Koushuu Hirano Interview - Uchusen Summer 2020

A haphazard summary of Koushuu Hirano's interview, ripped from my twitter page for easier reading.

He was a really athletic growing up, participating in baseball, swimming and American Football.

For the audition, after he had read off all his lines, the director told him to take off his shirt and do pushups He wasn't told how many to do - rather, the director just kept telling him "one more... one more...". Even though he's pretty fit, he decided to start going back to the gym after that difficult interview.

After he was cast, he learned that Haruki's catchphrase was "osu" and started to find himself saying it in real life...

His family was overjoyed by his casting - his dad, an ultra fan, gave him a big hug. His older brother was jealous - he's a huge Tiga fan! However, as Hirano was playing baseball when he was young, he didn't watch TV much. He was taken to stageshows as a child, but he was terrified of the kaiju. One of his parents pointed out that it was weird he was cast as an Ultra, despite being the only non-Ultraman fan in the family.

He did start making up for lost time though, watching Ultraman online thanks to Tsupro putting up a lot of shows for streaming.

As for getting into Haruki as a character, he says he's a bit reluctant to call himself a hero. Hirano typically plays hot-blooded characters, so this is right up his alley. So playing a hero is quite different for him - exciting, but also a bit anxiety-inducing.

To prepare for the role before filming, he mainly had to move and work out due to the numerous fight scenes, as well as learning karate as Haruki practices it. Since STORAGE is a military-style group, he also learned about how best to act/move to better play the part.

He learned karate by watching videos... and also from Zett's suit actor, Hideyoshi Iwata! So he points out that Zett was actually the one to teach Haruki karate. He would ask Iwata how Haruki should move in certain scenes. Since Hirano has to play both Haruki, and sometimes Zett using Haruki's body, he has to be careful how he moves since they do act differently.

During the cockpit scenes, he uses Pacific Rim for reference on how to interface with the robot. So, the robot's body moves as the user tends to move, which is why Haruki and Yoko have different styles even when using the same robot.

When Hirano pops up in commercials and such, he usually gets messages from friends when they see him - but he said the response he's gotten from starring in Ultraman was overwhelming. Friends were even starting to get into Ultraman again thanks to him, and enjoying it as adults.

The most difficult scenes for him to shoot so far was the karate scene in episode 2, and episode 7 starring Hamada (Geed/Riku's actor) and directed by Sakamoto. In Ep 2, it was just super cold that day with lots of action, and in ep 7 there just was tons of action to film.

On Hamada: he saw him as his 'senpai'/senior in many ways, especially since he taught him so much about Ultraman - such as giving him tips on transformation scenes and teaching him about Ultra history. He also loved seeing Hamada use the Zett Riser as Riku would.

Hirano says he's amazed by the tokusatsu scenes and they left a strong impression on him. He loves how beautifully it's filmed and the way they miniatures are made and put. After he saw the first episode, he called up the director and told him how amazed he was. He was taken aback by the scene where he was carrying the dog. When filming, the direct just told him that there would be a kaiju behind him - but he didn't realize how it would look until it finally aired. He was floored by how real it looked.

He talked about this during the online roundtable they had with all the actors, but he mentions that the seat of his pants ripped when they were filming the first scene for the show. When it happened, his face went pale and all he wanted to do was to go home. The costumer rushed to the department store, bought some cloth that matched, and fixed his pants for him. So he had to wait around in his underwear around all the staff, which was a bit embarrassing.

Due to COVID19, they weren't able to film on schedule, and eventually had to stop. He was pretty bummed, but Hebikura's actor messaged him going "well, what are you gonna do about it?", giving Hirano his motivation back. He remarks that Hebikura's actor, Takaya Aoyagi, is not only a great captain on-screen but off-screen as well.

Hirano's final message for the fans: He hopes that Ultraman Z can help during these times. That for children, it can be something to look up to. For parents, a way to create great memories with their children.

He hopes that Ultraman Z can become a true classic, living in our hearts forever.

Tregear's Story summary

NOTE: This was written up in March in a google doc. It has been transferred to this blog for archiving.

Tregear’s Story - this is found in ウルトラマンタイガ超全集. Contains no spoilers for the show/movie.

TL;DR:

• Taro and Tregear were childhood friends.
• Tregear was Taro’s only real friend, but felt inferior to Taro because Taro was seemingly the perfect hero
• Tregear, wanting to stay with Taro, takes the Garrison exam along with Taro. Despite his efforts, Tregear just misses the cut.
• Tregear joins the Science and Technology Institute (宇宙科学技術局) and starts working under Hikari on a device that can solidify life-force. This becomes the Taiga spark, named jointly by Taro and Tregear long before Taiga’s birth
• Tregear's struggles with the Land of Light seemingly being a perfect place without darkness is what leads him down the wrong path. Learning about the reason Belial fell to the dark side, as well as hearing about Hikari’s fall into darkness, just pushes him further.
• Tregear decides that he doesn’t want to be an Ultraman anymore, so he fuses with ancient, sealed away demons to gain power as well as cut off his body from his color timer. This gave him the ability to travel dimensions as well.
• Tregear at this point feels like he’s overcome both light and darkness, though the one wall left in his way is Taro.

The Long Summary:

The Prologue
“In 7 universes, “Tregear” is a word associated with danger, temptation, and the forbidden. This story is about him, Ultraman Tregear’s time on the Land of Light… “

Chapter 1:

• Taro and Tregear are classmates in elementary school. Taro’s the popular one, a personality “like the sun”, well loved by everyone, and Treger’s the complete loner who ducks out even when he plays with others.
• Taro’s name in the Land of Light’s language means: someone who’s brave and has a strong sense of justice (勇気があり正義を愛するもの)
• Tregear’s name in Land of Light’s language means: morbid curiosity (狂おしい好奇心)
• Taro tries to befriend Tregear and asks if they can play after school. Tregear agrees, only if Taro does what he asks.
• Tregear takes Taro to an area marked with a “No Entry” sign and asks him to push the vegetation out of the way so they can climb in. Taro protests, but Tregear says he’s too weak to do it (as a blue ultra) and pushes Taro to do it.
• They come across a Great War memorial and gravesite. Once they figure out what it is, they escape.
• Taro and Tregear are pulled aside by their homeroom teacher and scolded for trespassing. When the teacher asks whose idea it was, Taro lies and says it was his idea, much to Tregear’s surprise.
• Taro asks Tregear if they’ll hang out, and Tregear agrees. Taro yells “Yes, we’re friends!” then jumps for joy, backlit by the Plasma Spark Tower’s light.

Chapter 2:

• Tregear remarks that he hasn’t been able to get that image of an elementary aged Taro jumping for joy, back lit by the tower’s light (as bright as a sun), out of his head. It feels like yesterday to him and remembers the day they became friends fondly.
  •  
  • (Tori’s note: this is why Tregear reacts to this moment going “Taro” in the Taiga finale, as it reminds him of that defining moment of his childhood)
  • 
• Tregear and Taro have gotten into some stupid things over the years, such as hitchhiking to another planet, playing with the cute baby kaiju on the planet… only to be chased by the very angry momma kaiju. Taro also asks Tregear to help him to write love letters as he’s not too great with writing.
• Tregear thinks of Taro as his personal sun, that he’s really only happy when he’s around.
• Tregear feels like he’s a shadow compared to Taro, which leads him to research more about the darkness - how come, if the Land of Light is a place of light and happiness, does no darkness exist?
• Taro runs into Tregear writing a poem, which he reads alone and remarks that Tregear is a great poet:

長い長い夜がやってきて	An eternal night’s overcome me
星の明かりすら見えなくても	So dark I can’t even see the stars above
太陽のような君がそばにいてくれたら	But as long as you, burning like the sun, are at my side
僕は怖くない	I’m not scared
だからそばにいておくれ	So always stay by my side

 

• Taro invites Tregear on a mission to explore a cave with a rumored kaiju called Gagoze. Gagoze is a kaiju that can mutate based on DNA it consumes. The mission goes sideways, with Tregear about to be killed/consumed by multiple Gagoze while Taro fights another Gagoze kaiju to protect the residents of the planets. Tregear tells Taro to let him die so he can save the townspeople, but Taro refuses, and manages to save everyone.
  • (Tori note: this whole bit is full of Star Trek references: flying on a spaceship scanning the planet, tricorder-like devices suffering from magnetic interference, nutrinos galore, and topped off with Taro going “So you’re saying I should overlook sacrificing one to prevent the sacrifice of the many!?” 🤭 someone’s a trekkie!)
• Tregear admires Taro as a hero, and wishes he could be like him, though doubts he has the ability.
• Taro tells Tregear that he wants to join the Garrison and be a protector of the light. Tregear decides that he’ll join the Garrison as well so he can continue to be with Taro. He works hard to pass the exam, but barely misses the cut. It’s the first time Tregear has ever failed at something in his life. He then goes on to join the Science and Technology Institute instead.
• This is the end of Taro and Tregear’s adventures together…

Chapter 3:

• Tregear starts working under Ultraman Hikari on technology product relating to “solidifying lifeforce” (命の固形化に関する技術研究). Hikari is working on his life-saving device at the moment, and Tregear is working on an “astral particles conversion system”, that can turn things/people into and back from astral particles
  • (Tori notes: this research focus is probably why Hikari made the Geed capsules too… seems to be his specialty!)
• Tregear feels like he’s more of the sidelines of Taro’s life now, as he’s working hard at the Garrison and they don’t have time to hang out much. When they do, Tregear feels better and happier, but it’s fleeting as they can’t stay together for long.
• Taro comes back from his mission on Earth, and gushes about humanity and learning the source of light comes from the bonds and love shared between people. Tregear tries to play devil’s advocate, remarking about how there are tons of bad humans, and how they’re destroying their planet, starting wars, still has racism. Taro replies saying that you can’t dismiss all of humanity because of a few bad apples, and still loves the planet very fondly.
• Tregear has Taro try out his new invention: a terminal device that works with keys, created from Ultras turned into astral particles, and that when the terminal reads the key, their body can be transformed into that Ultra’s body/person for some time.
• Taro is impressed but asks Tregear to name the system. Tregear suggests “Taro Spark”, but Taro, while flattered, suggests naming it the “Taiga Spark” instead. Taiga meaning “One who’s bravery burns like the sun” (太陽を抱く勇気あるもの). Tregear agrees.
• Taro likes the name Taiga so much that he decides, if he ever has a son, he’ll name him Taiga.
• As Taro leaves, Tregear is reminded of another old poem he wrote:

  たとえ星雲が凍って	Even if the nebula froze over
  闇が宇宙を覆ったとしても	And all of existence was covered in darkness
  太陽のような君がそばにいてくれたら	As long as you, burning like the sun, are at my side
  僕は寒くない	I’m not cold
  だからそばにいておくれ	So always stay by my side

Chapter 4:

• Tregear feels like the Land of Light is missing something while Taro’s offworld. He’s struggling deeply with the problem that with light, there must be darkness, which drives him to research more in the archives.
• Tregear comes across Belial’s file, which he reads with great interest. He learns that Belial decided to steal the plasma spark because, even though he was an excellent warrior who fought in the Great War, he was passed for a higher position when the Garrison was created.
• (Tori’s note: As far as I know, this is the first time we’ve seen this story of why Belial went evil actually cemented in canon! It’s all just been director/actor headcanons before this it seems, so that’s cool. )
• Tregear struggles with this - why are Ultras given such power, if they can fall to temptation and the darkness? Do Ultras even have the right to be guardians of the light if they can go bad?
  • (Tori’s note: In this years’s Ultra Expo at Tokyo Dome City, Hikari confronts Tregear for a short moment...)

Hikari: Why did you turn to the darkness, Tregear?
Tregear: Oh, like you did?

• Tregear goes on his own to do some soul-searching, and ends up on the trash planet Chutsuora, remarking it’s quite fitting for him to be amont items that have lost their usefulness.
• Tregear finds a primordial pool on the planet. He uses it to bring forth a slug-like creature similar to Gagoze, the kaiju him and Taro encountered on their final adventure together. As the creature grew, it developed eyes and small front limbs, somewhat resembling the kaiju Namegon. Taro names the kaiju Sunaaku, meaning “Something small/chibisuke” in the Land of Light’s language. Tregear and Sunaaku get along well and he brings him along.
• Sunaaku, continuing to devour trash, grew to a size 100s of meters in height and started to go after the people on Planet Chutsuora’s capital. Tregear faces against Sunaaku, though as a blue ultra he’s quite a weak fighter, and was unable to stop Sunaaku’s rampage. Tregear finds that he can put a bug in Sunaaku’s DNA and change it, and Sunaaku suffers as the bug goes through his system. Sunaaku turns into a small flower, which Tregear plucks while saying “I guess neither you or I could ever have lived on this planet”
  • (Tori note: This scene was put to fanart beautifully, check it out here: https://twitter.com/Moyo10D/status/1243970672759468033?s=20)
• Tregear feels deeply lonely - among tens of thousands of stars, he’s all alone in the depths of space.
• He hears rumors that Taro has had a son and named him Taiga. Tregear jokingly feels like he helped name Taiga, in a way.
• Tregear determines that while Taro is the extent of all the Light holds, Tregear himself is the extent that all the Darkness holds. But he muses that they still achieve the same thing, despite being on opposite sides of the coin. He wants to research why light and dark are so mixed as things were more pure when the universe was young, so he goes back to the planet he and Taro were on to look at the old cave writings.

Chapter 5:

• Tregear has been traveling a long time at this point, and has found that both light and dark have no worth, that they’re both illusions. Existence is just nothingness, a vacuum.
• Tregear decides to throw away his Ultraman heritage. In order to do so, he goes to a well that is like a hell, trapping old sealed away demons (evil gods). He uses a spell to draw them out of the well, and then then merges the spirits into himself. This lets him cut off himself from his color timer and draw power from the demons instead. The demonic power also allows him to jump dimensions.
  • (Tori’s note: a friend mentioned that every time Tregear teleports, something that looks like a  demonic summoning circle appears behind him. Likely related to how he gained that power.)
  •  
• Tregear is involved in Murunau (from the Ultraman Orb movie) gaining her power, and encourages Lugocite and Griza to continue their rampaging. 
• It goes into him trying to draw Ultraman Rosso/Katsumi into darkness, because he senses he’s the one most lost in his path and also because of his connection to Taro
• The book ends with him stating he’s overcome everything - light, dark, his ultraman heritage. But one wall still stands in his way, Taro. And his son, Taiga, also interests him… Who gets to decide justice, anyways?