Just before the final episode of the TV anime "WIMUSHI PEDAL LIMIT BREAK"! Captains Daisuke Kishio (Junta Teshima) and Atsushi Abe (Toichiro Izumida) talk! Part 2

The final episode of the TV anime "Weak Pedal LIMIT BREAK" is just around the corner.

Onoda Sakamichi, who has moved up to the second grade with Imaizumi Shunsuke and Naruko Shokichi, and his new team led by new captain Teshima Junta, is aiming for back-to-back championships at the Summer Inter-Highs. Sohoku is in a difficult situation, but aims for a consecutive championship, while Hakone Gakuen, the champion, burns with a vengeance for last year's defeat. Which team will grab the glorious goal? ...... Akiba Soken interviewed captains Daisuke Kishio, who plays Junta Teshima, the leader of Sohoku, and Atsushi Abe, who plays Toichiro Izumida, the leader of Hakone Gakuen.

Following the first part of the interview, which was conducted in a frank and candid manner, we present the second part of the interview.

Q: Who do you want to be your rival in "Weak Peda" or who would be your potential rival?

Kishio: I don't know who it would be, but I don't want Midosuji (Sho) (CV: Koji Yusa) and (Kishigami) Komari (CV: Jun Fukuyama)!　If it's the type you don't want as rivals, there are quite a few. Basically, I don't want dangerous people to be my rivals!

Abe Ahahaha. Indeed.

Kishio There are a lot of peculiar people. Sohoku is the most decent, so I don't want to join anyone else but Sohoku.

Abe I wonder if it's love for Sohoku (laughs).

Daisuke Kishio as Junta Teshima

Kishio: I think that (Onoda) Sakamichi (CV: Daiki Yamashita) is the one who seems to be able to improve each other. He seems to be fun to be with, and more importantly, he has no character defects. No, I think he's okay. ...... Sakamichi has his difficulties, but they are tolerable. With Makishima (Yusuke) (CV: Shotaro Morikubo), I just have to listen to him and be like, "Oh, yeah. If he is talking about anime or figures, I can just say "I see" and give him a friendly "I see" (laughs).

Abe That may be so.

Kishio: I think I can talk about bicycles with anyone, but when it comes to rivals or mutual improvement, I may choose someone who is easy to deal with in my private life.

Abe That's true. I don't like Midosuji either. But if Kotaro Ishigaki (CV: Hiroshi Nojima) is next to me, I think I would be okay. Ishigaki seems to do his best.

Kishio It's like he's going to cushion everything.

Abe: Yes, yes. If it doesn't get too serious, I wouldn't mind having Shinkai, but if he becomes a demon, I'm afraid of him.

Atsushi Abe as Toichiro Izumida

A: It comes with a condition (laughs).

Kishio: I would be okay with someone like Kuroda (Yukinari) (CV: Kenji Nojima). As a person, he is the type of person who balances things out, and he also does a good job of tsukkomi. With Ishigaki and Kuroda, I might be okay with Midosuji.

Kishio: I would put more emphasis on their personalities, wouldn't I?

Abe: It is the most important. When considering rivals, personalities are the most important thing to consider.

ーーWhen Sakamichi's name was also mentioned, I went to ....... Have you ever had an experience like Sakamichi's, where you came to like something you were not interested in, or discovered a new pleasure by chance?

Abe: I had the opportunity to be introduced to various cameras on a TV program. I became interested in them and was influenced enough to buy a camera. As I was shown actual photos taken and heard various stories, I thought, "This is a world I have never been in," and after much deliberation, I decided to buy one. Even now, I carry it with me when I go out, and although it is not as grueling as the slope, it is still going on. I have opportunities to have photographers take pictures of me because of my job, so I sometimes ask them for tips or questions about lenses and other equipment. I feel that my interest in cameras has changed the way I pay attention to things in my life, or perhaps it has increased. Has it affected the way you look at things a little?

Kishio It's not as dramatic as the slope (laughs), but when I think about it, that's exactly how I feel about bicycles.

Abe That's right!　There are a lot of us cast members who are into it, surprisingly.

Kishio: Even before I started working on "Weak Peda," there was a time when I wondered what would be the right way to get to sites that were too far to walk to, but not far enough to take a train. I came to the conclusion that a bicycle would be just right, so I started biking to nearby studios. One time, I went to a studio about 10 kilometers away on my bicycle, which I was riding at the time. It was a nice spring day, and it felt really good, so I thought bicycles were fun, and bought a cross bike. I bought a cross bike, and although I only use it as a means of transportation to the studio, I am hooked on it so much that I have already bought several new ones.

Q: Did you gain more knowledge about bicycles through "Weak Peda"?

Kishio: Yes, I did. I became interested in road cycling after doing "Weak Peda. Teshima rides a Cannondale, so I bought one.

Abe I was influenced by him a lot (laughs).

Kishio But it was stolen, so I bought it from .......

Abe Oh, wow.

Kishio I was depressed, but then I was interviewed by Cannondale, and I had a chance to get a better Cannondale bike.

Abe We also collaborated with Cannondale.

Kishio But that too was hit by a car. ...... (smiles) By the way, I rode my bicycle here today, too. As long as the weather is good, I almost always travel by bicycle to work in Tokyo.

Q: "Yowamushi Pedal" is a story that depicts the "passion" of each character. Please tell us what you are passionate about and what you have been passionate about!

Kishio: In the end, it comes down to acting, doesn't it?

Abe That's right. I sometimes do stage productions, but there is something special about the joy of working together for a month or two to create something together. Of course, anime is also created by the staff and cast over a long period of time, but the cast is only involved in a small part of the production process. The amount of time spent does not necessarily change the amount of passion, but there is a kind of passion that is unique to the stage. Especially on a small stage, you have to do a lot more than just act, so I feel like I can experience a sense of "I've poured it all out! I feel like I can experience a sense of "I've poured it all in!

In particular, when I participated in a stage production during the period when the entertainment industry stopped due to the Corona Disaster, I felt the creator's desire to deliver the show even under such circumstances, and the audience's willingness to come and receive the heat even under such circumstances. I felt that I had to take on the responsibility of wanting to respond to everyone's wishes, but I also felt the true joy of the live stage.

Kishio: Good. I'll get on that bandwagon too!

Abe Please go ahead!

Kishio: The stage for you is like a reading play for me. I have always loved reading plays and have participated in many of them. I have participated in many reading plays and I have always loved them. It is really interesting content. Rather than pouring my passion into it, I think I'm taking on the challenge with a sense of "Thank you!" The Corona disaster came at a time when various types of reading plays had been entering the world of entertainment for about 10 years and were just beginning to gain citizenship. It is true that we were hit pretty hard, but even in such a situation, there were many creators who had the desire to do it and did not give up. There were many times when we had to limit the number of people in the shed, even though the shed was big. The staff members who called on me even in such a situation, and the customers who came to see the show even in such a situation. I love that atmosphere where everyone is working together to make the event a success. I have participated in two this year and plan to do four more before the end of the year.

Abe That's a great pace!

Kishio: I want to continue as long as I am invited, and I think it is time for me to create something on my own. There are many different types of reading plays, and I learn a lot from each one, but it is difficult to find the ideal reading play for me. If that is the case, I have no choice but to do it myself! I hope to be able to give it shape within a few years. I hope to give it shape within a few years.

Abe I am really looking forward to it!

(Interview and text by Shinobu Tanaka)