Sota Fukushi (福士 蒼汰) isn’t a computer genius in real life, but you’d be forgiven for assuming so— especially after watching his convincing performance as Yuto in “The Head” season 2. As one of the new cast members on the Spanish/Japanese psychological thriller, the 30-year-old Japanese actor shared that he was initially nervous but excited for this new role.
In addition to “The Head” being Sota Fukushi’s first venture into a big international production, this project is also his first English acting role. In this interview, we got the handsome soft-spoken star to spill the details on his initial reaction, his favourite scene partner, the challenge of speaking in a foreign language on camera and also, Asian representation.
Q: How did you prepare for the character Yuto?
Sota Fukushi: Yuto is a computer expert, and he types really quickly so I had to learn to type quickly. I saw this typing championship and they used heat pads to keep their hands warm and they would also rub their hands, so I’d add this action into the scene. Plus he is book smart and Japanese, so I used a bit of Japanese in episode one. At first, the word was in English (in the script) but I asked my director (if I could change it) and he agreed (as it add realism).
Q: How do you feel about being part of “The Head” season 2, especially since this is your very first international production?
S: I was super nervous when I got this role because, like you said, it was my first time in an international TV series. I don’t usually use English while acting in Japan, so this was also my first time using English while acting. I was so nervous but I had an acting coach and she taught me a lot about how to act in English. Gradually, I got used to using English in acting but it was still different for me.
Q: Do you have any favourite memories or interesting moments on set that you would like to share with our readers?
S: A lot! There were so many memories that I had. I would say that the very last scene, the final scene – maybe this is a spoiler alert – but in the scene with John Lynch, who plays Arthur, he said that he did an adlib so I was not sure what he was going to say and I had to pay attention (to) what he was saying. The scene was very emotional, vivid and very wild so that was a very interesting moment for me.
Q: Were you a fan of the series before getting involved?
S: Yeah, I was. (For) Season one, I watched it three years ago. And there was a Japanese character in season one so I remembered watching him, wishing I could be him there (in his shoes). I couldn’t imagine that I would be joining (the same series). Yeah, I was very surprised.
Q: What was your initial reaction when you read the script?
S: When I read the script for the first time, I was like: “Where (are) Yuto’s line? Where is Yuto? Okay, I’m here.” *laughs* I was very happy to see that I was there, that I’m in the script. And my role, the computer expert, is one of the bigger roles (in the series) because my character is the only person who can contact the outside world and Yuto is a key person.
Q: In your opinion, what was it about ‘The Head’ that made you want to be a part of it?
S: It’s a very thrilling mystery and we don’t know what’s going to happen next so, story-wise, it was very interesting. I really don’t know who the murderer is, so that was the (most) interesting point. Also, on my first day in the Canary Islands in Spain, my producer rushed me to the set on the ship and there were some cast members and staff there.
Katherine O’Donnelly, who plays Maggie, came to me and I don’t know why she was so hyper, like “You must be the guy from Japan!” and was like “Can I hug you? Can I hug you?” *laughs* It was very surprising but I was relieved that she was very nice and it made me feel at ease (to be there).
Q: Maybe you can share a little bit more about the role you play? You kind of told us earlier but maybe tell us a little bit about Yuto.
S: He is very logical and rational because he is a very scientific person – he’s a scientist. So he always keeps his emotions (at a) low but gradually, he becomes very emotional. And he likes to play video games that are more combat-based that involves killing and shooting, but when it happens in real life, gradually he becomes more emotional, he gets scared. That’s what’s interesting, he changes from time to time. And the logical side (of Yuto) fits me as well, I think.
Q: You prepared so hard for your character and your role. How do you think the fans will like it?
S: I think Yuto is quite funny, like he’s not the stereotypical Japanese person. Yes, he likes video games and that’s a very typical stereotype but he tries to make everything fun. His character does this thing I love, that maybe fans will like it as well, where normally a Japanese person says something in a flat tone but someone speaking in English will have intonations – like a wave – and it changes the feeling. At first, I was very confused but when my acting coach told me (about it), I then learnt a lot of ways to say “I don’t know”. *laughs*
Q: You said you love your character but if given the chance, would you want to act as a different character in the show?
S: I want to act as Maggie or Arthur. *laughs* Maggie is a murderer, as we found out in season one, but she also has a pure heart because she always thinks about her parents so it’s very complicated. I think her emotions are very complicated so I want to act like that character – not a simple character but a complicated one to give myself a challenge.
Q; What do you hope for you fans to take away from watching this new season?
S: I want them to acknowledge that the Asian guy is there *laughs* because all the other characters are Europeans. Or that the show is just entertainment so just be entertained and feel how you want. And also be careful when you get on a boat. *laughs*
Catch “The Head” Season 2 on HBO GO,
