On November 1st, a Guinness World Record attempt will be held on the banks of the Muko River at the Takarazuka Grand Theater. 2014 marks a "triple anniversary" for Takarazuka City, marking the 100th anniversary of the Takarazuka Revue, the 60th anniversary of the city's incorporation, and the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Osamu Tezuka Memorial Museum. Who will be attempting a new record in this memorable year? The answer comes from actress Shiomi Maho, who has a strong connection to Takarazuka. A native of Takarazuka City, she was a former male role actor in the Takarazuka Revue, and is currently active not only as a stage actress but also as a yoga and jazz dance instructor. For our interview, we visited the Tachikawa studio where Shiomi normally teaches dance and yoga. She greeted us with a bright smile and a "hello," wearing a refreshing lime green dance uniform. On this day, lessons were being held for the Guinness World Record. Women of all ages, from elementary school children to their parents, gathered in the studio to dance line dance together.
The event, named "10,000 Line Dancers," was the brainchild of Takarazuka City's Children's Committee. They were attempting to break the current Guinness World Record for line dancing, which is 2,569 people, by a wide margin.
Hoping that people from all over Japan, as well as Takarazuka residents, would participate, Shiomi is offering free lessons to participants from Tokyo. 」
"Actually, this is the first time I've done line dancing since I was a fifth-year graduate student at the Takarazuka Revue in 1995. As the name suggests, line dancing is a dance that 'connects people,' so you dance so that each member's movements look beautiful and don't get in the way of the other person you're holding hands with. It's wonderful how it naturally fosters compassion.
What's more, 11 junior high school students from Ishinomaki have also expressed their desire to participate in this challenge. It all started a few years ago when I met a middle school teacher when I went to Onagawa to provide support for the earthquake victims. That teacher was transferred to Ishinomaki, and now the 11 students there want to dance line dancing together at Takarazuka. Right now, we're working hard to raise funds for the trip."
Since both Hyogo and Miyagi have experienced the earthquake, Shiomi's passion is undeniable. Her lively expression as she answers our interview questions clearly shows how much she enjoys interacting with various people through this challenge. Her feelings are certainly conveyed to the students taking her lessons. "I was never very good at sports, but when I took Shiomi's lessons, I discovered the joy of singing and dancing (laughs)," "I'm planning to attend the event with my son and husband, so I'm taking the lessons on behalf of the family," and "I'm a Takarazuka fan, so I'm taking the lessons as if I were a female lead." Shiomi seemed delighted to watch each student speak with a smile. "The most important thing is to have fun. I hope that the event will create connections and become a place where we can connect with all kinds of people. And it would be wonderful if it could lead to connections across Japan." The event is just a few days away. If you're interested, check out the official "Takarazuka 10,000 Line Dance" website.
