“What Haruka Shiraishi Gave Up and What Tomokazu Sugita Let Go – Kowloon Generic Romance Interview”

What Shiraishi Haruka quit and what Sugita Tomokazu threw away [Interview with “Kowloon Generic Romance”]

“Kowloon Generic Romance” Shiraishi Haruka & Sugita Tomokazu interview!
“Kowloon Generic Romance”, a TV anime adaptation of Jun Mayuzuki’s latest work of “Love is Like After the Rain”, will begin airing on April 5th. The simultaneous announcement of the anime and live-action adaptations of this work has also been a hot topic. In the anime version, the main character Kujirai Reiko will be played by Shiraishi Haruka and Kudo Hajime will be played by Sugita Tomokazu.
The mystery deepens with each episode, and the characters also have many mysteries and dramas. Just like the complex and intricate city of Kowloon, the world of the work is one that bewilders and fascinates viewers from various angles, but how did the role preparation and dubbing process go? Shiraishi revealed that “I stopped rereading the original work halfway through” in order to act in a flat state, while Sugita confessed that “I have never experienced such a hesitation in the distance to the character,” and also said that he “gave up his desires.” We talked to them about how they approached their roles, their impressions of each other on set, and stories from recording sessions. (Interview, text, and photos by editorial staff)

[Overview/Synopsis] The original manga, serialized in “Weekly Young Jump” (published by Shueisha), is a mystery love romance set in the nostalgic city of “Kowloon Walled City”. Not only has it been made into an anime, but a live-action movie starring Yoshioka Riho and Mizukami Koji is also scheduled to be released in the summer of 2025.

Kurai Reiko, who works at a real estate agency in Kowloon, has a slight crush on her senior at work, Kudo Hatsu, but when she accidentally finds a photo, she learns that Kudo had a fiance who looked just like her in the past. Then, triggered by the presence of “another Kurai Reiko” in the photo, she realizes that she has no memories of the past. Her lost memories, the true identity of her other self, and a huge secret hidden in the city of Kowloon. As the past, present, and future intersect, love unravels the secrets.

As for the anime and live-action adaptations, “Kudo-san was there as each of us imagined Reiko.”

――What was your impression of the original manga?
Shiraishi: I had read the work before, so when I heard about the audition, I was surprised. I was happy, but I also wanted to do my best, and I really wanted to get the role… I was like, wow! (laughs) My impression of the original manga was that it was a combination of mystery and romance, and I was curious about the outcome of both characters, and the feeling of confusion as I followed each of the hints was so much fun that I thought it was amazing. The power of the work was amazing. Everything was fascinating, including the artwork, story, and characters, and when I was chosen to appear, I felt like “I’m going to be involved in a difficult work.”
Sugita: I had a discussion with the original author, Mayuzuki-sensei, about this work, so I have a special attachment to it, but I’m acting while being conscious of “how not to show that on the surface.” It would be the worst if there was no room for everyone to consider it, so I explored “what does it mean to be like Kowloon” in a place other than “thinking about the role” or something like that.

(C) Mayuzuki Jun / Shueisha, “Kowloon Generic Romance” Film Production Committee, (C) Mayuzuki Jun / Shueisha, “Kowloon Generic Romance” Film Production Committee
–The anime and live-action versions of “Kowloon Generic Romance” were announced at the same time, and both will be broadcast and released within 25 years. When the announcement was made, the super teaser trailer and character visuals that synchronized the anime and live-action versions became a hot topic, but did you two know that it would be made into a live-action version from the audition stage?
Sugita: I had heard about it, but I didn’t know that it was so close, or that both casts would be announced in the super teaser trailer.
–The super teaser trailer was impressive in its composition that seemed to combine the anime and live-action images, and in the scenes where the voices of the anime and live-action versions overlapped.
Shiraishi: I had imagined to some extent that we would “co-star” in the teaser trailer because I received the materials at the beginning, but when the actual finished footage was released, I got goosebumps and said, “Wow, it’s amazing!” There was definitely a Reiko that each of us thought of, and a Kudo-san that each of us thought of. When I saw that video, I was convinced that both “Kowloon Generic Romance” would be very good, with their own acting style. I think it will be even more exciting, and I’m really looking forward to it. I want to work hard together on both the anime and live-action versions.

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Special announcement: “Kowloon Generic Romance” will be made into a TV anime and live-action film in 2025

“Kujirai, I look forward to working with you from tomorrow.” A message from Sugita Tomokazu that brought Shiraishi Haruka closer to Reiko

(C) Mayuzuki Jun / Shueisha, “Kowloon Generic Romance” Production Committee
–How do you two perceive the characters you play?
Shiraishi: Reiko is usually very cheerful and gets along with both men and women equally, but she is the person who changes the most in this story. If you watch from the first episode to the last episode, you will be surprised at the changes. It is very difficult to explain “what kind of person Reiko is” because it is also related to the main story, but if I had to say, she is the person who is closest to the viewers. If you watch from the axis of Reiko, you will discover many things and it will be easier to get into the mystery part.
Sugita: Kudo is good at hiding his true feelings, so I acted while thinking, “I have to get close to him to act. Where is the best position to do that?” But if I get too close, he won’t tell the truth, and if I move away, he will go somewhere. I have never been so confused about the distance between me and a character.
–Does that sense of distance differ for each scene? Sugita: No, that’s not it. Like, “I’m talking to the person in front of me, but I’m thinking about something different.”

(C) Mayuzuki Jun / Shueisha, “Kowloon Generic Romance” Production Committee
–There are many scenes in this film where Reiko and Kudo are talking alone. Is there anything you two were conscious of when acting together?
Sugita: I accept the acting that Shiraishi puts out on the recording set, and create an atmosphere where I can accept whatever comes my way. I think that’s my position.
–Does that mean you’re always in a neutral state?
Sugita: I think I’m in a withdrawn position. Because the attitude of “I’ll do something myself” leads to greed.
Shiraishi: Actually, Sugita contacted me as Kudo before recording. “Kujirai, I look forward to working with you from tomorrow.” So I felt like “Oh, it’s Kudo. Kudo contacted me,” so when I went to the recording, I naturally became Reiko, and I felt that it was Kudo, not Sugita, who was on set. Because Sugita-san created that kind of atmosphere, for example, when we stood in front of the microphone and talked to each other, we were able to talk smoothly without having to make anything up. It was a strange experience that I could become Reiko and Kudo just by focusing my attention.

(C) Mayuzuki Jun / Shueisha, “Kowloon Generic Romance” Production Committee
–From Shiraishi’s perspective, is Sugita now more like Sugita Tomokazu or Kudo?
Shiraishi: But Sugita, who is on the set of “Kowloon Generic Romance,” somehow feels like Kudo. I feel that even in the answers he gives in these interviews, he always has respect for Kudo and is aware that “if Kudo were to answer, it would be like this.”
Sugita: Kudo’s good point is that he has no ulterior motives towards anyone. That’s why it’s scary when you find out what he’s obsessed with. But right now, you don’t need to know that. I hope (the viewers) think of Kudo as a senior who will listen to you.

“Reiko, played by Shiraishi, keeps things balanced,” “Kudo, played by Sugita, has a cool back.”

–Earlier, you mentioned that Sugita contacted Shiraishi before the recording, but did you discuss the work or your role during the recording?
Sugita: I think we talked about something, but I don’t think we consciously tried to talk about anything.
Shiraishi: Everyone else was thinking about it while recording. But Sugita didn’t get involved at all. I also wanted to get involved until halfway through, but there was a moment when I almost reacted like I could see what was going to happen. But Reiko is a character who is led around without knowing anything, so I stopped rereading the original work halfway through (recording). Usually, I read it thoroughly before going to the recording, but I didn’t. Of course I understand the whole story, but I tried to keep it flat so that the scenes and developments didn’t come to mind specifically, stopped thinking about it, and tried to concentrate on the scene in front of me. From then on, I refrained from thinking about it with everyone.

(C) Mayuzuki Jun / Shueisha, “Kowloon Generic Romance” Production Committee
–The more I listen to you, the more I can tell that you both valued the distance between you and your characters when acting. How did each other’s acting appear to you? Was there a moment during recording when you were drawn in by the other person’s acting?
Sugita: I felt that (Shiraishi) was gradually becoming Reiko Kujirai, but I tried not to think about that too much. There is no need for a desire to dominate, a desire for fame, or a desire for self-exhibition. If any of that were to seep out of your acting, it wouldn’t be “Kudou-style.” Reiko, played by Shiraishi, was the one who naturally let me move in that way and kept that balance.

(C) Mayuzuki Jun / Shueisha, “Kowloon Generic Romance” Production Committee
–What do you find attractive about Sugita’s character Kudo, Shiraishi-san?
Shiraishi: The Kudo played by Sugita has a really cool back. He has the feeling that “his back tells you everything,” and he has a melancholy quality, but at times he also has scary moments. But he also makes you want to follow him and rely on him. That’s the Kudo I see in front of me through the screen, and Sugita’s back in reality is also Kudo-san, that’s how it felt. Sugita’s Kudo is unique, but he also makes you feel a sense of loneliness that you can’t get one step closer to him, and makes you feel frustrated that you want to know more. His acting is exquisite. It was amazing.
Sugita: When I’m feeling down, I look back at the comments from this interview. I’ll take a screenshot and post it here. There’s no other comment that gives me such a high self-esteem.
Shiraishi: (laughs)

What is the “Kowloon food” that you spontaneously created? We’ll also introduce the highlights of the work.

(C) Mayuzuki Jun / Shueisha, “Kowloon Generic Romance” Production Committee
–The story is set in Kowloon, and there are many delicious looking dishes. Is there any food scene that left a particularly strong impression on you?
Shiraishi: It was the scene where Kudo took me there to eat boiled dumplings. I couldn’t resist eating them, so I bought some boiled dumplings to take home (laughs). I thought it was great, including the way the meat juices slowly overflowed and the reactions of the two of them (Kujirai and Kudo). I don’t have lemon chicken nearby, so I can’t eat it very often, but boiled dumplings are close by and easy to get.
Sugita: I can’t make boiled dumplings, but I made lemon chicken myself. But I made it without knowing what it was like, so it turned out different (laughs)
Shiraishi: I made it too!
Sugita: I think it was probably originally seasoned with lemon, like sweet and sour pork. But what I ended up with was something that was clearly different, something like fried chicken with a salt and lemon flavor, and I thought, “That’s delicious… so why did I make that?”
Shiraishi: (laughs). The lemon chicken I made also ended up tasting like salt and lemon.

(C) Mayuzuki Jun / Shueisha, “Kowloon Generic Romance” Production Committee
–Finally, please tell us what to look out for in the beginning for those who are going to watch it.
Shiraishi: From start to finish, it’s a work where you can’t miss each and every character. If a new character appears in the middle, your eyes will probably be drawn to that, but you can also go over to that character for now. When a new character appears, the mystery will deepen even more.
Sugita: (nodding) I hope you don’t forget the characters that appeared in the beginning. It’s good to remember them, even if it’s just to the point of “Oh, there was this person.” I won’t say anything more than that from me…
Shiraishi: The rest is up to you to look forward to (laughs)
Sugita: Look forward to it!