Doesn't understand where the LJ cut button and all the other helpful buttons have gone!! (o_O;;) Tasukete onegai!! ...... (@_@')/

Yamato Yuga Interview vol.1

Cosmos Troupe top star Yamato Yuga, who announced her departure from Takarazuka on the 5th of July this year: It’s still only a little over 3 months since then, but Yamato has shown us her new figure, completely reverted to beautiful woman, in the production announcement for the musical “Curtains”. We interviewed Yamato Yuga who, also preparing for another big, much-discussed work, “Giden Sharaku”, which she will appear in after “Curtains”, has made a promising start in her career as an actress.

Yamato was known for her excellent fashion sense and her fastidiousness when she was in Takarazuka, but for this review she appeared dressed in the image of the young actress Nicki Harris, whom she plays in “Curtains”. She allowed us to take shots of a variety of poses, so please enjoy the fun photographs as well!

First of all, what are your feelings right now about your forthcoming debut as an actress in “Curtains”?

I’ve always loved Broadway musicals, but this one features suspense and comedy, plus it also features a love story, so it’s absolutely loaded with things to see; it’s the kind of play that makes you go, “ah, so this is an American musical,” so I’m delighted to be able to make my start as an actress in such a production.

Even when I was in Takarazuka, I was able to appear in an absolutely loads of Broadway musicals, starting with “Singing in the Rain”, so I was inspired by their appeal. Naturally, in the process of making them, it was hard, there was the difficulty of putting the jokes into Japanese and so on, but now I only have good memories of each of them.

Didn’t you have any reservations about turning into an actress straight from being an otokoyaku?

I’d had my fill of playing men’s roles in Takarazuka [so no, I didn’t]. When I decided to leave Takarazuka, when I thought about what I wanted to do afterwards, at that time I knew that first of all I wanted to make good use of the skills I’d cultivated at Takarazuka. I love singing, dancing and acting, so I wanted to carry on doing that for as long as possible.

You really do seem to have had a connection with Broadway musicals from the beginning, don’t you? In Takarazuka you must have appeared in 5 or 6...?

The very first one was “West Side Story” (1999). The director Alan Johnson’s rehearsal room (?) worked differently to usual. There was no hierarchy of upperclassmen or lowerclassmen; we were all cast in roles, “You’re this role,” “You’re the Shark team” (?).

There were a lot of auditions and he cast us after looking carefully at each person’s strengths and abilities. [Johnson?] crafted each scene carefully one by one so it was tough, but every day of rehearsals was fun. Part of the dances were altered for women, but we danced nearly all the original choreography.

I remember, you all climbed up the wire net (fence?) didn’t you?

It was the shoot-out scene (laughs). We had both the dancing and the action hammered into us, “You must do this here”... We took pride in standing onstage doing it without losing any of that quality for 3 months, including [the run in] Tokyo (?)

Because you were inspired by the appeal of musicals, right? Your next musical was “Guys & Dolls” in 2001: you played the role of Nathan and your moustache suited you well! But it was still only about your 7th year [since you debuted], wasn’t it?

I had the role of a middle-aged man. (laughs) Since then I’ve played roles with moustaches or middle-aged roles several times, but at that time it was my first experience so I thought, “Right, let’s do this the best I can” – my fighting spirit was different back then. (laughs) That time too I remember that the director and everyone in Moon Troupe was racking their brains over how to get the American jokes across [in Japanese].

And your next musical after that was “Singing in the Rain” (2003), in which you featured prominently in Star Troupe.

I really love that play, I got to do it again last year with Cosmos and it’s a really fun, enjoyable play. The first time around, “Sing!”, my solo number as Cosmo, was a ridiculously hard tune to sing. Even now I remember it, but when the production of “Singing in the Rain” was announced, it was decided that we’d start from my number “Sing!”and I thought, oh no, what am I going to do?? (laughs)

In the story in the play, I sing it to encourage Don, but I had to sing it without the scenes before and after [in the production announcement], so thinking that I didn’t want to it to be a case of [the audience?] feeling embarrassed about my conveying that sense of fun, I put some welly into my singing. I think I probably thought about the choreography myself too.

You got a huge round of applause in the venue [of the production announcement]. On those sorts of occasions you’re Yuga at your best, aren’t you?

I keep cool when it comes to crunch time (laughs)

In Cosmos Troupe’s repeat production [of “Singing in the Rain”] in 2008, you played the lead role of Don...

It’s a musical I really loved, so I was thrilled to be able to appear in it again. I actually got to do the scene where he sings and dances happily while getting soaked in the rain, so I was happy. I wasn’t bothered at all about getting wet, so I enjoyed every day of the performance. Both Cosmo and Don are roles I liked, so that makes it even more of an unforgettable production for me.

Going back a little bit, you also starred in “Copacabana” in Hakataza in 2006 didn’t you?

I was Rico, the kingpin of a criminal gang, but even though I’d had small-time gangster type roles before that, I hadn’t played that kind of bad, smug, reckless role before, but actually I’d really wanted to have a go at playing that kind of role, so it was really fun. It was a production in which I could play my character completely odiously and really let it all out, so that too was a show I won’t forget.

Since you’ve played a variety of male characters’ roles in Broadway musicals in the past, we were a bit shocked at your transformation for “Curtains”![no one can fail to be shocked by that much pink!]

When I was in Takarazuka I got to perform women’s roles several times in the show (revue), but certainly I never wore such frilly, girly clothes for that! (laughs) The frilly clothes too, but with the hair too it’s about the first time I’ve curled it so I was pleased! (laughs) In the actual play too, Nicki’s clothes are like cute and blue outfits so I’m looking forward to them.

The character you play, Nicki, is a young actress who assistant inspector Cioffi , played by Toyama, admires, right?

She’s a cute, innocent kind of girl, but a little bit spontaneous (laughs), she doesn’t really realize that’s she’s liked, but she quickly comes to like assistant inspector Cioffi during the time when they are investigating together.

Suddenly you’re playing Toyama’s love interest, that must be amazing?

He’s truly a fantastic person, he’s cool and he’s a gentleman. When I was in Takarazuka playing men’s roles, I aimed to play the ideal man, the kind who just doesn’t exist in reality, but when I met Toyama-san, I felt like there was the ideal man, he was the kind of man you could make into the target/model of the Takarazuka otokoyaku.

If you’re going to have a gorgeous guy as your opposite in your first debut role as an actress then I guess the fans will also be somewhat relieved.

But by the same token, it won’t work if I don’t make a pretty enough partner for him! I’ll do my best so ensure people say that we make a lovely couple when I’m stood next to Toyama-san. (laughs)

A Japanese friend alerted me to this article. Two seito in Hoshigumi have fallen ill with swine flu. Let's wish them a speedy recovery and hope that nobody else gets ill in that troupe or any others! 一生懸命祈ってます!!

http://osaka.yomiuri.co.jp/tokusyu/influenza/if90823a.htm?from=tokusyu

宝塚星組公演、出演者２人が感染

　東京宝塚劇場は２２日、上演中の宝塚歌劇団星組公演の出演者２人が新型インフルエンザに感染、休演すると明らかにした。公演は代役を立てて続ける。劇場によると、感染が確認されたのは、磯野千尋(いそのちひろ)さんと、天霧真世(あまぎりまよ)さん。天霧さんは１９日、磯野さんは２１日の公演後に発熱し、新型インフルエンザと診断された。

To summarize: the 2 students who have swine flu are 1) Isono Chihiro and 2) Amagiri Mayo. Isono got a fever on the 19th and Amagiri on the 21st. They are both taking a break from performing and their roles have been filled by replacements; the run will continue unaffected.

http://www.asahi.com/showbiz/stage/spotlight/OSK200907180089.html

While browsing the Japanese news on the Asahi Shimbun website I stumbled across this article about a forthcoming show with Todoroki Yu from Senka and Hoshigumi members, an adaptation by Kobayashi Kouhei of the well-known tale of Pedro and Ines of Cumbria. It promises to be a lavish affair, based on the love story of the Portuguese royal family.

Will at some point translate for non Japanese speakers, in the meantime there are a couple of gorgeous costumed photos showing that this'll be one for those who love costume dramas/jidai geki such as myself! We also get to see Todoroki in a crown! I must say, it becomes her very well.

OK, gotta hit the hay, my flight for Croatia leave at 5am tomorrow so it means a ridiculously early start. Oyasumi all zzz

Hi Am selling a couple of items to raise a little cash for my summer holiday. Have just put prices down! Click for Sena Jun/Todoroki Yu/Yamato Yuga goodness! Only 6 hrs left of auction so time to bid bid bid :-) Make me an offer, go ooooon...

( Click for shiny sale )

Osa joy! In which she talks about what she had got up to in the year since leaving Takarazuka and before she opened her first concert "My Heart" and began acting in "margueritte". All those references to 'being a woman' perhaps makes me think even then she knew...Maybe too loved up?


Couple of sticky points: 芯のある女性? = woman with a tough centreでいいのかな? And one weird sentence towards the end (italicised in the translation) that I couldn't figure out what she was getting at, so any help there is most appreciated. In the original Japanese it reads 忘れかけていた何かを気づかせてくれたり、自分自身にとても素直になれていたり。More than half the problem is - what is the damn subject?? Yes, I lost it there somewhere, oops...

Enjoy!

劇場の赤い椅子に身を沈めてただ観てほしい。。。You go girl, you get those bums on chairs! :-)

( Click for we love Osa )

Am selling a couple of items on ebay to raise a little bit of cash, mainly to pay for my summer holiday. Take a look - there are some Sena Jun things as well as Todoroki Yu and Yamato Yuga items too. The prices may seem a little high but actually I'm perfectly willing to take lower offers...As you'll see if you make me an offer :-P

All items posted promptly, in cardboard backed envelopes. I don't think it'll cost much more to post overseas either. The Todoroki Yu stuff and Yamato Yuga stuff I'm sorry to see go but willing to see go to a good home. I have duplicates of some anyway...

Sena Jun
( Click for shiny crack )

Todoroki Yu & Yamato Yuga
( Click for more shiny crack )

The last section of the Sanspo article, Hizuki Hana's words of goodbye. And here's the link to the original article:

http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/090705/gne0907051937000-n1.htm

陽月華　舞台挨拶

Hizuki Hana Farewell Greetings

 

( Hizuki Hana Farewell Greetings )

【宙組】大和悠河、１５年の宝塚生活に別れ (1/3ページ)

Quick translation of the first page of the Sanspo article of Yamato Yuga's retirement. Page 2, with the butai aisatsu (final greetings) and kisha kaiken Q&A (press conference) to follow shortly. It's not perfect and there were a few tricky bits of vocab or turns of phrase I hadn't encountered before so any suggestions from my Nihongo senpai out there are always greatly appreciated. Enjoy reading. :-)

( Click for 1st page )TBC...

I am looking for some more Takarazuka-related stuff to translate in my spare time. Someone suggested the Kageki Round Tables but I don't have any copies myself. If someone can point me in the direction of this or anything to translate I'd be grateful, though I'll having a flick through my old Graphs and so on. If anyone has anything they desperately want to read then pass it my way and I'll see what I can do, though I reserve the right to cancel or retract this promise if anything proves to be too hard/boring (unlikely!!) or not to my taste. :-)

Now I am a free woman with no dissertation, final exams or anything else to hold me back or distract me, I am free to pursue translations of things that actually interest me. Like, for example, Takarazuka! Here is a translation of an interview with up-and-coming Yukigumi otokoyaku Seshiru Daigo.

The Anticipation of Coming up against New Hurdles

 
( Click for interview )

真琴つばさWISH


Transcribed the lyrics from the music vid on Youtube but haven't got around to translating them yet. I'm mainly posting them here for "private home karaoke" purposes since it's one of my favourite Takarazuka-related songs to sing along to while working and they also usually stock it on Japanese karaoke booth systems. Lalalala

 

 

( Makoto Tsubasa WISH lyrics )

I was bored stuck at home on a Friday night with a broken foot *sigh* so instead of finishing writing my dissertation I transcribed and had a quick bash at translating the lyrics of one of Aqua 5's songs, "Shirayuki". Here it is for your delectation. Warning: it is not a happy love song :-( No siree.

EDIT: Just added the romaji reading but I did it without my dictionary so there may be a few mistakes on the hard kanji...Corrections gratefully accepted until I can be bothered to check it myself.

 

( Aqua5 Shirayuki lyrics )

Interview with up-and-coming yukigumi-sei Seshiru Daigo (Japanese). I got my eye on this one.... ;-)

http://www5.nikkansports.com/entertainment/takarazuka/entry/20080908_67012.html#more

An English translation of a really old interview in a leaflet that I've been meaning to post for ages. It's about Asami Hikaru and dates from 2005, from the first live Zuka performance I ever saw, Yukigumi's "Kiri no Mirano"/Wonderland. How wonderful it was...
 

This sems to be one of the longer, more in depth articles from the press conference about Yamato Yuga's retirement:

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20090120-00000508-sanspo-ent
For the photos, click the 2nd link (the big one with brackets in it, not the little one) after the title; the one sort of diagonally above the word "Amour" and scroll through using the buttons above the pictures.
No 7 is not a flattering photo imho but no 8 more than makes up for it ;-) I love it when she wears those gorgeous white high heels. No 10 (a close up) is also rather good; she looks steely-eyed and determined and thus very very cute. ^_^

I picked out some interesting points:
-- she decided to retire last July during the run of Singing in the Rain (Ame ni Utaeba) and made her application to the management then
-- she graduated the year that the Hanshin Earthquake struck. On the day, she was actually in a graduation exam! They didn't know whether they would be able to make their debut but in the end they did.
-- she picked Nathan in Guys & Dolls as the role that made the deepest impression on her. She felt she grew and learnt a lot as it was her first nibante role.
-- she told Hizuki she was intending to leave some days before, and the others in Soragumi on the day of the official announcement - as you can imagine, everyone was astonished!
-- thanking her fans for all their support over the years since she was a kakyuusei, she ended the press conference with tears in her eyes.... Bet the fans had tears in their eyes too! (;__ ;)

Big Picture
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20090119-00000509-sanspo-ent.view-000