{"id":1736,"date":"2022-01-21T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-21T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/?p=1736"},"modified":"2021-11-30T08:56:23","modified_gmt":"2021-11-30T15:56:23","slug":"berubara-and-i-haruna-yuri-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/2022\/01\/21\/berubara-and-i-haruna-yuri-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Berubara and I – Haruna Yuri (part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This book, which is something of an \u2018oral history\u2019 of Takarazuka\u2019s Rose of Versailles<\/em> adaptations, was published by Ascom in late 2005, and features chronological accounts from otokoyaku who had performed in the franchise from its first origins through the 2001 productions. Since the book is derived from transcriptions of interviews taking place often many decades after the fact, there may be discrepancies between accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note that the term appearing through the text as \u2018theatre-comic\u2019 is translated from the Japanese term gekiga <\/em>[\u5287\u753b]. Although this term is described as applying to mainly male-oriented comics in most English-language sources, this not accurate. The definition of this word changed to also include sweeping, romantic female-oriented works with Rose of Versailles being arguably the most famous of theatre-comics. Takarazuka even published its own magazine of theatre-comics in the 1970s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapters have been split in two to make them more readable without too much scrolling to reach the explanatory footnotes. Some paragraph breaks have also been added for ease of reading in English. I have also included some images printed in the book as well as sourcing many other archival images to illustrate the text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Installments will be posted every two weeks, with some breaks if the next chapter is not complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Popularity that wasn\u2019t mine at all<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berubara was a turning point for a huge increase in the diversity of age groups in the audience. Up until then, there were never many small children, but after that, fathers and mothers would even bring tiny little kids to the stage door, so they\u2019d be waiting and calling for \u2018Othcar, Othcar!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Haruna in the finale of Rose of Versailles, 1974. (Image from La Rose de Versailles I<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fans of the comic came to see the show too, and they didn\u2019t have any idea who \u2018Haruna Yuri\u2019 was, so they\u2019d call me by the character name, \u2018Oscar!\u2019 or \u2018Andre!\u2019\u2014their fanaticism was incredible. There were so many people pushing and shoving that often planters would get knocked over, and [people] would fall over like dominoes, and it was so stressful I couldn\u2019t handle it. I was scared to death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even so, at the beginning, I still gave signatures outside the stage door. Everyone would be lined up wayyyyy out, and I\u2019d spend an hour signing everything. Everyone would have uncapped magic markers while they were pushing, and it would stain, so I couldn\u2019t wear white clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enough fan letters came every day that it took multiple cardboard boxes to hold them all. It took me four years, but I replied and sent autographs back for every single one I received. I was so grateful to get them, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The touring performance I did with Anna Jun was something else~! People would force their way into our hotel, and fans would surround our travel bus and bang on the windows, so we couldn\u2019t move forward an inch, and people would even swarm us on the shinkansen. It was so dangerous that we would get a special police escort, and leave through the back, and we got special treatment all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Haruna and Anna Jun on a Rose of Versailles program cover, 1975. (Image from La Rose de Versailles I<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Around that time, there were some really popular Group Sounds1<\/sup> performers, like Julie (Sawada Kenji), and Shouken (Hagiwara Ken\u2019ichi), but I think we caused more of a stir when we went on tour. Once I happened to catch sight of Julie in Hiroshima, and I wanted to tell him \u201cWe beat your Group Sounds!\u201d (laughs), that\u2019s how incredible it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the four months of the touring performance, no matter where we went, we went through so much stress. Our final stop, the Chuunichi Theatre in Nagoya, was a ten-day run of performances, but every day, they would give us different instructions to change our route daily: \u2018Today go down by elevator B2 and get in the car to go back\u2019, \u2018Today come up by elevator B1\u2019, \u2018Today take the service elevator\u2019. Also, they made Anna Jun and I stay in a different hotel far away, just the two of us, since otherwise it would have caused a lot of problems for the hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this same time, we suddenly had a lot of appearances on TV programs, like 1001 Nights with the Stars<\/em>2<\/sup> or Thank you for the food<\/em>3<\/sup>, and even Red and White Song Battle<\/em>4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Red and White…<\/em>, we were supporters for the Red Team and sang \u2018If We Have Love\u2019 as Oscar and Andre. Anna Jun and I got into costume and waited for ages at the Tokyo Prince Hotel, and then when the time came they told us \u2018You\u2019re on!\u2019. We were able to sing for about a minute and a half, but to get even a minute and a half as supporters was quite something, so God-nee-chan, Wada Akiko5<\/sup>, was glaring daggers at us (laughs). \u2018Right, these are all singers here,\u2019 it was a bit of a different setting for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was different than singing in a play, being told \u2018okay, you\u2019re on!\u2019 and singing, and then we said \u2018We\u2019re cheering for Red Team\u2019 or something like that, and then we left, and that was it. And then we went back to the hotel\u2026 It was kind of a weird feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be honest, I felt like a bird in a cage. I did Berubara for 3 years and never had one day off. Even on non-show days, I had magazine photoshoots or radio and TV appearances, so I spent 3 years with every day packed and no days off, getting a full dose of \u2018so this is what it means to have your business depend on popularity\u2019 for those 3 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though there was a storm swirling all around, I felt oddly calm in the eye of the storm. Since not just Takarazuka fans but fans of the comic were coming to see the show, I felt a lot of pressure, and, within the company, there were so many people who also wanted to play Oscar or Andre, so I kept asking myself \u2018am I really the right person for this?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the directors even asked me \u201care you alright with all this popularity?\u201d I said \u201cI think of this as Oscar\u2019s popularity. It\u2019s not me who is popular,\u201d and he replied \u201cYou\u2019ll be fine as long as you understand that.\u201d Therefore, I listened to everyone\u2019s criticism and advice earnestly, and pushed myself to focus on the roles I had been given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andre let me establish my personality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The historical setting of Berubara is on an epic scale. Because of that, two young people losing their lives in the midst of everything was so cool. The tragic heroine and the most wonderful otokoyaku\u2026that I was able to play both those roles is, for me as a stage performer, the ultimate \u2018happiness\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe it will reign forever as one of the best of Takarazuka\u2019s repertoire, and everyone will be delighted to enjoy it no matter what the cast or era. No matter whether it\u2019s \u2018Oscar Version\u2019, or \u2018Andre Version\u2019, or \u2018Fersen Version\u2019, or whatever version6<\/sup>, the appeal of the protagonists will remain the same. I think it will continue as one of Takarazuka\u2019s hit productions long into the future. Perhaps I\u2019m just over-excited because I happened to be in the first performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m so honored and happy that some of the productions we were the first to perform in went on to become a part of history. At the time, we did nothing more or less than give our all in making a play, and then it was over. Now that I have the luxury to look back on it calmly, I think it\u2019s not unjustified to say it’s thanks to all the effort we put into it that it became such a lasting success, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come on, whether it was the wig, or the makeup colors, or the line of the eyebrows, or if we were told \u201cMake stars dance in your eyes~\u201d, even as we were thinking \u201cHow on earth can I make the stars!?\u201d, we worked at it so earnestly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Haruna giving acting advice to Snow Troupe Top Star Mori Keaki (left) and Ichiro Maki during rehearsals for Rose of Versailles: Andre and Oscar, 1989. (Image from Haruna Yuri’s Oh! Takarazuka<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After that, you know, when Ichiro Maki was going to play Oscar, she asked me \u201cDo my makeup~!\u201d So, after her rehearsal at the theatre ended, she came to my house and I put Oscar\u2019s makeup on her. She brought the wig manager with her so she even put the wig on. And, I did the makeup precisely so she was transformed into Oscar completely. I took a polaroid picture of her, and she was so thrilled at the results\u2014she went home still in the \u2018Oscar makeup\u2019 (laughs). Apparently, she still treasures that polaroid, and I\u2019m also so happy to be able to pass things on in this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But even so, I don\u2019t want people to get obsessed with the kata <\/em>just because it\u2019s part of Takarazuka\u2019s historic repertoire; for example, thinking \u201cHaruna and Anna had this kind of pose, so we absolutely must do it this way too\u201d. No matter what, the feelings and heart need to be there, and the kata <\/em>are there to showcase that. If you think \u201cAlright, I\u2019m gonna do it!\u201d but only do the kata<\/em>, nobody\u2019s going to be stirred or excited watching you. Therefore, I want people to bring their own element of surprise to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Haruna in West Side Story<\/em>, 1968. (Image from Haruna Yuri’s Oh! Takarazuka<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In my case, since I had played Action in West Side Story<\/em> before Berubara, I was able to play Andre. And because I played Andre, there was Butler (from Gone with the Wind<\/em>), that\u2019s the idea. Although I\u2019d always been described as an upright romantic type, my personal style progressed through Action, Andre, Butler\u2014you might call them intense heroes6<\/sup>. And the one who allowed me to firmly establish that as my style of otokoyaku was Andre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My habits as a long-time otokoyaku still haven\u2019t left me, so even if I\u2019m just walking down the street, I\u2019ll see a man\u2019s behavior and find myself thinking \u201cOh! Isn\u2019t that nice how he\u2019s holding the woman\u2019s shoulders. I\u2019ll try that next time!\u201d Even though there wouldn\u2019t be a time when I could use that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve loved Andre consistently, from the bottom of my heart, ever since the first time I read Ikeda\u2019s comic. He\u2019ll always stay by her side and watch over her, he\u2019ll never abandon her, he\u2019s kind, he\u2019s manly. If there was a man like that, a man like Andre, I\u2019d marry him in a moment. \u2026But is there a person like that? There\u2019s not a man like that in the world~. Which is why I\u2019ve stayed single this whoooole time! (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Haruna about to go onstage for her retirement ceremony at the Takarazuka Grand Theatre, 1988. (Image from Haruna Yuri’s Oh! Takarazuka<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Berubara Q&A – Haruna Yuri<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q – If I say \u2018Takarazuka\u2019, what do you think of?
<\/em>A – Otokoyaku.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q – If I say \u2018Berubara\u2019?
<\/em>A – Oscar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q – What message would you currently want to give Oscar?
<\/em>A – I want you to be reborn once again as a woman, marry Andre, and live out a happy life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q – What message would you currently want to give Andre?
<\/em>A – I want you to get together with Oscar and live out a happy, normal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q – What message would you currently want to give Fersen?
<\/em>A – Naturally, you have to go back to Sweden. I\u2019m not going to forgive any impropriety on your part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q – If you could request one thing from Takarazuka, what would it be?
<\/em>A – The seats are a little tight, so please make them a little more spacious (laughs).
In terms of the performances, I want them to write and present shows with a lot of originality for the girls they have now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q – If you were reborn, would you join Takarazuka again?
<\/em>A – I would, I would! I totally would!! I want to join and become an otokoyaku and a Top Star again!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extra questions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q – What are your favorite Takarazuka lines?
<\/em>A – The lines Andre says in the garden\u2014 \u201cThe stars are so beautiful!\u201d \u201cLike Castor and Pollux of Gemini I swear I\u2019ll protect you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q – What otokoyaku characters have you fallen for as a woman?
<\/em>A – In Japanese-set shows, Prince Nakano-Ooue. He was forced to become heartless in order to survive in the Warring States Era. In foreign-set shows, Joffrey de Peyrac from Angelique<\/em>. Even though he has a leg handicap, he still pursues romance. Men who are bearing up under something are just so sexy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q – What otokoyaku characters do you hate?
<\/em>A – Ashley. He\u2019s so indecisive and half-baked! (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

1 – A genre of Japanese rock that was very popular in this era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 – A celebrity talk show that ran from 1959 to 1981 with extremely high ratings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 – Gochisousama, a cuisine\/entertainment news show that ran from 1971 to 1998. OG Sumi Hanayo was a host for most of its run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 – A New Years\u2019 Eve live concert that is one of the biggest TV events in Japan. Viewers vote for the Red Team (all women) or the White Team (all men). Video of Haruna and Anna Jun’s performance can be found here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 – A famous singer who had already made multiple Red and White appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 – Though most of the productions Haruna starred in were titled only Rose of Versailles<\/em>, as the franchise evolved many script variants were created, titled after their protagonists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 – From the kabuki term \u2018tachiyaku\u2019; she is likely referring to the \u2018aragoto\u2019 style of kabuki leading characters. Some details on this type of characterization can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This book, which is something of an \u2018oral history\u2019 of Takarazuka\u2019s Rose of Versailles adaptations, was published by Ascom in late 2005, and features chronological accounts from otokoyaku who had performed in the franchise from its first origins through the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[30,5],"tags":[255,394,395,362,354,207,393],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1736"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1736"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2193,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1736\/revisions\/2193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zukalations.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}