GagaOOLala, the world's largest LGBTQ+ streaming platform, in partnership with TV Tokyo, will launch their co-produced boys’ love (BL) series "At 25:00, in Akasaka" on April 18.
During a press conference on April 15 at TV Tokyo’s headquarters, the series’ stars, Kiita Komagine and Taisuke Niihara, alongside co-stars Takuma Usa and Shoma Nagumo, talked about their roles.
"At 25:00, in Akasaka" (GagaOOLala)
Japanese actors Kiita Komagine and Taisuke Niihara at the press conference for "At 25:00, in Akasaka" on April 15 GagaOOLala)
Japanese Kiita Komagine at the press conference for "At 25:00, in Akasaka" on April 15 GagaOOLala)
Japanese actor Taisuke Niihara at the press conference for "At 25:00, in Akasaka" on April 15 GagaOOLala)
Japanese actor Takuma Usa at the press conference for "At 25:00, in Akasaka" on April 15 GagaOOLala)
Japanese actor Shoma Nagumo at the press conference for "At 25:00, in Akasaka" on April 15 GagaOOLala)
(From feft) Japanese actors Takuma Usa, Kiita Komagine, Taisuke Niihara, Shoma Nagumo (GagaOOLala)
(From left) Hiroaki Saiki, Japanese actors Takuma Usa, Kiita Komagine, Taisuke Niihara and Shoma Nagumo, and GagaOOLala's Jay Lin (GagaOOLala)
TV Tokyo's Hiroaki Saiki (left) and and GagaOOLala's Jay Lin (GagaOOLala)
The event was graced by Hiroaki Saiki, head of International Business at TV Tokyo, and Jay Lin, founder and CEO of GagaOOLala.
"Since 2022, we have fostered a robust relationship with Portico Media. For 'At 25:00, in Akasaka,' we have utilized their insights from the earliest planning stages, making strategic adjustments to enhance the series' accessibility for international audiences, especially in Taiwan, where GagaOOLala is based," said Hiroaki Saiki.
He added, "With digital platforms, content can now quickly reach a global audience. GagaOOLala's extensive worldwide reach is a testament to its influence, and we are eager to partner with GagaOOLala to deliver high-quality content to fans around the globe.”
Lin emphasized the significance of Japanese BL dramas, observing their soaring popularity and the substantial 66 percent increase in new BL series from 2021 to 2022.
"The strength of Japanese BL dramas lies in the robust BL economy here, generating over $1.7 billion annually—a testament to the collaborative efforts among manga publishers, streaming platforms, and TV networks," he said.
In "At 25:00, in Akasaka," rookie actor Yuki Shirasaki (Taisuke Niihara), seizes his chance during an audition and lands a role opposite the popular senior actor, Asami Hayama (Kiita Komagine), in a BL drama.
As Shirasaki grapples with the pressure of his first major role, Hayama proposes that they enter into a "relationship for the sake of their roles" until filming concludes. This pseudo-romantic involvement off-screen leads to a poignant and beautifully crafted love story that delves into the complexities of relationships within the entertainment industry.
"The captivating element of 'At 25:00, in Akasaka' lies in its exploration of what happens if the BL characters truly harbored romantic feelings for each other," said Lin explained. "Would the fans mind? Would they even notice? Should the actors keep their relationship a secret, or might it endear them even more to their fans? This theme is incredibly fascinating as the core of BL is the fantasy of male-male romance, which has indeed catapulted many idols to mainstream fame."
Kiita Komagine and Taisuke Niihara shared the unique challenges they faced during the production. Due to the series' meta-structure, a "play within a play," the actors were required to memorize two sets of scripts, presenting a formidable challenge.
They also noted that filming kiss scenes was particularly memorable. To bring authenticity and charm to these moments, they consulted intimacy coordinators and sought advice on the most appealing angles for on-screen kisses, experimenting with various chin positions to capture the dreamy essence of the manga's style, all aimed at delivering the most romantic and thrilling experiences to their fans.
On starring in the series, Kiita Komagine said, “First of all, I am very happy to have been given such an important leading role in this kind of work, and I feel that this kind of work, 'At 25:00, in Akasaka,' is very interesting because this role in the entertainment industry and my mind are becoming more and more important. I feel that it is a very interesting work. I took on the challenge with the thought that if I jumped into this world, I might be able to grow even more. As we started the filming, there were parts of the play-within-a-play, and I was quite concerned about the division of the roles and the need to memorize two scripts.”
Taisuke Niihara said, “When I was first asked to play this role, I was very happy. I love manga and anime, so when I was chosen to play the double lead in a live-action film, and to play the role of Yuki Shirasaki, I was very excited.”
“There was a lot of pressure, but, you know. I felt proud. I wasn't sure if I was the right person for the role, but as we filmed, I gradually became able to communicate with everyone, and I think I was able to see how fun it was to play the role. In addition to the love story of meeting Hayama, the character of Shirasaki is also portrayed in the original story as an actor who has grown as an actor, and is very human. I love him, and I love the role of Shirasaki,” he added.
GagaOOLala will begin the exclusive global streaming, with the exception of Japan, of "At 25:00, in Akasaka” starting on April 18 at 11:30 p.m. GMT+8. New episodes will be released weekly on Thursdays.