Takarazuka Journal

I've been holding onto this show for three (four?) years now. Because once I watched it, that was it. No more Bun-chan & Mahiru top combi to look forward to. (I don't think I could sit through Junjou, even for them) Konno Mahiru I've adored in every shinko lead I've seen her in. She was an amazing musumeyaku; I can understand why she had seven! And Bun-chan, Bun-chan... So sweet♥ My fuzzy-sweater otokoyaku♥

It was well worth the wait! I'd totally forgotten that it was a Masatsuka-Sensei musical. Ahahahah, it all comes back to my love-affair with Masatsuka, doesn't it?

Memories of Barcelona / On the Fifth
Snow Troupe 2002, Tokyo Raku

Stars: Emao Yuu & Konno Mahiru

[ TakaWiki ] [ On the 5th Stage Graph ]

I shouldn't really call these reviews any more, when I can't be bothered to do more than ramble incoherently. Ah well. ;)

( What I Thought of Barcelona: )

This one is a watch again and again and again kind of show.

( What I Thought of On the Fifth: )

( Emao Yuu Sayonara Show )

I'm not sure if anyone posted this link before, but there are absolutely *enormous* photos of Tsukigumi raku on this blog entry, once you click on them. And the angle is different than the usual news photos, so I think they're interesting.

http://blog.livedoor.jp/enbublog-journal/archives/1229457.html

Also, EMAO (The Artist Formerly Known as Emao Yuu) is going to star in a movie about the Sakai Noriko scandal, due out next year. Which is just, wow. The dust from the scandal hasn't even all settled yet. o_0 The movie is titled "Setsuna" (A Moment), and is due out in January. Emao will be playing a female reporter chasing the story.

http://www.theaterguide.co.jp/theater_news/2009/11/25.php

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

[ TakaWiki ]

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

A Map Without Borders
Star Troupe, 1995

Leads: Asaji Saki & Shiraki Ayaka

[ TakaWiki Page ]

Summary:

( Act One: I Want to be the Wind )

( Act Two: Longer Than Eternity )

What I Thought:

Hm. I've watched it through twice now, and I'm still not entirely captivated by it. There isn't enough Dancing, you see. Or rather, not nearly enough of Asaji Saki dancing. The play itself isn't bad, and in fact has rather believable and sympathetic characters. The dialogue is all Ueda-sensei, though, with long, uninterrupted sections of conversation where the characters tend to wander off track and leave you wondering just why they need to discuss the price of tea for twenty minutes (Note: I am being terribly unfair to Ueda-sensei. No discussion of tea was abused in the making of this show.) Somehow his style fits better with the material of this show, however, where the philosophizing of the characters and the rising up of the citizens all makes sense.

The detour to Takarazuka is so blatantly mismatched to the rest of the show, and the discussion afterward between Mariko's and Minoru Kou's characters is so odd it's endearing. It is a unique way to fit in the hatsubutai speeches and bowing and things, though.

( Read more... )

Can you tell I raided the video sale? ;)

The Spirit of the Samurai / Fascination II
Star, 1997

Top Stars: Asaji Saki / Tsukikage Hitomi

[ TakaWiki Page ]

( Cast: )

( Summary. No, really. It's been a week, so this is quite possibly the shortest summary ever. )

( What I Thought: )

I wonder if the lack of lifts have something to do with the fact that Gun-chan didn't stay on as Mariko's partner? They seemed to have very nice chemistry together otherwise....

In Search of El Dorado
Snow Troupe, 2001

Not to be confused with the 1997 Tsukigumi show El Dorado. Actually, I used the English translation listed on the Wiki, because that may be the official translation, but I think "In Search of the Golden Country" might be a better translation with less baggage.

( Cast )

( Summary )

( What I Thought )

TCA Special 1997 - The Festival

[ TakaWiki Page ]

( Participants )

This special was set up as a competition, with Takarazuka staff members choosing their favorite performance from each round. The rounds included:

Act I

Chansons sung by the top musumeyaku, jazz with the top otokoyaku singing, Japanese pop music sung by groups of 3rd and 4th ranked otokoyaku (SMAP, V6 and other J-pop groups' songs), a hidden talent battle, and then for the finale older Takarazuka songs. The finale also included the 2nd-ranked otokoyaku singing while the lowest otokoyaku on the star tracks danced in dresses.

Act II

Act II began with songs from musicals done that year by each troupe, often with a quirky twist at the end, a dance competition, and then the game corner. Lastly, the prize was awarded to the winning troupe and then they had the parade down the grand staircase.

What I thought: Funny! Very funny. Probably not one I'd recommend if you don't know the stars who were in this performance, but it was definitely amusing.

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)

[ TakaWiki Page ]

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.

Dean (Bow)

[ TakaWiki Page ]

James Dean: Emao Yuu
Pier Angeli: Hisato Rie
Elisabeth Taylor: Akisono Mio
Natalie Wood: Miya Erika
Hedda Hopper: Mari Yuzumi
Ben: Asamiya Mayu
Elia Kazan: Itsuki Chihiro
Nicholas Ray: Ban Akira

Summary: The life of James Dean from the time he moved out to Hollywood and began his screen career, until his death. Focus on the directors and cast of his three films, as well as the love of his life. First Dean is a New York City stage actor, chosen to go to Hollywood to star in the film East of Eden. His role as Cal parallels his relationship with his own father, and Dean empathizes with the role strongly. Cue angst. Dean's manager tries to convince the entertainment writer, Hedda Hopper, to help give Dean good press to make him a star, but Dean's sullen nature and unwillingness to bow and scrape got them off to a bad start and she leaves in a huff. Nevertheless, the film is a huge success. Meanwhile, Dean has met another actress, Pier Angeli, and fallen completely in love with her. Her mother disapproves of their affair, because Dean is not a Catholic, and convinces Pier to marry Vic Damone instead.

After this Dean decides to take a break from film, but director Nicholas Ray convinces him to return to LA to work on Rebel Without a Cause. After that, his last film is the western, Giant. Shortly after they finish filming the movie, the fatal crash occurs.

Reactions: Emao Yuu is my second favorite broody 'sienne (after Yuuhi). She is always and forever burned into my brain now as "that 'sienne who looks ridiculously hot in sweaters." She was perfect for broody, moody James Dean. There wasn't a huge amount of chemistry with Hisato Rie (Pier Angeli), but I did really enjoy their numbers together. And Bun-chan in dorky horn-rims is love.

The rest of the cast also did a nice job, and I was impressed by the amount and variety of important musumeyaku roles. Also, Hiro's Elia Kazan was such a father-figure for Dean. Got me all teary-eyed. ;)

Love for Emao Yuu, who only had a few months as top star of Yukigumi in 2002. I haven't seen nearly enough of this woman. She cracked me up with her portrayal of a nervous salaryman spoof in the TCA 2002 special LOVE.

Some show posters:
『殉　情』
『追憶のバルセロナ』/"On the 5th"