WINGS was a Kageki feature where a few young actresses answer questions about themselves and Takarazuka. This issue’s column includes Shiratori Yuriya, Setohana Mari, Kashiro Aoi, and Kazama Yuno.
WINGS – February 17
1. Favorite Takarazuka shows
2. Favorite ______ (insert your own)
3. Charm point
4. A challenge you want onstage
5. A challenge you want offstage
6. Something you want people to notice about you onstage, personal PR appeal
Shiratori Yuriya, Star Troupe
Debut: 2010, The Scarlet Pimpernel
Recent prominent roles: Samurai THE FINAL (2016), the Grey Heron; Om Shanti Om (2017), Shabana
1. A Song For Kingdoms, The Scarlet Pimpernel
2. Season – Autumn; Scenery – Audience seats lit up by penlights; Music – K-pop
3. Dance. I concentrate on dancing with awareness all the way down to my fingers and toes.
4. I want to take on various roles. I would be especially happy if I had a chance to play someone eccentric or a villain.
5. Naginata1, since in Samurai THE FINAL I play a member of the Aizu Women’s Army and I really enjoyed fighting with a naginata.
6. I’ll never forget my feelings of gratitude, and from now on I want to sparkle as a unique, unparallelled musumeyaku in Star Troupe!
Setohana Mari, Cosmos Troupe
Debut: 2010, The Scarlet Pimpernel
Recent prominent roles: Elisabeth (2016), Sopie (junior performance); L’Aigle aux Deux Tetes (2016), Queen Mother (also Paparazzi woman E)
1. The Moon Troupe revue Le Bolero Rouge
2. Bath method – I pour in a ton of natural salt before getting in; Personality aspect – I flare up quickly, but also calm down easily; Disney characters – All the villains
3. My eyes.
4. I want to always be in pursuit of improvement so that I can make my roles so real people think I’m possessed by the spirit of the characters! My goal is to be a chameleon actress!
5. I want to take time to confront myself. Often things I realize about myself suddenly, like ‘Oh, that’s how it is!’ turn out to be really really significant!
6. No matter where I am on stage I’ll be using my specialty ‘Eye Power Beam’ so my all means come to a Cosmos Troupe performance and experience it <3 I’ll be waiting at the theatre <3
Kashiro Aoi, Moon Troupe
Debut: 2011, A Second Fortuitous Meeting
Recent prominent roles: Nobunaga (2016), Gnecchi (junior performance)-Soldo Organtino; Le Roi Arthur (2016), Sir Kay
1. Elisabeth, Ocean’s 11
2. Yearly event – My family’s traditional Setsubun2; Time – 10pm; New Year’s dish – herring roe cooked in soy sauce
3. My small mouth…I guess. My classmates often tease me like ‘your mouth is so tiny!!’ but I feel like it’d be nice if I could make that a charm point somehow…
4. I was able to do pantomime in a small theatre performance, so even though this is a really impertinent desire I’d love to do that in the Grand Theatre one day… I’d also like to try out another new stage art like that.
5. Martial arts!! When I was little, since I was the youngest one I’d always lose when I fought with my big sisters, I thought ‘if only I could win just once!!’ (laughs) I still have that desire for strength (laughs)
6. I want to completely transform myself scene to scene. Please come to see the many faces of Kashiro!!
Kazama Yuno, Moon Troupe
Debut: 2014, Takarazuka Odori
Recent prominent roles: A-En – Asami Jun cast (2015), Daniel; Nobunaga (2016), Yasuke (junior performance)
1. A Magician’s Misfortunes, Apasionado!!
2. School topic – P.E.; Season – The end of summer as it transitions into Autumn; Otokoyaku shout – ‘Uooooh~!!’
3. My long eyelashes. I’m good at tonguetwisters.
4. I’d like to play a tyrant. I want to brainwash everyone and make them do my bidding (laughs)
5. I’ve loved anime for ages, so I’d like to try voiceover work sometime.
6. This is my 3rd year as an otokoyaku, and while I am still unskilled, my affection for the stage and my LOVE for being an otokoyaku won’t lose to anyone else!! I’ll work hard to become a dazzling otokoyaku!!
1 – Naginata is a traditional Japanese polearm that was considered a woman’s weapon.
2 – A holiday celebrated on Feb 3, Setsubun involves ritually purifying the house by throwing soybeans at ‘demons’ (often a family member in a demon mask).