The wait is over! Kento Nakajima’s Concordia, a gripping social-technological crime thriller, is finally now streaming on Hulu Japan. This six-part series marks a major milestone for our beloved Kenty, known for his diverse roles in the Japanese dramas we’ve come to love, as he takes on his first international production, showing off his English skills.
About Concordia Produced by Emmy-winning Frank Doelger (Game of Thrones), Concordia takes viewers to a high-tech utopian community built on AI surveillance, designed to create a freer and fairer society. However, this seemingly perfect town is shaken to its core when a murderโthe first in its historyโoccurs, along with a catastrophic AI hack. At the center of the drama are Saxony State Minister Hannah Bremer and Concordia CEO Juliana Eriksen, who are left grappling with the fallout.
Kento plays A.J. Oba, Concordiaโs Chief Technology Officer and the mastermind behind the townโs groundbreaking AI system. Reflecting on his role, Kento shared in fluent English, โI play A.J. Oba, a tech guy who’s really smart, cool, and a bit arrogant. It was a challenge to portray his personality, but I received incredible guidance from director Barbara Eder, who helped me deliver a performance that felt even more dynamic and nuanced.โ
A special behind-the-scenes featurette, now available, provides an in-depth look at Kento’s journey through his first overseas drama production. It includes interviews and making-of footage, where he reflects on his experience working in English and how the role made him consider the implications of AI in society. โThis drama makes you think about the near future. With AI as the central theme, some people may find it fascinating, while others might see it as frightening.โ
He also expressed gratitude to the cast and crew, saying, โThe director helped me refine my performance to be even cooler, more arrogant, and bold, which was a new and exciting challenge for me.โ
In the interview with Swedish-Japanese Performers Association, Kento shared, “Being familiar with the general flow of the set also allowed me to see the unique skills of others. For example (Director) Barbara Ederโs skills with cutwork. If you flub a line on a Japanese set, you have to start the scene
over from the beginning, but when something would happen on set in Rome we just start from the last line we were on. When I would see the dailies, I was shocked, because it looked like there had been no problem at all! This and other aspects made me rather impressed at the overall efficiency with which this overseas production was run,” noting the differences yet similarities between filming overseas compared to the domestic filming he’s been used to.
His hard work and passion for acting and the English language have really paid off with the role in Concordia, and it’s definitely a side we have not seen in Kento before! His strong presence and ability to pull the watcher in with subtle gestures and expressions remain, even when the language spoken is not his native one.
When asked if he thinks he’ll be able to use his English skills in the future in other works/challenges/opportunities, Kento responded, “There are two specific goals I have for my English. First, itโs Hollywood. My ultimate dream is to challenge myself in Hollywood in an international film. I was honored to have a conversation once with director Christopher Nolan during a red-carpet event I covered for the Japanese broadcast of the Academy Awards, and he even kindly asked me to have a quick audition for him. Still waiting for his call (haha), but I hope to improve and have a real opportunity to work with him someday,” and ever since the interview, Kento has been attending various overseas events, networking, and overall spreading his name to the world. There’s really no telling when the next global project will be announced, and if there’s anyone who can make the world continue to turn, it’s Kento.
“The second goal is to use my English skill to make Japanese works more famous overseas. There are a lot of works from other Asian nations which have become household names thanks to the power of international distribution and streaming platforms and given how well-received Love Like
the Falling Petals was in several European countries I would like to do more to help Japanese works achieve the same recognition around the world.”
With a multinational cast, including Ruth Bradley (Ted Lasso), Swedish actress Nanna Blondell (House of the Dragon), and Christiane Paul (Counterpart), Concordia promises a compelling viewing experience. Directed by Barbara Eder (Barbarians), the series blends suspense with thought-provoking themes of AIโs role in society.
Hulu Japan: https://www.hulu.jp/static/concordia
For streaming outside Japan, see:
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Mark your calendars for December 6th to 8th, 2024, as Tokyo Comic Con takes center stage. Among the many highlights, don’t miss the special presentation for the Hulu Original drama Concordia on Saturday, December 7th, from 12:15 to 12:45.
This exclusive event will dive into the fascinating world of Concordia, a gripping drama currently streaming exclusively on Hulu. With Executive Producer Frank Doelger, celebrated for his work on Game of Thrones, at the helm, and Kento taking on a leading role, this stage event promises to showcase the groundbreaking storytelling and thrilling themes that make Concordia a must-watch.
Donโt miss this chance to learn more about the drama thatโs capturing global attention. For more details, check out the Tokyo Comic Con Stage Schedule: https://tokyocomiccon.jp/stage
With his first solo album on the horizon, Kento is set to expand his world in 2025 even more, pulling us all along on this amazing journey of his. Seeing him on the screen outside Japan, in global work, speaking English with confidence and representing Asia, is such a proud moment to experience.
From the supporting role of Kento Minobe in Scrap Teacher (2008) to A.J. Oba in Concordia (2024), the growth is amazing, and the amount of diverse roles and work he has under his belt tells the world about the passion he has and the unique charisma he has in each role he portrays.
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