Hayato Nakamura × Kana Takeyama: Part 1 "Living with Japan's Traditional Culture: A Wakamon Perspective on Kabuki"

Wakamon member Kana Takeyama interviews Hayato Nakamura, a rising star in the Kabuki world. Is traditional Japanese culture difficult to understand for today's youth? Does it feel distant? Yet, there must be reasons and appeal that have sustained its legacy from ancient times to the present. How does Nakamura, now 20 years old, feel about it?

The Resolve to Carry On Tradition

Takeyama: Hayato-san, you were born and raised in a kabuki actor's family, so kabuki itself must have been familiar to you from a young age. When did you decide to pursue kabuki acting as your lifelong career?

Nakamura: In my second year of junior high school. That age is when you start seriously thinking about your future path, like "Which high school should I go to?" or "What do I want to do?" I was having those conversations with my school friends back then too. When I asked myself, "So, what about me?", I thought, "I want to keep doing kabuki." I'd been on stage since I was a child, but honestly, I hadn't really felt like I was doing it by my own choice until then.

Takeyama: By the way, how old were you when you made your stage debut?

Nakamura: Eight. I was in second grade. It's like that for all kids from kabuki actor families. Until around middle school, you're on stage whether you want to be or not. Our daily routine was being told, "There's a performance next month," and then rehearsing for it. Some kids did it because they loved it, others because their parents told them to. I was more the latter type, but I didn't resist being on stage. If anything, I liked it.

Takeyama: Where did that "liking" come from? Did you enjoy being in front of people or the acting itself?

Nakamura: Hmm, what exactly did I like? I'm not really sure myself. But even as a kid, I could sense the audience's reactions from up on stage, and if they were good, I'd genuinely feel happy. Maybe that's what sparked it.

Takeyama: Hayato-san, you're 20 now (at the time of this interview). People your age or in your grade have various options for their future—where to go to school, what job to pursue. You narrowed your options down to just being a kabuki actor at the early stage of your teens. Looking back now, is there anything else you wish you'd tried?

Nakamura: "What if I weren't a kabuki actor?" I can't even imagine that anymore... Hmm, I'd want to work at Dentsu Inc.

Takeyama: Huh? Why would you say that (laughs)!?

Nakamura: A kabuki actor can potentially change the lives of those who watch our performances, or heal their hearts. I think that's one of the fascinating aspects of this job. Plus, since I was born into a family that has passed down the art of kabuki, I also feel like I couldn't do anything else. But leaving something in people's hearts is something you can do in other jobs too, right? Dentsu Inc. can do that kind of thing, right? (laughs)

Takeyama: Hmm, well, I don't know if it's possible, but the feeling of wanting to leave something in people's hearts, wanting to bring about even a small change in their hearts, might be something we share (laughs). Even if it wasn't kabuki, no matter what job I took, the feeling of wanting to "send out something" that stays in people's hearts wouldn't change.

The Environment and Competitive Spirit of the "Kabuki World"

Takeyama: The kabuki world has a huge age range, with people active their whole lives or making their debut as elementary schoolers. How many kabuki actors are around Hayato-san's age?

Nakamura: About five or six. It might seem small compared to other industries like TV or theater, but in the Kabuki world, this is actually quite a few. The thing is, once a role is assigned to someone, that person continues to play that same role for a long time. So, there's no room for anyone else to take on that role.

Takeyama: So once a "role" is assigned to someone, they play it forever?

Nakamura: For example, with leading roles (立役), it's whether they play the handsome second-lead type (二枚目), the comedic third-lead type (三枚目), or powerful roles like rough-and-tumble action (荒事). For female roles (女形), it's whether they play beautiful characters, comedic types like the third-lead, or dance roles. Roles have various genres like that. For senior actors at the level of Living National Treasures, it's only natural they'd choose actors who excel in that specific role and prefer someone who truly understands the craft over a rough-edged type. Right now, we're studying, pushing each other to improve, and figuring out what kind of roles we want to pursue.

Takeyama: I see, so "role = specialty/individuality." Surveys of young people these days show a tendency to value "cooperation over competition" and "achieving something together by working harmoniously as a group." Is that kind of mood present among your peers in the Kabuki world?

Nakamura: Hmm, maybe a little, but probably not much... (laughs). My peers are rivals, I suppose. We all want to leave our mark on the kabuki world somehow. And even if we can't, we want to convey what kabuki is to the world today.

Takeyama: Passing on kabuki also means passing on Japan's traditional culture, right? I'm curious how the younger generation, like Hayato-san, views Japan's traditional culture.

※The second part of this conversation will be updated on Wednesday, December 17.

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【Wakamon Profile】
Dentsu Inc. Youth Research Department (nicknamed Wakamon) is a planning team that engages with the real lives and mindsets of young people, primarily high school and university students. By understanding their "now," we seek hints to brighten and invigorate the near future. Drawing insights from them, we foresee the future and realize new businesses that foster better relationships between young people and society. Currently, 14 project members are based across our Tokyo headquarters, Kansai branch, and Chubu branch. Information is also shared on the Wakamon Facebook page.