This feature was published in Kageki for the 99th year of the company’s existence in 2013. Kurenai’s was published in the December issue; however, this translation used the reprinting in her memorial book (though it seems to be complete).
On/Off: 9×9 Questions – Kurenai Yuzuru
ON
Tell us 9 elements that make up the current ‘you’
All the fans
I genuinely think that it’s thanks to everyone who has supported me that I can stand on stage now. I’m full of gratitude.
Courage, Grit, Effort
It’s really an incredible thing to stand in front of 2500 people in the audience, so of course I need sufficient effort for that, but courage and grit are definitely necessary as well.
Love, Heart
I want to do a performance that reaches the hearts of the audience. I think this is really valuable for a stage performer.
Eroticism
You’re not complete as an otokoyaku without this!
Pair of folding fans
Of course I have basic items like my sheet music, script, and mini-disc player, but since I’m in a Japanese-style show right now, I absolutely need a pair of folding fans. I also brought them along when we had our press conference in Taiwan, so I could practice in the hotel.
Vaseline:
I always cover my face with Vaseline after the show in order to protect against dryness. I use a ton of it and leave the theatre just like that, so a lot of the time people end up thinking I’m just sweaty (laughs).
A spirit of challenge
Since from the first to the last day I’m performing live, I always want to take what I learn from each performance and bring it with me to the next time. I want to keep challenging myself.
Motivational cheer
Every day, before the show starts, I always cheer myself on and tell myself “The stage is calling me!” (laughs). This is Nakashima Shigeo’s method, so I picture my own success in my mind, and go out on stage once I have a positive mental orientation.
Perfume
I change my scent with every show. During performances I set out three bottles: one in the stage left and stage right quick-change rooms, and one on my dressing room 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?
The past, for sure. And Japan would be best. I feel the future is something we make ourselves, so I shouldn’t go there. But first I have to be sure I can get back to the present. If I can’t get back I’m not going anywhere (laughs).
Q2. When you’re replying to instant messages, do you take 9 seconds, 9 minutes, 9 hours, or 9 days?
Within about 9 hours. I feel like I should at least reply during the same day.
Q3. What makes you emotional?
I don’t get emotional too easily these days… But it’s the ‘stage’, I think. As I’m seeing all these different shows, it not as if I’m just getting emotional, but I’m really stirred, and and it makes me think ‘I need to work hard too!’. It’s something that really fires me up (laughs).
Q4. How do you spend days off?
Recently, if I have a full day off, within those 24 hours I make sure I get at least some time that’s totally ‘Off’. I’ll make arrangements for lessons too, of course, but recently I’ve felt that if I don’t get a change of pace once in while I’ll lose sight of the important things…
Q5. What can get you excited instantly?
When I’ve randomly run into a famous person (laughs).
Q6. What sort of child were you when you were 9 years old?
I was just a naughty little rascal, I think (laughs). Around that time I was living in a total fantasy world, I wanted to be Peter Pan. Back then, I believed Falkor (fantasy creature from the film Never Ending Story) was real, and I was certain one of the neighborhood dogs would turn into Falkor at night and fly through the sky (laughs).
Q7. if you had 990,000 yen, where would you like to go?
I’m not going anywhere, I’m saving that (laughs). But I think I’d like to take about 100,000 yen of it and visit the Ise Grand Shrine.
Q8. What’s your ultimate relaxation method?
Right now, what I’m super into is to put candles all around my tub, drop 12 baths’ worth of Kiki-Yu in the water and get in right away, then just relax. I’ll make phone calls from there… The time is also put to good use, so it’s two birds with one stone (laughs).
Q9. If there were 99 more minutes in each day, what would you like to do?
I’d sleep. Or make phone calls.