#akutou

blog 4/18 - Story of family ties

Thanks to everyone we succesfully finished all performances of Akutou. Thank you very much to everyone who came to see it and supported it.

Honestly speaking, this production tired me out both mentally and physically.

Of course it's happened before with performances I've done in the past. There's a sense of accomplishment after it's over and done with, but then some sort of tiredness suddenly sets in too. You get worked up when actually working on it, and once again I've realised that you use a lot of energy that way.

This time it's somehow special. When I saw my little sister again after finishing up the role, I got a somewhat strange feeling.

I got to learn something from the director Nishimori-san.

Although it might be an indiscreet way of putting it, I honestly thought "It's very interesting, it makes it worth being an actor."

We looked into an incident that happened 15 years ago, in 2001 at the Ikeda primary school.

(note: you can look here for more information on the incident yuuki is talking about, although it comes with trigger warnings for stories of (child) murder.)

At that time I was also in primary school, a second year student. Although it became a problem for schools everywhere, when I heard about it back then, I didn't think about it very deeply and instead just played around after school like I was in a dream. When I think about it now I've become an adult, I realise that a very terrifying and disasterous incident has happened which could have happened to me too.

And when I think about ordinary things now, I realise they aren't ordinary at all.

If those people hadn't passed away, they might have been living peacefully and would be around the same age as I am. When I think about it that way, it doesn't feel like someone else's problem.

They must have had dreams they wanted to make come true, things they wanted to do and had infinite hopes.

Since this work gave me a taste of a challenge I had never faced before, it might have given everyone who came to see it a series of shocks.

That's why I wanted my family to see it, and I want to continue letting this production stick some kind of feeling with me into the future.

And I once again want to talk about the things I learned and the things I honestly thought about.

The story itself takes place after the incident and revolves around what happened to the family. I think it's a story about family ties.

Since I think I'll always have regrets and think stuff like "Ah, I'm glad if that was the case" or "it would have been better if I had done it like that," I want to shyly convey my grattitude.

Miyazaki Shuuto Kurihara Goro, Iwasaki Ai-chan Watanabe Kazuki-kun Takeshi Naoki

They all came to see it.

There's never a time as an actor that I'm not glad for each and every welcoming word and the expressions I get to see.

The expressions I saw from everyone from on top of the stage were different too, the figures I saw after the performance ended were fresh.

I'll continue to challenge new things after this.

blog 4/16 - What a surprise.

The photo is of the flowers I've gotten. Together with the old man (Kakki-san) that got into my photo. Thanks.

Well then, thank you very much to everyone who came to see Akutou today as well.

Since there's already 4 performances that have ended, it leaves 3 performances left in total: 2 tomorrow and 1 on the final day, the day after tomorrow.

Every performance is fresh. My point of view shifts a little every day, as is characteristic of plays that heavily rely on conversations. It makes it very fun for me and makes me feel blessed to be an actor.

There was an after talk after the performance today. Even though it was only for a short while, I was allowed to talk too.

The theme of this production is "family."

It would be an honor if everyone felt something regarding a person who's important to them after seeing the play, whether it's family or a friend or a lover.

Rather than expressing it for the sake of what they want from another, I would be honored if people could say something like "Thanks for everything always," or "Let's get along well too from now on,' to them even though there might not be a reason for it. Or embrace them gently.

Oh, yeah.

Today I got in touch with Nakamura Ryusuke.

"I'm going to see your new play~" That message showed up.

"Okay, do your best at work," but even so I didn't think he would come to the actual performance.

Then, during the after talk, I suddenly got a glimpse of a familiar red hat and sky-blue jeans.

No way, I thought.

My big brother came, ww

The person I co-starred the most with last year, a multi-faceted actor.

He came to see my plays no matter when, and he's a kind big brother, even if his face is a little scary.

He said he was glad he saw the play.

I was really glad as an actor to hear those words, to not even say anything of how it was to receive those words from Ryu-kun, who I have known for 5,6 years by now. Although it was a little embarrassing, I was honestly really happy.

blog 3/9 - Next one

Yesterday was the first meeting for the next production, "Akutou."

Since I met all the actors for the first time with the exception of Nishimori-san, who also directed Messiah last time, my heart was beating fast with nervousness and anticipation.

This time's production is a taste that I've never attempted before.

It's a serious story that depicts a tragic incident that happened in Osaka 15 years ago. It's very conscentious and careful in terms of performing it, and we can't form the play unless we do it carefully.

When I was told about this production's story, I looked up the details of the incident in great detail, and words wouldn't come out. Just from piecing it all together, my chest was already tight and painful before I even went to practice.

Although I've played characters that actually existed several times in the past before, it's the first time I'm playing someone who lives now and still faces forward. I'm very honored to be receiving this valuable experience.

On the other hand, it also means I'm taking up a big responsiblity.

Since I can show a new side to Izawa Yuuki to everyone, I'm looking forward to it a lot.

Although putting it as "looking forward to it" might be a little indiscreet.

it’s been announced that yuuki will be appearing in the stage play “Akutou”! it’ll be performed from april 13th to the 17th of the same month, and although it’s mostly performed by the innocent sphere acting troupe, yuuki will be performing alongside them as a guest performer along with some others. the play’s title means “villain”, and from the very short premise on the site, it seems like the play will be about the worst possible ‘villain’, one of the worst criminals on death row in the history of japan.