“The heart that works hard” The life of an actress who was deprived of war January 15 at 21:21

"The war has begun. The food is gone. Still, Sonoi did his best. I continued the play. On August 6, 1945, Sonoi was in Hiroshima and exposed to the atomic bomb radiation. It was my birthday morning. ' This is a scene of a creative play performed by local children last year in Iwate Town, Iwate Prefecture. The children played by Keiko Sonoi, an actress from Iwate, who lived in theater until she died at the age of 32 due to the atomic bomb. (Morioka Bureau reporter Yuichiro Yano)

Girls' Generation admiring Takarazuka

Keiko Sonoi, real name, Tomi Hakamada. Sonoi, who spent his childhood in Iwate-machi surrounded by mountains, began to yearn for Takarazuka Revue, which she saw in magazines since elementary school. Even after enrolling in high school, I couldn't give up my dream of Takarazuka. In 1968, I tried to plead for Takarazuka Revue School and went to Osaka by my opposition. At that time, a two-day train transfer from Morioka to Osaka. It was a big decision for a 16-year-old girl who was still innocent.

Although I became part of the dream Takarazuka

Recognizing his enthusiasm, Sonoi is admitted on a special basis. However, despite being part of the dream Takarazuka, his journey was not a brilliant Cinderella story. The role given to Sonoi is a male role, an old woman, a clown.

Although he often played the third role, he rarely played the leading role, but Sonoi nevertheless continued searching for his own way of acting. At the age of 24, Sonoi spells as follows:

"Standing on the stage is painful and fun again. Joy and hope come out of suffering. There is nothing so sad and compassionate that you can't do your own strong show. Every day, I can't help but feel the irresistible feeling of each dialogue. ”

A-bombed in the middle of Shi

Sonoi retired from Takarazuka before his 30th birthday in 1942 to expand his range of acting, as his acting skills, which he had steadily cultivated, were gradually evaluated. Take that well and get a great chance. He was to appear in the movie "Ichihoumatsu Issei" as a partner of the national star, Bando Tsumasaburo. He played a widow of an army captain, and his acting ability was highly evaluated, and he quickly became the spotlight.

However, the war in Japan was gradually worsening during the Pacific War. In 1945, air raids on the mainland intensified, and troupes who did not follow national policy were forced to disband one after another. The only theater personnel at that time could only play the mobile theater corps, which comfortably traveled around the region. One of them was "Sakura Corps" to which Sonoi belonged.

On August 6, 1945, members of the Sakura Corps were bombed in Hiroshima, where they visited for comfort. Sonoi was miraculously intact and was living in a friend's house in Kobe, but suddenly fell ill with the symptoms of the A-bomb and became a person who did not return six days after the end of the war. Immediately before his death, Sonoi had a passion for theater.

"The day of returning to true health will be near. Then I'll be fine. I will do it. From now on, we must do something to help build the energy to stand up in Japan, rather than on top of the Japanese national culture. Know everything. Do anything. Run! Reflection and execution. "

74 years after the war

Keiko Sonoi, who died in the middle of the road due to the atomic bomb, was said to be an "unfinished" actress. His life came to the limelight once again because of the activities of his alumni in Iwate, where he spent his childhood. In order to preserve the living proof of Sonoi, who once admired as an independent woman, she raised donations from all over the country. In 1996, she constructed a bronze statue of Sonoi in the form of a hakama in Takarazuka's formal attire.

Last year, Sonoi was newly added to the Takarazuka Hall of Fame. In the Hall of Fame, relics are on display alongside the great actresses of the past, such as Koshiji Fubuki and Kaoru Yachigusa. Sonoi's existence has become known to many Takarazuka fans again.

Telling children through plays

In Iwate-cho, the home of Sonoi, with a population of 13,000, the importance of living with dedication to dreams is handed down to children along with the misery of the atomic bomb.

Last November, a creative drama in which six students from elementary school to junior high school participated. Junji Hiramatsu, a sophomore junior high school student who plays the role of Sonoi for the first time, played. Mr. Hiramatsu is a girl who longs for a theater company just like Sonoi used to be.

At the end of the play, the children all sent a message to Sonoi's bronze statue.

"It would have been painful. It would have been noisy. A straight gentle heart. A heart that works hard. Everyone inherits it. Please watch over us. "

(Takeda)
"Mr. Sonoi has learned that she has been pursuing her dreams after the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Even if she has any difficulties, she will continue to pursue her dreams."

(Mr. Hiramatsu)
"By playing Sonoi, I learned that in order to realize my dream, it's important to never give up on my decision and express my opinion clearly. I would like to go"

The life of an actress who lived in the play "Hitotsuji" deprived of the war. It is about to be handed down to local children 75 years after the war.

Morioka Bureau reporter
Yuichiro Yano Covered the incidents in 2018 and covered the earthquake disaster