Yuzuka Rei interview in "The Takarazuka VIII: Flower Troupe Special"
(Much gratitude to Gaia who contributed in this translation too in English)
【What’s the charm of the current Hanagumi?】
“Everyone in Flower Troupe now is very lively, isn’t it?” I thought. Especially this year, even if we’re tested by the tribulations of the corona pandemic, everyone reaffirmed their dormant passion for Takarazuka. Even for myself and mostly everyone, we thought to the extent of laughing in tears, “Eh, is that how much I love Takarazuka, Flower Troupe and everyone!? Wait a minute, I quite love it!” (laughs). We all hold certain things in heart, but now I feel like those concerns and internal hesitations about being on stage seem to vanish completely. We were stricken with immense sorrow more than we ever imagined, but we saw these rather than as painful memories, as changing them to everyone’s energy. When we are taking care of each other, we can be forward-looking for the stage. Looking at the current Flower Troupe, I sincerely think everyone is so precious.
“Everyone in Flower Troupe now is very lively, isn’t it?” I thought. Especially this year, even if we’re tested by the tribulations of the corona pandemic, everyone reaffirmed their dormant passion for Takarazuka. Even for myself and mostly everyone, we thought to the extent of laughing in tears, “Eh, is that how much I love Takarazuka, Flower Troupe and everyone!? Wait a minute, I quite love it!” (laughs). We all hold certain things in heart, but now I feel like those concerns and internal hesitations about being on stage seem to vanish completely. We were stricken with immense sorrow more than we ever imagined, but we saw these rather than as painful memories, as changing them to everyone’s energy. When we are taking care of each other, we can be forward-looking for the stage. Looking at the current Flower Troupe, I sincerely think everyone is so precious.
【How about your partner Hoshikaze Madoka?】
Madoka-chan (Hoshikaze) is a hard worker who puts her all into everything she wants to do, finds new challenges and diligently overcomes them on her own. In the performing arts field, no matter if you’re instructed to “Try and do this” or thought of “wanting to be like this” and working hard, even if it’s the same improvement process, the time needed to achieve your goal, and even the quality of the process could be entirely different for everyone. In her case, I’m really grateful because we share and walk towards the same goal of “wanting to be like this”. In the rehearsal rooms, both of us would think “there’s not enough time!” and also be impatient over it (laughs). Even so, I’m glad she’s always maintained this enthusiastic happiness for this precious world of performing arts. She’s carefully accumulated what I’ve told her so far in mind, so us creating a performance together has been fun. As stage performers, we hope to expand the imagination of directors and choreography teachers on what they want to see us portray in these scenes in the production. That would also be our goals from now on.
Madoka-chan (Hoshikaze) is a hard worker who puts her all into everything she wants to do, finds new challenges and diligently overcomes them on her own. In the performing arts field, no matter if you’re instructed to “Try and do this” or thought of “wanting to be like this” and working hard, even if it’s the same improvement process, the time needed to achieve your goal, and even the quality of the process could be entirely different for everyone. In her case, I’m really grateful because we share and walk towards the same goal of “wanting to be like this”. In the rehearsal rooms, both of us would think “there’s not enough time!” and also be impatient over it (laughs). Even so, I’m glad she’s always maintained this enthusiastic happiness for this precious world of performing arts. She’s carefully accumulated what I’ve told her so far in mind, so us creating a performance together has been fun. As stage performers, we hope to expand the imagination of directors and choreography teachers on what they want to see us portray in these scenes in the production. That would also be our goals from now on.
【What do you think about the current performances?】
Since I was given the opportunity to play the lead roles, I realise my energy towards the directors’ thoughts and opinions become stronger. What’s in the teachers’ mind? How should I deliver my lines and portray my characters? These are all inside the teachers’ scripts, and I’d be skimming through its lines, constantly trying to understand in detail everything by combining the significance of these various things. My work is to understand the values of a person rather than myself. Although it takes so much time to understand the character image, after I fit into the role, I won’t think about anything on stage. The musical can be a completely different type depending on the director, and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. But the more stage experience I accumulate, little by little, I hope I'll be able to establish my unique style (in performances).
Regarding my voice, which has always been a big issue of mine, there’s been a slight change recently… Until now, there was a part of me that couldn’t stand my voice, and because of this strong complex, I couldn’t trust my body when it comes to my voice. Also during rehearsals, I’d always feel “I don’t like my voice, I need to improve”. But at one point, I changed my mindset a bit and relating it back to Madoka-chan’s case, I started thinking about “I want to deliver more with this kind of voice” and “I want to sing in this way”. I have found that voice and spirit are somehow very linked, so I often feel a lot of things still are not going well yet, but at least I am able to understand it. That is a big change for me…The same applies to my practice. Instead of feeling upset over my weaknesses, I focused on honing on the important things to enrich my skills. That’s why this isn’t just for myself. I’m well aware of the importance of emotions while working on yourself. We all have a heart to strive and improve. I strongly wish and hope that you could develop your strengths carefully. I’d like us to do our best together.
Since I was given the opportunity to play the lead roles, I realise my energy towards the directors’ thoughts and opinions become stronger. What’s in the teachers’ mind? How should I deliver my lines and portray my characters? These are all inside the teachers’ scripts, and I’d be skimming through its lines, constantly trying to understand in detail everything by combining the significance of these various things. My work is to understand the values of a person rather than myself. Although it takes so much time to understand the character image, after I fit into the role, I won’t think about anything on stage. The musical can be a completely different type depending on the director, and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. But the more stage experience I accumulate, little by little, I hope I'll be able to establish my unique style (in performances).
Regarding my voice, which has always been a big issue of mine, there’s been a slight change recently… Until now, there was a part of me that couldn’t stand my voice, and because of this strong complex, I couldn’t trust my body when it comes to my voice. Also during rehearsals, I’d always feel “I don’t like my voice, I need to improve”. But at one point, I changed my mindset a bit and relating it back to Madoka-chan’s case, I started thinking about “I want to deliver more with this kind of voice” and “I want to sing in this way”. I have found that voice and spirit are somehow very linked, so I often feel a lot of things still are not going well yet, but at least I am able to understand it. That is a big change for me…The same applies to my practice. Instead of feeling upset over my weaknesses, I focused on honing on the important things to enrich my skills. That’s why this isn’t just for myself. I’m well aware of the importance of emotions while working on yourself. We all have a heart to strive and improve. I strongly wish and hope that you could develop your strengths carefully. I’d like us to do our best together.
Profile
Debut stage was “Amour, that is…'' in 2009. In the same year, she was assigned to the Flower Troupe. In 2014, she had her first newcomers’ performance lead role, in June she had her first Bow Hall lead role in “Nocturne”. In 2015, she participated in the Taiwan performance. She illustrated vibrant personalities in the characters of manga original works, such as that of “Haikara-san ga Tooru”, “Boys Over Flowers” and even playing as Allan in “The Poe Clan” and has then received high acclaim. In late 2019, she succeeded as the Flower Troupe Top Star. She presented powerful and dynamic dances in “DANCE OLYMPIA”, making people feel a sense of the new Flower Troupe’s charms. She played Second Lieutenant Ijuuin Shinobu in the Grand Theatre Debut performance “Haikara-san”, presenting intricately the complicated growth for Shinobu. In 2021, she played the matador Elio in “Sorrowful Cordoba”. Enveloped by the tenderness of his first love Eva, she revealed a deep acting of the man’s realisation upon accepting his fate. On the glamorous stage of the Flower Troupe 100th Anniversary commemoration revue “The Fascination!”, she is the well deserved Top Star who continues the tradition. In 2022, her amazing tap dance premiered in “TOP HAT”. A romantic revival of this dapper world of works. With polished dance skills, she demonstrates a flexible, magical and free acting strength. One can’t take their eyes out of her, she who blooms vibrantly like great flowers. |