Asuka Saito, a member of the pop girl group Nogizaka46, lights up the role of a heroine with her subtle and natural presence in her screen debut, a Japanese remake of the major Taiwan hit "You Are the Apple of My Eye."
Saito plays Mana, the best student in her class, who was raised strictly but tenderly in a wealthy family, in "Anokoro Kimi o Oikaketa" directed by Yasuo Hasegawa.
The movie is based on an autobiographical novel by Giddens Ko, a popular writer in Taiwan. It was made into a movie by Ko himself, becoming a major box-office hit that turned into a social phenomenon following its release in Taiwan and Hong Kong in 2011.
Upon receiving an offer to star in the film in Japan, Saito watched the Taiwan version. She was so touched by the beauty of the movie that she hesitated to accept the offer, doubting she had what it takes to play the role.
"Basically I'm not a romantic movie person, but I was moved so much and felt my eyes brimming with tears watching it," Saito said.
An extensive reader, Saito said she particularly likes mystery novels that leave a rather heavy, somber feeling resonating in her. Trying to describe how she felt about the movie, she said: "I suppose I was drawn to some elements that don't focus on romance and adolescence. But I can't explain what they are."
The story depicts the bittersweet experiences of awkward young people -- the misunderstandings, the passing of time and the feelings of regret: "If only I had done that."
In the Japanese version of the movie, Yuki Yamada plays main character Kosuke, a troublemaker in Mana's class. Marked out by a teacher, he is put in a seat in front of Mana. At the beginning, she is fed up with his immature behavior, but one incident changes how she views him.
Earlier in the movie, Mana appears so serious that she sometimes gives the impression of being cold-hearted. But gradually she becomes less cold, and Saito's acting depicts that process in a very natural way.
"I was going to put variations into my acting, but if they're far too obvious, they look fake. So I pondered over the details of my acting, such as the tone of my voice, how I speak and how often I look into his eyes," Saito said.
Last year, Saito starred in the play "Asahinagu" and gave an excellent performance.
"I found different attractions in acting for plays and movies. But as I'm not good at expressing emotions, I struggled a lot while performing in the play, asking myself, 'How do people express their joy when they're happy?'" she said.
Saito has a pure and unclouded persona, and I believe her appeal and subtle expressions stand out more on-screen.
Saito has been a member of Nogizaka46 since she was 13, leaving her no time to enjoy her youth in the way ordinary teenagers would do.
"I couldn't miss it because I never experienced it to know what it's like. But now I can cherish the days I spent on shooting this film as a good memory," she said.
"In the greenroom, we carried on just as you'll see in the movie. The boys were boisterous from morning until night. They would come over and tried to make us laugh. But as I and Hono-chan weren't really like typical-girl types, we just gave them the cold shoulder and turned them away," Saito recalled, referring to fellow actress Honoka Matsumoto, who appeared in the movie as Mana's friend.
The film offers an array of highlights -- the young actors' vibrant performances, the refreshing scenery of shooting locations in Nagano Prefecture elsewhere, and a theme song by the band Thinking Dogs.
"Anokoro Kimi o Oikaketa" is currently showing in Toho Cinemas Hibiya and other theaters.
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