This GRAPH feature from 2016 had stars watching video recordings of productions they appeared in and giving their thoughts on the show, as well as talking about some personal effects they were using backstage. Nozomi’s was published in the February issue.
Please note that scene titles are reproduced with permission from this translation of the script.
Audio Commentary: Nozomi Fuuto (One Night of Stars)
Stars recollect productions they appeared in while watching videos and give commentary from their own unique viewpoint!
Commentary for: Snow Troupe Grand Theatre production One Night of Stars – Genta
One Night of Stars was so beautiful, but I also had a stretched-out feeling of nervousness in that production. But this time around I can tell everyone about the fun times we were having backstage! I don’t watch recordings of myself much so I’m nervous~!
[T/N: Commentary on sections where Nozomi was offstage are presented in italics]
Scene 1 – Prologue (Stargazing man A)
The prologue was all about concentration! I would go on standby right at the start and from the openings I could find in the wings I would watch Chigi-san’s (Sagiri’s) entrance scene. This scene doesn’t have anything connection to the characters or stories, but expresses the “formal atmosphere” from after Haruoki (Sagiri) went to Edo. But actually, the makeup I have here is for my child face (laughs). My eyes aren’t drawn in at all, and my eyebrows are really thin and short. …so it’s embarassing to watch this (laughs).
Scene 2 – The Star-Watching Tower —Building the Tower—
In the child scenes I was doing it while thinking ‘We’re so cute!’ (laughs).
Looking down from the tower, the audience seats were so beautiful! Once in a while I could even a late-arriving audience member, and the flashlight the staff lady held would look like a star (laughs).
After this I went offstage once to rehydrate!
Scene 3 – The paddy on the ridge
Yuumi-chan (Sakihi) would totally explode during the fight with the mean kids, so I had to hold her back for real (laughs). Also, being bullied by my juniors was really mortifying…! Hinata (Haruki) was near me and she’d say things like “Oh~ What a shame~”, I hated it! (laughs)
Scene 4 – The Star-watching Tower —The Stargazing Song—
I’m sprinting across the silver bridge with all my might! Chigi-san was just so fast…
Kinosuke’s (Sagiri’s) handmade armillary sphere was designed to come apart during the scene, but sometimes it would break when I picked it up so it was scary~
Scene 5 – Mikazuki Castle
Here’s another rehydration spot. But since I soon had to be on standby on top of the tower I didn’t have much time!
Scene 6 – The Star-Watching Tower —Farewell—
We would adlib conversation until the transition from the last scene finished. Hyouta (Hoshou Dai) would look at Kinosuke’s feet and say “Gentaa~, they call those geta, you know~! Genta, geta!”, and she’d be laughing the whle time (laughs). Or me and Kari (Kiraha Reo), playing Kota: “Genta, what do you call those clothes?” “They’re called ha-ka-ma!”, it would always be weird conversations (laughs).
Here I’d be playing around in the wings. I’d put the wig I’d just taken off on the top of my head so I looked like a mushroom and play it cool asking Takahime-san (Daigo Seshiru) “Care to go to tea with me?”, stuff like that (laughs). Generally it would end when Kingu (Renjou Makoto) would finally say “Cut that out!” and stop me (laughs).
At this time I still wasn’t really aware that I loved Sen (Sakihi). Just to the point where when watching Sen crying while seeing Kinosuke off I’d think “Hmm, she likes him…”.
Scene 7 – Edo Castle —Moon Viewing Banquet—
I’d be getting ready to become an adult, and chatting with Hitoko-chan (Towaki Sea) who played Genta in the junior cast. I’d listen earnestly to her talking about “Hitoko-chan’s thoughts on Genta” (laughs).
Scene 8A – The Star Crossing Festival
I changed my voice and hair to become an adult, so I wonder if people watching for the first time realized it was Genta…?
Hyouta always did really funny reactions to hearing Chobiyasu (Ayakaze) had fathered a child, so I’m actually laughing seeing that. When I went into the wings to find Sen, she would be right there peeking through the bamboo grass. But she was always laughing a bit as if she’d been watching us acting (laughs).
My reunion with Haruoki. I’m startled at how much he’s changed, and also worried about how strange Sen is acting, so I can’t look him in the face at this point…
Scene 8B – The Star-watching Tower —Reunion—
I couldn’t watch their scene together, so I was always in the wings getting ready for the uprising. But sometimes Yoshimune-san (Ema Naoki) would make fun of me and say things like “If you’re just doing that you’re never going to win,” or “Look, look, they’re making out!” (laughs)
Scene 8C – A Night for Star-Crossed Lovers
After the happy fantasy, it goes back to reality with this stop-motion, and I’m thinking about what I can do for Sen…
Even when I say “I’ll give you Sen!” Haruoki doesn’t change expression at all or give a word in reply, so I’m unable to contain myself any longer and end up going into dogeza.
Scene 10 – The Hall at Edo Castle —Monthly Audience Ceremony—
Starting here, even when I’m backstage my feelings keep getting lower… I’m thinking “Let’s forget the whole uprising!” so I would be building the motivation for the uprising while struggling with my inner conflict (laughs).
Scene 11 – Genta’s house
Before entering I’d flourish the straw raincoat I wore when coming in from outdoors and say “These are my Japanese-style parade feathers!” (laughs). So despite what I said I was goofing around, huh (laughs).
Scene 12 – The Tower in the Forest
This dogeza here feels unpleasant, in a way. Since I’m about to specifically do something I know Haruoki wouldn’t want… When I got into the wings, my enemy Suzumushi (Karyou Shizuru) would actually always give me something to drink and hand me the stick I was using as a weapon and send me out saying “Get going~!” (laughs)
Scene 13A – Revolt
Ah…it’s all coming back. What was I thinking at the end? I was feeling the warmth of Haruoki’s back, and thinking of how tired I was, but there was also a sensation that we were seeing the same thing somehow…
Scene 14 – Star Crossing
Since it was painful to watch this scene, my children would always join me in the wings. “Poor dad!” they’d say (laughs). And Yoshimune would also tell me “Oh, you died? You’re dead??” (laughs)
Scene 15 – The Stargazing Song
The play ends on top of the tower. I’m in a hurry to change my makeup! Me and Yuumi appear really early in the revue, so Chigi-san would say “You two go down first!” (laughs)
Watching the video, I feel like I understand even better what the director was saying and the world she was trying to create. It’s a play that gets you right in the heart, isn’t it. I’m glad I had the chance to watch it!
ITEMS
Caddy box
This is one Mineri Towa-chan gave me as a present for my birthday, before I changed troupes. I love Yuzuru Hanyu-kun so it’s inspired by his costumes (laughs), and she went to a crafts studio for the day to make it so it’s a wonderful work of art! I keep my otokoyaku must-have items like hairspray, hairbrushes, and hairdryers in it, and I always make sure there’s propolis spray and a drink with soothing syrup for my throat mixed into it. The ‘210’ stands for my stage name, Fuuto, but once before Oozuki (Tooma)-san asked me “So what does ‘niito’1 mean?” (laughs).
Stage door bag
A fan always makes these for me inspired by the show I’m in. It’s designed like a kimono and obi, and has stars scattered across it too.
Slippers
These are the Tokyo performance version. They’re also inspired by the production, decorated with chinese bellflowers amid dark blue ruffles.
1 – ‘Fuu’ and ‘Ni’ are two different ways of reading the Japanese character for ‘2’