Renowned Japanese director and screenwriter Yuichi Fukuda recently appeared on Fuji TV's "Talk Queens," dishing on his unique casting habits. Turns out, before locking in the main cast for any adaptation, he *always* consults his wife – to the point of "absolute obedience." Fukuda openly admits that every single piece of advice she's given him over the years has "proven to be spot-on."
Fukuda revealed that he and his wife tied the knot in college. Despite her lack of professional work experience, she possesses an uncanny, almost supernatural, intuition when it comes to casting. He chuckled, recalling how collaborations with Tsuyoshi Muro, confirming certain actors, and even his later acquaintance with Kento Yamazaki, all had his wife's "divine predictions" behind them.
"Many things I did exactly as she said, and they miraculously succeeded," he stated.
But the real showstopper was the casting secret behind the "Gintama" live-action adaptation. Fukuda shared that when the team was deciding who would play Sougo Okita, his wife sent a direct LINE message: "Please cast Ryo Yoshizawa as Sougo Okita." At the time, Ryo Yoshizawa hadn't hit superstardom yet, and for such a wildly popular character, Fukuda was leaning towards a more famous, box-office-drawing actor.
However, his wife firmly opposed his reasoning. She even went as far as to create a "Character x Actor Comparison Chart" by hand, placing an illustration of Sougo Okita next to a photo of Ryo Yoshizawa, using visual evidence to *forcefully* convince him.
"She just wouldn't budge," Fukuda recalled. And just as his wife predicted, Ryo Yoshizawa's performance in "Gintama" garnered rave reviews, becoming a major turning point in his skyrocketing popularity. Fukuda laughed, admitting he hasn't dared to question his wife's judgment since.
When the host asked, "What if your wife's opinion differs from yours?" Fukuda didn't hesitate: "There's no 'differing.' I listen to her completely. Because she's never been wrong, not once."
Fukuda's revelations not only exposed a rare "husband-and-wife co-decision-making model" in the industry but also offered another glimpse into the softer side behind his creative process. Outsiders have even playfully dubbed his wife the "hidden boss of casting in the entertainment world," while Fukuda, with absolute trust, has made her an indispensable creative partner.
via： livedoor