「自分が見て憧れたアーティストたちみたいに」SNSから思い切って入団申し込み…輝くサーカスの世界へ！夢を追って高知から飛び出した19歳に密着

While many people begin new lives, one woman has jumped into the dazzling world of circus, a childhood dream. We followed this 19-year-old's challenge from Kochi. It's the season of departure. With dreams and hopes in their hearts, students are ready to take flight on their own paths. Here, too, is a student full of anticipation, taking a big step forward... Mio Nishiyama. As the captain of the broadcasting club, she leads everyone with her cheerful and friendly personality. Her dream has always been... (Mio Nishiyama) "I'm going to be a part of Sakura Circus!" She's loved circus since she was a child. She always went to see performances in Kochi. Even as a kindergartener, she declared to everyone she wanted to join the circus. After entering high school, she considered continuing her education, but after seeing Sakura Circus come to Kochi, she sent a message on social media saying she wanted to join. She had some concerns, but she didn't waver. (Misakura Nishiyama) "Leaving Kochi, and while it's not an impossible dream to achieve, it's a limited world. I was a little worried about that. I hope to make people smile and have fun myself." Juniors and classmates reacted to her bold decision... (Junior) "I think you'll have a lot of unusual experiences, so I hope you'll get through it and enjoy it." (Classmate) "If they call me sometimes, I'll go see it. I don't need to be invited. If they tell me which prefecture or country you're in, I'll go (laughs)." (Announcer Aoi Matsuoka) "Nishiyama has carved out a completely different path from her previous life, the circus. She successfully joined the circus and recently started working, which is why she's come all the way to Hiroshima!" Sakura Circus is currently operating a little outside of the center of Hiroshima City. It was founded in Wakayama Prefecture in 2020. The circus is made up of talented performers who have won gold medals at international competitions. Nishiyama sent her message during their 2022 Kochi performance. Nishiyama's home is in the trailer next to the large tent. (Announcer Matsuoka) "Good morning." (Nishiyama) "Come in!" (Announcer Matsuoka) "You look a bit more stylish." (Nishiyama) "I graduated from high school, so I'm wearing makeup and earrings." (Announcer Matsuoka) "How's it actually working here?" (Nishiyama) "Everyone's so kind and friendly, it's so much fun." (Announcer Matsuoka) "Are you getting used to your job?" (Nishiyama) "Little by little." Life in the circus is something she's always dreamed of. Here's what a day looks like: Work starts at 8:30 a.m., wiping down the roughly 1,000 seats and cleaning the stage. There are three to four performances a day, and a major part of her job is guiding audience members. Nishiyama dreams of becoming a performer, but she says that everyone goes through a certain path. And apparently, there's even free time during performances! He takes a deep breath and watches the impressive tricks of his senior members. (Nishiyama) "I remember having a great time trying out a giant cartwheel at the circus when I was in elementary school. No matter how experienced you are, there are still a lot of dangerous tricks, so I think it's amazing." After the performance, the audience sees them off. They all leave the tent with excited expressions and smiles on their faces. He says he hopes to one day make people smile like that. With that dream in mind, Nishiyama's practice has finally begun. (Nishiyama) "Today, I'm practicing with Adly, and I'm feeling both nervous and excited..." (Matsuoka) "Which is more intense?" (Nishiyama) "I'm a little nervous. I don't know what we're going to do, so I'm a little nervous." (Matsuoka) "Do your best today!" (Nishiyama) "I'll do my best!" The tent after the performance. Approximately 20 people, from children to adults, were practicing independently. (Announcer Matsuoka) "Wow! Amazing! Isn't it scary?" (Performer) "It's fine!" (Announcer Matsuoka) "How long have you been practicing?" (Performer) "I've been doing trapeze for about seven years." (Announcer Matsuoka) "Maybe heights aren't so scary anymore." "It's just a matter of getting used to it." Nishiyama also came for her first practice. She seemed a little nervous. Flexibility is paramount for circus performers. They started with stretching exercises with Adley, a senior performer who specializes in "flexibility tricks." (Adriana) "Your flexibility makes your moves look beautiful." (Matsuoka) "Your fundamentals are all flexible." (Adriana) "That's the foundation. Do you want to join me?" (Matsuoka) "Are you sure? I'll give it a try!" (Adriana) "I'll keep doing flat knees as far as I can." (Matsuoka) "You're incredibly flexible. Did you do anything?" (Nishiyama) "I did classical ballet when I was little." (Matsuoka) Announcer) "Have you been doing anything since then?" (Nishiyama) "No, I haven't. I've been stretching myself at home." "Because you want to join the circus?" ...