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azusalog · 6 years

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The Musical Touken Ranbu : Story Asks

So, I saw on my Tumblr dashboard a survey about our opinions and feelings towards Toumyu franchise’s stories and I wanted to answer it. You can find the survey here. Thanks to @rz-jocelyn !

Next, I will answer Song Asks !

1. How did you get into the Musical Touken Ranbu franchise ? What was your first impression of it ?

First, I only knew TKRB through Hanamaru anime, and I remember I didn’t watch it to the end, because there were too much characters with too complicate names, and no real storyline (I discovered next there is one, with Yasusada development). With that, during my very first travel in Japan, I entered a anime goodies shop, and there was a DMM Nitro+ event, because of the 10th anniversary of the studio, with some Dramatical Murder goods, and TKRB as well. I bought some of both, because even if I didn’t know TKRB very well, I had already some attachment to it.

Then, it was last year, during a japanese exposition (Japan Expo) in my town, I saw the Toumyu stand with some live outfits, and I remembered right away I saw once TKRB has musical. And since I was once a J-pop fan, I couldn’t ignore that. So, during my travel in Japan last year, just after Japan Expo, with the rest of money I had at the end of the trip, I bought Tsuwamono triple CD (though I hadn’t listen any song yet !). Then, I came back home, I listened it, and I searched for Toumyu shows. When I found them, I began with Atsukashiyama, and I was « Oh my gosh, this is so cool ! », though sometimes I thought the storyline was a little slow (for example, Imanotsurugi’s scenes. Sorry >_<). Then I watched other musicals, in the right order : Bakumatsu, Mihotose (which I loved a lot because it was so emotional), Tsuwamono (my fav), etc. And I quickly slipped in TKRB hell. Far enough to pull my best friend into it too.

My only regret was I couldn’t see AtsuIbun team’s live at Japan Expo because I was working this day ToT

2. Rank the musicals from the one with the storyline you liked the most to the one with the storyline you liked the least. Why have you chosen to rank them in this order ?

Musical : Tsuwamono > Mihotose > Atsukashiyama 2018 > Atsukashiyama > Musubi > Bakumatsu

SRS & more : SRS16 > SRS17 > SRS18 > Itsukushima

Musical explanation : Tsuwamono was my fav right away, maybe because I listened a bit the songs before to watch the show. I watch it in last, because I wanted to watch the musicals in the order of release, and though I didn’t know Higekiri and Hizamaru yet (I didn’t play the game at that time and I hadn’t watch Zoku Hanamaru yet), I discovered them there, and I loved them right away. I already loved Mikazuki, and the show showed him under a new light. The story was, in my opinion, more complex than the others and it’s why it’s my fav.

Then, there is Mihotose. I cried a lot watching it, especially at the end, and there is my ultimate fav Toudan (Nikkari) in it, so I couldn’t help to like the show o// There were less fights, but more character development, especially Ishikirimaru and a bit Ookurikara.

AtsuIbun 2018, then, because there is the hypothesis Mikazuki acted before the storyline to push Yasuhira to kill Yoshitsune (you can see the lotus flower during the first song, which is a Tsuwamono’s song). I loved that, because it reminds me the loop in Tousute, and now, the fact that Toumyu’s Mikazuki lived a similar things is very high. Poor him ToT he isn’t my fav anymore because Nikkari and Kasen are above him, but I like him a lot. For all of this, I prefer AtsuIbun 2018 than AtsuIbun 2015.

I liked Musubi, the story is quite good, but somehow, I’m not found of it. I like the fact Mutsunokami killed Hijikata to relieve Izuminokami and Horikawa’s soul, I like all about Mutsunokami in it, his energy, his joy and how he didn’t mind when Izuminokami is wrong about him. But that’s all. I don’t really know how to explain it, I like Musubi, but not a lot (you can see it because I don’t talk a lot about the storyline). Just, I really dislike when all the Shinsengumi’s swords cried at the end, when Hijikata died. It’s far too much

And finally Bakumatsu. The storyline is good, I can’t tell the contrary, but I’m not a Shinsengumi’s fan. I like Izuminokami a lot, and Horikawa as well, but when I watched the show for the first time, I was very neutral towards the others. Yasusada annoyed me already because of Hanamaru and in the show I hated is glossy lips xD Sorry, I watched the show only once, and I don’t really remember what it happened.

SRS & more explanation : I will make it shorter it, don’t worry ! My fav SRS is 2017 I think, though I like a lot 2018 because of so much things in it, but if I keep only the storyline, I think the best is 2016. The battle between the two teams is very good, funny and interesting, while in the others, we only have a story telling game and a matsuri battle. There is no real storyline in them. Itsukushima hasn’t either, only a picture of praying in a sacred place.

3. Storyline that you would change ? Why ?

I don’t know at all, because I don’t know what to put instead. Maybe I would change Musubi to add more Kane’s character development about his feelings towards Mutsu. I mean, at the beginning he hates him, and despite the fact that Mutsu killed Hijikata, we don’t have a proper dialogue between Kane and Mutsu after this. Does Kane still hate Mutsu or not ? Does he begin to understand him ? We could say he doesn’t, because he still argues with him in SRS18. What a pity D:

4. Favorite scene or moment ? Why ?

Ah, there are so much scenes I love, it’s hard to choose only one ! Okay, I will pick some of them.

First, there is the departure scene in AtsuIbun (2015 and 2018). It’s so funny when all the Sanjou did so much useless things, with Mika who drinked his tea, Kogi who chased after his hair like a dog after his tail, Imano and Iwato who played together… I laugh so hard each time I watch it !

I also love the little moment when, in Tsuwamono, Kogi didn’t agree with how Mika split the team in two. « Why you chose to split like this ? Why am I not with you ? » « Kogitsunemaru-dono, don’t tell me… ! » I like a lot this BL implied, because I’m a fujoshi >//o//<

The last one is during SRS17, at the end, when Nikkari came to tell a ghost story, and he told his own story instead. But he couldn’t finish it, because of Imanotsurugi and Ishikirimaru, and they ended to sing « Te no Hira », while they hold each other hands, with Imanotsurugi between them like if he pictured the spiritual world which links Nikkari and Ishikirimaru together. Gnnff my heart… <3

5. Least favorite scene or moment ? Why ?

When Toudans are going crazy to want to meet their former master, without consider the mission, like Yasusada and Imanotsurugi did… At least, Imano was cute and happy when he discovered Yoshitsune was alive, so I can deal with it, but Yasusada is a big NO. Sorry for those who like him.

6. Scene or moment that you would change ? Why ?

Why do you ask me to change so much things ? I don’t want to change anything in Toumyu xD Even what I don’t like ! Well, okay, I will answer. The only scene I would change is when Ishikirimaru and Nikkari were talking together in Mihotose, during the mission (when Ishi apologies because he said once if Nikkari isn’t a sacred sword, it’s because he killed a child), I would like a deeper development about Nikkari. I think, for him, his nature is like a complex, though he looks like to really accept it and manages to live with it. He doesn’t mind when others consider him as a ghost sword, but a complex is a deep thing hidden inside of us, and a few words can’t just make it vanish. At the end of the scene, Nikkari smiled and said Ieyasu couldn’t become a god without help, so he joined the family, but his complex is still there, I think. I need something more detailed about it.

7. Which storyline would you want to see adapted in future musicals ?

I would like to see a storyline in modern era, for example. Maybe when swords will interact with modern people, who could ask why they are dressed like this, or why they hold swords, etc. I think it could be interesting !

Moreover, more History about Nikkari will be really fine o// (okay, it’s because I love him so much, sorry ! :D) We could have a real character development, maybe we could see his former master slays the ghosts with the ootachi who was Nikkari before to be a wakizashi. And if the HRA attacked the samurai before it killed the ghosts, how Nikkari would have react ? If he didn’t kill the ghost, he could be a completly different person, and maybe Ishikirimaru (I want he is there) could try to correct History in order to make Nikkari who he usually is.

8. Favorite Musical Touken Ranbu character ? Why ? How is the musical version of him different from how he is portrayed in the game and other media ?

Nikkari. I love him whatever the version. In the musical, he is portrayed cuter than in the anime or in the game. He could make cute moves and it makes my heart squeeshed so hard >//o//< I love too how he could looks scary because he doesn’t blink at all sometimes and he has a monotone voice, just like a ghost. I think he is pictured more like a normal person in the anime (but with some eccentric moments though).

9. Least favorite Musical Touken Ranbu character ? Why ? How is the musical version of him different from how he is portrayed in the game and other media ?

Nagasone, but I don’t dislike him more in Toumyu than in the other media. It’s just I’m not found of the character, though sometimes I can think he is cool or cute with Hachisuka or Mutsu (in Musubi and SRS18), but that’s all. I’m very neutral towards him.

10. The Top 3 actors whom you like best and whose portrayal of their character you like best.

T3 best actors : Sakiyama Tsubasa > Kuroba Mario > Kitazono Ryo

I don’t really know the actors beside Tsubasa and Mario since I read some translations of their blog (thanks to the translators ^-^). Tsubasa is really, really cute, and I love how found he is of TKRB and his own character.

T3 best portrayals : Oota Motohiro (Sengo) > Araki Hirofumi (Nikkari) > Oohira Shunya (Imanotsurugi)

All the actors do a great job, but when I see some moves of them sometimes, I think they worked a lot to understand the character and bring it to life.

11. The Top 3 actors whom you least like and whose portrayal of their character you least like.

There are a lot of actors I don’t know at all, but the only one I can say I’m not sure if I like him or not is Araki Hirofumi. Sometimes, he looks so much like a bad guy ToT But the fact is, I can’t say if I dislike him or not because I don’t know him well and personally, I named him here only considering his appearance.

Then, there is no-one I don’t like the portray in Toumyu. I think all the actors are very good and well chosen for them. Now, it only depends on if we like the character or not.

PS : I’m sorry, Araki-san, to named you here ToT

12. A Touken Danshi character that you would like to see in future musicals ? Why ?

Kasen Kanesada ! I want to see him interacts with his brother, and I think the character suits very well to musicals. The best is Kasen and Shokudaikiri together, of course ^o^ But since Osafune swords appeared in Tousute and Kasen is in Tousute too, I think it’s only a dream 

I would like to see Hotarumaru too, but, again, I think it would be impossible to portray him on stage, because he is a child with an ootachi on his back… Though he is so cute…

Then, I think Kotegiri Gou suits a lot for Toumyu, because he talked about modern sing and dance in his recollection with Kasen.

13. An actor you would like to see in future musicals ? Why ?

Shokudaikiri’s actor in Tousute is a so good singer, I would like he portrays him in Toumyu too ! And with Kasen as well ! If Wada Takuma is a good singer, I’ll take him too, if not, I’m fine with another actor, like they did with Ookurikara and Mikazuki.

14. Favorite in-story Touken Danshi pair/trio/quartet dynamics ? Why ?

Ah, again, it’s really hard choose only one. Here are several ones :

Higekiri/Hizamaru pair. I love their dynamics, how Hige always forget his brother’s name, but sometimes he picks the right one, and how Hiza wants to make his brother proud and be valuable for him. I also love how Hiza is very reliable though he is the young brother and how Hige is a free-wheeler (like a Sanjou !).

Nikkari/Ishikirimaru pair. Of course ! I’m an IshiKari fan, after all. I like their friendship, the fact they are linked to spiritual world. They are really different, but they really like each other. Ishi always thinks to Nikkari, to add him in the dynamics (like in SRS18, when he decided to join him in matsuri battle). I like them a lot ^-^

Mikazuki/Kogitsunemaru pair. Mikazuki is like a king, or a queen, with so much power, and with something like a etheral presence. He seems to be, to live, to watch upon and beyond the world, and that makes him act strangely sometimes. Kogi is like a valet. He watches on Mika in the darkness, behind him, so Mika can’t see it (but he sees it !), and he tries to understand him and watch on what Mika does. They are really different, it’s why Kogi sometimes doesn’t understand Mika and why they fight each other in Tsuwamono. Each time Kogi tries to understand Mika, Mika keeps things in his heart because he is watching to far. I’m waiting for the time he will be honest with Kogi. For me, their relationship is like a fate love ^-^

15. Least favorite in-story Touken Danshi pair/trio/quartet dynamics ? Why ?

Maybe Shinsengumi’s swords ? Kiyomitsu with the Sanjou was really fine, but all the Shinsengumi’s swords was too much for me. I’m not found of this storyline, not found of Nagasone nor Hachisuka (even though I’m able to like him in SRS), not found of Yasusada in Bakumatsu. They are too much versed in fight and in honor, but I’m not mad with it, after all, they are Shinsengumi’s swords.

16. Favourite in-story overall Touken Danshi group dynamics ? Why ?

Sanjou. I like all of them, Imanotsurugi and Iwatooshi’s energy and cheerfulness, Ishikirimaru’s calmness and peaceful personality, KogiMika pair (with Kogi who always calls back Mika, who wants to do what he wants). They look very close, and they always watch upon each other.

And we could add to them Higekiri, since he could have been smithed by Sanjou too, and Hizamaru, since he is his brother. What a lovely group, there ^o^

17. Least favorite in-story overall Touken Danshi group dynamics ? Why ?

Nobunaga’s swords. I’m not found about Nobunaga in TKRB, because there are so much Toudans who speak about him, there are several stage who speak about him, and a movie now. Enough with Nobunaga D: I know, he is one of the most liked historical people in Japan, but there are already too much things about him. Because of that, I don’t really like Nobunaga’s swords dynamics. Though I like Hasebe, Souza, Yagen and the others as well, when they don’t talk about him. When they talk about Nobunaga, it’s like a dramatical dialogue which isn’t really a dialogue because no-one wants to talk about him. Meh.

18. Based on the existing characters in the Musical Touken Ranbu franchise, who would you select to be on your dream Touken Ranbu 6-swords team ?

Nikkari Aoe, Ishikirimaru, Kasen Kanesada, Izuminokami Kanesada, Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, Gokotai.

They aren’t really the strongers of their types but I like them a lot. I can’t pick Kasen without his brother, and Kane without Mutsu (BECAUSE I SHIP THEM). I can’t pick Nikkari without Ishikirimaru (for the same reason), and Gokotai is so cute ^o^

In my dream team, they are all kiwame. Great job, everyone !

19. Favorite Human character ? Why ?

Hashiba Masanobu Sorry, sorry, it’s an OC xD

I don't really have a favorite, but I like Gohei and his story. I wants to learn how to fight in order to be able to protect his sister, but even with that, he couldn't save her. He lost all his family because of war...

20. Favorite overall Human team dynamics ? Why ?

Well, it’s strange, because I don’t like the dynamics of their swords, but my favorite Human team is the Shinsengumi, I think. I like their relationship, how they care about each other, their jokes, etc.

21. Favorite Touken Danshi-Human character dynamics ? Why ?

I really like the relationship between Mikazuki and Yasuhira in Tsuwamono. Mikazuki came a lot to visit him, and he said Yasuhira and him are similar (though I don't understand why). He has a lot of respect for him, and some feelings as well, we can see it when they made their farewells. They are on the verge to cry. I would like a deeper development about them ^-^

22. Least favorite Touken Danshi-Human character dynamics ? Why ?

I don't know at all, I skip.

23. Favorite quote(s) and/or character dialogue from the musicals ?

I think one of the dialogues I like the most is, during Musubi, when Tomoe asks to Horikawa if Retrogrades are swords with no story. Horikawa says he doesn't have to think to this, without really answer the question, and I like that kind of dramatical mindfuck.

24. Quote(s) and/or character dialogue from the game that ou would liked to see adapted in the musicals ?

I would like to see the recollection n°49, when Kotegiri says to Kasen he wants to sing and dance in the modern style. It suits very well to Toumyu, especially during live !

25. What is you overall opinion of the Musical Touken Ranbu franchise ? Has your opinion changed from your first impression ?

I love Toumyu. I like the characters, the stories, the songs. The stories aren't as complex as in Tousute, so the both stage are complementary. The screenplay is always very good, and the fights as well. I like the fact they make concerts every year (SRS) to gather all the characters, it's the best way to enjoy a lot of songs and their dynamics as a group.

My opinion didn't change a lot, I'm just now more into it, and I know well the characters and the stories.

#touken ranbu

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