Yudai Toyoda look.2

Yudai Toyoda took on the challenge of playing various roles in the Netflix TV drama “Chastity High” and the drama “Cosmetic Playlover.” Look 2 has him dressed all in white. He boldly throws on a white vest for an edgy uniform. The pants are denim and while they are a tad pretty they would also go well with an active getup. What was his frank impression of putting on this stylish getup?

“My initial impression of look 2 was that not everybody looks good for this getup, but once I threw it on it was a perfect fit! I want to wear more fashion that you throw on in this way. There was attention to detail in the yellow coloring on the denim pants and sandals.”

During the interview, he asked me questions about the history of Onitsuka Tiger which left an impression on me. This is because he was into basketball from elementary school to university and even lived in the dorm of a powerhouse school in senior high school. Coincidentally, his favorite court shoes were ones made by Onitsuka Tiger which started out producing basketball shoes. What was for him a source of mental sustenance in devoting his student years to basketball?

“During senior high school, I lived everyday for basketball. The importance of practice and the fortitude to pick yourself up after falling down are traits that have been ingrained in me. Before starting this work, I aspired to become a professional basketball player. Whether in basketball or show business, the decision to make a break for it is the same; but what is most important is the trial and error to achieve a goal. I still have far to go.”

Last year, he made his stage debut at the Sainokuni Saitama Arts Theater for its 30th anniversary production of Hamlet (“Sainokuni Shakespeare 2nd Vol.1: Hamlet.”) Performing in front of a live audience made Toyoda strong.

“Every year I reflect on how actors have changed in terms of how they deal with one another, and having had the opportunity to perform on stage was a big deal for me. It is truly a golden experience to feel the energy at the playhouse of my fellow actors who have inherited the spirit of Yukio Ninagawa. I played Fortinbras who delivers the final lines that represent a hopeful future for the monarchy of Denmark and its subjects. I was nervous every evening and acting is for me hard to do at this point. I live each day thinking how important it is to thoroughly investigate why acting is hard so that my feeling changes into ‘it is hard to do but fun too.’”

I asked him about his private life and he told me enthusiastically about his hobby since he was a young lad.

“While rehearsing I was once told ‘recall how you were when you were young.’ What sprung to mind immediately was that I loved stones. Then I started researching stones on the internet and admiring their beauty. Occasionally I go to a stone specialty store at Kinokuniya Book Store in Shinjuku to look at the gems (laughing.) Just watching them is healing for me. There are many types and the names are difficult to recall but one day I would like to buy a big one (laughing.)”

→ For Look 1, I asked Yudai Toyoda about his student days.

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Direction : Shinsuke Nozaka
Photo,Movie : Nobuko Baba(SIGNO)
Stylist: midori(W)
Hair & Make up: Azusa Matsumori
Text : Saki Shibata