cagamosis | ( interview kento for sonosono - the tv january 14th 2019 )

'Actor from a different dimension' Ono Kento, "I want to create a stage where everyone seems like the lead!"

The actor Ono Kento, whose activities mostly consist of stageplays and works on TV, takes advantage of his height of 187 centimeters en his proportions, which are said to be two-dimensional. He plays Choromatsu of the "surprisingly good looking" F6 in the stage play version of the Osomatsu-san series, and even went on a live tour for it. That Ono will be playing the lead role in Omuism vol. 2 "Park ~Sonosono~", which will be performed from January 23rd on in Tokyo at the Kitazawa Town Hall. His thoughts on playing the lead part at the beginning of the last year of his twenties. He revealed for the first time the existence of a mysterious old man who gave him advice for his worries.

2018, where he achieved his goal

In 2018 you did special events in March, a live tour in August which went around Tokyo, Chiba, Okinawa and Osaka, and another event as well on New Year's Eve. It seems like there were a lot of events related to Osomatsu-san this year.

That's right. Especially being able to be part of the F6 1st Live Tour "Satisfaction" was a big event in 2018. It was our main goal, so we were glad when we were allowed to do it.

You played F6's Choromatsu for Osomatsu-san, but during that same time you also performed in many other productions. Wasn't it difficult to switch?

I'm able to clearly turn that on and off. When I leave the stage, I can quickly and easily turn back to normal. (laughs) Maybe it's since the character is so clear for the role I play...

Recognizing the year where he turned 30 years old

Although you were very busy until the end of the year, were you able to take things easy during New Year? It was the last New Year of your 20s...

That's true! I was so caught up with the end of the Heisei Era that I didn't even realise that it was the end of my 20s! Next time I'll be over 30 years old, huh... I've been doing this work since I was a high school student. I couldn't even imagine my thirties.. I wish I would've done everything more seriously. (laughs) I went to my parents' home for the New Year and took it easy. I picked up my older sister and my nephew with my car... Since my sister and I are seven years apart, I must've been loved a lot by her when I was younger. Even though I don't remember it. (laughs) We're a close sibling duo now we've become adults, to the point that we're mistaken as a couple when we go shopping together on the streets.

Do you have a resolution for this year?

Tomita Sho, who I co-starred with before, has amazingly nice handwriting. I was really impressed by it. Although my father and older sister are good at drawing and writing, I'm not good at either of those things. My kanji are still messy, even though I turned 30. I think that's unsophisticated, so I want to try and write cleaner kanji this year. But that doesn't have anything to do with acting, huh? (laughs)

2019's first laugh of the year

I heard that your first production of the year is "Park ~Sonosono~". I also heard that all of you go out to eat together once practice is over, have you already opened your hearts that much?

I already had worked with the director Watashi Omu-san and some of my co-stars before. I think the fact that there aren't many of us and that all of us like to drink alcohol makes for a good atmosphere. I'm originally the type of person other people fuss about.. (laughs) I wonder why, since I don't mean to seem daunting. (laughs) I think that I'm getting better at asserting myself each year. There are more and more people who are younger than me, so that makes me care even more about setting the right mood.

And yet you're the same age as Watashi Omu-san.

That's right. Although it's only the fourth day of practice (as of this interview), it's easy to understand what he wants with his directing. I could easily grasp the flow of the emotions and the movements of the acting.

Can you already feel any effects from acting together with your co-stars?

I practiced a two person scene with Shinohara Isao-san yesterday. That was a lot of fun. I felt Shinohara-san's strong acting and the intense feeling coming from his eyes. It felt like I gathered it all up in myself, and it made me smirk. (laughs) I get really encouraged by acting alongside him, since he's the absolute top when it comes to conveying emotions through his acting.

This production is a situation comedy, right?

It's been a while since I did a situation comedy, huh? To tell you the truth.. comedy is my weak point! (laughs) I worry about being able to make people laugh, and since I get stressed out when there's no laughter, I'm not good at it. But the signs were showing this time, so I thought "I can do it!" I don't exactly know why, but I think it may be the influence of Omu-san and my co-stars.

A role that's completely different from himself!

I haven't seen a summary yet, but what kind of story is "Park"?

A hard-working policeman ends up getting fired one day. Since he doesn't know what to do, he ends up spending time at the park and meets various people.. That's the story. The weakness of the former policeman, who I play, is that he's too kind. He's the kind of person who does everything in a gentle way.

Is he not very much like you then?

We don't have anything in common. (laughs) I play someone who's a completely different type than I am.

Are you the kind of person who usually isn't very worried?

I get really worried once a year. I get worried until I hit rock bottom, and then I quickly get back up again. (laughs) There is someone who's like an adviser to me. Although that person is someone whose job has nothing to do at all with the world of public entertainment, and even though our age difference is like a parent and child, they really give me advice from my point of view. They're a charming person, and I really respect them. I only talk about my problems with him, but he also tends to be a "mysterious old man" who says tough things when I get too wrapped up in my concerns. (laughs) Funnily enough, that person never comes to see me on the stage. Maybe it's since he'd get too many emotions from seeing me as an actor..?

Wanting to create a stage where everyone seems like the lead

There's no other job where you the members of the team you work with change as completely as when you're an actor, right?

Although we sometimes meet again for a different production, there are times when the first time you co-star with someone is also the last time. That's why I always want to cherish each moment. I think it's an interesting job.

Please tell us about your policy as the leader, considering you will be playing the lead part this time.

Although I'm very glad to be playing the lead part, I sometimes wonder if it's alright that I'm the one doing it. That's why I like to think that everyone is playing the lead part. In comedies such as "Park", you can't establish your own role without the other people around. I really want to share the feelings of wanting to act with a specific someone, which really amkes you put everything into your acting, with everyone on the stage this time around. Although I haven't specifically conveyed as much to my co-stars, I wonder if they'll be able to show that through their acting. I hope that everyone can stand on the stage with confidence for this production without worrying excessively. I hope you can make sure to come and see whether we've been able to realise that.

( link to the original )