This article based on an interview with Serika Toa that took place during the run of West Side Story was published on January 12. The original article, written by Hashimoto Nami, as well as some photos, can be found here. (Archive link here.) Please give the original publishers some traffic~

Serika Toa’s transfer – ‘no worries’ about Makaze Suzuho’s debut performance, ‘hates losing’ so much she fainted trying to swim after an older boy

Takarazuka Revue otokoyaku star Serika Toa, who transferred from Flower Troupe to Cosmos Troupe, is currently appearing in new Cosmos Troupe Top Star Makaze Suzuho’s debut show West Side Story (playing until the 25th in Tokyo International Forum Hall C, Marunouchi, Tokyo). ‘While I was surprised at a transfer after so many years, I don’t have any concerns. Right now, we’re all aiming towards the same goal,’ Serika said with a smile.

West Side Story is a Broadway musical that was later adapted into a film. Serika plays the older brother of Maria, the heroine: Bernardo, the leader of the ‘Sharks’, a gang of Puerto Rican-American delinquents. He is the enemy of the protagonist. ‘I was basically really happy to get this role. I love complex characters.’

George Chakiris, who played Bernardo in the film, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor with his performance. ‘After the role distribution was announced, a lot of people were saying ‘You got Chakiris’ part!’ He’s so cool, right?’ While the storyline of the musical is different from that of the film, regarding the visual aspects, Serika said ‘I want to have Bernardo’s ‘atmosphere’ – he’s really sexy and has such an emphatic presence that it seems he takes control of a space just by making an entrance.’

Serika has a relaxed way of speaking and a calm air about her. From appearances, she doesn’t seem to have much in common with the character she plays. ‘That’s true, I suppose. While we share deep family bonds and a desire to protect them, and the way we value our friends, he’s very quick to start fights. I’d just end up thinking, wouldn’t it be better if we didn’t all have to fight?’ she joked.

Inside Bernardo’s anger swirls frustration at the discrimination he faces. ‘Although the circumstances may be completely different, everyone has feelings of frustration. I hope I can connect my own frustrated emotions with Bernardo’s.’

She often feels frustrated with herself. ‘I’m battling feelings of frustration even now. The dancing [in this show] is really hard for me.’ As the choreography in the show was originally created for male performers, it is considerably more difficult for women to perform at the original tempo.

‘I can really feel the strength difference in things like jumping ability and such. Every day we’re all giving everything we’ve got in the dancing in order to get even a little bit closer to what it should be like. I’ll probably be a lot more muscular by the time this show closes (laughs).’

Serika joined the company in Heisei 19. Originally assigned to Star Troupe, she was transferred to Flower Troupe in Heisei 24 and Cosmos Troupe last year. Makaze, the new Cosmos Troupe Top Star, is one year her senior, and they were formerly in Star Troupe together. ‘She’s a really magnanimous person, and since we were working hard in the same troupe for 5 and a half years of my foundational time as a junior actress, I feel very secure with her. If we get to talking together we just don’t stop.’ Having one of the members of her class she gets on best with in the same troupe – Aizuki Hikaru, who was ‘born and raised’ in Cosmos Troupe – is also reassuring to her.

She has accumulated a great amount of experience through her time in each troupe. While she was in Flower Troupe, the troupe changed to become much more youthful when Asumi Rio became Top Sar, and starting from Asumi’s second show Serika was supporting her closely. She can still remember clearly wearing feathers for the first time – how heavy they were and how frightening it was descending the Grand Stairs.

‘At first I was really worried about it, and pushed myself really hard to be more capable and to be able to support her better. But eventually I realized I can’t give more than I already am in the moment, and if I take on too much I won’t even be able to do that.’ She learned not to take everything on alone, but allow her comrades to help and build reliance on them. ‘I got more confidence once I let people support me. I recieved so much from them.’

Flower Troupe was the first troupe establisted in Takarazuka. ‘Everyone has a deep-rooted pride – often you wil hear people say ‘Since this is Flower Troupe, it has to be this way.’ It’s very important to keep in touch with the traditions.’

Cosmos Troupe is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Serika said she could feel the power of the youngest troupe. ‘It’s full of people without any hesitation, who will say right away ‘I’ll give it a shot’ about any new challenge. Nobody’s caught up in fixed notions of what we should adhere to, and the atmosphere of freedom is very invigorating.’

Analyzing her personality, Serika said that since she was little ‘I did everything at my own pace, and in a way I was very stubborn.’ She determined what she wanted to do entirely by herself, including her decision to join Takarazuka. Her parents never rejected any of her decisions. ‘Therefore I naturally developed a strong sense of responsibility. I’ll feel like I’d better get it done right.’

In her third year of elementary school, she learned to swim. She was determined not to be outswam by the boys and completely devoted herself to catching up to the older boy swimming briskly ahead of her, but… ‘I passed out. I’m too stubborn, I can’t stand losing,’ she laughed.

The word she would use to describe the last year is ‘transformation’. Not only did she transfer troupes, but her personal life changed significantly as well. Using the time she had before starting in her new troupe, she passed her driving test. Afterwards she bought a car and is enjoying driving. ‘When I’m driving I have my own space, which is nice. I can sing really loud.’ Now she can take part in activities over a much wider area. ‘My father, my brother, and I took turns driving all the way to near the Shimanto River in Kouchi Prefecture. It was really fun.’

At the same time, she has started keeping a dog. While her family has a chihuahua, Serika lost her heart to a female toy poodle she saw at a petshop. ‘I went home and struggled about it for a day, but in the end I decided we were destined for each other. I called her Candy.’ When playing with her dog, it seems she can get away from her celebrity persona. ‘She’s so swe~et (laughs). It’s really healing to be with her and it’s a great way to shift back into my private life.’

Her word for this year is ‘progress’. ‘I’m in a new troupe, with a new Top Star, so I’m looking forward to discovering what kind of progress is in store for me. I’ve got to do it on my own.’ Her prior experiences will surely allow her to advance confidently down a new path.