Translation of the HIMAWARI interview from the most recent pamphlet:
>-You balance both pro wrestling and theater, HIMAWARI, but how did you first get into theater?
>HIMAWARI: I went to an elementary school that took things like school plays and music festivals seriously. Every year we would all go watch a Shiki Theatre Company production, and then we would perform that play for our school play — it was an annual tradition. That’s where I discovered how fun the stage could be.
>What kind of play was it?
>HIMAWARI: It was a play called Elcos’ Prayer, which takes place at a school. I really liked the role of Daniela, a mean female teacher in the story. I auditioned for the role in class, got the part, and actually performed it in our school play — and it scared the younger kids so much that some of them cried. That reaction was so much fun for me that I thought, Maybe this is what I want to do! That was the very first spark.
>-And then you joined the drama club?
>HIMAWARI: I went to a high school that had a theater department. We had classes in dance and vocal music, and there were regular performances held at the school, so I was able to learn at a pretty professional level. I even entered a musical theater program in college, so altogether I spent seven years living that kind of life.
>-What happened after you graduated from college?
>HIMAWARI: I joined a theater troupe that was just being launched. But unfortunately, my graduation year coincided with the COVID pandemic. Our graduation ceremony was canceled, and I couldn’t even leave the house.
>-And I guess you couldn’t do stage plays at that point either.
>HIMAWARI: Not at all. The very first production I was supposed to be in got canceled because of COVID, and I had no choice but to work part-time jobs. It was pretty rough. In the end, the theater company itself shut down because of COVID.
>-This might be a bit out of order, but when did you first encounter pro wrestling?
