Hikaru Morimoto talks about the work of actor trainers and the “Field Survey Group of Expression

What kind of job does an “actor trainer” do?

Takano (MC): You are an “actor trainer,” Morimoto-san.

Morimoto: I guess it is a role like an instructor, giving lessons to actors to help them acquire acting skills.

Takano: I have always wondered how actors learn acting.

Morimoto: In Japan, actors learn their acting skills by being directed by a director. The place of training is different in each country, but it could be a university, a private school, or a training school.

Takano: Is it different overseas?

Morimoto: For example, in England, where I was, acting techniques are systematized, and if you want to learn acting techniques, you go to that university or that school and learn from that instructor. So, if you want to learn acting technique, you go to that university or that school and learn from that instructor.

Takano: I see. What was it that inspired you to start Actor Trainer, Morimoto-san?

Morimoto: Let me start with a bit of a negative story. I was originally an actor, and the harassment I suffered during my career was so painful that I felt I could no longer stay in Japan, even though I love acting.

So I studied at a graduate school in England, where I took classes as an actor trainer and did specialized research. As I learned there, I thought it was necessary to create an environment where the harassment I suffered would be less likely to happen again, both to heal my own wounds and for the sake of those who are currently active in the field, and that is why I started this project.

Takano: I see, you want to solve problems within the Japanese acting industry and support those who are in need. As an actor trainer, what do you actually teach?

Morimoto: It depends on the person, but in my case, there are three types. The first is acting techniques, the second is how to create a piece, and the third is how to communicate in the rehearsal room before creating a piece.

Takano: What do you mean by how to create a piece?

Morimoto: In most cases, the director or playwright decides on the blueprint of the piece from the beginning and follows it, but what I recommend to actors is that they take the initiative in creating the piece from the beginning to the end. What I recommend to actors is to create the work from the beginning to the end, without a script or anything.

Takano: I see. You mean that they actively participate in the work.

Morimoto: That’s exactly what you mean.

Takano: By doing so, everyone, including the actors, can work together to create the work. Also, how to communicate is important. It’s not easy to learn that.

Morimoto: It really is. If you start to accelerate the project with the initial awkward relationship, it can get messed up, and then you end up with problems!　I think it can end up like …… that’s over.

The Field of Expression Research Group, which investigates and presents on harassment and gender inequality in the field of expression.

Takano: Morimoto-san, you are also active as an activist.

Morimoto: Yes, I am. First of all, I would like to introduce the “Expression Frontline Investigation Group.” In Japan, there are various industries of expression such as fine arts, theater, film, design, and so on. This organization investigates and publishes information on how harassment and gender inequality occur in these various fields of expression.

Takano: Yes, and you are also an LGBTQ+ activist, right?

Morimoto: Yes, I am!　We do educational activities, and the other day I participated in a study session for members of the Diet and gave a talk.

Takano: What exactly is your driving force, Morimoto-san?

Morimoto: In my case, if I don’t engage in activities, I am left with frustration and pain, and that is hard. I do activities to relieve that. If I don’t move, it’s a little hard.

Takano: I see, but your activities give courage to those who are in need in various places and who are unable to speak up on their own.

Now I would like to play a song here, and I would like to send you Mr. Morimoto’s song selection. What kind of song did you choose?

Morimoto: The song is called “Mysterious Power” by Ezra Furman. In this song, she is alone in a room as a boy, the gender she was assigned at birth, and in the absence of other people, she plays her favorite radio and admits that she is not a boy. I think this song is about being alone in a room with no one there, playing your favorite radio and admitting that you are not a boy.

Takano: As Morimoto-san said, listening to the radio in the middle of nowhere, you recognize your true self. The tune of the song is also very appropriate for this time of day.

Now, Morimoto-san, what are your plans for the future?

Morimoto: Yes, I will tell you two things. First, I am planning to participate in the “Tokyo Liberation March” to be held on April 22 as a general citizen. There is a lot of discrimination in the world. I would like to march with a message of “Discrimination is strange, isn’t it?

We will announce the results of the survey around the fall of this year, though I am not sure of the specifics yet.

Takano: Thank you very much. If you are interested in our activities after listening to Morimoto-san’s talk today, please follow our activities. FIST BUMP, today we talked to Hikaru Morimoto, an actor-trainer and activist. Thank you very much.