Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, known for his boyish charm and captivating screen presence, recently discussed his full-fledged entry into the Korean entertainment industry.
Sakaguchi first debuted as a model in Japan in 2010 and began his acting career in 2014 with the film Shanti Days 365 Days, Happy Breath. Over the years, he has built an impressive filmography, featuring in popular films such as Color Me True and The 100th Love with You, and dramas like Signal and And Life Goes On.
His connection to Korea, however, began long before his official debut in a Korean drama. In 2018, Sakaguchi visited Korea for the first time to promote his movie Tonight, Romance Theater and later appeared at the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in 2019 and 2022. In September 2022, he further deepened his relationship with his Korean fans by holding his first fan meeting in Seoul.
Now, amidst growing anticipation, Sakaguchi is making his official debut in a Korean drama through Coupang Play’s original series What Comes After Love. The drama, based on the 2005 Korean-Japanese joint novel Love After, written by acclaimed authors Gong Ji-young of Korea and Tsuji Hitonari of Japan, is a sentimental melodrama that delves into the complexities of a fateful love.
The story explores the aftermath of a deeply emotional relationship between two people from different countries—Hong, played by Lee Se-young, a woman who has forgotten everything, and Jungo, played by Sakaguchi, a man burdened with regret. The narrative, told from both perspectives, showcases how their love unfolds across time, distance, and cultural barriers.
Sakaguchi explained that he had been approached for the role in What Comes After Love about five years ago. However, due to various circumstances, including the COVID-19 pandemic, production was delayed until the project resurfaced as a drama instead of a film. Sakaguchi shared that the story immediately caught his attention for its unique portrayal of a Korean woman and a Japanese man navigating their relationship through many trials and tribulations. He said the work was “amazing,” particularly for the way it captures various aspects of love—from the initial meeting to moments of happiness, separation, and reunion. For him, the complexity of the emotions depicted was what made the project stand out.
The original novel, which was written nearly 20 years ago, deals with the timeless theme of love, and Sakaguchi reflected on how love has evolved in today’s world. He observed that while the physical distance between Korea and Japan remains the same, technological advances have brought about significant changes in how people communicate their feelings. “Nowadays,” he explained, “you can quickly ask someone where they are, why they aren’t coming, or what they’re thinking.” This shift, he suggested, has made expressions of affection more direct and immediate. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the depth of emotions depicted in the story—those surrounding love, distance, and time—remain universally relatable, regardless of the era.
Working alongside actress Lee Se Young, Sakaguchi expressed his gratitude for the experience, explaining how their emotional synergy helped him better understand his character, Jungo. He noted that, while he memorized lines quickly, the intensity of his emotions often increased once he was on set. There were times, he admitted when his vocal delivery and emotional expression were louder or softer than expected. In those moments, he truly felt he had connected with Jungo. Sakaguchi also revealed that there were instances when he felt sadness during scenes where Hong, Lee Se-young’s character, became angry. He shared that he could deeply empathize with her, particularly when he imagined the loneliness she must have felt after traveling to Japan.
Sakaguchi also touched on the cultural differences he encountered when working on the script. In Japan, he explained, words like “I love you” are reserved for the most emotionally intense scenes, while in the Korean script, the phrase appeared frequently. He was initially concerned that the repeated use of such expressions might dilute their emotional impact, and he raised this concern with the director. The director, however, reassured him that his interpretation of Jungo was valid, and they adjusted the lines to reflect his character’s more reserved nature. This, Sakaguchi believes, is one of the reasons why Jungo and Hong’s love story was so poignant—Jungo felt he had expressed his love as much as he could, while Hong felt she needed more, ultimately leading to their separation. The cultural nuances, he said, added to the dramatic tension between the two characters.
Reflecting on the deeper meaning of the story, Sakaguchi described the relationship between Jungo and Hong as being in the “stage before love.” In his view, while both characters longed for each other’s affection and understanding, they hadn’t yet reached the point of fully sacrificing themselves for one another, a hallmark of true love. He believes that after five years of separation, Jungo and Hong have matured and begun to understand the true meaning of love, which, to Sakaguchi, involves selflessness and the willingness to give deeply to another person. He also spoke about the idea of an “expiration date” on love, a concept that is touched upon in the drama. Sakaguchi, however, disagrees with the notion, believing that once a connection is made, it never truly fades, even after time and distance have passed.
Sakaguchi’s venture into Korean entertainment with What Comes After Love has been met with curiosity and excitement. While discussing his experience working on a Korean production, he mentioned that there were no significant differences between production sites in Japan and Korea. However, he did note that the team in Korea tended to skip test filming and go straight into the main shoot to capture the actors’ genuine first impressions of their performances. He found this approach refreshing, as it allowed for more spontaneous and authentic portrayals of emotion. This, he believes, is more reflective of the director and cinematographer’s style than a cultural difference between the two countries.
When asked about his thoughts on advancing into Korea, Sakaguchi expressed his happiness at being able to reach more international audiences. Although he had previously wondered why he was so popular in Korea, he said he now feels more confident in understanding his appeal. With a smile, he joked that perhaps it was the allure of being a “rare item” that contributed to his popularity. As streaming platforms continue to grow, Sakaguchi is optimistic that his work will become even more accessible, and he hopes that What Comes After Love will allow him to proudly share his contributions to Korean entertainment.
Sakaguchi also discussed his approach to choosing roles. He explained that while he may have an internal standard for selecting projects, he is primarily drawn to stories that evoke a strong sense of affection. He admitted to enjoying a variety of genres, from crime and mystery to romance, and expressed interest in playing diverse roles in the future. One role that particularly intrigued him was that of a bodyguard. He admired the behind-the-scenes work that bodyguards and interpreters do and thought it would be interesting to portray their stories on screen.
Kentaro Sakaguchi’s first foray into Korean dramas with What Comes After Love marks an exciting new chapter in his career, one that is sure to captivate both his long-time fans and new audiences alike.
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