Interview with Ito Junna - 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

J : Junna's Response

Q : Junna-san, did you have an interest with acting or stage play in the first place?

J : No, no, not at even an inch of such thought ever crossed my mind back then. That's why I also really hated the "Principal" ("16-Nin no Principal trois", May-Jun 2014) we had right after joining Nogizaka46. Right now I can say this, but I felt nothing enjoyable in acting back then. Instead, it felt like a punishment.

Q : So, between the choices of jobs that you want to do back then, neither acting nor stage play was in your mind?

J : That's right. My thoughts about those stuff were just to the extent of "Ikuchan (Ikuta Erika) is so awesome!" (www).

Q : It took awhile after that before you are performing in "Hakaba, Joshi Kousei" (Oct 2016), right?

J : There was a friend of mind back in high school performing in a stage play, so I went to watch it. Similarly, I also went to watch the Ikuchan's stage plays. That time, I just simply enjoy watching it from the perspective of an audience. Regarding "Hakaba, Joshi Kousei", there was an audition in-between the members. Since I was in my 3rd-year in high-school, and technically my school activities had ended, I thought no harm in trying to take the audition, to which I ended up being chosen. So that was basically the beginning.

Q : In my opinion, Junna-san was giving quite an impression during the "Hakaba, Joshi Kousei".

J : It sure was a privilege. Having been performing in many stage plays, I can somewhat understand things like "Oh, if I can get that role, it will be advantegous", or "People who can make such kind of performance will go places". It was a matter of chance, but I think I was very lucky (to be chosen for "Hakaba, Joshi Kousei"). Also, having Maruo (Maruichiro) -san as the first director I'm working with was a pretty big factor. Having Maruo-san as the basis, and also the fact that it was my first stage play, I basically followed everything I was told.

Q : Back then, did you think you did great or feel the joy of doing it?

J : I got close with the other members. Also, even though the process was quite harsh, I also managed to enjoy it. My role kind of allowed me to experiment freely, so I tried a lot of things. There, for this first time I realized, "Stage play is fun; Performing on the stage is fun."

Q : So, it seems having "Hakaba, Joshi Kousei" to be your very first stage play was a blessing?

J : Right, also there were a lot of the graduates who are great with acting, such as Ito Marika-chan, Inoue Sayurichan, and Noujo-Ami-chan who taught me a lot of things. I think I also had a good chemistry with Maruo-san. Everything was just felt right, so I guess I was really lucky to be working in a stage play at the right time (www).

Q : The next one after that was "Inuyasha" (Apr 2017). There, you were also co-starred together along with Wakatsuki Yumi-san who have quite an experience with stage plays.

J : Having Wakatsuki (Wakatsuki Yumi) there, I was able to be rest assured. There is this image that "Maruo-san is strict", and in between the members, they told me "You already did one with Maruo-san, so you should be OK. I believe you'll give your best wherever you are." So, it was surprised that in my next stage play it was with Kayano Isamu-san who is on another level compared to Maruo-san. That made me think "Maruo-san was actually really gentle" (www). However, I actually didn't hate such a strict treatment, and did my best happily.

Q : In which part did you find enjoyment in it?

J : Of course acting as someone else by itself was fun. But being able to act together almost everyday with people who I am not usually involved with and receiving such pinpoint advices from them were something that I didn't usually experience within Nogizaka46. Of course the members are always helping each other out and giving affirmation to each other, but personally receiving inputs directly from all the great people was something else. Trying out new things everyday throughout the process of the stage play was also fun.

Q : So, even though you are continuingly performing the same story, each and every day a new development or change is to be expected. Within that period, Junna-san yourself might also find something new and then choose to try it out.

J : Exactly. That was something new for me. Compared to Nogizaka's tours, where the choreographies and direction are not changing much, personally it was a new experience for me. For example, even though I tried to modify a choreography by myself for the dance during tours, whether it will be used / shown or not is restrictred to the fact that we are dancing in a large group. However in a stage play, even when I was just trying to play around a bit and trying something new, I got told "That is actually a good one, so let's do it that way!". In other instance, where I slightly made a mistake in delivering my lines such that the phrasing became weird, I got told "That's cute, and it was funny, so let's keep it with that," just like that the lines got changed. Having such changes each and every day was such a fresh sensation.

Q : Ah, of course that must be fun (www). Up until now you have been performing in many kinds of stage plays, but is it correct to assume that your turning point was when you were chosen as the leading role in "Nanairo Inko" (Oct 2018)?

J : I guess so. Being the lead role myself, not to mention playing as a male character. At first I was like "What~?" (www), because if we are talking about a female playing as a male, I could only think about Takarazuka. However, after getting to know "Nanairo Inko", I managed to finish reading the source material and immersing myself in it without having such unnecessary thoughts. I had my worries since people told me "Be careful not to feel overwhelmed because it is your first leading role", but the Parakeet (that Junna is acting as, which is a pseudonym of the main character) inside me just spontaneously said "I'll take the lead!" and that let me get into the character straight away. The director Miura (Kaori)-san also said "You just sound like any other girl when we talk casually, giggling around time by time. But seeing you able to become the Parakeet in an instant really amazed me".

Speaking of which, that was also the first time for Matsuda Konoka-chan from Hinatazaka46 (was known as Hiragana Keyakizaka46 at that time) to perform in a stage play which is not a part of her group activities, so we also need to support Konoka-chan often. It is something common in any stage play, but those in the leading role are somewhat left to do things on their own. Even during "Nanairo Inko", Miura-san told me "Just do what you want to do", so I felt free to do things without being afraid.

Q : To be frank, in that stage play I saw you differently, more as Junna-san the actress.

J : Ee~~. Why, thank you... (www).

Q : Do you remember when did you start to be confident about performing on stage plays?

J : Ah about that, having Konoka-chan (Matsuda) during "Nanairo Inko", and also having my junior (Kubo) Shiori back during "Sannin Shimai" (Jan-Feb 2018), I ended up not being the youngest in the company and that made me more self-aware to do better, while also realizing that I must be in the position to provide any help whenever they are in need. So I guess at that point where I'm not just thinking about myself but also paying attention to the others and realizing that I am able to give advices were some of the turning points.

Q : Speaking of which, during the Nogizaka46 ver. Musical "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" (Oct-Nov 2019) all the other casts apart from yourself were 3rd and 4th-gen members, so you were exactly put into that position.

J : The director of "Sailor Moon", WORRY (Kinoshita)-san (yes, his stage name is "Worry" 😅) also had the similar thoughts, so it was pretty rough for me (bitter laugh). WORRY-san would first come to me straight away,  "Jun-chan, what do you think about this part?", then took notes of everything I said. And then afterwards, he will call the juniors, "You kids~! This is how it should be done for this part. Can you do it?" Also, it felt like he wanted me to also point out whenever someone made a mistake in their lines.

Q : Seems like your role in a theater company changed in a flash, eh?

J : Back during the stage play "GARO - KAMINOKIBA MEZAME" (Nov-Dec 2017), everyone was really taking it easy on me, and I really felt like a spoiled brat. Well, I was such a kid back then, that I even dared to say things like "I want to do it like this for this part!" to the director. Thinking about it now, it certainly is something I wouldn't dare to do now (www)! However, having a lot of work in acting together with my juniors, instead of just watching over them, I tried to draw a line to evaluate their performance more objectively.

Q : At the time you come back to the group, are there experiences you got during the stage play, which affect your work there, or other things that ended up being useful?

J : In the first place, I did not have have any intention to embody what I learned from stage plays into the group activities. When I got back to Nogizaka46, I just want to work thoroughly as an idol. So instead, I chose to be separated from my actress persona and properly do my become an idol. That's why, sometimes during the producion process of a stage play, when someone said or judged me like "You're an idol, so we understand~", it got me pissed of, and lashed back at them like "I'm here working as an actress, you know!" (www).

Q : Oh, so that was the stance that you took. Probably your ability to switch over your focus between things might also be related to the fact that you have been performing in lots of stage plays. That said, a few days ago Junna-san announced your graduation from the group. Do you feel that you have done everything possible as an idol?

J : Honestly, instead of feeling an accomplishment or feeling like I have did my best as an idol, it's more like I was given a lot of chances already. I've had people telling me "Your stage play back then was great", which then lead to my next job, but in the end I felt that I got all of these chances to perform on the stage because I am a part of Nogizaka46. I believe it should be the same with my seniors who have graduated, but surely it will be tougher for me to keep it up after graduation. I have given the chance to perform in almost every genre possible, so in a sense there is that sense of accomplishment.

Q : So, are you planning to continue working as an actress from now on?

J : I'm still thinking about a lot of things, and I'm also still unsure how should I tell the fans. If I got the chance, of course I want to continue doing it. But at the same time I have experienced a lot when I am still a part of Nogizaka46, so I am also thinking about challenging something new. I believe the fans are thinking "Junna will certainly make it as a stage play actress", but even this year I am still 23 years old, so I want to try other things instead of just limiting myself with the work as an actress.

Q : The "Color of Theater 「ROSSO」" that will begin from June 27th will be your last stage play while still being a part of the group. Anything you can say about your motivation for it?

J : The stage plays after my graduation is still undecided, but it was simply really fun to have many work in stage plays all this time, which I believe is something that normally I won't be able to experience. About "ROSSO", for me it is also a new genre that I haven't been able to do so far. So, being able to challenge a new things as a member of the group, I want to make the best of it and graduate happily.

Q : I think that by itself is graceful. How do you think your experience on stage play might be useful in life from now on?

J : Having gone through each and every stage plays, I feel like I realy became fearless and having a strong mentality that won't be broken easily by small issues. From now on, I believe whenever I am starting something new or whenever things are not going in the way I was expecting it to be, I believe I should be OK (www).