The encounter that "SEIMEI" gave birth to: From "Profession: Nomura Mansai" to "Profession: Yuzuru Hanyu": Interview Part 1

Kyogen performer Mansai Nomura (58), who will be appearing as a special guest in the ice show "Yuzuru Hanyu Notete Stellata 2025" (7th to 9th) featuring professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, gave an interview to Sports Hochi on the 5th. The article was published on two consecutive days, and in the first part he talked about "SEIMEI", which led to the two meeting, and "Profession: Yuzuru Hanyu".

Mansai and Hanyu first met in 2015. In the 2015-16 season, Hanyu performed his free program "SEIMEI," which used a song from the movie "Onmyoji," starring Mansai. Mansai, who is someone Hanyu looks up to, vividly remembers their conversation at the time.

　"Hanyu was a young man of 20 at the time, but I remember that he reacted very strongly to what I was saying. I put into words the things that he had been thinking, wondering about, and feeling on a daily basis but found difficult to put into words. When I said, 'It's like this, isn't it?' I remember him nodding deeply."

　During the conversation, he gave advice such as, "Be aware of all directions - heaven, earth, and man - and surround yourself with sound," and, "Use your body after swinging it in the opposite direction of the direction you want to move."

　"It's about using space and time. Controlling the venue. I remember when he came to see my performance, the first thing he said to me was, 'You have incredible control over the venue.' How do you control the venue? It's the same on the ice, as on our Noh stage, and on our cypress stage. I think it's about how you manipulate the space and time to give the audience a good experience."

　Hanyu performed "SEIMEI" at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, winning his second consecutive gold medal. Immediately afterwards, Mansai sent him an email to congratulate him.

　"He was injured at the PyeongChang Olympics. I remember sending him a message saying, 'You gave it your all and won the fierce battle.'"

This first joint performance was made possible after an offer from Hanyu himself. They met for the first time in nine years in October last year to discuss plans for the show.

　"He became a professional skater. He was very good at putting his ideas into words and communicating to others how he wanted to do things. He's had a varied career. He seemed to me to be not only an athlete, but also an artist."

　Immediately after Hanyu turned professional in July 2022, he gave him the name "Occupation, Hanyu Yuzuru" on his radio talk show "Occupation, Nomura Mansai" (an audio distribution service) and sent him his encouragement.

　“I remember hearing that Hanyu was worried about his title. I remember him saying something like, ‘Profession: Hanyu Yuzuru.’ I think he’s going to walk the path of that from now on. It’s not just being an athlete, it’s something that only he can do, like contributing to the community, and it’s his own artistic view of the universe, and things like that.”

　As Mansai continued to take on new challenges, he came to be known as "Profession: Nomura Mansai."

　"I myself have been doing various directing and trying various genres, and there was a time when I thought there was no one else like me, and I wondered what to do. I took "Profession, Nomura Mansai" from the name of Shuji Terayama, who calls himself "Profession, Terayama Shuji." I wanted Hanyu to achieve a world that only he could achieve, so I asked him, "Profession, Hanyu Yuzuru?" (Continued in the second part)

◆Nomura Mansai Born April 5, 1966. 58 years old. Originally from Tokyo. Studied under his grandfather, the late Nomura Manzo VI, and his father, Nomura Mansaku. Debuted on stage at the age of three. Active as an actor in films such as "Onmyoji" (2001), "Seven Conferences" (2019), and the drama "Promise with Death" (2021). Head of Kyogen Gozaru Noza. Designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property.

Mansai Nomura and Yuzuru Hanyu "share the same DNA" - Today marks their first joint ice show interview (Part 2)

This is the second part of a two-day interview with Kyogen performer Mansai Nomura (58), who will be appearing as a special guest at the ice show "Yuzuru Hanyu Notete Stellata 2025" (7-9, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Miyagi) by professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu (30). The two, who have both mastered their own paths, talk about the DNA they share as performers.

In order to perfect his profession, 'Mansai Nomura', he makes an uncompromising effort every day. He continues to fascinate audiences with his diverse expressions that go beyond the boundaries of Kyogen.

　"Of course, one's own specialty is the core of one's work, but at the same time, one must have a broader perspective. Human life and death. The venue for Notte Stellata (Grande 21) is also a place of great significance [Note 1]. In that sense, Hanyu himself is contemplating the issue of human life and death, and giving great thought to what he can do in the midst of this."

He also touched on Hanyu's "determination."

　"I think he has gone beyond the framework of a mere individual or an athlete. He has something to carry on his shoulders. This may be a little self-serving, but I would like to use Kyogen as my core, and while carrying the weight of Kyogen, I would also like to carry Japanese culture somewhere. Hanyu is also someone who takes on such a broader perspective, challenging himself to do things that include broad genres, and I believe he is someone who is able to do so."

　"Profession: Nomura Mansai" and "Profession: Yuzuru Hanyu." As fellow artists, how does he view Hanyu?

　"He himself is a fan of my work 'Onmyoji', so he included 'SEIMEI' in his performance. I think it's about how you express something like a view of the universe. I think he would think that the skating rink is also a universe. I spoke at length about it in our interview (in 2015), including the idea of controlling heaven, earth and man. It seemed to really resonate with him. In that sense too, I get the impression that we share the same DNA."

　I asked Mansai about what "expression" means to him. He said that it involves sharing "life" with the audience.

　"From the performer's perspective, I think it's a pursuit of a certain beauty, but ultimately it only exists because of the audience. When the audience sees living people performing, they feel glad to be alive, and the performers are glad to be alive too. After all, it is live performing arts. What's wonderful is what happens on the spot - 'live' and 'alive'. It's like 'I'm glad I went to see it', and on top of sharing that time and space, and the emotions, it makes you feel 'I'm glad to be alive'. I think that's what it means."

　This show will be performed in a different space than usual. Before rehearsing at the skating rink, the group first practiced in a gymnasium to get a feel for the spaciousness.

　"I realized it was very big (laughs). I was a little surprised. It was a distance you could cover while wearing skates, but if I were to walk, it would be a considerable distance in a straight line, so I was a little taken aback. But I was prepared for it from the training stage onwards."

　In addition to performing in the collaborative performance, he also serves as the director.

　"I have my own thoughts about the disaster. I would like to share those thoughts with Hanyu and create a worldview together."

　The collaboration between these two top-class performers transcends genres to create new chemical reactions.

　"We have exchanged emails since our conversation in 2015. I sent him a congratulatory message on his second consecutive Olympic victory, and in return he sent me flowers at my performance in Sendai. So we have a connection, and this time we have a direct collaboration, you could say. We are able to combine the art of skating with the art of Kyogen. I am happy that we can concretely express ourselves together this time."

　[Note 1] The place where many victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 were laid to rest.

Kwon Soonyoung. Hoshi the fierce tiger who sets fire to the stage then there's Soonyoungie >.< who's just so cute I might explode. Soonyoungie is my favorite person on this planet. He's just so fluffy and adorable, makes me want to eat him whole everytime I see his chubby cheeks. I very much believe there exists no other as cute as Kwon Soonyoung.

And oh the things I would do for this man. He's very much capable of doing everything himself with his fat wallet and that toned fucking greek god of a body. But you will see me with my sword out when anyone dare call him a hamster in front of me. I will beat tf out of your ass if you call my baby- hamzi. He's a whole tiger. Yes, not human, he's our resident tiger.

Now I was confused too, that a grown ass 25 y/o (when I started stanning) calls himself a tiger and let me tell you he was very serious. But then I heard Horangi Power, Tiger and saw him doing his tiger paw more times than I've even seen my best friend this year. I don't know what kind of power this man holds, but he has millions agreeing to it so yeah.

Anyway, my sweet sweet Soonyoung. You're too good to be true. You've worked so hard and there's so much passion behind that tiger gaze of yours. You deserve so much more and I hope the world gives you all and more. If I could, I'd give you everything you want, even a government certificate of declaring you an official tiger. But what can I do other than love you, so that's what I do - love you endlessly and madly.

I hope you listen to Minghao and give yourself some time to do things you love aside from your work. I don't think I've seen any other idol work as much as you, so please my precious, take rest. I admire you so much for rising all the way to the top, coming from a small town in SK. I wish to work hard for my dreams too and make my loved ones happy like you make so many of us incredibly happy.

I'm beyond proud of you my little star. You've always shined bright and I know your light will never go out. So do what you want and we'll keep cheering on the tiger that you are. We'll always love and care for you, just like how you love carats so much. Thank you being so loving and kind. Thank you for so so much. I hope you're always happy and healthy.

With all of my love to my cute bean,

Tia >.<

Some things about the sky I found on internet, very basic.

Intuitive Readings:

What do you need to focus on today to make your upcoming days better?

What made you laugh or smile or happy?

What traits make you a Badass?

Past life 2 centuries ago.

Your setbacks and flaws and what you can do about them. (coming soon)

An advice for 2023

Channeling song empowering lyrics for you.

Who is going to be your next partner? (coming soon)

Astrology observations:

Part 1 Green

Part 2 Blue

Part 3 Pink

Part 4 Purple

Astrology Game - close