Decor – Umino Mitsuki

Decor was a 2021 GRAPH feature in which musumeyaku presented on their favorite costumes, hair accessories, and wigs. Umino’s was printed in the August issue.

Some outtake photos from the back of the magazine are also included.

Decor – Umino Mitsuki (Moon Troupe)

Musumeyaku are always sparkling beautifully. We’re conducting an in-depth investigation of their charm, focusing on their stage performances!


Costumes you liked

Microcosmic War of Dejima – Taki
This costume actually has a rabbit ear hood on it. The pattern of the kimono and obi, the short length and asymmetrical hem are all so cute, I loved it from the moment I saw it! The boots are navy blue leaning towards purple, and I like that just one of them has a red cord ornament. The obi has all kinds of pockets so it can hold different props. Since the costume is so flashy, my wig is simple. But I wanted to bring out the feeling Taki has, of seeming normal on first glance but actually not being normal at all, so I did a lot of trial and error, making the wig asymmetrical and adding different shades of brown, things like that.

Anna Karenina – Anna Karenina
The dress Anna wears to the ball is cut so wide across the decolette, but it still doesn’t go too deep, giving it an unusual feeling of refinement. For my hairstyle, the bangs were inspired by Sophie Marceau, who played Anna Karenina in a film. I was worrying over the hairstyle and accessories until the last minute, so I changed them a lot after the dress rehearsals.


Memorable hairstyles

Le Roi Arthur – Hellawes
She is one of the familiars working for the witch Miya (Rurika) played. I always wanted to play a villain so I was delighted (laughs). Saotome (Wakaba) played my sister and she had a really cool aesthetic, so in opposition to that I decided to go girly and tried pink hair. They gave me the headband so I was picturing Tsukino Usagi from Sailor Moon when I curled up the bangs (laughs).

Elisabeth – Windisch
I think there are a lot of ways you can analyze the character of Windisch, but this time Director Koike told me “I want you to make her a mirror showing the state Sisi’s (Elisabeth-Manaki Reika) heart is in right then.” I wanted to show how dedicated she was to looking just like her, so I used edelweiss flowers in my hair to mimic Elisabeth’s star pins.


Moments that struck your heart

Anna Karenina
Anna dances with Vronsky (Miya Rurika) at the ball, but then on the train she realizes that the feelings she has towards him are love, and flees into the snow to get her emotions under control, but Vronsky follows after her…that scene. The person who put my feelings in turmoil appeared right in front of me: in that moment my heart really skipped a beat and I got goosebumps. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that scene.


Your favorite lines

I AM FROM AUSTRIA – Umino Mitsuki as Romi Edler
“Don’t forget, Josi, we’re your family, and your home.”
This was my first time playing a mother, so at the start of rehearsals I was struggling with how I should get into character, and I kept thinking I wanted to be able to say this line, that contains all of a mother’s love, without forcing it. My connection with my husband Chinatsu (Houzuki) and my son Tamaki (Ryou) grew deeper, and when I was able to call them ‘my family’ from the bottom of my heart, I felt a brand-new warm feeling flow through me. I was surprised myself that I could feel that way.

THE LAST PARTY: S. Fitzgerald’s Last Day – Umino Mitsuki as Zelda Fitzgerald
“…I want you to be happy. If there is any justice in this world, you have to be happy…yes, I’m sure you will be. My life, my heart…even if I lose it all…I’ll love you for all eternity.”
From the scene where Zelda, who was mentally ill, reads a letter to her husband Scott (Tskishiro). Although when she was with her husband, Zelda’s love for him led to her mental instability, I think this line holds all her heartfelt love for him. Every time, I would put in all of the emotions that rose up within me.


Your handmade accessories

The Microcosmic War of Dejima – Finale B (Finale Woman S)
Since I was wearing a mature style of dress, in silver with pale purple flowers, I wanted to give it an elegant feeling. I matched the flowers on the dress and made three-dimensional leaves, arranging them so that, if seen from a distance, they would appear to be a ‘moon’, like the theme of the show. I put rhinestones on each of the leaves to make them sparkle. I wanted to make the left side different, so I decorated it with multi-faceted beads. I thought ‘I love it so much, I don’t want to take it apart…’ and left it as it is, so I’m glad to have the chance to show it off here.


Outtakes:

“The ultimate assassin?”
Showing off the hair accessory that sadly wasn’t visible during the portrait shoot!

1 – The 1997 film starring Marceau and Sean Bean.

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