potato_carrot | Inoue Mao interview for JAF Mate January 2021

Inoue Mao interview for JAF Mate January 2021

I really had fun in the movie set which was like a school club without any reservations.

Inoue Mao is an actress with an impressionable bright smile who has led so many known projects. With her latest lead project Daikome Sodo (The Angry Rice Wives), she plays the plain Matsuura Ito, one of the group of mothers or “okakatachi” living at a fishing village in Toyama Prefecture. This movie depicts the famous rice riots which happened around 100 years ago. But as she was about to start filming, Inoue-san was surprised with a little tidbit about it.

“I only had memories of the rice protests when I learned them at school, but I didn’t know it was started by a group of women and their actions eventually spread throughout Japan. I find that very exciting and it deepened my interest.”

Inoue-san was charmed by the depiction of powerful women who with all their might stood up above men to defend their families. For her role as Ito, she had to apply sunburn makeup, run, shout and be thrown down physically.

“When we were in Toyama shooting for the movie, our group of actresses go out of the hotel together in our jersey outfits and walk to the prepping room every day. When the filming ends, everyone removes their sunburn makeup and then we go out for drinks barefaced (laughs). We spent our time talking about beauty, health and delicious food so I had fun since it was like a school club.”

In order to have a realistic grasp of her role, Inoue-san refrained from eating rice. However even with that, she mentioned a taste of Toyama which she will not forget.

“Toyama-born Muroi Shigeru-san brought masuzushi to the set and it was really delicious. Even if I refrained from eating rice because my role cannot really eat the same (because of the circumstances that time), that masuzushi was really good I made an exemption that I can eat rice as long as it is sushi from Muroi-san (laughs).”

The work shows the strong will of the mothers to provide food on the table for their husbands and children they raise but for Inoue-san, she talks about how our eating habits have become one of driving forces in life.

“I felt how hard it is not to be able to eat properly during filming so I realized the importance of our eating habits. When I was in my 20s, I used to diet and had food preferences, but right now, my utmost priority is being healthy more than anything else. When I’m at home, I see to it that I cook and properly eat balanced meals in a day.”

I love driving while looking at the scenery I’ve been used to since

For Inoue-san, driving is an indispensable part of her busy lifestyle. There are times she almost spends more than half of her week driving.

“Normally, I drive a lot. When I’m inside my car, I choose and listen to songs or radio programs whichever fits my mood.”

For Inoue-san who likes driving, we also asked her favorite driving route. “My favorite is the Daisan Keihin Road (t/n: toll highway which is part of National Route 466 connecting Yokohama and Setagaya, Tokyo). Its familiarity calms me down when I go to the nearby Yokohama where I was born and raised. Looking at the scenery I am used to soothes me and I also feel a bit sad when I notice any changes. I discover new shops along the way, and I feel the passing of time with the numerous changes in the scenery. I consider that as driving’s major charm point. There was also a time I drove that far in search for something I wanted to eat. Before, I drove all the way to Shizuoka Prefecture just for oden. That time, I clearly remember how beautiful the sight of Mount Fuji was while inside the car.”

For Inoue-san who enjoys driving to her heart’s content, she mentioned this while flashing a smile. “Actually, Japan Automotive Federation (JAF) helped me before. (t/n: JAF is a paid membership club for people with driving licenses in Japan and they offer a lot of car-related services for a fee)

“I used to choose cars based on their appearance and with that I drove a quite old car model before. But suddenly it stopped, the radiator broke down and I saw smoke coming out of it. I got so nervous about what happened. It was my most favorite car but I guess it was not for me. From that on, I choose cars based on performance. I am thankful (to JAF) I haven’t encountered any problems since then. (laughs)”

I am constantly conscious of living a normal lifestyle

Inoue-san always answers our questions in a friendly manner. She’s someone who already got so much love from so many in various fields, but when we asked her what’s her secret to living her life, she has this to say.

“More than doing something special in a day, what’s more important to me is to be able to do the usual normal stuff: doing the cooking, laundry, cleaning, walking my dog outdoors. If I missed doing those things, I end up being stressed. I am constantly conscious of leading a normal way of life.”

For Inoue-san who puts her feet on the ground while spending her days with such sincerity, she remains steadfast and forward-looking despite the uncertainties of the current times.

“When I entered my 30s, I contemplated on what kind of person I should be. From hereon, I don’t know what will happen by then. I have yet to grasp the answer myself but I hope to be just myself without pushing myself to the limits. While being flexible coping with everything, I want to cherish the times when I can be honest with myself.”