English translation of lyrics from the theme song of the founding revue of Cosmos Troupe. As this song is available in Japanese karaoke catalogs a transliteration is included.
Continue readingLyrics: Citrus Breeze (Citrus Breeze)
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Category Archives: Cosmos Troupe
Lyrics: Energy for Tomorrow (Citrus Breeze)
English translation of lyrics from Cosmos Troupe’s founding revue. Since this song is available in Japanese karaoke catalogs there is also a transliteration.
Continue reading6000 fans at Cosmos Troupe Top Star Asaka Manato’s home territory retirement parade! ‘Thank you for showing us a love larger than the galaxy’
This brief report on Asaka’s Takarazuka retirement was released by Sports Hochi on September 25; however, the original article has since been removed with no archives remaining.
Continue readingMakaze Suzuho’s Breaktime My Way
This feature about the care and keeping of Makaze Suzuho was published in the June 2017 Kageki.
Continue readingSparkling Time: Makaze Suzuho and Saotome Wakaba
A talk from Kageki between the two former Star Troupe members, from the April 2017 issue. (At the time, Asaka Manato had not yet announced her retirement so Makaze Suzuho was not known to be the ascending Top Star for Cosmos).
Continue readingLyrics: Ruler of the Galaxy (Legend of the Galactic Heroes)
English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka original production based on the multimedia franchise.
Romanized lyrics are included as this song is available in Japanese karaoke catalogs.
Reinhardt:
Earth, the planet where humanity was born
Was laid waste by a series of nuclear wars
Humans wandered the galaxy in search of a new world
And when they finally reached a new planet, the nation they created
Became a dictator’s empire, just like the Earth they left
I was born in the Galactic Empire
I joined the military in order to depose the Emperor
After continual victories, I am now in command of the army
My goal is to create a new Galactic nation
Relying on my own luck and intuition
Tonight, as well
The goddess of victory smiles on me
Ah, Kirchheis, my friend
You are always beside me
Kirchheis: Forever!
Reinhardt: Loenthal!
Loenthal: I’ll be loyal!
Reinhardt: Mittermeier!
Mittermeier: I swear!
Reinhardt:
Before moving against the empire
I’ll defeat my enemies and gain more influence
I don’t need to listen to the old fools!
Together with my comrades I’ll sieze the future
Oh~ the stars are flowing out before me
Twinkling and waiting
For the day I take control of the galaxy
For the day I become the ruler of the galaxy!
Reinhardt:
Hito ga umareta wakusei chikyuu wa
Tabikasanaru kakusensou ni arehateta
Aratana tenchi motomete ginga ni samayoi
Tadoritsuita hoshi ni hiraita kuni wa
Ima de wa chikyuu to onaji dokusaisha no osameru teikoku
Watashi wa umareta ginga teikoku
Koutei taosu tame ni gunjin ni natta
Tsune ni kachitsuzuke teikokugun wo osameru
Watashi no mokuteki sore wa ginga ni aratana kuni wo tsukuru
Jibun no hirameki to un ni kakete
Shori no megami wa kon’ya mo mata
Watashi ni hohoemi kaketeiru
Aa tomo yo Kiruhihaisu
Katawara de watashi to tomo ni aru no da
Kirchheis: Tokoshie ni!
Reinhardt: Roientaaru!
Loenthal: Chuusei wo!
Reinhardt: Mittaamaiyaa!
Mittermeier: Chikaou!
Reinhardt:
Teikoku ugokasu sono mae ni
Teki wo taoshite kenryoku wo nigiru
Toshioita mono ni mimi wo kasazu ni
Nakama to tomo ni mirai wo te ni ireru
Oh hoshitachi ga watashi no mae ni nagareru
Mabataite watashi wo matteiru
Ginga wo seiha suru hi made
Ginga no hasha to naru hi made
Lyrics: Ice Blue Eyes (Legend of the Galactic Heroes)
Lyrics from the Takarazuka original production based on the multimedia franchise. Misaki Rion performed this song in her farewell recital.
Hildegarde von Mariendorf:
Those clear blue eyes are deeper than any lake
Their icy coldness seems to pierce deeply into my heart
Blue, blue, ice blue
Those sparkling eyes
Even though they can look through people they haven’t lost their shine
If only I could see the universe in those eyes
I’m sure I could see spreading galaxies unknown to me
Ah~ even more than having those eyes look at me
I want to gaze at the same stars together
I want to search for what those eyes are seeking out
Even if I had to give all of my self, I wouldn’t regret it
Blue, blue, ice blue
Ice blue eyes…
“Rush! Fresh!! Push!!!” – Shizuki Asato and Asami Hikaru with Yumeki Noa
This talk from the January 1998 Kageki pre-dates the creation of Cosmos Troupe, and features 3 of its future members discussing those prospects.
(Well, in theory, but they quickly get off-topic…)
This feature was translated from Shizuki’s memorial book anthology, but seems to be unabridged.
“Rush! Fresh!! Push!!!” Shizuki Asato and Asami Hikaru with Yumeki Noa
Shizuki: Komu-chan (Asami), you were in Flower Troupe with me for three years, right?
Asami: That’s right.
Yumeki: When I was a ken-1, I was in Flower Troupe for a year because of troupe rotations.
Shizuki: What, really?
Asami: So we were actually in the same troupe together… But there’s still tons of things I don’t know about Zunko-san…
Shizuki: Ask me whatever you like!
Asami: Is it okay even if it’s something serious?
Shizuki: Sure, go ahead.
Asami: Is there something you’re good at cooking?
Shizuki: What’s serious about that! [laughs] I’m pretty good at gooking anything. If somebody says ‘cook this’ I can make anything, but if I don’t have to I won’t cook. I’m best at stuff like curry, stew, and beef stroganoff.
Yumeki: Let’s flip that around, is there something you’d like people to make for you?
Shizuki: Rice! [laughs]
Yumeki: If that’s it I can probably manage.
Shizuki: I’ll be content with just warm rice and miso soup. If anyone would like to cook for me, I’m hiring~!
Asami: If you say stuff like that you’ll get mobbed! [laughs]
Shizuki: Actually, I love eating breakfast. As soon as I get up I can eat steak or anything.
Yumeki: Me too! Cake or whatever is OK!
Asami: Whaaaat!?
Shizuki: When I go to bed at night, I fall asleep looking forward to what I’ll eat for breakfast.
Asami: I don’t get hungry at all until midday. So I don’t believe you.
Yumeki: I like having a bit of a drink before bed; what about you, Zunko-san?
Shizuki: I do too! There’s always gin and such in my fridge.
Yumeki: Same here!
Asami: Are you particular about glassware?
Shizuki: I’m ridiculously fussy about it! But all my nice crystal, like Baccarat, shattered in an earthquake…
Asami: I can see you in a dressing gown with your legs crossed, holding a Baccarat glass…and of course with the lights dimmed…
Shizuki: [laughs] I do like a dark room.
Yumeki: Me too!
Shizuki: We really think alike.
Yumeki: I like scented candles, so I’ll light some and then drink with the lights off.
Shizuki: Same here! We should move in together!
Yumeki: I-if this gets printed I’m in for it! [laughs]
Shizuki: I don’t like bright rooms. So my room is full of ennui.
Asami: So cool! I’m the opposite. If it’s not nice and bright I feel weird. I couldn’t live with Zunko-san…
Shizuki: Bummer…
Asami: You don’t look disappointed at all!
Shizuki, Yumeki: [laughs]
Yumeki: Your room must be nice and neat.
Shizuki: I’m a person who loves cleaning.
Asami: You can cook and clean too! You’d make a great wife!
Shizuki: Actually, I’ve recently decided to reject marriage. [laughs] I like living alone too much, you know?
Asami: That’s right.
Yumeki: When I was in grade school, I wrote an essay in Home Economics about how I would never ever get married, and the teacher got really mad at me.
Shizuki, Asami: [laughs]
Shizuki: You should do what you like, and live how you want.
Asami: At the end I’d like to ask one actually serious question. Now that a new troupe is finally being created, what kind of troupe do you want to make it into?
Shizuki: I want it to be a troupe where it’s as if all kind of things were put in a box to freely mix together. I want to avoid unnecessary separations between junior and senior actresses as much as possible, so that there’s an environment where anyone can mutually discuss anything. At this point, nothing’s really fixed about the new troupe, so I want us to all work together bit by bit to create it.
Asami: Hearing you say things like that makes me really excited, Zunko-san.
Yumeki: I’m really happy.
Shizuki: I’m sure it’ll be hard to start from square one, but I want to “open the door”.
Asami: And then we…
Yumeki: Can leap through it!
Misaki Rion’s retirement press conference: “It went by in a flash”
This article about Misaki Rion’s press conference for her upcoming retirement was published by Daily Sports Online on August 24, 2016.
Misaki Rion’s retirement press conference: “It went by in a flash”
Cosmos Troupe top musumeyaku Misaki Rion, who has announced that she will be retiring in April of next year, held a press conference on the 24th, at the Takarazuka Revue headquarters in Takarazuka, Hyogo prefecture.
Misaki appeared at the interview wearing Takarazuka’s ‘retirement colors’, a white one-piece dress. “Ever since becoming top musume, I’ve always been aware of [upcoming] retirement,” she said; she was the partner of two successive Top Stars, Ouki Kaname and Asaka Manato.
She seriously began thinking about retirement on opening night of Asaka’s Grand Theatre introductory performance as Top Star, A Song for Kingdoms. “It was a wonderful script, and I had a very large role, and I could feel our power and passion as a unit,” she declared.
After discussing the situation with Asaka, she revealed that “Even in rehearsals and such, I’ve been valuing each and every day still more. If you take it since I entered the Takarazuka Music School, it’s been 10 years. It really went by in a flash,” she said, with tears coming to her eyes as she looked back.
Ouki Kaname’s words, “I want you to be my equal,” had a deep impression on Misaki. Also, she is grateful to Asaka, who “welcomed me with open arms.” Regarding what she will do after retirement, she said with a smile “I’m not thinking of anything about that yet. I want to carry through my life in Takarazuka first.”
Her retirement performance will be Chateau de la Reine/Viva! Festa!, which will run at the Takarazuka Grand Theatre from 2/3/2017-3/6/2017, and at the Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre from 3/31/2017-4/30/2017.
Cosmos Troupe Top Star Asaka Manato deeply moved by Elisabeth lead role: ‘This is the first show I had lines in’
This coverage of the press conference for the 2016 production of Elisabeth was published by Crank In on April 15, 2016.
Cosmos Troupe Top Star Asaka Manato deeply moved by “Elisabeth” lead role: ‘This is the first show I had lines in’
The press conference for the Takarazuka Revue Cosmos Troupe production of Elisabeth: Rondo of Love and Death took place on the 15th, with Cosmos Troupe Top Star Asaka Manato and Top Musumeyaku Misaki Rion in attendance. Asaka is enthusiastic about the role, saying “this show is definitely going to challenge me. I want to completely change my image to perform as Der Tod.”
The original musical uses beautiful musical themes to follow the unfortunate fate of the astoundingly beautiful Elisabeth, who, despite only wanting to live a free, uninhibited life, becomes Empress of Austria. In the Takarazuka version, the lord of the underworld, Der Tod (‘death’), who loves Elisabeth, is made the main character. Since the first performance in 1996, 899 shows have been performed, with a record-setting audience of 2,160,000 people.
Asaka is the 9th actress to play Der Tod. Her black hair gives a sharp impression, and her makeup is reminiscent of a Visual Kei bandmember. Director Koike Shuuichiro said “her Der Tod feels more aggressive than any until now. She will express the violence that ‘death’ is really capable of.”
In her first year as a member of Takarazuka, Asaka took part in the Hanagumi production of Elisabeth, and it was the first time in her career that she was given lines. “I just had one line, ‘People are sick!’1 but I couldn’t even say just that one line well…” When talking about her memories of the show she shows her eagerness to play as Der Tod.
In addition, Misaki Rion, who plays Elisabeth, said “while there is a high barrier in front of me, I want to do my best to perform a new Elisabeth.”
“I’m usually playing cheerful roles,” Asaka said regarding her part of Der Tod, “so generally I would say brightly ‘I want to show a sunny personality’, but this is the exact opposite type of role. I’m going to access my negative side even in everyday life, so I hope I don’t bother anyone…” Asaka’s description of the secret side of role-building gained a lot of laughs.
1 – In the leadup to the song ‘Milch’.