karin tsukutabe realsound 240228

https://realsound.jp/movie/2024/02/post-1584179.html

Q Please tell us how you felt when it was decided you will be appearing in this work

Fujiyoshi: After receiving the offer, I watched the season 1 of the drama, and it has the atmosphere and the warmth of the original work that I love so much, which made me want to quickly go to the filming location and shoot it

Q What was your impression on the character you are playing, Nagumo-san, when you read the original work and script?

Fujiyoshi: Each of her behavior is so cute that if you were near her, it makes you just want to care for her. Nagumo-san has such a charm, which makes me envious of her

Q Nagumo-san is a woman with small appetite and has a strong reluctance to eat in front of others. Is there anything that you keep in mind when playing Nagumo-san, who is such a character?

Fujiyoshi: One of the appeals of this work is that it delicately depicts not only Nagumo-san's worries and conflicts, but also that of each character, so I wanted to express that carefully. Deipnophobia itself is not that distance from me. When I think back to my school days, I remember moments that made me think, ``Maybe that was the case with that person, too”, and during COVID pandemic, I am sure that there are people who feel reluctant or fear of taking off their mask during eating situations like usual. I acted while facing those feelings properly

Q Fujiyoshi-san is active as a member of Sakurazaka46, and I think that there are many occasions when you use a lot of physical strength when performing. Do you have any concerns about your diet in terms of physical  fitness and health?

Fujiyoshi: No, there is nothing I’m particular about, so much so that yesterday, there was a rehearsal for a concert, and I was snacking the whole time during break time that the stage director scolded me and told me to eat proper food (laughs). But I’m the kind of person who likes to take my time eating in my private time, and I especially like to stay at ryokan inns and eat there by myself. Since I travel not for sightseeing but for that purpose, I keep food in mind when choosing the ryokan inns

Q Ryokan food sure are delicious, aren’t they? Do you like Japanese food?

Fujiyoshi: I love it! I become obsessed with Japanese food since around last year, and I’m especially fond of eggplant ohitashi and simmered fish. It’s not just those light food, I like meat as well, I can eat anything other than taro (laughs). I think I’m a person who doesn’t have many likes or dislikes

Q You’re someone who are okay with lodging in a ryokan inn by yourself, but could it be that you are also okay with dining alone?

Fujiyoshi: I’m perfectly fine with it. I think I can enter any kind of restaurant by myself. The other day after a rehearsal, I went to eat to eat Chinese food by myself (laughs). I like that bursting feeling of metabolism that appears when an empty stomach is filled all at once

Q By the way, when it comes to “She who loves to cook” and “She who loves to eat”, which one is Fujiyoshi-san?

Fujiyoshi: It’s “She who loves to eat”! I like to eat home-cooked food made by others. Ever since I moved to Tokyo, I rarely eat food that has been made by someone else, and whenever I go home and eat my mom’s food, I would think, “This sure is nice, I wish I could live here with my mom”

Q Among all the food she has made for you, is there something that leave a particular impression?

Fujiyoshi: It’s oden. In my home, there is a tableware that only used for oden, so that tableware has this “This is home!” vibe to it (laughs)

Q Nagumo-san will be deepening her relationship with Nomoto-san, Kasuga-san, and Yako-san (Tomosaka Rie-san) who is newly introduced in Season 2. How was the filming with the three of them?

Fujiyoshi: The filming site was always lively and feel friendly. It felt that everyone, including the staff, had fun filming, and I always let out a chuckle (laughs). They really are funny

Q Were there anything you feel especially nervous about?

Fujiyoshi: Until now I have been mostly working with people my age, and it’s the first time I work with older ladies, so I felt nervous about it. But really thankfully, everyone created a nice, comfortable space with Higa-san at the center of it. I was able to be my self as it is and truly enjoyed the filming, so much so I always felt like I didn’t want to go home

Q Please tell us if you receive any influence from them as an actress

Fujiyoshi: I was able to meet with Nishino-san in the make up-room right after we started filming, and we spoke in our usual, normal way. Then in the middle of it, Nishino-san jokingly said “Thank you very much” in-character as Kasuga-san. The gap felt at the time was really huge. I have never really acted a character that is far removed from myself, so I received a shock to realize this is what it meant to act

Q Fujiyoshi-san, how do you usually prepare for your roles?

Fujiyoshi: I try to overlap my own feelings with that of the character and approach the character, so first of all I will read the script thoroughly and start from finding something that I can relate to

Q Please tell us the difficulty and fun of acting that you feel right now

Fujiyoshi: I just started acting and there are still so many things I don’t know about even when I go to the filming location, but on the opposite, that is what made it fun. I’m a 2nd generation of Sakurazaka46, and it’s been five years since I joined the group, and it was getting difficult for me to feel a new stimulation. And it made me feel a bit scared, so to say, there was a sense of crisis that I might get too accustomed with everything. That’s why being able to experience new things like this gives me a fresh feeling, which made me happy

Q It opened your world even more. Fujiyoshi-san also acts in “Ao Haru Ride Season 2”, and I got the impression that you taking an active challenge of being an actress. What kind of year do you want 2024, a turning point for you, to be?

Fujiyoshi: I often talk about this with my manager and tell them, “I want to work harder in acting as well”. 3rd gen members joined Sakurazaka46 last year, and I wish that we could take greater progress from here on, so I’d like to take back what I have learned from acting and other outside activities to the group and lead everyone

Q Then finally, please give a message to the reader

Fujiyoshi: First of all, truly thank you very much for your hard work as always. I always do my group activities with the hope that it could be a place  of comfort as you go through a  busy lives, but I hope that “She who loves to cook, She who loves to eat” can be the same presence for you. I also hope that I could snuggle close to your heart as Nagumo-san, so by all means, please do read the drama and soothe yourself of your worries of the day!