Shunsuke Michieda: "I Never Imagined 'Oseisa' Would Be Popular in Korea"

'Oseisa' Korea Visit Press Conference
Box Office Success 24 Years After 'Love Letter'
Thanking Fans for the Popularity of the 'Millennium Male Idol'

Shunsuke Michieda (20), a member of the Japanese Johnny's 7-member boy group Naniwa Danshi and an actor, visited Korea amid the sensation caused by the movie 'Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight'.

At a press conference held on the morning of the 25th at CGV Yongsan in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Shunsuke said, "I was anxious before coming to Korea, but I am grateful that many fans came to the theater and even brought fans." He added, "One year ago today, during the script reading of the movie, I never imagined that I would come to Korea a year later. Something amazing happened."

Released on November 30 last year, 'Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight' is a film depicting the poignant romance between Maori, a high school girl suffering from anterograde amnesia who resets her memory every morning, and Toru, an ordinary high school boy living a dull daily life. The film gained support from the 10-20 age group with its visual beauty and touching youth love story.

'Oseisa' Ranks Top 3 Japanese Films Supported by 10-20 Age Group

Michieda Shunsuke [Photo by Yonhap News]

The film surpassed 800,000 cumulative viewers within 41 days of release and reached 968,738 viewers by the 25th. It ranked first among Japanese romance films of the 2000s in box office success and placed third among all-time Japanese live-action films after 'Love Letter' (1999) with 1.15 million viewers and 'Ju-on' (2003) with 1.01 million viewers since 2007. Shunsuke Michieda, who played the lead role of Kamiya Toru, visited Korea on the 24th to express gratitude for the domestic success and stayed for a 2-day, 1-night schedule until the 25th.

When asked about the factors behind the film's success in Korea, Shunsuke credited the original work. The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Misaki Ichijo, published in 2021. Shunsuke said, "I heard the original novel is very popular in Korea. The power of the film is also strong. Everyone's efforts combined have brought us close to surpassing one million viewers."

The film resonated with teenage audiences in both Korea and Japan. Shunsuke said, "Teenage years sparkle but end quickly. At the same time, they are fleeting. I don't know if great love comes during this period. The dramatic worldview in the film contains many elements that teenagers can relate to. The transparent visual beauty is also a decisive factor."

When asked how much he resembles the character Kamiya Toru, he answered 60%. Shunsuke said, "We share a strong heart to do something for others," and added, "I want to deliver wonderful works for the fans." He laughed, saying, "I took away 40% because I can't cook or do housework at all." When asked if the love in the movie is possible in real life, he nodded. He said, "There are many positive and strong-hearted women in the world. At the same time, there are wonderful men who can dedicate a lot for others. If these two meet and become a couple, it would be wonderful."

"I Definitely Want to Act in Korean Films"

Michieda Shunsuke [Photo by Yonhap News]

The theater where the press conference was held was crowded with fans who braved the cold to see Shunsuke Michieda from early morning. When he moved from the waiting room to the press conference hall, the fans' cheers were so intense they resembled an amusement park. Shunsuke greeted in Korean, "I studied a little Korean before coming to Korea. I am happy to meet you." He added, "Opportunities like this are rare, so I am grateful and happy to appear in a film that many viewers in Korea have seen. Also, I am impressed by the many reviews posted on social media (SNS). As a member of Naniwa Danshi, I am thankful."

Shunsuke Michieda began acting with the NTV drama 'Haha ga Naru' (2017) and played leading roles in works such as 'Detective Kindaichi'. In Korea, he earned the nickname 'Cheonnyeon Namdol', meaning 'a male idol who appears once in a thousand years' due to his handsome looks. Shunsuke laughed, saying, "I am grateful but embarrassed." He named Song Kang as a Korean actor he would like to work with. "I watch a lot of Korean dramas. The drama 'True Beauty' left a strong impression on me. Recently, there have been many Korea-Japan co-productions. I definitely want to appear in films made by Korean directors."

"I have become a man in my twenties, but so far I have played many high school student roles. I want to act in roles opposite to that. I want to play roles such as a detective or an office worker in dramas."