Lounge
March 11, 2015
Keiko Toda x Go Ueki Special Talk (Part 1): From Our First Collaboration...
From First Collaboration to Sibling-Like Bond...
Keiko Toda × Go Ueki Special Interview (1)
Actress Keiko Toda and PaniCrew's Go Ueki. These two, each thriving in their own fields, meet on a single stage. Now, their first-ever conversation, bridging the gap to the point where they call each other "older sister" and "Go," has been realized.
Photo by JamandfixHair & Makeup: Maiko Suzuki
I Never Tired of Watching Go Dance Every Day
TodaFor those who have attended my live performances, you probably already know this, but this is my first time talking with Go Ueki like this.
—So, first, about how you two met...
UekiMy official collaboration with Toda-san was in the Earthly Chariots Vol. 8 production, "HUMANITY THE MUSICAL ~Momotaro and His Merry Friends~," produced by Goro Kishitani and Yasufumi Terawaki. However, before that, we met at the Act Against AIDS concert at the Budokan. Toda-san seems to have forgotten, though (laughs).
TodaHe came to greet me backstage. I don't remember it, though (laughs). At the press conference for the Earthly Chariots Shinjuku Koma Theater production, he gave a very polite greeting.
—What was your first impression of Ueki-san?
TodaI thought he was someone from a different genre, and we didn't talk much during rehearsals. But when I saw Go's dancing in the rehearsal room, it was impactful and surprising, and I secretly became interested. When the actual performances began, there was a scene where Go danced, and by chance, it was a scene I wasn't in, so I would always go to the front of the stage and watch Go's dance. I never got tired of watching it, it was so fresh, and I became more and more drawn to it, realizing that this was a world I also loved. So, towards the end of the Tokyo run, which lasted over a month, we started talking.
While having meals, he taught me about things like "What is hip-hop?" and "What is graffiti?" We also discovered that we liked similar music genres. Then, during the Osaka performances, I was able to hear more of his stories, and it made me happy to realize that even though we were both performers on the same stage, with different ages and genres, we could talk so much once those barriers were removed.
UekiI also had the image of the "actress Keiko Toda" that everyone has, but when I saw the training wear Toda-san always wore during rehearsals had a rock-inspired taste that we liked, I felt that perhaps we had similar sensibilities and that we might actually get along well.
Breakdancers like us hadn't really performed on big stages before, so we didn't have much contact with actors. But we met by chance in an entertainment play, and as we talked about our passion for the stage and our efforts to please the audience, we gradually became closer.
I Want Everyone to See Go Ueki's Talent
TodaActually, the very first thing I did after getting to know Go was to go see his live performance. I took the train all the way to Kameido.
—Is that so!
TodaWhen you meet someone, you can understand everything about them by seeing them live. Their character, their dignity. The best way to see someone's power is through a live performance. Even if you haven't known someone for long, it's not often that you feel a connection and grow closer in so many ways in such a short time.
—And what did you think after watching his performance?
TodaI'm an amateur when it comes to dancing, but Go's dancing is always beautiful. I've seen many people dance, but his feels very clear. I truly want everyone to see Go Ueki's talent.
—And that talent extends to music and design, doesn't it?
TodaGo is a good artist, and I knew he did design work himself, so I wanted to find some new possibilities together. In terms of singing, I've appeared at PaniCrew's live shows and sung together, and at my live shows, I've had Go dance. And above all, there's "V.I.P." from my album "Actress." It was the first time Go wrote a song for someone else. I really wanted him to do it. Also, there's the creation of novelty goods for my live performances.
—Those are goods full of Keiko Toda's ideas!
TodaI truly love creating things. I want to put my hobbies into the images I conceive, have someone design them, turn them into tangible products, and bring joy to everyone.
—And Ueki-san was very active there too!
TodaThe designer bags sold out at the live shows, which was a happy problem.
—Next, we'll ask Ueki-san about the song "V.I.P." from the album "Actress."
Keiko Toda × Go Ueki Special Interview (2)to be continued
Live Performance Scheduled for May!
Keiko Toda CASUAL LIVE in SWEETBASIL
Keiko Toda's live performance, with her statement "I want to sing songs with all my heart in 2008," has been decided!
Saturday, May 10th
Doors open 2:00 PM / Show starts 3:00 PM
Doors open 6:00 PM / Show starts 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 11th
Doors open 4:00 PM / Show starts 5:30 PM (3 performances total)
All seats unreserved: ¥6,000
Venue: Roppongi STB139 Sweet Basil
Sweet Basil│http://stb139.co.jp/139/index.html
Performance Decided!
The Ito Shiro Troupe ~The Troupe Leader's Comeback Struggle~
"Comedy: We Have No Dignity"
Performance Dates│2008/5/30 (Fri) - 2008/6/15 (Sun)
Script: Masao Senoo
Direction: Shiro Ito, Yuji Miyake
Starring│Shiro Ito, Yuji Miyake, Keiko Toda
Masayuki Watanabe, LaSalle Ishii, Hisahiro Ogura
Shota Shunpūtei, Takahiro Azuma
