Original interview is here.
Continuing from the first part, we ask about her present mindset!
Continuing from the first part, we are publishing the second part.
In part one, the topic of her concert was the center of the discussion, but in part two we will discuss things like Sena Jun’s current mindset, what she’s into now, and a lot of things you wouldn’t normally be able to hear.
I inquired about her present mindset, and starting with the concert “ALive Final ~Handsome Woman~” that she was able to tackle after her half year off, I began looking forward to her future activities more and more.
Please be sure to look at the first part of the interview as well.
And if you’re interested, go see “ALive Final ~Handsome Woman~” !
Things she’s into!
—The first half of this year was the first time you took so much time to recharge.
That’s right. Since the time I was in Takarazuka and including the time after my retirement I was so thankful for everything I came to be always racing tirelessly around, so I was supposed to be doing this job for love, and yet there was a part of it that I began not to understand. Like, “Am I doing this for love? Am I doing it in order to make a living?”
I came to really detest myself for thinking that way, and for a moment I was tempted to save up money for getting a fresh start. With my activities up until now I’ve had a feeling like I’d used up everything inside myself, and I wondered if there wouldn’t be consequences brought upon me. That’s why I took sort of a longish break.
—Starting a new life (with your marriage at the end of last year), you had new motivation.
During my break I saw shows and I reaffirmed, “Ah, I really do love the theater,” and I started experiencing feelings of “I want to perform” once again.
As for travel, because I have a dog I can only go to nearby places, but up till now I’ve still enjoyed my different lifestyle.
—You also do things like cooking. What’s your specialty?
I do it normally (haha). I don’t really have a strong point with cooking.
—You have an image like cooking would be your strong point. You skill level seems good.
I don’t know whether or not my skills are any good, but because there is an extremely meticulous side of me I want to cook with the kitchen in a clean state. To start at the outset I cut and prepare the ingredients and begin cooking from a state similar to what would be on a television food program.
—You understand beforehand what to put in the bowl, huh. Are you the type who measures amounts exactly?
As for that… I measure by sight! (haha)
—What kinds of things do you cook a lot of?
Normal meals. There is something I like, if I do say so myself… I like the green curry I make the best!
—So then… “GRAND OPENING! Sena Jun makes green curry!”
Oh no (haha), it’s really simple.
During the time that I was appearing in shows, I learned how to cook from my co-actors who were really good at it. I’m especially pleased when something is delicious because it’s simple.
As for the green curry, it was made with chicken and eggplant, but mine is different.
I make it with potatoes, carrots, onion, and pork. I guess because those are household ingredients. My favorite part is that I put in a little bit of honey.
—Sounds delicious! Do you have any other menu recommendations?
I have one more thing to say: please look at Cookpad!! (haha)
I also tried making easy spare ribs and other things, and they were excellent. So, everyone please try consulting Cookpad.
Ah, I remembered. Another delicious one was “Chinese cabbage salad.” You have to wring out the boiled cabbage. While saying “Aah that’s hot!” (haha)
It takes a bit of work, but that dish is also really delicious.
—Next time, I’ll try making it. How did you arrive at that dish?
I had Chinese cabbage in the refrigerator, so I looked up Chinese cabbage recipes on Cookpad and found it (haha).
Since I do most of my cooking with what I have in the refrigerator, there are a lot of things that can be cooked quickly.
Recently, since I had beans and eggplant leftover, I thought, “Today it’s summer vegetable curry!” and submitted that, and because it was super delicious I could have eaten it all. Actually because I put in things from the refrigerator it was “leftover curry,” but as you might expect that doesn’t leave a very good impression, so I called it “summer vegetable curry!” The naming is also important.
Disney Sea
—While you were relaxing, what else did you get into?
Actually, I’m not very good with crowds. So I’d just about never been to Disney. As for Disneyland, when I was in high school, there was a vacation for the anniversary of the founding of the school, so I thought I’d go with everyone if it was less crowded at that time. Since I didn’t have an interest in characters then, I enjoyed experiencing the attractions.
After that, when I was a ken-2 I also went in the evening with my classmates, Haruno Sumire (a year above me) and 4 of her classmates. I think it was probably after a Nippon Seinenkan performance had ended, and I haven’t been to Disneyland since.
One time Mihoko (Ayano Kanami) invited me to Disney Sea. But it was right during the Elisabeth performance or something, and since my head was already full to the limit with performance stuff, there wasn’t much room for enjoyment. That time, I thought Mihoko was being kind of cruel.
And so, recently I went to Disney Sea. Just as I entered the parking lot, a young man and a young woman called out “Welcome!” with smiles, and I was really glad to experience that.
—Since the appearance of the world is important for a theme park, you feel the spirit of their hospitality, don’t you.
That’s right. From the moment I entered I was already deeply impressed by the reception. How wonderful, I thought. When you leave your car they call out “Have a good day!” and in the place where you buy your ticket they interact really pleasantly, everything is tied together in order to please and to be entertaining, to be honest I just took notice of it at my age.
An acting colleague told my husband, “Even though you have this job you absolutely should go to Disneyland and Disney Sea!” He’s also not the type to go to that sort of place, and since I’m also not the type to be interested in that at all I went while thinking “I wonder how this is going to go,” but I really did get excited.
Not only the employees were smiling, but even our fellow visitors were waiving to the people riding the train, and calling out greetings. I think that sort of thing is really nice.
I immediately entered a shop. And then, I put on Minnie ears!! (haha). My husband put on a big Mickey hat (haha).
—Oh!! That’s amazing. Even though you had no interest before, you went that far all at once!
While saying “Aw yeah!!” (haha). I thought it was a really great experience. I came to have the attitude of accepting those things, so that was the first time I was able to feel entertained.
—I want to see you like that! (haha)
Oh really… (haha)
Someone who we were with the time that my husband’s colleague told him “Even though you have this job you absolutely should go to Disneyland and Disney Sea!” coincidentally appeared at Disney Sea. He saw us from a distance seemingly laughing, and rather than calling out to us then and there, he told us about it later. That was a little embarrassing! (haha).
—Maybe it was hard to call out because you looked like you were having too much fun (haha)
That might be it (haha)
Takarazuka
—Jumping to another topic, the significance of delighting guests is the same for Takarazuka. Next year it will reach its 100th anniversary, but as someone who has experienced being a top star, please tell us one more time your “thoughts about Takarazuka.”
If I were born again, I would absolutely want to be a Takarazuka otokoyaku. And I’d want to bask in the spotlight (haha). It’s the same as Disney, isn’t it. From the moment you get off at Takarazuka station, the world of Takarazuka begins. To that extent there is nothing else like that magnificent world.
So as far as I’m concerned, being in Takarazuka is something I can truly be proud of.
I think I’m proud just to have been there, but moreover I’m also thankful to have had the privilege of being top. I think I would like to continue contributing to Takarazuka from now on.
Since I’ve finished with it now in my life, I don’t have any regret or remorse about being an otokoyaku.
Now I’m enjoying myself only as a fan. I even went to see “Rose of Versailles” recently, it’s really the greatest!
Among those who haven’t seen it, I think there are people who are prejudiced against it without having tried it, but I absolutely want you to see it once. Because it’s me, caught thinking I disliked Disney, I want to emphasize these things!
Whether t’s a sorrowful story, the sordid story of a love triangle, or a great romance, at the end everyone descends the Grand Staircase with a smile. Isn’t it such a dream world? The otokoyaku construct the ideal male image, and the musumeyaku construct the ideal female image. I think the otokoyaku are not so much men as so-called “otokoyaku” beings, and the musumeyaku have to conduct themselves in a way that supports that, and also in order to appear more cute. I think that sort of world is lovely.
It’s said that the system of hierarchal relationships is severe, but they teach ordinary things such as how we should greet our superiors properly, how we should show our superiors respect, etcetera.
During music school in particular, even taking age into consideration there is a portion where children are teaching these sorts of things to children, so I think there it’s also a somewhat difficult situation.
You feel the importance of the traditions that are continuously passed down, and I think I’m glad that I was brought up so strictly.
The hierarchal relationships are unchanging even if you quit. I perform together with people from Takarazuka in various shows, and even if the era is different and even without the experience of co-starring, there is a feeling of camaraderie just by virtue of having been in Takarazuka. I’m happy that I’ve been able to experience an existence like that.
My great superior Koshiji Fubuki was able to perform her roles, and since I believe that now I have the privilege of working in this way precisely because my seniors carved out such a path, I think I too must work unabashedly in order to carve out a path for my juniors. My own capacity is by no means sufficient, but I want to maintain that awareness.
Letters
—Once again, what your fans mean to you
I’m extremely grateful to them.
I think there were a lot of people who had various feelings about my marriage.
Concerning those who had supported the otokoyaku me, I guess there were people who thought their dreams were broken…
I was grateful that they said “congratulations” nevertheless. After this I think I should continue to provide entertainment to those who support me. Because that is all I’m able to give them in return.
—After your recharging period, I wonder about your determination from here on out.
Particularly during my time in Takarazuka there was demachi and irimachi, so I think there were a lot of opportunities to meet people, but after I left it got to be so that I couldn’t spontaneously make those appearances. Because it’s different from Takarazuka. Even though there is this change, I’m extremely happy that people are following me.
As for accepting letters these days, I think I don’t do it as much, but receiving letters sent to the office and to the fanclub, I think that’s something that also makes me happy. Honestly even if it’s a situation where I don’t match a face and a name, I match the writing in the letters to a name. Even if I don’t see the sender using the words “Sena Jun-sama,” I understand what sort of person wrote them. It’s been that way all along since my time in Takarazuka.
Perhaps there might be people who think I don’t read them, but I read them all. And while I’m reading them I think about how truly grateful I am.
Please continue to support me from now on!!