What I saw on stage was beyond anything I had imagined. Not only was she a fine actor, she was a presence. She had that very special glow, that star quality many actors strive to acquire, often in vain; I realised then that she was one of the lucky few to be born with it. Takako Matsu was a charming person to begin with but her charm was emphasised when she was on stage, and her talent shone out like a beacon. Watching Takako Matsu was like gazing at a nurtured seed that grows and one day bursts open into a glorious flower.

As I sat there, I wondered what she thought of it all . She was an actor, and an actor in just one lifetime continuously lives out the lives of others. When the actor is finished with one life, another one begins. At times she must become someone else for a few hours everyday and this could go on for months, or even years. Naturally, the different roles the actor portrays sometimes leave their mark. Some actors say that the joys and pains of those characters often enrich their own lives; there are also some who seem confused, lost in a world where reality and fantasy seem to merge into each other. Matsu Takako has chosen to walk this path, and her journey has just begun.

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