This interview with Aizuki Hikaru about her lead in Immortal Thorns was written by Tsutsui Seika (approximate reading) and published by Sports Hochi on January 10th. (Archive link here.) It also features some discussion about Aizuki’s classmate Serika Toa moving into Cosmos Troupe.
Aizuki Hikaru: working hard at her first exterior theatre lead ‘Immortal Thorns’
The Takarazuka Revue Cosmos Troupe’s third-ranked otokoyaku, Aizuki Hikaru, is currently putting all her effort into her first exterior theatre lead, Immortal Thorns, which is playing at the Osaka-Umeda Theatre Drama City (until the 15th). Cosmos Troupe’s ‘pureblooded star’, who is welcoming new Top Combi of Makaze Suzuho and Hoshikaze Madoka in the Troupe’s 20th anniversary year, says ‘I’m considering the troupe over myself – I hope we can all keep going forward with energy and solidarity.’ She is keeping her ‘Cosmos Troupe Love’ in her heart as she takes on the challenge of this difficult role.
This is the first time Ms. Aizuki has taken center stage in 3 years and 4 months, since her first lead show SANCTUARY—a Bow Hall show which played in September of 2014. It is also her first Tokyo lead appearance (it will play in the Tokyo Nippon Seinenkan from January 23-29).
She is in high spirits – ‘I always wanted to have a Tokyo lead one day. That was one of my goals. I really want to put all I have into this, but…’ The reason for this is Director Kimura’s advice. He said to her ‘Ai-chan is the sort of person to always give 200% in anything. I think if you could show the kind of coolness that comes from being sparing with your energy it would make a big difference,’ and has been aiming for a more ‘minimalist’ performance.
Immortal Thorns is a restaging of the original production from 2003, which starred Flower Troupe Top Star Haruno Sumire (currently a professional actress). Aizuki plays Errol, a man who has lived in despair for over 300 years after being given ‘eternal life’ by his father. ‘While at the start he is a very pure-hearted, good-natured young man, as he keeps on living, anything and everything start to seem pointless and his mental state deteriorates.’ A ‘full-power play’ type of performance wouldn’t suit this character.
Errol is also conceited and self-centered – ‘they told me “do it at your own pace, however you like” but he was too different from me,’ she said about her struggles to put together the character. Aizuki loves tidiness. ‘I find cleaning cleanses me mentally. An untidy room is an untidy heart. But they told me that kind of diligence isn’t needed for this – maybe I should have left the clutter?’ she said with a wry laugh. It seems that in playing a character with such a nihilistic mindset she is breaking new ground for herself.
Aizuki has spent her whole Takarazuka career in Cosmos Troupe, and it will her 12th year in the company this spring. ‘I do have pride in being a born-and-raised Cosmos Troupe member.’ Along with this pride she is highly disciplined mentally. In the 2016 show Elisabeth, she was challenged with the role of the assassin Lucheni. ‘While I’d never embarrassed myself in rehearsal before, [the director] totally blew up at me in front of all the junior actresses. After that I won’t be embarrassed about anything,’ she declared firmly. About the eerie character of Rasputin from Land of the Gods, previous Top Star Asaka Manato’s final play, she said ‘without that experience I wouldn’t have been able to do this.’ Her emotional strength will be a great support to the new Cosmos Troupe.
Cosmos Troupe’s new Top Combi’s pre-debut production, West Side Story, opened on the 12th. Aizuki’s classmate, 93d class member Serika Toa, who transferred from Flower Troupe, is also appearing in the performance. In this situation where ‘everything’s changing’, she remembered the advice left by Asaka – ‘there were times I had to give my all for the sake of the troupe,’ she had said. ‘Rather than for myself, at this time it’s better for me to work for the Troupe, and that will also benefit the future me later on. Instead of considering my status, I need to do my best as a single actress. I hope to convey that to the junior actresses and then the effect of that will improve their growth.’ Her spirit of optimism as a Takarasienne is truly ‘Immortal’.
Talking Kansai dialect with buddy Serika
Among all her classmates in the 93rd class, Serika is the one Aizuki would talk the most with. ‘Basically we just get on really well. Lots of times we’ll just end up chatting about totally pointless stuff (laughs),’ she said, using Kansai dialect despite her own origins being in Chiba. ‘I actually use Kansai dialect a lot. It feels really nice. Even more so with Serika. Her dialect is really thick [Serika is from Kobe],’ she said with a smile. Although at the time she was transferred Serika said ‘if Aichan’s there it’ll be fine,’ and seems to have trust in her, Aizuki sees her as a good otokoyaku rival. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing how she puts her character together in rehearsal,’ she said, full of excitement for their upcoming Grand Theatre performance together.