This edition of Tokyo Shinbun’s column on Takarazuka features Aya Ouka, talking about her current performance in fff – fortississimo. The original column was written by Yamagishi Toshiyuki (estimated name reading) and was published here on March 18, 2021. (Archive link here.)
Passionately with all my power – Aya Ouka (Snow Troupe)
In the current Snow Troupe production fff – fortississimo – Sing for Joy!, portraying the life of the celebrated composer Beethoven, who despite his life full of depression and distress created the Ode to Joy, Aya Ouka plays Archduke Rudolf, one of Beethoven’s patrons.
As the composer’s patron, many pieces were dedicated to him; “I think he had great passion for the music and the arts,” Aya says in analysis of his character. About her performance, “I’m trying to assume a confident air; my goal is to make him someone who can gain attention just by standing there.” It’s a show on a grand scale, in which Napoleon and Goethe also appear. Aya says much of its appeal is “[because] it has many different stories, and no matter how many times you watch there are new discoveries to make.”
The second half of the performance, which Aya says “I think is on a new subject [for Takarazuka],” is the revue Silk Road – The Thief and the Jewel. “Though it’s a show with mature elements, it’s also got the archetypical Takarazuka black tuxedo [scene utilizing] the Grand Stairs, so I’m so excited about it.”
Aya is a native of Takarazuka City, and her mother and grandmother were also Takarazuka fans. She was raised with ‘Takarazuka’ feeling very close to her. This is her tenth year onstage [as someone for whom] “the feelings of the performer with passion in her heart and the power of the fan watching have become one.”
This is the critical year according to the saying ‘Ten Years to Otokotaku’. “Though a lot of things happened, I never slacked off,” she says, looking back. When asked about her aspirations for her future as a stage performer, she responded “full power.” Her days exerting her full power without slacking off will continue.
Three Questions:
If you could only bring one thing to a deserted island, what would it be?
A camera. I’d like to take pitctures of things that could only be seen there. The sea, the sunrise, the sunset, things like that.
When do you think “I’m so happy”?
I like sunny days. Just having the sun out makes me happy. And times when everyone’s laughing and having fun together make me happy too.
If you had a week-long vacation what would you do?
I’d like to go on a trip abroad. Somewhere in the south like Hawaii, or New York or London.