This is a diary-styled feature from Kageki accompanied by the star’s personal photos. Tatsuki’s was published in the June 2008 issue.
The dates are unspecified (and sometimes she isn’t talking about things that happened that actual day), but going by the events she described this was recorded during late April/early May, during the break after Le Rouge et le Noir 2008 and the start of Scarlet Pimpernel rehearsals.
My Seven Days Diary – Tatsuki You (Star Troupe)
In this column, performers reveal a week of their lives, diary style. They’re free to write about whatever they feel like each day, whether it’s recent events or whimsical ideas, accompanied by their own personal photos. Enjoy!
1st Day
This photo is from a little while back, but I took it together with the members of my middle school class association during the run of Le Rouge et le Noir in Nippon Seinenkan. I hadn’t been able to participate in the class association at all, so I hadn’t seen any of them since I entered the Music School, but one of them sent a New Year’s card [for me] to the theatre, which led to me getting back in contact, and this was the first time they came to see me perform. I was just so happy. Right now, most of them are married and have kids, but they haven’t changed a bit, so we really lived it up after the show ended (laughs).
2nd Day
Before rehearsals opened for THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, I went to Nagano Prefecture on a friend’s invitation. I went boating down the river in the Doro Gorge. The air was so pure… I felt healed listening to the birds calling and the water flowing, and looking at the greenery all around me. The tour guide explains everything, the different shaped rocks, cave entrances and waterfalls. In my day to day life I usually feel like time is chasing me down, so when I’m out in nature, I can forget about time… Even though there’s nothing happening, actually, it’s that nothing that’s so good about it. That’s how it feels.
3rd Day
This is the Nachi Falls, the largest waterfall in Japan. Looking at this photo it’s hard to picture just how tall it is, and the power of the water falling down is so intense. This was right after some rain, so there was a huge amount of water making it even more powerful, and the scale of it had me rooted to the spot. It’s supposedly a sacred place, and it really felt divine, so fascinating that it seemed like it was going to pull me in. You can go down really close to the waterfall basin. It’s a wonderful place, please try visiting for yourselves (laughs).
4th Day
I went to Kumano Prefecture in my car, which you can see in this photo. I love driving, so much that when I have some extra time I’ll drive all the way to Yamanashi, or to my family home in Yokohama. This photo is the view from my friend who lives in Kumano’s house. Their place is remote even for Kumano, so the roads weren’t even in the car’s navigation system, so I had to rely on my own memories of the last time I went and I managed to make it there somehow (laughs). The starry night sky was so beautiful… You can’t see so many, such huge, and such bright stars in the city. I love nature, so when I have the day off a lot of the time I’ll spend it in search of nature.
5th Day
I took 3 photos this day. The first one is me and my classmates (laughs). When I went to see Moon Troupe’s ME AND MY GIRL, Mizu (Natsuki) arrived at the dressing room right at the same time, so the three of us got a photo… When we have time for it, we have fun hanging out, we’ll do takoyaku parties and stuff (laughs). The second one is with Tonami (Shirahane Yuri), she’s always such a bright presence. We’ve talked a lot ever since she was in Star Troupe. And then the third photo is with my beloved Choreographer Hayama Kiyomi. She’s so strict on herself, and she has such love for Takarazuka… Choreographer (Kiyomi) always makes me think ‘I need to work even harder.’
6th Day
This is Frank Wildhorn, who composed the music for THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, which opens on June 20th. On this day, he came to watch us rehearse. During the break, he suddenly went to the piano and started playing… It was so wonderful, and I thought, I have to capture this! So I got this shot (laughs). I listened to the songs from the CD and they’re all really beautiful. I want to do my best so our strength and expressiveness in Takarazuka won’t lose to the overseas version. Also, it would be nice if I could find a new facet to myself as well.
7th Day
This is Touko-san (Aran Kei), as Sir Percy Blakeney in THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, and all his friends. We’re all British nobles who rescue members of the French nobility unfairly sentenced to die by guillotine! The rehearsals have just started, so nothing’s come together at all yet, but the song our group sings is so amazing… It’s full of justice and passion, and I think the audience will really love it. Touko-san, I’ll follow you anywhere!! (laughs)
Message from Shii
To everyone who loves and supports Takarazuka,
Thank you so much for supporting the Takarazuka Revue and warmly watching over us!!
‘Thank you <3’
It’s so difficult to put into words, but being able to join Takarazuka and perform on this stage that I love definitely couldn’t just happen. It’s thanks to everyone who has encouraged and supported me that I’m here now, so I’m thankful with all my heart.
I couldn’t have done any of this on my own.
Thank you for giving me all this love and courage <3
Shii