The cry of the cicadas makes this summer feel even hotter, but the tinkle-tinkle of the wind chimes offers a little coolness. Sometimes we can hear the explosion of entertaining fireworks, making the summer a veritable sea of sound. I hope you are all enjoying the long days of summer despite the heat.

This month, I have the perfect guest for those of you who say you will not give in to the exhaustion caused by summer heat. Yes, it’s the leading otokoyaku of Star Troupe, who is overflowing with energy: Kozuki Wataru!

* Prepare yourself in the time you’ve been given*

Wataru-san, you are someone that I automatically want to call “Oniicha~n” (“Big brother”). I think there must be many ’siennes who feel that way because you take such good care of your underclassmen. You are also an interesting, multifaceted person, so we underclassmen can’t help but respect you!

Among your various features, there is one thing I certainly would like all you readers to know about. I have never seen an upperclassman who goes to the company’s lessons (optional practices held in the morning) as often as Wataru-san! The underclassmen go to one practice after another for the sake of friendly rivalry with each other, but they often give in to their morning drowsiness and the exhaustion from production rehearsals and don’t go to the lessons… As we rise in the hierarchy, we become even busier and it becomes harder to attend these lessons…

“Before I became an upperclassman, Sha-sensei (Choreographer Sha Tamae) once told me, ‘The more senior you become, the more important it is for you to attend the lessons.’ As you grow older, your physical condition worsens, plus you have even more responsibilities. I could see what she meant…”

A-amazing! We always thought that inexperienced underclassmen were obligated to attend the lessons as much as their schedules allowed, but your refreshing opinion has a point, too. You are very busy as the leading performer, yet you practice what you preach. There are many more things I should learn from you.

“I went to the ballet lesson this morning, too. It’s before rehearsal starts, which allows me to prepare physically and warm up my body.”

Wow! How magnificent!

“I just hate saying, ‘I want to do this but I can’t.’ You know what I mean? For example, when the choreographer gives you a dance that you have to do right away, sometimes it ends up looking like something completely different, right? I hate that the most, not being able to perform as the choreographer imagined it. It’s the same for singing, when you want to sing in a certain voice but can’t, or if your body doesn’t work the way you want it to.”

Yes… You have hit the nail on the head…

“I hate losing to myself. In today’s lesson, too, I got ticked off at my incapable self (laughs). I end up angry. That’s when I devote myself to taking lessons. I like to be tough on myself (laughs). I’ll work hard even if I’m tired (laughs). But more recently, I’ve learned to stop before I overdo it because sometimes I end up hurting my body.”

Instead of not wanting to lose to others, you don’t want to lose to yourself. I can understand that, but when I’m my own rival, sometimes I just cave in and give up. This has really been an enriching discussion.

* Believe that the process of working towards your dream is more romantic than actually achieving it.*

I had the honor of being your partner (?) twice, Wataru-san. The first time was in the show “Glorious!!” in the Glen Miller scene where I played your wife Helen. The second time was in the play “Nagai Haru no Hate ni” (At the End of a Long Spring) when I played your subordinate that always followed you around. I really learned a lot from being at your side and observing the process of your character creation. On top of that, you helped me very much. All this became an invaluable experience for me. The stoicism of the way you make your characters is really impressive.

“During rehearsals for a production, I really get into Production Mode. I end up thinking about the performance even when I go home. I take lessons before rehearsal for the sake of practice, and I do things like watching movies that might be a good reference for the show. Even when I travel, I end up going to places that have some connection to the performance… I can’t go on a trip just to take it easy, because I know I’d regret it if I didn’t use the time in preparation. My head is full of Takarazuka all day long because the next performance is always waiting for me.”

Since that’s the type of person that you are, Wataru-san, you kindly sympathize with me when I’m having trouble with a role and get stuck in a dead end. One time you even wrote me a letter in character. Not only did that letter encourage me personally, it also contained a lot of hints about what I should do about my character. Throughout the whole production run, I kept that letter in the pocket of my costume like a protective talisman.

“I like being on stage, of course, but I also like the time before that. I think I like myself best when I’m in rehearsal (laughs). I might be careless about other things, but I never neglect things that are related to theatre. It’s really fun!”

I recall a saying about how the people who don’t think of their own efforts as making an effort are the real thing. I think you are a wonderful performer because you love the process of creation, Wataru-san.

* Always remember that people are supporting you *

I love the big scale of your performances, Wataru-san. Is there any secret behind that?

“There’s something I always do in a theater, particularly if it’s a national tour or something. Um, well…I talk to the theater (laughs).”

Huh? This could be wonderful!

“I don’t go as far as kissing the floor (laughs), though I do bow my forehead to the ground and say, “Treat me well” as a greeting. I’ll go down into the seats and see how the stage looks from there. I do my warm ups on the hanamichi but it’s still completely dark when I start. The lights come on while I’m there, the lighting and sound checks start, and the theater comes alive. I like seeing the theater rise from its sleep. We often inadvertently end up thinking we create a performance by ourselves, but by doing that I can feel that we really need the support of so many other people to do our job. I think that the applause we receive from the audience belongs to the staff as well. Thanks to them, we’re able to go on without big breaks between the performances.”

No matter if it’s a role, an atmosphere, or even feelings of gratitude, it seems like everything you produce comes out better if you are aware of the grand scheme of things, not just focused on what’s immediately in front of you. Maybe the grand things that flow out of someone become part of that person’s aura.

* Feel something new every day *

“I like daily calendars (laughs). They both scold me and cheer me on. Every single day of each month the calendar says something like “Starting today, starting now” (laughs). I’m simple-minded, so when I see that I think “Oh, really? Okay! Starting today I’ll do my BEST!” Besides, those kinds of calendars only have positive things written on them, so no matter what, I think, “Okay, I’ll do it!” If you think you ought to do something, you should take a risk and just do it.”

I guess that’s where your cheerfulness and candidness come from, Wataru-san… Now at the end of the interview, I say, “Aah, I want to talk with you some more~!” Then comes the reply, “Sure! Let’s go out for ramen sometime! I’m busy tonight, but…”

And then Wataru-san quickly picks a date that works. I’m so happy I could cry (cries tears of joy).

Wataru-san, thank you for your kindness and your energy! Starting today, starting now, I, too, will do my best!