May 2024 Notes

Yumei's "Heartland," in which I performed last year, won the 68th Kishida Kunio Drama Award.

I feel like I had known all along, in some way, that that day would come.
I feel I must write this so as not to be misunderstood, but it's simply what I thought, so it's neither more nor less than that.
That's why, the moment I saw the news on Hakusuisha's official X account, I felt, "I knew it!"
I had always thought that Ikeda-kun would absolutely win the Kishida Award someday.
I had always thought so.

Even if it wasn't a unanimous decision by the selection committee. Even if the performance was controversial.
In the first place, there is no way there could ever be a unanimous decision or only "pros" in playwriting.

Ikeda-kun's speech at the awards ceremony was wonderful.
Also, I thought it was actually quite amazing that the "entertainment?" piece, "Meanwhile, Kaneko,", featured playwrights who had been nominated for the Kishida Award in the past, were nominated this time but unfortunately didn't win, or hoped to be nominated for the Kishida Award someday.
Amazing, or rather, lovely.
Perhaps my sense of surprise that such a thing is possible is just old-fashioned.

At the end of "Meanwhile, Kaneko,", the performers sing passionately, pouring their own thoughts into it.

"Babies, I can't sleep, it's 1 a.m., award announcements should be during the day"Continuing to do theater even after becoming parents, and the fact that family and theater are continuous.
I was moved by the way they properly embodied those things.
I hope it is received as an important (and concrete) opinion that should not be ignored.

I wonder if Sachiko Ehara, Ebara's Sachan, whom I played, knows about the Kishida Kunio Drama Award.
Maybe she doesn't.
I'd like to tell her, though maybe she's not interested.
I wonder where Sachan is now.
I hope she's happy.
I want her to live freely and openly, finally away from that small community, without holding a grudge against anyone.

There are many women I have played so far who I will never forget, and who have become a part of my own cells.
Sachan Ehara is definitely one of them.

Sachan, born from Ikeda-kun and raised by me.
Of course, just because it won an award doesn't mean it will definitely be performed again, but if "Heartland" is performed again.
I would want to play Sachan again, and I would want to encounter emotions that I, at 42, couldn't reach.

I am very happy that Yumei's "Heartland" won the award.
Somewhere, existing, having existed, not existing.
I think I will stay in the world of theater and acting for a while longer.

[Yurako Takano's Upcoming Appearances]
◆ Passionaria Passionaria 6th Performance
"Toy Workers"
July 6, 7, 13, 2024 @ Nakano Fujimicho New Sannai

https://pashonaria.com/stage/06/

<<<<<< Tickets go on sale June 6, 2024 (Thursday) !!! >>>>>>