ESPECIAL TIME is a long-running invitation talk feature in GRAPH, where one sienne is given the opportunity to invite someone else.
Ayanagi Shou’s feature, where she invited Miya Rurika, was published in the February 2018 issue.
There is also an outtake from the feature that was printed in the back of the magazine.
ESPECIAL TIME: As you like it – Ayanagi Shou and Miya Rurika
Miya: Thank you for inviting me today!
Ayanagi: No, no, thank you!
Miya: I’m really honored. This came as such a surprise…
Ayanagi: A while back, for a different assignment, I had a chance to request someone to do a talk with, so I really struggled over whether to ask you, Miya-san. We had talked a little bit in the green room and during the TCA Special, but…
Miya: (listening to Ayanagi’s accent) Oh? You’re from Kansai!
Ayanagi: Yes, I am. Did it slip out? (laughs)
Miya: Yes, but you don’t really look like you’re from Kansai. Ah, sorry, go ahead!
Ayanagi: (laughs) I have the impression of Miya-san as a ‘cool beauty’ type.
Miya: Ahaha (laughs)
Ayanagi: Therefore, at the time, I thought ‘I would be so nervous if I had to talk one-on-one with her!’ and gave up on the idea. But the next day, I heard that Miya-san had also put my name on your list of potential guests, and that made me really happy. So when I was given this talk feature, even though I was a little scared…
Miya: (bursts out laughing)
Ayanagi: I gathered my courage and requested you as my guest!
Miya: Thank you, I’m really happy. Of course, since we’re in different troupes, even though we’ll chat briefly if we end up going to a show at the same time, or if we run into each other in the hallways of the rehearsal space, but we don’t really know much about each other’s ways of thinking and such.
Ayanagi: Exactly.
Miya: We’ve had chances to talk once in a while, but I think the first time must have been when you were assigned the role of Mercutio (main cast: Sagiri Seina) in the junior performance of Romeo et Juliette. We definitely talked about something. But it was so long ago I’ve totally forgotten!
Ayanagi: (laughs) I remember Miya-san speaking to me when I was ken-1 or -2. You had come to the rehearsal room to talk to your classmate Renjou (Makoto)-san, and when I passed through you said something like ‘Oh, that girl’s so pretty~’!
Miya: Did I!?
Ayanagi: I was so surprised that Miya-san would say something like that about me that I went over to you without even thinking about it (laughs)!
Miya: (laughs) Right, I always thought of you as being really pretty. Therefore, when the gossip that ‘Ayanagi Shou is going to be Mercutio!’ reached me, I was so happy. ‘She’ll be so beautiful!’ I said (laughs).
Ayanagi: No way, no (laughs).
Miya: I wasn’t able to see that junior performance, so I ended up devouring the stage photos that were published in GRAPH and Kageki.
Ayanagi: Ehhhh~ (laughs). After that, you played Mercutio too, in Moon Troupe. And also Bernard from The Rose of Versailles.
Miya: Right, right. We’ve played the same roles which gives us a bit of a connection.
Ayanagi: Right now, in A Passage Through the Light: Revolutionary Maximilen Robespierre, I’m playing a female role. I thought the female roles Miya-san has played up until now were very beautiful and fascinating, so I thought that this might be a good opportunity to talk about that.
Miya: But this isn’t your first time, is it?
Ayanagi: I did [a female role] once in Nijinsky…
Miya: Ah, I saw that on DVD! You were so pretty. How was it? I think it comes with a sort of complicated feeling that only otokoyaku playing female roles can understand. Therefore, I ended up wondering what your mental state was for this role. After all, for the first show of the New Moon Troupe, La Legende du Roi Arthur, I ended up playing a witch (laughs).
Ayanagi: Ah, that was so amazing~
Miya: It was at a time when the troupe was being reformed, and I was also dealing with feeling like I had to renew myself… Looking back on it now, there was a lot of value to it, and I learned a lot, but it was a bit disconcerting for a moment (laughs). Shou-chan, you’re also doing it for Daimon’s (Nozomi’s) debut show, so how does that feel?
Ayanagi: My last show was the national tour, Nozomi-san’s pre-debut. During that time, I felt ‘Being an otokoyaku is so fun!’ once again really strongly, and I was thinking ‘I’m going to go for it in the next Grand Theatre show too!’, so at the start I was rather conflicted about it.
Miya: Ah, that’s understandable.
Ayanagi: But my role in this show is that of a strong-willed woman who can be on an equal footing with any of the men. I can use some aspects of being an otokoyaku in that as well, so I felt ‘if I’m doing this I should make the best of it!’ and now I am having a lot of fun.
Miya: See, there’s a lot of meaning when an otokoyaku plays a female role. Sorry, I haven’t actually seen the show yet so I just have to imagine (laughs).
Ayanagi: (laughs)
Miya: I’ve played female roles about 4 times now, so that’s always been something that encourages me. But now that it’s like the 4th time, it sort of feels like a party trick and I find it really fun (laughs).
Ayanagi: A party trick! (laughs)
Miya: But it really widens your horizons, right? I’m the sort of person who feels like doing pretty-boy roles all the time is a bit boring, and a while back when Shou-chan played Takeda Kanryuu in Rurouni Kenshin I felt like you really came alive in that role. I thought ‘from now on she’s going to keep broadening her outlook and become a really interesting performer’.
Ayanagi: Takeda Kanryuu was definitely from a totally different category than any other role I had ever played. At first I couldn’t even picture myself doing it, but once the curtain went up on the first day I started to have more and more fun with it.
Miya: There’s the reaction from the audience, too.
Ayanagi: Right, I suppose I was swept along by that a bit, too. So I came to really like playing that role. I think this time around I’m also picking up new skills that will be useful later.
Ayanagi: Recently, when we were both in the TCA Special, you told me “you don’t have to fuss over me so much”…
Miya: Oh, I did, I did! We were always standing right next to each other, right. So we were always chatting during rehearsals, and even when we were getting to standby for the real performance, I knew that as long as I was next to Shou-chan I’d be in the right place (laughs).
Ayanagi: (laughs)
Miya: I’m really bad at getting places and times right, you see (laughs). But really, you were so attentive to me! Even if I was just making a casual remark you’d make sure it was clear ‘I’m listening!’ and you’d ask “Are you okay if I’m standing in this spot?”
Ayanagi: Was I really?
Miya: Yeah. Didn’t you think so?
Ayanagi: No~ I didn’t really notice…
Miya: I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, of course, but when you’re there at such an amazing event I wouldn’t want you to spend your time fussing over me just because I’m your senior. It would ruin the fun during the show, I thought.
Ayanagi: Ah~
Miya: I used to be like that a long time ago. My classmates would be in front giving it their all and I’d be holding myself back behind them, like, ‘is it ok if I just dance over here?’. But now I feel like that was a bit of a waste so I regret doing that, and I wouldn’t want you to do that either. Besides, aren’t you pretty senior yourself now?
Ayanagi: That’s true. So now I’m just stressed out internally. I’m not the type of person to be able to keep everyone else in line, you see…
Miya: Is that so! Even though you’re so precise about everything?
Ayanagi: I really struggle. I don’t have confidence in myself, so I can’t say anything to the junior actresses…
Miya: I also used to be really bad with that. After all, I’m so bad at keeping track of things that I had to rely on Shou-chan to end up in the right place in rehearsals (laughs).
Ayanagi: Now, now (laughs).
Miya: So how am I supposed to know what everyone else is supposed to be doing, you know? (laughs) So in situations where I’m the most senior member in a particular scene they’ll tell me to get everyone in order, but I don’t have my own placing and choreography down (laughs).
Ayanagi: I know that feeling (laughs).
Miya: So I have to get in to the midset of ‘I’m the most senior here, so I’ll put aside everything about myself and say what I have to say!’
Ayanagi: I see. Whenever I state my opinion firmly, right afterwards I’ll start feeling really insecure, so I’ll end by asking the people around me “~don’t you think?” (laughs)
Miya: I get that. I’ll also be like “~and that’s what I think, you know!” and push some of the responsibility on whoever is next to me (laughs).
Ayanagi: (laughs) I always thought Miya-san would be a really forceful, determined type.
Miya: Totally opposite! As a Lower Student I was the type to hide in everyone else’s shadow all the time.
Ayanagi: Me too (laughs).
Miya: But recently, when I saw Shou-chan’s scene in the national tour of “D”ramatic S!, I thought you had a completely different atmosphere from anything before.
Ayanagi: Eh~!?
Miya: When it’s a scene that you’re the center of, don’t you feel like you need to pursue something more than just technicality, and leave something behind after you leave the stage? I thought your desire to convey that was really clear, and it was really amazing.
Ayanagi: That’s so much…
Miya: I felt like you really had the strength to bring everyone along with you as well. Therefore, I hope the junior actresses will keep following your good example too.
Ayanagi: Thank you! I’ll do my best!
Ayanagi: I’ve always loved Miya-san’s fashion! When there were pictures of Miya-san published in NEW GENERATION or things like that, I’d always be like ‘I wonder where those clothes came from?’ and investigate (laughs).
Miya: (laughs)
Ayanagi: And then after that, when I was in NEW GENERATION II myself, I thought ‘I’m sure I was mimicking Miya-san!’ and so yesterday I went and compared both of them at home. And it turned out I was wearing a belt from the same brand as Miya-san’s (laughs).
Miya: (bursts out laughing) That’s so cute~ It makes me really happy to hear things like that.
Ayanagi: Are there things you reference a lot for fashion?
Miya: Recently I don’t really read magazines. I used to really try to follow fashion, but as the time went on, I started to feel like what I actually wanted to wear was something different to that. Wandering around stores without looking at any information and then wearing whatever makes me think ‘This is it!’ is what really makes my heart happiest.
Ayanagi: Makes your heart happy (laughs)
Miya: Exactly (laughs). Therefore, recently, if I go to a fashion mall, say, I’ll visit all the stores that look like they have the sort of things I might not normally wear.
Ayanagi: Hmmm~
Miya: And then I’ll make snap decisions. I don’t agonize over anything. I’ll try something on and then I’ll be like ‘Yes! I’m buying this!’ (laughs). It takes me about an hour to make it through each floor.
Ayanagi: That’s so fast!
Miya: Well, I’m not able to go shopping very often. Only once a season.
Ayanagi: What, really!?
Miya: See, Shou-chan, you can drive, right?
Ayanagi: Yes, I drive sometimes.
Miya: I don’t have a license, so it’s a big deal to go out shopping.
Ayanagi: Well then, I can drive you!
Miya: Thank you (laughs).
Ayanagi: I just want to go along (laughs). I want you to help me with outfits~
Miya: I love picking out clothes for other people too! Let’s do it!
Ayanagi: In your precious once-per-season shopping trip (laughs).
Miya: Yeah (laughs). And in return we can use your car (laughs).
Ayanagi: Leave it to me (laughs). I always feel like you’re so good at putting together a lot of different clothing pieces.
Miya: Ah~ I do like thinking about that kind of thing.
Ayanagi: I don’t understand much about doing that, so I always just copy Miya-san (laughs).
Miya: (laughs) Well, you can ask me for advice any time, even if it’s not an assignment I have anything to do with!
Ayanagi: Thank you so much! (laughs)
Miya: Takarazuka otokoyaku are a bit restricted in clothing. But if you think about it even things that look like they wouldn’t work at all can be put together with other things and look like proper otokoyaku style. So I’ll often try going into even very girly stores.
Ayanagi: Oh~
Miya: That way sometimes I’ll find really interesting accessories, or ‘boyfriend’ style clothes. Do you like clothes?
Ayanagi: I do, I go shopping a lot. But if there are too many people around…
Miya: That’s exhausting, isn’t it. I’ll just go to get tea instead (laughs).
Ayanagi: I can’t go to tea by myself.
Miya: Eh!? Then, when you’re shopping by myself what do you do!?
Ayanagi: I’ll keep walking no matter how tired I get, and then I’ll have something to drink in my car on the way home…
Miya: I’ll go to sushi by myself.
Ayanagi: Ehhhh~!?
Miya: When I think ‘I’m too hungry to go any further!’ I’ll go get sushi. (laughs)
Ayanagi: That’s so cool! I’d be so surprised to see you eating sushi alone (laughs).
Miya: I really like sushi. I’ll eat it even if I’m alone (laughs).
Ayanagi: Well, if we go out together sometime…
Miya: Let’s get sushi! Since you won’t be alone (laughs).
Ayanagi: If I’m not alone then I can go (laughs). Breakfast during the national tour was really difficult. I couldn’t bring myself to go to the hotel’s breakfast bar if I was alone (laughs).
Miya: Eh~!? But what about going to the theatre cafeteria by yourself?
Ayanagi: No way, no way (laughs).
Miya: Huh!?
Ayanagi: Not even the Sumire Kitchen1.
Miya: What! But isn’t it harder to go to the Sumire Kitchen when you’re with someone else!?
Ayanagi: It is, but still…
Miya: I see… But not even going out to tea by yourself is a real problem. Why don’t you make that your goal for this year?
Ayanagi: I guess…
Miya: This year’s goal: Solo sushi (laughs)
Ayanagi: Hey, wait, sushi is too high-level (laughs).
Miya: Alright, tea then!
Ayanagi: I’ll do my best!
Miya: That’s so surprising~ My impression during the Takarazuka Special was that you were a really independent person. But I’m glad to be able to discover new sides to you.
Ayanagi: Yes! Up until now I’ve been using you as an example to follow in a lot of things, but today I was finally able to talk in-depth with you.
Miya: Yeah! That’s great!
Ayanagi: Next time I’d really like it if you could help me with putting together outfits!
Miya: We can go shopping together. If we make that a reality let’s take a picture and have it put up in GRAPH (laughs).
Ayanagi: We can get tea and go to a sushi place (laughs). Thank you so much!
Outtake:
Ayanagi: Miya-san, your cat is so cute!
Miya: It’s great to have her there when I get home exhausted after a rehearsal. It really helps me get over that.
Ayanagi: I wish I could have a dog. When I have a day off I’ll go to pet shops.
Miya: To look at them? That’s so cute~! (laughs)
Ayanagi: But if I had one, I don’t think I’d ever leave my house again…
Miya: I get the feeling. But I’ll go home early, and rehearse there. I’ll go through the whole revue all alone. In front of my cat.
Ayanagi: (laughs)
Miya: Although she’ll just react like ‘What the heck are you doing now?’ (laughs) So recently I haven’t been rehearsing very thoroughly (laughs).
1 – The Sumire Kitchen is a cafeteria in the Grand Theatre that is open only to Takarasiennes and OGs.