Chutobu Junior High School ──Classical Performing Arts Appreciation Event and Backstage Visit──

On June 10, 2025, the "Classical Performing Arts Appreciation Event," one of the school's annual events, was held. All first and second-year students of Chutobu Junior High School traveled to the Arakawa City Civic Hall (Sunpearl Arakawa) to watch the Kabuki play "Tsuchiya Chikara."

In this Kabuki performance, it happened that Keio alumni Mr. Nakamura Kinnosuke (Chutobu Junior High School graduate), Mr. Nakamura Senjaku (Keio Futsubu School graduate), and Mr. Ichikawa Seitora (Chutobu Junior High School graduate) were performing. After the performance, members of the Journalism Research Club and others were given the precious opportunity to visit the dressing rooms and present bouquets to their seniors. At that time, the three performers shared various stories, including memories of their middle and high school days at Keio, and allowed us to take commemorative photos.

Here are the impressions of a Chutobu Junior High School student who was able to speak with their seniors in the dressing room.

"After the Kabuki appreciation event, I had the precious experience of speaking in the dressing room with Kabuki actors Mr. Nakamura Kinnosuke, a graduate of Chutobu Junior High School, Mr. Nakamura Senjaku, a graduate of Keio Futsubu School, and Mr. Ichikawa Seitora, a graduate of Chutobu Junior High School.

The three of them shared memories from their middle and high school years. What left an impression on me was their advice that studying is very important. They mentioned that what they studied when they were young sometimes proves useful in their current work as Kabuki actors. They also said they still vividly remember events like Sports Day and intramural competitions even after graduation. Furthermore, they told us that Chutobu Junior High School is such a fun place where you can make lifelong friends, and they encouraged us to enjoy the rest of our life at Chutobu Junior High School.

While they had a strong image of fortitude while performing their roles, they were very kind and easy to talk to in person. It was my first time speaking with Kabuki actors and I was very nervous, but the three of them were so kind that my tension eased. It was a wonderful experience to be able to speak directly with Kabuki actors, whom I usually don't have the chance to talk to."