This feature about the care and keeping of Miya Rurika was published in the August 2017 issue of Kageki. I have also included outtake excerpts published in the back of the magazine.
Miya Rurika’s Breaktime My Way
Relaxation methods?
I like going to natural places. In the Kansai region, I like places such as Mount Rokko or Kyoto. The scenery I can see from my home is also very calm with lots of greenery, so I’ll often open the window and just gaze out for a while.
Personal room style
I don’t have a lot of stuff. I used to love interior design with vivid color contrast, so I got a bright red sofa and such, but now I have more white and wood design furniture. My current sofa has been all scratched up by my cat so it’s in a dreadful state, and I’d really like to get a new one, but what color wouuld hide scratch marks best…I keep considering it.
Sleep
Must-have sleep goods
I basically just really like blankets, so I’m always wrapped up like a crepe when I sleep (laughs). If it’s a cold winder I’ll use sheets out of blanket material too so I’m getting warmth from both sides (laughs). However, if I’m not using my own blanket and pillow it feels wrong, so when we go to Tokyo I bring a full set of sleep goods. Also, to prevent dryness, I put a mask on before bed. But it always comes off before I get up. The moisturizing mask contents get all over (laughs).
What I always do before bed
I tell my cat Luce ‘Lu-chan, I’m going to bed,’ right before I go to sleep. When I do, after a little while she’ll come and creep under the blanket (laughs). It seems her pride won’t let her come in right away (laughs). After that I go right to sleep. Even if I’m looking something up on my phone I’ll go to sleep anyway,and when I wake up in the morning the battery will be totally drained (laughs).
The first thing I do when I wake up
In the morning, my hungry cat wakes me up, so before taking care of my self I have to feed my cat overlord (laughs). So she won’t gobble it up all at once I divide her food into four portions, so I give her one after I do my makeup, and another after I’ve set my hair…so whenever I take a break she’ll come over (laughs).
Morning person or night person?
While I used to be a total night person, recently I’ve been doing more things in the morning so I’ve naturally begun going to sleep earlier, and it’s a really good feeling when I wake up in the morning. Recently I woke up much earlier than I meant so I was able to see the sun rise! …I did sleep a little more afterwards, though (laughs).
Sleep time
Ideally, 8 hours. When I have a day off I’ll sleep about 12 hours (laughs). I’ll wake up around noon, and once I’ve had something to eat I’ll feel sleepy again…a lot of times I’ll just spend the whole day sleeping (laughs).
Action
Cooking specialty
Miso soup or hot pot, that’s all (laughs). When I’m really tired and feel like I’ve just got to have some vegetables, I’ll make up my mind and cook something really quickly. It’s like how a guy cooks, I have a lot of momentum and it goes really briskly.
Ideal breakfast for a day off
Pancakes would be nice. Not the really fluffy ones that are popular nowadays, but thoroughly cooked old-fashioned ones. Sometimes I’ll find those offered with a hotel breakfast, and that always makes me really happy. In general it’s miso soup, or maybe melon bread! (laughs)
Ideal supper for a day off
On a day off I’d like to have sushi I think. But no wasabi (laughs). After that, I’d like to go to a chic cafe and have a coffee or something.
Best 3: ways I like to spend a day off
1. Going to an onsen – Sometimes a bunch of us will go up to Arima, have food, go to an onsen, and walk around the town. It’s really fun.
2. Sleeping all day – I regret it a bit afterwards (laughs) but it makes me really feel like I’m living it up.
3. Going to a pet shop I’ll go to buy cat food, check out all the other cute cats (laughs), and report back to the other cat people in my troupe.
Best 3: recent ‘boom’ trends
1. Decluttering – I’ve been doing this for about 2 years now, but I’m still doing it. I only get the motivation to do it about every 3 months, so it takes ages…I think I’ll be doing it forever… (laughs)
2. Melonpan – Of course I love melonpan from bakeries, but I’ve discovered that convenience store melonpan is really good too! I’m searching for the perfect balance of crispy outside and fluffy interior, so I keep buying different brands and comparing them.
3. Smartphone apps – I have an app where you can make collages with lots of different photos, and it’s tons of fun! I’ll make collages of Luce’s photos, or just use photos of other people’s cats and send them to their owners.
For the times I think ‘just one cup!’
Cafe au lait, with heaps of gum syrup (laughs). I’ll often drink that during breaks in rehearsals, so when I ask for it at the Violet Kitchen they’ll always make it very sweet for me. When I’m drinking ordinary coffee I’ll put lots of sugar in too. Basically I just want it sweet, really sweet (laughs).
The vital things for Miya Rurika to be Miya Rurika
It’s ‘feelings’. I’m always recieving so much energy from the fans, and I’d like to return that twofold – I’m so grateful that out of all the Takarazuka members they’re supporting me, so I want to continue responding to those feelings. I’m most motivated when I want to work hard for someone, so that kind of encouragement has become really vital to me.
Outtakes
About her cat Luce
When I’m tired she’ll notice that and be calm, but if I still have energy and start getting ready for bed anyway she’ll come over and start stepping on my feet like ‘why won’t you play with me~!’
If I throw a ball for Luce she’ll chase it, but then I have to go get it from her…in the end I’m the one getting the most exercise (laughs).
Miya-chan’s luxurious day
I wake up and see the midday sun, then go back to sleep, the next time I wake up I see a beautiful sunset, and the last time I wake up I see the night sky. It’s really fun to see different scenery every time I wake up (laughs).