This edition of Tokyo Shinbun’s column on Takarazuka features Ayaki Hikari, talking about her current performance in Romeo et Juliette. The original column was written by Yamagishi Toshiyuki (estimated name reading) and was published here on March 18, 2021. (Archive link here.)
Continue readingThis talk, recorded towards the end of the Takarazuka run of Snow Troupe’s 2011 Romeo et Juliette production, features Otozuki Kei, Sagiri Seina, and Misuzu Aki. It was published in the March 2011 issue of GRAPH.
(Note that while this production is known for the March 11 earthquake occurring in the middle of it, it is not referenced in this talk as it was recorded around a month before and published likely a few days before or after.)
Continue readingThis interview with Rei Makoto ahead of the opening of Romeo et Juliette was published by Kobe News on January 21, 2021. The original article, written by Kataoka Satomi [estimated reading] can be found here. (Archive link here.)
Continue readingThis article about the promotional press conference for the 2021 Romeo et Juliette production was published by Fuji TV View on December 11, 2020. (Archive link here.) Click through for many photos.
Continue readingBackstage Journal is a short Kageki feature where very young cast members write anecdotes about what’s going on behind the scenes of the productions. They’re not very deep, being full of emojis and more like blog entries than articles, but they are a good way to get to know the newest actresses in each troupe.
This one is by Snow Troupe member Hanabuki Noa (of the 93rd Class), and was published in the April 2011 issue.
Continue readingEnglish translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.
Lady Montague:
No matter how much I weep my son will not return
God has punished us parents
We are sinners–now we are living in Hell
Lady Capulet:
My daughter could not fulfill her love in this world
Now she sleeps in Heaven with her beloved–Their love
Lady Montague:
Will continue forever
Their desire was that our two houses
Lady Capulet and Lady Montague:
Would clasp hands
Lady Capulet, Lady Montague, and Nurse:
And forgive each other
Their names will live forever
The faithful lovers, Romeo and Juliette
Chorus:
God has punished us fools
With sorrow and suffering
That will never disappear
When will people throw away their hatred
And come together in love and forgiveness?
Oh, God
Now we swear
That we will never forget
We will never resume
This foolish conflich
Here sleep
Romeo and Juliette
Who loved each other at the risk of their lives
Ah~
English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.
Friar Laurence:
Why…why…
Those pure-hearted lovers
Only longed for each other’s love
But God abandoned them
This body, this soul
I’ve given everything to You
But my prayers did not reach
What did they do
To deserve Your anger
From now on
What am I to believe in
As I keep living?
My only desire
In bringing the young couple together
Was that the Montagues
And Capulets
Would reject their hatred
So why
Has such a harsh punishment
Fallen upon us?
(dialogue)
Oh, God
What am I to trust in
From now on?
The last hope is gone now, oh, God
English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.
Juliette:
You came to fetch me
Just as the Friar said
You must have been exhausted from the long trip
And fallen asleep while you waited for me
Come on, wake up
Let’s get out of the city
Romeo, Romeo
Our dreams can come true
We can live without anyone troubling us
I don’t care if we’re poor
Romeo, Romeo
If we can live together
That would be a paradise
Even God couldn’t make
(dialogue)
Romeo, Romeo
Your lips are still warm
Embrace me with that warmth
You’ve gone ahead of me
To our Paradise
I will join you soon
So we can build the fortress of love we promised
English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.
Romeo:
Is it really you
Lying there in front of me?
Your beauty hasn’t changed
Why did you take your own life?
Use those cold lips to tell me
I will never be able to hold you to my heart again
This is the end–I will go
This is the end–To where you are
I’ve seen everything there is about life now
I don’t need anything anymore–I will hold your hand
To my heart and quietly go to sleep
This is the end–I will go
This iss the end–To where you are
Your sparkling eyes, your sweet lips…
Even if I offered everything up to God
You would never return to me, Juliette
This is the end–I will go
I will set off to the land where you wait for me
I don’t have any regrets
I just want to stay there with you in peace
This potion will take me to the land of eternity
I will go
English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.
Romeo:
The whole world has fallen into darkness
Please, apothecary, I want to buy something!
I need a poison that will kill
Even the strongest man with one dose
I don’t care about the price–I don’t need money any more
A dead man has no use for money
Take some if you want it
For me, this drug isn’t poison
It is angel’s wings
To take me to Juliette