Kasamatsu Sho — Taxi Driver 3 Actor Exposes Truth About His South Korea Popularity

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Kasamatsu Sho Reveals the Truth About His South Korea Popularity

Kasamatsu Sho, the Japanese actor known for his appearance in the hit series Taxi Driver 3, recently shared a hilarious airport humiliation story during his guest appearance on MBC’s talk show Radio Star. Appearing on the ‘K-Variety Odyssey’ special alongside Ryu Seung-soo, Cho Hye-ryun, and Mimi, the actor captured attention with his fluent Korean language skills and witty storytelling.

Reflecting on his growing international career, Kasamatsu revealed that he had high expectations when arriving in South Korea due to numerous messages from local fans saying, ‘Make sure to contact me when you come to Korea’ and ‘I will come to the airport to greet you.’ Expecting a star-studded welcome, he spent 30 to 40 minutes checking his appearance in the airport restroom before heading to the exit—only to find zero fans waiting, with just two agency staff members there to greet him. The actor joked that he even posted a self-deprecating message on social media admitting that his popularity in South Korea was proven to be a myth, sending the studio into fits of laughter.

Behind-the-Scenes Action and Cultural Differences

Aside from his humorous airport mishap, Kasamatsu opened up about the intense physical preparation required for South Korean action scenes. Initially expecting a light one-to-two-hour practice session, he was surprised to learn that his flight back to Japan was still eight hours away, resulting in a significantly extended rehearsal. Comparing action styles, he noted that Japanese productions often minimize physical contact by utilizing camera angles, whereas South Korean sets rely heavily on direct choreography. Despite ending up with bruises all over his body, he fondly recalled the experience as a wonderful memory.

He also shared his astonishment at South Korea’s traditional gosa ritual ahead of filming the movie Razor, where cast and crew gather in front of a pig’s head to pray for the safe and successful production of a project—a custom entirely unfamiliar in Japan. Meanwhile, Taxi Driver 3, the hit SBS drama featuring an ensemble cast including Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eum-seong, and Pyo Ye-jin, concluded its run earlier this year with a peak viewership rating of 14.2% nationwide according to Nielsen Korea.