"Encounters that continue to support my acting career" - Actor Takashi Nagayama

Takashi Nagayama
Nagayama, a native of Sagamihara City, is a 43-year-old actor with 24 years of experience in the entertainment industry, and continues to be active in film, television, and theater.
In recent years, he has been active on the front lines of the stage, appearing in Fuji TV's "Oshi no Oujisama" and NHK's historical drama "Seiten wo Tsuke," but it's not always been smooth sailing up to this point. Despite struggles, conflicts, and situations that didn't go as planned, he has been able to continue his acting career, perhaps because of his personality, which allows him to cherish and nurture the various encounters that come his way.

—Why did you become an actor?
Nagayama: "At first, I was thinking of becoming a comedian."

—Not an actor?
Nagayama : "Yes. Ever since I was a child, I was always the one who made people laugh in class. So I thought I wanted to become a comedian. So when I was in my third year of high school, I auditioned for a talent agency. At that time, someone involved told me that I would be suited to acting."
So that's how you decided to become an actor?
Nagayama : "Yes. I immediately enrolled in an acting school."

However, simply saying you want to do something or become something doesn't mean an opportunity will immediately come. While working hard to build connections, she was scouted by a modeling agency at a fashion show. From then on, she worked hand-in-hand with the company president, desperately trying to secure work and promote herself.
Nagayama : "That was probably the toughest time. I commuted from Sagamihara every day to do office cleaning and odd jobs."

She managed to secure an audition, which led to her debut. In 1998, she landed a role in a TV Asahi drama series.
Nagayama : "The experiences and encounters I had on the set of my debut film were invaluable. In particular, the words of Director Wakamatsu still remain strongly in my heart."
The legendary director Setsuro Wakamatsu, who would later go on to direct films such as "The Unsinkable Sun" and "Whiteout," put his arm around the shoulder of the inexperienced newcomer Takashi Nagayama and said to him in this way.

"What you're doing right now is amazing. Don't forget that."

Nagayama : "I will never forget those words. I learned so much from Director Wakamatsu, who interacted with the actors at a very close distance."
Thanks to the mediation of friends he met on his debut project, Nagayama has been affiliated with Geiei Production since 2000. Nagayama's honest personality, which values connections and encounters, is evident, but there are other significant encounters that have been important to him.

Nagayama: "'The Prince of Tennis Musical' was a huge experience for me. The cast, the world of the show, and the fans with whom I still have a strong connection. It was a time when I was challenging myself in new places and worlds, and I think I was able to find great breadth of possibilities. The same goes for F2 Dreams (a unit within a Fuji TV wide-show program). The encounters I had back then are still very precious to me."
At the time, the term "2.5-dimensional musical" didn't even exist, and he was even whispered to be a "legend" by some. Having spearheaded popular productions, he never forgets his gratitude for the works and the encounters he's had.
Even for him, the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be a harsh one.
Nagayama : "It feels like I'm constantly being hit with invisible body blows. During rehearsals for the play, I have to wear a mask, and it's become difficult to communicate with the staff on set. There are times when I feel like I could become negative. But instead of trying to force my way through this situation, I'm trying to accept it while calmly preparing solutions. I think that's also necessary. Things like workshops, taking initiative to find communities, and gaining strength from them."

Continuing to fight through the seemingly endless COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to devastate the entertainment industry, is no easy task.
Even amidst all of that, there are works that have borne fruit because they cherished the encounters they had and persevered without giving up.

Nagayama : "I just finished filming a movie the other day, and it was a really tough shoot with a small crew, long takes, and a limited number of days, from morning till night."
In long takes, where there are no frequent cuts, the number of lines and sequences to memorize at once increases several times over. To accomplish this with a small number of actors requires not only skill and experience, but also immeasurable concentration and physical stamina. Yet, as he spoke, his face was filled with a sense of accomplishment and joy.
Nagayama : "I can't go into details about the film's content, but it's a film by director Jun Akiyama. Mr. Akiyama is a pioneer, and I'm always learning from his producing skills. After a long acquaintance, he promised to make a film with Takashi, and he finally fulfilled that promise after 17 years. He's a director who values the individuality of his actors, and the diverse cast, including actresses and models from Takarazuka, is also a major draw of this film."

The title and release date are yet to be determined, but an announcement will likely be made on his blog in the future.
What kind of works will he, who cherishes encounters and friendships, introduce us to?
I look forward to their future success.
Takashi Nagayama Official Blog : Click here