akq's tegasword cult space

Publication: September 20, 2025

-I hope you continue to be an existence that lights up the lives of others-

"What's the significance regarding the title of your first photobook "Existence"?"

Miyazawa: It holds various meanings, but one of them comes from "the value of my existence." I first got to work on set as an actor when I was 19, where back then, I was simultaneously attending university, working part time jobs, and modeling for magazines……I was doing alot of things at once, but it wasn't until I was about 22 that the feeling of "I wanna act!" settled within me. After joining my current agency, I restarted my career, but there were still alot of things that didn't go smoothly……now, as I reach this milestone of turning 30, work is slowly but surely finally picking back up, and I'm beginning to find my own "value in existing." There are moments where I think about how glad I am that I've kept acting, but moments when I think that I've struggled and suffered so much, and that I'll probably keep struggling from here on out……this photobook incorporates all of those feelings and expresses my "existence."

"To commemorate your 30th birthday, we'd like to hear about your journey over the past thirty years. First off, what kind of boy were you during your childhood?"

Miyazawa: My life was completely devoted to soccer all the way through high school.

"We heard you performed at the national competition back in your high school days."

Miyazawa: That's right. I was on a club team even in middle school, but got into my high school on a sports scholarship. I left home to live in a dorm for the sake of soccer……those days were truly immersed in nothing but soccer.

"What prompted you to start playing soccer?"

Miyazawa: I remember watching the Japan Korea World Cup, where it moved me so much that I began saying, "I wanna play soccer!," and was allowed to do so. My father played baseball, so he'd say, "If you're going to play sports, wouldn't baseball be better?," but I really wanted to play soccer. After that, my younger brother started playing soccer too, so we'd play together.

"You two get along well, huh?"

Miyazawa: Since we're siblings born one year apart, we fought alot during adolescence, but we've mellowed out since turning 20 (laughs).

"What caused Miyazawa-san, who was so immersed in soccer, to enter the entertainment industry?"

Miyazawa: I got injured many times……I wanted to join the youth team, but that didn't happen, so I went through a period where I lost my drive and was sort of unsteady. I got into my high school through a sports scholarship, so I stuck it out until the end, but I decided to quit soccer after high school. Still, I didn't really have anything else I wanted to do after I quit……at that time, I was approached by my former agency in Harajuku and began my entertainment career.

"So you were scouted! You're originally from Shizuoka, so did you move to Tokyo to attend university?"

Miyazawa: I did. I was already used to living alone since I lived in a dorm during high school……but for someone raised in a rural area, Tokyo seemed so fresh and sparkly. So, right before starting university, as I ventured out to Harajuku feeling all fired up, I got scouted (laughs). It really was a case of timing, or fate I guess, as if that scouter hadn't approached me back then, I wouldn't be here now, so I'm truly grateful.

"From there, what led you to pursue becoming an actor?"

Miyazawa: When I first went to a film set at 19, seeing the actors performing so seriously in front of the cameras, and the sessions held by the Director and staff, I thought it was incredibly cool how everyone was giving it their all to create a single work……but, it wasn't like I immediately thought, "I wanna to be an actor too!" it was during my job hunt that I suddenly remembered that moment. So, when I was thinking about whether to just keep job hunting or not, I realized I'd rather challenge myself to become an actor than heading down a path I wasn't even sure I wanted to take, which is when I joined my current agency and started acting all over again.

"What's been the most challenging part of continuing your career as an actor?"

Miyazawa: I run into all sorts of obstacles every time, but more than anything, the hardest part is having periods without work, which to put it another way, are periods when I can't express myself. Even without acting work, I had to earn a living somehow, so I would get by with part time jobs, but I'd of course always be thinking, "I want to be able to afford food solely off acting….." Whether it's on stage or in film, if I don't get an offer or pass an audition, I'm not given the chance to stand in a space where I can express myself, so not even being able to step onto "that stage" was incredibly tough. Even now I still audition and fail……so that cycle continues.

"Earlier you brought up job hunting, but for actors who land roles through auditions, in a sense, they're constantly job hunting for their entire careers, wouldn't you say?"

Miyazawa: That's right. It's difficult. I also want to watch stage plays, where people can see live performances and receive what's being expressed directly, without a screen in between them, but the reason I decided to pursue work as an actor was because of my experience on film sets, so there was a period when I took a break from stage work and committed myself entirely to film projects……with stage work, I'll either get offers or keep the same role in a series of productions, so I was able to keep getting work, but I had to audition for every single film role, wondering if I'd be chosen or not and……well, I don't pass most auditions, so I realized it's a tough world. In that regard, the happiness I feel when I'm chosen, and the joy of being given a place to express myself is profound, so I'm grateful for each and every work set, and am striving to give it my absolute all.

"We asked about the challenging times, but what's made you happy about being an actor?"

Miyazawa: It of course makes me happy to have my acting evaluated, and the moment when something I consciously try to express gets through to someone is an indescribable feeling. It makes me realize there are people who notice even the smallest of details. And then, though it might sound like I'm repeating myself, as a counterbalance to the challenges, whenever every new job is secured, it's always a joy. The fact that I can receive feedback from my fans is only possible if I'm appearing in a work, so……

"Speaking of Miyazawa-san's work appearances, you gained attention for playing Sakito Homura and BoonViolet in the 2024 series "Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger." Was the reaction really strong when you were cast as a regular in the Super Sentai series?"

Miyazawa: It was! Ever since I started my entertainment career at 19, I kept auditioning and failing over and over again……I was about to turn 30, and landed the role through the audition I took thinking it'd truly be my last chance, so when I got the call saying I'd be chosen, I was beyond happy, and the response was overwhelming too. My family hadn't really shown much interest in my work before, but then they suddenly started paying attention (laughs). Still, it made me realize once again how fortunate I was to have been involved in such a major production.

"While continuing your entertainment career, is there anyone who's influenced you?"

Miyazawa: I've been influenced by many people……but the person who influenced me the most as a human would be the president of my current agency. I joined my current agency at age 23, and I was self aware that I was just wandering aimlessly back then……at the time, he listened to all of my stories and gave me a place to belong……I owe my very existence today to the president, so I feel it was an absolutely essential encounter. He saved me. And then, someone who influenced me as an actor is senior performer Kudo Asuka-san. I had heard that Asuka-san also started out as an extra but gradually began getting roles, so when I consulted with him, saying I liked stage work but wanted to pursue acting on film, along with other various pieces of advice I received, he told me, "If you want to go down that path, make sure you see it through properly." That experience led me to step away from the stage for a moment and focus on film work, a choice that drastically changed my entertainment career……so he's someone who influenced me and gave me the push I needed.

"We'd love for those two to see this photobook too."

Miyazawa: Yeah! In any case, I was able to express my "existence" just as it is, and I had alot of input into not only the title but also the structure of the content, so……it's a book packed with everything I could express. I can't wait to show this to my family and boss who've supported me every step of the way, as it's a book packed with questions like, "What kind of guy is Miyazawa Yu?," so I'd be thrilled if not only my fans, but also people who don't know me yet, would pick it up and get to know me as a person. I put a fair amount of my own ego into it, so it'd be good if you could feel that as well.

"For example, where did you show your ego?"

Miyazawa: It was me who suggested that we include photos taken at a pachinko parlor (laughs). A photobook featuring a pachinko parlor, that's pretty unusual, don't you think?

"Certainly. What made you want to include that?"

Miyazawa: During my university years, there was a period where I was aimlessly drifting around without any clear dreams or goals, and I wanted to express that depressed version of myself from back then. I think photobooks usually only show the most beautiful parts of yourself, but keeping with the title "existence," I wanted to include not just the beautiful parts, but also the bad and hopeless aspects of myself, all without hiding anything.

"Still, some fans might just become addicted to those depressed vibes!"

Miyazawa: I'd be happy if that happens (laughs).

"Now then, to wrap things up……as you reach this milestone of turning 30, could you tell us your goals as an actor moving forward?"

Miyazawa: I love acting of course, so my number one goal is to keep performing. I do have specific goals, like wanting to appear in certain types of works and wanting to work with specific Directors, but more than anything else, as mentioned earlier, that hardest part is not passing an audition or being given a place to express myself, so……my objective is to keep appearing in various works going forward.

"You mentioned that you took a break from stage plays for some time, but you've been appearing on stage again recently, right?"

Miyazawa: Yes! I'll be on stage again this November. Having gained so much experience on a film set, I feel now more than ever that there are things I can express on stage, and while it might be selfish, I want to pursue both stage and film works. There are delicate expressions that can only be achieved through film, so I still love it…

"If you were to take a break from work for abit, what life goals do you have?"

Miyazawa: Eh……I wonder what I'd do if I stepped away from acting. Still, I just want to live a happy life (laughs).

"A vague yet truthful answer (laughs)."

Miyazawa: For example, the time you spend drinking with your friends is incredibly fun and makes you happy, right? I want to treasure moments like that too. Now that I'm in my thirties, I'll continue to age into my forties, fifties and sixties, but I truly believe that there's still alot more joyful and happy things for me to experience ahead. Maybe I'll get married someday, or possibly be blessed with children……thirty is the age when you start thinking about those kinds of things, isn't it?

"By expanding your life skills in various ways, you may also be able to apply it to your acting."

Miyazawa: For sure! I've yet to play the role of a father. I'd like to challenge myself with that kind of role too.

"Finally, once again……what kind of "existence" does Miyazawa Yu wish to achieve?"