Backstage Journal is a short Kageki feature where very young cast members write anecdotes about what’s going on behind the scenes of the productions. They’re not very deep, being full of emojis and more like blog entries than articles, but they are a good way to get to know the newest actresses in each troupe.

This one is by Star Troupe member Sayaka Rin (of the 101st Class), and was published in the June 2017 issue.

Backstage Journal – Sayaka Rin (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

Dear Kageki readers, are you enjoying the light breezes and greenery of the early summer? Hello, I am Sayaka Rin, also known as Christina, from Star Troupe. Right now, it’s Kurenai-san and Kisaki-san’s Top debut performance! It makes me so happy to be able to be able to bless them as the priest in the wedding scene 💖 And now, it’s time to head backstage for some fun! LET’S GO!!!

⭐️ Western-style stage assistants ⭐️
This show is set in England and France, but did you know that there were stage assistants in the production? Stage assistants are like the kuroko₁ that often work on kabuki productions. Traditionally, they will wear black hakama, but this time they were in western clothes! The 5 of them, Kuresaki-chan, Soua-kun, Mizuno-chan, Sumika-chan, and Houma-kun, do a total transformation into stage assistants during the show. They wear black tracksuits…well, that much is pretty ordinary, but then they gather up the cords of the hoods so much all you can see is their faces, and it’s so funny that even now I feel like laughing 😂 During Kurenai-san’s prayer song, the Mojimoji-kun squad² sneak out and lay out the costumes the members of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel need to dress up as laundresses. They’re always so cute and work so hard to make the show succeed: thank you so much 💖

⭐️ Even if you’re lonely ⭐️
Nanami Hiroki-san, who plays the leader of the French Revolutionaries, Robepierre, is at war with loneliness during this production. As the Reign of Terror continues, Robespierre gradually loses the loyalty of the people, and backstage, she ends up spending a lot of time by herself, so I was worried that she might be lonely. But one day Nanami-san was totally beaming: “I’m not alone at all!” Chauvelin [Rei], Mercier [Seki] and Coupeau [Sazanami] had left a message on her water bottle that said ‘Happy Birthday, Your Excellency] 💖 May 6th was Robespierre’s birthday, so the three of them must have held an emergency meeting to make her a present 💖 She’s definitely not lonely with such loyal companions~

⭐️ The Prince’s stomach is…!? ⭐️
In this show, the Prince of Wales is played by Senka member Ema Naoki-san, who also played the role in the first production. The main traits of the heir to the throne of England are his charming attitude and his huge stomach! There’s a pillow inside his costume to add enough volume. But when it came time for the Tokyo run of the show, the first thing the Prince said was “Oh no! My stomach has cellulite!” Huh!? Cellulite!? We were all full of question marks. Apparently after the end of the Takarazuka run, when the pillow was laundered it ended up really battered. “But once I have the costume on you can’t tell at all, so it’s all fine! 👍” The prince has a big heart, too~

I’m going to keep working hard and giving my full power every day to keep making every show the best one possible with my beloved Star Troupe 🔥

1 – The ‘ninja’ looking kabuki stage assistants dressed in black kimono and hakama.

2 – This is a reference to a segment on a variety show hosted by comedy duo The Tunnels where they dress in black fullbody stockings and try to make kanji characters.