Actor and dancer Ryotaro Sakaguchi's first essay "Today, I'll dance on the stage again"

It is when you give up many things that your true colors become clear.

Actor and dancer　Ryotaro Sakaguchi(Ryotaro Sakaguchi)

■ Profile
Born on 1990 month.
He made his debut in a dance performance directed by Mirai Moriyama.
Her main appearances include the morning drama "Ranman" (NHK), the drama "Love School" (CX),
Movies such as "Chihayafuru (series)" and "Under Ninja".
Her first essay, "Today, I'll Dance on the Stage Again," is now on sale from Kodansha.

While working as an actor, he also published his first book"Today, I'll dance on the stage again"Ryotaro Sakaguchi, author of "The Great Passage." As the word "ramekatsu" (laughing life) appears in the book, he says that he has given up many things and faced himself in the same way. We spoke to him about his own experiences and the thoughts he put into the book.

■How did you spend your student days?

I made my debut as a dancer in my second year of high school. My father was transferred, but I was also conscious of the world I would be in in the future, and thought, "Maybe it would be better to live somewhere closer to Tokyo," so I moved to Kanagawa Prefecture when I started high school. Even back then, I think I was thinking about what kind of places I should go and what kind of people I should associate with in order to reach the world I loved. What should I do to achieve my goals? I spent my time digging into that.
When I was 18, I joined an entertainment agency, but for a year I didn't pass any auditions. When I think about why I failed at the time, I think it was because I didn't understand myself. I had no idea what my strengths were, or how to produce myself to make the most of my physique. Looking back now, I think, "There's no way I'd pass that."
When I kept failing auditions, I wondered what I was doing wrong. The important thing is to show yourself properly. Once I realized that, I started thinking about how I could help this production. Also, the rules of the place I was working part-time at the time prohibited hairstyles that covered your ears, so when I got my hair cut at the hair salon, I asked, "Just show your ears," and for some reason, it ended up being a bob. But, by chance, after I got this hairstyle, I started passing more and more auditions. I guess this hairstyle matched my strengths. And so, I finally made my debut.

Acting, singing, dancing. The rewards of a multi-tasking career

I don't know if I find this job rewarding. Rather, I do it simply because I love it. If I had to say, my criteria would be "whether it makes me happy" and "whether it's fun to do." I think that what I do because I want to do it will ultimately benefit others as well.
However, if I force myself to do things for others, I feel like I might mistakenly think I'm great for doing it, and end up pushing others into a corner, so I always try to value "what I want to do."
I started "Ramekatsu" in order to find out what I wanted to do. This "Ramekatsu" is an activity that involves giving up on something and clarifying what is important to me. I had always lived my life wanting to be like my idol, Kubozuka Yosuke, and join Morning Musume. However, I realized that no matter how much I chased those dreams, I would never reach them on my own. But in order to get to that world, I had to give up on something, find that world in my own way, and reach it. In other words, I had to give up and clarify it. When I realized this, my life opened up. In other words, I didn't give up on giving up!

■First essay: "Today, I'll dance on the stage again"

During an interview, I was asked, "Would you like to write a serial?", which led me to write this book. I had never written a book before, so I was a bit unsure whether I could do it, but I decided to give it a try, and on the day I received the offer, I wrote my first essay at a cafe in Shinjuku on my way home. When I started writing, I had a lot of fun and thought, "I've found something new and interesting!" Once I started writing, I ended up writing something different from what I had originally intended to write, so I didn't know what would come out. There were many parts where I realized, "I never knew I was thinking this way" after writing. Writing is about getting to know yourself. I felt it was the ultimate form of self-awareness.
The title of my book, "Dancing on the Cha Stage Again Today," is a play on the words "chabudai" (low table) and "stage." I've performed on theater stages, in plays and performances, and I've lived a life of dancing on stage, but when asked if that's my life, I'd say no. I think that everyday life, like drinking tea, watching TV, or sewing in front of the low table at home, is the stage of my life, the real thing. I put this feeling into the title, "Dancing on the Cha Stage Again Today." There were other title candidates, but ever since I was about two years old, I'd go to musicals and then dance on the low table at home, doing "Ryo-chan on Stage," so the low table has always been like a stage to me. That's why I decided on this title.
I asked myself many times, "Am I forcing myself?", "Am I following what others tell me even though I think that's not right?", and "Am I comparing myself to others?", and it was only by giving up on those questions and clarifying my own colors that I was able to dance on the "Cha Stage." I hope that through this book, which describes my realizations and failures, you will think, "I'll be careful not to do the same thing," but also not be afraid of failure and realize that "failure is wonderful."

■Message to university students

Please fail. I'm sure textbooks say to live your life without failing, but it's precisely because I've failed that I've truly realized and learned so much. I'm not saying you should force yourself to fail, but having your own opinion, feeling strongly that "this is the best thing to do," and then failing after giving it your all will definitely be a source of nourishment in life. Rather than thinking, "I messed up," I want you to think, "Because I learned from my failure, I won't have to expose myself to the same embarrassment again in the future." Many people become intimidated by worrying about what others think, or by being afraid to act, but don't be afraid; express your will with all your might.

Student Newspaper Online, August 14, 2025, Interview by Ochanomizu University First-year student, Ieda Arisa

First essay"Today, I'll dance on the stage again"

Ochanomizu University freshman Ieda Arisa / Showa Women's University sophomore Abe Rurika

Costume cooperation: LHME | LION HEART | remer | SHINGO KUZUNO (all Sian PR 03-6662-5525), HOUGA (HOUGA info@houga.jp)
Stylist: Takashi Sekiya
Hair & Makeup: Kaori Yagi