Online Interview

Hinami Fuu’s Retirement Press Conference: “Please let me go with you”

- carlyas

On April 28, 2016, Star Troupe top star Hinami Fuu, who has announced that she will retire on November 20, held a press conference in Takarazuka. She will be leaving at the same time as her partner Hokushou Kairi, who had already announced her retirement, explaining that now they will be able to remain “married for life.”

Hinami wore a gold necklace in a ribbon shape that sparkled on her chest. She’d received it as a present from Hokushou for her birthday in April. “Even though she’s so busy, she consulted me to choose a color that best suited my skin tone. So today I’m wearing it,” she said with a smile.

She had no doubts. This January, after the closing of the Umeda Arts Theater performance LOVE & DREAM, Hokushou shared her thoughts of retiring with Hinami. “Since I’d already been thinking I’d like to retire with her, right on the spot I said ‘Please let me go with you.'”

Immediately, a feeling she couldn’t explain welled up, and tears poured forth, she said. When she looked at Hokushou through her blurred eyes, “She looked at me with the warmest aura, and bowed her head in agreement,” Hinami said.

Hinami is from Suita city in Osaka. She debuted in 2009, and was assigned to Star Troupe. Last year, she took her place as Hokushou’s partner atop the troupe. While she’s 11 years Hokushou’s junior, Hinami has a sense of calm in her singing, and they’ve proven to be an outstanding combination.

As the performances have piled up, Hinami has gained the deepest respect for Hokushou. She’s someone who stays behind to practice even when rehearsal is over. Yet despite that she is keenly aware of her surroundings: “She is concerned for our health, and she’s even made onigiri for us. I’ve learned so much from her not about being a performer, but about being a good person.”

Meeting Hokushou changed Hinami. Although she’s prone to immersing herself in her own practice, she now actively invites her juniors out to eat, and makes sure she’s communicating with her surroundings. In order to be like Hokushou, she is always sure to meet the eyes of the person she’s talking to.

Hinami has made “full-set bento” for her partner, whose cooking skill she admires greatly. Perhaps her own skill has evolved from the “messy onigiri” she made at first? “I put in nikumaki salad and heart-shaped onigiri. She was probably happy about that…I think,” Hinami laughed.

Hinami’s charm is her wholehearted goodness and natural brightness. When asked about her post-retirement marriage plans, she said, “If I come across a prince like Hokushou-san, I’ll marry immediately.” As for her career plans, she said “I can’t think about that right now,” but, “Like I’ve experienced during my time in Takarazuka, if something flips the ‘switch’ that makes my heart flutter, I change. It would be great if I could find something else that flips that switch,” she said, smiling.

Original Source

Star Troupe Top Star Hokushou Kairi’s Retirement Interview: “I can graduate completely full and satisfied”

- carlyas

On April 27, 2016, Star Troupe’s top star Hokushou Kairi, who announced that she will retire from the Takarazuka Revue on November 20, held a press conference in Osaka. She gave some details about her decision to retire, such as, “I’ve been able to shine for three Grand Theater shows. The most important thing was to set the table for the next person.”

Dressed in a white pant suit and smiling with her whole face, Hokushou, radiating a sense of fulfillment, opened with, “In the 21 years (since The Music School) that I’ve been with Takarazuka, I’ve made so many connections, and I’ve come to do the things I wanted to without any regrets.”

Stepping into her debut in 1998, Hokushou was assigned to Moon Troupe, and after transferring to Cosmos Troupe, she moved to Senka in 2012. Last May, she took the baton from Yuzuki Reon and became top of Star Troupe. She said that she decided from this point of inauguration that she’d retire after 3 Grand Theater shows, 1 1/2 years.

“I’ve been able to shine for three shows, and I feel like the most important thing was to set the table for the next person. From now on, I hope that the people who continue to carry Takarazuka will run into a lot of opportunities.” This “wise one,” who got her longed-for top position in her 18th year, has been, above all else, thinking of the future generations.

She only informed the other troupe members after the closing performance of the Grand Theater show on the 25th. “It was so sudden, everyone was shocked. There were a lot of different reactions,” she said.

While foremost is her preeminence in singing skill, Hokushou is also proficient with acting, dance, and talk, and has become a top star that anyone can honestly approve of. However, her path to the top was not smooth sailing. Regarding her time in The Music School, Hokushou says, “My grades were nearly always the worst.” She reflected that during her time in Senka, even though she’d embraced her top aspirations, “As a performer, I learned a lot about the attitude and posture I assumed onstage. It was an important time.”

According to the President of the Board of Directors, Ogawa Tomotsugu, during Grand Theater show runs, on days with only one performance Hokushou would participate in lessons, and she’s come to set that sort of example for her peers. “She’s someone who overcame a harsh, painful, “winter-like” period, and carries those memories as top,” he praised. “I wish I could tell my past self, ‘it’s fine if you keep on doing your best just as you are.’ Because I am who I am now thanks to everything I experienced,” Hokushou said.

Right now, she’s throwing everything she has into the performance in front of her. In her career she’s starred in shows with all five troupes. “Until the end, I want to convey my sparkle and the things I’ve cultivated to everyone in my troupe. When things calm down a bit, I’ll hold a thank you party for my fans.”

As for the old retirement-time question “what about marriage….”

“I thought no one would ask me that, so I’m glad,” she said, laughing. “I’ll leave that to ‘Lady Luck’,” she answered, quoting the theme song lyrics from her top debut performance, Guys and Dolls. Because she’s only good at cooking, “Maybe I’ll look for a partner who loves to eat?” she said, smiling.

Original Source

Shizuki Asato x Asami Hikaru Chicago Talk

- carlyas

From Asahi newspaper Nov. 7 2014

SHIZUKI: When we were in Takarazuka, Asami was always quiet. On stage she was brilliant though.

ASAMI: I was erasing my existence. In TMS as well, when I was a first year, it was to the point where the second years would say “oh, you were there?” I’m not very good at talking to other people, and I push forward doing only what I can.

SHIZUKI: You’re a very hard worker.

ASAMI: Zunko-san, when you became the very first top of the new Soragumi, as a Hanagumi kid I was proud. Because all of us underclassmen recognized your talent. Your singing was extraordinary and you were able to dance well, and your acting had an interesting flavor. I thought I’ll be damned if she doesn’t become famous. This is rude but it was kind of like parental love.

SHIZUKI: It’s the first I’ve heard that. I feel that way too. People connected by fate are linked in so many different ways, huh. This time, what I can hope for is a realistic man. I’m tackling something totally different from an otokoyaku. What is a man, I wonder. I’m agonizing over it, and when it’s over how much will I have changed? I feel nervous. It’s Takarazuka’s 100th anniversary, but I have to build whatever’s next. I think I have to create a new style. The single battle is how can we have the stereotype of Takarazuka eliminated.

ASAMI: Those are the values of women who play men, aren’t they. Takarazuka otokoyaku are the men of dreams. We play them beautifully. This time, I’m playing a female role, and I have to take on my male counterparts with the same stance. When we clash I get to hit them with all my strength. Roxie is a fun part.

SHIZUKI: It suits you! It’s the perfect role you were destined to have. In Takarazuka you played Rudolf, and you changed, didn’t you.

ASAMI: I think it was a turning point. I went through the experience of Rudolf and now my current self is here. Roxie might be that way too.

SHIZUKI: Komu-chan’s charm and dance technique is coming out to an extent beyond even what I was aware of.

ASAMI: I’m happy to hear you say that.

SHIZUKI: Yay! Komu-chan, I love watching you enjoy yourself.

ASAMI: Am I normally that gloomy? Since you play the “silver-tongued” lawyer, you’ve got a staggering amount of dialogue. Zunko-san, you talk and talk without breathing. When you’re singing too. When do you breathe?

SHIZUKI: I take long breaths. Anyway, Billy has to manipulate everything.

ASAMI: That’s true. I wonder how you’ll manipulate me.

“What is the source of your energy?”

- carlyas
[Translated from here]

MIZU: This was also true while I was in Takarazuka, but recently the number one source of my energy has been strength training and having my body change.

ASAMI: You’re strength training? Now?

MIZU: I am, I’m doing it. I’ve been doing it since my previous show “Argentango,” but if I do it as much as possible my muscles won’t betray me (haha).

ASAMI: I’ve heard that before (haha)

MIZU: But really, because it’s tied to good health, and it’s tied to being able to get through performances without injury.

ASAMI: Weight training?

MIZU: I don’t use weights, but there’s this thing called a stretch ball, and I do things like raising and lowering my leg on it, sit-ups, etc. Since I sweat so much just from dancing in Chicago too, I’m looking forward to the gratification of the body training I get through Chicago exercise.

ASAMI: Amazing〜!

MIZU: It puts me at ease. It’s reduced the times I feel worn out. Because my base stamina is rising. So it’s become the source of my physical and mental energy. What about you, Komu-san?

ASAMI: The source of my energy is………I guess it’s work, at the moment. When I have that I feel alive.

MIZU: Work and play are the same for you aren’t they.

ASAMI: Yes they are. I really look at Chicago as fun. Because I love it.

MIZU: Well then, of course it’s your energy right now.

ASAMI: So every day is fun! Even just listening to the music and watching the choreography is fun. Of course when I get involved myself, it’s not only fun, but there are feelings and other emotions that I have to put into it. Anyway, work is fun. The thing that makes me the happiest is, since I’ve had the privilege of being called on by a number of different fields, I’m amusing myself in a good way and really enjoying my work. But on the other hand since I’m a workaholic I don’t have any hobbies at all (haha). So just going to see shows is a hobby, I love it.

MIZU: I see a lot of shows for work, but as a hobby, I don’t really do it much.

ASAMI: Ehhh, seriously? Of course I only go see the shows that interest me too, but I love seeing different types of performances, and while I’m there I often think things like, “This play was interesting. I want to try working with that director next time. I want to do this kind of show.” Since that ties back in with work again, it seems like work is the source of my energy. But that’s a little too cool isn’t it (haha).

MIZU: No no, it’s wonderful.