The days when I was fascinated by ballet and grew up with it.
I'm currently looking at my next goal.

Miyako Yoshida is a world-renowned ballet dancer born in Japan. She danced as a principal (highest rank) dancer with Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet Company (currently Birmingham Royal Ballet Company) in England for 7 years and with the Royal Ballet Company based at London's Royal Opera House for 15 years. She has captivated audiences as a dancer who embodies the essence of British ballet with her sophisticated technique, excellent musicality, and rich acting ability. Yoshida continued to dance as a freelance dancer even after retiring from the Royal Ballet in 2010, but in August of this year, she put an end to her career as a dancer with the performance of ``Last Dance'' at the New National Theater Opera Palace. Tickets for the performance sold out as soon as they went on sale, and the show ended amid thunderous applause.

One month later. When I asked Yoshida, who had a relaxed expression on his face, what he wanted to try now, he answered with a mischievous smile, "It's something that was forbidden until now!" He has avoided activities that carry the risk of injury, such as skiing, as well as other sports for fear of shifting his body's axis.

At the Royal Ballet, where dance elites from the UK and abroad compete, the daily rigor of pursuing the best performance can be seen in every word. The morning begins with practice to prepare the body, and the afternoon is rehearsal for the performance. On the days I don't have rehearsals, I train or go to the gym, and then I get treatment. Even after returning home, work such as sewing ribbons onto pointe shoes still awaits. As the performance approaches, I wear out my shoes more and more. She spent most of the day doing ballet, concentrating on getting everything on stage for the actual performance.

It all started when I was in kindergarten. At her friend's recital, she instantly fell in love with ballet. She practiced hard, won an award at the Lausanne International Ballet Competition, which was her gateway to junior success, and went to England to study. Her excellent technique was recognized by Peter Wright, then artistic director of Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet, and her career as a professional was opened. But when he started getting roles and starring in full-length ballets, he was asked to do more than just technique.

``I've always been told that I don't have enough expression,'' Yoshida says, but it's hard to believe. Yoshida has breathed fresh life into various ballet heroines, including Juliet, who transforms into a strong woman through her love with Romeo, and Giselle, who dedicates pure love to her lover even after being betrayed, and has captivated audiences in Shakespeare's country. Because it has moved me. However, this was achieved through constant research and effort.

At first, it was pointed out to me that no matter how much emotion I had inside of me, I couldn't see it from the outside. I really felt the difference between Japan and Western culture, where gestures are abundant in everyday life. However, rather than copying her existing methods of expression, Yoshida delved into the emotional folds of her heroine and looked for ways to integrate them with her own dancing. He thought that big gestures and acting were inappropriate, and he paid close attention to details that other dancers ignored. As she gained stage experience, she established her own unique style of expression, which captured the hearts of British audiences who understood and appreciated the individuality of dancers.

I was never particularly treated as Japanese in the ballet company, and I never pursued a ``Japanese'' expression. However, Yoshida believes that a dancer's sensibility is always reflected in the dance. After retiring as a dancer, he also had time to learn about Japanese culture. Recently, he had the opportunity to consider the concept of ``Tsui'' between the West and Japan. In the UK, when we say "pair", we mean two of the same thing, whether it's tableware or art. However, in Japan, even if there are subtle differences, they are sometimes considered to be a pair. He also knows about glamorous, perfectly groomed beauty. However, he admired the sensibility and peace of mind of Japanese people who saw imperfection as beauty and enjoyed it.

Following in Yoshida's footsteps, many Japanese dancers are now dancing all over the world. Japanese dancers are good at learning, and their precision in dancing is world-class. In addition to this fineness, which is a beauty, it is important to establish your own unique expression. And when this expression is refined through dialogue between Japanese sensibilities and European culture, a new style of ballet may be born. From the side of learning and absorbing information, to the side of transmitting "Japanese style" to the world. Yoshida dreams that that day will come.

(Titles omitted)

Cardigan ¥80,000 Skirt ¥129,000/Max Mara (Max Mara Japan)
Shoes ¥89,000/Roger Vivier (Roger Vivier Japan)
Ring ¥278,000/M/G TASAKI (TASAKI)

→Continued to the new horizon that Miyako Yoshida is looking at (Part 2)

“Yoshida Miyako: Eternal Principal” (Kawade Shobo Shinsha)
A memorial book containing messages from Miyako Yoshida, who decided to retire as a ballet dancer, her thoughts on her beloved repertoire, and 35 years of treasured photos.
www.kawade.co.jp/np/isbn/9784309290423

Miyako Yoshida
Born in Tokyo. She started ballet at the age of nine, won the Prix de Lausanne at the 1983 Lausanne International Ballet Competition, and studied abroad at the Royal Ballet School. He joined Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet (now Birmingham Royal Ballet) in 1984 and was promoted to principal four years later. In 1995, he joined the Royal Ballet as a principal dancer. Until he left in 2010, he starred in numerous stage productions. He has received numerous awards including the Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 2017 he was selected as a Person of Cultural Merit. He retired from active duty in August 2019. In October, he received the Kikuchi Hiroshi Award for his worldwide contribution to ballet culture and for attracting many fans until his retirement. In 8, he will become the artistic director of the dance department of the New National Theatre.