Takarazuka Young Star Guide 2004
Interview of Mao Ayabuki
Please introduce your hometown.
I was born in Toyonaka, but pretty soon afterwards we moved to eastern Osaka. It was really a very ordinary Osaka neighborhood. My sisters and I would pretend we were idol singers, or I'd play tag with my big brother and his friends. I have a lot of brothers and sisters, so I had plenty of playmates.
Your family profile?
Well, there's my gentle and shy father. Strangely, he has a really bad temper. He particularly spoiled me because I'm the youngest. Then I have a very kind mother – she loves Takarazuka. So I can really honor my parents (laughs). There's four brothers and sisters in all. The oldest is my big sister – I adored her and drove her crazy. Next is my big brother. He used to have a really naughty image, but now he's a total “Dad.” My middle sister and I always fought when we were kids, but now we can talk about anything. Everyone's married now, and I have 9 nieces and nephews. That's probably a bit unusual for a Takarasienne (laughs).
How would you briefly describe your character?
Super Positive. I don't worry about little things and absolutely don't look back. Whatever happens, I think of it as a good tailwind and keep going forward. I guess that means I'm happy-go-lucky (laughs). I go my own way.
What kind of child were you when you were little?
A crybaby. There's tons of photos of me crying (laughs).
What were you into when you were in school?
I've been watching Takarazuka ever since I was little, so I went to the Kodomo Atene i from the 6th grade of elementary school till my 3rd year of middle school. So I guess it would have to be the Atene, huh? The lessons were really fun.
What school subjects were you good at and which were you bad at?
I was good at music and gym. I was bad in science and math.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A Takarasienne. Ever since I was little.
The first time you saw Takarazuka?
I was like zero or one year old – before I was old enough to understand anything. When I was young, I remember playing at Familyland ii, but since the last year of grade school, I was mainly interested in the Revue.
Why did you decide to enter Takarazuka?
It was my dream ever since I was little, so it was natural.
Your memories of the Takarazuka exam?
After I'd failed twice, I decided to give up. I figured it was impossible, plus my father was opposed. Then, once I'd decided not to try again, my homeroom teacher told me, “This is your last chance. You should take it and just see what happens.”
When I found my own name at the acceptance announcement iii, even now, that was the happiest moment of my life. The friends I made taking the test all those times had the same dream as me. We shared the same heartache. I always do my best because we had such an important experience together.
What are your memories of the Music School?
Well, my great friends were Kiriya Hiromu, Narumi Jun, and Sen Hosachi. We were all from Osaka and every Sunday we would travel home together. They all got really good grades, which was a big incentive for me to try to do well. I ended up being the top student the first term of second year, so I had to supervise my classmates, plus look after the first years. It was a lot of work and made that term pretty stressful. In the second semester, Kiriya was number one, so I could take it easy.
Where does your stage name come from?
I liked the ring of “Aya.” Since it gives an impression of lots of colors iv, I knew I absolutely had to use it. Once I decided on “Ayabuki” v, I looked for something that would go well with that, and decided on “Mao.”
Why did you decide to become an otokoyaku?
When I was little, I wanted to wear cute dresses, so I wanted to be a musumeyaku. Kind of like Hotori Kekkou-chan vi (laughs). If I grew tall, I'd be an otokoyaku, and if I didn't, I'd play women. In middle school, I got tall, so I figured it'd have to be otokoyaku.
Your memories of your debut performance?
In the middle of this really acrobatic line dance, Kiriya, Sen, and I were selected to do this foutte ballet twirl. About halfway through our rehearsals, I still couldn't do it right and I was pretty worried. Then, Flower Troupe kumi-chou [Head Troupe Member] Misa-san told me, “Don't think while you do it.” Thanks to her advice, I got the spin right. She was really inspiring.
Your first line?
It was after I was assigned to Snow Troupe, when I was at the second level vii. In JFK, I said to Ichiro-san, “Mr. President, Secretary Hoover has arrived for your meeting.” I wasn't nervous at all. Ichiro-san and Takane-san – it was a scene with a lot of people in it. Of course, I really wanted to exchange lines with the upperclassmen… Oh, and I remember Koike-sensei praised me, saying, “You kept your voice very steady.”
Up until now, what were your most memorable show and role?
First of all, Romeo and Juliet '99's Mercutio. He had a lot of faults, it was kind of a shadowy role, but it was a part with a very strong presence, which made it a lot of fun. I was sad when it was over. If I could, I'd like to play him again. As far as a particular show, I loved playing Ludwig in the shinjin kouen [newcomer's show] of Ludwig II. I'd always been such an easy-going person, and that role really pushed my limits. I became absorbed in it to the point of forgetting myself. That was really new for me.
You know, the shinjin kouen were such great learning experiences, it's kind of sad to think of graduating viii… So many memories well up. They're performances I'll never forget.
As for Tsuki no Hokage [“Light of the Moon”], it felt like a time slip into the Edo era. There was an illusion like I was the one going through it. Every single day I fell into the performance. It was like I felt that person's soul. Very strange, but a wonderful experience.
Of the Takarazuka shows you've seen so far, which was the most moving?
Ever since I was just a fan, naturally, it had to be Rose of Versailles. Of course, it's all spectacle, like the Bastille scene and the scene with the carriage to heaven. I'm easily moved (laughs). As for Elisabeth, standing on the stage was moving in and of itself.
What was the happiest experience in your Takarazuka life so far?
That's hard because there's so many (laughs). I've played lead in a shinjin kouen, starred in a Bow Hall play, and recently I got to do Paris Matsuri [“Paris Festival”] at the Hotel Hankyuu International… Having a Dinner Show was a dream too. For everything I've done so far, I feel like I did the best I could at that time. No matter what happens from here on, I have that as a foundation. I realized my dreams and had incredible experiences.
i Takarazuka's after-school program for girls. A lot of Takarazuka stars went to the Atene before applying to the Music School.
ii Takarazuka's adjoining amusement park.
iii Like most Japanese schools, the Music School posts the names of examinees that passed on a bulletin board.
iv The kanji she uses for “Aya” is one that can mean “colorful.”
v The second kanji in “Ayabuki” is “fuki” (or “fuku”) which means “blow” (as in wind). So “Ayabuki” literally means 'Blowing Colors” or “Colors in the Wind.”
vi I'm not sure whether I'm reading this name correctly or not, or even that it's a particular person's name.
vii Takarazuka performers are ranked by grade even after they finish the Music School.
viii I believe she's referring to being too advanced in Takarazuka to do anymore shinjin-kouen, not to leaving the company.
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