Takarazuka Complex

「Ernest in Love」2016 

“Lupin The Third”, “Rurouni Kenshin”, “Roman Holiday”: she has starred in many widely-discussed productions and established a unique Top image. On the 29th, Takarazuka Top Star, Sagiri Seina’s sayonara production had its final day at Hyogo Perfecture’s Takarazuka Grand Theater. Alongside her musumeyaku partner, Sakihi Miyu, with whom they formed a famous combi, they bid farewell to their home ground, and tied everything up at the end with the regular, since Sagiri became Top, “Kizuna!” Yukigumi Pose.

Since her Top inauguration on September 2014, all 5 of her shows which run in the home theater have achieved an audience attendance of over 100% capacity. Hailed as “Takarazuka’s New Century Strongest”, this “Chigimiyu” combi’s sayonara show included consecutive duet scenes. With 6 curtain calls in a row, it ended with the now established Yukigumi custom routine, “Kizuna!”, where everyone pulls in both fists at their waist level.

Immediately after this “Kizuna”, Sagiri and Sakihi appeared together in front of the curtain. When Sagiri threw the ball to Sakihi with a “I’m the only one talking, so say something too”, Sakihi responded “The name of the one I love begins with an S… It’s Sagiri Seina!”. She expressed her love, referencing their final revue’s theme song(*). Sagiri replied “Thank you very mu~ch”, very bashful.

Takarazuka gives otokoyaku absolute priority, yet Sagiri sought equal footing for Sakihi, and Sakihi in her intent to follow Sagiri, kept walking alongside her in all earnesty; thus, the popular combi “Chigimiyu” was born. Fans call the interaction between the two of them “public flirting”, and have been enjoying their top run for around 2 and a half years.

“Sakihi and I have been like this for 3 years. 3 years of her wrapping me around her finger… Even if I said I don’t want her to, she still followed me, and I am full of gratitude for that. Ah, I guess I’ve got an earful coming for this“ Sagiri said, inducing laughter.

Sagiri joined the Revue in 2001. Taking on acting stoically, she distinguished herself for her outstanding acting spirit, and with her excellent athletic abilities, overcame the handicap her petite and slender build posed her as an otokoyaku, making sharp dancing another of her assets. Since she became Top, she took hold of Takarazuka’s 2D adaptations, starring in plays such as “The Count’s Daughter”, “Lupin The Third” and “Rurouni Kenshin”.

Sagiri, Sakihi and co, will be grauating the Revue as of 7/23, the final day of “Bakumatsu”’s Tokyo Takarazuka Theater run, which shall begin on 6/16.

Takarazuka Revue Snow Troupe Top Star Sagiri Seina and Top Musumeyaku Sakihi Miyu, will be graduating the company as of 7/23 with the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater closing day; on the 29th, their sayonara show “Bakumatsu Taiyouden / Dramatic “S”!” reached it’s final day of performances in Hyogo Perfecture’s Takarazuka Grand Theater, and they bid a tearful farewell to their home ground.

 She came down the Grand Staircase for the last time in the official dress: a black, crested kimono, and green hakama. In the past, there have been Top Stars who chose black tailcoats instead, but “someone in the costume staff who was always in charge of me told me “eh, shouldn’t it be a hakama?”. Apparently, I’ve done a lot of nihonmono, and I have this image about me. This made me happy”, and so, she picked the hakama. About the view she saw coming down in that official dress, “there are no words. My hatsubutai, the opening day when I became Top, and today’s Grand Staircase: these 3 sights will remain within my memory the most”, she closes her eyes as if savouring the aftertaste.

On this day “Since I arrived to the theatre in the morning, I got emotional over trivial things and again over silly things. It was a day full of emotion”, Sagiri reflects. During the “Kizuna” scene of the main revue, she shed large drops of tears. “These past 2 weeks more or less, the situation is such that it wouldn’t be weird if tears came up at any moment, but today I couldn’t hold them back” she says, overcome with emotion.

Sagiri poured her everything into being an otokoyaku. “I cannot even think of a life where I haven’t met Takarazuka. There is no other place that can give me such happy feelings”, she goes on speaking of her love for Takarazuka. So much that “I cannot think of myself not being an otokoyaku. These feelings have grown even stronger now”, she shakes her head in denial. Her feelings towards the home ground “cannot be expressed in a few words. I want to go on never forgetting this feeling of gratitude” she stated, wiping tears.

Japan Post Insurance Co. Ltd. presents 2017 DREAM MAGAZINE ||| Nozomi Fuuto Inteview: "Keep embracing the dreams within your heart."

- Sayaka believes that the basic thing is to match their clothes and the clothes are planned by Sayaka

- Shuu shared that if she didn’t trust and believe Sayaka, they wouldn’t be able to portray the deep relationship between Uranus and Neptune

- The interviewer asked about their similarity with their characters and Shuu feels that she has nothing in common with Haruka. Sayaka replied that both Shuu and Haruka are charismatic, and she said that Shuu is constantly doing something which makes her happy. As a woman herself, she feels that Shuu would do something to make her happy and it is similar to Haruka.

- Shuu said that the similarity between Sayaka and Michiru is that they will only do things that they deem as important, and they can forgo the non important stuff easily. Sayaka has a girlish side and that is she likes to see Tuxedo Kamen’s rose throws (and Sayaka started gushing about it)

I’m late getting to this, but @zukanerd asked me to explain the science behind my foreshadowing abilities regarding things like taidan, transfers, etc. This is by no means REAL or OFFICIAL, just a collection of signals that have tended to fit into some kind of pattern over the years. Feel free to add your own if I forget something!

TAIDAN SIGNS

For top otokoyaku/top combis who are definitely going to leave together, sometimes they hit you over the head with a big flashing neon TAIDAN!! billboard by putting references to the star’s name in the title of the production. The most recent example is Dramatic S; it came right at Chigi’s 3 year mark and they tend not to name shows in that way unless it’s a sendoff. Sometimes it’s less obvious or they use/reference one of the star’s kanji somewhere—for example, Misty Station (the “Kiri” in Kiriya Hiromu means mist). References to eternity/things ending or starting over are also sometimes a tip off (”Twilight” in the title of Soragumi’s next show, Phoenix Takarazuka, Takarazuka ∞ Mugen, Forever Love, etc). That one is not as reliable but can spell taidan around the 3 year mark. Solo shows can also be an indicator. A Motion in Umeda main hall (which is huge), Chie’s Budokan concert. Masaki faked us out by taking two.

Bonus top otokoyaku NON-TAIDAN sign: only 23% of top otokoyaku have ever retired on a 2-act performance. So while it’s not impossible for a top star to retire on a 2-act, the odds are definitely against it. There was speculation that Mirio might announce her retirement after Yamataikoku wraps up in Takarazuka, but before that Poe no Ichizoku, a 2-act, was announced, so chances are she will not be retiring until the FOLLOWING Grand Theater performance at the earliest.

For top musumeyaku who leave separately, it’s harder to say and sometimes there isn’t a clear sign. It’s reasonable to look for this to happen when a top musumeyaku is on her second+ partner and gets an iconic role that would boost her OG career opportunities (for example, Ranno Hana and Otori Rei both left on Elisabeth and Misaki Rion left shortly after). I also don’t know a single top musumeyaku other than Chapi who has ever gotten a music salon and NOT retired.

For non-top stars, it’s not really about signs so much as it is categories of candidates. Anyone ken-10+ with no star track potential is a candidate to leave with any Grand Theater show, and their chances increase a bit when a top star is retiring and the new top star is their junior. A lot of forever background types choose to leave early to pursue families/other careers before they get “too old.” 

TRANSFERS

It’s really hard to predict exactly who will transfer where, but there are indications that transfers might happen. For example, here are some things I see currently: After Bakumatsu Taiyouden, Yukigumi will have 8 fewer people than Tsukigumi, the next smallest troupe, and 15 fewer people than Soragumi, the largest troupe. Soragumi has too many people who appear to be star tracked. Hoshigumi has kind of a messy hierarchy after Coto. It just makes for a general feeling of instability, and I think a shuffle is going to happen this year. 

Generally if someone is obviously star tracked and blocked, there is a good chance they will be transferred. Daimon was a perfect example; she was Mirio’s nibante, but they’re in the same class, and waiting on Mirio would have made Daimon a very old top star AND pushed back the timeline on everyone else in Hanagumi. Now she’ll be top at the end of next month and Mirio probably still has over a year in her. 

Also when a young musumeyaku who has had some shinko leads and/or is heavily sponsored transfers, often it’s to become the next top musumeyaku of that troupe. 

Ask Chie-san! (from Asumi Rio)

SOURCE MATERIAL UPDATE:

Interview from Takarazuka Revue in Taiwan, which is out of print. However, if you would like to support the artists you can consider buying as an alternative: Takarazuka in Taiwan 2015 Photobook

Q1:  What do you think is most important for an international show?

Ask Chie-san! (from Asumi Rio)

SOURCE MATERIAL UPDATE:

Interview from Takarazuka Revue in Taiwan, which is out of print. However, if you would like to support the artists you can consider buying as an alternative: Takarazuka in Taiwan 2015 Photobook

Q1:  What do you think is most important for an international show?

Sagiri Seina Last Interview

From Takarazuka Graph Magazine July 2017

*Translation by me. Please support the actresses by purchasing magazines, DVDs, and other merchandise.

  Q: So the curtain went up recently on your final stage production. How does that feel?

  Sagiri: Of course, I’ve become unable to avoid the thought that I’ll soon be graduating. Suddenly the feeling hits me. But the play (Sun In the Last Days of the Shogunate) and the show (Dramatic S!) are both surrounded by positive energy so I hardly have time to steep in those feelings (laughs). Plus, I’m not the type that can get simple enjoyment from things. Whether it’s my retirement performance or whatever, each and every time it’s a serious fight and I’ve got to be reckless!–is my style, I believe (laughs).

Q:  During the opening day greetings you were crying tears…

Sagiri: I was. That surprised me (laughs). Some people came on their day off, and there was also a  lonely feeling because not everyone could make it so we couldn’t have this day all together. But your friends are always there with you no matter what, and I felt all over again the things we had overcome together. I was also moved by the reaction from the audience and their response to the shows, and I was so happy I thought, “Ahhhh, I’m so glad I worked hard to reach this day.”

Q: In 2014 you became the top star, with your first Grand Theatre show being Lupin the Third- Pursue the Queen’s Necklace!-   Lupin is a role that has a strong image association in the world already. What were you you nervous about at first?

Sagiri: I was full of anxiety (laughs). But, as practice went along it became more and more fun.The biggest help to me was thinking about Lupin’s appeal- how he just suddenly shows up to help people and then just as suddenly disappears. Even characters that didn’t appear in the original work were really brought to life and I could feel the perfect connection of Yukigumi members in that show. The nervousness seemed to fly away after that, and I think that was a really good start (to my top star era.)

  Q: The next show was the completely original Hoshiai Hitoyo (One Night of Stars). It ran for two performances and came to represent Sagiri Seina as a performer.

   Sagiri: That was the first time during a first read-through that I actually made a noise in my throat. I felt like it was my responsibility to bring this wonderful story, this dream that could wrap you up in it and make you cry, to life for the audience. However, once Ueda-sensei’s serious practice sessions start… (laughs) I didn’t really have free time to be making plans. I really sank into the role though, didn’t I? To be able to carry off a role so completely different from Lupin- I am so grateful to have met with such a great play.

   Q: With the acompanying show La Esmeralda the term “tridente” was coined around you, Sakihi-san, and Nozomi-san, wasn’t it?

   Sagiri: Our roles in the play portion were in a triangle as well, so Saitou-sensei was kind enough to think of a catchy term to describe us (laughs). I get the feeling that it was like, “Alright, let’s get these three to make Yugigumi even more enthused!!” (laughs). Without Yuumi-chan (Sakihi Miyu) and Daimon (Nozomi Fuuto), the tridente would have been impossible. So they are absolutely imperative—without those two this type of relationship would have been impossible.

   Q: The current Yukigumi was born with the three of you at it’s center but after that, beginning with Rurouni Kenshin, the whole troupe started to really heat up performance-wise. That’s the impression that’s given.

   Sagiri: Everyone was visually like they jumped straight from the original work, weren’t they? It was important to give Kenshin fans a show that they could totally get into as well, so we gave it all of our energy and it was also a great chance for me to  put to use various role-playing strategies I’d learned to make this really big role come to life, don’t you think?

*********End of part one******* I don’t have a lot of translating stamina atm but I wanted to get something out there and there will be more coming soon!*******Please check back in a couple of days******and thanks for reading!!*****

Also, check back Monday (tomorrow) for something related that I’ve also been working on!

                                       Sagiri Seina X Nozomi Fuuto         

                                           Sayonara  Conversation

Takarazuka Graph Magazine July 2017

Translation by me. Please support the actresses by purchasing magazines, DVDs, and other merchandise!

Sagiri: For the last conversation, of course I thought, “I want to talk to Daimon!” Thank you for coming!

Nozomi: No~ when I heard about the chance I flew straight up! From the the first floor of the theater to the top floor!

Sagiri: Wow! I would have liked to have seen that (laughs). Yeah, but it’s almost time to pass the baton on to you and that’s an important moment~ and this being that kind of magazine I thought it would be good to talk like this face to face.

Nozomi: Yes… Thank you very much.

Sagiri: I’m not sure about saying this first thing but, having you there next to me as nibante (main supporting role) was truly an important and special thing for me and my life in Takarazuka. Since my fan days I have longed for that special “Top and nibante” relationship, and I had a really fixed concept of what that would look like. However, when  I became top star, I was able to have a lot of freedom and I think of course, that was due to you, Daimon. You were always worrying about nonchalant me (Chigi herself), but still being relaxed at the same time, so I was able to discard the notion that the “Top and nibante relationship” had to be a certain way. I can’t thank you enough for that.

Nozomi: No…starting off saying something like that….

Sagiri: It’s true. It’s true. You’re worth more to me than I could have hoped to have.

Nozomi: No I should be saying that! You’re worth more to me than I could have hoped to have!! When I was told that I would be transferring to Yukigumi I worried about whether everything I had become in Hanagumi would collapse, if I would be able to become a new self (as a performer) but in reality, after transferring it was Chigi-san (Sagiri) who-and I mean this in a good way- helped me to break down and surpass what I had been before. I think it was good that our first show together was “Lupin the Third~In Search of the Queen’s Necklace”, but you made me think “If only I had played that role with more…freedom!” So it’s me that is full of gratitude~for you.

Sagiri: No, No…but I just remembered something else- didn’t you come late once after Hanagumi Tokyo Performance to practice (with Yukigumi) for Fancy Guy? That was a day for a really difficult tango choreography piece, wasn’t it? Everyone kept complaining, saying things like “It’s too hard ~It’s impossible~” But you were there, focusing so hard your eyes were bloodshot. And I thought “There’s someone with total otokoyaku spirit!” Even with a just a part of your otokoyaku spirit, whoosh—the fire was lit!

Nozomi: I didn’t have anything left in me that night. I was practicing while holding back the tears!!

Sagiri: You were, weren’t you? It was cruel having to do that your first day after transferring to a new troupe. (Laughs.)

Nozomi: I had to dance in the front line and everyone would be watching, so I absolutely did not want to say I couldn’t do it…

Sagiri: Totally (Laughs). But being next to you in the same classroom, even in the beginning I felt such passion coming from you that I was happy someone of your caliber had joined us. Also, you really took a lot of notes! (Laughs). I mean you still do, but I was wondering “Just what is it that she’s writing in there anyway?” I became really interested (Laughs).

Nozomi: But don’t you take a lot of notes too?

Sagiri: No, I get the feeling that you take notes on completely different stuff than I do. But what is secretly written in your tiny notebook?

Nozomi: (Laughs). I truly have a bad memory so I write down things I need to remember, things people have said to me that I don’t want to forget, feelings I get about the role while I’m in character. Stuff like that. For example, when I was Kanou Souzaburou in Rurouni Kenshin I would write “I should do this or let’s look at this.” (Laughs).

Sagiri: Now that’s interesting! (Laughs). I bet fans would like to see that. I want to see you publish it~! (Laughs).

Nozomi: I still have every notebook since I was a first-year. (Laughs.)