This journal is "friends-mostly". All my Takarazuka translations, reviews, and news are public, but personal stuff and mindless squeeing are behind friends-lock.

-- If you friend me without commenting, I'll assume you just want to read my public posts on your friendslist.

--- If you want me to friend you back, so you can read my friends-only posts, please leave a comment introducing yourself and why you're interested in Takarazuka. I almost always friend back, but I have been getting a bit more sensitive about my friendslist lately, and I'll remove people if after a few months I don't feel like I've gotten to know them through posts and comments. Still, please don't be afraid to friend me - I'm really quite friendly. :)

A little about me...
I've been a fan of Takarazuka since the year 2000 and a fan of former-otokoyaku Aran Kei (Touko) about the same length of time. I was in Touko's Takarazuka fanclub from 2002 till 2009, and am a member of her post-Takarazuka club.

In terms of current Takarazuka, I mostly follow Star Troupe, though I do watch other troupes when I have the opportunity. I don't have a "main" actress I support at the moment and am not in a club, but I'm a big fan of the troupe as a whole and of several supporting actresses.

Dear Sena Jun Fans:

As you may have noticed, yesterday was mura raku.

Just so you know, it sucks for a while, but eventually it gets a little better.

--Gen

To be honest, I'm getting a bit tired of translating "Aida" related interviews, as they tend to be along the same general lines. I did this one, though, because it's from "Mindan" (The Korean-Japanese newspaper) and so touches just a bit on Touko's Korean heritage.

Available online at: http://www.mindan.org/shinbun/news_bk_view.php?page=1&subpage=2065&corner=6

Published: 2009-07-01

The Journey from Takarazuka Top to Actress: Aran Kei-san

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Ah, I wish I'd done this last week when the memories were a bit fresher. I loved this show in a "Must Imprint Activities of Every Underclassmen Because I Won't See Them On the DVD" sort of way, but I don't think I imprinted quite hard enough.

So. I saw the national tour of Star Troupe's "Saikai/Soul of Shiva!!" four times in Yokohama, on October 10th and 11th. Who am I so obsessed over that I would watch the same show four times in two days?

Everyone. Just EVERYONE. ;)

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Whoa, Lawson's is raffling the 2500yen B-seki in their pre-request. Is this normal?

Not just for raku or big days like that, but on Dec 5th, where I just applied for a ticket.

...Toujitsuken-ing this show is going to be a miserable undertaking, isn't it? :/

I've just gone through and done a friends-cut. If you were cut, it's probably because you:

1) Haven't posted in your own journal for 6 months or more

AND/OR

2) Have rarely or never posted a comment on my journal

If you think you were cut by mistake, please send me a message.

I have been watching the Seiyuu Club Mix/Genbu Fighters clip on YouTube rather a lot lately.

I would like to draw your attention to Haya's leg at 4:55.  (Haya is on the far right)

In particular, note its height compared to anyone else on stage, including Chie.

This, my friends, is a woman who does nothing by halves.

*Falls over dead from self-satisfaction* *Yes, that can be done*

Most notably, I did this.

I've been looking through my old reviews to maybe repost stuff on my website, and found this in the one for "Naked City":

(Toono Asuka) She’s gonna make a great top-star soon (with any luck). Hmmm… I’d like to see how she and Touko (Aran Kei) would work together…

AH HAH. <3 <3 <3

Just curious if anyone has an opinion one way or the other...

I've had a "Shopping" page up on my site for several years with links to Takarazuka related items on YesAsia. Though I'm in their affiliate program, it was never particularly about making money, but mostly to be helpful to newbies trying to shop.

The last couple years I really haven't been able to keep the links up to date, and only go in like every few months and add a bunch of new ones. This time I'm looking and I'm about 20 items "behind" and I'm wondering... is it even worth going to the trouble to update the page?

Does anyone have an opinion one way or the other? Do the links seem self-serving? Where they helpful when you were shopping for stuff? Is it easy enough already for you to shop for Takarazuka stuff on websites like Amazon and YesAsia? Should I keep trying to intermittently update these links?

Just curious before I make a decision one way or the other...

FYI, for others in or coming to Japan who may be interested in OG shows.

I was just able to sign up for Toho Theater's "Toho NabiSaabu" online ticket ordering service, and order a ticket to "Fiddler on the Roof" next month, even though the machines at all my local convenience stores showed the show as sold-out on the days I could go.

I have an address in Japan, but a foreign credit card. Since tickets can be picked up at the box office, or printed at a 7-11 up until the day of the show (in addition to the option of having them mailed), I think this ticket buying method could work even for those not living in Japan - just use a friend's address, but pick the tickets up the day of the show.

Because I'm paranoid, I'm electing to get mine at 7-11 (have to pick it up Tuesday or later). I never believe Japanese ticket things work until I have the ticket in my hand. ;)

Translation of Sanspo feature on Touko late last month. Originally posted at:

http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/090822/gnj0908220506013-n1.htm

Human: Aran Kei, Because She Loves the Stage
2009.08.22

Photo Caption: Aran Kei has this slender physique, but inside she's "manly"?! = Sumida-ku, Tokyo

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I went and saw Star Troupe's most recent play, “Taiou Shijinki (Legend of the Great King and Four Gods) Version 2” at the Tokyo Takarazuka theater earlier this month. This was my first time seeing Takarazuka and Star Troupe live since Aran Kei's retirement. Now that she and Asuka are retired, I'm more of a “troupe fan” and am definitely into the shows for the supporting actresses, so keep that in mind as you read. :)

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I recently went to see Aran Kei in her post-Takarazuka debut in “The Musical Aida”. This musical is a revised version of “A Song for Kingdoms”, Takarazuka's 2003 play, which is itself based on the “Aida” opera. I saw the show twice at the Tokyo Kaikan and also plan to see it once in Osaka.

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Marimo! <3 <3 <3

Chiaki! :( :( :(

In neither case would I say I'm entirely surprised...

I don't see the news on the TCA site yet, but according to a club e-mail last night, it's been decided that there will be a DVD release of Touko's Aida musical, to be released by Takarazuka Creative Arts on December 10th. It will be 8400yen.

I'm really excited about this, only partly because it will give me the opportunity to skip straight to all Touko's solo numbers and put them on repeat. ;)

In other news, it's been announced that Touko will make a guest appearance at an Ichimura Masachika & Kaga Takeshi concert this March, from the 4th to the 14th. The concert is called "Sorezore no Concert." More details should follow.

As these are two people she said in her Horipro interview that she particularly wanted to work with, I'd imagine she's pretty excited. *g*

ETA: Some Aida first day photos are here.

Hi everyone - just a little shopping update.

I think I confused a few people about my timeline. I actually went into Tokyo this last weekend too, but I didn't post my shopping offer in time for people to paypal me before I left, plus I hadn't been paid yet so didn't have cash to cover things like the Touko goods. So the offer is still open for this *coming* weekend.

Sorry to the people who've messaged me that I haven't replied to yet -  I didn't get back home last night till about 1am (I live a 2 1/2 hour train ride from Tokyo).

The club did sell out of the B-set (clearfile) and C-set (t-shirt) in size medium this last weekend, but they plan to get them in again before this coming weekend.

Also, the theater is selling programs, as well as a set with a photobook, if anyone wants me to pick that up. I want to say it was:

Program, 1500yen

Program & Photobook, 3000yen

Program, photobook, and small Aida totebag, 3500yen

Here's a small photo from my cellphone that shows the bag-program-photobook-set plus the "B-set" (clear-file, postcards, senjafuda):



The A-set was really nice too, and I'm hoping it'll still be there when I go back next weekend. It was the one with the fan (with photo of Touko as Aida) and the Aida kewpie.

I'll be going into Tokyo next weekend and if anyone (yes, this includes people reading this not on my friendslist :)) would like me to do some shopping for them, please send me an e-mail or a PM (please also comment here if you PM because sometimes LJ "forgets" to send me notification).

You will need to paypal me in advance with enough money to cover the cost of the item (in yen), paypal fees, and shipping costs.

I live in Shizuoka, so I can't usually shop for DVDs, photos, mooks, etc. in person, but there are some bookstores that carry Graph, Kageki, Otome, and some of the recent photobooks - so feel free to ask me anytime for help getting those. :)

ETA: Almost forgot! I will be going to see Touko's performance of "Aida" and the club will be selling some goods at a booth:

A Set = Aida Kewpie and Fan with an Aida picture, 1000yen

B Set = Clear File with a picture of Aida, two postcards, and senjafuda, 1000yen

C Set = Show T-shirt (with logo) and 2 offstage photos, 3500yen

Same deal: Prepay me by paypal. If items sell out and I'm not able to get them for you, I'll refund you. :)

With the play and all, there've been so many Touko interviews, I doubt I'll ever get to them all. But I'm starting with the ticket site ones, since they seem to disappear from the net the fastest:

From this article on the TicketPia website: http://t.pia.jp/interview/stage/musicalaida-01.html
Posted sometime in June 2009

The Musical “Aida” ~ From the Takarazuka Play “Song of Kingdoms”~
Aran Kei

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