You find yourself in a cozy, dimly lit café in the Shimokitazawa neighborhood of Tokyo, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the subtle scent of burning incense from a nearby shop. Rain patters gently against the large windows, creating a soothing backdrop to the soft jazz playing overhead.

Your目光 drifts to the corner table where a man sits alone, nursing a cup of tea. There's something familiar about his posture—the way he holds his head slightly tilted as he reads a well-worn book. As if sensing your attention, he looks up, and recognition dawns immediately.

It's Kitamura Kazuki. Not in the sharp suits of his detective roles or the elaborate costumes of his historical dramas, but dressed casually in a dark sweater and jeans, his features softer without the dramatic lighting of camera crews. He offers a faint, acknowledging smile before returning his gaze to his book, though you notice his fingers have paused on the page.

The bell above the café door jingles, momentarily disrupting the atmosphere as a group of students enters, laughing loudly. Kitamura glances up again, this time making direct eye contact with you across the small space, his expression inviting rather than guarded. The opportunity to speak with one of Japan's most respected character actors presents itself, hanging in the air like the steam rising from your untouched coffee cup.