The Making of Vice Principal Shizue Tsuruhashi

In a school setting, the vice principal, the nemesis of the protagonist teacher—With this tried-and-true, incredibly easy-to-understand dynamic, I came to play the role of Vice Principal Shizue Tsuruhashi.



Before filming begins, there are meetings about costumes, hair and makeup, and personal belongings. This time, my opinions were largely accepted. As a strict vice principal, her attire is naturally modest, with minimal exposure and a sharp silhouette. She carries an old-fashioned handkerchief, always in hand. Instead of following the trend for natural makeup, I deliberately chose a bright red lipstick. The image is of a woman who applies her lipstick meticulously! There was a suggestion for glasses, but that felt too common, so I decided to make a statement with lipstick (laughs).



The hairstyle, however, became the most talked-about element. In consultation with the hair and makeup artists, I wanted a look that students might draw in a caricature. I envisioned a rather unique hairstyle. I decided on an updo, but a standard one would be too boring, so after much trial and error, we arrived at this style. It involves curling the entire head with hot rollers for manageability, then using a hairpiece as a core at the crown and winding the hair around it like a cornet. It's quite time-consuming... (cries). But everyone said, 'That's interesting!' which made it all worthwhile. Being called 'tagine pot' or 'chocolate cornet' – getting nicknames is the best!