[This story contains spoilers from the season two finale of Tokyo Vice.]
Many heroes introduced down ruthless yakuza crime lord Shinzo Tozawa (Ayumi Tanida) within the season two finale of Tokyo Vice.
However for a lot of devoted followers of the Japan-set and American-produced crime drama on Max, watching Akiro Sato (performed by Present Kasamatsu), the younger resilient yakuza member of the Chihara-Kai clan, ship proof of Tozawa’s treachery to the oyabuns of varied clans was a drastically satisfying ending to the ten episodes which have been soaked with violence, honor, dishonor, loyalty and betrayal.
And of all of the yakuza portrayed within the sequence concerning the Japanese organized crime world, Sato was the one member who sought quiet and peace, in his personal approach.
Tokyo Vice fandom pages point out that Kasamatsu’s portrayal of Sato leaps off of the display, just like the sequence’ foremost star Ansel Elgort, who performs real-life American journalist Jake Adelstein, who moved to Japan within the ‘90s to cowl the world of the yakuza.
The Hollywood Reporter not too long ago caught up with Kasamatsu in Japan through Zoom to debate how he approached enjoying Sato, his friendship with Elgort’s character and his future within the Hollywood trade.
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How would you say Sato grew probably the most? He had many struggles in season two, from making an attempt to guard his youthful brother from the conniving Chihara-Kai high-ranking Naoki Hayama (Yosuke Kubozuka) to making an attempt to guard his oyabun, Hitoshi Ishida (Shun Sugata), from being assassinated by their yakuza archenemy, Shinzo Tozawa (Ayumi Tanida).
I believe with Samantha (Rachel Keller) there’s a bizarre connection. That connection is so useful for Sato rising up. And there have been additionally different risks, and different individuals appeared harmful. Is it so useful for bettering Sato? I don’t assume so. As a result of I really feel protected once I really feel reference to somebody. It’s like having energy and being courageous and one thing like that. So, when I’m with Samantha, she all the time trusts me, and I get energy from her. And I get energy from my oyabun Hitoshi Ishida, who’s performed by Shun Sugata-San.
Sugata-San is so, so scary! He’s so scary on the set and in addition off the set, however he’s a legend in Japan, and he trusted me each time. Not everyone, however he trusted me! So, I favored appearing with him and I felt so snug. And naturally, I trusted him too. In that relationship, I acquired all the ability.
Would you say that Sugata-San was like a father determine to Sato, is {that a} honest evaluation?
Sure, you might be right. Really, I don’t have my father in my each day life, and Sato doesn’t have his father and his household isn’t in a superb relationship. So, it’s the identical between Sato and I. Ishida, my boss, gave [a father figure] to me and to Sato.
What about Sato having to fret about his youthful brother, Kaito (Atomu Mizuishi), and Hayama always making an attempt to make use of him and put him in hurt’s approach? What affect did the necessity to save your youthful brother have in your character?
That’s so attention-grabbing. After all, I like him, he’s so cute on the set. However I didn’t know his strikes, or how he was transferring. It’s so troublesome to reply how that helped enhance me as Sato. I needed to defend different individuals, too. The state of affairs was useful, however I didn’t assume so on the time.
In one other place or time, do you are feeling that Jake Adelstein (Ansel Elgort) and Sato may have been buddies, or is that simply unattainable due to the 2 worlds they stay in? Is there a mutual respect for each other?
I believe there’s a bizarre relationship. I don’t belief him, however he has good info for me. And he has actual energy, he’s courageous. Ansel and Jake, we’re in a [different kind of] relationship, not solely buddies, not solely as co-workers. He’s a particular particular person for me.
Present Kasamatsu in Tokyo Vice.
Courtesy of Max
Would Sato defend Jake if he stepped out of line on this planet of the yakuza?
Really, Sato isn’t all the time protected in his yakuza household, Chihara-Kai. And even in his each day life, all the pieces isn’t protected, not snug. However he all the time spends time making an attempt to not struggle, to not break something. As a result of when he was youthful, he broke all the pieces and he regrets it. So, he should defend [so many people now]. He needs to guard his household, however he’s undecided if they need him to guard them. All the pieces is so complicated. Sato needs peace as a result of he doesn’t have peace. So, Sato needs to be peaceable individuals.
How did you put together for the extraordinary struggle scene within the bathhouse, the place Sato lastly confronts Hayama for making an attempt to kill his brother and falsely accusing Sato of being a traitor to his clan? Was this struggle scene extra intense than in season one, the place you saved your oyabun’s life after the Chihara-Kai headquarters was ambushed by Tozawa’s assassins?
The season one combating scene was so delicate. It was the primary time killing somebody for Sato, and I didn’t need Sato to appear fashionable or look cool. However I wished to be detailed and delicate. However in season two, Sato is so annoyed and wished to kill his Chihara-Kai brother, Hayama, on a regular basis. And he doesn’t have to consider an vitality supply, as a result of he simply needs to kill Hayama. So, he simply releases the ability.
The finale ended with Sato changing into the oyabun of the Chihara-Kai yakuza clan. The place do you see the Sato character in 5 to 10 years?
I don’t know, however he will likely be struggling each time.
Would possibly we see a season three with Sato in it?
Do I need season three? Really, I don’t (laughs). I wish to play Sato, however really I’m questioning if Tokyo Vice followers desire a season three. I’m questioning. I’m afraid (laughs). If Max is okay with it, after all I’ll do Sato in season three, 4, 5.
What’s sooner or later for you? Will you do your subsequent undertaking in Japan, or would you love to do some initiatives within the U.S.?
When season one aired, I acquired quite a lot of gives, however I used to be busy with work in Japan. However proper now, I’m holding my schedule open and I’m ready to obtain good work. So, I need worldwide work.
Tokyo Vice is now streaming season two on Max.