Actor Takehiro Hira, who stars in the Sci-Fi adventure television series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” calls Kakaʻako home.
The Emmy-nominated actor appears opposite Brendan Fraser in the drama “Rental Family,” which had its Hawaiʻi premiere at the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival last year. And he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in the war epic, “Shōgun.”
Hira returns for the second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” which launched its first episode on Friday, Feb. 27. The actor spoke with Aloha State Daily ahead of the launch of episode five, which drops this Friday, March 27.
In the new season, Hira’s first scene shows him running from a monster, which was new, he said.
“Because season one, I was running away from my children, not from the monsters,” Hira said. “I was chasing the monsters but running away from children.”
Episode five features actress Mari Yamamoto, who plays Hira’s mother in the series and previously appeared alongside him in “Rental Family.”
“We’re really good friends,” he said. “We rehearsed and talked about the episode a lot actually.”
She found a Japanese song, “Furusato,” which she suggested could be worked into the storyline.
“It’s a nostalgic song about coming home pretty much, and she suggested that we sort of somehow incorporate the song into the story,” Hira said. “And the writers loved the idea, so we did that.”
Hira had not seen the episode — which is named after the song — yet, when he spoke with ASD earlier this month.
The Oʻahu-based actor often films outside of Hawaiʻi, including Japan for “Rental Family” and Canada, Australia and Japan for “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.”
The first food he wants to eat when he gets back to the Islands is an acai bowl, he said. Usually, he goes to Nalu Health Bar & Café, he said.
What is his favorite part of living in Hawaiʻi?
“Well every time I fly back from a job, when I see the Island — and sort of be able to call that home — that's the greatest feeling,” he said.
Hira wants audiences to know that while monsters make appearances in this television series, there is more to the storyline.
“It's more than a monster show,” he said. “It's people who are affected greatly by monsters — and their lives are shattered by monsters — and we're trying to come together again. It's a human drama.”
Watch “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” on Apple TV+. Hira also stars in “Anima,” which had its world premiere at the SXSW Film & TV Festival this month. Follow Hira on Instagram.
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Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
