Lyrics: Fate City (Ocean’s 11)

English translation of lyrics from the original Takarazuka production based on the films.

Danny Ocean:
Everyone has their dreams
Even if we know our ambitions are fleeting
We’ll bet everything on a single ray of hope
Oh Vegas! Las Vegas!
You can change your destiny at Fate City

Wealth and honor–Family and lovers
Things we lose–Things we gain
Things that remain after we lose everything
Things that vanish just within our grasp
Will it be Heaven or Hell on the other side of the door?
No matter which I’ll take it on like a man!

Fate City–Fate City
I’ll change my destiny!
Fate City–Fate City
Even if I bet my life!

Fate City–Fate City
Oh Vegas! Las Vegas!
Oh Fate City–Fate City

Fate City–Fate City
I’ll change my destiny!
Fate City–Fate City
Even if I bet my life!
Fate City–Fate City
Las Vegas!

Looking Back on 2015: Asumi Rio

One of the yearly retrospective features from the December 2015 issue of Kageki, featuring Flower Troupe Top Star Asumi Rio.

Looking Back on 2015: Asumi Rio

January’s production of Ernest in Love was difficult since it was a comedy, but the whole theatre had a really warm atmosphere and I’m glad we had it as our introductory performance with a new Top Combi.

Embraced by the Seas of Calista was my first original production since I became Top, so I had some concerns, but I took on the challenge with the hope of seizing hold of the audience’s feminine emotions through Ms. Ooishi’s script1. Takarazuka Fantasia was rather hard to perform, but it had the message that the reconstructed Flower Troupe would spread its wings. During the middle of the show when I saw everyone’s smiles as they watched, I was really moved. When we received the annual Group Award for this production2, my emotions were split between tears and happiness.

Since I was performing as Fersen for the second time in the Taiwan production of Rose of Versailles: Fersen and Marie-Antoinette, I figured out some new things and tried to get deeper into the character. During the performance of Takarazuka Fantasia I felt united with the Taiwanese audience members, which made me really happy. I was able to get over my uneasiness about performing in a foreign country since I had all my friends with me, and our bonds deepened as if we were all meant to be together.

The Takarazuka Traditional Japanese Dance Recital was really difficult since I was performing Japanese dance by myself for a long time, but I feel like it was a valuable experience.

Since we had been split into the Taiwan group and the Bow Hall group doing various great things, when we all reunited after a long time for New Tale of Genji the rehearsals were really lively. I was really worried about playing Genji, to the point where I said it was the hardest role I’ve had so far, but I want to work on the performance scene by scene and hopefully by the time the last day comes around I will have a deep understanding of the character. Melodia: A Warm and Lovely Melody has various scenes where everyone gets to shine, even the junior members, and it will be very energetic. Every day we’re working on how to present each scene.

While performing, I make new discoveries about how I consider the stage and how I ought to conduct myself, as well as deepening my connections with the other members of the troupe. I’m really happy that I have such trustworthy friends, and I hope to be someone who can lead them well.

1 – This production was one of two (as of time of posting) written for Takarazuka by Ooishi Shizuka, a non-Hankyu-employed screenwriter who mainly writes for television.

2 – In the Takarazuka Annual Awards, Flower Troupe received the Group Award for scene 10 of Takarazuka Fantasia, “Sakura Fantasia”.

Rose of Versailles Side Story: Alain interview – Matobu Sei

This interview with Flower Troupe Top Star Matobu Sei took place to promote her upcoming Rose of Versailles Side Story: Alain, and was published in mainstream musical theatre magazine Musical in their September 2008 issue.

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Lyrics: A Wicked Man (Ernest in Love)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarauka production of the Off-Broadway musical.

Cecily:
Perhaps I shall be so frightened
That I faint!
Perhaps he will just kiss me
Without a word!
But I still want to meet him,
This stimulating
Man I’ve dreamed about:
A wicked man!

I want to meet a wicked man!
I’ve dreamed about a wicked man!
He’ll make all my dreams come true:
A wicked man!

I wonder if
He’ll fall for me?
What if he carries me off
Somewhere by force?
No matter who, any girl
Would admire him.
I’ve been waiting so long for
A wicked man!

I want to meet a wicked man!
I’ve dreamed about a wicked man!
He’ll take me away from this place:
A wicked man!

Take me away!
No matter where!
You’re the real thing!

A truly wicked man!

On and Off: Hanagata Hikaru

Question-and-answer feature published in the August 2008 issue of Kageki.

On and Off: Hanagata Hikaru

On:

First Takarazuka show you saw:
Snow Troupe’s Yukinojo Henge/Saggitarius

Your reason for entering Takarazuka:
Because I’d seen a performance.

A memory of the Takarazuka Music School Entrance Exam:
Since I didn’t know the building well I got lost and ended up wandering around with my mother for ages.

A subject you liked at the Takarazuka Music School:
I liked Acting.

A Takarazuka song you like:
I can’t cho~ose (sweatdrop)

When do you learn your lines?
At home.

What you do to combat nervousness:
Nothing in particular.

On-stage mistakes:
Once my fan slipped right out of my hand…
During a junior performance I was wiping away cold sweat (sweatdrop)…

How long it takes you to put on your stage makeup:
20-30 minutes.

A stage necessity:
Water and VO5 (a hair product)

How you spent the night before your debut:
I prepared for the next day and then slept well!!

Something important for an otokoyaku:
You have to do everything while being determined not to forget “I’m an otokoyaku!!”

A performance that left an impression on you:
I can’t really choose, but right now it would have to be “Ebb Tide” from Red Hot Sea

A moment when you were happy onstage:
When I feel like “we’re all one!!” or when I see people in the audience smiling.

Off:

The most fun time for you:
When I have a relaxing meal with my friends.

Your favorite music genre:
I like anything.

Your favorite kind of fashion:
While I’m just following a trend here, I think it’s good to have T-shirts and jeans.

Colors that you think suit you:
White maybe…I like white!

The last time you cried:
When I was on a trip and took a deep breath while looking up at a night sky filled with stars <3

The last time you laughed:
When Director Tani* was talking to me about pranks I’d pulled a long time ago!!

Do you have a pet?
I have one son (laugh)…(it’s a dog)

The first thing you do when you get up:
I open the curtains.

Something you do for your health:
I drink lots of water~

What sort of child were you?
I was often mistaken for a little boy…

Things you learned in the past:
I went to the pool to swim.

Something you recommend from your home region:
Sunplaza Nakano [a musician]

People you want to meet:
Nobody in particular.

Something you can’t lose:
My cellphone, my car, my favorite sneakers

* This feature was published prior to the hiring of Tani Takaya, so this would refer to Tani Masazumi.

On and Off: Shirahana Remi

This question-and-answer feature was published in the August 2008 issue of Kageki.

On and Off: Shirahana Remi

On:

First Takarazuka show you saw:
Flower Troupe’s “That’s Revue”

Your reason for entering Takarazuka:
I really wanted a job where I could be onstage.

A memory of the Takarazuka Music School Entrance Exam:
I went to sleep in an empty room.

A subject you liked at the Takarazuka Music School:
Tea ceremony.

A Takarazuka song you like:
“I Wish” from Descendant of the Baron.

When do you learn your lines?
While I’m at home.

What you do to combat nervousness:
Deep breaths.

On-stage mistakes:
I accidentally fell down once.

How long it takes you to put on your stage makeup:
30-45 minutes.

A stage necessity:
‘Hakefuki’ (a gauze handkerchief used to wipe off sweat for quick changes and such)

How you spent the night before your debut:
I did visualizations based on the rehearsals.

Something important for a musumeyaku:
Rehearsal clothes and such.

A performance that left an impression on you:
The star of A-Rex.

A moment when you were happy onstage:
When I get applause, or when I see an audience member smiling.

Off:

The most fun time for you:
When I’m talking and laughing with everyone.

Your favorite music genre:
Musical theatre.

Your favorite kind of fashion:
50s and 60s

Colors that you think suit you:
Green and blue

The last time you cried:
When I was really moved watching Frozen Tomorrow: Bonnie and Clyde

The last time you laughed:
When I watched The Magic Hour

Do you have a pet?
I don’t.

The first thing you do when you get up:
I open the curtains.

Something you do for your health:
I try to remember to drink plenty of water.

What sort of child were you?
I was a strong-willed, cheerful, and lively child.

Things you learned in the past:
Ballet, Piano, Penmanship, Swimming…

Something you recommend from your home region:
Asosan [mountain], horse-meat sashimi

People you want to meet:
Tsumori Chisato, Hashimoto Jun

Something you can’t lose:
My family, my friends, Takarazuka

Lyrics: A Handbag is Not a Proper Mother (Ernest in Love)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the Off-Broadway musical.

Lady Bracknell:
The thing I find suspicious is the matter of
Your birth, your birth!
The thing I can’t overlook is the circumstances of
Your upbringing, your upbringing!

As a woman with
A proper sense of morals
As her mother
I cannot permit this!

That’s right, a handbag
Can’t be called a mother!
It’s not a mother!

Jack:
I beg of you,
Please calm down and think about it!

Lady Bracknell:
Then find yourself a mother at once!

A cloakroom
Can’t be called a father!
It’s not a father!

Jack:
I beg of you,
Please calm down and think about it!

Lady Bracknell:
Then find yourself a father at once!

Jack:
Please, won’t you think it over?

Lady Bracknell:
No! Certainly not!

Jack:
But what about your daughter’s feelings?

Lady Bracknell:
I won’t permit her marriage!

Jack:
Never?

Lady Bracknell:
Certainly not! At least to you!

That’s right, a handbag
Can’t be called a mother!
It’s not a mother!

Jack:
I can’t just discard
These passionate feelings!

Lady Bracknell:
First find a mother!
First find a father! Then come back!

She could have any man
Of the proper wealth and station

If I consider my daughter’s happiness
I could never make compromises!
Your birth
Does not suit her

I cannot permit this!

That’s right, a handbag
Can’t be called a mother!
It’s not a mother!

Jack:
Oh! What if I said
I had a little brother!

Lady Bracknell:
A little brother is not a parent!

A cloakroom
Can’t be called a father!
It’s not a father!

Jack:
A father? A mother?
Which?

Lady Bracknell:
I don’t care which!

Jack:
Could you be a little less stubborn?

Lady Bracknell:
I shan’t!

Jack:
Just listen for a moment!

Lady Bracknell:
I must protect my daughter’s happiness
For I am
A mother!

That’s right, a handbag
Can’t be called a mother!
It’s not a mother!

Jack:
I can’t just discard
These passionate feelings!

Lady Bracknell:
First find a mother!
First find a father!
Then come back!

Asumi Rio receives Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival’s newcomer award: first for Takarazuka since Yuzuki Reon

This article was published by Nikkan Sports on December 25, 2015.

Asumi Rio receives Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival’s newcomer award: first for Takarazuka since Yuzuki Reon

On the 25th the Takarazuka Revue announced that Asumi Rio, Top Star of Flower Troupe, was awarded the Newcomer Award for Theatre at the Heisei 27 Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival.

She received the award for her performance in New Tale of Genji, which was performed at the Takarazuka Grand Theatre in Hyogo and elsewhere starting in October of this year. Asumi’s performance in the restaging, 26 years after the last time it was performed, was praised for her embodiment of the elegant setting of the work.

The presentation ceremony takes place January 21st of next year in the city of Osaka.

According to the Revue, it is the first time a member has received the Rookie Award since former Top Star Yuzuki Reon in 2010.

Lyrics: Perfection/Words of Love (Ernest in Love)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the Off-Broadway musical. (As the original song title differs from the Japanese song title, both are used here.)

Jack:
You are beautiful
You are wonderful
But I can’t find
The right words

I love
Everything about you
But I can’t find
The right words

Those secret thoughts
Hidden in your glance
Were surely meant
To speak to me

We only need to look at each other
To understand
We don’t need words
As long as we’re together!

I’m searching for words of love

Jack and Gwendolen:
We only need to look at each other
To understand
We don’t need words
As long as we’re together!

I’m searching for words of love

Lyrics: Mr. Bunbury (Ernest in Love)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the Off-Broadway musical.

Algie:
You can forget London’s formalities
And go out on a visit
To Bunbury!

You should make sure to have a friend
In someplace in the country you like.
Then you can have a little romance in your life
With Bunbury!

Somewhere where pretty girls
Are always smiling at you
If you use a fake name
A whirlwind romance is easy!

Nobody can blame you!
Just go to see your sick friend at night
Night is the best time
For Bunbury!

Don’t be embarrassed
Do whatever you want
And don’t let anything catch you!

If you’re the kind of man who wants to spend your time that way
Then the best type of friend for you to have
Is Bunbury!

In this formal

Jack:
Stifling

Algie:
Era, if you can’t

Jack:
Let loose

Both:
Once in awhile,
We couldn’t bear living!

We need to have some fun once in awhile
And the most helpful person for that
Is Bunbury!
Anyone would want
A little free time
With nothing to hold them back

Jack:
I could have a chance to talk to the ladies in London!

Algie:
If you’re the kind of man who wants to spend your time that way
Then the best type of friend for you to have
Is Bunbury!