This invitation talk feature was published in the May 2017 GRAPH issue. Rei and Senna were in TMS at the same time (one class apart) and this took place shortly after Senna became the new Top Musume of Flower Troupe, so they talk a lot about those things.
Continue readingTRIPLE 4 is a Kageki feature where siennes list their top 3 favorites in 4 different Takarazuka-related categories. Ootori Mayu’s was published in the July 2016 issue, along with Tenju Mitsuki’s.
Again, a lot of these shows I haven’t seen so I have to go by her descriptions.
Continue readingThis talk is from the April 2017 issue of Kageki.
chemicalperfume assisted with editing and filling in trouble spots!
Continue readingEnglish translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka original musical. Transliteration is included as this song is available in Japanese karaoke catalogs.
Continue readingThe other theme song from Asumi Rio’s revue, Santé!!
This song is from Scene 19, where Mirio is ‘resurrected.’
Château Pétrus is one of the most expensive wines in the world. It became most famous while the vineyards were owned by a woman (Mme. Loubat), and if Fujii Daisuke did as much research as he very well could have this might be a reference to the fact that the vineyards recovered from being nearly completely devastated by frost in the 1950s.
Continue readingThis is the theme song of Asumi Rio’s latest revue, Santé!! I spent a long time looking up all the French and I hope it’s correct but please feel free to let me know if I made any spelling errors (usage errors are on Fujii Daisuke, I’m afraid).
Continue readingThis talk is from the June 2017 issue of Kageki.
Continue readingEnglish translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka original production, translated by chemicalperfume.
Continue readingTheme song from the Takarazuka original musical translated by chemicalperfume.
Continue readingThis article about the junior performance of Wind over Yamataikoku was published by Sponichi on June 20, 2017. (Archive link here.)
6th-year hopeful Hiryuu Tsukasa’s first leading role: ‘The opening spotlight was so bright…’
On June 20th, in the Takarazuka Grand Theatre performance of the junior performance for the Takarazuka Revue Hanagumi play Wind over Yamataikoku in Hyogo Prefecture, 6th-year future hopeful Hiryuu Tsukasa achieved her first leading role.
Wind over Yamataikoku is the story of a young man who fights to protect his country while being consumed by love for the Queen, Himiko. From her first appearance, where she appears in a blinding spotlight to suddenly launch into a powerful rendition of the theme song, Hiryuu thrilled the audience with her confident acting and singing skills. At 1.71 metres, she is not as blessed regarding physique as some recent otokoyaku are, but her presence on stage far outsizes that.
At the curtain call, she said “while there are still all sorts of challenges ahead, like the theme of the play I want to value the connections between people, and I’m resolved to continue to devote myself to the stage.”
“The opening spotlight was so bright, and I’ve never had that kind of experience before, so during the prologue number I was full of happiness and it felt like it created a link between me and the character,” she said, describing the effect the show had on her during a post-performance interview. “I want to value those feelings and that responsibility from now on,” she declared, promising her future determination.
The fourth-year Hana Yuuki, who played her first heroine with the role of Queen Himiko, also gave a strong performance. “In my first scene I was so nervous I started getting all shaky,” she said, looking back on her performance without pretentiousness.