Takarazuka Journal

The Story of a Sword, Love, and a Rainbow / Jubilation!
Star Troupe, 1995-96

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Oota Tetsunori/Ishida Masaya

Leads: Asaji Saki & Shiraki Ayaka

The Story of a Sword, Love, and a Rainbow

( Cast: )

( Summary: )

( What I Thought: )

Overall, I though it was a clever adaption, with some scenes in particular that really stood out. I had to watch it broken up over the course of a week because of time problems, so I don't know if it would have held my attention as well in one stretch.

Jubilation!

What I Thought:

I actually really liked this show. It's the kind of mid-90s show that I enjoy. Aside from a few bizarre background sets (Giant legs? Hands?), and one set of costumes, they got away nearly unscathed. The theme song was virally catchy, and I think more shows should have pompoms for their shanshan. Highlights include Mariko and Tsukikage Hitomi dancing on a huge, revolving roulette wheel, and the "Channel Wars" number with Maori Yuki and Emao Yuu as adorable kids, Hacchi-san as a rather lecherous host of a TV shopping network with Mari Yuzumi as his cat-suited side-kick, and Izumo Aya as Lucy on a cooking network. I also really liked a lot of the music in the Southpole numbers. There was also lots of Maori Yuki love again. <3

Moving this one up the queue, because I told kyanited I'd review it, and if I don't soon, I'm going to forget. ;)

Yukinojou Henge
Snow Troupe, 1994-95

Leads: Ichiro Maki & Hanafusa Mari

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The World's Shortest Summary:

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What I Thought:

A show with both the top star and the nibante in drag (kind of). Sign me up, please? Ichiro Maki makes an absolutely breathtaking onnagata, and her famous cheekbones are in fine form here. The role of Yukinojou was perfect for her, with a very interesting blend of femininity and masculinity. I never felt like I was watching a woman playing a man playing a woman... Yukinojou was definitely male. Oh, Takarazuka.... (*cue singing*) Takane Fubuki, on the other hand, had me blinking a few times, playing the very assertive Ohatsu. But I really liked Fubuki in a female role.

Hanafusa Mari in her first top star role. She seemed so terribly young and fragile, definitely both characteristics of the character she was playing. She didn't have a huge amount of stage time -- this is pre-legend Hana-chan! I liked her chemistry with Ichiro, and suddenly wish that Soragumi had done more Nihonmono. She was very pretty in her kimono. ...... On the other hand, Wao.... Wao was just ridiculously silly. *grins* There were so many young stars here! Wao Youka, Kouju Tatsuki, and Aran Kei were all lackeys and villagers and basically the slapstick-ish characters. Todoroki Yuu was 3-bante, and made a wonderfully roguish Yamitarou. Something about how she did her makeup for this show that I really enjoyed.

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I... I've finally found The Musumeyaku. I mean, I enjoy a great many of them, and appreciate their talents, but I've never adored one like I adore my otokoyaku. Then I went and pulled out the Asaji Saki show I've been saving for desperate times the other night (believe me, times were desperate). I was a little sad, because it was before Hoshina Yuri became top star and I loved her and Asaji together in Lure of the Icon. But I dimly remembered really enjoying Shiraki Ayaka's voice when she played Elisabeth, so I figured it couldn't be all bad.

No, it couldn't be. In fact, her voice was ten million times better than I remembered. I admit to having absolutely no voice training or ability at all, but I think I'm onto something here. And then... well, just read the summary. ;)

Action! (Theater Drama City)

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Top Stars: Asaji Saki & Shiraki Ayaka

This show actually is a miscellaneous batch of skits and singing and interviews. Act I is the skits, and because this show ran around Christmas time, that's the theme. First the prologue, with Asaji singing (*gulp* I LOVE Asaji like mad, but... singing is not her strong point.) while all the main players come out to take their turn with her and get introduced: Minoru Kou, Shiraki Ai, Emao Yuu, Kazahana Mai, and Kozuki Wataru.

Skit One - Christmas Present

The future. A lonely human (Minoru Kou) is tended by a bunch of androids in space, who then kidnap Earth maidens for him as a Christmas present. He's apparently forgotten how to love, until he finds the one. Happiness. Also, androids Wataru and Kazahana Mai also discover love and turn human.

This... is a bizarre skit and my least favorite part of the show. If you can make it through here, you're golden, though, because...

Skit Two - The Last Christmas

A convicted criminal (Asaji Saki) is sentenced to be executed on Christmas. From his cell he sings the blues about his girl (Shiraki Ayaka) and how he just wants to hear her one more time. She appears in his memory... and sings.

Aside from the fact that the Hoshi otokoyaku look unbelievably HOT in leather, Aya's singing is just wow.

Skit Three - Miracle Christmas

This skit is the longest, and I thank my lucky stars. I only wish it could be longer. Imagine this: Minoru Kou as a Kiss-style death metal rocker radio DJ, Emao Yuu as the nerdy high school student, Asaji as the local bad-boy, rocker, and Aya as the prissy daughter of the woman who funds the high school. Now imagine this: Aya's character falls in love with Asaji's, and then as they're both talking next to the Christmas tree during a huge rain storm -- lightning strikes! And.. they switch bodies. Now imagine Asaji running around acting all prissy and Aya running around saying "ore."

Act II begins the more revue-esque portion of the show. First an opening number with suits and ankle warmers (oh, Takarazuka!), and then Noru and Aya do some absolutely drop-dead sexy blues numbers. Then a section of Michael Jackson songs, and can I just say that Asaji makes a frightening accurate-looking MJ double at times? Anyway, I felt like I was back in jr. high and was squealing the whole way through that. And then the last section was solos followed by an interview where they asked the question: What's the most awful mess-up you've ever done on stage. Hi-la-rious! ♥

So, yes, now a total and complete Aya fan. I was really happy how many songs and solos she got throughout the show; I haven't seen treatment like that for anyone except Hana-chan.