Relaxing Breeze (Fuwari) was a musumeyaku feature published in GRAPH, where an interview would take place at a cafe. It was focused on offstage topics such as how they destress or what they do on days off.
This interview with Misaki Rion was published in the December 2016 issue, a few months before her retirement.
Relaxing Breeze – Misaki Rion
~A time of gentle relaxation in a cafe~
First, go ahead and order!
What should I choose… I think for my drink I’ll have the hibiscus tea! (reading menu description) ‘A favorite of Cleopatra…a simple beautifying tea with a slightly sharp flavor.’ ‘Beautifying tea,’ that’s certainly interesting (laughs). I drink a lot of herb tea. If you asked which I liked best, herb tea, black tea, or coffee, I might have to pick herb tea. For cake, I’ll try this “Fruit Variety Shortcake”. I really like tarts or cakes with fruit so I’ve got to! (laughs)
Today we’re doing a location shoot at this cafe – do you go to cafes ordinarily?
I haven’t been to a cafe recently so I’m really happy. When I’m on tour and such, I love wandering around with my classmates and finding some cafe to sit in and relax. At a cafe, I really love when there are options for drinks besides coffee and black tea, such as the hibiscus tea here.
What are the fashion points of your outfit?
Since we’re doing a photoshoot at a cafe, I wanted to do something that looked like what I’d wear on an off day! Ordinarily for photoshoots I’ll think ‘I’ve got to make sure my hair is arranged nicely!’ or ‘Should I braid it up!?’ but today I decided to skip that – I thought I ought to come looking less ornamented. Therefore I also went with simple clothes, concentrating on things that felt fun (laughs). I usually go with something that has this sort of feeling on days off, and of course I always wear skirts. Also, I love berets! When I’m wearing hats in autumn and winter, it’s usually berets.
How do you normally spend your days off?
If I’m in rehearsal, I go shopping a lot. And while I’m shopping, I’ll take a break to go to a cafe. If I’m in my home town of Kobe, there’s one place I’ll go to all by myself. I never tell anyone the name of it (laughs). It’s in the middle of a shopping district, but it’s a tiny place with a lot of atmosphere. I’ll always just wander in and space out (laughs). I’ll also work on maintaining my body and make sure I get enough rest, of course.
Do you go to Kobe often?
No, usually it’s Osaka, I think. But sometimes Kobe! If I specifically think ‘I want to go to that place!’ then I’ll go.
Where in Osaka do you go?
I go to Umeda a lot. Sometimes I’ll go as far as Shinsaibashi, but recently I’m low on stamina, so that’s…a bit much (laughs). When I’m shopping, I’m always looking for clothes that reflect the show I’m in. For example, for Elisabeth if I see any hair accessories that resemble Sisi’s stars I buy them immediately (laughs). But I think that’s very refreshing in its own way.
What else do you do to refresh yourself?
Of course it’s very refreshing to go out to eat with my classmates. I also soak in the bath! Recently I’ve really realized how soaking in the bath for a long time takes away all the tired feelings (laughs). I like putting in bath salts, but of course currently I’m taking Elisabeth’s example and trying milk baths (laughs).
Even though you’re refreshing yourself, you’re still immersed in the show.
I totally am! But if I think about it, I don’t think I ever wouldn’t be. It’s really hard to construct a division like that.
You said you go out with your classmates – does that include those from other troupes?
If I send a message saying ‘What’re you doing right now?’ even the girls in other troupes will sometimes have matching schedules, even if I’m not expecting that at all (laughs). Even if we can’t meet we’ll be in contact a lot. Especially Manaki and Hinami – morning and night! (laughs). It starts with ‘Good morning~’ (laughs), and then ‘When do you go to the theatre today?’ or ‘Say, are you planning on being at the internal lessons?’ and such. We can hardly ever see each other at the theatre, so when we get home at night it starts up again with ‘I’m back~’ (laughs). We don’t talk about anything in particular, but we’re always sending messages (laughs). So I’ll say ‘hey there!’ and Manaki will reply with a cute stamp, that kind of thing (laughs). I’ve always got on well with the two of them, and since we are in the same position, we can really understand a lot about each other’s situations.
So, what are you into recently in your offstage life?
I knew this question was coming! (laughs) I’ve really never been the type who’s really into a particular thing, but recently I’m obsessed with watching DVDs of Takarazuka shows! I’ll start as son as I get home, and I’ll replay my favorite love scenes or duet dances over and over (laughs).
(the Fruit Variety Shortcake and Hibiscus Tea arrive)
It looks so go~od!!! The Hibiscus Tea is such a pretty pink! I’ll try it… It’s delicious! It’s a little bit tart, very invigorating.
Do you drink herbal tea at home?
I have plum kelp tea at home (laughs). I really like it! I don’t use individual bags, but buy it loose in a tin. I drink it all the time. I like strong tea!
Why don’t you try the cake?
I will! It looks so good~ And it tastes good too! The fruit is so delicious. Grapes, oranges, kiwi…not to sweet, with a really mellow feeling. I’m so happy – it’s been a long time since I had cake! (laughs)
Is there anything else you enjoy outside of Takarazuka?
Hm, not really… I really enjoy how things are now. I always wanted to to totally devote myself to something, and right now that’s just what I’m doing. Therefore both the good and the bad is all part of that, I think. Oh!!! I like children! My little niece is so cute. She’ll some and hug me and it’s so fun when she’s around. Recently, she’s grown up enough that she can come and see the shows. I’m not sure if she understood what was going on in Elisabeth, but it seems that she was awfully proud to see me (laughs). ‘What was that misty stuff at the end?’ she asked, so I told her ‘Oh, at the end, they use dry ice!’ Last time she still didn’t realize that I was there onstage, so I’m very happy that she understands now.
Finally, if you had a long vacation, how would you like to spend it?
Let me think… I retire in April, so I’d like to go on vacation with my family. I’ll invite them! Whoops, I said it (laughs). If they said they’d like to go, it’d be nice to go to Hawaii or Europe. In any case, somewhere overseas! I want to relax together with everyone. If I had a day or two off right now, I’d like to go to an onsen. I want to refresh my body (laughs).