Choreographer/Co-director Yuma Suzuki on instagram
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[Kassouya ~Volume 2~] The nine performances in Fukuoka have come to a close.
Thank you so much to everyone who came to see the show.
I hope you enjoyed it!
Kassouya is now in its third year.
The premiere production was created just as the name “Kassouya” was born. I was still feeling my way through things at the time, but guided by the concept of captivating the audience through skating, it was a work where Daisuke’s vision and my choreographic world truly exploded. After a revival in Hiroshima during our second year, the production took shape and was enriched by the addition of new members.
As I mentioned during the final performance,
precisely because of this—and because the first volume was so well-received—
the pressure to present a new work as “Kassouya” was immense.
I had sleepless nights one after another,
and before I knew it, I’d be writing until dawn.
Choreography and direction are solitary tasks.
He [Daisuke] had to engage with many people, make a series of decisions, and within the constraints of time,
budget, physical strength, and reputation, he had to draw the card that would lead to the greatest possible success.
Therefore, I think the burden on him was considerably greater than mine.
But before I knew it, I was completely absorbed in what he/we wanted to do for Volume 2,
and a new, story-driven world of “Kassouya” centered on the “Four Gods” theme burst forth like a dam breaking.
That, too, is thanks to Daisuke, our producer and director.
Thank you for bringing out all the choreography and worldviews inside me.
We discussed things far more intensely than last time, sometimes clashing, sometimes laughing *laugh*
That's why we were able to power through these past six months, and in Matsuyama and Fukuoka,
thanks to the trust we built through our collaborative partnership.
Also, as with last time, I'm grateful to Daisuke, Kana-chan, Kanako-chan, and Kiki-chan for taking care of the choreography from the land and bringing it to the ice without losing a single note or nuance.
Kana-chan and Kanako-chan were so deeply involved in the development of every single number that they could surely dance all of them.
Even though you yourselves had such demanding roles as the leaders of the Four Gods, thank you for guiding and supporting everyone.
Assistant directors Sato-san, Fujiwara-san, and Kiki-chan, thank you so much for all your support as part of the production team.
And to all the skaters who drilled these unconventional choreography and complex formations into their bodies and elevated them into performances that captivated everyone—I send you my deepest gratitude and endless applause.
To Imazeki-san, who participated in rehearsals in Funabashi with such genuine joy; to Tanaka-kun, who never let his composure waver but occasionally flashed a smile as bright as a diamond; Miura-san’s dedication to staying true to the work, Hozumi-chan who struggled with the fan veil while crying in Matsuyama, Urabe-san’s smile as she took on an impossible stand-in role, Toda-kun who returned despite his injury, Saki-chan who stayed with the team until the very end, and Kosho, who, in the absence of Kazuki, boosted the morale of both the skaters and the production team as a first-generation member of the skating troupe, Haruya and Yuto’s strong, steady presence; Koshiro, who said “Dancing is fun” two years ago, and his growth and leadership; Yuna, who, despite her amazing skating skills, never once complained when I focused solely on stage direction for the acting, and instead faced the challenge head-on to deepen her role; and Ikura, whose wildness—whether calculated or instinctive, I can’t tell—always surpasses my choreography. The list goes on and on.
Thank you all so much.
Please, everyone, continue to support these kids—
whether they’re performing as “Kassouya” or not.
We look forward to your continued support for “Kassouya.”
I’ve read all of your analyses and impressions of Volume 2.
In fact, sometimes they make me realize, “Oh, so that’s a possible interpretation.” That might just become fuel for something…
Thank you for the “Kassouya” Fukuoka Performance, Volume 2.
Let’s meet again amidst this endless afterglow.
(though she does still end up reaching for his heart and breaking into a mad laugh in the end - maybe she stole his soul this time?):
And I think it was necessary - to provide a light-hearted counterpoint to this very dramatic production.
I find it particularly refreshing compared to “Hyoen,” where, up until now, basically all the lead roles have been male.
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And yes, she is such an expressive and refined skater that she is a fantastic addition to any show. She was part of the "Ice Explosion 2023" cast — so I could definitely see her joining Kassouya (even though she doesn’t seem to be doing as many shows as she used to).
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