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Looking Back on 2015: Ryuu Masaki

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One of the yearly retrospective features from the December 2015 issue of Kageki, featuring Snow Troupe Top Star Sagiri Seina.

Looking Back on 2015: Ryuu Masaki

My first show of 2015, Gone With the Wind was a restaging of the production from January of last year, so it was the first time I was challenged with taking the same role and starting over from a blank for a restaging. In order to give the show a fresh atmosphere once again, I threw out all the feelings I had absorbed from the first time and worked on creating new ones. It was even harder than making a new role from scratch, but it was a good experience for me as a performer.

Then in April was the opening of 1789: Lovers of the Bastille. Looking back on it now, I feel honored at being able to perform in such a masterpiece, and to be honest I’m glad I did it. But at the time I was working so hard on it that even saying I poured all my energy out on stage wouldn’t cover it. I didn’t have enough left over to even think about anything else. My role of Ronan was rather unusual for a Top Star as he is a commoner, and it seems that a big topic was how I would establish myself among everyone else on stage while handling the challenge of putting together this new kind of role. Another major thing was Director Koike giving me one of the show’s themes as my own song, so I was even more aware than usual of how I was presenting myself while singing.

Dragon Night!!, in September, was my first concert-style performance, and while making sure the audience enjoyed themselves was the main goal, I of course enjoyed myself as well! I let myself run free and enjoyed myself from the bottom of my heart.

The last performance of this year is Manon and Golden Jazz. My role in the play, Charles, has a really complex life, and I feel like it might be the first time I’ve encountered a character like him. It’s the kind of role where I think afterwards I will have grown as a person. Director Inaba wrote the revue show Golden Jazz for me since he said jazz suits me, so I’m really happy about that.

When I think about all the characters and shows I encountered this year, it makes my heart beat fast. It was a year where I confirmed once again how strong the support from the rest of Moon Troupe is. Next year I’ll make sure not to forget to let myself enjoy things, and I hope it will be a year that challenges me even more.

Looking Back on 2015: Asaka Manato

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One of the yearly retrospective features from the December 2015 issue of Kageki, featuring Cosmos Troupe Top Star Asaka Manato.

Looking Back on 2015: Asaka Manato

This year I received a lot of things and I feel a sense of accomplishment. At the beginning of this year was the Tokyo performance of Oath of the Midnight Sun and Phoenix Takarazuka!!. This was Rika’s [Ouki Kaname’s] retirement show, and a lot of other Otokoyaku who were close to my year were retiring, like Oozuki Tooma and Kazehane Reia. It created a really strong feeling in me that I had to take over the Cosmos Troupe that Rika had put together. Despite his limited scenes, my character of Carl feels real, perhaps because his conflict is connected with everything else. It was a long time since we’d had an original revue show, so everyone was really into it. I felt a lot of responsibility as nibante.

In Top Hat there were a lot of things I had to do, especially tap dance, which I was basically a beginner at. It was really hard to get a feeling for it, but somehow I managed in time (laugh). Perhaps because they could tell that while I was enjoying myself I wanted to surpass my own limits, all the troupe members worked hard to put me at ease.

At the pre-event festivities before the opening of A Song for Kingdoms, I felt all the love the OGs had for the work, and once again felt I had to be worthy to take over those feelings. I was really nervous that day, but on opening day I was able to concentrate on performing. While I was performing as Radames I had a really odd feeling, like I wasn’t able to tell any more if I was myself or Radames. While I had some concerns since there were some confusing songs, I felt like everyone else in Cosmos Troupe supported me. I’m really glad that I had this work as my introductory performance.

In September, I appeared in the Takarazuka Japanese Dance Recital, and it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to participate in Japanese dance.

The national tour performance Melancholic Gigolo was another show by Director Masatsuki after a long while, and besides that my character’s relation with Yurika’s [Makaze Suzuho’s] and Misaki’s characters felt really fresh. In Citrus Breeze when we were performing “Energy for Tomorrow” I felt like the intensity and power of everyone backing me up was actually entering me.

Next year we open on New Year’s Day1, and I hope we are able to be a splendid highlight to the start of the year. Since the play is about Shakespeare, it’s a topic that people from many different areas are particularly interested in. For both the play and the revue show, we want to put together a good performance without making any compromises.

1 – This was the 2016 production Shakespeare and HOT EYES!!.

Which Side are you On? (August 2008)

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Kageki’s monthly feature for 2008 asked each Top Star which they would pick of 2 different options. This issue asked about summer fireworks and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Which side are you on? August 2008

Q1: Which do you prefer when enjoying fireworks?
A: Firework displays
B: Handheld fireworks

Q2: How will you experience the Olympics?
A: On TV
B: On location

Matobu Sei (Flower Troupe)

Q1: B (Handheld fireworks)
When I was little, I really liked the fireworks that looked like octopus legs. When I set the one firework stick alight, bam! it would split into tons of different parts. But recently I haven’t really had the time to play with fireworks.

Q2: A (On TV)
I guess I’ll be watching on TV. I feel like we have similar mindsets with athletes. Especially in women’s volleyball, where the players are chasing after their dreams in a world of only women… I think their dedication and lifestyle is really cool. I’m fascinated by how intense the pressure must be since it’s a world where getting medals depends on how the game goes.

Sena Jun (Moon Troupe)

Q1: A (Firework displays)
I want to watch big fireworks being launched from a multi-story building. When I’m in town at the time of the Takarazuka fireworks display, I always watch from a high place. Since I don’t do well in crowds, I find a deserted spot in a multi-story building and have the fireworks all to myself.

Q2: A (On TV)
To be honest I’m really not that interested (laugh) but if I was going to watch it would be on TV. I watch figure skating since it’s pretty (laugh). I like watching TV documentaries about how it’s not just the results of a match, but in what way each person is striving, and the mentality they use to deal with the competition.

Mizu Natsuki (Snow Troupe)

Q1: A (Firework displays)
I want to watch fireworks being launched at a firework display. Recently, of course I really enjoyed the firwork display at the Muko river1. While I was watching it from a dressing room of the theatre, the noise and the synergy were so intense…I was really moved. I also feel like fireworks create a really good atmosphere, where people passing through who have never seen each other before come together to share the excitement over one thing.

Q2: A (On TV)
If I went to the stadium, all I would be able to watch was the soccer matches, so I’d rather watch on TV where I can see the highlight scenes that summarize a variety of events… This year I’ll enjoy myself just watching the good bits of the Beijing Olympics (laugh).

Aran Kei (Star Troupe)

Q1: A (Firework displays)
Handheld fireworks are fun, but of course I want to see big fireworks… When I’m watching fireworks being launched, I don’t care how far away I’m watching from as long as there’s only a few people there (laugh). When I was an upper student2 I went to see a firework display in Yokohama that was really amazing… It’s left the largest impression on me of any firework display I’ve ever seen.

Q2: B (On location)
Since I’ve never been able to watch the Olympics on location, I really want to experience what that feels like. My favorite event is gymnastics. While of course this goes for all the events, it’s something I absolutely couldn’t do, and it seems like for gymnastics the level of physical ability required is especially high… I’m most interested in the women’s floor exercises.

Yamato Yuuga (Cosmos Troupe)

Q1: B (Handheld fireworks)
For ages I’ve loved buying a big set of different kinds of fireworks and have tons of fun with it. When I was in elementary school I went to play with fireworks after a scary test of courage… I really like the kinds of fireworks where you’re not sure what it’s going to turn into and it ends up being something wonderful you couldn’t have predicted.

Q2: A (On TV)
While the idea of cheering from the stadium is appealing, it seems like it would be really time-consuming, and since on TV there are easy-to-understand explanations of what’s going on that would be better. I really like doing sports myself as well as watching them, so I want to gather a whole bunch of people in front of the TV to cheer.

1 – The Muko River runs directly past the Takarazuka Grand Theatre.

2 – Students in their second year at the Takarazuka Music School.

Looking Back on 2015: Sakihi Miyu

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One of the yearly retrospective features from the December 2015 issue of Kageki, featuring Snow Troupe Top Musumeyaku Sakihi Miyu.

Looking Back on 2015: Sakihi Miyu

In Lupin III–Chase the Queen’s Necklace!, which blended Takarazuka with Lupin III, I played Marie Antoinette, who is a frequent character in Takarazuka, but that show looks at her from a very different angle from Rose of Versailles, as a woman with her own human weaknesses, so my impression of Marie Antoinette really changed. In Fancy Guy! every scene had different themes so I was challenged with different songs and dances and learned a lot.

For the part of Tamayuu in the Hakataza production Man of Starlight, the biggest challenge at the beginning was the Kyoto dialect. I played a woman older than Sagiri’s character of Okita Souji, and I had a lot of people teaching me how I should act and the atmosphere I should have. I really gave it my all. While it gave me a lot of trouble, it’s a part I’m very fond of now. Also, I feel like I was more deeply into Fancy Guy!, perhaps because I’d been performing it a long time starting with the Takarazuka Grand Theatre performances. It was wonderful to be able to spend time performing in my beloved Kyuushu.

The character of Sen in One Night of Stars changed the ideas about musumeyaku roles that I held until then. It was a role I had to take on as a new woman. Director Ueda [Kumiko] told me a lot about the things she thought were important while putting the show together. La Esmeralda has a really escapist feeling so it was a show that was very fun to perform.

The national tour performance “Sorrowful Cordoba” that I’m rehearsing for right now is really a struggle. I’m fighting to display burning passion not just on the outside but from my core. La Esmeralda is a complete change from that so I really want to show everyone what a real Takarazuka revue show is like.

For next year’s Rurouni Kenshin we’re working to not just reproduce the visuals of the manga, but to show its deeper aspects in our performance.

Looking Back on 2015: Sagiri Seina

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One of the yearly retrospective features from the December 2015 issue of Kageki, featuring Snow Troupe Top Star Sagiri Seina.

Looking Back on 2015: Sagiri Seina

To be able to perform on New Years’ with the first show of Takarazuka’s 101st year, as well as have the first Grand Theatre show for new Yukigumi, and have so many people come and enjoy the production of Lupin III/Fancy Guy! is, I think, the best start we could have asked for. Since everyone was so familiar with the original work, pressure was high, but I feel like I was able to adapt to the setting and to the character of Lupin. Everyone in Snow Troupe joined in with ideas to make a show with a strong comedy element.

Fancy Guy! is a really grown-up, dramatic revue. Since this production was Daimon’s [Nozomi’s] first show as a member of Snow Troupe and also my classmate Yumeno Seika’s retirement performance, I thought it was a performance that could only have happened at that time. And during the Hakataza performances, everyone from Kyushu was very happy to see a lead couple who were both from Kyushu.

In Man of Starlight I was able to play the Shinsengumi swordsman, Okita Souji, which I was really happy about, of course. Fancy Guy! was very different as at times it seemed like I was pushed really close to the audience, so I think it had a fresh kind of sensation.

One Night of Stars clearly emphasizes the emotions of the characters, so starting with putting together the character of Haruoki it all felt really difficult. But I think I learned a lot from it. Completely different from the play, La Esmeralda expresses the energy of the performers through song and dance. I feel that having such a difference between the play and revue must have been fun for the audience.

The national tour performance that started in November, Sorrowful Cordoba, had wonderful songs, and I hope Elio was memorable to the audience. La Esmeralda gave all the performers a chance to display their appeal to the audience, and I hope that it will make some of them want to see us in the Grand Theatre.

Next year’s production of Rurouni Kenshin is based on a manga. While I think we will live up to the audience’s expectations for the visuals and the story, I want to surpass that in satisfaction, and I’m giving it my all to not lose to a man* in my performance.

* Potentially a reference to Satoh Takeru, who played Kenshin in the films and at that point was the only man to portray the character.

Scarlet Pimpernel Cast Comments: Aran Kei

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Translation of Aran’s section of commentary on her character published in the August 2008 issue of Kageki, taken from the larger feature. Paragraph breaks are added for ease of reading.

Aran Kei (Sir Percy Blakeney):

For this production, when I was working on how to put my character together, I felt like I was able to get hold of it a lot quicker than normal. Mr. Wildhorn’s music is all really splendid, and because of that I was able to stir up those feelings naturally. This was especially so in the song in the first act ‘Prayer’ where I have to express my character’s suffering. While I was having trouble with the emotion, when I was singing my feelings would gradually increase so the music really saved me.

Percy is a hero among heroes. He has a strong sense of justice, he’s cool, he has a sense of humor, and he’s a really charming person. During the performance, I wanted to make his love for Marguerite the most important thing. Percy really loves Marguerite. He probably fell for her because of her beauty and her appeal as an actress. But even though he loves her, he can’t dispel his doubts about her, and he can’t tell her about the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, so there’s always conflict between them. During ‘She was There’ everything is resolved and he feels it’s alright to love Marguerite, so it’s a number that’s full of his love for her. In the last scene they’re at the height of happiness. Percy is overflowing with joy now that he knows that he loves her.

Percy doesn’t feel anger at the French Revolution itself, but at the unfair purging of the aristocracy. He sees Chauvelin as a rival to his own League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, but he also has some doubts about his relation to Marguerite and suspects he might be a love rival as well.

Since when Percy is disguised as Grapin he’s always doing silly things, I’m always a little worried that if I go too far as Grapin people might lose the thread of the story… I also have to keep in mind as I perform that he isn’t supposed to be recognized as Percy. Furthermore, when I’m be arguing with Chauvelin, if I go too far in my responses Chauvelin might break character, so I have to make sure there’s a good balance there.

In the C section of the Finale I sing ‘When I Look At You’ which is actually my favorite song, so I’m very happy to be able to sing it. And the sabre dance is really fresh and cool. In the duet dance with Asuka I think we create a world for just the two of us that has a grown-up atmosphere.

Heading into the Tokyo performances, I hope that Percy’s many faces will be even more distinct, that the fun scenes will be even more fun, the touching scenes even more touching, and that it will have a new emotional resonance with the audience.

On and Off: Hanagata Hikaru

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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

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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

On and Off: Yumeno Seika

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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 😀

That’s RanKING! – February 2017

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In That’s RanKING!, a multi-year Kageki Top Star Q&A feature, the Top Stars rank each other based on various questions. The 2017 version of the column has questions sent in by readers.

This month’s question: Who would be best at building a snowman?

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