Takarazuka Journal

New OSK has had a fair number of retirements in the last few months, including their top star Daiki Makoto. I wonder if the company is keeping New OSK at a certain size? Or are a lot of the "older" actresses who stuck around to help restart OSK deciding things are settled down enough that they can retire now? Even so, each retirement seems so very sad and precarious, with only 34 members, and most of them very, very new. And then Sawaka Rin retired earlier this week! It seems a surprise.


Compared to that, I feel like retirements in Takarazuka aren't something awful at all. I realize for the particular fans of a 'sienne, it's sad to see her leave Takarazuka, particularly the otokoyaku who will probably never be "real" otokoyaku on stage again. But I became a fan with my favorite star already retired, so maybe this gives me a skewed perspective on things. And lately I've become more interested in OG performances. I think it's wonderful to see them branching out, leaving behind the stereotypes, trying out new skills. No more stereotypical nice-guy/nice-girl top star roles, or best-buddy/villain 2bante. And, sure, not everyone continues in the entertainment business. But I think it's wonderful to think that after 5, 10, 16 years of giving their life to Takarazuka they'll get to have a family, to settle down and eat and not be continually stressed all the time. Or go on and become a kick-ass politician, or do whatever has been burning in the back of their minds as something they want to do.

Few people can stay where they are forever. And even if they do, they change, the things they do change. Even Tom seems to have been slowly phased out of the daigekijou shows these days.

So, yes, I'm crazy and I love hearing about retirements and troupe moves. Because this means that someone else will get to step up. It means a shuffling, new things. Everyone retires eventually, even a lot of Senka. I'll admit, I've been on the edge of my seat waiting since we learned that Osa's next daigekijou play was "Adieu Marseille" and written by Koike-sensei (whoo-boy, no way to miss that one). Not because I'm spiteful, or mean, or even that I think Osa has "faded" lately. (Actually, I've loved her more recent performances a lot more than watching her older ones as top star. And anyone who heard her perform in "Kurotokage" will tell you her voice is more powerful than ever. I still get shivers thinking about it.) It's because now we have the excitement of waiting to hear who is the next top, the next 2bante. Seeing which babies will rise up in the new Hanagumi.

My money is on Un-chan as next top. Because that last round of shuffling coincided right before the run of retirements, making me think that Hankyu was getting their "men" into position early. And because Un-chan fits so well into Hanagumi that newer fans seem to be shocked to hear she was ever anywhere else. *winks* As for Sakurano... I think Hankyu certainly likes her a lot. She's gotten some amazing roles. I think if she wants to stay, she'll stay. If she wants to leave and start a new stage/acting career, now would probably be a good time for her to try it. But a few more years also wouldn't hurt her chances, I think. So I could see her choosing either way.

Now I'm bouncing around waiting for the next round of troupe moves. But I wonder if they'll wait a year or two to let the new troupes settle down first?

One of these days I'm going to sit down and post a proper review, but for now this will have to do.

I bought a copy of 生きてこそ春に花/We Love OSK on ebay last week, and haven't regretted it yet. :) I've only watched the show section so far, and... errr, was totally confused by the plot. Okay, Bach and Oishi Kuranosuke lived around the same time, sure, but... And flamingly gay Daiki!Bach (who is also desperately in love with his wives, but trust me, flaming) is very cute, yes. But still... Anyway, the main plot seems to be a club (Club47, very subtle) which is going to close soon? Or something like that (I kind of zoned out during the dialogue bits), and is putting on a show of the Chuushingura.

In general, this show wasn't terribly impressive. Ugh, the costumes! But the actresses (only ten) were all great. And there were two bits that I love so much I would buy this DVD again in a second. One is toward the beginning, where we get a rock kabuki-ish version of the Naganori/Kira fight. And the gorgeous parting of Naganori and Gengoemon (Ouka and Takase) before Naganori commits seppuku. The musumeyaku who sings over it (and I'm terrible and can't remember her name right now) has a lovely voice.

The other scene was later when Ouka played the ronin who seduced/married the builder's daughter to get the plans to Kira's mansion. Only, this one was in suits, and Ouka and Takase also seemed to be club hosts? o.0

I ran out of time last night and couldn't watch the revue. *sigh* I'll probably have to wait until tomorrow now.

I finally let myself watch some shiny this week, and attempt for the five-hundredth time to get through "Shin Yami no Kikoushi" and actually find the time to do it and am rocking out because of the five people I can actually recognize this time, and... and... it has a scratch! There's less than ten minutes left and it refuses to play. I am fated not to see the end of this show. *weeps*

(Teehee, Makoto plays the fox spirit! How did I miss that before?)


This evil is compounded by the fact that it's the second DVD I tried to play today that had a scratch on it. Oh, unlucky weekend. And now for early sleep.

ps - Thanks to everyone for being good-natured about the April Fools for yet another year. I wonder if anyone will fall for it a third time next year? ;p