Osaka-Zamurai
Sep. 8th, 2007 02:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ekusudei
Osaka-ZamuraiMoon Troupe Bow Hall, 2007
Leads: Kiriya Hiromu & Yumesaki Nene
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Summary:
Before explaining the characters and the story, we must explain the local color of Osaka at the end of the Edo era. The Bakufu government's own system was, of course, a hierarchy of samurai, farmers, artisans and merchants. Osaka was called "the merchant town" because of the money it had, and the wealthy merchants did not follow the Bakufu.... they even went so far as to loan money to imperialist sympathizers in Satsuma. "The shogunate faction and the imperial sympathizers may prattle, but the the thing which really keeps Japan moving is the money of Osaka," is what they had pride in. Therefore the samurai were not respected like they were around Edo Castle, and there was a phenomenon of the merchants thinking their own sons better than those of the samurai. Osaka was under direct control of the shogunate, and so wasn't a clan domain at the time. The lord of Osaka Castle was the Tokugawa shogun. In other words, the protagonist of the story, Torii Matashichi, was a poor retainer of Tokugawa.
However, it was the end of the Edo era, and most of the Osaka samurai were born and raised in Osaka, and they themselves had a diluted sense of being retainers of Tokugawa, and of their loyalty. However, although Matashichi was of the same mind as these, he worked policing the riverside and banks, and although he was called the "two-sworded samurai", he seemed like a staff member of the ward office. However, Matashichi was a hard worker, sometimes lending a hand to the laborers repairing the embankment. The heirless Yamatoya Genemon said: "Matashichi really works hard, even if he is a samurai. If it's possible, I want to adopt him as my son in law — have him marry Osei and succeed me in the business." By various means he conspires with his beloved daughter Osei in a plan to "Acquire Matashichi!"... Although originally quarrelsome, Matashichi is a shy and serious person around women. His move in response to Osei's aggressive Kansei-ish proposal is to flee as slippery as an eel. Osei suddenly shows up at Matashichi's workplace and declares: "If you won't marry me, I'm gonna throw myself in the river and die!" She causes a big commotion by jumping into the river with large stones in her kimono sleeves, and tries to fulfill her love by overbearingly bribing Matashichi's follower Gokuraku no Masa and his fencing instructor Watanabe with "the power of money".
But it was a time when things were getting tense. As a man of Osaka, Matashichi was a retainer of the Tokugawa shogunate. On his deathbed, Matashichi's father requests that his son go to Edo, and join the Shogitai (an army of former Tokugawa retainers) to confront the imperial army. At first Matashichi refuses, as he doesn't feel that strongly his loyalty to the Tokugawa, but after his father has died, he learns that his poor father had been scrimping and saving in order to have enough money to send his son to Edo. Then Matashichi is torn.
Another plot point focuses Matashichi's dislike for Amano Genba, a sword-for-hire currently working for the local yakuza. Matashichi hates killers, to the point that his own longsword is actually a blade without edges. He and Amano get along like oil and water. Amano works to draw away the members of the yakuza and overthrow their old boss, Kuromon, by promising them better pay with the imperial army. They all join, and with that power behind them, become lawless bullies.
Another subplot follows Matashichi's younger sister, and her fiancée, Kazuma. Kazuma is the son of a merchant family, and so Matashichi's father required him to set aside his money-grubbing past and become a samurai before he would allow him to marry his daughter. Although agreeing on the surface, Kazuma soon secretly returns to being a merchant, assuring Kinue that her father will understand that it is money that makes Osaka run. Her father dies soon after, saving them from a confrontation. Amano and his goons run into Kazuma one day, and although Kazuma tries to explain that he is a merchant again, not a samurai, they think this is highly suspicious and drag him off. Amano soon decides that as a merchant, his family must be willing to pay a lot of money for his safe return, and ransoms him for 300 ryo.
Matashichi refuses to pay it. He is thoroughly disgusted with Osaka's obsession with money, and determined to leave for Edo. But before he leaves, there is one man, one killer, one scoundrel, whom he cannot forgive. With the help of a fellow policeman, a geisha who is in love with him, and the revenge-minded yakuza Kuromon, he sets his trap. Kazuma's mother pays the ransom, and Kazuma is returned safely. The geisha, Mameyakko, lures Amano out alone, and Matashichi and he face off, finally uninterrupted. At first Amano taunts him and his well-known sword without an edge, but Matashichi replies that tonight he carries his father's sword. The two fight, until Matashichi has Amano pinned. Still unwilling to kill a man, he offers to let Amano go if Amano apologizes and returns the 300 ryo. Amano refuses. The two fight further, and Amano is finally killed.
Matashichi tries to give away the 300 ryo, but no one will touch it now that it is "dead" money. In the end, he gives it to Kinue and Kazuma, and tells Kazuma to make his sister happy. Matashichi finally leaves Osaka, and joins with the Shogitai to confront the imperial army at Ueno, Edo. What will be Matashichi's fate, and what of Osei's love...?
What I Thought:
First of all, I really enjoyed this show. I want to make that clear, because I'm about to pick it apart. ;)
Compared to Tsukigumi's other recent (2003) Bow Hall nihonmono comedy (Namidabashi, Egaobashi), this show falls rather flat. Although it has some amazing moments of humor, it seems to have hit a common snag in Takarazuka shows, which is that they try to mix "serious" themes in with slap-stick comedy and for every one show that works for, there's ten it doesn't. The Osaka-ians who will do anything for money, the humorous personalities, the outrageous Osaka-ben... those were all really funny. Then, about half-way through the play they tried to sermonize a bit about where people draw the line on what they'll do for money, and Matashichi deciding on doing his duty by going to Edo. But I suspect even those serious moments were parody, because in the end it all comes around again -- "brave" Matashichi flees Ueno during the attack (with the help of Masa, who has joined the other side because they offered good money), and we learn that the Osaka merchants have all expanded into Edo... (wtf?) Most bizarre Bow Hall ending I've seen in a while.
But aside from that.... Costumes get the A+ award for being lovely, functional, and colorful. The staging was a little more complicated than some Bow Hall shows, but still rather minimalistic. I liked the backdrops for buildings, like the haunted house run by the yakuza, and the hut that Osei and Matashichi end up in -- almost cartoonish in how they were done. The music and lyrics were all great and fit the mood perfectly -- oh, those two enka-ish songs cracked me up. And the vocals were strong in this show; they cast well.
Speaking of cast... Oh, the love. Kiriya Hiromu did well, portraying Matashichi as... well, as Matashichi. Raised by a traditional, impoverished samurai father with the codes of Bushido, but taught swordsmanship by a charlatan and brought up in Osaka. He's... unique. Yumesaki Nene grew on me. I have to admit, she portrayed the bubbly Osei rather well. Ryu Masaki was absolutely adorable as Matashichi's side-kick, and that's the only sensible thing you'll get out of me on that front. Misa Noeru, as the swordsmaster who bought his master certificate, but still has odd moments of master-like wisdom = A+. Ebira Kaoru made an interesting merchant who thinks money can solve anything. He even bribes the whole town, including the yakuza, so that no one will hurt Matashichi! (Matashichi is a little creeped out over being "insured goods.") Together, the two Senka ladies brought an interesting, almost philosophical, dimension to the play, particularly when talking to the geisha, Mameyakko. Good grief, it's been forever since I saw so much of Hanase Mizuka in a show. I missed her! Her singing has gotten even stronger, and her acting is as marvelous as ever. (I almost wish she had decided to leave for a regular acting career. I still think she completely stole the show from Tani during Twelfth Night.)
Yoshizuki Eri and Takigawa Sueko didn't get nearly enough stage time, in my opinion. :( And poor Kitajima Mami got killed off in the first half hour.... but I liked her cranky old man. (Also, I loved her hair during the practice footage.) Nice to see more of Takaki Amane, and I thought she made an adorable police buddy for Kiriyan. Aoki Izumi and Asahana Rinka killed me. Just killed me. I think they were my favorite characters in this show. Seijou Kaito, although she didn't have a huge amount of stage time, was obviously having the time of her life as a villain. Gleeful evil becomes her. *grin*
As for the younger cast... all adorable. Ayao June played the most boisterous character I have ever seen on a Takarazuka stage (*steps slowly away from her enormous laugh*)... So glad to see her getting a fun role like that! Houjou Rumi and Aoba Michiru's old geisha... Oh god, I laughed so hard I got stitches in my side. Shiki Erio stood out in all of her roles. She just has a tendency to do that. <3 Asanagi Mana surprised me, especially when playing the "lover" in the ghost makeup. Where did that deep voice come from? o.0 Oh, they were so adorable. Especially Kaidou Nozomu and Arise Sou trying to make "evil" grimaces and faces while playing Amano's lackies.
Favorite bits include:
* Masaki singing in the opening number. Ehehehe
* Sueko, Morie, and Haru telling us all about the merchants of Osaka, which manages to revive Macchi enough that she crawls out of her deathbed and starts dancing.
* Morie and Haru's "Naniwa Osaka-zen no Machi" (Osaka, cha-cha-cha), and Masaki dancing with Kiriyan.
* The cabin in a snowstorm cliche! Okay, so it's a cabin after a dunking in the river, but it's the same thing in the end. "I'm cooo~ld, Matashichi....."
* Hanase Mizuka's solo "Koi wa Miren no Akai Ito" (this has nothing to do with Masaki popping out either, I swear)
* Ayao June's Kumada. o.0
* "Akumei wa Mumei yori Masaru" with Seijou and her underlings dancing around Eri-san.
* The ancient geisha. Oh, lord...
All in all, I think it had some uneven bits, and I think the first act was better paced than the second, but it had so many great moments that it's worth owning.
None of which matters, of course, because it has Masaki.
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no subject
Date: 2007-09-08 10:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-08 11:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-08 11:16 pm (UTC)Oh and Aoki Izumo? Dare I ask? ;)
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Date: 2007-09-08 11:30 pm (UTC)Watch it! Watch it!
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Date: 2007-09-09 03:14 am (UTC)Seijou Kaito, although she didn't have a huge amount of stage time, was obviously having the time of her life as a villain.
Agreed 100%.
I also agree that it's great to see Hanase Mizuka get a decent sized role again. I'm hoping that as she gets older they'll start to give her more.
For the record, there were two important scenes that I thought came off better in the live performance than the DVD. The first was the Act I finale. It's pretty good on DVD, but in the theater it gave me goosebumps. The other was the whole "I'm going to jump in the river!" scene. Unfortunately due to the way the scene was shot on the DVD it's not focusing on Kiriyan the entire time, which is too bad because she had some really hilarious faces.
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Date: 2007-09-09 04:05 pm (UTC)Oh, god god, tell me about it. ^^; I had to watch it twice before I even got that much out of it, and I don't think I'll ever entirely understand that weird ending.
It's really too bad they don't do alternate angles on the Bow Hall DVDs. Probably just a matter of time! But even with alternate angles, they never catch all the little things the rest of the cast is doing. And one thing I've learned is that those are often the most awesome bits in any show....
I loved that jumping in the river scene. *grin* Kiriyan all "oh, for heaven sakes, you're not going to-- holy crap, she did!" thought sequence was written all over her expressions.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-09 06:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-09 04:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-09 12:57 pm (UTC)I believe I liked this a bit less than you did but then comedy really isn't my genre and Tsukigumi isn't my kumi so I miss out on the recognizing people in minor parts-joy.
I think I would have liked it more if they had dropped the killing of Amano which IMHO neither fit with the character of Matashichi nor with this being a comedy. I wouldn't have minded if they had given the conclusion of the love story a bit more time either. I seem to be a sucker for romance these days.
There were some really nice tunes and good singing and the Senka-ladies are love especially in the trio together with Takigawa Sueko in the mini-revue. Masaki was charming but Morie is still my favourite Tsuki-performer ;-).
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Date: 2007-09-09 04:10 pm (UTC)XD Hahaha!
I think recognizing people in tiny parts really is one of the joys of Takarazuka, particularly if a show is a little slow or disappointing. Which means it's easier to write more glowing reviews for your own kumi. Oh, the bias! ;)
if they had dropped the killing of Amano which IMHO neither fit with the character of Matashichi nor with this being a comedy.
But, yes! Exactly! Some bits of this show just didn't fit together well.
Morie was so funny in this show! I wish she had had more scenes.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-09 01:32 pm (UTC)I dont know wether it was that impressive on the dvd, but live it was one of the most awesome parts of the whole show, with the absolutely not traditional music and the nice mixture of traditional and modern dancing.
I went to see the Tokyo senshuuraku and I was pretty surprised when watching the dvd that nearly all the funny scenes I considered to be senshuuraku-special-stuff was actually part of the show.
And sometimes I could cry about the fact that there are no production notes of Bow Halls, I would kill for these ones for sure.
I am actually very happy that Maggie got the Amano Genba role, because it might be a sign for what kind of roles she will get in the future.
But surprisingly Hankyu starts to put actresses in the 'evil' roles where you wouldnt suspect it. I had a real squee moment learning who are the two evil ones in A Magician's Misfortunes even if they just where unmasked in the end. *comments out-of-topic-stuff shamelessly*
All in all I am happy about the fact that this time, Kiriyan was actually able to play her Bow and that Tsukigumi finally get more attention by Hankyu and japanese audience :D
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Date: 2007-09-09 04:14 pm (UTC)Believe me, not going to happen any time soon. :D Although me and the cameraman had some different ideas of where he should be focusing.
There aren't production notes, but there is a NOW ON STAGE. Which I would love to get my hands on. ;)
Oooh, now you're making me even more excited for MM! <3
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Date: 2007-09-09 05:01 pm (UTC)MM is love. And Mahoroba is maybe even more love :D
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Date: 2007-09-10 07:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-10 08:46 pm (UTC)I am looking forward to get myself the dvd in november :D
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Date: 2007-09-09 09:46 pm (UTC)I didn t understand all the show but as you say some moments are so funny! i like when they all jump in the lake ! in real it was scary ^^;
And each time Kiriyan sings...i shiver ...it s my favourite zuka voice
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Date: 2007-09-11 02:59 pm (UTC)Jumping into the lake was scary? Really? It seems so funny!
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Date: 2007-09-11 04:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 05:28 pm (UTC)