As an icon of Harajuku street fashion, Nakata Kurumi has enjoyed the support of many women and has worked as a model and DJ. She has always kept her antennae sharp, teaching young girls the joys of fashion, but now she's here to fulfill one dream: to become an actress. Despite many twists and turns, she has now reached a new starting line, and we discuss the path she has taken and the music that has supported her.
--Now that you've fully embarked on your acting career, what kind of daily life are you spending?
My hometown is in Tochigi, and I lived in a small, rural world. I admired the people on TV, who can provide guidance to others in their lives. I'd always wanted to be an actress, so I studied film at university, and then started modeling to somehow get out there. My life has changed since I moved agencies in April of this year, so now I'm trying to do things I couldn't do before. Like working out and studying. There's so much we don't know about the world, right? But it's definitely better to know. For example, when I listen to EXILE, which I don't usually listen to, there are tons of great songs, and "HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE" was also really good. I think life is more fun if you know a variety of things, rather than avoiding them just because you're not interested.
--Tell us how you first encountered music.
It was after Shiina Ringo produced the songs for the film "Sakuran," directed by Mika Ninagawa, that I got into the habit of listening to one artist's music. But actually, I had been a fan of visual kei before that and often went to live houses. The first fan club I joined was MIYAVI's, and at the time I never imagined that MIYAVI would take flight around the world as a samurai guitarist. From the end of junior high school until around high school, I started listening to ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION and BUMP of MIND, and when Ellegarden broke up, I was so shocked that my sister and I were the kind of students who didn't want to go to school (laughs).
--What song were you listening to at a turning point in your life?
I don't think I would be who I am today if I hadn't discovered Momoiro Clover. That's how much Momoclo has helped me. I never thought I'd become so obsessed with idols in my life, but my world expanded after listening to "Battle and Romance," released in 2011. It changed the way I think about things and motivated me to try harder, so I'm grateful for that. I particularly like the song "Hashire!" and would always listen to it when I was feeling down.
--When do you feel like listening to music?
When I'm walking through a crowd. Unlike on the train, I can listen to music at a loud volume and no one will get in trouble (laughs). At times like that, listening to artists like Bjork makes me feel like I'm inside a movie. Like I'm the main character.
--What music have you been into lately?
I listened to Obukuro Nariaki's album "Summer of Secession" an awful lot this summer. I bought tickets to see his solo concert, but unfortunately I couldn't go at the last minute, which is a shame. I discovered him through his collaboration with Utada Hikaru, and I usually dig his music on Spotify. "Discover Weekly" recommends artists I'm not familiar with, so I've started listening to artists like Awesome City Club and yahyel using this feature. There are also classic songs that I want to listen to right now, like RIP SLYME, which I listen to in the summer. I'm happy that I can now instantly listen to music that I previously had to buy the CD to listen to by searching on Spotify. I can now listen to Shigeru Matsuzaki's songs in high quality, and it has changed the way I listen to music.
--What did you do during the last summer of the Heisei era?
Whenever I had the chance, I would say, "It's the last summer of the Heisei era," and spend my time savoring the everyday things. But my best memory is filming a movie in July. I went to Hokkaido for two months to film, and I was booked to appear in my first commercial film since changing agencies. As the Heisei era came to an end, I savored the feeling of, "Ah, I've finally come this far." It wasn't a big role, but I was involved in filming for a long time, and when we wrapped up filming, a senior actor gave me a hug and said, "I'm sure you'll become a great actress." I was so moved that I burst into tears.
--Do you have any aspirations or ideals as an actress?
I'm still exploring, but I'd like to become a multi-talented actor who can flexibly play a variety of roles. I'd also like to try other things besides acting. I think it's interesting that Will Smith has become a YouTuber.
--Please tell us your future goals.
I want to become an actor who can influence people's lives. I think my life changed when I met Kenji Ohtsuki in my second year of junior high school. I believe a life influenced by Ai Yazawa is completely different from a life that isn't, and it was Kankuro Kudo's films that made me want to become an actor. I believe that everyone has someone who has shaped their personality, so from now on, I want to show others the way in life, not as a model, but as an actress.
--staff--
photographs: Hideyuki Seta
text: Saki Yamada
model: Kurumi Nakata (PAPADO,Inc)
edit: FASHION HEADLINE
--Now that you've fully embarked on your acting career, what kind of daily life are you spending?
My hometown is in Tochigi, and I lived in a small, rural world. I admired the people on TV, who can provide guidance to others in their lives. I'd always wanted to be an actress, so I studied film at university, and then started modeling to somehow get out there. My life has changed since I moved agencies in April of this year, so now I'm trying to do things I couldn't do before. Like working out and studying. There's so much we don't know about the world, right? But it's definitely better to know. For example, when I listen to EXILE, which I don't usually listen to, there are tons of great songs, and "HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE" was also really good. I think life is more fun if you know a variety of things, rather than avoiding them just because you're not interested.
--Tell us how you first encountered music.
It was after Shiina Ringo produced the songs for the film "Sakuran," directed by Mika Ninagawa, that I got into the habit of listening to one artist's music. But actually, I had been a fan of visual kei before that and often went to live houses. The first fan club I joined was MIYAVI's, and at the time I never imagined that MIYAVI would take flight around the world as a samurai guitarist. From the end of junior high school until around high school, I started listening to ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION and BUMP of MIND, and when Ellegarden broke up, I was so shocked that my sister and I were the kind of students who didn't want to go to school (laughs).
--What song were you listening to at a turning point in your life?
I don't think I would be who I am today if I hadn't discovered Momoiro Clover. That's how much Momoclo has helped me. I never thought I'd become so obsessed with idols in my life, but my world expanded after listening to "Battle and Romance," released in 2011. It changed the way I think about things and motivated me to try harder, so I'm grateful for that. I particularly like the song "Hashire!" and would always listen to it when I was feeling down.
--When do you feel like listening to music?
When I'm walking through a crowd. Unlike on the train, I can listen to music at a loud volume and no one will get in trouble (laughs). At times like that, listening to artists like Bjork makes me feel like I'm inside a movie. Like I'm the main character.
--What music have you been into lately?
I listened to Obukuro Nariaki's album "Summer of Secession" an awful lot this summer. I bought tickets to see his solo concert, but unfortunately I couldn't go at the last minute, which is a shame. I discovered him through his collaboration with Utada Hikaru, and I usually dig his music on Spotify. "Discover Weekly" recommends artists I'm not familiar with, so I've started listening to artists like Awesome City Club and yahyel using this feature. There are also classic songs that I want to listen to right now, like RIP SLYME, which I listen to in the summer. I'm happy that I can now instantly listen to music that I previously had to buy the CD to listen to by searching on Spotify. I can now listen to Shigeru Matsuzaki's songs in high quality, and it has changed the way I listen to music.
--What did you do during the last summer of the Heisei era?
Whenever I had the chance, I would say, "It's the last summer of the Heisei era," and spend my time savoring the everyday things. But my best memory is filming a movie in July. I went to Hokkaido for two months to film, and I was booked to appear in my first commercial film since changing agencies. As the Heisei era came to an end, I savored the feeling of, "Ah, I've finally come this far." It wasn't a big role, but I was involved in filming for a long time, and when we wrapped up filming, a senior actor gave me a hug and said, "I'm sure you'll become a great actress." I was so moved that I burst into tears.
--Do you have any aspirations or ideals as an actress?
I'm still exploring, but I'd like to become a multi-talented actor who can flexibly play a variety of roles. I'd also like to try other things besides acting. I think it's interesting that Will Smith has become a YouTuber.
--Please tell us your future goals.
I want to become an actor who can influence people's lives. I think my life changed when I met Kenji Ohtsuki in my second year of junior high school. I believe a life influenced by Ai Yazawa is completely different from a life that isn't, and it was Kankuro Kudo's films that made me want to become an actor. I believe that everyone has someone who has shaped their personality, so from now on, I want to show others the way in life, not as a model, but as an actress.
--staff--
photographs: Hideyuki Seta
text: Saki Yamada
model: Kurumi Nakata (PAPADO,Inc)
edit: FASHION HEADLINE
