From Young Star Guide 2004 - "Interview of Hokushou Kairi"
Please tell us about the place you were born.
I was born in Aomori. When I was two years old, we moved to Gifu and later we moved to Kanagawa and so on. The place where I lived the longest was probably Chiba. Because Tokyo was close by, whenever school was over I would pay fifty yen and ride the Yagiri river ferry and go to the Buddhist temple, eat kusa dango, and come back home. I loved doing that (laugh)
What was your family like?
My father was a stern instructor for the Japan Self Defense Force. To that extent, my mother was extremely kind. I was a kid who always hid behind her mother. My brother, who was six years older, doted on me. My brother is now also in the Japan Self Defense Force.
Simply putting it, what sort of character would you say that you have?
I’m a romantic optimist. I go at my own pace. Basically, a type B blooded person.
What kind of child were you?
Because I was weak, I was a child who didn’t play outside a lot. Inside the house, I would do things like play with leftover clothes at my mother’s side while she made wedding dresses.
What kinds of things were you obsessed with when you were a student?
Probably playing trombone in the brass band club. Because I wanted to get good at drawing I joined the art club, but I was hopeless (laugh). When I was told to pass around something I had made, in the sink in the center of the school building in a wicker single flower vase, I put in many things I had gotten a “good try” on. [Editor's note: That last one was the Most. Confusing. Sentence. to. Translate. Ever and doesn't make much sense now. Hopefully I'll be able to fix it before putting a final draft on the wiki]
Please tell us about a subject that you were really enthusiastic about and a subject that was your weak point.
I was good at fine arts and drawing. My weak subject was history.
What job did you yearn to have?
This is probably because it was like the rest of my family, but I wanted to be a female member of the Japan Self Defense Force. I think I wondered if that was really where I’d end up and thought of my own convenience.
When was the first time you saw Takarazuka?
I had passed the first stage of the examination and my mother said to me, “They might ask you about Takarazuka at the interview.” We then went to see the Tokyo run of Star Troupe’s “Swords, Love, and Rainbows.” I wasn’t really conscious that this was what I was took an entrance exam for when I saw it (laugh)
What was your reason for deciding “I want to join Takarazuka!”
When I was deciding which way to go in life, high school was after a fashion what I was going to ask for a recommendation for, but my female homeroom teacher said to me, “Because you’re tall, you could also do Takarazuka.” It wasn’t just because my teacher was also a fan. There was the feeling that I was taking the exam with the intention of going on a social studies field trip (laugh).
What are your memories of the Takarazuka Music School entrance exam?
On the day of the second stage of the examination it was raining. Osaka’s climate wasn’t agreeing with me, I had a cold, and was in bad condition. The whole time I was in the waiting room I wholeheartedly just wanted to go home quickly. (laugh) At that time because of my regretful hair and clothes, I think I was probably unique. I also remember that I didn’t know that my hair was supposed to be in a bun, so Ayano Kanami-san and Suigetsu Mai, who were honkasei, arranged my hair for me.
What are your memories of your time at Takarazuka Music School?
It was stricter than the Japan Self Defense Force (laugh). But because the pecking order was the same everywhere in the world, even for my father and brother, and because they said you had to start off low before you could succeed, I didn’t think much of Takarazuka Music School in comparison to that. Nevertheless, I couldn’t take them to classes and that was the hardest part.
What was your reason for choosing your stage name?
I recruited the Maritime Self-Defense Force for my stage name. My father and my older brother are pilots, but I decided on “In the majestic ocean, devotedly facing the axis of the land to the north.” I was told things like that it sounded like a sumo wrestler’s name, and I thought that as well, but maybe in the Takarazuka lot of many names it’s good. (laugh)
What was your reason for deciding to become an otokoyaku?
I had long hair, but because I was tall, the upperclassmen said, ”[Since you’re tall] do you, have the feeling of a musumeyaku?” and I cut my hair.
How was your hatsubutai?
We had our first performance with the new Cosmos Troupe members. Everything felt new and it was deeply moving. The silver bridge for the rocket dance was scary and before making our debut in front of the audience we would do things like face forward (laugh) Still, it was fun. I was nervous as expected when doing the koujou, but all of a sudden when I saw my father and he looked into my eyes, I thought “Oh, it’s Father.” Even though it was the koujou, incidentally I was calm at that time. (laugh)
What was your first line?
When we were being sorted into troupes as ken-1s, in the shinjinkouen for “Citrus Breeze” in the scene where they go to the city, I think I sang a line to Tatsuki You’s character. It was over before I knew it…..
Which role and show have been the most striking for you so far?
Probably the recent “L.R.” For the fourth scene where all of the otokoyaku come out as bad men, I watched Takenaka Naoto in “Shall We Dance” and thought that his wig was really interesting. The truth is that the moustache was the same one that I used for Nathan [in the Guys and Dolls shinjinkouen]. Also, for the Tokyo shinjinkouen of “Senior Don Juan”, in the afternoon performance I was standing in [for Kiriya Hiromu] and in the evening I was doing the shinjinkouen. I had a lot of lines for both parts and there were a lot of moments in the show where the two characters talked to each other. I became confused about whose lines were whose. At that time when I was in a state of panic, Rika-san (Shibuki Jun), who played that role in the regular performance, considerately told me “It’s okay, you know” and stayed with me throughout in the wings of the theater. I was able to do it because of the help of Rika-san and the people around me. That one day resounds in my memories.
Of everything you’ve seen up until this point, which Takarazuka performance has moved you the most?
“How to Succeed.” From the beginning I have always loved comedies, so that comedy was unspeakably funny.
In your life so far as a Takarasienne, what has made you the happiest?
This overlaps with my previous answer, but when I was panicked about filling in for someone, top star Rika-san took care of me at the shinjinkouen performance in the wings of the theater. I was moved by Rika-san’s gentility. I think that is what has made me the happiest.
Note 1: Hokushou Kairi filled in for Kiriya Hiromu when the latter unexpectedly became ill halfway through the Grand Theater run of “Senor Don Juan.” The role that Hokushou Kairi played in the shinjinkouen was played in the regular performance by Shibuki Jun.
Note 2: Three members of the premiering class speak during the introduction of the hatsubutai. This is what Micchan is referring to by koujou.
Becca’s commentary: Aww, two of my favorite siennes like each other. I can totally imagine them hanging out together backstage and exchanging tips on being girly otokoyaku. I vaguely remember hearing a rumor once that Rika came to see Valencia no Atsui Hana/Sora Fantasista. *loves siennes who are friends*
I’m still not exactly sure how Micchan fell into Takarazuka, but the world of dreams would certainly be less shiny if she hadn’t *grin*