A feature about the care and keeping of Rei Makoto from the April 2017 Kageki.

Rei Makoto’s Breaktime My Way

Relaxation methods?
I go to an onsen. But I can’t sit in the hot water that long, so I’ll just stay in the hot bath for a short while. The brief moment where I feel ‘Ah, this is nice’ makes me very happy. Someone who really liked onsens, looking at me, would probably think ‘what a pointless way to enjoy an onsen’ though (laughs). After that it’s karaoke, of course.

Personal room style
My furniture is basically black and white. The only exception is the red sofa. For some reason I really wanted a red sofa (laughs). If you just look at the color scheme, it’s simple, but I have a lot of stuff. (laughs) I have shelves on either side of the TV full of things I like. Also, I love puzzles, so I have all my ‘masterpieces’ up till now put up as decorations all over the walls.

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Sleep

Must-have sleep goods
The blue blanket that’s been my companion since I was little. Even if it’s summer I have to have it right by my side. Besides that, there’s my Pikachu plushie. During the Hakataza performance when I was a ken-2¹, I was alone at the place we were staying and I got really lonely so I thought “I need a friend” and bought it. Ever since then I’ve made sure to take it with me on national tours and such. It’s the kind of Pikachu that has its arms and legs spread out, and it feels great when I lay faceup and have it sitting on my face!

What I always do before bed
When I decide “it’s time to sleep” I lie down in bed and watch videos I enjoy on my smartphone. The genre doesn’t matter, it could be things like ‘Report on Craftsmen with Extraordinary Skills’ or videos about the performance I’m in or music videos from artists I like. Once I feel “oh, I’m about ready to sleep now” I just fall asleep like that, so when I wake up my smartphone is always somewhere on top of me…silly me (laughs)

The first thing I do when I wake up
Turn on the TV! Basically, I’m bad at mornings. So I have to have some noise to wake myself up. After that I have hot milk tea or cocoa in the winter, or cold green tea in the summer since I don’t like water. I try to make an environment that will wake me up.

Morning person or night person?
Personally, I prefer night. In the morning, I’m spacey for a while and can’t think about anything, but at night I’m up for anything! (laughs)

Sleep time
For me, no matter how early I get to sleep the night before, if I wake up early the next day I’m like “ah, I haven’t slept at all!” For example, even if I get to bed at 9pm, if I wake up at 7am that won’t work. But no matter how late I go to sleep, if I can get up without rushing I’m fine. Therefore, I think that for Rei Makoto, the time of waking up is more important than time spent sleeping.

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Action

Cooking specialty
Gyoza! That’s the only thing I refuse to compromise on. (laughs) I’ve always loved gyoza, and when we would go on tour I would try gyoza shops at the different stops. Eventually I was like “if I like gyoza this much I should make them myself!” I guess I’m obsessed with gyoza? (laughs)

Ideal breakfast for a day off
The kind my mother makes when she visits, where there’s a complete breakfast ready the moment I wake up (laughs). My ideal is rice with pickled plums, natto (I hate beans but natto is the only kind I’ll eat), and properly prepared miso soup. I really like the traditional breakfast served at Japanese-style inns!

Ideal supper for a day off
I’d like to go for a drive at night and track down a restaurant that’s well known through word of mouth, the kind where you’re not sure of anything except that the food will be good.

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Best 3: ways I like to spend a day off

1. Spending the whole day doing whatever I want at home
2. See a play or a movie – Especially recently, whenever I have a day off, for some reason I end up watching stage shows. For me to want to see plays even on off days, I guess theatre must really be part of my life.
3. Shopping – Since I get tired quickly when walking around (lol) I like shopping broken up with stopping for tea at cafes.

Best 3: recent ‘boom’ trends

1. Collecting black things – I’ve always liked black things like clothes and accessories, but especially recently, perhaps because of the rehearsals for Chauvelin. I’m obviously wearing pitch black during rehearsals but I’m drawn to black things more in general.
2. Pomelos² – Just recently, my mother’s been bringing them from the family home. The first time I tried one I was like “it’s so big…it’s so hard to peel…” but it was so ridiculously delicious! I thought “I’ve totally underestimated pomelos” (laughs).
3. Green veggie juice blends – This is another thing I hated without experiencing it, but recently when I tried drinking some it was actually delicious! Now I drink some every day, morning and night. I can never stick to things for very long (lol) but I want to keep up this habit.

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For the times I think ‘just one cup!’
Royal milk tea! Some places only have normal milk tea, so when I see royal milk tea on the menu I’m like “yeah!” (laughs) I only like really sweet things if it’s royal milk tea.

The vital things for Rei Makoto to be Rei Makoto
Recently the feeling that I always want to be close to theatre is especially strong. I guess I just really love theatre. There’s the times when I’m working hard on my own stage roles, but on my days off I’ll go to see plays, or watch DVDs… Being able to live like that makes me really happy, so you could say “Rei Makoto can’t live without theatre.”

1 – The 2011 Hakataza production of Nova Bossa Nova/A Second Fortuitous Meeting

2 – An Asian-originating citrus fruit