Yamato Kochi has risen to a whole new level of fame following his portrayal of the Walking Man in the movie adaptation of Kotake Create’s The Exit 8. Previously known for his roles in Japanese dramas such as Antihero and The Bee, as well as stage plays of William Shakespeare’s Richard III, Macbeth, and Hamlet, Kochi has since found it difficult to go out in public without people recognizing him as the creepy guy from the subway.
In an interview with Josei Jishin, Kochi says he was warned about his character’s impact by The Exit 8’s director beforehand:
“The director told me, ‘Get ready, The Walking Man (lovingly nicknamed “Uncle” by Japanese Exit 8 fans) is going to be an icon in this movie.’ I was a little excited about it, but I never imagined it would get this much attention.”
While Kochi is happy that his family is proud of him, his newfound fame has forced him to don a hat whenever he goes out in public. Apparently, people often swarm him once they recognize him as “the guy from Exit 8.” One instance involved Kochi’s son suddenly taking off his father’s hat and shouting “Yamato Kochi from Exit 8!” while in a shopping mall. Though Kochi found it embarrassing, he was happy that his son recognized his work.
Despite having very few spoken lines in the movie, the Walking Man’s constant presence throughout The Exit 8 is a huge part of what makes it so unsettling. By carefully adjusting his body movements and expressions, Kochi made his character feel eerily manufactured, as though it were created using CGI. Kochi’s unique mannerisms (specifically his walk), combined with his appearance, made his performance one of the film’s biggest highlights for many viewers.
Related articles:
The Exit 8 movie wins Best Poster Design award at Cannes Film Festival
The Exit 8 players get thirst trapped by middle-aged NPC man
