Getting Ready: Kento Yamazaki Suits up in Saint Laurent for the New York Asian Film Festival

July 25, 2024

Text by Kevin Ponce

Flying in all the way from Japan, actor and Saint Laurent ambassador Kento Yamazaki put on his best suit and headed straight to the 23^rd Annual New York Asian Film Festival. Accepting the honor of the “The Best from the East” award on stage, the 29-year-old donned a slim-fitting tuxedo jacket by the French fashion house that featured a satin lapel and button detailing, with wide-leg trousers that helped elongate the actor’s frame.

Known for his appearances in the KINGDOM film series, including the recent debut of KINGDOM: Return of the Great General, which premiered earlier this month on July 12, the actor’s step into the world of fashion solidified further with the appointment of his ambassadorship with Saint Laurent since January of 2023. Below, the actor spoke to VMAN about his experience in New York and what it was like filming the recent movie, all before he hit the stage to snag his award.

Courtesy of Saint Laurent

“I came to New York to attend the award ceremony for “The Best from the East Award” given to the “first Japanese actor” who gave a great performance at the New York Asian Film Festival 2024. This is the first time for me to travel to New York, and it will also be the first time for Kingdom to be screened in the U.S., so I am very excited about it myself. I believe that the quality and scale of “Kingdom” will be conveyed regardless of country, so I am looking forward to seeing how the audience will react to it,” he explains to VMAN.com.

“The day before the ceremony day, I had some time to stroll the city. Visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Times Square, Central Park, etc. The city is cool. I am thrilled that Kingdom will be screened in the top of world entertainment city. I have been working on Kingdom for the past seven years to the extent that I feel like I have only played the role of Xin in my twenties. Because of this, I feel that Xin is like another me. We grew together, I have been influenced by the charm of Xin, who is straightforward and truthful, and I have always wanted to be like him. I believe that everyone who has seen the film has been moved by his straightforwardness.”

Courtesy of Saint Laurent

“When we first filmed Kingdom in 2019, it had not decided that Kingdom will be a serial movie. But we all have been trying to make it this far. I had a difficult time struggling between Xin’s dream and real life. Xin believes in [becoming] the top Shogun/King, but we had no specific plan to make Xin’s dream come true. Now we made it, [and we can] introduce the 4th series of Kingdom story which is really impressive,” he elaborates. “As Xin trained himself to become a great Shogun, I also want to continue to grow as an actor. Therefore, I overwrapped Xin to myself, who is training to become stronger with his sword, and myself, who is preparing for the filming of the movie by training for action scenes. In addition, Eisei, actor name is Ryo Yoshizawa, is a friend of mine from the same generation, but also my competitor as an actor. Takao Osawa, who played General Wang Ki, is a senior actor who has given me a lot of thoughts. I think I was able to play out the role of Xin by surrounding by the same situation from the movie.”

“I like to move around a lot, so it was fun to work with the Kingdom team to create a lot of action scenes as Xin. I can say that I had a lot of fun no matter what part I played, even physically hard, I could feel I was part of Xin. It is difficult to narrow it down to one favorite scene, but the scene at the beginning of the movie where Houken and the HiXintai (My first 100 troop) each other, I almost cried while acting because I felt the passion and solidarity of everyone in the troop, tying to keep Xin alive and protect him (me). Also, the one-on-one battle between General Wang Ki, played by Takao Osawa, and his strongest enemy, Peng-Beng, played by Koji Kikkawa, is a heavyweight battle that I had never been seen in any movie is impressive.”