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| Japanese singer-actor Shunsuke Michieda talks during a press conference for the film, "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight," in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Shunsuke Michieda, a member of J-pop idol group Naniwa Danshi and the star of "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight," said he is overwhelmed by Korean fans' support and affection for his latest film.
The coming-of-age romance film has attracted more than 970,000 moviegoers in Korea, becoming the third-highest-grossing Japanese live-action film released in Korea following the melodrama "Love Letter" released here in 1999 and horror film "Ju-on" in 2003.
"I'm really grateful and slightly befuddled. One year ago today, I was doing a table reading for 'Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight,' and I never thought I'd be coming to Korea. I heard the original novel (of the same title) is popular here and the film itself offers a powerful portrait of first love," he told Korean reporters at a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday.
The film appealed to young audience members. Shunsuke said the situation is similar in Japan.
"In Japan, many middle and high school students visited the theater to watch our film. Couples in their 20s said they were reminded that people in their lives are a precious gift. I think it mostly resonated with teenagers because the years of schooling fly by in the blink of an eye. The film also has fantasy elements and moving scenes," he said.
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| A scene from the film, "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight" / Courtesy of Media Castle |
An adaptation of Ichijo Misaki's best-selling novel, this film tells the story of Maori (Riko Fukumoto), a girl who suffers from anterograde amnesia that causes her to forget everything that happened the day before she wakes up in the morning.
One day, her classmate Toru (Michieda) asks her to go out, an offer he did not actually mean but had to make to help his friend, but the two later fall in love. In an effort not to forget, Maori keeps a journal in which she records her feelings of love about Toru. However, her tenacious illness puts the couple's love to the test and Toru decides to make as many happy memories together as possible.
Michieda said he shares a unique similarity with his character, in that they both strive to do something for others.
"Unlike Toru, who is good at household chores such as cooking, I'm bad that those. However, we share the same values in general. Just like Toru, I also strive to do things for others, my fans in particular. I work hard to please them," he said.
Picking "True Beauty" (2020-21) as his recent favorite K-drama, the Japanese singer-actor expressed his desire to collaborate with Korean actors and directors.
"I'm a fan of actor Song Kang (best known for Netflix's 'Sweet Home' and 'Love Alarm'). I have watched many of his works and I would love to meet him one day. As for the films, I haven't watched many Korean films, but I'm interested in working closely with Korean directors if possible," he said.
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