On May 22 (Mon.), Tamasaburo Bando, Takuya Kageyama (IMP.), Satoshi Matsuda, Ryunosuke Matsumura, and Kazutaka Ishii, who will be starring in their first solo stage production, appeared at a press conference held at the Kyoto Railway Museum and each expressed their enthusiasm for the stage.

Tamasaburo BandoThis is my second new play at the Minamiza, following last year. It is a story about a young man who takes the next step in his life while riding a train. We haven't started rehearsing yet, but we have read the book and rehearsed a couple of times together. We are going to work hard to prepare for the first day of the show in July.

Takuya KageyamaI will be playing the role of Taro. （Taro is not a counselor for the young men on the star train in search of their dreams, but he can give advice calmly, but when it comes to himself, he gets stuck or a little confused. What do I want to do? So in that respect, I would like to play the role with a clear image of Taro, while putting "Takuya Kageyama" into the role as well.

Kazutaka IshiiI play the role of a conductor. The star train is a legendary train that is said to be a place where dreams can be found, and these three young people come on board with their problems. The role of the adults is to guide and guide them, to help them figure out what kind of life they should lead and what kind of dream they should have. The role also has a mysterious side to it, as if I can see into their lives and their futures, making it a somewhat unique role. I am working very hard on the script, consulting with Tamasaburo. I also want to bring out the funny side of the character (laughs). I myself love to be funny, but I want to bring out the funny, comedy-leaf side of me.

Satoshi MatsudaThe character I will be playing, Jiro, is a character who is overwhelmed by the kind of obstacles that one might encounter during adolescence or when just starting out in society, such as the feeling that no one is looking at you and wondering what the hell I am, and the feeling that everyone has passed this point before. I think the role of Jiro is like a character who is devastated by the barriers that everyone has passed through. But I really like the role of Jiro. What I really like about Jiro is that his heart is crushed and devastated, but he somehow manages to hold on to the light. I sympathize with him so much, and I want to hit him with all my strength, as if I am trying to live my youth all over again.

Ryunosuke MatsumuraThe character I play, Goro, is a man who longs to be a Kabuki actor, but has failed to become one. I am looking forward to playing such a role in front of Tamasaburo. Goro is very strong and does not ask for any self-sacrifice or reward for helping others. He is that kind, but he is also clumsy and hard to hate. I think he is a bit like me... He is clumsy, but he loves to help people, and I think he is very cool, just like me (laughs).

The story is about a group of troubled young men who board a legendary train that will help them find their dreams and pursue them. That is what I wanted to portray. It is a story about young people finding their next life, but there is not much of a conclusion. I hope that the audience will be led by the conductor to the music and feel as if they have experienced such a moment in their lives. He also expressed his determination, saying, "Since this is an original work, it is the role of the director to make it easy for everyone to discuss and to be passionate about this work, rather than easy to work with.

When asked about his impression of Tamasaburo, Kageyama said, "Even though he is usually very busy, I was very happy that he took me so seriously during the song rehearsals. He smiled and said, "Even though he is usually very busy, I was very happy to see how serious he was during the song rehearsals.

Q: At the press conference, you mentioned that this is your first time singing on stage.

Kageyama: In terms of difficulties, the vocalizations we usually sing live as [IMP.] and the vocalizations in the stage production of "Let's Go by Star Train" are completely different, so we are struggling a lot. However, I am learning a lot about how to sing differently, and I have always really liked singing, so even the time I am struggling with it, I am having a lot of fun now. I hope to bring out the new Takuya Kageyama, and I am happy that my fans and audience members will be able to see it.

Q: Tamasaburo-san described Kageyama-san as "a very bright and positive young man.

Kageyama: Even though I am ......, yes, I am (laughs). For example, I don't have a hard time hitting a wall, as in the vocalization of this song, but on the contrary, I am the type of person who gets fired up when I hit a wall. I am positive in this respect, and I don't take it too negatively. It's embarrassing to say this about myself (laughs). I am happier when I find something I cannot do, and I am determined to conquer it! I am sure I will conquer it! When I visualize the picture of myself after overcoming those difficulties, or the image of myself having achieved those things, I feel more determined to get there.

Q: Listening to you, I can certainly sense the power that overflows from Kageyama-san. I am looking forward to seeing you on stage more and more, but this is your fourth performance at the Minamiza.

Kageyama: Yes. ［When I visited the Minamiza for the first time, I thought it was like a maze. The flow line from the backstage entrance to my dressing room was quite complicated. But for me personally, it was a lot of fun (laughs). It tickles my boyish heart, but compared to other theaters, it has a "secret base" feel to it that I find exciting (laughs).

Q: Did you explore the area around the Minamiza and Kyoto?

Kageyama: I once went to a park near the Minamiza when I was here. I was just paddling on the swings (laughs). (Laughs). I honestly feel that I haven't gotten to know Kyoto yet because I can't go outside much during the performance period. Shunsuke Motoi, one of our members, is a great fan of temples and shrines, and he also loves Kyoto, so when I visit Kyoto, I will ask him which spots he recommends and try to visit them on days off or when I have time. However, this is the first time for me to stay in Kyoto for three weeks by myself. In the past, I have often gone on regional tours with the members, and we could gather at a hotel and talk or just hang out together. Since I will be alone this time, I don't know what I will do .......

Q: I know you miss the members, but if you have time, I hope you will enjoy Kyoto to the fullest. By the way, how was the press conference at the Kyoto Railway Museum?

Kageyama: I really enjoyed visiting the Kyoto Railway Museum (laughs). (Laughs.) You can feel the history of railroads. (Laughs.) And I thought that the museum was probably the only place where you could get a chance to see a train up close and personal, right in front of you. I would like to visit various museums, not only train museums (laughs). I also wanted to go to a planetarium! Tamasaburo asked me, "Have you ever seen the stars? I told him that I have never even seen a shooting star, and he told me that the planetarium was a good place to go.

Takuya Kageyama is looking forward to seeing how he has matured in the stage production of "Let's Go on a Star Train". 27-year-old Takuya Kageyama will deliver an even better stage performance with his power and overflowing guts. In addition to the expectations for Tamasaburo's direction, you can see the growth of these young actors with your own eyes. ［Let's take the star train at the Minamiza and embark on a journey to find the dreams that people today tend to lose sight of!