This article about New Year’s festivities at the Takarazuka Grand Theatre was published by Daily Sports Online on January 2nd, 2016.

Takarazuka’s Kagami-biraki ceremony features Sagiri Seina’s smile

Takarazuka Revue Snow Troupe’s Top Star Sagiri Seina and top musumeyaki Sakihi Miyu performed a Kagami-biraki* ceremony at the Revue’s headquarters, the Takarazuka Grand Theatre in Hyogo, on the 1st.

“I’m happy to meet so many members of the audience this early in the new year,” Sagiri said as she smiled at the fans packed into the lobby of the theatre. “Since this year is the Year of the Monkey, we’re going to put on shows with that kind of ‘ukkii, ukkii’ [T/N: monkey sound effect] feeling,” she said, making a strained pun.

“I’m going to work hard so that lots of people will come to love Takarazuka in its 102nd year,” Sakihi stated, showing her ambitions.

Starting February 2nd, Snow Troupe will be performing Rurouni Kenshin, based on the famous hit manga by Watsuki Nobuhiro which sold more than 59 million copies. While the musical is still in the middle of rehearsals, Sagiri showed her faith in it as she said “I think those who don’t know the manga at all as well as those who love the manga will enjoy it.”

The popular New Year’s performance of Lupin III which Sagiri starred in in 2015 created a precedent for adaptations of 2-dimensional works. “When Sagiri wore the red kimono during rehearsals, I felt like Kenshin was really there in front of me,” Sakihi said, staring at Sagiri in fascination.

* Kagami-biraki is a celebratory ceremony where a sake barrel is broken open and shared. More info here.