Interview with Takahisa Ishiko, who will be staring in Shiromuku: The Wedding DressThis month we will be having a two part interview withThailand based Japanese actor Takahisa Ishiko who will beresponsible for bringing CPT Toshiro Masada to life in Shiromuku: The Wedding Dress to be released in 2014.

We were able to catch Mr. Ishiko (he prefers to be called Taka) as he was preparing for another of his many roles in Bangkok, Thailand recently.

In addition to acting, Takahisa is very busy in the Bangkok area during his stays there, which are about half the year. He has a weekly Japanese radio program he DJs and acts as a talk show host, providing the local Japanese speaking community with music, information, and entertainment every Wednesday on a local radio station. Thailands prolific TV and film industry, and love of Japanese themed movies means Takahisa also stays very busy acting in Thai productions such as Bunprong (TV Drama on Thai PBS) and the US movie made in Thailand Ninja II.

SHIROMUKU:

Q. What got you started in acting?

TAKA: I went into acting to become a container.

SHIROMUKU:*At this point he displays his amazing smile and the mischievous glint in his eye baits us to delve further. Q. A “container” ?!?

TAKA: *Looking pleased that we took the bait to ask him what he meant.A. Yes. A “container”. You see acting is to be another person. But It’s not limited to speaking only the lines, and moving according to the script. Anyone can do those sorts of things easily. No, there is so much more involved. You have to be the “container”.

I start by emptying myself........of myself. We all carry things into this world and become who we are. But to be the type of actor I want to be I must empty myself completely and become the “Container” or white canvas, that can draw upon the new personality and become the character I am acting. This is my ultimate goal, and the reason I went into acting.

Its very much a mental martial art. Imagining all that you can about the character and his background. Then internalize those elements and put them into myself to meet the script and directors needs so the audience will literally be watching the character in totality. Its kind of like being a necromancer.

SHIROMUKU: *Frantically looking up the word “necromancer” as we continue the interview.

Q. What were your inspirations you drew upon and continue to draw upon when developing your acting technique?

TAKA:

A. Performing Japanese calligraphy gave me a lot of inspiration to my acting. It may sound different to many people not familiar with how in depth Japanese calligraphy is and how it can help develop acting technique, or really any part in your life.

Even for us Japanese, it is difficult to write beautiful Kanji with a traditional brush and ink. We have to take into consideration the strength and weakness of the brush, to know the thickness of the ink and how dark it will be on the page from the first stroke to the last, and all throughout to keep a neutral mind while we create this beautiful word. This is also acting. To have the neutral mind while still creating with all of the considerations.

SHIROMUKU:Q. How old were you when you first started acting?

TAKA:

A. I was 12 years old when I joined the acting school in Tokyo.

! ! ! ! ! SHIROMUKU:

! ! ! ! ! Q. What was your families reaction when they found ! ! ! ! ! out you wanted to be an actor?

! ! ! ! ! TAKA:

! ! ! ! ! A. I was very fortunate. Actually, when my father was young, he wanted to become Actor too. So he promised to support me and he did. I am very thankful for that.

SHIROMUKU:

Q. What made you decide to start acting in Thailand?

TAKA:

A. Here in Thailand, there is a high demand for a kind of “traditional” Japanese actor and actress, and a lot of roles for us. Most of the roles are for a Samurai, Yakuza, or Japanese soldiers. As such, the actors Live in the abroad, it required to be more typical or traditional Japanese.

On a personal level I appreciate it as it gives me an opportunity to provide me with a deep understanding of “what I am” “what my nationality is”. This gives me a benefit I take with me beyond just acting.

SHIROMUKU:

Q. What was your favorite project to work on and why?

TAKA:

A. I was on the Japanese TV reality show “Denpashonen” about 10 years ago.Its plot was to take groups of us and we had to survive these scenarios in the countryside of Cambodia. Even through it really wasn’t acting since it was a reality show, it was very challenging. Cambodia itself I love!! The scenery is so beautiful, the people are very friendly, kind, and wonderful.

That part made it easier, but the difficult part was for 9 months I had to be myself, Takahisa Ishiko, in front of a camera!!

There were many elements; fighting, hunger, friendship with other cast members, cultural exchange between local people.

Through these experiences I realized that I am making my character in front of the camera even if only about “Who I am”. Even ordinary life is acting!! That was a very important experience for me. It was both my favorite and most challenging project.

SHIROMUKU:

Q. Shiromuku: The Wedding Dress depictsevents based off a true story of a Japaneseofficer who fell in love with and married a local nurse just before the Battle of Imphal, and then how the battle separated them. You have played a number of Japanese soldiers in your past, and I understand there is a personal connection for you as well to your grandfather, can you describe that?

TAKA:

A. There is a personal connection yes. For me that time in history is about my grandfather’s story. He died in Okinawa Islandin 1945. He was 33 years old and my father was just three at the time, so we really didn’t know directly from him his life although I wanted to.

I have listened many times about our family history. And I have imagined about my grand- father’s life since I was small. Takahisa’s

Grandfather who died in Okinawa.

Now, the world has changed. Japan also has turned 180 degrees around.Each time, when I get the role Japanese soldier, I have to study and imagine what they were as we don’t have that reference in Japan anymore. Unlike the US or even Thailand which has recent wars and veterans with experience, Japanese actors don’t have any personal experience.

So we work to understand what was their mentality and how they thought of things. If I stand from modern times, it hard to grab them because we are so different now.Turn back to 180 degrees, stand in 1940’s, I try to read things deeply. Its hard work.

For the parts where my character falls in love with the village nurse in the Indian border, I think fall in love has existed since thousand years human history.

But even so, Japanese representation of how you display affection in the 1940’s, as you guess, is quite different from my generation.

Add to this the fact that this will be the first time to act in a role with romantic scenes.

Even a soldier’s love and relationship with local woman is very interesting in that it adds even more complexity and layers to understanding the character and bringing him to life.

As far as the actual Battle of Imphal, I’m still learning about it but thus far I understand that it was one of the largest battles in Asia and very difficult for all sides; Japanese, British, and Indians on both sides of the fight, and those especially that were not on either side, just trying to live every day. understanding that was one of cruel Battle.

I want to treat this story sincerely, and the “basic training boot camp” all the actors are going through prior to the filming will help me to understand and act true to the role...if I can survive it. *Laughs*

SHIROMUKU:

Q. Thank you for your time, we understand you have to prepare yourself for another Thai drama where you are learning swordsmanship as you have to be a Samurai character.

! ! ! ! Look for more information about Takahisa and Shiromuku at ! ! ! ! our FaceBook page www.facebook.com/shiromukuthemovie! ! ! ! For other information inquiries contact ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Shiromukumovie@riscmgmt.com