Tsumugi Tsukioka/Spotlight

SPOTLIGHT Web ver: Tsumugi Tsukioka

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Tsumugi	Which part of town should we go around to today?
Tasuku	Let’s see…
Azuma	Oh, are the two of you heading out?
Tsumugi	Yes. Are you also going out, Azuma-san?
Azuma	I am. Where are you two going then?
Tsumugi	We’ll be going out for a street act.
Azuma	Mind if I tag along your way?
Tasuku	Sure thing.
Tsumugi	Going out for errands today?
Azuma	I’ll be going to a cafe to meet up with Asajo-san.
Tsumugi	That so? Please say hi to Asajo-san for us, then.
Azuma	I’ll be sure to let her know.
Tsumugi	“I’ve been searching everywhere for you. You know exactly the reason why, right?”
Tasuku	“Could it be… Does it have something to do with that incident from 10 years ago? Even now…?”
Tsumugi	“I’ve been waiting for this moment all these years. I’ll definitely make you pay for what you’ve done…!”
	*audience applause*
Tsumugi	Thank you for watching!
Audience A	That was so intense!
Audience B	I know it’s just a street act, but it still made my heart race.
Tsumugi	Phew… I’m glad a lot of people turned up to watch us.
Tasuku	Yeah. But besides that… The role you did just now, do you think it’d be better to show a little bit more insanity for it?
Tsumugi	Hmm. Well, in my thoughts, the role had this kind of image:
	He’s hasn’t completely committed to hurting the other, and thus, rather than keeping those thoughts to himself, it’s more of him trying not to let that lack of conviction show on his face.
Tasuku	Now I get it.
Azuma	…Oh, Tsumugi and Tasuku? Are you both still doing street acts?
Tasuku	Azuma-san?
Tsumugi	Huh, were you not able to meet up with Asajo-san at the cafe?
Azuma	I already did. Look at the sky, Tsumugi.
Tsumugi	Huh? Ah… The sun’s already beginning to set.
Azuma	Fufu, you two don’t even notice the time when you’re in the middle of your street acts. How in character for you both.
	Any plans on going back yet?
Tsumugi	Well… It is getting pretty dark. How about we call it a day, Tasuku?
Tasuku	Suppose so.
Taichi	That drama was so good!
Tsumugi	The casting was just perfect, too.
Homare	I’m home.
Tsumugi	Oh, Homare-san. Welcome back.
Taichi	Welcome home!
Homare	Oh, good timing, Tsumugi-kun. I was just talking with my publisher earlier but it seems that there will be another art exhibition with the “devil” theme once again.
Tsumugi	Is that right? Huh, it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long since we went to the previous one, but somehow it’s still nostalgic.
Taichi	You two went to one before?
Tsumugi	Back during the Stray Devil Blues performance run, there happened to be one ongoing. I figured I’d be able to get inspired for my role-studying, so I went there with Homare-san.
Homare	It seems that the art exhibition was quite well-received, so they are considering opening another run again next year.
Tsumugi	I’d love to go there again.
Taichi	I wanna come with you guys, too!
Homare	It is decided! All three of us shall go next time.
Taichi	All right!!
Izumi	Oh, Tsumugi-san, so you were here.
Tsumugi	Do you need me for something, Director?
Izumi	Since you’re next up for the “Spotlight” Web version’s interview, I got you the questionnaire that you’ll be answering.
Tsumugi	Thank you very much.
Homare	Hisoka-kun had his interview just a while ago too. So it’s already Tsumugi-kun’s turn, I see.
Izumi	With everyone from the Summer and Autumn troupes already done, from this month on it’ll be the Winter Troupe members next. Time flies, huh?
Homare	It looks like I’ll be getting my turn quite soon, too.
CHOICE 1: Does the questionnaire look alright for you? [+] Izumi Does the questionnaire look alright for you? Tsumugi It does. They seem pretty easy to answer, so I appreciate it. Izumi That’s great to hear then! Tsumugi But besides that, there’s this question… Izumi Hm? Tsumugi No, never mind. I think I’ll prepare and think over my answers for these, first. Izumi Yes, please go ahead!
CHOICE 2: Is there any question that piques your interest? [+] Izumi Any question that piques your interest in particular? Tsumugi …I suppose I could say I do. Perhaps. Izumi Really, which one? Tsumugi That… would have to wait until the interview is published, so please look forward to it. Izumi Well, I guess I have no choice but to be patient for it then! Tsumugi Fufu, please do. It feels like all these questions will get me to show the leverage of experiences I’ve had until now, so I’ll make sure to think about them carefully to make for a good interview. Izumi Yes, please do your best!

Tsumugi	…
Tasuku	That’s the questionnaire for “Spotlight”, right?
Tsumugi	It is. I was nervous about the kind of questions I was going to get for this, but I’m relieved to see they’re easier than expected.
Tasuku	Are they really that easy to answer?
Tsumugi	I feel a lot of it will have me talking about my experience in “Stray Devil Blues.”
	(Speaking of which, the mentions of Asajou-san and the art exhibition from today got me reminiscing about “Stray Devil Blues” as well…)
	(Moreover, this one question… Talk about perfect timing.)
Tsumugi	Thanks for the opportunity.
Kasumi	Pleasure to work with you as well.
	Well then, shall we get started with the interview?
Kasumi	So, Tsumugi-san, we know that you’ve had lots of experience with theatre ever since your school days, but…
	}Do you feel as if there are roles or performances that made you feel any changes in yourself, or feel as if you’ve made great strides in?
Tsumugi	Let’s see, now… I could name a lot of them to answer the question, but in my heart, I feel that the most significant one would be “Stray Devil Blues.”
Kasumi	“Stray Devil Blues” is the performance you took part in against your second showdown with GODza Theatre, and even gained outstanding popularity afterward, isn’t it?
Tsumugi	Indeed. It’s because of its attention that there was a lot of pressure.
	But, I really wanted to perform a role that I’ve never done before— one that I couldn’t do with the experience I had up until that point.
	I consulted with our in-house scriptwriter, Minagi Tsuzuru-kun, about the script and asked for a role that couldn’t be done with just experience alone. Thus, I received the role of a devil which I would have the most challenge to ever perform as.
Kasumi	Really!? That is nothing but conviction, right there.
Tsumugi	Ahaha, I had thought the same thing. But I did not regret it one bit.
	It’s because of that role, I was able to become someone who could overcome “the actor who is named Tsumugi Tsukioka”...
	Most of all, performing as Lucifer was incredibly fun for me.
Kasumi	And as expected, you feel as if acting is an eternal one-sided love, yes?
Tsumugi	That’s from the previous interview…! To think you still remember that.
	It’s embarrassing to admit it, but it’s just as you say. In relation to that, this performance was one that made me realize that once again.
Kasumi	I suppose for even someone like yourself, you had a difficult time doing role studies for Lucifer?
Tsumugi	It was difficult, of course. I wanted to get closer to my own ideals, after all…
	That’s why I went and talked with my members who have had their own lives full of color and experiences, and came to use those stories as references for my role study.
Kasumi	MANKAI Company must be full of its own unique individuals, huh?
Tsumugi	It really is. I’m always thankful for it.
Kasumi	So even despite the trouble you’ve had with it, it’s thanks to playing the role of Lucifer— a kind of role that you’ve never done before, that you were able to change yourself.
Tsumugi	That is correct. And also… Having done that performance as a challenge, I was finally approved by a person who couldn’t even recognize me before.
	It was a performance that could really change someone’s feelings.
	To be frank, that person’s words have always stayed unforgettable in my heart… But if it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be here, facing my challenges as I do now.
	That is why I have nothing but gratefulness for that person.
Kasumi	Thank you for your time today.
Tsumugi	Thank you again for having me.
Kasumi	You know, when I also saw “Stray Devil Blues” footage myself, I thought it was absolutely amazing.
Tsumugi	So you saw it as well? Thank you so much!
Kasumi	It’s just as you pointed out in the interview. Lucifer really wasn’t the kind of devil anyone could imagine from the usual Tsumugi-kun.
	Now I feel like rewatching the whole thing after talking with you. I hope I get to catch it live someday.
Tsumugi	Fufu, thank you very much. If we ever get a chance to do a rerun, we’ll be sure to let you know.

Dita