Interview/Text: Honami Sugita/My Navi Woman Editorial Department
Photography: Kota Sasaki
In February of this year, Marika Matsumoto announced on her Instagram that she would be taking a break from work, saying, "I'm thinking of taking a break." As planned, I had a “rest period” for about a month from mid-April.
"Movie Yokai Share House - Hakuba no Ouji ja ja nai Kai" starring Mr. Matsumoto will be released on June 17th. Mr. Matsumoto plays the familiar youkai "Oiwa-san" in "Uramesiya".
Mr. Matsumoto said, "I don't need a break." Why did she decide to take a “holiday vacation” now, and what has changed after this vacation period?
"Oiwa-san" is a character that I learned a lot from
――In this work, Mr. Matsumoto played a youkai called "Oiwa-san" who holds a strong grudge against her husband who poisoned her. How was it when you actually performed?
Oiwa generally has a negative image of being scary, resentful, muddy, and obsessive. But if you turn the underlying weaknesses into strengths and turn the negatives into positives, it becomes affectionate, comical, scary and sexy.
You can say that in real life as well. Even if you think "He's unkind and unsociable", that's just one side of that person. You can also think of it like that.
Oiwa-san was a character that made me realize that changing how I see and perceive myself can change things so much. I feel like she had a lot to learn through her experience.
――Mr. Matsumoto, who played Oiwa, was very fresh when she turned her eyes white and screamed around.
At first, I was embarrassed and embarrassed about acting. I didn't know what to do, like, "Is this kind of pop okay? Is it okay to be silly like this?" After that, enjoy yourself!"
Also, when I peel the whites of my eyes, my chin pops out for some reason (laughs). Then everyone said, "Wow." I was happy about that, and it escalated day by day (laughs).
――The special makeup is also quite authentic.
Special makeup took about 5 hours each time. “Mr. Oiwa” was the role that took the most time to make up, so I went in first thing in the morning and everyone came in the middle of the day and saw off everyone’s makeup (laughs).
――Compared to the usual filming, it must have been physically demanding.
Since I am wearing an eyepatch, I could hardly see my right eye during filming. Besides, I was wearing a kimono and a wig, so it was really heavy and difficult.
During the vacation period, I spent my days “just living”
――The theme of this work is the “difficulty of living” in modern society, but there must have been many scenes that made you think.
I myself have always wondered "how to live", or rather "how to live", and have been searching for the answer for decades.
After filming for this film, I took a month off for the first time in a long time and went to Sri Lanka to practice Ayurveda.
――When you say “just live”…?
Wake up, do yoga, eat breakfast. After taking a short break, eat lunch and do some work. After that, I had dinner, took a walk, and communicated with people I passed by...
Like this, I spent my days doing nothing, being productive, and not being interfered with by anyone. Then, for the first time, things like, "The rice is delicious," "The greenery is beautiful," and "The birds are singing beautifully." I felt it.
――Is it a “small happiness” that you tend to forget when you are busy with your daily life?
――Did you have a strong desire to do all the work you received because you have experienced a long period of laying the groundwork?
Until now, I didn't have "rest, take a break" in my dictionary. I hated taking a break, to the extent that I told my manager, "I don't need a break, so it's okay to fill it all in."
――Amidst all this, what was the impetus for taking this leave of absence?
I got a word from the manager saying "You can take a rest". At that time, I had already taken a break.
But if it hadn't been for you, I think I would have said, "I can't do it anymore." I didn't want to whine because I was in such a great environment, and I thought I should never say that, but I was over my limit and my capacity. But this gave me a better understanding of my capacity.
――There were voices of surprise and concern about Mr. Matsumoto's "declaration of suspension".
I didn't mean to declare it, but it was in the news that I was "closed" (laughs). Moreover, it seems that I gave the impression that I was going to take a very long vacation.
--yes. I was wondering if I could take a long break.
That's right. It wasn't long, and the closure declaration wasn't a big deal, but when I saw the news about the "closure declaration," there were a lot of people cheering me on.
I think it's probably the voices of people who think to themselves, "I want to rest, it's important to rest." Then, I thought that it would be good if it would be an opportunity for people who find it difficult to say "I want to rest" to become a world where they can say "I want to rest", so don't say anything to the news and just wait and see. let's see
Liberation from the “difficulty of living” is “when you no longer care about yourself.”
――What has changed the most in yourself after such a holiday period?
I don't care about being myself or being myself anymore.
Instead of looking for your own uniqueness, walk at a speed that feels comfortable for you, and eat while enjoying what you enjoy. As a result, when you see it from the surroundings, it becomes "myself".
No matter how much I try to find something that makes me "myself," I can't find it. If you don't worry about "what kind of character should I be" or "how should I interact with people", I may be able to be myself.
If you work in that comfortable state, I think that the “difficulty in life” will naturally disappear.
――I feel that Mr. Matsumoto's expression is very lively.
My eyes are sparkling right now. As for work, I used to look forward to it, but I used to have a lot of fear, wondering if I could do it. But now, I can't help but look forward to it. even if it couldn't.
For me, I wonder if the days I ran through were important in their own way. Because of those days, I was able to see a 180 degree different world.
So even if you think it's hard or tough right now, it definitely makes sense. Because the moment when I bounce back will definitely come. I believe that a new world will open up for you if you give it a go and rest.