On April 18, 2024, Gagaoolala will present the Japanese BL At 25:00 in Akasaka, the first-ever co-produced Boys Love (BL) series. This project stems from a collaboration between Gagaoolala, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ streaming platform, and Tokyo TV to export and develop the BL genre worldwide in three major key points:

● Innovative International Co-Production: TV Tokyo and GagaOOLala launch the first-ever global Boys Love series, tapping into a manga with over 1.2 million sales.

● Economic and Cultural Influence: Leveraging Japan’s $1.7 billion BL market, the series demonstrates the economic viability and extensive reach of niche genres.

● Content Strategy and Fan Engagement: The series challenges traditional BL narratives, expanding its appeal and showcasing progressive trends in Asian media consumption.

It deals with the story of Shirosaki, an underdog stage actor who gets cast in a gay drama series, he is surprised to learn that he will be working with Hayama, his charming clubmate from university who is now a popular actor. During production, Shirosaki realizes that he will need some inspiration and goes to find somewhere the local gay people hang out. What he didn’t expect was to meet Hayama there, which eventually leads to a drunken kiss. He soon finds himself confused and conflicted about his feelings as he struggles to keep his emotions contained on-screen.

This Monday, April 15th, we had the opportunity to participate in the press conference presentation of the series. It took place in Tokyo at 11:30 a.m. The series was introduced by Hiroaki Saiki, Head of International Business at TV Tokyo, and Jay Lin, Founder and CEO of GagaOOLala, in the first part. In the second part, we were able to get acquainted with the lead actors Kiita Komagine and Taisuke Niihara, alongside co-stars Takuma Usa and Shoma Nagumo who shared anecdotes from the set and answered various questions that allowed us to learn more about them.

Introduction of the Actors

Taisuke Niihara is a 23-year-old actor, born on October 7, 2000, and was originally a fan of the manga. Hence, he was very happy and grateful when he found out that he would be playing the role of Shirasaki Yuki in the live-action adaptation of the famous manga At 25:00 in Akasaka. During the interview, he explained that he felt very close to the character and understood his feelings throughout the filming, forming a very strong bond.

Kiita Komagine is a 24-year-old actor, born on January 30, 2000. The BL genre is new in his career, but he was already aware of the impact of BL worldwide and thought it could be a beneficial experience for him. He was therefore happy and proud to play the role of Hayama Asami.

Takuma Usa is a 24-year-old actor, born on April 11, 2000. He already knew Kiita Komagine and was happy to work with him for this drama, which allowed him to integrate more easily into the team and quickly create chemistry with his co-star.

Shoma Nagumo is a 22-year-old actor, born on February 20, 2002. He was very happy to do the series and did everything in his power so that everything went well.

Questions

The first question was directed to the main actors. In the series trailer, we saw them kissing. So, the question aimed to know how this scene unfolded. Taisuke Niihara explained that he loved the kissing scene and that they practiced a lot to find the perfect angle for the viewers. On his side, Kiita Komagine explained that there were several kissing scenes, all equally worked on so that the faces of the two actors could be captured by the camera.

Then we asked the actors what they usually do at 25:00 and what they like to eat at that time. They shared images of what they do at this hour. Kiita Komagine begins by presenting his nighttime activity, explaining that he hosts a late-night radio show. At the end of the broadcast, he enjoys eating a kebab. Next, Taisuke Niihara explains that he loves playing late-night games, with his favorite being Blackjack. However, after playing in the dark for a while, he started to have vision problems. He later adds that he enjoys eating pudding. Takuma Usa says he likes to play online while drinking coffee, and Shoma Nagumo loves going to the gym in the evening and avoids eating late at night.

To finish, the media had the opportunity to ask their questions, which they had sent to Gagaoolala before the press conference, and one of them was chosen to be asked the actors. The organizers then asked them what the working atmosphere was like with their colleagues. Taisuke Niihara explains that he is a rather calm person compared to his co-star, who expresses himself much more than him. This didn’t bother him as it created a jovial atmosphere on the set. Kiita Komagine responds that he is happy that his personality was liked by the team. He explains that he is glad to work with his co-star because he is caring but also protective. Takumi Usa loved working with the lead actors. Their bond strengthened over time to the point where he started calling them by nicknames. Shoma Nagumo was greatly supported by his colleagues. He is quite perfectionistic, so he always immerses himself in the work. It’s not uncommon to see him whispering lines on set.

Fun Fact

One day, Kiita Komagine surprised Shoma Nagumo doing push-ups shirtless and invited him to join in.

Official Trailer-

Article was written by Fanny A. from the team BLSECRETS (industryb.b on Instagram) in collaboration with THE BL XPRESS.