Between ballet and war, two Japanese dancers in Russia's historic city of Nizhny Novgorod are living out their dreams, even as the conflict in Ukraine occasionally disrupts their daily routines. For Jotaro Kanazasi and Haruka Takemi, life revolves entirely around their art, with each plie and pirouette demanding their full attention.
A Life Devoted to Ballet
Jotaro Kanazasi, 32, made the decision to settle in Russia 14 years ago, drawn by the country's renowned ballet traditions, including Moscow's Bolshoi and St Petersburg's Mariinsky theatres. He chose Russia to fulfill himself "fully as a dancer," as he explains in halting Russian. While some foreign dancers left after Russia sent troops to Ukraine in 2022, Kanazasi opted to stay.
As a principal dancer at the Nizhny Novgorod Opera and Ballet Theatre, located some 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of Moscow, Kanazasi moves seamlessly from role to role. He has portrayed the villainous sorcerer Rothbart in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and Albrecht in Adolphe Adam's Giselle, among other parts.
His compatriot, Haruka Takemi, 20, shares a similar passion. "I love Russian ballet and always wanted to become a dancer, but there is no national ballet school in Japan, so I chose Russia," she says. Takemi has lived in Russia for six years, fully immersed in her training and performances.
Navigating the War
Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, both dancers admit they follow the news only loosely. Takemi notes, "My mother constantly sends me articles about Russia, about current events, about what is happening here, so that I stay informed." Japan has backed Ukraine since the start of the Russian offensive and joined Western sanctions against Moscow, but Takemi remains focused on ballet. "I am either at the theatre or at home, then back at the theatre again. I work all the time and concentrate only on ballet," she says, adding that it is her family who worries about her.
Russia has introduced sweeping censorship during its military campaign, including restrictions on digital access. "There are also difficulties with the internet -- you have to use a VPN as apps are sometimes blocked. But I need to stay in touch with my family so they know I am safe," Takemi explains.
Challenges and Community
Nizhny Novgorod, though located more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) from Ukraine, has not been entirely spared. A nearby refinery of Russian energy giant Lukoil in Kstovo has been targeted by Ukrainian strikes in recent weeks. However, the city remains a hub for ballet, with a community of Japanese dancers.
Valeri Konkov, director of the Nizhny Novgorod ballet company, notes, "There are quite a few Japanese dancers in Russia, who are graduates of the most prestigious Russian schools such as the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, the Vaganova Academy in St Petersburg and the Perm school."
Making a career as a classical dancer in Japan is difficult, the dancers say. Despite the challenges linked to the war, Kanazasi is determined to stay. "As long as I can dance, I will stay here," he concludes, embodying the dedication that defines their pursuit.
