This feature was published in Kageki for the 99th year of the company’s existence in 2013. Sagiri’s was published in the March issue; however, this translation used the reprinting in her memorial book (though it seems to be complete).
ON/OFF – 99 Question: Sagiri Seina
ON:
Q. Name 9 elements that the current you is made up of
Heart
Having my heart be moved by all sorts of things, and then conveying those feelings. I feel that in the end, if you don’t have heart, you won’t be able to be a Takarazuka otokoyaku, and I think that it’s extremely important to being a stage performer.
All the fans
Even if all the performers are onstage, without an audience to see them the show isn’t complete. Especially after the earthquake1, I really noticed that, and I realized once again that what’s supporting me is all of the fans.
Feelings of gratitude
I believe that working onstage is really connected to having a feeling of gratitude.
Intuition
I’ve realized that it’s better to keep going while believing in my own intuition… When I’ve been stressed out or struggling my intuition has sometimes guided me so well I was shocked.
Motivation
I need the motivation of “Today I’m gonna go for it again!” and also the motivation to be otokoyaku ‘Sagiri Seina’.
Dantian2
I think that all my dancing, singing, and acting comes from here (laughs). When I’m facing the audience and the huge theatre space, I feel that focusing on the Dantian, the core within me, helps me increase the feelings I want to convey.
Applause
The applause from the audience is my reward. As a stage performer, it’s a present that gives me tons of energy.
My classmates
No matter what happens, I have my strong bonds with my classmates and their supportive hearts. They’re people who, no matter what, I’m sure will support me and I can go to them for help.
Melon-Bear
He’s some kind of costumed mascot from Yubari3, but he’s making a really intense face (laughs). I have his merchandise decorating my dressing table.
OFF
[T/N: All of these questions originally contained the Japanese word for ‘9’ or puns on it, but in many cases these were lost in making the translations understandable]
Q1. If you could timeslip 99 years, would you rather travel into the future or the past?
I’d like to go to the past, maybe. Since I’ve had the chance to perform in a lot of Japanese-setting plays recently, I’d like to see for myself the world my ancestors lived in.
Q2. When you’re replying to instant messages, do you take 9 seconds, 9 minutes, 9 hours, or 9 days?
9 days. I’m the type to get really focused on what is right in front of me, so especially in rehearsals, I’ll have so much to do that I’ll end up replying to messages really late. If it’s an urgent message or something I’ll put in the effort to reply immediately!
Q3. What makes you emotional?
The day before a day off, or getting photo messages of the family dog. The night before a day off, I’ll think ‘tomorrow I get to relax’ and it makes me really happy. And as for photo messages of the dog, often my father will tease him and then send me photos (laughs). Those are really healing when I have breaks in rehearsals and such.
Q4. How do you spend days off?
My ideal would be to just lay around at home (laughs). I’ll put on clothes for lounging at home and watch DVDs I’ve been wanting to watch, or TV programs I taped while I was out.
Q5. What can get you excited instantly?
When we’re playing games during travel time or something and I get a good score. I’m like ‘I did it!’ (laughs)
Q6. What sort of child were you when you were 9 years old?
I don’t think I changed much from then to now. I was really thin and my hair was short. I was the type to wear pants all the time and play outside.
Q7. if you had 990,000 yen, where would you like to go?
Since it’s still cold in March, I’d like to go to hot springs. If I had 990,000 yen, I could have a really spacious room, and stay for so many days, and get really luxurious massages, and also I could be really generous to the people who came along with me, so it would be really relaxing emotionally too, I think.
Q8. What’s your ultimate relaxation method?
Not putting on any alarms and just sleeping! When I was a junior actress, I would sleep so much that I’d mistake sunset for sunrise. Recently I can’t really do that, so being able to sleep like that again is my dream.
Q9. If there were 99 more minutes in each day, what would you like to do?
I’d like to play smartphone games where you can dress up an avatar and change its clothes, and make a room for it. Even though I think people would get upset with me because ‘You should be replying to your messages before doing that!’ but even though time spent playing games doesn’t have any benefit right now I just use it to get a bit of a mental break. But I’m definitely not a ‘gamer’ (laughs).
1 – Probably the 2011 earthquake that caused cancellations and disruptions during Otozuki Kei’s debut performance as Top Star of Snow Troupe.
2 – A term in Chinese medicine for the ‘qi’ center within the body.
3 – Some more information on Melon-Bear can be found here (with pictures).