SenS (Hiroko Iwai), playwright/director jp/en
Japanese playwright/theater director, SenS lives in Leipzig as a resident artist at Das Japanische Haus. Since we met in March, we became good friends and have spent so much time sharing our thoughts about art and philosophy. In this interview, I have asked her how she became in love with theater and what brought her to Leipzig. (This interview is also available in Japanese.)
-How did you begin acting?
It started when I joined a drama club in the junior high school. I was a member of the club throughout my junior high and high school years. I guess I liked being seen on stage. Also now that I think back, I used to lie a lot on a daily basis. They are all small lies, like lying my exam score to my mother or telling exaggerated stories to my friends. I probably enjoyed the attention that I get from people when I lied. One day I realized that I am not living my life without lying (laugh). But at the same time, I noticed that I had never lied when I act. Even though theater itself is an artificial, fake world, I was able to be honest to myself. After this realization, I became heavily into acting and gradually my lying habit went away. I think acting saved me.
In the second year of my high school, I participated in a two-week study abroad program in London and there I saw the musical, Cats. It was my very first experience to see a musical and I was in total shock. After I came back from London, I began to regularly go to see theater productions by major theater companies, such as Shiki Theater Company (劇団四季) and Takarazuka Revue (宝塚歌劇団). During these years, I encountered Gekidan Shinkansen (劇団☆新感線) and Nylon 100℃, the theater companies which do slightly more underground productions.
-What made you decide to switch from being an actor to a playwright?
During the years when I was working as an actor, I encountered theater improvisation and I fell completely in love with it. Probably that’s where I began to 'create' on my own. Also I was interested in studying abroad, so I decided to go to London to study theater. I was unable to get in to the acting course due to the language barrier, so I was enrolled in the theater arts course, instead. But it turned out to be really good for me. During one year of my study, I really felt that I belong to the side of creating, not the side of acting/performing. After coming back to Japan, I began writing my own theater work.
It started when I joined a drama club in the junior high school. I was a member of the club throughout my junior high and high school years. I guess I liked being seen on stage. Also now that I think back, I used to lie a lot on a daily basis. They are all small lies, like lying my exam score to my mother or telling exaggerated stories to my friends. I probably enjoyed the attention that I get from people when I lied. One day I realized that I am not living my life without lying (laugh). But at the same time, I noticed that I had never lied when I act. Even though theater itself is an artificial, fake world, I was able to be honest to myself. After this realization, I became heavily into acting and gradually my lying habit went away. I think acting saved me.
In the second year of my high school, I participated in a two-week study abroad program in London and there I saw the musical, Cats. It was my very first experience to see a musical and I was in total shock. After I came back from London, I began to regularly go to see theater productions by major theater companies, such as Shiki Theater Company (劇団四季) and Takarazuka Revue (宝塚歌劇団). During these years, I encountered Gekidan Shinkansen (劇団☆新感線) and Nylon 100℃, the theater companies which do slightly more underground productions.
-What made you decide to switch from being an actor to a playwright?
During the years when I was working as an actor, I encountered theater improvisation and I fell completely in love with it. Probably that’s where I began to 'create' on my own. Also I was interested in studying abroad, so I decided to go to London to study theater. I was unable to get in to the acting course due to the language barrier, so I was enrolled in the theater arts course, instead. But it turned out to be really good for me. During one year of my study, I really felt that I belong to the side of creating, not the side of acting/performing. After coming back to Japan, I began writing my own theater work.
-What brought you to Leipzig?
During my study in London, one of my friends was doing a theater research in Leipzig and she invited me to come with her. That was the first time I came to Leipzig. It was eight years ago. Back then, Leipzig had very special atmosphere, which is slightly different from how it is now. There were more empty buildings and artists were utilizing those spaces in whatever ways they want. I was totally fascinated by this city. Since then, I came to Leipzig often and about two years ago, I heard about the residency program at Das Japanische Haus. When I visited Leipzig to learn more about the program, I already noticed that Leipzig has transformed into a city and loosing the atmosphere that I experienced eight years ago. That’s why I felt an urge to come to Leipzig as soon as possible before it looses its uniqueness completely. So, I moved to Leipzig a year ago with a working holiday visa.
Is it different to write your work in Leipzig from in Japan?
It’s completely different. It’s because of the people who I meet in Leipzig. Here, I am surrounded by people who are creators and I am constantly stimulated and inspired. Also there are so many different countries close to each other in Europe. If I feel uninspired, I can go to see a musical in London right away. I wouldn’t be able to do such things in Japan. That’s probably why I really like living in Europe.
Please tell me your goal and your ideas for future works.
I have realized that living in Leipzig made me aware of the social and political problems that I wouldn’t be able to really understand if I were in Japan. For example, I get to hear from people who are here as refugees about how they came to Leipzig and the current situation of their home countries, like Syria and Afghanistan. Japan is an island and it is hard for some people who live in Japan to imagine these issues because it feels too far away. But I would like to make a work that deals with this theme and want Japanese people to become aware that these problems exist closer than they think.
During my study in London, one of my friends was doing a theater research in Leipzig and she invited me to come with her. That was the first time I came to Leipzig. It was eight years ago. Back then, Leipzig had very special atmosphere, which is slightly different from how it is now. There were more empty buildings and artists were utilizing those spaces in whatever ways they want. I was totally fascinated by this city. Since then, I came to Leipzig often and about two years ago, I heard about the residency program at Das Japanische Haus. When I visited Leipzig to learn more about the program, I already noticed that Leipzig has transformed into a city and loosing the atmosphere that I experienced eight years ago. That’s why I felt an urge to come to Leipzig as soon as possible before it looses its uniqueness completely. So, I moved to Leipzig a year ago with a working holiday visa.
Is it different to write your work in Leipzig from in Japan?
It’s completely different. It’s because of the people who I meet in Leipzig. Here, I am surrounded by people who are creators and I am constantly stimulated and inspired. Also there are so many different countries close to each other in Europe. If I feel uninspired, I can go to see a musical in London right away. I wouldn’t be able to do such things in Japan. That’s probably why I really like living in Europe.
Please tell me your goal and your ideas for future works.
I have realized that living in Leipzig made me aware of the social and political problems that I wouldn’t be able to really understand if I were in Japan. For example, I get to hear from people who are here as refugees about how they came to Leipzig and the current situation of their home countries, like Syria and Afghanistan. Japan is an island and it is hard for some people who live in Japan to imagine these issues because it feels too far away. But I would like to make a work that deals with this theme and want Japanese people to become aware that these problems exist closer than they think.
There is something that only people who left their own country can see, feel, and express… I feel extremely lucky to meet such a wonderful passionate and inspiring woman in Leipzig. Thank you, SenS for the fun conversation!
She is now onto a new musical production in Japan! Follow her Website (Japanese only) for her latest news!
She is now onto a new musical production in Japan! Follow her Website (Japanese only) for her latest news!
photography & interview by Michiko Saiki
April 14, 2018
April 14, 2018