Mori Keaki published this essay book the month before her retirement as Top Star of Snow Troupe. It is mainly a memoir of her personal journey in Takarazuka, as well as her early life. Her writing\/formatting style is kind of unique, and I tried to reproduce or reflect it as much as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the final post for 120% Darling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a really lovely book, that ended up making me cry many times. I hope you enjoy it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a table of contents with links to all the chapters,\u00a0go here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Epilogue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank you so much for reading this far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I never thought that the role (?) of a writer is one I would have in real life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, this is a good experience too. (This is my personal philosophy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n That it made me so happy (but it was tough too, hahaha) still delights me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the way, speaking of the circumstances of writing this\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was after my last Western-style musical, Valentino<\/em>, had started its tour of Tokyo and Nagoya,<\/p>\n\n\n\n And my life in Takarazuka was coming to an end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since I gave this work a try in that kind of situation,<\/p>\n\n\n\n It went on sale very late, and I ended up causing trouble to so many people. Also, to everything who had been waiting for this book to go on sale, \u201cI made you wait such a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m sorry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to that, I was able to write about my time in Takarazuka up to the very, very end\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was able to experience things firsthand that I could feel only because it was the end, and then record some approximation of them in this book, so I\u2019m happy about that,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is what I think (It sounds like I\u2019m making excuses, doesn\u2019t it\u2026Hahaha).<\/p>\n\n\n\n My skill as a writer\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n I know I\u2019m the one saying this, but it isn\u2019t all that\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I first heard the proposal for this book,<\/p>\n\n\n\n They told me,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt would be about 200 sheets of 400-character composition paper.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Honestly, I couldn\u2019t grasp the real volume of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It wasn\u2019t as if I didn\u2019t like writing letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m the kind of person who can fill 5 sheets of stationery before I know it, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell then, you\u2019ll be fine!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The person from Editing told me, with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Hm, well, if a Pro is promising me I\u2019ll be fine\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is so like me, I think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Well then, I\u2019ll try it.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like that, I didn\u2019t think about any of the consequences, with my usual optimism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen, I\u2019ll accept this responsibility,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I said\u2026but.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was so busy, and the time went by in a rush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I took the composition paper into my dressing room,<\/p>\n\n\n\n And put my pen to work during intermissions\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, it\u2019s not as if I was suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I though, \u201cYes. If I just try my best, it will all end up alright!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And I was also thoroughly able to experience what it feels like to be \u2018a novelist pursued by deadlines\u2019. (I know this caused a lot of difficulty for the people in Editing, too\u2026 I\u2019m sorry!!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s how I wrote this book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you enjoyed 120% Darling<\/em>, I\u2019m very happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ll give it my all so that someone can live with a smile!! That is my family\u2019s way of living, starting with my father\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n If I was able to create that, even a little, through the publication of this book,<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m very happy\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although it\u2019s completed now,<\/p>\n\n\n\n To all the people who put forth so much effort to help get this book published\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank you so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tamura Akisho, who took such wonderful photographs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, my whole body (my heart just isn\u2019t enough) is full of gratitude for my co-ordinator, who gave me so much advice and support, kind big sister-teacher Kawai Aiko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, to all my readers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you would like to let me know your thoughts and opinions after reading 120% Darling<\/em>, Mori Keaki would be awfully happy. The address is below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [T\/N: The publishing house that released this book is now defunct and the book is out of print. Therefore, the address is not included.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n So.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be well, everyone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have so much gratitude for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See you again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1993, Spring, Unspecified Date<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mori Keaki<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mori Keaki published this essay book the month before her retirement as Top Star of Snow Troupe. It is mainly a memoir of her personal journey in Takarazuka, as well as her early life. Her writing\/formatting style is kind of … Continue reading