Lounge
March 9, 2015
Embarking on New Challenges, Plus a Little Extra (Part 1) – Keiko Toda
Embarking on New Challenges, Plus a Little More (1)
At times an actress in film and on stage, at others a voice actress, and yet again a singer… Keiko Toda, active in a multitude of fields, is still expanding her “seven-colored faces.”
We report on Toda's daily evolution as she lightly navigates her ever-widening sphere of activity.
Compiled by Sora One
Discovering an Unexpected Side of Myself Through Fishing
This series also features “Happy? Half Century.” While it might sound grand to say I’ve reached the midpoint of my life, I feel a gradual shedding of taboos within myself. My anniversary live performance last autumn, “ACTRESS,” was a declaration of that resolve. Starting with resuming my singing career, I’m now in a mode where I’m proactively diving into things I might have previously shied away from, thinking, “Wouldn’t this be unsuitable for me…?” driven by a positive and ambitious spirit of “If I’m given a chance, it’s a waste not to take on the challenge!”
Looking back a bit, my appearance on the Fuji TV program “Nippon o Tsuritai!” (I Want to Fish in Japan!) aired at the end of June was one such instance. As the title suggests, it was a fishing show. I had appeared on talk variety shows before, but had little experience with travel shows or as a reporter. After traveling to India with Koji Yamamoto for a New Year's special, I was surprised to receive an offer for an outdoor sports program, but I decided to fully embrace it!
For this program, I was told I could invite any of my actress friends I liked. Considering someone who would be cheerful and fun to be with, and who enjoys the outdoors… I ultimately chose Katrina Seto. Fortunately, her schedule was open, so we set off on a fishing trip, just the two of us. And it was my first time visiting Iriomote Island.
I don’t dislike traveling or the outdoors. However, in my daily life, I have so many “work-related things I want to do” that the priority for leisure activities inevitably falls lower. Come to think of it, programs like this, while work, are a perfect opportunity to visit new places, have new encounters, and experience new things. Plus, I don’t have to worry about schedules or transportation at all. Perhaps I should participate more actively in the future (laughs).
The nature of Iriomote Island is truly grand in scale. As we traveled by boat along a serene river lined with mangrove forests on both banks, I felt as if I had become Tom Sawyer. Looking up, crested serpent eagles soared in the sky, and before my eyes lay the ocean of overwhelming magnitude. The entire island seemed enveloped in an atmosphere that could only be described as mystical.
It was lure fishing, and when I tried a lighter one designed for women, I could cast it surprisingly far, just as I imagined, and the sensation was incredibly satisfying. Of course, I caught fish too. They were a type of sea bream called mangrove jack, and while their appearance was unfamiliar, like many fish from southern seas, they tasted just like sea bream. Kat-chan caught a type of horse mackerel, but frankly, I, who caught three fish, had the better catch (laughs).
I had heard that “fishing isn’t suited for impatient people,” so I thought it might be impossible for me, but when I tried it, I found I could persevere endlessly, and discovered an unexpected side to myself.
Telling My Life Story in My Own Words
Another thing I’ve started, which was a bit of a bold move, is accepting speaking engagements starting this year. I had received offers for quite some time, but in my mind, lectures were something for esteemed individuals like writers or scholars. However, with the shift in my mindset I mentioned earlier—partly due to losing my mother and dear friends—I’ve come to believe that perhaps it’s okay to share my life, lived with all my might, in my own words, and bring smiles or encouragement to those who listen.
Naturally, I can’t discuss complex topics, so I only speak about my own experiences. My first lecture was titled “Actress Department Store.”
Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of work, from stage actress, singer, and voice actress to roles in dramas and films, and even designing clothes recently. I envisioned these jobs as floors in a building, and my story unfolds as the number of floors gradually increased from just one.
In fact, at first, I admired a style of work where I could confidently say, “I am a film actress,” like a long-established specialty shop on a single floor, and I felt somewhat inadequate about having so many different roles. But looking back, they were all jobs I wanted to do, and no one ever pressured me to choose just one.
And then, at some point, I began to feel that this “variety” was my style. So, I decided to make it like a department store, enriching each floor. The idea is to maintain a quality in each role that can compete with a specialty shop, by giving 120% effort to every job.
That’s the structure of my talks. Each session is about 90 minutes. For the first 20 minutes or so, I sometimes think, “This is going on for a while,” but after that, it flows smoothly, and at a recent session, I even went over time (laughs). Just like on stage, there’s a live reaction from the audience, which changes the pace.
The parts I elaborate on also change depending on the audience. Recently, I was invited to speak to a group of nursery school teachers and directors, where I focused on what I’ve learned from “Anpanman” as a central theme.
As I speak, I often find myself recalling childhood memories, my relationship with my parents, and how I overcame turning points and difficulties in my life. In unexpected ways, I’m given a “time of returning to my roots” to reflect on and re-examine myself. In the past, I was a bit of a perfectionist, unable to forgive myself if things weren’t done just right. But recently, I’ve finally begun to develop a softer mindset, one that allows me to try and meet requests, even if the outcome isn’t perfect, as long as there are people who desire it. I feel I’m in that state now, facing myself for these lectures. The changes brought about by age and experience are wonderful, aren’t they?
Announcement of New Single Release
Following the live performances on October 4th (Sat) and 5th (Sun), a new single CD will be released on October 15th (Wed) from Victor Entertainment!
The coupling tracks are “Naki Uta” (Lyrics: Yasushi Akimoto / Music: Katsuhiko Sugiyama) and “Again～and Again～” (Lyrics: K-co / Music: Go Ueki), priced at 1200 yen (tax included).
Please check it out!
