Chapter Text
Reporter: Today we managed to get onto the set of such a popular project as Detective Conan! Kato Aoki, good afternoon.
Aoki: Good afternoon, good afternoon. smiles warmly
Reporter: Kato-san plays two characters, Kuroba Kaito and Kudou Shinichi. Is it difficult to portray two characters at the same time?
Aoki: Actually, it’s easier than it sounds. The two of them are very similar personality-wise. Shinichi is just a bit calmer, I guess. And thanks to Gosho-san’s efforts, the two of them never really cross paths, so I never have to play both at the same time.
Reporter: That’s wonderful. But even if they’re similar, they still have their differences, as you mentioned. How easy is it for you to switch between the two?
Aoki, smoothing his hair: I am Kudou Shinichi. And there is always only one truth. points at the camera, then immediately messes up his hair I’m Kuroba Kaito. Nice to meet you, miss. a small flower appears in his hand, which he offers to the reporter
Reporter: Wow, amazing! Did you specifically learn magic tricks for the role of Kuroba Kaito, or did you already know how to do things like that before?
Aoki: Both yes and no. embarrassed I only learned the simplest tricks, like pulling out a rose or doing a flashy card shuffle. Aoki pulls a deck of cards from his pocket and demonstrates the kind of shuffle Kuroba Kaito often does. Actually, I have two stunt doubles. One performs the acrobatic stunts for Kuroba Kaito and the dangerous scenes for Kudou Shinichi, and the other one is a professional magician. So sometimes, in scenes with Kaitou Kid, it might suddenly look like he has black hair. laughs
Ogava Saito: Also he’s just a lazy bastard.
Aoki: Hey! Just because you learned karate for your role doesn’t mean I have to learn magic tricks!
Reporter: You’re the actress who plays Mouri Ran, right?
Saito, smiling: That’s right. Sorry for interrupting your conversation.
Reporter: It’s alright, we were going to look for you anyway. laughs Oh, and you also play Nakamori Aoko?
Saito: Yes, I play her too.
Reporter: But doesn’t Nakamori Aoko have shorter hair than Mouri Ran? What happened?
Saito, awkwardly: Ah… well… Right before the filming of Magic Kaito 1412, my little sister cut my hair. It was very embarrassing… But Gosho-san decided it was fine, so Nakamori Aoko ended up having short hair, while for Mouri Ran I had to use extensions and wait for my hair to grow back. But in one of the recent Detective Conan movies Aoko already had long hair again, so everything is fine now.
Reporter: What an unfortunate situation… My sympathies. Were there any other problems during filming?
Aoki: Yes. But only because of her unbearable personality.
Saito: Excuse me?
Kato Tiba: Oh, are you doing an interview, miss?
Aoki: Tiba, damn it.
Reporter: It’s alright. Good afternoon, Kato-san. You’re the actor who plays Edogava Konan, correct?
Tiba: Yes, yes!
Reporter: Wonderful. Many fans are curious about your real age. Are you really six?
Tiba, annoyed: No, I’m almost nine. I just look younger.
Reporter: Is it difficult for you to play the main character? Do you still manage to keep up with school?
Tiba: No, it’s not difficult! Aoki-ni-san helps me a lot and gives me advice. He helps me with school too. And Gosho-san does as well.
Reporter: Was your older brother the one who recommended you for the role?
Aoki: Naturally. He’s been watching me act since he was practically a baby, and he watched Detective Conan every evening shouting, “That’s my big brother! Big brother!”
Saito: God, you’re so self-absorbed.
Reporter: So it’s true that you used to play Edogava Konan yourself before you grew up?
Aoki: Yes, that was me. And when I suggested Tiba as the new Conan, Gosho-san really had no choice but to agree. laughs and ruffles his younger brother’s hair
Reporter: This project has been running for thirty years. Did you feel the responsibility of inheriting the roles from the previous cast?
Aoki: Well, I don’t think Tiba really did.
Tiba: grins
Aoki: But I did. The previous Kudou Shinichi was undoubtedly a great actor… but what can you do. looks away I was happy that they chose me as his replacement, even if I was afraid I wouldn’t live up to the standard.
Saito: You’re a good actor too, Aoki-kun.
Aoki: Hehe, thanks.
Reporter: And what about you, Ogava-san?
Saito: Me? Well, the previous actress who played Mouri Ran personally chose me through the audition process, so I can only be proud that she considered me worthy. says proudly
Reporter: It seems she appeared in one of the extra episodes?
Aoki, thinking: Ah, you mean the one set in the future?
Saito: Yes. She was specially invited for that role. It was nice to see her again.
Reporter: I believe she was your mentor?
Saito: Yes… I dare say we were quite close. I think she’s involved in a completely different project now.
Reporter: Do you think there’s any chance that someone from the previous cast might appear again in future storylines?
Aoki: No idea. With Gosho-san, there’s always a chance. But absolutely no guarantees. Well, except for the actor who played Kudou Shinichi. That’s impossible now…
Saito: Aoki!
Tiba: The previous Edogava Konan is already in the series.
Reporter: laughs Yes, you’re right, Kato-san.
Aoki: God, there are two Kato-sans here! I don’t even know who you’re talking to!
Reporter: My apologies. Kato Tiba-san, you’re absolutely right. Your predecessor really is closer than one might imagine.
Tiba: Closer than I’d like.
Aoki: Hey. nudges his younger brother’s shoulder Shinichi barely appears anyway.
Tiba, sticking out his tongue: But KID shows up a lot.
Aoki, snorting: He barely appears too.
Saito, smirking: Oh look at him. Complaining about not getting enough screen time.
Aoki: You keep quiet.
Reporter: Speaking of previous roles, Ogava-san, didn’t you used to play Ayumi-chan?
Saito: Oh, yes, I know about those rumors. No, another girl played her. Her parents eventually terminated the contract because the filming schedule made it impossible for her to attend school properly, like Tiba-kun now. As I said, I was invited to audition for Mouri Ran when I was already an adult.
Reporter: If it’s not a secret, how old are you? You look very young.
Saito, embarrassed: Hehe, thank you very much. I’m twenty-six. I graduated from university quite a while ago, and Detective Conan and Magic Kaito 1412 became the first serious projects I worked on. Unlike Aoki-kun, of course.
Aoki: Don’t be jealous.
Reporter: That’s true, Aoki-san. Oh, sorry, may I call you that?
Aoki: Yes, yes, that’s fine.
Reporter: Aoki-san, you were a child actor, correct? Was it difficult for you?
Aoki: Well, when your father is a director and your mother is a screenwriter, it’s not exactly difficult to be a child actor. And Tiba has it even better with such a wonderful older brother, so no problems at all.
Tiba, gloomily: Yeah, sure.
Aoki: Go ahead, complain some more.
Reporter: Aoki-san, I apologize for bringing up this topic, but what kind of relationship did you really have with the previous Kudou Shinichi?
Aoki: falls silent for a moment
Reporter: I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.
Aoki: No, it’s fine. I’m just… not sure how to phrase it.
Saito: Mm. He spoke very highly of Aoki-kun. looks away I don’t think that question is appropriate.
Aoki: Yeah, we were close. After all, we played almost the same role. laughs awkwardly and ruffles Tiba’s hair Well, at least now I can pass all of his knowledge on to Tiba.
Reporter: A very touching generational legacy. It seems that among the cast only the actor who plays Mouri Kogoro has stayed the longest?
Aoki: Ah, yes, that old man. He’s been here since the nineties. Want to know a secret? whispers conspiratorially
Saito: Oh God, Aoki-kun…
Aoki: He dyes his hair. He’s been gray for years! laughs
Tiba: laughs Yeah, he always asks the makeup artists to help hide his wrinkles. He really loves acting.
Saito: Kubota-san has it very hard, playing a thirty-year-old man at sixty… You can only admire that kind of dedication.
Aoki: Yeah, Kubota-san really loves this project. He’s become a mentor for all of us. You know, despite playing such an annoying old guy, he’s actually very calm!
Tiba: Yeah, grandpa’s nice, and he always gives us snacks when Gosho-san isn’t looking.
Aoki: Quiet, you.
Tiba, covering his mouth: Oops.
Saito: laughs Would you like to interview him as well?
Reporter: We would very much like to, but Kubota-san is extremely busy, unfortunately.
Aoki: Right. So old, yet he keeps taking on so many projects. Though he’s in very high demand, which makes sense.
Saito: And Kubota-san has a hard time refusing people. laughs awkwardly
Nisikava Jasuda: Hm? What’s going on here?
Reporter: Oh, hello. You’re the actor who plays Hattori Heiji, correct?
Jasuda: Oh, reporters. What are you doing here?
Aoki: They’re interviewing us.
Jasuda: Huh. So, find any dirt yet?
Reporter: Not at all. We’re only here to learn about the inner workings of the project, Nisikava-san.
Jasuda: Mm. Sure. skeptical
Reporter: May I ask, Nisikava-san, are you really from Osaka? Or is your accent part of your acting?
Jasuda: Can’t you tell? annoyed
Aoki: nudges him Be nicer.
Jasuda: Yeah, I’m from Osaka. Unlike the previous actor who played Hattori Heiji. That was a disgrace.
Reporter: I thought your predecessor handled the role quite well. Are you dissatisfied with his performance?
Saito: Oh, not at all. He acted well. Nisikava-san just likes nitpicking.
Jasuda: Pff. Even if he studied the Osaka accent, he still couldn’t reproduce it perfectly!
Aoki: You’re such a nerd, Jasuda. Bet you rewatched every episode with him ten times just to figure out exactly where he messed up. smirks
Jasuda: Shut up, Kudou.
Aoki: sticks out his tongue
Jasuda: Gosho-san asked me to tell you filming is starting soon, so you’d better wrap this up. turns around
Saito, looking at her watch: Oh, already?
Aoki: Yeah, time flew by.
Yoshimura: Oh, Tiba’s here! Gosho-san asked me to tell you to come see him right now.
Tiba: Ah, okay!
the two kids run off
Reporter: That was the actress who plays Ayumi-chan, right?
Saito: Yes, that’s her. I wonder where the others are…
Aoki: Alright, let’s go already. Damn, we didn’t even get a chance to eat.
Reporter: We apologize for delaying you.
Aoki: Ah, no, it’s fine! Thanks for the interview!
Reporter: See you again soon.