Request Lounge: Natsumi You -> Natsukawa Yura

Natsumi You: If I were to talk about memories of Yura, they would be the New York City performance (at Radio City Music Hall), and the mixed-troupe Bow performance immediately following it — "Chante, Chante, Chante".

Natsukawa Yura: That's right. There were a lot of difficulties in that performance, but it was really fun to be able to do it with members of Star Troupe.

Natsumi: Your simple brightness really saved everyone. Lately we haven't done anything together, but you've grown into one of the rare onnayaku who can play beautiful, good women, and adult women, combining energy and grace. If it were possible, I'd have liked to have tried being partnered together once when I was an underclassman.

Natsukawa: You flatter me too much! But hearing your words now makes me think that I haven't made a mistake in becoming who I am now, and that there was worth in struggling on even when I was crushed.¹ When I was with you, Natsumi-san, you left me a lot of freedom to do things my own way, and I felt a strong atmosphere of openness. Which is why when I became an upperclassman I felt I should be like you, although I don't have any tolerance at all (laughs).

Natsumi: (laughs) Next (the Hong Kong performance), you're going to be the second-ranked in terms of years of experience, aren't you?

Natsukawa: Ba-dum!² That's right.

Natsumi: When it was first decided that I would be fukukumichou³, I wondered what I was going to do. It really is a position where you should make decisions as the older sister of the group when something happens, and where you have to think about everyone. Nevertheless, although that may be true, when you're thinking too much "you have to pull!" everything around you becomes frazzled. Which is why you shouldn't think "I have to decide everything!", but rather shouldn't you listen closely to what people say and think about it with everyone?

Natsukawa: That's right. I feel as if I've just received some very heartening words. You don't just project a sense of security; you have something which makes others think: "I'll follow her!"

Natsumi: And then everyone falls off the cliff with me (laughs).

Natsukawa: Stop it! (laughs) That's not it at all. It's not just that you give people freedom, but that if something is no good, you say that it's no good, and if someone is in trouble, suddenly you hold out your hand. If we follow you, there's a feeling of relief, that everything will be okay, and I really understand the meaning of the phrase "growing up watching the backs of the upperclassmen".

Natsumi: Because when you're tied up from the very start, nothing good can be produced. If you're cautious, if you explain the exact reason why they can't do something, they won't do it again, and when their turn comes to teach their underclassmen they can pass on something useful. Even if you have freedom, so long as you understand the rules up on stage, and what is right and wrong, I wonder how easily things might be done?

Natsukawa: I've thought how amazing it is that you can actually do these things you've talked about naturally.

Natsumi: No, no. Of course the other kumichou are different. Free and flexible, and therefore strong — I'm still hard-headed.

Natsukawa: Really-!? I want you to teach me a lot more knowledge.

Natsumi: Now, as an upperclassman, a lot of things are going to come along that you mustn't do. Right now there are a lot of worrisome things, but you're always bright and smiling, and you don't show when you're down.

Natsukawa: No, no, no. I'm always worn-out (laughs).

Natsumi: You don't show it. From now on you have to hold on gently to yourself; you can't not protect yourself. Recently I've often felt that I have to have the mental luxury of spare time; that I have to make the time. Because I think when you begin to allow yourself to heal, you can also heal the audience, and the underclassmen can really see that.

Natsukawa: That's certainly important. Because sometimes when you've reached your limit you lose sight of yourself.

Natsumi: I know, why don't you come to my place and look at the planetarium?

Natsukawa: Eh? What!?

Natsumi: I have a planetarium at home. I make it perfectly dark and when I throw the switch, my room is filled with stars. When the perfect music flows, it really does heal me, and things I hadn't been able to stop thinking about come to seem unimportant. People who are worn out often come to watch it. It's the best.

Natsukawa: Wow! How great!!

Natsumi: 5000 yen a visit (laughs).

Natsukawa: Please give me a little discount (laughs).

Natsumi: (laughs). Now that I think of it, lately our schedules haven't been compatible, and we aren't able to talk. Although we often go to see each others' shows.

Natsukawa: Yes, that's really-! When I go to see the Star Troupe performances, I can absolutely feel the seductiveness of Natsumi-san as an otokoyaku. When you put on the mustache you have an aura of refined masculinity, and when you wear a black tail-coat sensuality hangs in the air. "The ones in the back? Still inexperienced, inexperienced."

Natsumi: (laughs).

Natsukawa: Speaking of colors, at moments purple and ultramarine (and blue as well) have a really coooool feel and, how should I say this? And I always say, "I want to partner with you too."

Natsumi: Yura, you seem feverish (laughs).

Natsukawa: That's not it!! (laughs) Even if you're silent, you project; there's an air hanging about you. That's the true seductiveness of an otokoyaku.

Natsumi: I'm glad. Because seductiveness is necessary. Yura, I think you're the type who always radiates sensuality, even when you're playing the role of a mother. I thought the same of Emi-chan (Moeki Aya) when she played the role of a mother in "Romeo and Juliet" previously. She was Juliet's mother, so she was beautiful in a certain way, and sensual as a mother and as a woman. That's the kind of onnayaku you can be.

Natsukawa: Thank you. To the underclassmen of Star Troupe, if they're otokoyaku, having such a wonderful model to learn from so close at hand, and if they're musumeyaku, having you beside them while they grow up and become lovely — I want them to stay beside you and learn more. I want them to watch you and continue following after you. Although you're Natsumi You of Star Troupe, so we won't be able to touch you (laughs).

Natsumi: Heeey (laughs). Yura, you're a person sparkling with all kinds of colors, so I want you to continue sparkling like you do now without surrounding yourself with defenses. And as the bright and joyful off stage Yura-chan, I want you to take care of yourself, and on stage please let that beautiful, splendid flower bloom more and more.

Natsukawa: I will! Thank you. I'll try my hardest, so I'm depending on you for the planetarium (laughs).

Natsumi: I look forward to it (laughs).


(1) This might not be what she was referring to, but in other interviews I've heard her say that while she was in Music School she was pressured to become an otokoyaku. It was only with the gentle encouragement of Asaji Saki that she gathered up the courage to press for her choice to be a musumeyaku.
(2) Sound of a pounding heart.
(3) The second-ranked member of a troupe in terms of years since graduating. They (and the kumichou, the first-ranked) have extra duties taking care of the rest of the troupe, and acting as a mentor.