In each Kageki, there is a ‘Troupe Report’ where someone from each troupe collects funny or interesting anecdotes or does Q&A with other members.
The April 2017 Troupe Report was written by Kisaragi Ren and focuses on the backstage of The Scarlet Pimpernel, as well as some Osaka travel tips from Top Star Kurenai Yuzuru!
Continue readingA feature about the care and keeping of Rei Makoto from the April 2017 Kageki.
Continue readingA 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 readingThis is the new song written by Wildhorn for the most recent productions of The Scarlet Pimpernel (it seems to have made its first appearance in the 2016 Toho production, starring Aran Kei and a man).
This song replaces the second half of the Madame Guillotine reprise in Act II; instead of Chauvelin’s solo portion, it segues into this.
Continue readingThis is a Q&A session with brand-new Top Star Aran Kei on her arrival in Tokyo for her debut there with Sakura/Secret Hunter. The original transcript was published in ENAK Sumire Style on September 13, 2007. (Archive link here.)
Continue readingOne of the behind-the-scenes comics from the December 2015 issue of Graph. (The feature it accompanied is not yet translated.)
One of the yearly retrospective features from the December 2015 issue of Kageki, featuring Star Troupe Top Musumeyaku Hinami Fuu.
Looking Back on 2015: Hinami Fuu
While Like a Black Panther/Dear Diamond!! was the retirement performance for the Top Combi, I tried not to be too conscious of that and I remember it as an enjoyable show. Nene-san [Yumesaki Nene] is so lovely and cute…of course, I learned a lot of things about being a musumeyaku during rehearsals for this show.
Next was the national tour performance. I was really worried about taking the position of Top Musumeyaku, but Michiko-san [Hokushou] looked after me all the time and lent me her strength. I feel like without that I would have lost the determination to battle on as a performer.
The role of Elaine in Great Pirates I felt was a great one to advance as a musumeyaku, so I put together a really detailed image of how I wanted to perform as Elaine. Amour, That is… was the show I debuted in, so when I think about that time I’m really deeply moved. Having the chance to encounter it again made me really happy.
I had a lot of difficulties with Guys and Dolls in rehearsals, but when the curtain opened I felt the warmth of the audience and the rest of Star Troupe around me, and it made me really happy… It was so fun that I would feel lonely every day after the performance was over, so it was a very happy performance for me.
Since I was conscious of the fact that I am poor at Japanese dance, I practiced up to my limits for the Takarazuka Traditional Dance performance. By the time it came to perform I was looking forward to it, and on the day of the show I was able to enjoy myself through the dancing.
This year I had a lot of valuable experiences and met a lot of different people through each performance, but among all those people the meeting that most affected me was with Michiko-san. Next year I will keep working hard to increase the feeling of improvement I have now.
English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production based on the comics.
Gilda:
“I am a sailor. To a sailor, the sea is everything.”
Grand mer: deep, deep blue, spreading on and on
I will sleep in your limitless embrace
Grand mer: I kept swimming without looking back
I am a sorrowful fallen angel who fell to you after losing my wings to fly
Red:
“I won’t give up as long as the sea and sky exist!”
Gilda and Red:
We put the setting sun behind us
This is a song for travellers with no place to return
The seven seas wait to tell their tale
The seven skies invite you to see their miracles
Deep, deep blue, like the kingfisher
Grand blue, Grand sea, Grand sky
Tyrian:
“I will keep going! I don’t need a reason for my ambition!”
Towards the empire of the never-setting sun
Grand blue, Grand sea, Grand sky
Gilda and Red:
The seven seas wait to tell their tale
The seven skies invite you to see their miracles
Tyrian:
Until I take hold of the blindingly bright sun shining in my eyes
Until my winds are torn off I will keep flying
Tyrian, Gilda, Red:
The seven seas wait to tell their tale
The seven skies invite you to see their miracles
The seven seas wait to tell their tale
The seven skies invite you to see their miracles
Grand blue, Grand sea, Grand sky
Part of Hokushou Kairi’s special feature as new Top Star in the November 2015 issue of Graph, featuring a personal statement and messages between her and Hinami Fuu.
New Star Troupe Top Star: Hokushou Kairi Special Report
While I was worried about whether I would really be able to succeed at the beginning of the Great Pirates/Amour, that is… national tour, everyone received me so warmly that I forgot all my concerns in a moment and was filled with energy, diving into Star Troupe with all my heart. In rehearsals I didn’t really feel like a Top Star, but during the finale on opening night the applause was so intense that I couldn’t even hear the music, and I was so happy to be able to repay all my fans this way… It’s a scene I’ll never forget.
Right now, rehearsals for Guys and Dolls have started, and seeing Star Troupe’s powerful energy and their amazing unity, I feel like it’s something that would only be true of the Troupe that won the Sports Festival [laughs]. It’s a work with a comedy touch, and we have the perfect performers for all the characters, so it was all really carefree and I was able to enjoy the rehearsals.
While my status might change, my determination to keep taking on new challenges as a professional performer remains the same. I want to try to convey that with my entire attitude, not just words, and I hope to create an environment where I can keep advancing and developing various new talents. By adding my own touches to the powerful and energetic troupe that Yuzuki-san created, I think we can all advance even further together. I hope that the new Star Troupe can also enjoy themselves.
Dearest Fuu-chan <3
Now that a few months have passed since we started our married life as newlyweds after an arranged marriage, have you become a bit more used to me? [laughs] You’re always bright and cheerful like the sun, Fuu-chan. Thank you for all your energy and kindness <3
We can’t forget this fresh atmosphere or the style that only we have, so let’s take on new territory with our comrades in Star Troupe! Let’s keep working hard!
Micchan
Dear Michiko-san,
Michiko-san!! At this moment, I’m so HAPPY to be in Michiko-san’s shadow!!
Being in my beloved Star Troupe, and meeting someone I came to like so much: it makes me so happy to be beside you. I have to thank God for you, Michiko-san.
I might not understand much but I do know love! From now on I’m going to give it my all to follow you, so please take care of me.
Hinami Fuu
English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production based on the comics.
Tyrian (chorus):
(El Halcon, El Halcon)
Beating jet-black wings
The falcon sets his eyes on the sea
His goal is the sea: to the sea he must return
(El Halcon, El Halcon)
I don’t want peace or warmth
The faint scent from that day remains–the scent of oranges on my mother’s hands
I don’t care–I don’t care! I left everything far behind
I will never return: I said farewell to those days
And soared into skies I’d never seen (El Halcon)
The color of the sun shining down (El Halcon)
Staining the surface of the ocean (El Halcon)
Is the same color of the sins staining my hands that day
The deep crimson coloring my dreams is called ambition
(El Halcon, El Halcon)
“My wings will take me over the seven seas and through the seven skies!”
(El Halcon)
El Halcon, El Halcon
I will cross that blindingly bright golden sea
El Halcon, El Halcon
I will keep going until I achieve my sin-colored ambitions
Spreading jet-black wings I will fly over the sea wherever the wind takes me
Soaring over the high clouds, tearing through the darkness and bathing in the light
I will travel the seven seas and seven skies
(El Halcon, El Halcon)
My goal is the sea: to the sea I must return
(El Halcon, El Halcon)
My goal is the sea: to the sea I must return
(El Halcon, El Halcon)