Jo Odagiri Interview

TV Navi magazine, July issue "special-edition "Shinsengumi!" men's DRAMATIC
STORY"
Odagiri Jo:Hajime Saito

[What makes the charm of this drama for me is Mr. Mitani's scenario above
all]

The most impressive episode for me is the first one, in which showing every
members gathered, then the drama went back to the past in order to show their
life in Edo. When I saw those members fully equipped for the first time, I've
got an idea about the group called Shinsengumi.
Although half a year has passed, I maintain a certain distance from the
personage of Hajime Saitou to portray him as he has somewhat mysterious image.

Hajime Saitou has few historical record. I picked up as possible as I could,
an outline or a fragment of the man from these restricted information to
create my own image of him.
Of course Mr. Mitani has given me many suggestion about the role, though I
dare not tell about it as I'd like to respect the imagination of the audience.

In Ikedaya incident, Saitou takes another action within Hijikata's unit
again, and he is slipping now in and now out of sight. Since he doesn't go along
with other members most of time(laugh).
After this incident, Saitou will go to the direction of his espionage
activity from now on.
Which side his real intention is, on Kondo or Kashitaro Itou? I want to play
with an ambiguous touch toward the so called "Aboura no Kouji incident".
Hajime Saito's keyword would be"the ambiguity".

The attraction of Saitou's swordplay is its fierceness, and I think it's
better to don't mind about any specific sword style he would have. I think I can
do anything if he would be strong. I care about how I interpret the
choreography given by the sub-director of sword fight scenes.
As I know that historical Saitou excels in thrust, I asked the sub-director
to give me more sword fight with this technique.

What makes the charm of this drama for me is Mr. Mitani's scenario above all.
I read his script each time with pleasure. Since it finally becomes about 50
volumes. I'm glad only by thinking that 50 scripts of Mr. Mitani can be got.

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Tama



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