Komoto is an actor and a skilled kendo practitioner who was selected to compete in the Okayama National Athletic Meet during his high school years. He regards his senior from his student days, Kyoto Prefectural Police Officer Hideaki Takahashi, as his spiritual mentor. During his student days, he was so absorbed in kendo that he can say with confidence that "kendo is everything to me."

He embodies the secret of kendo, "sutemi," in his daily life, and I couldn't help but feel happy during the interview.

This time, he shared some memorable stories from kendo and his daily way of thinking. This is a must-see interview for anyone who is worried about their future career path or their current job!

Interviewer and writer: BUSHIZO Uejima Go

Photography: BUSHIZO Kudo Yusuke

profile

Masahiro Komoto

He joined the Tokyo Sunshine Boys in 1989. During his time there he was involved in the hits "12 Kind Japanese" and "Radio no Toki"

"Ma", "Hikoma Goes", "The Show Must Go On", "Trap" (written and directed by Mitani Koki) and others

Appeared in the film.

After the company disbanded in January 1995, he expanded his activities to TV, movies, and the stage.

He has appeared in almost all of the TV dramas and movies in the "Bayside Shakedown" series up until 2012.

In various works, when he plays the evil role, he reveals his hidden madness, and when he plays the good role, he draws the audience in too.

The realistic depiction of her memorable smile, which is present in everyday life, adds depth to the drama.

In the 2010 film "After the Flowers," based on a novel by Shuhei Fujisawa, she played the role of the protagonist's fiancee.

He brilliantly portrayed the deep, hidden love, and even the family of Shuhei Fujisawa said that Komoto was the only one who could play the role.

It was highly praised.

Her recent major appearances include the films "Everest: The Summit of the Gods" (2016) and "Your Lie in April" (2016).

"Tatara Samurai" (2017), TV "Heisei Makioka Sisters" (2018/NHK), "99.9 Criminal Lawyer II" (2018/TBS), "Signal: Long-Term Unsolved Case Investigation Team" (2018/Kantele), stage "The World is Made of Lies"

"(2014, 2017), "Reading Drama Winter Quartet 'Snow and Straw Hats'", etc.

He is currently appearing in the TV show "Iryu Sousa" which is being broadcast on the TV Asahi network.

Additionally, "The Real Culprit" will be broadcast on WOWOW from 10:00 PM on Sunday, September 23rd.

I started kendo by chance

Komoto : "The truth is, I started kendo by chance. When I was in the first grade of elementary school, I wanted to play baseball, so I gave my parents a baseball pamphlet. Apparently, by mistake, the pamphlet was for kendo (laughs). When I went to practice for the first time, we gathered in the gymnasium, not on the field. We practiced swinging the bat, but it wasn't like baseball swings. I thought it was strange, but I continued, and I couldn't get away from kendo. I don't like to quit halfway through."

-It was truly a chance encounter (laughs). How was your kendo performance?

Komoto : "When I was a student, we were always second in Okayama Prefecture. When I was in junior high school, I wanted to participate in the All-Japan Junior High School Championships, but we lost in the finals of the prefectural tournament. The team we lost to in the finals went on to win the All-Japan Championships. It was really frustrating."

- Coming second in the prefectural tournament is an amazing achievement!

Komoto : "When I was in high school, I lost in the final of the prefectural tournament and came in second place. Although I was on the team for the National Athletic Meet, my long-awaited dream of competing in the Inter-High School Championships was not fulfilled.

There is one episode that I still remember with great regret. Two days before the Inter-High School Championships preliminaries, I injured my ribs.

It's not that I'm upset about the injury itself. During the final, the thought crossed my mind: 'I have a broken rib.' Until the semi-finals, I was able to concentrate on the match so much that it didn't cross my mind, but at a really tough moment, I lost to myself ."

-So a gap has been created in your mind that allows you to make excuses...

Komoto: "I made up an excuse for myself that made me think, 'It's no big deal if I lose.' It's so frustrating that I still dream about it."

My spiritual mentor is Senior Officer Hideaki Takahashi of the Kyoto Prefectural Police

Komoto : "My life in kendo cannot be discussed without mentioning Takahashi Hideaki, a senior at the Kyoto Prefectural Police. He was my senior in high school and university, but he is still my spiritual mentor. We still have dinner together from time to time."

-So you're a junior of Professor Takahashi!

Komoto : "Until junior high school, we were rivals and seniors from different dojos, but we ended up together in high school. I had no intention of going on to university, but with the guidance of my senior, I ended up going to Kyoto Sangyo University. We even shared rooms in the university dormitory."

-What do you particularly respect about Professor Takahashi?

Komoto : " He was just so kind. I never saw him scold anyone. But he was strict with himself. He was someone who led the team members by example. When I saw that, I felt a true strength in him. He was someone who exuded strength that came from kindness .

Whenever I feel stuck or impatient, I remember Takahashi-senpai and he makes me think, 'I can't continue like this,' and I respect him."

-Even though your jobs are different, you have a big presence.

Komoto : "The most memorable story about Takahashi-senpai was a comment he made when we competed in a tournament together. At the time, he was playing as the final player and needed only two wins to advance to the national team. Before he faced off in the final, he said to us, 'Thank you.' We didn't understand what he meant. Before we knew it, he had won two games in the final and had also taken the national team title. After the match, we asked him what he really meant by 'Thank you.' He said, 'It's rare to find yourself in such an exciting situation. It's nice to know that it's all down to you.' Normally, that would be considered pressure, but he's a really positive and innocent person. That kind of personality attracted me to him and helped me through my student life."

I thought I would give up my most important interest, Kendo.

Komoto : "Without fear of being misunderstood, I wanted to break away from the idea that 'kendo is everything to me.' I had been doing kendo so much that it was almost too much, so I was worried about being in a state where 'kendo is all I have.'

If I had a goal in life, I think I would have been able to have a good relationship with kendo. But for me, kendo was all I had. Everything I enjoyed and everything I worried about was all about kendo."

-You were so absorbed in kendo that you couldn't see anything else.

Komoto: "When I entered society, I thought about giving up kendo, which was the most important thing to me. Looking back, I feel like I wouldn't have been able to make that decision without kendo."

-Did you get a job after graduating from university?

Komoto : "After graduating from university, I got a job and worked hard, but because I had quit kendo, I felt like I was hanging in the balance. I had nothing to rely on. I didn't have a clear idea of ​​what I wanted to do."

-What made you decide to pursue a career as an actor?

Komoto : "At times like that, I thought maybe I was looking for something certain too much. When I quit kendo, I was looking for something certain, and when I was trying to find something I wanted to do, I was looking for something certain. I thought I'd try starting something, even if it was just based on interest ."

-So even if you're just interested, you should give it a try!

Komoto : "At that time, what I loved was watching movies. Since I had given up Kendo, which was everything to me, to become a salaryman, I decided to take the plunge and pursue acting, which I was interested in. And so I came to Tokyo.

It was certainly scary. But think about it. You still go into a haunted house even if you're scared. If your fear and interest are on the same level, you can do it. If your interest level is low, I think you'll end up feeling uneasy rather than scared. If it's something that's half-hearted, I think it's better not to do it ."

- Your thoughts will be helpful to people who are currently struggling.

Every work site is like a human life, and it is packed with all the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.

Komoto : "I started my career as a stage actor. I had no acting experience, but I was lucky enough to get to know Koki Mitani before he became famous.

His stance was, "I won't give you any instructions, so just act however you like." If it didn't suit his tastes, it would be left out. In a way, I'm grateful to Mitani for letting me encounter something so uncertain. Since I started acting, Mitani has been my mentor. When I asked him if it would be okay if I had no acting experience, he said , "You won't know until you try ."

-You've been blessed with great encounters with Professor Takahashi! What do you find rewarding about your current job?

Komoto : "No matter what kind of location I'm on, I feel it's rewarding. Every time is tough, but it 's also fun. The reason for this is that I approach each location as if it were a human's lifetime. I pack all my emotions into my life, from the beginning to the end. So I give it my all every time and then die. It's like a cicada. Cicadas only sing for a short time, but I want to die crying my eyes out. That's the kind of feeling I have when I go to each location."

-Every episode is a drama.

Komoto : "A human's life is only about 50 years long at most. I try to be conscious of concentrating on this moment in the present. For example, when you're listening to someone talk, you might find it boring halfway through. But if you hold back and listen, you might hear something that opens your eyes. Even when watching a movie, if you hold back, you might get goosebumps at the last scene. I think it's beneficial to be 100% focused on every moment."

-Even Mr. Komoto, have there been times when you weren't able to concentrate 100%?

Komoto : "In the past, I would try to control myself by reading too much into the intentions of the person I was cast with. Looking back, that was a mistake. It was a way of controlling myself that was based on overconfidence. I always put in all my energy. The necessary control should come naturally from past experiences. So I try to give it 100% without holding back. I only have this moment now."

-The words "I'm naturally in control" are encouraging.

Komoto : "Actors are creatures who don't create anything on their own. If you're not cast, you're like a floating spirit. You can't exist unless someone clicks the shutter. You have to think of it as a miracle that you were cast, and do your best. I used to be hesitant, but recently I've been working with that mindset. I've never been the kind of person who never hesitates. The way you think can make all the difference in the way you live your life."

-These words make me think...

If you think, "I can't be wrong," you can take action.

Komoto: "I don't have a single word that I can say to people, 'Do this.' I'm just putting my own thoughts into words. Even if it's not the correct answer, I tell myself, 'It can't be wrong!' (laughs)"

- You have to think in dualistic terms. It's similar to Zen thinking!

Komoto : "If you search for the right answer, it's hard to move forward. But if you think, 'I can't be wrong,' you'll have the motivation to take action. Searching for the right answer takes time. It also has the disadvantage of not being able to express what you're thinking directly."

- Mr. Komoto, you've been successful by being creative with your mindset. I learned a lot from that!

Komoto: "What I have said is not everything, so I hope you will keep it in the back of your mind. I am still a person who is only halfway through my journey."

summary

- Evaluating yourself from a bird's-eye view and fine-tuning your mindset. I think this is the key to your success.

"Even if it's just an interest, it can't be wrong," he thought, and took action. There are few words more encouraging than this for those who are worried about their future career path or their current job. I got the impression that he embodies the secret of kendo, "sacrifice."

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today!