Inoue Mizuki x Motodaka Katsuki - BEST STAGE (March 2023)

[hoshizora20.livejournal.com]

We want to face characters who are not like us with all we have.

Inoue Mizuki of HiHi Jets takes on the challenge of his first starring role in a solo musical. Inoue, who is making his debut on the stage, plays the role of Michael, a high school student who is a "computer otaku". His best friend and "science fiction otaku" Lucas is played by 7 MEN Samurai's Motodaka Katsuki, who describes his relationship with him as "easy and carefree".

This is the first time you two have performed together on stage outside of Johnny's.

Inoue: When did you hear about this?

Motodaka: I officially heard about it last autumn.

Inoue: It was quite a while ago for me, during HiHi Jets' solo concert " ~Gokitousen~". I heard about it at the Yoyogi Daiichi Gymnasium.

That was about a year and a half ago.

Inoue: Yes. So at the time I was still thinking it was "the year after next". Of course I was happy, but it didn't really hit me. Then a year passed, and when I first heard about the dates and the scale of the event last September, I was only " somewhat looking forward to it", but that quickly turned into anxiety.

Motodaka: This is the first time we have performed on the stage independently at the Shimbashi Enbujo. Plus, it will tour Osaka, Hiroshima and Aichi.

Inoue: Isn't that amazing? It's incredible (laughs).

Motodaka: But it's surprising that it's Mizuki's first time on an outside stage. I always had the image that you've been performing on stage since you were a child.



Inoue: Not at all. So, in September I was standing in the Shinbashi Enbujo for the play "Boys Look Up at the Sky". HiHi Jets and Bishonen were performing with 11 members, and then... I was like... "What?" No joke, I wondered if the audience would fill the seats. I was nervous.

So it must be quite reassuring for you to have Motodaka on stage with you?

Inoue: Of course! I'm also extremely shy, so it's a lot easier just to have someone I know.

Motodaka: Do you want me to be your guide?

Inoue: Yes, I'd like that (laughs). I can't really speak to the people around me.

Motodaka: A year and a half ago, when Konpi (Konno Daiki) and I performed on stage outside Johnnys, Konpi didn't speak at all. I acted as a kind of bridge or interpreter for everyone there.

Inoue: I see. But communication is such an important part of the role. I'll do my best, but if it looks like I'm having difficulty, please help me.

Motodaka: Leave it to me!

“LOSERVILLE" is based on the songs from the debut album "Welcome to Loserville" by the British rock band Son of Dork, and tells the story of a group of "otaku" who are striving to achieve their dreams. This is also your first outside musical, Inoue.

Inoue: Yes, it is. For the time being, I had a strong image of Kyomoto (Taiga) when it came to musicals, so I contacted him at the beginning of the year. He is my senior who is always looking after me and cares about me in any way he can. I am planning to go out to dinner soon to hear more about what he has to say.

Motodaka, this is also your first time in a full-scale musical, isn't it?

Motodaka: Yes. But Oshima Goro, who helped me with vocal coaching in my previous performances in ROCK READING's "Happy Prince" and "Robin", will be helping me this time as well.

Inoue: I see.

Motodaka: I am grateful that he already knows my singing habits and what range of keys I sing in. I just contacted him the other day and asked him to let me know if there was anything I should do before I start.

Have you started rehearsing your singing yet?

Inoue: Yes. It's kind of... a genre I haven't sung much in before.

Motodaka: Pop rock?

Inoue: Yeah, pop-rock. It's bright, energetic and lively... I'd say it's a genre I'm not very good at (laughs).

Motodaka: Are you better with ballads then? I have one ballad.

Inoue: For a song you sing?

Motodaka: Yes. So even if we call it pop-rock, not all of it is cheerful. I've already had a listen to some of the songs, and there were some numbers with a mysterious atmosphere, so it was very diverse.

Inoue: Are there songs where we sing together?

Motodaka: Yes. Not completely just the two of us, though. In the latter half, I think, there were harmonies or a chorus, and I was wondering about what it was going to be like. I'm actually not good at harmonising... I was actually listening to the song this morning, thinking how scary it was going to be (laughs).

What is your impression of the director, Worry Kinoshita?

Inoue: I haven't met him before. But I know a choreographer who has worked with him. I asked them if he was scary, and they said, "He's very kind". I was glad to hear that.

Motodaka: That's pretty important (laughs). It's my first time working with him too, so I'm relieved to hear that now.

Inoue plays Michael, a high school student who is a computer otaku, and Motodaka plays Lucas, Michael's best friend and a science fiction otaku. How do you approach the roles?

Motodaka: The show is based on a foreign musical, so many of the characters look like they could be in a so-called foreign comedy.

Inoue: They have dynamic movements, for example.

Motodaka: Yes. They are characters that don't appear in Japanese dramas or films.

Inoue: This is completely my impression, but it's like a group of otaku who aren't quite the cheerful type, but get together and have a lot of fun in their own world (laughs). But that's an important place for them to feel at home, and I think I was able to bring out the cheerful side of myself in him.

Motodaka: You don't know how you are going to perform until you have rehearsals. But for the time being, I don't think we have anything in common or similar.

Inoue: Yeah, we're totally different. Also, did you know that there are dancing scenes in this show?

Motodaka: I did. I wonder how I'm supposed to dance as an otaku... I'm really curious about that.

Inoue: I was surprised when I heard about it earlier. I had no idea there was dancing involved.

Motodaka: When I looked at the footage of the overseas version, it's quite intense. It was like a fresh Johnny's Jr. Not cool, but more cute? I don't know if it will be the same this time.

Inoue: I've been learning from Motodaka for a while now (laughs).

He's very reliable, isn't he?

Inoue: But I'm your senior.

Motodaka: You're so senior to me! I'm two years older than you. When we were younger, there was a time when we worked together for a while, wasn't there?

Inoue: Yes. But I don't really have any memories of us in our personal life…

Motodaka: I have one. A long time ago, when we were supposed to go to Hawaii, I had to drop out because I had to take an entrance exam. So Mizuki bought me a key ring with the letter "K" as a souvenir.

Inoue: (remembering) Wahaha!

Motodaka: I was cleaning my desk the other day and happened to find it (laughs).

Inoue: That brings back memories. I remember.

Motodaka: Also, people often say that we look awkward together, but it's the total opposite, isn't it?

Inoue: Yes, it's the opposite. I don't have to be careful and it's really comfortable.

Motodaka: We don't mind together in silence at all. I'm very happy to be performing in the same play as Mizuki, with who I feel like I've been with ever since I joined the company.

Inoue: This time I have a lot of firsts, so in a way I feel like I don't have anything to lose. I'm going to rely on Motodaka too, and I'm going to go at it with all my might.

Comments

[nayotrie.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm glad they will support each other.