Hi.
Nice to meetyou.

Kimi, let me
introduce you tosomeone.

This is Ms. Mizuka
Ueno, a principal
dancer of The TokyoBallet.
H-hello.
It's such apleasure to meetyou.

Whatoutstanding body
proportions!
I can't believe
we're the samespecies!!

Principal!?

Episode 2

Episode 2

Do you know what's so
special about Mizuka?

She is the only female
dancer in Japan who has
been permitted by Mr.
Béjart to dance Boléro.

The Tokyo Ballet
was alreadyfrequently
touring the world
at that time.

I was originallywith a differentballet company.

So I was attracted
to the company'sinternational
aspect as well...

Oh yes,
I remember...

But I admired Ms.
Sylvie Guillem, andwhen I saw herdance Boléro, I wasthrilled.

I wanted to perform
Béjart's works so badlythat I moved to The
Tokyo Ballet.

Mizuka!

Two days
after joining
the company

We will stage yourdebut in Florence!

Your role will be Kitri
from Don Quixote!

Really!?

Here.

It's a video of
Béjart's Boléro.
Could youplease watch itand learn themoves?

Me!?

026

Dancing Boléro was oneof my biggest dreams.

I never told Mr. Sasaki
about it, but it was asthough he could see
into my soul.

I'm thinking of
casting you forBoléro.

We are going to senda video of your dance
to Béjart, so be
prepared.

So I'm grateful toMr. Sasaki formaking my dreamcome true.

That was how I got
to dance Boléro.

Please come andvisit our studiosome time!

... No, I'm totallystarstruck.

Watching such aspectacularperformance,bumping into sucha big star, andhearing such an
intimate story...

Kimi,
are you ok?

028

Thank you,Mizuka.

Now I'minterested inMr. Béjart's
other works.
But actually...
I want to know
more about what
Mr. Sasaki was like!

Well then, as
Mizuka kindly
invited us...

Why don't we go andvisit their studio?

TheTokyo
Ballet in
MeguroWow....!!

Oh! Ms.
Ichimatsu, it's
great to see you.

The Tokyo Ballethas frequently
touredinternationallysince its
establishment.
Actually, they havegiven as many as
758 performances in
153 different cities
in 30 countries.*

Ms. Saito,
thank you for thisexciting
opportunity today.

Why don't you
take some timeand look aroundthe building?

Phew! That is
an astonishingnumber.
Yukari Saito,
ArtisticDirector, TheTokyo Ballet* As of 2018

Oh my!
It's like a
dream world.

It's just like atheater..!!

Mr. Sasaki madethis salon withspecial attention to
every little detail.

For example,
this chandelier
is from the 18th
to 19th century.
Mr. Sasaki finallyfound it after
searching througheight countries.
Not just thechandelier.

Every single thing
in this salon
represents Mr.
Sasaki'shospitality.

With a sincere
desire toentertain guests
from all over theworld....

Gosh, it's totallymagnificent...!!

When we hadguests...

Mr. Sasaki often
sat in this chair
and talked withthem...

When I think
about it, I canfeel his presencein every cornerof this room.

It's as if he werestill alive...

And could
suddenly come out
and say hello...

Tadatsugu Sasaki
was born in 1933
in Hongo, Tokyo,
as the second of
six sons.

His father was abusinessperson,and he grew up
in a rich family.
His mother liked togo to the theater,and often took thechildren with her.

Mom, canwe go tothe shop?
Can webuy somesweets?

Shh...! Ok,but comeback quietly.

No,
this is fun!

Tsugu, aren't
you goingwith yourbrothers?

Dear, dear....

They get boredso easily...

I see.
Starting nexttime, I'll only
take you to thetheater with me.

I'm going to bea brave soldier
when I grow up!

So am I!

When Tadatsugu
was a third
grader inelementary
school, the Pacific
War broke out.

out.

Hmm...

What's so goodabout war...

And Japan
plunged into war.

Ah...

I want to see arevue in Asakusa.

If I take a coupleof trams, I shouldbe able to reach
the International
Theater...

Meanwhile,
Tadatsugu wasstill....

...or was—more than ever—fascinated withstage
performance.