This interview was published in the June 2017 edition of With Takarazuka. The original article was written by Natori Chisato and can be found here. (Archive link here.)
Continue readingFairy Interview: Snow Troupe’s Towaki Sea
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Tag Archives: Article Translation
Sparkling 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 readingA first for OGs! Sakihi Miyu proceeds towards a contract with Universal Music, appears in tango CD and stage concert in October
This interview article was published by Sports Hochi on September 7, 2017; however, the page has since been removed and no archives remain.
Continue readingInterview with former Takarazuka Top Star Sena Jun: why she thinks ‘Takarazuka and AKB48 are alike’
This is a long interview with Sena Jun that goes into her TMS years and her journey to becoming Top Star. It was originally published in Smart Flash on August 10, 2017. (Archive link here.)
This was translated with some editing and assistance from chemicalperfume.
Smart Flash is…a bit of a tabloid, but this is direct text of an interview so I felt comfortable translating it. There are other articles about Takarazuka they have done but they feel more invasive, so probably you won’t see any other Smart Flash content unless they do more interviews like this.
Please note that many of the rules discussed have since changed due to reforms in TMS discipline guidelines.
Continue readingTakarazuka Moon Troupe – Ren Tsukasa performs brilliantly in center stage! ‘Minus 50 points’ for stumbling during curtain call
This coverage of the All For One junior performance was published by Sports Hochi on August 1, 2017. However, the page has since been removed and no archives remain.
Please note, despite the headline, the article does not criticize her at all! It’s actually quoting her own reflections after the show.
Continue reading‘Sagiri’s child’, Takarazuka Snow Troupe’s Towaki Sea has 4th junior lead: ‘It made me feel like a beginner again’
This article about Towaki Sea’s junior lead in Bakumatsu Taiyouden was published by Sports Hochi on May 9, 2017; however, the page has since been removed and no archives remain.
Continue readingMatsuoka Shuzo’s oldest daughter, 169cm Megumi, one of 40 who pass Takarazuka entrance exam
This article about one of the new 105th class entrants was published by Nikkan Sports on March 30, 2017. (Archive link here.)
Continue readingAran Kei interview: ‘I’ll keep pressing on to the final show’
This 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 reading6th-year hopeful Hiryuu Tsukasa’s first leading role: ‘The opening spotlight was so bright…’
This 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.
Moon Troupe’s Tamaki Ryou excited for new production about ‘The Three Musketeers’
This article about the Three Musketeers press conference was published in Daily Sports Online on May 31, 2017. (Archive link here.)
Please note: The plot of ALL FOR ONE went through heavy alterations between the press conference and the show opening, so there may be differences from what is described in the article.
Moon Troupe’s Tamaki Ryou excited for new production about ‘The Three Musketeers’
On the 31st, the Takarazuka Revue Moon Troupe’s Top Star, Tamaki Ryou, appeared in Takarazuka city at a press conference for the new show she will be starring in, All For One ~d’Artagnan and the Sun King~ (Takarazuka Grand Theatre, Hyogo Prefecture, July 14th to August 14th; Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre, September 1st to October 8th) and declared how enthusiastic she is.
In the show, based on Dumas’ famous classic novel The Three Musketeers, Tamaki plays d’Artagnan, a novice member of the Musketeers who is ordered to serve as the king’s opponent in fencing practice. With intrigue and action, the story is full of entertainment. “I love The Three Musketeers, and adventure shows, so I’m really looking forward to this,” she said in excitement.
She is also full of motivation since the Revue’s representative, Koike Shuuichiro, is creating the new show. “Up until now, I’ve run into many barriers that I couldn’t get over without putting in 200% effort, so that has been a plus to everything about my work. To have Koike-sensei writing my second show as Top makes me so happy!” she declared strongly.
Since the new show takes place during summer vacation, Mr. Koike says “There’s a lot to enjoy about this show, and it would be wonderful if people from many different generations came to see it.” He has hopes for attracting new fans.
The show’s setting is France in the time it was ruled by the Sun King, Louis XIV, played by Manaki Reika. After discovering the king’s secret, d’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers have to combat the intrigues of the court. Dumas’ original Three Musketeers was set in the reign of Louis XIII, but Mr. Koike has made large adjustments. Top Musumeyaku Manaki Reika’s performance as the ‘male’ king also appears to be attracting a lot of attention.