Title: Admiration
Characters: Tsukasa, Emu, Nene, Rui, MEIKO (Wonderland Sekai version), Luka (Wonderland Sekai version), Workshop Organiser, Sakaki, Arcland Cast Member, Arcland Director, Director (Tom Gray, flashback)
| Event Story | Episode 1 ・ Episode 2 ・ Episode 3 ・ Episode 4 ・ Episode 5 ・ Episode 6 ・ Episode 7 ・ Episode 8 |
Admiration
Briefing Venue
Workshop Organiser
The director course will have two special instructors. One of them has kindly taken the time to be here with us today.
Mr. Sakaki, may we have a quick word from you, please?
Sakaki
Of course.
*Loud chattering*
Arcland Cast Member A
Hey… This "Sakaki" couldn't possibly be…
Arcland Director
Y-Yeah…
*Footsteps*
Sakaki
-It's a pleasure. I believe many of you are meeting me for the first time here.
I'm Sakaki Kouryuu, and I'm one of the instructors for the workshops.
*Loud chattering*
Tsukasa
Sakaki…Kouryuu…?!
Emu
I've seen this person on TV before! He's a famous director, right?
Rui
…Yeah.
Sakaki Kouryuu. He was thrust into the spotlight as a renowned director after he became the youngest ever recipient of the Kikugawa Jirou Theatre Award1.
While his highly artistic staging is characteristic of his productions, he's also active in the entertainment industry… He works on many movies and TV dramas as well.
Tsukasa
Yeah. His name is pretty much guaranteed to be found in the credits for every hit production out there.
Nene
And he's famous both in Japan and abroad, right? He even gets invited to historic theatres and such.
I'm pretty sure he was even featured in a magazine that called him "the busiest director in Japan today"…
Emu
Wha~~! I wonder what he's like?
Tsukasa
Well, based on the productions he has worked on, he seems to be the really artistic and uncompromising type…
Sakaki
I'm not someone so significant as to be able to teach anyone anything-
But I couldn't possibly turn down Arcland either since I'm indebted to this place in many ways.
Anyway, just pick out and focus solely on whatever you feel is helpful to you when it comes to my rambling.
Let's have a good time together.
Tsukasa
…He sounds a lot more candid than I thought.
Nene
Yeah. Wasn't really expecting that…
Rui
(…He's certainly an enigma.)
(Every show that Sakaki Kouryuu has ever worked on is considered a one-of-a-kind production.)
(No matter if it's an incomprehensible theatre of the absurd or a highly entertaining show… There is a unique quality to every show he has handled.)
(An intense charm… One that astutely bares a person's soul and simultaneously showcases both its unsightly and beautiful aspects.)
…They've truly brought some extraordinary people over.
Sakaki sees Rui
Sakaki
……Huh.
Rui
(…? What was that-?)
Nene
Rui? What's wrong?
Rui
Ah, it's nothing.
(He looked familiar for a split second just now…)
(…It's probably just my imagination, though.)
Workshop Organiser
Thank you, Mr. Sakaki.
As for the second instructor, he will be joining us remotely from abroad due to scheduling issues.
His name is-
Wonderland Sekai
MEIKO
Really, now! That workshop sounds like it was a blast!
Tsukasa
Yeah! All we got today was its overall rundown,
But the teaching body and environment prepared for this were both simply fantastic!
Nene
It was a hundred times more lavish than expected, and we were met with surprise after surprise the entire time…
Emu
Nene got all droopy after the briefing ended, right?
Luka
Oh, my~ Are you okay?
Nene
I am. I was a little overwhelmed, but…
That's because this is an incredibly valuable chance for us at our current level to be able to learn from world-class pros.
Tsukasa
That's right. I'm sure that we can grow in leaps and bounds if we tackle whatever we face head on like we always do.
Let's do whatever we can to keep up!
Emu
Yeah~!
MEIKO
Hehe! Sounds like you're all fired up!
Rui
……
Luka
What's wrong, Rui? Did you become sleepy by any chance~?
Rui
Eh?
Luka
I just wanted to check since you looked like you were zoning out just now.
Rui
Oh no, I'm alright.
It's just that- how should I put this… I just feel like it hasn't hit me yet.
MEIKO
What hasn't?
Rui
Two guests were invited to be special instructors for the workshop for directors.
One of them is Sakaki Kouryuu, who is Japan's most renowned director today. And the other is-
Director
"Whether you're rich or poor, smart or foolish, hail from a majority or a minority group, none of that matters."
"Every person laughs, cries, and gets angry in unison,"
"Thus connecting them by the same emotions at the end of the show."
"I want to keep creating shows that can realise that."
"Because I'm certain that there is an entire world out there that we have yet to discover, a wonderful one that is connected to all of humanity!"
Young Rui
……
Rui
-Tom Gray.
The director whom I admire.
Luka
That means that you'll get to learn about directing from the person you admired all this time, right?
Rui
That will be the case. And perhaps because of that… I feel as if I can't stay grounded no matter how hard I try.
Tsukasa
Oh… I get what you mean about that feeling of confoundment!
I remember feeling the same when I found out I was going to watch Amami perform. I was so shocked that I was convinced that I was dreaming!2
Rui
Hehe, right. I never thought that such a miracle would happen for me.
I'm sure that my younger self wouldn't believe it either even if he heard this piece of news himself.
MEIKO
…I see. That's just how special he is to you, right, Rui?
Luka
Hehe! You wish you could tell little wittle Rui, right?
About how he works so, so, hard in the future-
And will eventually be able to meet the director he admires~
Tsukasa
The opportunity's now in your hands, Rui!
I'm sure you have your doubts, but you have to switch gears and confront it with all you've got!
Emu
Do your best, Rui!
Luka
Zzz… Zzz…
…You can do it, Rui~♪…
MEIKO
Oh, Luka! That's quite the lucid sleep-talk you're uttering there.
Rui
…Hehe.
Thank you, everyone. I'll make sure to learn as much as I'm currently able to.
Notes
- The award is fictitious, but it’s clearly a nod to the Japanese arts awards (think Akutagawa Prize in literature). On the JP Wikipedia, there’s one prize that matches the naming convention adopted for the Kikugawa Jirou Theatre Award
菊川二郎演劇賞: Kikuta Kazuo Theatre Award. He was renowned adapting 放浪記/A Wanderer’s Notebook for the stage, and for adapting My Fair Lady for Japanese audiences (the first Broadway musical to show in Japan at the time). (Return to text)
- I’m pretty sure this is a reference to the Mr. Showtime event. (Return to text)