We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Momo Akashi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Momo, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
I draw inspiration from two sources.
One is musicals and plays written by other writers. While I enjoy these works, I also analyze them by breaking down the story to understand how each character’s emotions evolve and what triggers those changes. By doing this, I can see the techniques used to surprise or resonate with the audience. I then incorporate these techniques into my own work, aligning them with the message I want to convey through my creations.
The second source is Japanese animation. In particular, I have learned about the unique Japanese sense of humor and worldview from the films of director Hayao Miyazaki, which I have loved since childhood, and from the characters created by manga artist Momoko Sakura. Their works taught me that one of the purposes of being a creator is to capture moments of happiness that we forget in the busyness of everyday life.
Momo, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I started my career as a musical writer four years ago when I came to New York and majored in musical writing in graduate school. However, I had been very interested in creating stories long before that. This is because I was responsible for the character branding of original characters at Tokyo Disney Resort. Through that job, I learned that everything that moves people—whether it be dance shows, characters, buildings, attractions, or souvenirs—always has a story that generates empathy from the audience. Therefore, I decided to pursue a career as a writer because I wanted to be able to create stories that are a source of happiness for people.
I am currently working on two full-length musicals and a one-act play. My works always have characters who are outsiders and infusing different cultures into new art. I have been working on an original musical, MINORU: Scrape the Sky, for three years. This piece is based on the life of Japanese-American architect Minoru Yamasaki, who actually designed the Twin Towers. In 1930s, many Japanese Americans sought to integrate into American society by accepting unfair treatment, but he continued to speak up his openinons and beliefs through his designs. By telling his life story through my musical, I believe I can empower immigrants and Asian people in America.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding moments for me are when I am creating a piece together with the director and actors during rehearsals. The work of a writer mostly involves spending a lot of time alone with words. After I finish the draft, I finally work with other artists we comes to breathe life into the work. It feels like my baby is finally being born into the world, and it fills me with excitement.
Any advice for managing a team?
I believe that planning, sharing the schedule with the team, and always meeting deadlines are essential for teamwork. Without these, creative activities become a hobby rather than a business. While it may seem simple and easy, surprisingly few people consistently focus on this. Conversely, those who have sustained long-term business success are invariably those who meet their deadlines.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.momoakashi.com/
- Instagram: @akomomo0330
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVscp77IYw-onEOWsRgUcMg
