Thanks to many requests here in the blog, on Tumblr, and on Twitter, we have some quiz games headed your way.
First up: Play along with Lella, Kitty, Jenn, and Julie and test your esoteric Takarazuka revue show theme song knowledge!
Don’t cheat, but if you want to double-check your answers after playing, here is the answer key.
Join Heidi and Lella as they talk about a favorite small-theater show and give it some tough love. (Warning: Plot spoilers)
Have you seen The Robbers? What did you think of it?
Happy New Year! (The year of the Rat is almost here!)
In this episode, Heidi, Jen, and Lella talk about Mirio’s career in Takarazuka.
Please share your memories and thoughts in the comments!
KEN-ON ( 研音 ) talent agency website (Japanese only – She doesn’t have a profile page up yet)
Asumi Rio profile on TakaWiki (English) w/ links to all the shows discussed here.
Chinatsu (Houzuki An)
Daimon (Nozomi Fuuto)
Kiki (Serika Toa)
Mirio (Asumi Rio)
Rei (Yuzuka Rei)
Yuki (Senna Ayase)
Although it was recorded in May, due to bad audio the posting of this episode was postponed until now. We were unable to correct the bad audio, but have now decided to post the episode in spite of this. However, as a result, all of the ‘happy things’ and news are outdated. Yuzuka Rei has been announced as the next Hanagumi top star, and many more hanagumi musumeyaku have been announced as leaving with Asumi Rio in November.
LINKS:
Tweet with Rei Makoto and the eiga dorobo man
Casanova Takawiki page
Actresses:
Asumi Rio (Mirio)
Senna Ayase (Yuki/Yukihime)
Miriyuki = Asumi Rio/Senna Ayase combi
Ousaki Ayaka (Beichan)
Hanano Juria
Yuzuka Rei (Karei)
Hozuki An (Chinatsu)
Seto Kazuya (Akira)
Minami Maito (Maitii)
Kazumi Shou
Yuunami Kei
Haryuu Mitsuki
Shiroki Miei (Shirokimi)
Hiryuu Tsukasa
Seino Asuka
Oto Kurisu
Tatsuki Mio
Hana Yuuki
Maisora Hitomi
Sorry this one is so late coming out! We originally recorded it back at the end of November, which is why some time references may seem a little off. But even late, we wanted to share our love! Join Kitty, Lella, and Jen as they discuss Star Troupe news and then share their love of recently retired Moon Troupe top musumeyaku Manaki Reika (and kumichou Touka Yurino).
(Apologies for the rough sound. One of our tracks wasn’t editable so we had to use our combined track in places which means we couldn’t isolate and remove some of the rougher bits and coughs.)
Aizuki Hikaru
Amatsu Otome
Ayahoshi Rion
Chapi (Manaki Reika)
Chinatsu (Houzuki An)
Hanafusa Mari
Jou (Kijou Mitsuru)
Kai-chan (Nanami Hiroki)
Kasugano Yachiyo
Katori Reira
Kouzuki Ruu
Makoto Tsubasa
Masao (Masaki Ryuu)
Mayupon (Kizuki Yuuma)
Mirion (Misaki Rion)
MiyaRuri (Miya Rurika)
Rei (Yuzuka Rei)
Reiko (Tsukishiro Kanato)
Saou Kurama
Seocchi (Seo Yuria)
Shiiran (Ichijou Azusa)
Tamakichi (Tamaki Ryou)
Touka Yurino
Toyoko (Suzumi Shio)
Umi-chan (Umino Mitsuki)
Ikuta Hirokazu
Koike Shuuichirou
Masatsuka Haruhiko
Saitou Yoshimasa
Ueda Keiko
Ueda Kumiko
Click on the “Chapi” link above for all of the shows mentioned from her career linked from her TakaWiki profile!
Also…
Beside the Foggy Elbe / Estrellas
Love Blooms Out on the Murasakino
Man From Algiers
“Tommy Tune in Japan” article on Sunday Morning show
“Tommy Tune in Japan” video clip from Sunday Morning show
Kitty’s translations about Manaki Reika
Salon de Takarazuka – Place to dress up and get your photo taken for a (steepish) fee (Japanese only)
We bring you this episode at long last after many rounds of re-dos and technical difficulties!
Join Lella, Julie, Heidi, and Jenn for an extensive chat about Cosmos Troupe’s Spring Grand Theater show ‘The Sky Is On The Banks Of The Red River’ and ‘Citrus Breeze: Sunrise’. It’s kind of a long one, but it’s because we loved it so much and had so many feelings! We apologize for the delay, due to the technical issues it was recorded several months after the show ended, but all aspects of the show and cast are discussed, and hopefully you’ll enjoy flailing about this awesome show with us!
There were MANY people discussed in this episode as it’s a huge cast, probably too many to list them all, but here are some links to the main cast and show, plus/including our individual favorites that were mentioned:
Red River/Citrus Breeze Sunrise
Makaze Suzuho
Hoshikaze Madoka
Serika Toa
Aizuki Hikaru
Sakuragi Minato
Junya Chitose
Sumiki Sayato
Hoshibuki Ayato
Kihou Kanata
Join Carly, Heidi, and Lella for a recap of recent news and an in-depth report of Cosmos Troupe’s recent production of West Side Story in Tokyo.
LINKS:
West Side Story: Tokyo International Forum cast
Takarazuka Journal review of West Side Story (Japanese)
Carly’s translation of the program special talk
West Side Story special edition Le Cinq (Amazon)
Asaka Manato in NYC
Reimi Urara’s Instagram
This week Heidi, Lella, and Carly talk in-depth about traveling to Japan to see Takarazuka and the various ways you can procure tickets, both official and secondhand.
Helpful links:
Transportation:
airfarewatchdog.com
Hopper
japan-rail-pass.com
willerexpress.com/en/
PASMO/SUICA cards
General Accommodations:
booking.com
APA Hotels
MyStays
Airbnb
Hostels in Takarazuka:
Takara-ya
Renoir
Pucchi House
Official tickets:
English ticket site
Japanese ticket site
Secondhand tickets and ticket trading:
ticketcamp.net
ticket.co.jp
okepi.net
We have a VERY special video episode for you! This December, four Takarazuka OGs—Mariho Erina, Ayaka Rei, Shiho Nanami, and Tama Mayura—will be performing World of Dreams, a lecture and concert introducing American audiences to the world of Takarazuka, at the Cornish Playhouse in Seattle! In advance of this performance, the Takarazuka Fan Podcast interviewed the actresses about their time in Takarazuka, their thoughts about performing overseas, and more!
We’re so excited to be able to bring you this exclusive interview, and if you have any questions or Seattle area recommendations for the actresses, be sure to leave them in the comments!
Special thanks to the entire podcast team plus Chems for chipping in with the translation/subtitling, and to Sakiko for organizing the interview.
World of Dreams will be taking place on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 4:30pm at the Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center. For more information visit the Facebook page.
Note: To save on server space, we are moving our video podcasts to YouTube. Unfortunately, this means they will no longer show up in the podcast feed.
Recorded 13th July, 2017
Actresses:
Mariho Erina
Ayaka Rei
Shiho Nanami
Tama Mayura
Glossary:
Otokoyaku: Actresses who play male roles
Musumeyaku: Actresses who play female roles
Onnayaku: Also female role players, but typically more mature roles
Shinjin Kouen: “Newcomer performances,” special performances held for each Grand Theater production that feature young stars who have been in the company for 7 years or less.
Nihonmono: Traditional Japanese productions
OG: Literally “old girl,” referring to actresses who have retired from Takarazuka.
Obi: The sash worn with a kimono.
Join Becca, Lella, and Jen as they try to stay on topic and … mostly succeed? PLUS, fun news out of Seattle!
Let us know your thoughts on the upcoming shows!
Links:
Actresses:
Glossary: