( interview with fujisawa tsunekiyo about the ssl drama - ssl tumblr october 2015 )

[devilism]

Interview with Fujisawa Tsunekiyo

Comments from Fujisawa Tsunekiyo, the general producer of the Hakuouki series and the one who was in charge of the planning and production of the original Hakuouki SSL game, about the drama.

● Your thoughts from when you saw the drama

It was very amusing!

There was only one thing I wanted from the live-action adaptation.

That was that I wanted them to make the background of the characters as the Shinsengumi from Hakuouki that's difficult to understand if you only watch SSL still understandable. Because of that I was very grateful for the scene at the beginning.

Because Hakuouki is a difficult period piece, SSL was made as a school setting where non-violent and peaceful love was possible. So its foundation is a school romantic comedy where everything happens peacefully. So when I saw the live-action adaptation, I thought "uwah, this is really amusing!". The second half turned into something like GTO or Crows Zero, when I saw the end my heart started pounding. It's a lot of fun! Ryunosuke was so weak. (laughs)

(note: what he's referencing here is Great Teacher Onizuka and Crows Zero, respectively a drama and a movie adaptation of two manga.)

● The parts that were different from the original game

There's flavor to each character!

Chizuru has become a very lively character in this drama. In Hakuouki Chizuru is a character with a reserved personality who gets pulled along by the men, but since SSL has a contemporary setting I think it's good like this.

The live-action adaptation also has Itou Kashitarou. To be honest, even though they were cut from SSL, originally it also had Itou-sensei and Ootori (Keisuke)-sensei. Because Itou was the arts teacher and Ootori the English teacher, I was really glad that Itou-sensei appeared this time!

● Favourite scene

In this version of SSL, my favourite character is Harada. "This guy, he's a real man. Isn't he so cool.." I really like the scene where he goes shopping with Chizuru and returns to the school alone and helps out Hijikata with a few words. In the game their interaction only consists of a few lines, but in the live-action adaptation you can actually see him interact more with Hijikata, I was impressed.

● Regarding the main characters

◇ Hijikata Toshizou

The sense of stability as Hijikata Toshizou

I felt like Nakamura-san likes Hijikata a lot and studied him in order to do well. The voice in the game, Miki Shinichiro, and Nakamura Yuuichi both capture his characteristics very well. Since he's able to play Hijikata realistically and firmly at the core, this has become a work I'm not ashamed to declare about that this is Hakuouki SSL.

◇ Saitou Hajime

Saitou Hajime, whose feelings are starting to overflow

The Saitou-kun that Someya-san plays has become a very drama-like character. It's very interesting that the feelings he's trying to hold back are starting to overflow. "Saitou-kun, your feelings are leaking out, they're leaking out! It's leaking too much!!" (laughs)

The Saitou-kun in this work is like the one in the last scene of the Shimabara arrest in Zuisouroku, the character is especially similar in his interactions with Chizuru. I felt very close to this Saitou-kun.

◇ Okita Souji

Okita Souji's sharp personality

Kimura-san is very conscious of Okita's personality as he forms the role, he really breaks through to the core of the character. Okita's personality is partially an S-type, so Kimura-san's sharp acting really seemed like Okita. Just like Okita he has the characteristic down of speaking with big vowels. I think he managed to copy Morikubo Showtaro's distinct way of speaking from the game very well.

◇ Toudou Heisuke

Playing a life-like Heisuke

Ishiwatari-san's Heisuke resembles the character most of all! Although that's why he's playing Heisuke.. (laughs) In Hakuouki SSL Heisuke grumbles and is jealous when it comes to Chizuru, even though those worries are entirely unneeded. In short, because he's such a realistic character, it's easy for anyone to empathize with him.

Like not being able to sleep at night because of worries over a favourite child, I feel grateful towards the Heisuke of this work.

◇ Harada Sanosuke

Glad for the coolest Harada

I'm glad that the Harada in this work played by Inagaki-san is just as cool as Hijikata!! He also matches the character's height, huh. Although I've already talked about how my favourite scene is the one with Hijikata that gave him a solid basis, Harada's adult-like exchange between men is what I what I want everyone to see for sure. I think the second half of the scene is very effective even with few words! (laughs)

◇ Kazama Chikage

Kazama, really an amazing guy

Ibuka-san came to love SSL's Kazama Chikage, his research really shows on screen. Although he's a person one might not entirely understand in Hakuouki, Kazama is really amazing because he became like a character from a kabuki play, you can get a better grap on him by how he's played. Rather than playing Kazama he's just surrendering his body to it, it feels like an embodiment.

(note: by comparing it to a kabuki play, i think he's referring to how kazama's behaviour is really exaggerated to the point where he's nearly an over the top stereotype.)

● To all the fans

I'm very glad that everyone is able to experience the 3D version of SSL.

Seeing SSL being played out by live human beings makes my heart pound as well, it's a very enjoyable school drama. Please keep supporting Hakuouki SSL from now on!

( link to the original )