On and Off: Yumeno Seika

This cute question-and-answer feature with Yumeno Seika (then a member of Star Troupe) was published in the August 2008 issue of Kageki.

On and Off: Yumeno Seika

On:

First Takarazuka show you saw:
Moon Troupe’s “Can-Can”

Your reason for entering Takarazuka:
I took the test without caring if I had a chance of passing.

A memory of the Takarazuka Music School Entrance Exam:
Words got corrupted constantly…even my own name got mispronounced.

A subject you liked at the Takarazuka Music School:
Piano

A Takarazuka song you like:
‘When the Violet Flowers Bloom’

When do you learn your lines:
While I’m in the bath.

What you do to combat nervousness:
I write the character for “person” 3 times on my palm, as well as my name, then I swallow it!

On-stage mistakes:
Right now?…when I’m like “!!!!!!” and I fumble my words )’:

How long it takes you to put on your stage makeup:
30-40 minutes.

A stage necessity:
False eyelashes

How you spent the night before your debut:
I did a simulation in my head and then went to sleep!

Something important for an otokoyaku:
Putting forth an impressive presence!!

A performance that left an impression on you:
When I got a lot of applause during the parade of Anna Karenina

A moment when you were happy onstage:
When I get applause during the parades.

Off:

The most fun time for you:
When I’m talking to friends:

Your favorite music genre:
Right now it’s piano music.

Your favorite kind of fashion:
A simple style but with one focal point.

Colors that you think suit you:
White/Gold/Black

The last time you cried:
When I accidentally stubbed my little toe on the corner of my bed )’:

The last time you laughed:
During a conversation with classmates… (laugh)

Do you have a pet?
I don’t!!

The first thing you do when you get up:
I drink some water and space out a bit!!

Something you do for your health:
I drink healthy drinks.

What sort of child were you?
I was a cheerful and super curious child!!

Things you learned in the past:
Penmanship, Piano, Kumon Method, Kendo

Something you recommend from your home region:
It has to be “Kishikawa manjuu” from my hometown, Takushi!!!

People you want to meet:
Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tominaga Ai

Something you can’t lose:
My smile 😀

Lyrics: Tu dois te marier (Romeo et Juliette)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.

Lady Capulet:
He went to your father
To ask if he could have you to wife
This is the best match you could have!

Juliet:
But I have not even met him!

Lady Capulet:
If a marriage is to work well
The couple shouldn’t love each other too much
Why, I never loved my husband!

Juliet:
Mother!?

Lady Capulet and Nurse:
Sweet love is just for dreams
A match made by your parents is the best!

Juliet:
I can’t believe my own mother would say such things!

Lady Capulet:
Men are foolish creatures

Nurse:
They can’t understand women

Lady Capulet:
You might come to hate him

Nurse:
I still like men though!

Capulet women:
What!?

Nurse:
If a wife breaks her vows
The fault is on her husband

Lady Capulet:
If he betrays you
You won’t be hurt if you don’t love him!

Juliet:
This is too much!

Lady Capulet and Nurse:
Life is far too short
If you let this chance get away it will be too late

Lady Capulet:
You need to marry while you’re still young and pretty!

Lady Capulet and Nurse:
Passionate love is just for dreams
A match made by your parents is the best!

(dialogue)

Lady Capulet and Nurse:
Life is far too short
If you let this chance get away it will be too late
You will marry Count Paris!

Lyrics: La Demande en Marriage (Romeo et Juliette)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.

Paris:
I would like to make your daughter my wife
Anyone you asked would say
That my status and looks are excellent
I’ve heard rumours that your household
Has a large amound of debt
I have come into
A vast inheritance

(dialogue)

Lord Capulet:
It’s true you would be an ideal bridegroom
But if we go too quickly
My daughter might cry
I have an idea: tonight at my mansion
I will hold a masked ball
You can court my daughter behind a mask
She will surely fall for you
You will propose at once and everything’s settled!

Paris:
Brilliant!

Lord Capulet:
The day I can call you my son

Paris:
Will surely

Both:
Be soon!

Dream Anthology: Former Star Troupe Top Star Aran Kei

This article featuring Aran Kei’s recollection of the opening of The Scarlet Pimpernel in 2008 was published by Mainichi News on October 19, 2015. (This article has since been taken down and no archived versions are available; the link is included for completion.)

Dream Anthology: Former Star Troupe Top Star Aran Kei

Reaction to opening night applause

While the musical The Scarlet Pimpernel (2008) is called a masterpiece of mine, I didn’t even imagine it would turn out that way. Before the curtain opened we hadn’t sold too many tickets and hadn’t received much of a reaction.

I still can’t forget the applause on the first night in the Grand Theatre after I sang on the Silver Bridge at the end of the first act. The applause was so powerful I felt like I would fall into the orchestra pit. After that praise of the show spread and the number of people coming increased.

The lead role, Percy, plays the fool, but in reality he’s a hero of justice. Since this is a type of story that turns up in Japan a lot and is easy to understand, it was easy to perform. The beautiful melody of the show’s theme song, “A Piece of Courage”, was written for us by the composer, Frank Wildhorn.

While I was back on the Grand Stage for the 100th anniversary last year, as well as this year, I faltered a bit seeing how big it was. But the audience was so warm: it was like they were saying “welcome back!”

Next month, at a concert with the Tokyo Philharmonic, I’ll be singing “A Piece of Courage” as well as numbers from musicals I performed in after my retirement from Takarazuka. But I want everyone to listen to and enjoy the richly layered music of the orchestra, and not just my singing.

Lyrics: La haine/Hatred (Romeo et Juliette)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.

Lady Capulet:
The first word learned
By any child born to our house
Is hatred, hatred!
Hatred towards the Montagues!
Hatred, hatred!
They plant it in your hearts
It writhes there like a snake
I hate
That hatred inside of you

Lady Montague:
If only we could extinguish
That black flame
Smouldering inside your hearts
Your hatred, hatred invites misfortune upon us
Hatred, hatred!
How can we make you see it?

Lady Capulet:
Hatred, hatred! You foolish men
Hatred, hatred! Us women are left to weep for you

Both:
What on earth would it take
To convince you?
Listen to what we women say!
I hate
That black flame inside of you

Lady Montague:
That is

Both:
Hatred!

Lyrics: Vérone/Verona (Romeo et Juliette)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.

Prince:
This city of Verona that I rule over
Overflows with relics of Roman history
It looks like a paradise blooming with flowers
But Hell is hiding in the shadows!
Capulets! Montagues!
From generation to generation those two families
Continue to fight

All:
This is Verona, our dear Verona
Instead of love we are filled with hatred
Blood flows from our wounds and sometimes we lose our lives
But no matter who forbids it we will never stop!
This is Verona, our city Verona
Poison flows within our veins
A incurable poison called ‘hatred’
Even in the pretty girls and the young men

Prince:
This is Verona!

(dialogue)

Benvolio:
Even if His Excellency orders us to stop

Mercutio:
We won’t give up this fight

(dialogue)

Tybalt:
I don’t care about laws, I have no use for them
My strongest ally is this knife

Tybalt/Mercutio/Benvolio:
For us, who were born and raised in this city
It is our destiny to fight as long as we live

All:
This is Verona, our dear Verona
As soon as you’re born you have an enemy to hate.
Even before you’re born you’re caught
In a never-ending whirlpool of violence.
This is Verona, our city Verona
You have enemies before you realize it.
The time for love and forgiveness will never come!
We are fated to forever fight and hate each other!

(dialogue)

Lord Capulet:
My blood boils when I see my enemy in front of me!

(dialogue)

Lord Montague:
I’m not foolish enough to turn my back on an enemy!

All:
This is Verona, our dear Verona
Instead of love we are filled with hatred
Blood flows from our wounds and sometimes we lose our lives
But no matter who forbids it we will never stop!

Prince:
Verona, Verona
This is Verona!

Lyrics: Days of Glory/Eikou no Hibi (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

English translation of lyric from the Takarazuka production of the Broadway musical. This song is one of the original songs written for the Takarazuka version.

Chauvelin:
Everyone has their dreams
This revolution was the dream of humanity

Chorus:
The dream of humanity

Chauvelin:
Those who built barricades in the streets
And gained victory in the fight, the citoyens

Chorus:
We citoyens fought

Chauvelin:
That summer we were all in solidarity
I won’t forget the heat of our clasped hands
Where have the days of glory gone?
Was it only a fantasy we saw?
Have the days of glory faded?
I believe in the dream
of the Revolution!

Chorus:
Where have they gone?
What did we see?
The days of glory
Have faded
With the dream of the Revolution)

Percy:
Everyone wants to be free
They have the right to pull themselves up
They were drunk with the dream of revolution
And lost their senses, the citoyens

Chorus:
Everyone wants to be free
To have rights (have rights)
But liberty, equality, and fraternity
Were forgotten, citoyens

Percy:
So much blood was shed and so many lives were lost
And after that what was left?

Chorus:
Lives lost
What remained?

Percy:
We must create
The days of glory anew
We will grasp the days of glory again
With our own hands

Chorus:
We must create
The days of glory anew (we must)
Let’s grasp the days of glory again
With our own hands

Percy:
This time
We will fight
To take hold of real freedom
Without being seduced by a fantasy

All:
Where have the days of glory gone? (Where have they gone?)
Was it only a fantasy we saw?
We will grasp the days of glory again
With our own hands
We will take hold of real freedom
This time

Lyrics: You Are My Home (reprise) (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

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

Ffoulkes:
If it is alright with you
Will you stay in my country
And nurture our love?
I need you

Suzanne:
If it is alright with you
I will be by your side
I only want
To think about you

[Dialogue break]

Armand:
I want to think of you
As my new home
I’m overflowing with emotion
After leaving my homeland

Marie:
I also want to think of you
As my home
No matter where you go
I will be with you

[Dialogue break]

Armand and Marie:
Together
Let’s build
A new future
I won’t
part from you
ever again

[Dialogue break]

All Leaguers and Girlfriends:
You are my home

Lyrics: She Was There (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarauka version of the Broadway musical.

Percy:
How many sleepless nights did I pass
Trying to guess your feelings until the morning
My tears would fall in the mist before the dawn
Now the mist has cleared and I have awakened from the nightmare

Before my eyes you are more beautiful than ever
Your strength of will is dazzling
I was so foolish not to realize your suffering
Your love is wrapped around me
My love will protect you now more than ever

When I can face you once again
I will reveal everything about myself to you
With bared hearts we can start over

I am no longer lost
I am no longer shaken
This love is all I need