Since 2018 was the 100th year of Kageki being in publication, there were various commemorative events and features. In this feature, stars answer questions with the number 100 in them, and also describe their own personalities in terms of percentages.
Ayanagi’s was published in the April issue.
ABOUT ‘100’
For the centennial of Kageki, the Stars will answer questions related to the theme of ‘100’!
Ayanagi Shou – Snow Troupe
Q: What is your 100% surefire method of keeping up your health?
It’s breakfast. Of course I’ll eat breakfast on performance or choreography training days, but I also make sure to eat breakfast even on days off. If I don’t, I feel like my voice won’t come out properly and I won’t be able to concentrate, but this has been my habitual routine ever since I was little, so I don’t really know what would happen if I skipped breakfast (laughs). I prefer rice in general, so what I’ll always eat is white rice and natto. Besides that, sausages or a boiled egg or something… On days where I’ll be working really hard I’ll have meat, and eating curry gives me a lot of energy, I think.
Q: During a performance, how much to you get absorbed into your character out of 100%?
I feel like if I don’t retain some objectivity, I don’t be able to react to everyone else’s performances or get a feel of the atmosphere around me, so it’s 80 or 85%. I think in order to be the most effective in this situation, I need a third party perspective so I can realize how the audience would be seeing my performance. When I was a junior actress, I was giving my all to just my own performance, but during the shinjin kouen of Don Carlos, and through acting with Chigi-san (Sagiri Seina), that’s changed a lot, I think.
Q: If you had 100 hours of free time, what would you do with it?
That wouldn’t be enough time to go abroad, so I think I’d like to go on vacation to Okinawa or one of the remote islands. I could see the beautiful sea and stars, and also get some forest therapy! Even during holiday, I’ll keep thinking about the upcoming performance, so I’d like to take some time to slow down and relax without thinking about anything else.
Q: What is it that puts your excitement at 100?
Playing with a dog! I totally love it. I’ll go to hang out at someone’s house and get them to let me play with their dog, or I’ll watch animal TV programs I’ve recorded or videos online, and it always makes me so happy. They’re so fluffy and comforting to touch, and that defenseless feeling is also really soothing somehow. It’s so cute seeing a dog playing with a baby; even without any words the dog will be able to understand exactly what the baby’s about to do! I’m always struggling over whether or not to get a dog (laughs).
Q: What’s something you’d never get tired of watching even after 100 times?
Studio Ghibli anime. I don’t have to think about anything while I’m watching them, so I’ll turn them on a lot when I just want to space out. The music is really comforting too… The ones I watch the most are Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle. Once in a while I’ll really pay attention while watching, and then it feels like I’m actually in the world of the movie (laughs).
ONSTAGE Ayanagi Shou
Rehearsing alone (including warmups) – 40%
Before the rehearsal starts, first I’ll practice alone and work against myself. Generally, I’ll head to rehearsal after going for it in my own way first.
Gratitude – 20%
Being able to perform onstage requires help from so many sources, most importantly the audience. I try to make sure I don’t take it for granted.
Emotions and sensitivity – 20%
I try to treasure how things happen that day in that moment. I always try to keep my antennas up to be attuned to what’s going on.
Freshness and flexibility – 20%
I try not to get so used to things that they turn into a routine, so I try to keep feeling like everything happening is fresh and new, and I try to be flexible towards the performance of the people I’m acting with.
OFFSTAGE Ayanagi Shou
Relaxation – 50%
Since I’m tense a lot of the time, I’ll try to relax with aromatherapy or scented candles.
Shopping – 20%
I like shopping a lot, so I’ll often just randomly go out. I’ll go looking for things to use in photoshoots, or birthday presents for people.
Appreciation (driving and night scenery) – 20%
I feel like it’s good if I can absorb a lot of things from watching movies and theatre productions. I also like driving, so I’ll go out to look at night scenery.
Sleep – 10%
During rehearsals I’ll be stressed a lot of the time and so I’ll sleep poorly. I’m trying for good quality deep sleep (laughs).
Outtake:
Ayanagi: “If I was going to get a dog, it would be a chihuahua. I’ve always been saying I’d love to have a little black one, but recently, Asakaze Rei-san got a white chihuahua…when I saw it I thought it was so cute, so I’ve started to waver (laughs).”