#fujingaho

[yuzukahibiscus]

Jewels of Takarazuka – Yuzuka Rei-san [Flower Troupe] (from Fujingaho May Issue)

This series documents the words of Takarazuka Top Stars, and their strength of living in the current age and Yuzuka Rei of Flower Troupe appears on this month’s issue.  Like a king that shines ever brightly on stage, Yuzuka-san appears on the photoshoot scene and we compliment her for having a flawless beauty like a deer in the wild. Then when she’s standing in front of the camera now, it seems like some kind of story is about to begin… Yuzuka-san speaks with carefully woven words and with a soft voice, talks about what she is thinking now.

Even if the acting is decided already every day, I just love presenting a new vibe to it

The one we admire in Shoujo Manga, the piano magician with fervent fans, the Broadway Star Dancer. With her gorgeous visual and delicate acting, Yuzuka-san brings such beautiful characters you couldn’t see in reality to life. If you watch her stage performances, you’d see that the world of dreams is here now……That’s what I firmly believe. When we interviewed Yuzuka-san, she was challenging to perform the famous work in Takarazuka Revue, the renowned musical of “MAYERLING”. It is about the tragic love story between Austria Crown Prince Rudolf and his lover Mary Vetsera. Yuzuka-san used to express it uniquely, “I don’t want [my performance] to look like it was cultivated artificially but to deliver one that is naturally moving”, so how did she feel when she was working on this famous musical?

“I’ve said that, haven’t I (LOL). I really like fresh air. So in the world that I’m portraying, even though we’d be doing the same things every day… That’s quite the opposite of what I said [about natural acting] (LOL). But even if we’re doing the same things every day, those first encounters and experiences are different every time. In contrast, even though it may be the first time I’m seeing some audience, I can feel that they’re the important people who’ve always known me… Performers and the audience can create some feelings and reactions together that not even we can imagine, and that’s something that I always find enjoyable. The premiere of this performance was 40 years ago. Even though there’s a little change in direction, the prologue song and the choreography was similar to how it was back then. I’d act according to what I understand from the whole setup of the musical. I won’t think about what I think is correct, instead I’ll continue to question my interpretation and delve into it more to act while thinking about it.”

In this musical with such intensity, you’d have to build up so much strength for the ending…

“Amidst the intensity and while continuing to maintain focused, there’s a unique kind of energy in musicals, surprisingly I’m not too overwhelmed by that. But while that builds up and accumulates densely, I think it’s difficult to overcome the “gap” or that “space” when [the tension] couldn’t build up well. Or maybe I should say, that it feels like those Jenga building blocks…… But the concentration the audience have for this musical is higher than before, so I felt that they also helped us create this ambience for us together.”

I want to walk a path that won’t feel like I’m betraying myself

This is perhaps the charm that’s only unique in live performances.

But in these 3 years, the previous situation was still unstable and as a leader she led the troupe to overcome very tough circumstances.

“I really thought that while I’ve been learning, I’ve already walked this far. Even in the same scenarios, I’ve come to learn that depending on people’s circumstances, there would be different feelings and the way we approach things also change. I know that it’s not good to just evaluate things while thinking only of ourselves. If everything was successful, I think it might be difficult to have the experience where everyone aims at “facing wholeheartedly towards stage performances” together…… so I thought I acquired a lot [during this time.] Whatever something happens, I want to be the person that people can trust in. Even if I covered it up, only I would know how I have dealt with that problem. Sometimes I may not know if I’ve made a wrong decision, and I won’t even know if that would be the best decision for that time, yet there must be something that I could learn from in failure. That’s why, I’ve decided not to do things that would make me lose confidence in myself. I often say be confident in yourself, but it’s difficult to believe in yourself without evidence. “Trust” might be a slightly different word, but I don’t try to deceive myself, instead I worked hard for it desperately… I wish I could feel that way without any hesitation,  and I would want to say that my underclassmen self when I was still trying to find that confidence.”

That delicate and soft feeling may be different from what she said a few years ago about “wanting to face my weaknesses earnestly”. 

“When we act, we think about humans, but it’s difficult to comment on whether they’re strong and weak. If they’re “weak”, they may seem negative at first glance, but they also may be someone that has great observation, a profound imagination,  and that they sincerely care only for a particular something. So “strengths” and “weaknesses” are two sides of a coin. If one believes too much that “I am strong”, that may instead lead to this pushing force that overwhelms oneself. So I’d say, it’s fine to be weak. Because humans are not born to be perfect. Rest a little, recover yourself, find your strategy to face your next task. When you find that strategy, if someone else has troubles, you could then help them. When I was playing as Rudolf, I really felt how greatly people impact others. That’s probably why I have such thought.”

Embracing her internal weaknesses with that resilient strength bestows her with the persuasion capacity on stage. Perhaps the Flower Troupe stage performances she lead will continue to shine radiantly.

MY JEWEL ~The jewel of the heart~

This is a photo of my nephew and my dog. “Even though they don’t always meet, but when they do, they’d always take a walk. My dog loves my nephew and is always smiling. My nephew leads the dog carefully like an adult when they walk together and I can slowly feel his growth. Now as I’m playing as Rudolf, I’d have to say, “Because of everyone’s great love, I have also progressed and grown.”

ON STAGE...

“ENCHANTEMENT –A Luxurious Perfume–” is a stylish  revue with perfume as the theme. This is a Takarazuka-styled revue wound in the gorgeous world of black tailcoats, silk hat and cane. Apart from singing and dancing, you could see her sometimes chic and sometimes sexy, that you couldn’t miss her out in any instant.

Next stage: Musical Romance “A Battlefield for the Two of Us” (Author/Director: Masatsuka Haruhiko)

In a stage of a fictitious federation formed by numerous autonomous states, this is about a young military officer with burning passions and how he struggles between the gap of the country and the individual, portraying his story of an “unacceptable” love and great friendship. Yuzuka-san says, “It’s very interesting learning from the rehearsal of Masatsuka (Hirohiko)-sensei’s musical. “War” is still sometimes that is relevant to us in this age, so I will cherish the importance of performing this production and do my best to create this production.”

[fuckyeahmeikokaji]

Meiko Kaji (梶芽衣子) and another model, not sure what her name is. The text on the image describes the outfit, but doesn't name her.

Scanned from Fujingaho (婦人画報), January 1972.

[abdulraveman]

Kishi Yuta

TV Station vol. 85 2023

Fujingaho September 2023

[tokiotours]

The 30th of December marks the end of the working calendar for maiko and geiko. On New Years Eve some geiko and maiko will return to their hometowns to celebrate the New Year. Those who stay participate in 'Okotousan', an event where maigeiko san will walk around the neighbourhood and greet neighbours saying "okotousandosu" meaning it has been busy. They are given large pink and white balls made of dried mochi called 'fukudama' with gifts and lucky charms inside. It is a fun tradition in the kagai 🎍 👤: Junior maiko Satsuki 📸: fujingaho #traditions #traditional #funfacts #funfactfriday #facts #factsdaily #didyouknowthat #didyouknowthis #japan #kyoto #kimono #geisha #maiko #geiko #mochi #japaneseculture #japanesetradition #kioto #asia #azië #reizen #japansecultuur #wistjedat #feiten #traveler #travel #tourguide #japanguide #gids #travelguide (at Kyoto, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmz_CiWKpyH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jailhouse41]

Ayako Wakao (若尾文子) on the cover of the Autumn 1975 issue of Fujingaho (婦人画報).

Scanned by me.

[flapper-dai]

 Fujingaho Magazine April 2018 issue (x)(x)

[appleandroses]

タルトタタンサンド じっくり焼き上げた紅玉のタルトタタンをクッキーでサンドした当店発、新感覚のスイーツ、タルトタタンサンド。 ローストしたクルミをサンドしたクルミタタンサンドと2種類のお味を楽しんでいただけます。 紅茶以外にもおすすめなのが、ブランデーやウイスキーとの相性も抜群で男性にも愉しんで頂けるお菓子です。 和のテイストを取り入れたパッケージはご贈答にもオススメです。 #アップルアンドローゼス #アップルアンドローゼスカンパニージャパン #タルトタタン #タルトタタンサンド #紅玉りんご #紅玉 #クッキーサンド #婦人画報 #婦人画報のお取り寄せ #お歳暮 #お年賀 #スイーツ部 #appleandroses #appleandrosescompanyjapan #tart tatin sand #fujingaho #giftitems (apple&roses) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHTbiUGgBW1/?igshid=16bk8ejaztn8v

[eldestinc]

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【 雑誌掲載 】

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FUJINGAHO, 2020, 7月号,

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- quartierglam ( カルチェグラム )

LINE DETAILE SANDALS / WHITE / 24,000 YEN

INTRECCIATO SLIPPER / CREAM / 29,000 YEN

KIKKOU MESH V CUT FALT PUMPS / 22,000 YEN

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- TAH ( タア )

bao hat with ribbon / white / 19,000 YEN

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[crowdedmetro]

[nanoka12]

Notte Stellata || Exhibition Gala, PyeongChang Olympics 2018

[royal-hair]

Picture of Princess Takamado for Fujingaho magazine on its 10th anniversary.

[yuzukahibiscus]

Jewels of Takarazuka – Serika Toa-san [Cosmos Troupe] (from Fujingaho August Issue)

"I realise that I'm colourlessly transparent in nature that I haven't changed much."

This series documents the powerful words of Takarazuka Top Stars that give courage. The new Cosmos Troupe Top Star Serika Toa-san appears on this month's issue. No matter what kind of profound roles that she plays, Serika-san always gives a feeling of a "dominant immaculacy". If you look at her and things surrounding her, you'd realise that she has been walking forward without hesitation and her accumulative experiences have reflected this complex but beautiful radiance, which we now want to know more about what she is thinking about.

(Note: Happy Shonichi for Serika-san's "Xcalibur"! This is her first performance as a Top Star, and it's worth the celebration of a translation:D)

“I am colourlessly transparent”. I remembered being a little shocked when I heard Serika-san’s words from before. Because Takarasiennes always do their best to showcase their respective strong styles…

3 years has passed since then, and now she has become Top Star, I wonder if there have been any changes?

“I’m not sure if there were any changes. But my position before was that I was able to play many interesting roles. It really was a good experience that I got to play a wide range of roles.”

So among those, what was the most ambitious role that you’ve taken on?

“I would say Rocky from “HIGH AND LOW” was quite difficult. It was very hard of Kuroki Keiji-san to play [Rocky] with that impression, and later knowing that [HIGH AND LOW] was going to be staged as a musical, there was difficulty that Takarazuka Revue is going to be performing this. [Such as thinking Rocky]’s going to be singing…? Finally, I wanted to mix a little of Kuroki-san’s vibes of Rocky [into my portrayal] and aimed to adjust my mindset to perform as such on the stage.”

What lies at the heart of Serika-san’s approach to portray these characters?

“I would make myself aware with how these roles would ultimately end up as. After figuring our their final destination and the “present” [of the plot], then I dive deeper from there. When there’s a goal and the present [starting line], then my approach is that I’ll delve deeper into whatever is in between the two.”

Would that also be a way of thinking that can be used not just for approaching your characters?

“I’d say so. When I think about my objective, and the current situation that I’m in, I will go deeper into that gap in between…For instance, if I couldn’t turn well in my dance, I would think whether there was something wrong with my posture. When I realise my situation, then the image of the solution will appear itself. The key is how to focus on yourself. No matter what you do, knowing about yourself is the best shortcut of growing up and improving. And the many failures will be the times when you know more about yourself. Looking back on the failures, it’s shock after shock after shock... You definitely want to evade [from those failures]. But you can’t escape from them by chance and each time you’d have to think logically… and that’s the approach that made me arrive at this point.”

Behind that sparkling smile as she talks, she looks back to the failures and realises these experiences that have accumulated solidly. But those times had been difficult… I wonder what she would be thinking during these times?

“When there were times that I couldn’t help myself, there is a great presence [of support] from everyone in the troupe after all. There were many times that I thought we could overcome this because we’re all in this together. I believed that my roles and lines exist for partners [that act alongside me]. For example, if I have to portray an amazing role, it is by the strength of surrounding factors that could show how amazing the role is. So for that, everyone and I must be careful with showing it. This [cooperation] is the culture of Takarazuka Revue, and also the responsibility of an upperclassman. When [the cooperation] is being executed, you can feel from everyone [that they are working on it together].

When she was transferred to Cosmos Troupe [in 2018], I thought how Serika-san used to say it was difficult to guide her juniors but for Serika-san now, she felt a great change in herself from that.

“After all, when we communicate daily, I got to know how this person is like from their ways of thinking in this process. It has been a while since I transferred into Cosmos Troupe and I’ve been feeling great changes since then. Of course, this is also for the change in position. Our great troupe leader (kumichou) Susshi-san (Kotobuki Tsukasa) and [previous] Top Star Makaze (Suzuho)-san graduated, and I’ll have to think of how to lead the whole troupe. But when I give advice to my partners, or when I look back on how I console [people] from their troubles, in the end that was the greatest I’ve seen in my growth.”

From there, Serika-san’s Cosmos Troupe begins. What are your hopes for the reliant Cosmos Troupe members?

“Everyone in Cosmos Troupe is very serious and are very skilled. But even we enjoy being fun and unserious every day, we try not to do that on stage…I hope to support everyone and adding colour to the sophisticated Cosmos Troupe members is one of my missions.”

Her [Top Star] debut performance will be “Xcalibur”. This will be Japan’s premiere of this Korean musical with the songs composed by Frank Wildhorn.

“Korean musicals have an image of [encompassing superb songs]. For this performance as well, the volume and textures of Mr Wildhorn’s songs are fantastic. It takes the strength to sing Mr Wildhorn’s songs but it’s great to sing them. Besides, some songs delicately touch the heart and you could feel the softness of the piano melody. When creating this performance, the songs help me expand the imagination on how to portray my role, so I am looking forward to other hints that this musical would provide.”

Even with a condensed career, she has this immaculacy and transparency that never fades, and from there she continues to solidly accumulate her honed skills and mentality… Along with the struggles [that may rise], we look forward to how Serika-san’s energy will radiate.

MY JEWEL ~The jewel of the heart~

When talking about her teacup poodle Candy-chan (on the right), Serika-san’s face melts away in happiness.

“I love her dearly because I thought that I should work harder every day for her… Since she came to our house, I never wanted her to hate this place, or fear this place. When I ask “are you gong to sleep?”, her fixed position is [sleeping] on my lap… She’s just a princess.”

On the left is her chiwawa Purin-chan from her family home.

ON STAGE…

This is from the finale of “Casino Royale~My Name is Bond”.  Serika-san played an antagonistic role of Le Chiffre, but in the finale she showed a bright smile and appeared almost like a “Prince Highness”. This costume with a tight collar is matched in noble elegance. 

Cosmos Troupe performance: Musical “Xcalibur” (Adaptation and Direction by Inaba Daichi)

The Korean production company EMK Musical created numerous works such as  “Mata Hari”, “The Man Who Laughs” and they collaborated with the outstanding creator Frank Wildhorn for this gigantic musical. Ever since the premiere in 2019, this has been a topical performance with over 32 thousand audiences in Korea.

[fuckyeahmeikokaji]

Meiko Kaji (梶芽衣子) on the cover of the November 1994 issue of Fujingaho (婦人画報).

[mermaidinthecity]

Hearst Fujingaho Beauty Festival in Tokyo - October 10, 2016

[jirotateno]

「お知らせ」 婦人画報4月号の特集『桜旅』を担当させて頂きました。 作家の方々の素敵な言葉とともに、桜スポットを紹介しています。 是非ご覧くださいませ。 3月1日発売。 https://www.hearst.co.jp/brands/fujingaho https://www.instagram.com/p/B9OsHVbDjRO/?igshid=sy87hpougll0

[tohoku-youth-orchestra]

メディア掲載記事のご紹介

3月の公演のチケット発売に合わせ、複数メディアでTYOの記事が掲載されました。

■朝日新聞デジタル（2020年1月30日）

12月、福島での合同練習会にて行われた坂本監督のインタビュー記事です。

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASN1Y4WTYN1WUCVL005.html?ref=amp_login

※ 朝日新聞デジタル有料会員限定記事

■福島民報（2020年2月2日）

坂本監督や栁澤先生、団員のインタビューなどを見開きで大きく掲載頂いております。

■婦人画報（2020年3月号）

昨年の3月公演や夏合宿、12月の合同練習会、熊本公演の様子などを、全12ページの特集でご紹介頂いております。

https://www.hearst.co.jp/brands/fujingaho/