【K - Person】 Nozomi Fuuto
One of the leading talents of Takarazuka, a triumphal homecoming performance by an otokoyaku
[K - Person] Nozomi Fuuto
K-Person | Kanagawa Newspaper | 2016/06/05
http://www.kanaloco.jp/article/177191
A leading force in singing and acting within the Takarazuka Revue Company, having played a dainty musumeyaku to an otokoyaku with a shadowy past, she has "real merit." This spring, her name gained popularity amidst the well-received musical “The Wanderer Kenshin” as the villain, former Shinsengumi member, Kanou Souzaburou. Though he was the only character to not appear in the original work, as the Snow Troupe nibante otokoyaku star, she constructed an outstanding character and met the highest expectations on stage.
“Anyway, I had loved to sing as a child.” She encountered the Takarazuka stage around the time she was a fourth year in elementary school. Her aunt, who is a Takarazuka fan, accompanied her the first time she saw the Takarazuka Revue. “Everyone was sparkling and I felt at ease. But at that time, I did not think about joining Takarazuka.” She thought vaguely in regards to the future, “I want to try a job in acting or singing." While a law and politics student at an all girls’ high school (Yokohama City, Tsurumi Ward), she made the big decision: “I want to enter the Takarazuka Revue,” and after completing two years of schooling, she passed the Takarazuka Music School entrance exam.
She is a huge fan of former Takarasienne, Amami Yuuki. Filled with admiration, she would write to her in her diary and chronicle the entries. She had been longing to become an otokoyaku but, “I was 169 cm tall. Too big to be a musumeyaku and short for an otokoyaku.” So taking into account her weapon of choice: “song,” she began to consciously stack up lessons. On the other hand, “The ideal otokoyaku was the amazing Amami Yuuki,” she laughs. “Amami-san is who it always comes back to.”
Having debuted in 2003, this year marks year fourteen. "Around the time I was an underclassman, I was embarrassed by how I went about trying to make my own cool otokoyaku." Dressing up in costume, posing, she would cast her eyes down... She yearned to study techniques of the ideal otokoyaku from the top star and her seniors in order to refine her 'tastes.' "I think from the get go, as women, it takes ten years to act as one's own otokoyaku with confidence." They say "10 years to an otokoyaku." Now she realizes "the awareness of switching on and off and no longer being able to act freely."
Next month at the KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre, she will star in "Don Juan." Set in Spain, the role is that of a playboy. "There is sex appeal, but I'm helplessly burning with desire, I want to be fulfilled." With refined singing and acting in hand, it's a triumphal homecoming. One will be invited to the dream world.
My Favorites:
"I'm telling you, it's not a cute thing," said cute Nozomi-san shyly. The uncute thing is her "bedmat." "I don't sleep well in Tokyo since it's not home, so I bought it during the last performance," she told me. "It can't be too hard or too soft." She reviewed many different types and has now settled on one. "It's bad if I'm feeling crappy because then it makes me an irritable person. It's important to level-headed during performances."
Nozomi Fuuto:
Takarazuka Revue Company ・Snow Troupe Member ・Hometown: Yokohama
Debuted in 2003 with "Takarazuka's Floral Diary." Assigned to Flower Troupe during the same year. In 2009, starred in first shinjinkouen performance, "The Legend of the Four Gods." In 2014, reclassified to Snow Troupe. Starred in "Al Capone" as the lead role in 2015. The musical "Don Juan" will run from June 18th to June 26th. For inquiries, please call Hankyu's Opera Division: 03 (5251) 2071.
A Word from the Reporter:
During the research for this interview, it was my first time to see Takarazuka. Nozomi-san's otokoyaku was the image I had of a Takarasienne. Her manner is cool and elegant, and despite being of a lower register, she has the most beautiful voice ever.
In the middle of the interview, I suddenly wondered. "Have you ever wanted to grow your hair out?" I asked at the end. "When I was an underclassman, I thought perhaps once I quit Takarazuka, but as an otokoyaku now I can't since it's not possible to be an ordinary woman," I was told. The door to the Takarazuka Music School is narrow. I felt a sense of determination and purpose from this featured actress's words.
And, as a fan having yearned for a big star, even now - "I love Amami-san" - excitement exuded during Nozomi-san's conversation. Her affection as a Takarazuka fan is overflowing.