INTERVIEW | Yosuke Eguchi on Playing Detective Chaya in the Film 'The Brain Man'
INTERVIEW | A Violent Mystery Epic That Reexamines the Meaning of "Justice"
Yosuke Eguchi as Detective Chaya (Part 1)
A beautiful killer, "The Brain Man," possessing extraordinary memory, intelligence, and physical prowess from birth, yet devoid of human emotion.—The Brain Man, a film that reexamines the meaning of justice, opens on February 9th (Saturday). Tatsuya Ikuta stars as the titular "Brain Man." Yosuke Eguchi plays Detective Chaya, a rugged investigator who confronts the enigmatic figure. Eguchi himself discusses the appeal of this violent mystery epic, which culminates in three shocking conclusions.
Text by Itaru TashiroPhotographs (portrait) by JAMANDFIXStyling (portrait) by Akio HasegawaHair & Make (portrait) by Katsuhiko Yuhmi
No CGI! A Thrilling Cinematic Experience That Stimulates the Senses
A powerful explosion shakes the theater, its thunderous roar echoing in the darkened space. The screen fills with brilliant red flames. In today's Japanese film industry, often dominated by heartwarming stories, The Brain Man is one of the rare films that truly comes alive when experienced in a cinema.
"The explosion scenes are truly incredible. There's no CGI used anywhere. They actually used explosives to blow up a building. It's the kind of thing where you think, 'Are they really going this far?' And with that volume, your home speakers would probably blow out (laughs)."
After viewing, a sense of numbness lingers, as if your mind has been electrified. You feel completely consumed by the film's world, almost as if you can't return to reality.
"Even though it's a story that unfolds over just a few days, it feels like you've experienced something incredibly dense. The film maintains a powerful, weighty presence throughout, never allowing the audience to anticipate the ending as time steadily progresses. The world it creates remains unbroken from beginning to end."
© 2013 "The Brain Man" Production Committee
© 2013 "The Brain Man" Production Committee
"There are no moments of respite; the story progresses relentlessly. In that sense, I'm confident it has become a truly rewarding film. Even after leaving the cinema, you might feel a lingering buzz in your head or an unexplainable emotion. Cinema has the unique ability to stimulate various aspects of human experience—not just sight, but also hearing and emotions—within a few hours. I myself have watched many such films, and I wanted audiences to experience that feeling too. I acted with the hope that this would become a standout film in the current Japanese cinematic landscape, and indeed, it has."
INTERVIEW | A Violent Mystery Epic That Reexamines the Meaning of "Justice"
Yosuke Eguchi as Detective Chaya (Part 2)
A "Mind-Bending" Finale
The film is directed by Tomoyuki Takimoto, who previously collaborated with Eguchi on last year's "Hayabusa: The Long Return."
"My role and the story are completely different from 'Hayabusa.' The director himself even said, 'I apologize, but this film is particularly high in my personal taste.' To which I replied, 'No, it's incredibly interesting. I'm happy to be involved.' Director Takimoto has a way of pushing actors by filming long, persistent takes, really cornering them. It's amazing (laughs). But that's his unique way of guiding things; he never lets the extreme scenes become vulgar or leave things unresolved. I believe that's one of the reasons it became a film that adults can enjoy."
The filming itself largely followed the story's timeline, allowing the actors to feel the narrative taking shape with each take. I, too, acted with anticipation, wondering, 'What will the ending be like?' Consequently, even when we went out for drinks, we rarely talked about the film (laughs). The screenwriter, the producers, everyone was constantly moving towards an unseen ending, so there's a tremendous sense of accomplishment in finally completing it.
Accompanying the end credits, with overwhelming sonic force, is the progressive rock masterpiece, "21st Century Schizoid Man."
"Just when you're thinking, 'Where is The Brain Man heading now?' then comes King Crimson. It completely scrambles your brain (laughs)."
Intense Action Scenes with Tatsuya Ikuta
Eguchi's character, Detective Chaya, is a rugged investigator. The action sequences between him and Ikuta's "Brain Man" are one of the film's highlights.
"We spent an entire night, until morning, filming that scene, just the two of us, Ikuta and I. So, it's completely real, including the exhaustion (laughs). And then, Ikuta's subsequent scenes are superb, and Matsuyuki's ending, where she realizes 'So that's how it was,' is also incredible, isn't it? It shakes your emotions. Viewers experience Chaya's conclusion, then The Brain Man's conclusion, and then at Matsuyuki's ending, something shifts, perhaps their sense of morality becomes unbalanced as they question what constitutes killing intent. It's overwhelming, especially the last 20 to 30 minutes."
© 2013 "The Brain Man" Production Committee
Eguchi often plays rugged characters, but he found Chaya to be particularly special.
"I grew up watching outlaws like the respected Yoshio Harada and Yusaku Matsuda, so I felt I could express something similar from the outset. I've played outlaws within the system, like doctors and reporters, but opportunities to portray such a profound outlaw are rare. Working with the director, we developed the character of Chaya, right down to his hairstyle."
INTERVIEW | A Violent Mystery Epic That Reexamines the Meaning of "Justice"
Yosuke Eguchi as Detective Chaya (Part 3)
Portraying Distinctly Different Roles
Eguchi continues to be active, with his starring role in a TV drama already underway this year. It's "dinner," airing every Sunday at 9 PM on the Fuji TV network.
"It's a completely different story (laughs). It's set in an Italian restaurant. My character is a chef named Ezaki who appears when the restaurant, facing financial ruin after the owner collapses, is in danger. His approach to revitalizing it is unconventional, confronting challenges with his unique values. It's a story that, broadly speaking, can be enjoyed as a comedy. One of its highlights is the set design. They've realistically recreated the dining area and kitchen of an Italian restaurant, and that's where the production's challenge lies. Just seeing the set makes me happy and boosts my own energy."
Eguchi masterfully portrays vastly different characters. However, for the audience, the joy lies in appreciating the breadth of his range and immersing themselves in the unique world of each work.
"Regarding 'The Brain Man,' depending on how you view it, it reflects societal issues like juvenile delinquency, where distinguishing between good and evil is difficult, and also the precarious and unbalanced state of Japan today. However, the remarkable achievement is that it's crafted as pure entertainment, not as a social commentary film. It effectively portrays how the three main characters, including Chaya, live according to their own sense of justice within the framework of entertainment."
"Some viewers might find certain aspects of this film disturbing, but that, conversely, means the film powerfully conveys something. There are many parts I can't quite explain how to describe; I can only truly say, 'You'll understand when you see it.' But I sincerely hope you'll experience it in a cinema. I want you to enjoy it with anticipation, discovering what you yourself feel. It's not about making a statement to society. As a piece of entertainment lasting about two hours, there are few films that can match it."
The Brain Man
Nationwide release at Toho cinemas starting February 9th (Saturday)!
Director: Tomoyuki Takimoto
Screenplay: Katsuhiko Maibe, Izuru Narushima
Starring: Tatsuya Ikuta, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Yosuke Eguchi, Fumi Nikaido, Rina Ohta
Distributor: Toho
2013 / Japan / 125 min / PG-12
http://www.no-otoko.com/