Friendship Beyond Borders: Takanori Iwata and Song Kang Trade Stories On ‘Once Upon a Crime’ and ‘Sweet Home’

(Netflix Photo)

When heartthrobs Takanori Iwata and Song Kang connected for the first time through a virtual meet up last February, they lit up the internet in both Japan and South Korea. Fans were so thrilled by their bromance that they have been clamoring for more.

And the wait is over. The two leading men reunited with each other in Japan for their first in-person chat, offering a glimpse into their burgeoning friendship, current projects and aspirations for the future.

Iwata, known affectionately as “Gan-chan”, shared how their initial connection led to long-distance friendship. “We live in different countries, but he sent me flowers on the first day of my concert last year,” recounted Iwata. “We’ve been in touch like that even after that interview.”

Song Kang, who has a lot of respect for Iwata’s versatility as both an actor and singer, was quick to express his admiration. “I was very curious about your work, your acting and your music, and what your concerts are like,” he told Iwata. “You answered my questions so thoughtfully that I became even more interested in you.”

Opening up on acting challenges

With both actors currently involved in Netflix productions, the conversation naturally turned to what they were working on.

Iwata, a self-professed serious person, plays a prince in Once Upon a Crime, a comedic take on the classic fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood, premiering on September 14. Iwata’s co-actor, who plays the king, ad-libbed so much that Iwata had to try his best to maintain his composure while the entire production crew was in stitches.

“Everyone was shaking with silent laughter on the set, including the cameramen,” recalled Iwata. “All I can say is it’ll make you laugh.” On the other hand, Song Kang who calls himself “a silly person” said he quite enjoys working on comedies but is currently working on the second season of Sweet Home, a fantasy thriller which will be released later this year. Confiding in Iwata, Song Kang bared his soul on the difficulties he faced during the filming. “A lot of CGI was used, so we often filmed with green screens and I had to do a lot of stunts with wires,” he explained. “I’m afraid of heights so I remember shouting, ‘I can’t do this!’ It was a challenging process but every time I work on these shows, I learn more about myself and grow as an actor.”

Their conversation took an exciting turn as they pondered the prospect of collaborating on a project. Song Kang envisioned a tale of an “immature boy and his quiet older brother” teaming up to overcome a significant challenge, while Iwata expressed his penchant for mystery and suspense genres. The actors’ shared enthusiasm for expanding their horizons was palpable as they contemplated cross-cultural and cross-genre collaborations.

Will this come true? One can hope.

Catch the full conversation between Iwata and Song Kang: