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12 August 2010 @ 04:24 pm
Sakamoto's Zorro Press Conference  
 These are some of the newspaper articles on the press conference to announce Sakamoto-kun's Zorro:

It was announced on the 10th that V6's Sakamoto Masayuki will be in the production of 「ZORRO」 the musical. He will be playing the role of a knight in a mask who tries to fight evil. Since joining Johnny's in 1988, this is the first time ever he won a role through auditioning for it. 「This is a major turning point for me. I will put in my body and soul in living up the challenge」 he says enthusiastically about this challenge that comes to him in his late 30's.

Just like the Zorro of the dramas & films, which had Alain Delon and Antonio Banderas playing the part, this Zorro depicts the same hero with almost superhuman strength. The original play started in 2008 in London, and it is 1 biliion production that boasts of flamenco dances, not just from the main actors, but from the ensemble too.

Sakamoto says 「He reminds me of my father」 when talking about mustachioed Diego, who is the alter ego of Zorro, and thus Sakamoto will be playing both roles. The role requires fencing and flamenco skills, of which Sakamoto says 「It has been 7, 8 years since I last did it」 and of course flying. The minute 「PAL JOEY」 ends it's run in October, he will start practising for the role.

Although he had thought of marrying prior to turning 40 next year, 「I am very happy to have been given this chance to do something I love. I guess my private life will come next」. By the way, for himself, his real life hero is Higashiyama Noriyuki, who shared with him these words of wisdom, 「If you try your best, for sure people will be able to see that

Source: Chunichi Sports 

Sakamoto Masayuki of the popular group 「V6」 will be the main actor for 「Zorro The Musical」 which will be playing at the Nissay Theatre (next year Jan 13th to Jan 28th) The popular musical enjoyed a long run in London, and this will the first time it is played in Japan. It will be directed by the original producers from England, who were charmed by Sakamoto's talents and thus chose him to play the role of the extraordinary hero. This will be a very much looked forward to production from Toho, who had brought in 「Miss Saigon」 and 「Les Miserables」 prior to this.

For Sakamoto, next year will be his 20th anniversary treading the boards, as he had acted in butai since even before V6 made its debut. On the day of this interview, at the fringe of his own personal turning point (turning 40), he enthusiastically feels that 「This will be my turning point forward」.

The infamous 「Zorro」 of books, films and TV. The musical started its run at London's West End in July 2008, and closed its curtains for the final time in the March of next year, a record long run of 9 months. It received many nominations of awards by UK's theatrical bodies. Toho signed up the play to agreements in line with that of 「Les Mis」and 「Miss Saigon」. The director, Christopher Renshaw and the choreographer Rafael Armago invited with them, many of the original London staff over.

The audition took place in January of this year, with English staff in attendance. This is the first time, since he joined Johnny's in 1988, for Sakamoto to accept the audition. Looking back, he says, 「I was half tempted to just run away from the chance and half tempted to grab the role with both hands」, but his voice and his appearance enchanted Mr. Renshaw so much that he promptly said 「It can only be him」.

The play, with the theme of saving the poor and vanquishing the powerful, is based on the infamous 「Gipsy Kings」 music. Singing, swordplay action, flamenco, etc., with dance being the integral theme, it involves flying without safety harnesses and magic.

In preparation for the practises that commence in Nov, he is going to the gym daily to ensure that his body looks great in the typical black suit. He will be loading up on protein, 「I hope to be able to put on 4 kg」. He would also like to practise on fencing, but 「it is difficult to find within the Tokyo metropolis」. On the 8th of this month, he climbed up Mt Fuji's summit for the first time in his life, with 3 of his friends, and pledged the oath of success for the butai there.

His first appearance was in the butai 「Okuni」 in 1992, and then in 1993 he became the assistant of Shonentai's Higashiyama Noriyuki, but around that time he was facing the dilemma of continuing on as is. From now on, whether he will be appearing in butais every year, 「Whether this play is a success, I guess it will determine the path from now on. This will be the unmasking.」

From breakup to makeup: With regards to the expose on him and Nakazawa Yuko dating, 「If work is fulfilling, it goes to follow that my private life will be smooth sailing too. Right now, I just want to concentrate on devoting my life and soul to work, but what follows after I can't tell. 」. On the report about V6 disbanding, 「That only served to bring us together. It is a piece of news that we should be thankful for, as it bonded us closer as a group. 」 It seems that it increased the members' time together, going for drinks when time permits.

Source: Hochi


Some snippets of things Sakamoto said, published by other newspapers:
  • I heard of the auditions from a close friend in the butai circle, and I really wanted to try for it. For overseas butai, an audition is a given thing. I overdid the practising at home, so when I reached the audition, my voice was actually all raspy. (he had to sing 2 songs at the audition)

Here's the official webpage. Not much visuals, though.


 
 
( What 11 of YOU said — YOU said it! )
chou_0724[info]chou_0724 on August 12th, 2010 08:49 am (UTC)
Thank you so, so much for translating these articals. I am so happy for him to have got the part of Zorro by the strength of his own talent, and not by his association with Johnny's. I would love to watch him in this butai. He would be so great.....the sword fights, the flowing cape, and that mask...
v6fan_in_jp[info]v6fan_in_jp on August 12th, 2010 10:04 am (UTC)
I am planning on attending the shows on 3rd, 4th & 5th Feb. Are you interested in going too? I can help you buy the tickets if u are.
chou_0724[info]chou_0724 on August 12th, 2010 12:25 pm (UTC)
You are the best!!! Thank you for the generous offer but I have to be in Hong Kong for the Chinses New Year period, which is from 3rd to 5th Feb. I may try to attend in January though. Fingers crossed!!!
chou_0724[info]chou_0724 on August 12th, 2010 08:49 am (UTC)
Love the new banner, by the way!!!
echowillow: ♥ V6 ♥[info]echowillow on August 12th, 2010 09:23 am (UTC)
This is such a great opportunity for him, doing what he likes in what he is best in. I'm really glad he snatched the opportunity. JE is the stepping stone, but for guys like Sakamoto with talent, they should just explore whatever's out there to challenge themselves. Yay for V6's leader ♥ Thank you very much for compiling these articles ^_^
rf_the_stampede[info]rf_the_stampede on August 12th, 2010 10:31 am (UTC)
First of all, I wanna say "THANKS" to you by translating these news.
I'm so excited that our Ma-kun passed the audition and joined such a big production like this!! He's so amazing ^^

If I were in Japan, I would go to watch this butai for sure.
eskarina77: Masa-guilty02[info]eskarina77 on August 12th, 2010 11:48 am (UTC)
Thank you for translating so many about Zorro ^^
I'm glad he'll have such a role. It looks like it will be a great musical.

Lucky you can go there ^^
back2real: 20th century[info]back2real on August 12th, 2010 02:15 pm (UTC)
Really exciting news, thanks! I like how he 'charmed them'! I can believe that! WOW, he's been keeping busy this year, that's for sure!
felly80[info]felly80 on August 12th, 2010 04:43 pm (UTC)
Thanks for translating the news! I'm so happy & proud that he got the role through his owm merits. ^_^
eeyore_kun[info]eeyore_kun on August 12th, 2010 10:50 pm (UTC)
thanks for translating the news. I'm excited to see him in Zorro. Well I may not going to see the butai myself but just thinking how perfect he'll be as Zorro give me the thrill.

Banzai Sakamoto-san!
BlueTakko[info]bluetakko on August 13th, 2010 12:17 pm (UTC)
wow...sakamoto rocks!!! thanks for translation such a happy news, both for us and V6 itself...i know sakamoto-kun is working hard for all of these years...and i'm so happy for him....
ganbatte....and V6.....still go on!!!!!! yey!!!
thanks for the gossip, now their bond even closer...
( What 11 of YOU said — YOU said it! )