Matsu Takako 松たか子

Why Matsu Takako? Matsu the actress The history...hm..a long time ago, after seeing the drama Long Vacation, I really didn't like Matsu Takako's role, nor her acting. Her acting isn't very good actually. However, that was just one drama... I saw her subsequently in Kura 「蔵」, a Japanese period drama set in Niigata, and it was rather interesting. She acted as a blind girl, Retsu, and gave a rather competent if not, moving, performance. Until then, I did not know it was Matsu Takako who was acting as Retsu! Upon coming to the UK, after watching Love Generation, a really crappy drama about two lovers, I still was not convinced it was her. Finally, I decided to watch Omiai Kekkon 「お見合い結婚」, and it was then, I realised that her true talent lay in comic acting! She also appeared in many dramas, and as far as I know, is a thespian of the theatre. She apparently starred as Ophelia in Ninagawa's version of Hamlet, at the Barbican Theatre in London, but sadly, I did not know about her then in 1998 (though I was studying in London then). Matsu Takako is a very pretty actress. Although popular, she cannot be as popular as Matsushima or a host of commercial actresses. Her acting is popular for trendy drama (she is pretty), but that alone cannot serve her well in acting. It is only on stage and in comedies that she flourishes, and in the  Miyao Tomiko's plays, acting as the girl fighting against all odds (think of Oshin or a prettier version of Sally Field). In that sense, Matsu Takako is an actress either you love (Omiaikekkon, Hero) or hate (Long Vacation, Love Generation-- let's face it, they weren't her best!). I have grown to like her acting, and found it rather endearing. To date, I think some of the best and most understated performances she has given are in April Story, ESPECIALLY Kura, and Omiaikekkon. She won an award for her role in Tokyo Biyori, though really, that should have gone to Nakayama Miho, because Matsu did not do much in the film. However, who is to argue? Don't forget, that her father is the famous Kabuki actor Matsumoto Koushiro, and her brother is the famous Kabuki actor, Ichikawa Soumegoro...so when you think about it, nope, you can't argue at all. This page is to convince you that although her face is really quite pretty, her acting is so-so, she has a charm that is equal to no other. She does not dress flamboyantly, she can't be thought of as sexy, and half the guys dislike her role as the spoilt little princess. However, considering that she alone can bring out Retsu better than anyone I can think of, that alone is enough to make her a qualified actress! :)  She was also given praises for her theatre Ophelia role in London, by the Evening Standard, Telegraph etc. but I have to see her stage acting. So far, fans are very pleased with her stage appearances, ranging from The Good Woman of Szechuan, to some of Miyao Tomiko's plays, to Shakespeare, and even to the numerous Theatre Ninth plays, involving her family, most recently, Summer Hotel. She's even going to have a fan club.

Matsu the Singer Matsu Takako's singing, is rather understated actually. Not many people would rank her song as top 10 stuff, but then again, you don't get Hamazaki Ayumi wailings or any of Tetsuya Komuro's synthesizer plastic-like music in her songs. It's typical banal stuff, like sweet lyrics, but the music is simple yet catchy, and she writes (or so she says) her own music and lyrics. To top it off, most of her album covers are rather fresh looking. People associate her songs and themes with spring, though she doesn't think so..but you get so many sakura references in her albums, it's hard to ignore the spring-like image, and she always releases her albums in spring (the recent two to date). I love her songs actually, I think they are catchy and nice to study too. Seriously, songs that are nice to study to are the best of all. They don't blare to distract you and they go into your brain. Her lyrics are also easy to digest, and I find them easier to learn than the other songs. Sweet and simple, is Matsu Takako's style. I would rather remember her as a singer, rather than an actress. I guess it's the musician in me that recognises that significant talent of hers. :)

In truth... This is a page for her, not at Messiah-praising standards, but I think is a very honest, at times critical (sceptical!), and apt portrayal of Matsu Takako. You will see why I like her, her acting and her singing. She has a good voice, trained by Kabuki Kouta/Nagauta training, and she doesn't flaunt herself shamelessly like other actresses in the tabloids (Matsushima, Nakayama, Matsuda, to name a few). I think she's a pretty decent and good role model, and isn't it anyone's dream to end up like her one day (sigh...)? :)