Interview with Hayakawa Seira - BRODY August 2021 Nogizaka46 Special : The Reason I am Standing on the Stage

(original article : BRODY magazine, August 2021. Nogizaka46 Special : The Reason I am Standing on the Stage)

Q : Question / Interviewer

S : Seira's Response

Q : Hayakawa-san, even before joining Nogizaka46 you had been a part of your hometown's citizen musical troupe, apart from many others. It seems like you have quite an experience with stage plays, right?

S : Yes. That was from my 3rd-year in elementary school up to 2nd-year in junior-high school. It was held during summer holiday every year, so in total I participated 6 times. Additionally, I participated in 1 or 2 other theatrical performances (www).

Q : Oh, surprisingly you're quite a veteran.

S : No no no (www). Back then, we were like a group of begginers gathering around and just trying our best to do it. It felt completely different to what I am experiencing now.

Q : Were you having fun while doing it back then?

S : The reason why I decided to apply for the audition, and ended up passing, was because my mother said "I'll buy you a bicycle (if you participate)". I did enjoy it up until I finished elementary school (www). However, after I became a junior-high schooler, the director(s) and/or the trainers were expecting higher level of acting that I couldn't withstand the pressure. I was kind of suffering a bit while trying my best to finish it (www).

Q : Oh, is that so? Surely, it is quite surprising that you are able to continue to do those things you had experienced after you joined Nogizaka46...

S : Right, that actually never crossed my mind before!

Q : Did you actually think about taking a part in a stage play someday, after you passed the audition for Nogizaka46?

S : No~, actually I'm really sorry to say this, but at that time I didn't know much about Nogizaka46. In Osaka, people mostly associate stage play with Takarazuka Revue (a famous all female theater group) or Gekidan Shiki (a theater group owned by Yoshimoto Kogyo). If we speak about Tokyo...... while right now I do know that there are many theaters such as those in Shimokitazawa, back then I had no idea that this city is full with stage play and/or theater groups. That's why, honestly I didn't know much about how Ikuta (Erika)-san is actively performing in musicals, or other seniors actively performing in stage plays as well.

Right after I joined the group, I had no idea that we will be doing the "3-Nin no Principal" (Apr 2019), and I would've never thought about being able to take part in other stage plays like now. It never crossed my mind that something that I did in the past would be useful in my current job, so it feels really exciting and rewarding that what I have been doing thus far is being acknowledged.

Q : Given that you have prior experience with stage plays, it was not surprising that during "Principal" you are the only one that didn't seem like a beginner at all. I could see that you were ahead of the game ever since the opening stages.

S : Really? Thank you very much! Actually, during and before "Principal", I didn't really think much about how to embody the characters. I was just following what the staffs would tell during practices. I actually started to think more about how to develop a role after all of that. Things like "I should emphasize this more", "Let's do this", or "Hey, why don't I try to do it like this".

Speaking of which, I got the chance to perform in Nogizaka46's take on the "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Musical 2019" (Oct~Nov 2019), in which I managed to study my role with the help of professional actresses, and also there were many things I got to learn from my seniors in Nogizaka46. I think that was when I started to think about acting in a different way.

Q : Oh, so "Sailor Moon" gave quite an impact for you?

S : Yes, it was really fun. There was something special with having all-women for the cast. Given there is also the source material (the original comic series), it was also fun to think about how should I develop and bring the character out.

Q : Stage plays adapted from source materials are surely different from those which are completely original works, but that means they are also interesting in a different way, right?

S : That's right. Speaking of which, the stage play of "Smartphone wo Otoshita Dake Nanoni" (a.k.a "Stolen Identity") that I'm currently taking part in is also adapted from a source material (novel). However, for this stage play I was told to give my own original take instead of trying to mimic the movie adaptation or the source material itself. Last year I also performed for this stage play and received the same direction. Doing so was difficult in its own right.

For adapted works, there are plenty of materials to study from, so it is somewhat easy to prepare for the role. Even so, in order to have complete understanding of the role we have to explore it deeply, which is the difficult part. But I guess at the same time that is the reason why stage play is fun. Having that in mind, recently whenever I'm watching a stage play I would also study the performances, like "even just for this one movement, it seems like the actor purposely add some differences here and there". Compared to my previous take on stage plays, my perspective has changed.

Q : So you're watching it now through the perspective of a performer. You were co-starring with Ito Junna-san, Kubo Shiori-san, and Mukai Hazuki-san during the "Sailor Moon" stage play, but I think that was also the first time for you to work together for a long period with the senior members, right?

S : Through that, it felt like I managed to overcome a wall. We were always together during the process in which I managed to get along with them. Also, it helped to increase the chance to talk with other senior members as well. That particular period was where my relationship with others in Nogizaka46 started to change.

Q : So now here you are here performing for the "Smartphone" stage play after went through it all.

S : I am feeling a stronger sense of responsibility because I am the only one representing the group there. I used to think that I must managed to do everything by myself because there were no one to rely on, but that was kind of stupid of me, because later I found out how nice the cast members for "Smartphone" are. They are just as nice as fellow Nogizaka46 members; teaching me everything and are very welcoming. I am so grateful for that. On the other hand, compared with the time during "Sailor Moon" where we were a unit of 5 people, this time for "Smartphone" my role is of a lonely person. It took me quite a while to adjust my feelings for this role, which made it pretty difficult.

Q : This is somewhat unrelated to stage play, but last year you also performed for the improvisational musical "Anata to Tsukuru ~etude The Bi 4~" (Oct 2020) which was streamed without live audience, right?

S : That one was pretty innovative, right? Perhaps up until now, that was the one that made me nervous the most. It looked like a recorded performance, but actually we performed it live. Moreover, we only had one take, so any mistakes were unacceptable. It would be nice if I was able to prepare for it, but since it was an improptu performance, basically there was nothing I could prepare for (www). I am quite a worrywart and a nervous wreck, so even for stage plays I will get so afraid if I have yet to fully understood what I should do. Though, I couldn't do anything apart from practicing my singing that time, so it was quite a risky stuff.

Q : That being said, when I watched that play I think you actually manage to draw out your experience from "Nogizaka Skits".

S : Ah, that might be true. Speaking of which, Tsukaji (Muga)-san (a comedian) was also there, so there was some form of comedy included in the play as well. I guess the reason why I was able to keep up with the others was in part due to what I've learned through "Nogizaka Skits".

Q : Even though the number is still small, you actually managed to thrive in many different kinds of stage plays. Personally, do you prefer straight plays (only dialog and narration) or musicals, or is there any other type of play that you like?

S : I am not that good at singing, more like I kind of aware that I'm not that good at it, but I think musicals are the ones that I really enjoyed. Take "Sailor Moon" for example, the play started with a song right off the bat and my emotions were going places. For straight plays, everything should be conveyed through the dialogs. But for musicals, I think the charm is that I can show my emotions through the songs while acting at the same time.

Q : In my opinion musical really suits you?

S : Really? If so, that's great to know (www).

Q : So, with the increasing number of jobs outside from the group activities, did you feel any change to how you are dealing with stage plays or with your activities as part of Nogizaka46?

S : Sure, I did. Being put apart helped me to realize more the value of the group. On the contrary, there are many new things that I may never get to learn if I just stay all the time within the group. That's why during any external activities, I am aware that I must do my best for the sake of the group. On the other hand, I am also trying to give my all throughout the group internal activities so that I have the chance to receive external offers. I think that is one of the strength in being a part of Nogizaka46.

Q : Do you feel that such change in the way of thinking took part on the results you are having this year, such as how you were selected as a center for the first time out of many others for 4th-gen's song "Out of the blue", or how you joined the Senbatsu for "Gomen'ne Fingers Crossed"?

S : I do think that everything I've experienced up until now has lead me to this moment, but also I believe that I've managed to go this far with Nogizaka46 because I did a lot of things apart from the group. Now I can think that "I have all of these experiences, so I should be fine!". Without that, I probably won't be as confident as I am now.

Q : This year, I think Hayakawa-san is really showing a lot of confidence. I felt that as well during the shooting of the drama series "Borderless" (HikariTV)?

S : Really? That being said, I was quite frantic during "Borderless". There were thoughts like "No matter what, I shall give it my all". The opportunities to work with people from other Sakamichi groups are so limited as well. Saying that I didn't want to lose to them is a bit off, but even though we were all working together, I was also quite aware that I am carrying the name of Nogizaka46 with me. I gave it my all during that work, having the thoughts about not wanting to lose to the other groups.

Q : I understand. Going back to the topic of the "Smartphone" stage play you are having this year, if I'm not wrong there is no difference in the story with what you had last year, right?

S : In general we are using the same script, but there are some changes in the direction.

Q : How do you prepare for it this year, given that you are about to perform again the same stuff you have done one year ago?

S : Ah, surely it is quite emotional for me. Last year I experienced how it feels to have a stage play cancelled halfway through the schedule. Having such a regrettable moment, my vigor to face this stage play this time is already making quite a difference. I have made sure that I can say all my lines off the top of my head. Last year I somewhat tried to did the same, but because of anxiety, it felt more like keeping on tracing the lines all the way through. This time, even during the rehearsals they just flow out naturally.

That's why, one of the biggest change this year is that I can put more time to think about how to embody the role. Back then, the way I acted was like 50% through planning and 50% through feelings. Now, perhaps it is more like 20% planning and 80% feelings, so I got a lot more of room for the characterization.

Q : So perhaps, by performing it again you actually can work on adding more depth into it?

S : I guess so. Last year, I tried to create something from 0 to 100%. That did give me a strong impression in me, like “Oh, I am performing in a stage play now!”. This time, I think the job is more about how to make it worth 120%, but because of that I somehow also can feel some stagnation. Going from 0 to 100% is quite manageable, but going as far as 120% requires quite a dilligent effort, which is pretty difficult to do.

There's this great sense of duty to create something better than last year's, and there is also the thrill to ensure that the people who watched it last year as well will say things like "That's totally different! It has turned into something better!". For sure I don't know how it will turn out, but at the very least I want to truly enjoy the entire period of the show!

Q : Although it will be ended already when this particular edition of the magazine is released, but surely there will be another great things that you'll get after going through this stage play, right?

S : Surely it will add one more layer of confidence, which will help me to overcome the upcoming jobs as well. Throughout such process, I hope I can build up my confidence more and more.