Kentaro Sakaguchi Shares Thoughts on His First Korean Production, ‘What Comes After Love’
On the morning of September 13th, Kentaro Sakaguchi sat down for an interview in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of Coupang Play’s original series ‘What Comes After Love’ (written and directed by Moon Hyun-sung, with co-writer Jung Hae-shim). The series, a poignant melodrama, explores the lives of Hong, a woman with amnesia, and Jungo, a man burdened with regret, as they reconnect after a fateful romance. It is based on a joint Korean-Japanese novel in which the Korean novelist Gong Ji-young and the Japanese novelist Tsuji Hitonari each tell a romance from the perspectives of a woman and a man, respectively.
Sakaguchi, renowned in Japan for his emotive performances alongside Lee Se-young, will be portraying both Hong and Jungo, presenting a unique melodramatic chemistry. This is Sakaguchi’s debut in a Korean production, and he expressed his excitement and nervousness about the project.
“I’ve previously participated in stage greetings for Japanese works, and each time I wondered if I truly deserved the affection I received,” Sakaguchi shared. “Now, I’m thrilled to be part of a Korean production and eager to see how audiences will react.” He added, “With the rise of streaming services, it’s wonderful that we can share our work across borders. Japanese audiences can watch Korean productions, and vice versa. I’m grateful that we can present our work in this way.”
Reflecting on his decision to join the Korean series, Sakaguchi said, “When I first read the script, it struck me as a love story that transcends cultural boundaries. Although there might be cultural differences between a Korean woman and a Japanese man, the core of Jungo and Hong’s relationship is love.” He admitted, “I knew this role would be a significant challenge for me. I was concerned about whether my experience in Japanese cinema and television would resonate with Korean audiences and how I would adapt to working with Korean staff.”
Sakaguchi also noted his concerns about communication due to language barriers. “I value communication deeply, so I was worried about conveying my feelings effectively,” he explained. “However, after having a video call with the director, I was impressed by his passion and commitment to the character of Jungo. His thorough explanation made me confident that I wanted to work with him. Thanks to Director Moon Hyun-sung, my initial anxieties eased, and I’m pleased with the final result.”
‘What Comes After Love,’ a six-part series, is set to premiere on Coupang Play on September 27th. It will also stream on Viu where available.
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