Spell and rainbow
I remember that in Journalism Techniques, one of the Journalism subjects, the teacher told us to write imaginary interviews with personalities from the field of science, culture, art, sports, politics... who, due to various circumstances, could not be interviewed, since whether due to death, distance, etc.
I will try to return to my old classes for this subject.
In the Japanese BL series 'Miseinen Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu', Jin has emerged as a memorable leading character admired by the audience. His identity as a model high school student who has the purpose of living life as a spectator, his melancholic and lonely character, his desire to break molds and get ahead on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance, have captured the attention of viewers, who value their authenticity, talent and bravery.
Motojima Junsei, the actor who plays Minase Jin, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to portray this complex character. At only 19 years old, he has forged a solid career in the television and film fields.
In film he has stood out for playing Ichinose Hotaro / Kamen Rider Gotchard in the 'Kamen Rider Gotchard' universe, while on television he appeared in productions such as 'Hayabusa Shobodan', 'Kamen Rider Geats' and 'Shigatsu no Tokyo wa...'. In the latter, a 2023 BL series, he played the young Yagami Ryunosuke. The actor confesses that all his works have forged his ability to tackle challenging roles with depth and authenticity.
We talked about Jin and the Japanese BL series with Motojima Junsei in an exclusive interview for CinemaBL.
AA— How would you define Jin?
MJ— Jin is originality, love, honesty, magic, light... As an actor, I consider him to be the most beautiful character I have had to play on television so far. He is a model student. Studious. Work hard. His priority is to have his own house and his own car in the future. He knows that the only way to achieve his dreams is to go to a top university. He is fine with his repetitive daily routine of school and studying. He is an honor student who is indifferent to others, and has been living his school life avoiding any interaction with class troublemakers, especially Hirukawa Haruki. Jin is a fascinating young man who takes the viewer from hatred to love and becomes one of the pillars of the plot. Although he projects an image of absolute control over his life and his environment, he hides deep emotions and vulnerabilities.
"As an individual who is indifferent to everything and everyone and sees what surrounds him only as a spectator, Jin, without intending to, does not directly affect the harassment or bullying of those who are violated, of those who suffer from disrespect for other people's space, those who They endure the questioning of the expression of their identity and the exclusion due to their own or family characteristics. The effects of bullying are devastating for the emotional development of the person who carries out or receives the abuse, and even for the bystanders, voluntary or involuntary. because the framework of social and emotional relationships is formed at an early age."
AA—And Haruki is…?
MJ—Haruki, a character played with high marks by Kamimura Kenshin, a talented actor with solid experience in film and television, is my companion on a journey in which we will both discover and accept our true identity. Jin has been raised to hate people like Haruki. But Haruki, unintentionally, enters her life, which in a way, is perfect. This is the trigger for the series. One day, while Jin is taking a shortcut through a troubled neighborhood to return home, he sees Haruki, his classmate. Since he is not the type of person Jin would mix with, considering him, due to the upbringing received by his absent mother, the type of individual who grows up to become a criminal, Jin tries to continue on his way, until he discovers that Haruki is receiving a beating from his father.
"Something in Jin tells him that this is not his problem, that he should have nothing to do with Haruki. But at the same time a voice inside him screams that it is inevitable that their paths will cross... I would say that feeling of boredom that Jin has, it is Haruki who needs to get rid of him. Finally, they begin to relate.
AA— Why do you think the public begins to empathize with Haruki and stop seeing him as the villain of the story?
MJ— Haruki's character grows from the connection with Jin. In truth, they both grow as people. Both Haruki and Jin, who has the best values in the series, let go of the anti-values they carry and incorporate new, very positive values. When Haruki is around Jin he becomes a different person. He is talkative, attentive, talks about his taste in movies, shares secrets never revealed to others about what he likes or doesn't like about movies, about his life... Jin's father is a film director. This connects you even more by having another topic of conversation.
"Haruki is always prepared to give Jin his world. He cannot contain what boils in him, what overflows him, but everything will be step by step until he gets rid of the mists of doubt about the unknown, from fear of family, to school, to society in general that tells you that loving a person of the same gender is not correct, it is prohibited, it is illegal. Step by step, it will be like that, until the paths converge. Deep down, they are very similar. After discovering the secret of Haruki, the two quickly become intimate. This relationship, sad but beautiful, is what the series narrates."
AA— What strikes Jin about Haruki?
MJ— His vulnerability, his true “self,” so different from how he had represented it in his head. After witnessing the domestic violence carried out by his father, Jin manages to understand that the bruises on his face are not from the fights that he considered would cause them. As he tries to walk away, from his mind he cannot get the image of the Haruki he saw, so different from the one at school... Haruki is truly, like him, a tender, lonely and lost boy. They both come from different origins. Both had different types of education or upbringing. On the other hand, Haruki suffers from the marginalization to which he is subjected by his fellow students due to his reputation as a violent boy, his attitude of rebellion and disobedience towards teachers...
AA— In your opinion, what is the message that is transmitted to the viewer through this character?
MJ— Before answering that question, let me tell you that the events narrated in the webtoon "Our Youth", by Hi Nun, the original manhwa and which the series adapts for television, take place in South Korea between 2009 and 2014. In 'Miseinen Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu' is set, of course, in Japan and in 2018. Multiple details were changed slightly to match with Japanese reality, but ultimately the series captures the spirit of the original work, which is the romance of two teenagers set in a country where youth is marked by violence and loneliness, while, figuratively speaking, everyone They float in a rough sea where no one expects them to engage with each other.
"Now, my message with Jin is that a better world is possible, where people are respected and each person's sexual preference is not an important factor. Sexual preference is a personal issue that only concerns the person and not He should belittle or devalue anyone, much less humiliate. His sexual identity does not define his personality; what really define Jin is his values and feelings.
"I would like the public to reflect that sexual preference should not be a reason for humiliation, mistreatment or exclusion. People should be valued for their human quality, which is the most important thing. I think these stories should be represented more on television, although it will not be an easy battle, since Japanese youth have lived for decades in a society guided by homophobia, patriarchy and heteronormativity. However, as these stories are incorporated into the media and our culture, the japanese will leave becoming familiar with them, as long as they are given the right treatment. A change is needed because the world needs to be better and people need to love and respect each other.
The series seeks to demonstrate that while some people can overcome their suffering and move forward in life, others allow themselves to be consumed by it."
AA— How much did the character of Haruki contribute to the realization of your role?
MJ— Working with Kenshin was wonderful. He is an actor who offers all his knowledge. He is attentive and takes care of all the details of his performance and that of others. He is very protective of everyone around him. Sharing a scene with him was very comfortable. There were never any problems or disagreements between us.
"Whenever we could contribute something to the characters we did it, we sat down and tried to explain the reasons for Jin's rejection of Haruki when he tried to kiss him, his love for Jin, his father's abuse... which undoubtedly made our performances much more convincing. We did the casting together, but we already knew each other through mutual friends who introduced us at one of their performances with the vocal dance group "One N' Only", to which Kenshin belongs. And then we met in the premiere of the BL series 'Ossan's Love Returns', in January of this year, in which he plays Hao, one of the secondary characters. We have been friends since then, since before filming began. This has also served to enhance the chemistry, the close bond established between the two."
We left the conversation for a few moments. You cannot not answer the incoming call. I turn off my phone, while I hear, nearby, the voice of Motojima Junsei who, from his phone, agrees with a producer to finalize details to star in another BL series.
This is the moment when I let my thoughts escape: Where, if not from love, do those kisses come from that one tries to steal from the other? At what moments do their words and laughter grant us their elf? Where, if not from love, do doubts emerge, the confusion of one feeling rejected, but not despised, by the other? Where, if not from love, is the hurried heartbeat, as if it wanted to escape from the chest of the one who rejected the kisses? Where do they come from, if not from love, those ideas that vividly express that one cannot live away from the other, no matter how much one tries to keep the walls around him high?
Laughing, he returns to his solid armchair in front of me. We continue:
AA— How has the public reception been? Have you received any feedback that surprised you?
MJ— I remember that, while I was recording the series, I was talking with my friends, and one of them told me: "You know that there will be many people who will love you and many people who will hate you, who will make war on you." I answered yes, that I was prepared for that and that I wanted to play the character. I was aware that this could happen.
"Really, the response from the public has been, for me, surprising, with a capital letter. I never imagined that Jin would receive so many acceptances, and I am very happy about it. The message I wanted to convey has arrived. People have stopped seeing a boy in love with another boy to begin to see a man with an immense inner world and enviable human qualities. This has surprised me and made me very happy and I hope that, throughout the series, this perception will change keep.
"On the other hand, making harassment visible is important. It is necessary to promote a culture of peaceful coexistence and respect for diversity in all its expressions: sexual identity, origin, skin color, social status, physical and intellectual abilities, ideology... "
AA—In terms of the evolution of the character, what can we expect from Jin in the next episodes?
MJ— As for the next chapters and Jin's evolution, I can't tell you much, because otherwise Shibata Keisuke and Makino Masaru, the directors, will gut me. Ha ha ha. I can tell you about both of them that they fight against harassment and bullying, a complex phenomenon that affects emotional and academic well-being at all levels of education and throughout society. About the character, I can only say that he is not going to disappoint the audience. Jin will remain true to himself. That's all I can say.
AA—Finally, how would you describe the current and future state of Japanese BL series?
MJ— “Boys’ Love” is in good health. The genre has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world. It quickly jumped from the initial Japanese manga and anime to dozens of annual series and films. Not only in Japan. Other Asian countries, such as Thailand, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines, among others, film productions of this content. The proliferation of the genre has given rise to a rich and diverse range of productions that celebrate love. It is a phenomenon that combines romance, drama and culture in a unique and charming way.
"But what is fundamental is their cultural and social impact. BL series not only offer entertainment; they also play a crucial role in the visibility and acceptance of LGBT+ relationships in Japan and throughout Asia. By portraying stories of love and struggle that resonate with For many people, these series foster greater understanding and empathy towards sexual and gender diversity. In addition, BL has created a global community of fans who manage to connect and share their love for these stories, breaking cultural and geographical barriers.
"Or at least that's how I understand it. One more step towards diversity and hopefully, these stories will be standardized in the rest of the markets."
While, already at home, days later, I watch the next episode of the series, I think about the last words of Motojima Junsei: "BL series provoke a kind of enchantment in millions of human beings in the world. It is as if the director, screenwriters, actors and others involved, like magicians, will pronounce a magical spell that encourages the majority to entertain, to fight for the rights of LGBT+ people.