Music monthly / Red Square
Entry 46
Subject: Movie
by Akanishi Jin
I was chatting with the reporters about my upcoming movie when a young reporter asked me about my first movie.
I starred in my first movie when I was 18, but it was only at 20 years old that I was the lead. Or should I say one of the leads, because it was co-starred by Kame and me. The title of the movie was “Ningen Shikkaku” 「人間.失格」.**
Some of the older fans might have an impression of this movie. “Ningen Shikkaku” was originally released as a drama and our senpais, Kinki Kids, were the leads. Later, it was re-scripted into a movie that Kame and I starred in. One of the highlights in the drama was the scene which Koichi Domoto kissed Tsuyoshi Domoto.
That naturally became an unavoidable scene in the movie version. In addition, the storyline was changed from one-sided love to mutual love, so the director clearly stated that he would expect more than just a simple peck on the lips in the movie version. Thus in this scene, Kame and I had close physical contact by the poolside.
Our manager cleared the unnecessarily people out from the shooting scene in hope to reduce our discomfort. In the end, only six of us were left in the shooting scene.
It was a very beautiful summer afternoon. Sunshine poured into the indoor pool through the glass roof and I could see Kame’s reflection clearly on the calm pool surface. His eyes sparkled and his lips curled into their usual subtle smile. When the director gave us pep talks prior to the filming, Kame kept making silly faces at me.
Finally, the camera started rolling.
Strong camera lightings.
Martha Argerich’s piano selections in the background.
Kame was the one who initiated the kiss. I stirred from my sleep, woke up, and returned his kiss.
Even the promotional poster was shot in the swimming pool.
It took us more than 3 hours of kissing before the director captured the perfect scene he wanted. After he shouted ‘Good take’, I let go of Kame. Someone took a picture of us when we smiled to each other after the scene.
For promotional purpose, the movie company announced to the public that our ‘40seconds kiss’ scene was completed in one perfect take. And with additional, deliberate media manipulation, that scene became the talk of the town in no time. Kame and I became the first “couple” from our jimusho speculated to be in a gay relationship.
I didn’t mind those speculations. But I was worried that Kame might feel uncomfortable around me. Luckily, our friendship stood strong. Although others see us in a different light now, I didn’t care what others say. Really. After all, it was how we feel that matter the most.
Kame shared the same sentiment, “why should I keep my distance from you?”
Thus, we remained as best of friends and even wore the same pinky rings.
During the premiere, I was instructed to hold Kame’s hand when we walked into the cinema. We smiled, posed for the cameras and answered routine questions about the movie. Whenever I tightened my grip on his hands, we would “coincidentally” turn and looked at each other. This planned, man-made “telepathy” suggested a level of intimacy in the eyes of the media. And indeed on the following day, all the entertainment headlines were splashed with coverage of our movie.
The movie became a major box office and broke records in viewership. Kame so received compliments for his outstanding performance in the movie. After both of us got nominated for “Best Newcomer” in the annual movie award, the movie was put up for re-screening.
This time, the “two minutes' worth caressing and fondling scene” was added back into the movie and this uncut edition was given a restricted rating. That scene was edited away in the initial screening as the jimusho was concerned about the ‘negative idol image’ portrayed in it.
Many film offers of the similar nature came to us, but our tight schedules prevented us from taking up any more offers.
And thus, that movie became the only film that Kame and I co-starred in.
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**Ningen shikkaku is a japanese classic written by one of best writers. You can easily find information on it if you google it. and yes, koichi did kiss tsuyoshi (thanks! ) in that show!!
p.s: sorry for the flooding of dialogues in these chapters. i tried my best to fit them nicely but.. chinese and english does make a hell lot of difference. :(