From Heisei to the future. A total of 18 stages challenged by “Niji no Moto” from Yokohama

The scene where the play is born
File.5 Nijinomoto "Minatomirai"
Koichi Imai (editor/writer)

Next, when I was looking for a lineup of performances at various theaters and facilities, asking ``What kind of work would be good?'', there was a performance that attracted me a lot. I don't know if the metaphor of ``Japanese pepper is small and spicy'' is correct, but it was a small theater called ST Spot Yokohama, where although the audience is small and the space is small, it puts out notable companies such as chelfitsch, which is spreading its wings around the world, and emphasizes interaction with various regions, so I was more concerned.
What caught my attention was Niji no Moto #08, "Minatomirai", and they did 18 stages in 8 days. These days, there are not many small theaters in Tokyo that overlap in terms of the number of performances, but I was very interested in this challenge, the fact that there are three days of three performances a day.
One night after rehearsals for Minatomirai, which had just begun, I caught Ryokuma Kumade, the representative of the theater company. He was born in 1990, so young!

“Usually we were based in Lazona Kawasaki and put on about 7 performances in a week.However, the challenge for this performance is that we have set up various hurdles for ourselves in order to continue as a theater company in the future.One thing is that we have to increase the number of stages and be able to maintain the same quality of acting and workmanship no matter how many times we do it. It's true that both of them are experimental for us.I'm worried about whether I'll be able to do it physically, but I'm more determined to do it."

No, I'm young so it's okay. And it's better to climb high mountains while you can.
*From "Kimino Tenohira"

Kumade appeared in musicals for the residents of the ward since junior high school. Volunteers from Kanagawa Sogo High School's drama club launched "Niji no Moto", and reunited "Niji no Moto" after graduating from high school. This was the first period, so to speak. After that, the members were replaced, and now they are active as the new "Niji no Moto".

"We have two concepts: 'Let's make it with love only' and 'Shine the tears.'. A rainbow is something like a miracle that you can see for a moment when it rains and the sun shines through it. And when you find it, you feel happy. The same is true for people's hearts. I am

*From "Museum of Broken Hearts"

The visual of the leaflet has a world view like a serialized shoujo manga, and it is somewhat familiar, but this time, it was the first time to use a photo.
The new work "Minatomirai" is said to be a work with the theme of the city. That's why I used pictures of the city.

"We've been in Yokohama for a long time, but we've become friends with the theater people in Tokyo, so we're often told, 'You should do it in Tokyo.' But we don't want to go to Tokyo. We want to invite audiences to Yokohama. So, we reconsidered why we're doing it in Yokohama, and what the significance of doing it in Yokohama is. I think that I will continue to create works that are rooted in Yokohama.”

It may not be the future that everyone dreamed of back then
No matter how much we've changed, we've lived here
Born in 1989 and raised in Yokohama, a female duo music unit "Minato Mirai"
The two set their sights on music and made their debut when they were in their third year of high school.
They didn't know the taste of sake or the scent of men.
I started running with just the momentum like an extension of the light music club.
12 years later. They are also 30 years old.
The end of the Heisei era. "Minatomirai" to go on its own path,
Disbanded with the last broadcast of the radio program that has continued for many years.
"Well, what shall we talk about?"
"We have no future to talk about."
"But let's talk about Minato Mirai."
The city of Yokohama, the era of Heisei, and the new future.
A wish for the future and a bridge to happiness given by Niji no Moto.

“There was a music unit from Kawasaki called RYTHEM that disbanded. They made their debut when I was in junior high school, and while they were active until 2011, they made their major label debut and released four albums.The history of these people was very dramatic to me, and I wanted to make a work modeled on them. That's why it's not a musical, but there are a lot of songs."

Let's also introduce the comments of the two main characters, Ayaka Ito, who plays Mina, and Eri Kimura, who plays Miku.

“I think that the story of Minato Mirai this time will be a very big turning point in Mina’s life.In fact, Mina’s feelings that are not often mentioned in the dialogue are packed in the story.I want to convey emotions that cannot be expressed in words to those who come to see me.I want Mina and I to synchronize and move in a way that is not fake.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Eri Kimura, who plays the future role. When I read the script for the first time, I could sympathize with my feelings about the music of the future, and I felt like 'I'm happy to have someone who understands' (laughs). In the play, there are a lot of nostalgic songs that color the Heisei era and songs made for this stage. Music is also one of the pleasures. Look forward to it☆" (Kimura)

I asked Kumade again about his work.

“The theme is something like a generation or a way of life in the future. As soon as the performance of 'Minato Mirai' is over, the new era name will be announced. The city was named 'Minato Mirai' in hopes before the Heisei era. What was the "future" of those days when we lived? And let's go to the future together. I would like to share such thoughts with everyone. It is a work filled with our various challenges. I would appreciate it if you could see it."

This event has ended.
《Niji no Moto #08 “Minatomirai”》

From Heisei to the future. A total of 18 stages challenged by “Niji no Moto” from Yokohama

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