Takarazuka Journal

There's an irony in looking forward to the work week, when you can relax.
...... ;)

Went in extra-early with Laure on Saturday morning, guessing when she needed to be there for Mirio, but we just missed her. Masaki was back in Armand mode, meaning lighter colors.<3

Then, hm... Hung out in Starbucks for a bit together, before catching some folks who had been in the toujitsuken line and Amanda and heading to MUJI for brunch. Chatted for a bit with everyone and made plans to meet up again later for dinner before the ochakai, then said farewell to everyone seeing the show and Amanda and I ventured out to see the Tokyo Sky Tree, which is tall and rather ugly and no doubt will feature in a major motion picture or two soon. ;)

Checked in to the hotel and crashed for about an hour and a half before getting up and getting ready for the ochakai. We went out for Thai first, though, then Laure left a bit early to be sure she wouldn't miss demachi and the three of us headed to the ochakai. (More on that later.)

Got back and sorted through loot and generally probably annoyed everyone else in the dormitory. *grin*

Bed and slept in gloriously, for a late, late standby. (Masaki is going to enjoy her last week as Armand, methinks.)

Spent more time in Starbucks with Laure, then said our goodbyes. Met up with Amanda for lunch at Yoshinoya, since we decided it was Sensible Sunday. Then wandered Shinjuku in search of Purikura and ended up with the creepy-eye machines. XD Said our farewells as well as she headed off to play tourist.

I eventually wandered into the tiny, tiny theater that Marika's show was in (she's a fellow club member and young comedian/actress). Despite my shuffling around the neighborhood and trying to wait until the last minute, I still was early enough to end up in the 2nd row. XD (More on the show later, but I ended up *really* enjoying it.)

Then made it back to Yurakucho in time to grab dinner, write my letter, and read a bunch of the novel I had brought with me, before heading to demachi, where we had a "petit event" to get a big crowd, since Kiriyan was having her ochakai and we needed to fill in her space. Lots of people there I had never seen before, including an entire family (I think they were mother, father, and teenage daughter). Actually, I'm pretty sure I'd seen the dad before, but at ochakai, not guard. Masaki gave us each a present for coming. But I could tell she was tired, and she had her "I'm smiling, dammit" face on, poor thing.

Then onto the trains and home before 11, and able to sleep in until 9 AM on Monday!

Ever notice when you're really busy you end up writing lots and lots of short, pointless posts? It's like a procrastination mechanism to avoid the long one that you know is going to take 5-6 hours. (← Yes, I'm working on my Gu Bijin review, promise!)

So! Did a kind of blurry Shonichi phone post for Friday that I think doesn't need much more added.

So, then, last Saturday I went to double-iri♥ Masaki iri, where she continued to be in such a good mood that we were all giggling and happy (She was still dressing in the Chauvelin black, but I guess she decided to leave the attitude in the theater in Tokyo♥) Then I headed a few stops down the Hibiya Line and met up with Mame's fans for iri. And it was kind of awkward at first, but then someone broke the ice and we talked a bit. There were about ten people! And then Mame came, still dressing in otokoyaku-ish fashion, but with this cute little faux-fur cap (in JUNE? Really?). And she went down the line and talked and joked with everyone one at a time and did this staring-into-your-eye thing that flustered us even though we really shouldn't have been flustered because it was Mame. And then we did the duckling thing after her half-way to the theater. 0_o (← *So* still following Zuka rules.) And afterward I talked to a woman who remembered me from PariSora shinko! .... So it turned out I wasn't the only Masaki-kai member there. Eheh.

And then we all went out to tea with Mame's mother. Which was really funny, because Mame's fans are a pretty cool and down to earth bunch, but every once in a while they'd get a bit fangirly and her mom seemed to find it pretty amusing. We all pitched in to buy Mame a bouquet of sunflowers for raku♥ It was from them that I first heard that there would be a new Jubilee in July.

Then we went to the show! I was in the second row, off to the side of center block. This show was AWESOME. It would have been awesome even without Princess Mame, but that was a nice touch♥ Hot guys running around being all manly and a TON of battle scenes and... I wanted to see it a million times more when it finished, but it was sold out for the rest of the run. ;_; (← More on this show later.)

After the show I went back to Tokyo Theater for demachi♥ Masaki♥ All: I want to talk to you. I will talk to you. "Well.... I'm off then." (← Oh, Masaki. Ganbatte.) AND! We're with Kiriyan-kai for weekend demachi, along with Mirio-kai. It is so very, very weird looking across the street and seeing everyone else. ;_;

And, er, I will try not to let silly things get to me, but there is this one thing, and if it happens *again* next Saturday AND Sunday I might have to complain about it. Just once, I promise. ;)

And Gen came in to Tokyo to save me from the Sakura dormitory Saturday night♥ The toujitsuken line on Saturday morning actually hadn't been unusually long at all, but we got up early on Sunday anyway, just in case. We got there at 7:10-ish, and it was already at the 60-or-so people point.

Sunday adlibs were pretty funny! The morning show was a "hot-pink shirt and green pants and you can be a pro golfer", and the follow up I didn't quite catch, but it was something like "That's true, you'd never make it as a golfer."

I didn't go to the kashikiri, but the oyako told me about it. It was Hankyu Group kashikiri. Percy described a Hankyu tour-guide's costume (most of the folks coming to kashikiri come in tour groups), complete with little flag, and her follow up to the "kekko desu" was "That's true, no one would want to take a tour guided by you." (How mean, Percy! ;_; I'd take a Chauvelin Tour!)

Masaki's voice continues strong, although she's still not projecting as much as she used to in the past, as a precaution to get through the run, I think. Still, beautiful Masaki voice♥ (Although I heard someone grumbling that her speaking voice wasn't as gravely and sexy. *JENRAGESMASH*)

And apparently I was wrong about the set changes being a mistake, because they did the exact same things during the Sunday morning show. Just things they had to do because of the smaller Tokyo stage, I guess? Still strikes me as weird.

We spent a bit of Sunday after the show finding food. Then she went to Touko's concert. After demachi I realized that shoving my bag into a locker in a panic and Gen using her Pasmo because I had nothing left on mine and no change had not been a very smart thing to do, but she graciously came back and got my bag back out for me. XD

Oh my god, what? Some message board is saying something about the date for Rizu's ochakai changing to Saturday. Will remain calm as I haven't heard anything from her club. >:(

Next weekend is Armand~~~♥ My club keeps asking me to say "Armand". They really like how I say it for some reason, although I keep pointing out to them that I'm American, not French. ♥ Someone will say, "Have you heard JennyJenny say Arumando yet? No? It's so cool! JennyJenny, say 'Arumando' for her!" ^^;

Trip Summary

April 28th - 29th
Night bus to Osaka with Charlotte. Spent the day in Nara. 1300th anniversary of the Heijo-kyo Capital, but the reconstruction was a bit of a disappointment. Headed out after only an hour or so to actually see Todaiji and the Daibutsu, and (of course) the man-eating Nara deer. Back to Osaka; raided Julie's apartment for a shower and then ran to catch the train to Mura.

Made it to demachi. Found myself doing guard in the Fan Plaza for the first time. Thrilling and ever so proud for Masaki that she's made it so far, but.... Fan Plaza guard kind of sucks. You get the full brunt of the stares from the Hana no Michi platform. X/ On the other hand, you get to see everyone come out, no matter which way they go after they exit the stage doors. So weird to think that just a year ago we were down at the end of the line near the parking lot exit.

First stamp of the year 2010 on my point card (we had special cards for Hamlet). Told to "gambate" by A-chan. Sadly, this'll be my last trip this year, so my grand total for the year is a measly nine.

Then a long, round-about trip back to Osaka to get our bags and then out to Kobe to crash with Amanda.

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I'm going to go into a lot of unnecessary exposition -- for anyone who might be curious.

Also, I don't want to sound callous, but I'll warn you right up front that this was one of the funnest iri/demachi experiences I've ever had. For three main reasons: 1) I love when all of the Tsuki clubs are out in full force and the sheer overwhelming numbers tell you how much these Takarasienne are loved, 2) the people I spent seven hours standing crammed together with are enjoyably insane, 3) the taidansha were all glowing and so visibly happy that I somehow couldn't be sad.

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I left as giddy as ever. Takarazuka, Takarazuka♪ Thank you.
Asako, Ahi, Sunao, Aiai, Renka, Shizuku, Shiori, Urara - Thank you♥