This talk between then-Flower Troupe Top Star Matobu Sei and Takarazuka Revue director Fujii Daisuke was published for Matobu’s retirement in the April 2011 issue of Kageki.
We Are EXCITER! – Farewell Talk (Matobu Sei and Fujii Daisuke)
Fujii: Thank you so much for selecting me on this occasion. Even though we do talk once in a while already (laughs).
Matobu: But we don’t talk in depth very often (laughs). Ever since EXCITER!!, I’ve been working with you the whole time. I think it must have never happened before, to work with the same director for 3 revues in a row.
Fujii: Yeah. Even though we hadn’t had much of a connection before them. I’m glad to be able to work with you on your final show as well.
Matobu: I think the first time I worked under you might have when I did the Revolt of a Gallant Poet junior performance, while I was in Star Troupe. The other day, I read in my memorial book1 some of the commentary you gave me back then…you don’t remember, do you!? (laughs)
Fujii: Huh!? I don’t remember a bit…
Matobu: I didn’t remember it clearly myself, but you told me something like although I gave a sexy performance I was lacking in the subtle details. So after that, even now I’ll wonder if I’m lacking in the subtle details (laughs).
Fujii: What…You put in so much subtle detail currently (laughs). I remember thinking that you were a really Takarazuka-esque otokoyaku, and that you were really pretty and Japanese-style productions suited you well.
Matobu: Before my transfer, I also worked with you on Soul of Shiva!!, but didn’t really get a chance to actually talk to you. Therefore EXCITER!! must have been the first time we talked.
Fujii: Yeah. My impression of Yuu-kun (Matobu) back then was that you were really suited to acting-heavy plays like Shigure Hill Road in Nagasaki or The Rose of Versailles.
Matobu: Is that right, I hear that a lot…
Fujii: But since I felt that you were full of modern appeal, I thought that the show EXCITER!! would draw that out. And I think it went pretty decently (laughs).
Matobu: It was so much fun!
Fujii: Sometime when I wasn’t paying attention it became a really sexy show. Although that gave me some concerns when I was creating the Mr. YU2 scene. Before rehearsals started I tried asking you ‘I put in a bit of a comedy section, is that okay?’…
Matobu: I told you I was also wanting something with the concept of goofing around during the day and turning into a gigolo at night and you said you were really happy. We felt like if we were going to do it we should go all out. …How did that guy [Mr. YU] come into existence, anyway laughs).
Fujii: If I was investigating his background, I think it’s most likely originating from Lina-chan, in Singin’ in the Rain. You might have forgotten by this time, but I was attached to that production as an assistant.
Matobu: Ah, I’d totally forgotten that! (laughs)
Fujii: Yuu-kun’s Lina was so funny and I thought you were amazing. “This girl is so clever and talented to be able to make her voice come out like that,” I thought. I think it was starting there that I gradually got the impression of you as a comedienne. And then I went to see the show right before [EXCITER!!], Me And My Girl, and I thought “wow, this is great,” so that’s how Mr. YU happened.
Matobu: I see, Bill’s character was one of the elements then. So that’s how it ended up as something so funny.
Fujii: But I never expected that it would be revived a year later.
Matobu: Although my partner had changed3, it was with the same troupe and the cast members were largely the same. I feel like being able to do EXCITER!! is my biggest achievement. I think it was a show that really showed off Flower Troupe, as well as being able to tie together with what Flower Troupe might become in the future.
Fujii: Right. Between the first performance and the revival, Yuu-kun became even more manly, like your manly intensity had leveled up. By the way, I actually really liked Xiang Yu from Yu the Beautiful. He’s so honorable. At the end I had tears pouring down my face.
Matobu: That’s the first time I’ve heard about this! (laughs)
Fujii: Xiang Yu suited you personality-wise so well that it was almost too much. And right after that was the revival of EXCITER!!, but even though your style and intensity had increased so much you were still willing to do something like Mr. YU…
Matobu: I think I have so much of that side to me that I’d end up wanting to do it anyway (laughs).
Fujii: For some reason I have the notion that you can always hear lots of laughter from the area around Yuu-kun.
Matobu: (laughs). I think its because I have a really proper foundation of being a Takarazuka Otokoyaku that I can put a character like MR. YU on top of that. In the past I found it kind of embarrassing to do fanservice things, though.
Fujii: Actually, for this show, Le Paradis!!, I really struggled over whether or not to put in a Mr. YU segment. Although in the end of course I gave it up (laughs).
Matobu: When EXCITER!! was restaged, I was able to discover new things about Flower Troupe and myself, so I feel like because we had that time working together, I was able to have a sense of comfort going into this show. I’ve felt so much love from all the directors and staff, with their consideration of “Since it’s the last time, let’s…”. Sometimes it makes my heart ache.
Fujii: Right. I have so much love (laughs).
Matobu: (laughs) Also, it’s so lovely to watch all the Flower Troupe junior actresses cheerfully enjoying themselves. For this black tux number, all of the otokoyaku are participating down to the ken-1s, and it made everyone really happy.
Fujii: That’s right. After all, you wouldn’t normally get a chance to be in a black tux number at ken-1.
Matobu: It’s actually my first black tux number, at least in a finale, since I became Top Star. I think it’s a great opportunity to demonstrate “This is our Flower Troupe!” When they were making the poster for my dinner show, too, I said it would be nice to wear just a simple black tuxedo without any decoration. Like, back to my foundations or something…
Fujii: Right, you said that in the end you wanted to be totally otokoyaku. I have to display the culmination of the otokoyaku Matobu Sei in this dinner show, so that’s a lot of pressure for me…
Matobu: (laughs)
Fujii: I knew that no matter what I gave you you’ll do it without any concern for yourself, Yuu-kun. Even if you’re in difficulties or struggling you won’t show it; obviously not on stage, but even during rehearsals you’re really cheerful. If I was going to compare you to the sun or moon I think you’re like the sun. Since you’re someone who gives power to other people, you give the troupe a lot of energy as well. I really respect the way you refuse to show weakness.
Matobu: This is the first time anybody’s told me this! This is such a big thing for me (laughs).
Fujii: Therefore, I think the momentary shadows that you’ll sometimes allow to show, as well as your sexiness, are all part of the allure of the otokoyaku ‘Matobu Sei’. In this revue, I wanted to let you show off your ultimate manliness as part of your send-off, so I had you doing a gigolo kind of thing. You can do romantic leads and comedy characters, men and women…your breadth is so large, not even as just an otokoyaku but as an actor.
Matobu: I’m so happy to hear you say that about my skills as an actor.
Fujii: You’ve played so many different types of roles on your way here, haven’t you. In The Rose of Versailles, last year4, your Andre had such a strong core and seemed so well put together. And then when your partner changed in Sabrina, you naturally had such a feeling of generosity about you, and it felt like you’d really grown up into a mature man.
Matobu: It’s sort of hard to put into words, but my goal as an actor is not to personally decide on a set style, but be someone where the directors can imagine ‘she could do this kind of role, or she could do that kind of role’, so it makes me really happy to hear you say that as a director.
Fujii: It seems like it would be an easy thing not to decide on a ‘color’ and remain ‘clear’, but it’s actually very difficult. I think it’s very rare for a Top Star to be like that.
Matobu: When I first became Top, I was over-eager, so I thought ‘I’ve got to be like this now!’, but now I’ve become used to letting everyone in the troupe spoil me and letting them take care of things. I think without that side to me I can’t achieve a full-sized performance onstage. An otokoyaku’s heft, maybe, or that feeling of big-heartedness, or something…
Fujii: You already had achieved that by the time of the first EXCITER!! I thought you looked like someone who would think things over in detail in a rather cool manner, but you actually went for it full-on, which made me really glad.
Matobu: Thank you. Right now I’m having such fun being an otokoyaku. Since I’ve been told for so long that I’m really feminine, I want to be the manliest one on stage, to let the audience enjoy the incongruity of it, and also enjoying myself performing as well. There’s no point in telling yourself ‘I have to be like this’ among so many other performers. What’s the matter with my being a Top Star and having that ‘gap’, I thought, and decided I wanted to own that side of myself and stick with it. When I made that decision, things became so much fun I could hardly handle it.
Fujii: I think that’s having a wonderful effect on the other Flower Troupe otokoyaku currently. Although they all work together so well, they also have such a sense of individuality, and I can sense how they each display their own strengths in performance, so I think it’s because Yuu-kun is such a good leader.
Matobu: No, no…
Fujii: I think you’ve left the stamp of ‘Matobu Sei’ on them, and I think that’s a wonderful thing both for Takarazuka and for Flower Troupe. It’s hard to see someone I had achieved such mutual understanding with retire, but being able to stand together with you at the end is such an honor for me. I don’t know what your future path will be, but since you’re such a positive person I’m sure you will continue giving energy to people, so I’m not worried about you at all.
Matobu: I don’t think I’ll change at all even after I quit (laughs). Actually, if I hadn’t had that first EXCITER!!, I might not have decided to retire.
Fujii: Huh, I made you decide to retire!? (laughs)
Matobu: (laughs) I felt I wanted to go on until I felt the current Flower Troupe had really been able to display itself, and it had parts where I could really show off, and besides that, when I felt that atmosphere of unity from all of Flower Troupe, I thought ‘this is the moment one of my dreams came true’. Also, I could feel so much of the audience’s feelings, and I felt so happy since I thought ‘We’re really sharing something amazing’. That was the moment I made that decision in my heart. The revival was hard since it is always a challenge to do the same thing again, but I was able to feel everything even more deeply, and recieving so much love made me so happy, so I was really happy to be able to do this last show together with Director Fujii. Director, I’m so glad I met you! Thank you so much.
Fujii: I should be saying the same thing to you. Come back and see Takarazuka sometime.
Matobu: Of course I will! Please invite me out to eat! I hope we can continue to have a good relationship!!
1 – It’s unclear if Matobu is referring to a private scrapbook or if she means the officially published compilation book of Takarazuka content put out for her retirement.
2 – A comedic ‘alter ego’ who appears in some of Matobu’s performances.
3 – From Sakurano Ayane to Ranno Hana.
4 – The Rose of Versailles: Andre Side Story, from 2009 (more like 18 months prior)