This interview feature for Haruha Rara’s retirement was published in the September 2021 issue of GRAPH.
Some outtake photos from the back of the magazine are included.
Haruha Rara Last Interview
Your Retirement production has just opened. How do you feel?
Up until now, my seniors who were retiring would always say they were ‘happy’, and I thought that was kind of strange—weren’t they going to miss this?—but now that I’m the one retiring, I’ve discovered I really am happy (laughs). There are things that make me sad, like when I’m talking to someone in the rehearsal studio or dressing room and I’ll realize I won’t be able to do this any more…or during the orchestra run through or dress rehearsal all of my memories will well up. But above all, when I think about how many people I’ve encountered, and how much support I’ve been given, my feelings of gratitude are stronger than anything else.
Every day, I’m feeling love from so many people, and just savoring all this happiness. Up until now, in every performance I would be setting tasks for myself, but this time I don’t want to get too tied up in that. I want everyone to see a natural Haruha Rara.
How do you feel about the 10 years you have spent in Cosmos Troupe?
Everyone is so elegant and beautiful, from Nono Sumika-san, who I admired so much, to Misaki (Rion)-san, to Reimi (Urara)-san, and so many others. I wanted to become a musumeyaku who could suit the tall, stylish Cosmos Troupe otokoyaku, so I studied so many people in pursuit of that ideal. Also, there were so many transfers among the girls near my age, like (Hoshikaze) Madoka, Jun (Hana)-chan, Juri (Amairo Mineri), and (Hanayuki) Rira, and each time I would gain new motivation. And now, I hope that I can pass on what I gained to those junior to me.
What are some shows that had an impact on you?
When I was ken-1 and -2 I was so desperate I didn’t have any time to relax, but during the National Tour of Citrus Breeze III I discovered ‘it’s fine to have fun on stage’. However, when I was given the heroine role in Shakespeare I ran into a lot of barriers and realized having fun wasn’t everything… (laughs).
Back then I was able to learn so much about being a musumeyau from Kumi-san (Misaki Rion). I learned that I could become more beautiful by putting in effort and figuring out what worked best, by polishing my arts, by honing a sense of aesthetics, by working on my costumes, wigs, and makeup, et cetera, and this was a turning point for me as a musumeyaku.
After that, in Immortal Thorns, I learned the depth of acting from Aizuki (Hikaru)-san, and in Papa I Love You Todoroki (Yuu)-san taught me how fun it is to perform with freedom.
Fujino, in El Japon, was very difficult for me, since I had to express her feelings through only her facial expressions and poses. But I got to wear gorgeous kimono, and come up through the stage lift, so every performance I kept thinking about how lucky I was.
Magnificent Emperor is a show that had a lot of different memories for me. During the cancellation period, I ended up with a lot more time on my hands to think. I struggled with the role way more than I should have and lost my understanding of what I actually wanted to do. But despite my failings Zun-san (Sakuragi) generously accepted everything… I was able to feel I could trust Zun-san as my partner and keep going. I had always dreamed of doing a duet dance, so that memory will stay with me for the rest of my life.
In Hotel Svizra House I learned a lot while playing Kiki-san (Serika)’s love interest. I played her love interest once before, in Ocean’s 11, and I was so inept. She gave me a lot of guidance, and it was because of what she told me that I was able to decide that I wanted to change. And then, on the closing day of Hotel Svizra House, Kiki-san told me that she could see how much I had grown, and it made me feel like all of my work had been worth it. Up until the very end I’ve been continually learning, and I also feel glad that I’ve been able to grow like this.
What was the musumeyaku ideal that you aimed for?
Most of all, I wanted to never lose my own elegance, and also, I wanted to come close to the otokoyaku in a way that made both of us mutually even more beautiful to the audience. Also, I thought that whether it’s singing, dancing, or acting, heart is the most important thing. I didn’t know anything about Takarazuka until entering the Music School, and hadn’t done anything except ballet, so there were so many things I wasn’t good enough at. Since I didn’t have any special skills and wasn’t confident, it meant that I kept thinking about my scenes or roles, and focused on expressing my heart. And then, I think that as I went I began to develop confidence.
What impetus made you decide to retire?
In Magnificent Emperor, I ended up struggling with things and spinning my wheels, and caused a lot of bother for everybody, but during the finale on the very last day, I was dancing with Zun-san and staring at her smile, and all I could think was just ‘I’m so happy…’. I had actually thought about retiring before, but every time I’d thought ‘if I run away now I’ll regret it!’ and held my ground. Working so hard and getting to this point made me feel amazingly happy. This might be me being self-indulgent, but I had been thinking that if I was going to retire, I wanted it to be while I’d still miss it, and I felt like now was the time. There wasn’t any specific motivation, so it’s a bit of a strange feeling (laughs). But there are so many experiences I’m grateful when I look back on things. I think my heart is just satisfied.
Finally, can you give a message to the people who have supported you over the years.
The audience’s smiles and applause have motivated me so much, and all I want is to give something back, so I hope I can give audiences a bit of brightness when they come to see the performance. I’m nothing but grateful for all the different kinds of love I’ve been given in order to make to to this point–whether it be warm love or tough love or anything else. I’m going to try and give back just as many kinds of love as I keep working hard with a smile up until the end.
Takarazuka.
What a wonderful place.
I discovered such great treasures.
I hope all of you will encounter wonderful times full of smiles.
Thank you so much.
Rara
