Starting on September 1, TV Asahi will begin airing the 6th Reiwa-era Kamen Rider series, "Kamen Rider Gavv" (every Sunday at 9:00 AM). ORICON NEWS conducted a video interview with Hidekazu Chinen, who plays Kamen Rider Gavv/Shoma, Yusuke Hino, who plays Kamen Rider Valen/Hanto Karakida, and Nozomi Miyabe, who plays Sachika Amane. They discussed how their first impressions of each other have evolved and shared key points about their characters.

Shoma's Charm: "He's earnest and pure-hearted" - Hanto & Sachika Make Their Case Too!

The theme of "Kamen Rider Gavv" is children's beloved sweets. In over half a century of Kamen Rider history, this is the first time a Kamen Rider will transform using the power of sweets. The main visual showcases Kamen Rider Gavv, seemingly eager to eat the sweets in front of him, surrounded by colorful gummies, chocolates, and other delicious-looking treats. Also featured is Gochizou, a character that resembles a sweet treat. How this adorable character will appear is something to watch closely.

-- What kind of characters are you playing?

Chinen: Kamen Rider Gavv/Shoma is a very cheerful, energetic character who loves to eat. While he's incredibly charming, innocent, and adorable, he also harbors many mysteries, including a secret that he comes from another world. He’s someone you can’t take your eyes off, as he might wander off somewhere if you're not careful. He's earnest in everything he does, and his pure-hearted nature makes him a character you'll want to root for. I hope everyone will connect with him throughout the year. Please support him!

Hino: Hanto is a freelance writer who trains under a mentor named Shioya. Amid this, he's been chasing a particular case for a long time, and as Shoma appears in the human world, the story unfolds. Hanto has an especially strong connection to Granute, which is one of his more unique traits. The story of how he transforms into Kamen Rider Valen is a highlight. The ongoing developments between Hanto and Shoma will bring unexpected twists every week, so I hope everyone enjoys the story throughout the year.

Miyabe: Sachika Amane is the president of a do-it-all company called "Happipare." She's incredibly bright and cheerful, so much so that she can even interact playfully with the cool Hanto by saying things like, "Hey there! Hanty!" She's a spirited girl, but she also has her struggles and battles, and seeing her grow through those challenges is something I hope viewers will focus on. Please look forward to it!

-- Who has changed the most since your first impressions of each other? (Chinen picks Hino, Hino picks Miyabe, and Miyabe picks Chinen)

Chinen: Hino-kun...

Hino: You've never called me Hino-kun before (laughs). It makes it sound like we don’t get along, so just be yourself!

Chinen: (laughs). Yusuke-kun was kind of like the mood maker during the auditions, always bursting with energy. But he actually has a deep passion for acting. He took me out to dinner after filming, listened to my concerns, and he's also like a dependable older brother. There's this contrast between his outgoing side and his serious passion for acting, which made me see him differently. That's why I chose him! What do you think?

Hino: I'm really happy! On set, we usually just have light-hearted conversations, but when we go out for dinner, it always turns into serious talks. We could go on for hours. We really connect on those topics.

Chinen: We can just keep talking endlessly about our future, this project, and more. He's like a rival and an older brother to me.

Hino: When I first met Miyabe, she had black hair and seemed like a quiet girl. But now, I feel like she's becoming more of a gyaru (trendy girl) in her private life (laughs). Even when we meet at the studio in the morning, she's brighter and more talkative. I'm not sure which is the real Miyabe (laughs). But it's great!

Miyabe: I hope you'll figure out the real me someday (laughs).

Hino: That's kind of scary! But we have a lot of fun joking around and teasing each other!

Miyabe: Chinen-kun and I practiced our scenes together before filming started. At that time, he was really serious, discussing how to approach each scene. He still is, always thinking deeply about his role, asking the director lots of questions. He's very reliable, and I felt I had to keep up with him. But the more I got to know him, the more I realized he might have some airheaded moments (laughs).

Hino: So, that was the gap you noticed… (laughs). The secret's out!

Chinen: Yes, it's out (laughs).

Miyabe: There are a lot of behind-the-scenes stories I can't share just yet, but hopefully, I can reveal them bit by bit! He really lightens the mood on set, and I'm always
excited to film!

Audition Secrets: Did Hidekazu Chinen's Weakness Get Exposed?

-- Are there any behind-the-scenes stories from the audition?

Chinen: Yusuke-kun and I met during the final auditions. I had a feeling that if I got the lead role, this guy would become the secondary Rider. Yusuke-kun was one of the people I had in mind. Even during the audition, his eyes were so captivating that it made acting together very natural. So, when it was announced that Yusuke-kun would be the secondary Rider, I wasn't surprised at all. I felt, "Of course, he would be."

Hino: There’s one thing about Chinen that really stuck with me... We had to do an outdoor audition in the middle of winter, and it was freezing. The director and producer wanted to see how we'd perform outside, so they told us to wear something warm but comfortable. Everyone dressed warmly but would take layers off as we got hot from the nerves and activity. But Chinen was the only one saying, "I'm cold..." (laughs). When the director asked us to shout loudly as part of the audition, Chinen still said, "I'm cold..." I was worried and asked if he was okay, and he replied, "I'm from Okinawa, so..." (laughs). After the audition, when the director asked how it went, everyone gave various answers, but Chinen said, "I was so cold, I couldn't give it my all..." That's when I thought, "This guy's a genius!" (laughs). But honestly, it's impressive that he was so honest about it. I realized that these are the kind of people who get chosen. He's a genius.

Chinen: Being from Okinawa, I really can't handle the cold... Looking back, I think my honesty about it resonated with the director and linked with Shoma's character's straightforwardness. It gives me chills to think about it now.

Miyabe: It's not exactly a secret, but before filming started, I had a misunderstanding... During the audition, I was initially told my character was a reliable older sister type, so I performed that way. Then, the director said, "Try acting like an Osaka auntie," so I took that direction and ended up getting the role. I thought I was supposed to play an Osaka auntie during the shoot, but it turned out my character was actually a gyaru (laughs). It took me a bit to adjust (laughs).

-- Finally, what are the highlights of "Kamen Rider Gavv"?
Chinen: "Kamen Rider Gavv" begins with a story of a young man who comes from another world to the human world. The plot revolves around how Shoma encounters various unique characters, what motivates him to become a Kamen Rider, and how he decides to save the world. While there are cool scenes, the show is also filled with cute, colorful moments featuring lots of sweets, so I hope you enjoy the contrast between the cool and cute aspects. Thank you for supporting us for the year ahead!

Source : ORICON NEWS