Soji Arai: Up Close and Personal

Soji Arai, who was born in the Japanese city of Niigata is the third-generation son of Korean-Japanese (Zainichi) parents. The actor recently appeared in Netflix’s Cobra Kai and his character ‘Max’ in Robert Allan Ackerman’s Bent has had a huge impact on Tokyo theater. In 2009, he made his international debut in The Ramen Girl as ‘Toshi,’ Brittany Murphy’s love interest. Soji, currently residing in Los Angeles, is not only an artist but also a martial artist and will reprise his role as ‘Mozasu’ in the Apple TV+ original, Pachinko (one of the most anticipated upcoming K-dramas), alongside Lee Minho, Youn Yuhjung, Anna Sawai, Jung Eunchae, Jin Ha, and others. Soji gives us an insight into his life, career, objectives, and, of course, Pachinko in this exclusive interview with Rolling Stone India.

From major contributions to the world of theater to being introduced to worldwide audiences through The Ramen Girl, what do you prefer: working on stage or working on camera?

In my second year of training to be an actor, I was fortunate to start my professional theater career with Japan’s best producers and artists. Robert Allan Ackerman, the multi-award winner/nominee American director, became my mentor, best friend, and co-founder of the theater company called The Company in Tokyo. So, I can say that actor Soji Arai was born and grew up in the theater. I enjoy playing roles that have lived throughout the decades, sometimes centuries. I love when I can feel the audience’s excitement. I enjoy sharing the one-time-only experience of the play with the audience. 

I love creating one and only original characters in movies and TV. I also love traveling from location to location. You can see and experience the world, especially with getting per Diem. Isn’t it great? [winks] I am not particularly good at watching myself on screen or TV. But I like the fact that people worldwide enjoy watching my acting. Once I was in Rome visiting my friend, we had dinner. And coincidentally, The Ramen Girl was on TV. Brittany Murphy and I were in the scene, and I was speaking Italian. An Italian actor dubbed my voice, I guess. That was a very fun experience! I also like to attend film festivals. I always want to talk to and make friends with actors and directors from all over the world! Living in LA, I am more focused on working on camera, I would say.

You’re of Korean-Japanese descent, based in Los Angeles, working internationally. How challenging is it?

Yes. I am the third generation Zainichi-Korean. I currently live in Los Angeles as a US citizen. I speak Japanese as my first language; Korean and English are my second languages. I always feel the immense support from the audiences in Japan, Korea, and the US. So yes, it is challenging. But it is more exciting. I believe I can be a significant force in Hollywood – Japan or Hollywood – Korea co-producing projects!

If not an actor, what other career option (if any) would you choose?

A poet. A K-pop idol, maybe.

How did Pachinko happen?

I read the book when it was initially published and loved it. I thought it was my story, my family’s story. So, the second I read the article that said Apple was making a series based on Pachinko, I called my agent and manager!!! In the audition process, I had to learn the lines in Japanese, Korean, and English. I talked about my late first-generation grandmother, who is just like ‘Sunja’ in Pachinko in my audition tape. I believe my grandmother in heaven helped bring this opportunity to my life. I then was cast as ‘Mozasu’; who is second-generation Zainichi-Korean, the owner of the Pachinko parlor, and ‘Sunja”s second son.

What appealed to you about the character and is ‘Mozasu’ similar to you? Different?

Among the actors in the cast who play Zainichi characters, I am the only real-life Zainichi actor. Being the third generation in real life, I always watched the second generation Zainich people’s way of life, including my father’s. They were fascinating people! They were my heroes when I was a kid. They were hard workers, very eloquent, rich, drinking a lot, their story about fighting against racism from the Japanese. But their life was not easy.

First generations came from Korea, so their identity was strong. They had friends and a community where people spoke their language. Contrarily, the second-generation Zainichi people were the first generation born in Japan. Lots of the second generation got lost in their identity crisis. Many of them never wanted to reveal their Korean identity and wanted to live as Japanese. Some killed themselves because they couldn’t get over their identity crisis. Mozasu is a strong person. He is a fighter, a warrior. He didn’t stop himself from being trapped in his identity crisis; he worked his ass off to support his family! He is a protector of the ‘Baek’ family. That is very much like me. I am a warrior. If there’s any different point is, Mozasu is very rich (Usually Pachinko people are), and I am not. [winks]

Besides you, Pachinko has an incredible cast, including Lee Minho, Youn Yuhjung, and the rest. How was the working experience? Any special memory?

Working with Oscar winner Youn Yuhjung! She is so real, so deep. When she speaks Japanese, her Korean accented Japanese was like my first-generation grandmother. That was killer. I think many Zainichi viewers will cry when they hear her in Pachinko. She is also very cool in real life and loves wine. We drank a glass of wine together almost every day! “Soji, practice, practice, practice!” That is the advice she gave me. If a 74-year-old Oscar-winning actress says that, it’s very convincing. I will take her advice and practice being a better actor every day!

Your take on the increasing popularity of K-dramas and the continuous growth in their global fandom. What’s your favorite Korean drama? Are you watching any at the moment?

I have been a long-time K-movies, K-drama, and K-pop fan. I started following K-culture about 30 years ago. I was one of the first K-movie & K-drama fans at that time in Japan. Recently I enjoyed Itaewon Class and Squid Game a lot. But my true love is K-movies. OLDBOY, Memories of Murder, and New World are my favorites. I also watched My Sassy Girl more than 100 times. I was totally in love with the girl character Jeon Jihyeon played.

They say, “Happiness is like a progressive realization of a worthwhile dream”, What makes you happy? Also, is there a dream role (like a role of a lifetime) you’d like to essay in the coming years?

I’m happy when I play with my puppy named ‘Bébé.’ She’s a two-year-old girl pug. I have traveled a lot, so I have friends worldwide, hanging out with them makes me happy. I am also happy when I watch an exciting soccer match. I still watch the video of Korea vs Italy at 2002 World Cup. The footage of Ahn Junghwan’s golden goal still gives me courage and hope. I still watch the footage even after 20 years.

My dream roles are ‘Stanley’ in Streetcar Named Desire, and ‘Tom’ in The Glass Menagerie. I also love Tennessee Williams. There are so many directors I want to work with. I worked with Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi 10 years ago in The Depths movie, and I would like to work with him again. 

As an actor, a performer, a public figure what message do you have for your viewers?

I was born as a minority in Japan. Being a minority in the US I have experienced some discrimination and racism in my life. I am against racism. No to racism. I want to help the word ‘Zainichi’ be introduced in American dictionaries. I would also like to produce movies in the future. Movies can shed light on things people might easily miss seeing but are still very important to tell.