On the 12th, Naoki Fujii from the six-member group Bishonen attended a press conference for the stage play “Kanbi Naru Yukai“/”The Sweet Kidnapping” at Theater 1010 in Kitasenju.
The play is an adaptation of Kiichi Hirai’s novel of the same name, with a script and direction by Udai Iwasaki from かもめんたる/Kamomental.
Low-ranking yakuza members Shinya and Yuto lead unremarkable lives, constantly being pushed around by their ruthless boss. However, their mundane existence begins to unravel after they stumble upon a murder victim.
At the same time, in Chofu, a father-daughter duo running an auto parts shop is on the verge of shutting down due to harassment from a predatory land shark.
Meanwhile, the granddaughter of the leader of Nirvana, a shady religious group profiting through illegal activities, is kidnapped.
How will these seemingly unrelated events converge in a shocking finale?
Fujii, who plays Shinya, described his character as having a cool but slightly lazy demeanor, though still maintaining the sharp intensity expected of a yakuza. Reflecting on the role, he admitted that portraying both laziness and intensity was challenging but ultimately rewarding. While this was a new aspect for him as an actor, Fujii noted that he could relate to the “intense drive” his character exhibits, likening it to the focus he feels as an idol.
This play marks Fujii’s first time as the solo lead in a stage production, and he confessed to feeling extremely nervous. Despite his anxiety, he expressed gratitude for the strong support from the cast and crew, acknowledging that they helped him bring the character to life.
Discussing the offer to play a yakuza, he said it was initially hard to imagine himself in the role. However, after reading the novel and receiving advice from Udai Iwasaki, he was able to draw on similar traits within himself to develop the character further.
Despite his typically gentle appearance, there was a moment during rehearsals when Fujii managed to fully embody his character, surprising his co-stars Takuma Wada and Udai, who even remarked that he looked “scary.”
Fujii humorously shared that being told he looked rough was one of the few moments where he was genuinely pleased.
When asked if his fellow Bishonen members would come to see the performance, Fujii smiled confidently, saying, “I believe they’ll come!” He also addressed fans, noting that this production is full of firsts for him. Although Kanbi Naru Yukai is a mystery, he hopes audiences will enjoy the various twists and feel the unique charm that Udai Iwasaki’s direction brings to the stage.
The press conference also featured co-stars Kazuki Namioka, Hiroki Uchi, and Takuma Wada. “Kanbi Naru Yukai” will be performed at Theater 1010 from September 13th to 16th.
See the official site for more information: https://delight-company.com/the-sweet-kidnapping/