh). But everyone was nostalgic about seeing each other again after 20 years, saying, "It's a reunion! I thought it was wonderful that we could have that kind of connection in our work. For me, 20 years is like meeting elementary school classmates again, but if I continue to do my best in this job, I hope to have my own reunion someday. That's what I was thinking as I watched everyone.

--In the play, you have a slightly meta element in that you have the face of a hero, but on the surface you are still active as "Junrei".

Sakai: Before this film, we were shooting an omnibus drama on FOD called "Junrei Monogatari" that focused on each of us. I played some emo roles and stuff, but I had already learned some things from that, so I enjoyed playing the role of "Kazuyoshi Sakai" this time.

Gogami: There are realistic parts in the sense that "Junrei plays Junrei," but on the other hand, there are murders and other unrealistic parts, so I was concerned about how the story would cross over. When filming actually started, the super public bathhouse we used for the location shooting was a place I have visited many times for business, and I felt like I was smiling when I saw some incidents happening in the hall where we usually sing. I could feel the gradual cross-fade between the Junrei we usually are and the Junrei we are as characters in the film, as if we were acting like this because we were filming today. That was also interesting, and I felt something strange about it.

Shota Gogami

--I heard that this was your first time to play a role with a love romance element, and also your first time to play a full-fledged role in a play.

Gokami: Well, there are parts that I cannot look at calmly, but I will try my best to continue until one day I can say, "Acting is so much fun!

Sakai Before that, I'm not sure if I will be able to continue (laughs). (laughs) There are some people who take acting lightly!

Gogami (laughs).

--Gogami: I understand that you are playing opposite the veteran actress Kobayashi Ayako.

Sakai: Well, she must not have known "Oshin" in the first place, generation-wise.

Gogami When it was decided that we would be working together this time, the leaders were excited, saying, "It's Kobayashi Ayako-san from "Oshin"! So I looked her up. That's how I learned that the drama had achieved phenomenal viewer ratings at the time.

Sakai: The director, Hiroshi Butsuda's anxiety about the drama ultimately brought Oshin to the attention of the audience. Mr. Butsuda called me in and asked me, "Sakai-kun, can Gogami-kun act in a play? He said, "Sakai-kun, can Gogami-kun do a play? Our schedule was limited, so if we couldn't do the play, we couldn't stick around. We have to make sure we get the film right, but if you ask me if I can give you an answer with a play right away, it's absolutely impossible (laughs). (laughs) For example, every year newcomers are selected for Sentai and Rider, but if you watch the first episode, you will see how fresh they are. I asked him to be a supporting cast member because he had no experience. I asked him to "keep me on the side." Then he said, "You're too solid! (laughs). (Laughs.) I thought, "Wow, they really called in some amazing people. So when Ayako Kobayashi's name came up, I realized how anxious Director Butsuda was (laughs).

--(laughs) - As it turned out, that was the combination you were looking for, wasn't it?

Sakai: Yes. The combination of Ms. Kobayashi's experience and Ms. Sakai's youthfulness was a perfect match. Mr. Kobayashi led the scene, and I think it turned out to be a great scene between the two of them.

Shirakawa: I was impressed by the sincerity with which Mr. Kobayashi approached the play on set.

Gogami: I did my research beforehand and knew that Mr. Kobayashi was not a man with a half-completed career, so I was very tense at first (laugh). He then spoke to me in a friendly manner, saying, "I saw a TV program about hot springs the other day. He was really a warm person.

Sakai And he was driving a blue Mercedes Benz.

Odai It was a really nice sporty car.

Sakai And he drove it himself. He was so poor in the past, but he worked hard. ......

Gogami You're mixing that up with the "Oshin" story!

(Everyone laughed)

(Everyone laughs) -- Mr. Shirakawa, I hear that your action scenes are also a highlight of your work.

Shirakawa: I myself have loved action since the days of "Hurricane," and I was allowed to do a lot of it, including stepping on a trampoline under Mr. Takeda's supervision. So I was really looking forward to doing it again, but actually my left shoulder was not in good shape at the time of filming. I had told Mr. Takeda about it, but he said, "Does that mean you don't want to do it?　You can move around so you should do it" (laughs).

--(laughs) - I had a chance to see it, and I couldn't believe that the action was so good!

Shirakawa: As a result, I had to do the most number of actions out of the four of us. Actually, I had an operation after the shooting, but it made the news, and Mr. Takeda said to me, "I'm sorry about that time. I was afraid that it hurt that much. If there is another opportunity, I hope to be fully prepared.

--How did you feel playing the role of a hero after a long absence?

Sakai: Well, it was a great feeling. However, I was scared of explosions (laughs). When I was a child, I could touch insects without a care in the world, but as an adult, you can't touch them. Just like roller coasters were less scary when I was a child. I felt that kind of phenomenon. On site, I would say, "Hey, hey, hey! Stop, stop, stop! Like, "Stop it, stop it, stop it! I don't want to do it anymore!

Shirakawa: You really don't want to do it? (laughs).

Sakai: Well, I guess after a few years, I'll be like, "I want to do it again! (laughs).

Odai: As well as filming, when I decided to transform into a hero, the first thing I was interested in was the design of the costume after the transformation. As someone who has a background in hero stories, I think that since the title of the movie is "Junko Jar," the character after the transformation is the star of the show. So I had a strong feeling that "I can't fail in the design! I had a very strong feeling that I could not fail in the design.

--The design was done by Tsuyoshi Nonaka, formerly of Bandai, wasn't it?

Odai: Yes. There were several initial design drafts, and all of them were wonderful. We were asked, "Which one do you like? We were asked, "Which one do you like?" We gave our opinions, and in the end, we decided on the current costume by taking the best of all of them. The cover is very important, and its popularity is greatly influenced by it. Every year, when a new Sentai or Rider hero is announced, there is excitement, but at first there are pros and cons. But by the time the show is over, people always say, "That was great. So for me, I was more concerned about the public's opinion of the hero's design than anything else. Fortunately, I haven't heard any bad comments so far, so I guess that's a relief. The only thing left is whether or not Bandai will release "S.H.Figuarts" (laugh). I am sure Premium Bandai will be able to produce it. I'm thinking of putting pressure on the people involved (laughs).

Shirakawa: Gokami-kun's figure has pillars on both arms, but I wonder what will happen to those?

Odai: The regular price for the green one might be about 500 yen higher (laughs). Or it might be a good idea to sell them as a set. If so, I will reserve at least three sets!

(Everyone laughs).

Ryohei Odai

Like the ping-pong pair of Mizutani and Ito!

--(Ditto) - The release of the film is coming soon, so please tell us about the highlights of the film.

Shirakawa: I hope that many people will come to see the musical, which is full of laughter and tears and will surely leave you with a warm feeling at the end. As for my own scene, I would like people to pay attention to the action in which I endured pain and did my best.

Gogami: This time, I asked Kiyoshi Maekawa and Sachiko Kobayashi, who have been a great help to Junrei, to lend their support to the production, and they added so much to the work that I feel even more indebted to them. She was in the film from beginning to end, so don't blink when you see the two of them together!

--What do you think of your own performance after seeing the completed work?

Gogami: Well, compared to the other actors, my own acting is still a work in progress, but in the hands of professionals, it still works. I felt this when I saw the previews, and once again, I was impressed by the staff's great ability.

Odai: I get asked the same question from each company, so I give them a different highlight each time (laugh). My partner is played by Yutaka Nakajima, and there is a reminiscent scene in which I make a contract with Mr. Nakajima while playing with him.

Sakai Is that so?

Odai That's right. Just like the ping-pong pair of Mizutani and Ito (laughs). (laughs). After that, we went on stage, so I think that if you watch the film, you will get a better sense of the depth of the experience, thinking, "Oh, this is just like Misei (Ito), who was rejected once (laughs).

Sakai Well, I felt sorry for Mizutani.

Odai I could understand exactly how he felt (laughs). (laughs) When I was watching that match on TV, I thought to myself, "Oh, I had the same thing happen to me when I was filming "Junrei Jar"! I thought to myself, "Oh, I did the same thing when I was filming "Junrei Jar. So, I would like to say out loud that I was the one who was rejected before Mizutani (laughs).

--Lastly, please give us a summary from the leader, Mr. Sakai!

Sakai: Thanks to the key person, Kohei Yamamoto, who connected us this time, a film called "Junko Jar" was born. He is a really nice guy, and he is also in this film, but, well, his acting is terrible, you know (laughs).

Shirakawa: No, we were together in "Hurricane," but I have been an actor for 20 years since then, 20 years! (laughs).

Sakai But you haven't grown at all since then. I have told you this in every interview, but if that is the case, why don't you just keep on being Hurricane Yellow? I would like you all to see it for yourselves (laughs).

(laughs) -- Are you okay with that as a summary? (laughs).

Sakai Eh, no?　Please use Kohei's line properly, right?

Odai And the pre-ban I mentioned earlier! (laughs).

--(laughs) - I understand (laughs). Thank you very much for your time today!

(Interview and text by Tomohisa Toyota)

Present Campaign Outline

<Prize
Two winners will be selected by drawing to receive a checkerboard autographed by Junryoku!

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