To celebrate the cinematic release of Maya Mineo’s original manga, Tonde Saitama, the “Nihon Saitama-ka Keikaku in Osaka” was held in Osaka on Wednesday, 13 February. The event was attended by 500 fans who were selected via a draw prior to this. Nikaido Fumi, who plays Dannoura Momomi, and GACKT, who plays Asami Rei, appeared for the event.

Tonde Saitama is a manga by the famous Maya Mineo who is known for works like Patalliro. The movie is one that leaves an impression with its sever disses included in the lines of the script like “Saitama citizens can even eat the grass over there!” and so on. First announced in 1982, the manga was revived after 30 years in 2015 as a single book, and this time, it has been turned in to a movie with Nikaido Fumi and GACKT as the lead stars.

Nikaido first greeted with “I’m glad to be able to come to my favourite Osaka”. GACKT called out, “How are you～!” and the audience replied, “Ya～y!”. He often visits Osaka for tours and he looked satisfied as he said, “How nice that Osaka is lively”. When asked what kind of movie Tonde Saitama is, Nikaido answered, “The catchphrase is ‘the greatest comedy of the century’. In the first half of it, it seems as though Saitama is being bullied, but it is a movie that reaffirms your identity and local love in the end”.

Rejected once with “no way”
When talk of this movie came to GACKT, the part of a high schooler was so unexpected that “I rejected them there and then with ‘no way’”, but he revealed that being a fan of Master Maya Mineo, when he heard that he was chosen by him later on, he accepted the offer. Looking back on the movie, he said “I was acquainted with Fumi-chan (Nikaido) too and she struck me as an interesting lady, so I thought that we’d be able to create something interesting. I’m glad that I did it”. As Nikaido is taking on her first male role in this movie, she spoke of how she took on this role, saying, “I felt that there wouldn’t be any other chance to play a male role going forward. And that asked GACKT-san to be my co-star, so I thought that I’d definitely want to work with him”.

When asked about the charm of Saitama, Nikaido brought up the time she visited the governor of Saitama, saying, “I heard that it is a city that’s good for raising kids in. It seems like a very comfortable city to live in”, and when GACKT was asked the same question, he lightly dissed, “Firstly, there’s no sea. The nature of the locality is that summers get so hot that it’s unbearable to live in”, after which he followed (?) with, “And there’s a man-made lake. It’s man-made though”. The MC asked back, “That’s about the oasis that’s been made, right?” and he said, “Hmm, I wonder”. He went on, “When you ask Saitama citizens what’s good there, they’d reply, ‘The fact that there’s nothing’. Oh, right… nothing”.

If a Kansai sequel was to be made…
With regards to the question “What if a Kansai sequel was to be made?”, GACKT said, “This is a very risky comment, isn’t it? No matter what place you name, the locals from there wouldn’t like it” and it was turned to Nikaido with “Fumi-chan, go ahead first”. Nikaido, who has friends who come from Shiga, said the killer words for Kyoto citizens of Shiga Prefecture, “Tomeru Biwako!” drawing laughter from the audience. GACKT, who touched on it more, said after a moment’s thought, “Something like Dokonano Wagayama”. His answer stirred up the crowd even more.

A Saitama-fied Biliken-san, the symbol of Osaka also appeared on stage. It is said that if you touch the sole of Bilken-san’s foot, luck will come to you. Both Nikaido and GACKT touched the sole of his foot, and GACKT shared his thoughts, saying, “I’m getting an unpleasant feeling, I love it”. In addition, there was something else that was Saitama-fied. Visible from the top of the grand staircase in Spa World, the venue, is the flag on top of Tsutenkaku which has Saitama’s “さ (sa)” written on it. GACKT said, “To think that you’ve done it so casually”. Biliken-san’s appearance was only for the event, but the flag will be left put up until Thursday, 28 February.

A surprise for fans at the venue too
In addition, the cast gave out Soka Senbei, Saitama local souvenirs to the fans. The two of them was asked about the taste of the Soka Senbei. Nikaido answered, “It’s a gentle flavour”, while GACKT answered, “Normal”, making the audience laugh. 10 members of the audience were picked to receive Soka Senbei from the two of them, but with the remaining Senbei, Nikaido descended from the stage and gave them out to the fans too. Furthermore, inspired by Nikaido, GACKT too descended from the stage to give out Senbei, inciting screams in the venue.

To the fans gathered, Nikaido said, “The Nihon Saitama-ka Keikaku in Osaka was really fun. Do eat the Soka Senbei and give it a taste too”, and GACKT too delivered his message, “Saitama is in the title, but I think that these are feelings that everyone has, regardless of locality. Do watch it with the mindset that it’s not about someone else, but relating it to yourself. If it makes you say that it’s lame while laughing out loud, then all our utmost efforts have come to fruition. Please do enjoy it”. At the end, Nikaido and GACKT called out, “Osaka too” and the audience replied, “I love Saitama～!”, closing off the event.

Tonde Saitama will go on screens at Umeda Burg 7 and theatres around the country on Friday, 22 February

Source: walkerplus.com

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA