From long ago, she has been a talented star of four aspects – her glamour on stage, her acting, her singing and her dancing. After transferring troupes, she discovers her otokoyaku image, and is processing to a new phase. (Please read Chinese below the cut, 中文翻譯如下)
It’s been 3 years since her troupe transfer. As we do the interview, she convinces with a smile that “Flower Troupe, is really a good troupe”, and now Towaki Sea-san’s firmly a member of Flower Troupe.
“I can feel that power in the troupe. That the otokoyaku are enjoying themselves as otokoyaku, that the musumeyaku have their details to pay attention to, that there is respect for each other. The underclassmen could showcase themselves without hesitation, and because the upperclassmen can also enjoy this environment similarly, everyone could enjoy themselves on stage. That’s how the gorgeous and bright Flower Troupe atmosphere is created.”
Even though she’s already in a higher class year, with that as a prerequisite, she also says that “I’ve been freely enjoying the stage more than before”.
“I would say the troupe vibe in Flower Troupe is like it’s alright even if you’re not doing good as long as you’re being yourself. So even though if I failed and I’m being teased for that, that’s how I could expose myself without fear. Compared to doing things successfully, I was told that it’s great if you could first feel joy and the fun in performing, so I feel less burdened. In Snow Troupe times, I didn’t have much ability in winking or showing that sexy appeal and since I didn’t seek help much, I would often judge myself. Even though this is ultimately my issue, this was something important that I learnt.”
But at first when she transferred troupes, there were many parts that she felt down and wasn’t familiar with.
“When I transferred troupes, I realised how “small” I was in terms of things I couldn’t do myself. In Snow Troupe, I had friends that I’ve been growing up together with, there were upperclassmen who knew me when I couldn’t do well before, so I felt that I was taken care of by many. But when I came to Flower Troupe, when I didn’t know what kind of musical am I performing with my partner, or what kind of person they are, I starting having decide for myself what I’m good at, what kind of style do I like, what do I want to present. So slowly that’s how I built this trust relationship with others, and in this year (2022) while starring in the performance “Paris in the Winter Fog”, I could finally establish my stance to be a Flower Troupe member.”
From long ago, “I’m someone that looks at everyone around me and think of my stance and how it fits into the balance of everyone.”
“I was influenced by Sagiri-san (Sagiri Seina, former Snow Troupe Top Star) who helped me a lot in my newcomers’ performances. Sagiri-san is more serious than anyone on stage, rather than asking others to follow her, she’s someone that stands with everyone on the starting line. I think that is absolutely fantastic. While starring in “Paris in the Winter Fog”, it’s necessary to express what I hope to present with the direction of the musical and my thoughts first. But since the stage performance cannot be done by one alone, ultimately it’s me putting all our favourite ideas and creating them together. And for that, I won’t forget to be thankful.”
“Paris in the Winter Fog” talks about an adolescent who silently awaits for the opportunity of revenge. In the previous Grand Theatre performance “Years of Pilgrimage”, she plays George Sand, the lover of the protagonist played by Yuzuka-san. She’s played many mature roles on stage but during the interview, Towaki-san was always laughing a lot, giving a bubbly, cheerful image.
“I guess that’s how I am (LOL). But in the musical, I really love how bewitching that desolate atmosphere (in “Paris in the Winter Fog”) feels like. When I’m on stage, I turn on that (acting) switch and I also enjoy having that gap for myself. You could say that’s being precise...but I think it’s also through listening to the words of the director, thinking about how to play the role in theory, and I continue to face this challenge in rehearsal and pursue the role that I should be playing.”
Now when asked about what kind of role or scene she wants to perform in, she immediately replies “Dancing in suits, and being in extremely dashing scenes.”
“I was an onnayaku in the previous Grand Theatre performance so I though I didn’t do enough otokoyaku then (LOL). Otokoyaku is a unique existence that’s neither female nor male, and you can’t do it again if you’re not in Takarazuka anymore. Since there’s limited time for me to (be otokoyaku), I hope to have fun and make use of the time. It’s my ideal to be an otokoyaku encapsulating the smart and classic Takarazuka traits, and become most fitting in a black swallowtail coat.”
The current Grand Theatre performance “MAYERLING” is a classical work of the works in Takarazuka performed for many times.
“That alone already makes it a fantastic performance. The lines in Shibata (Yukirou)-sensei’s works are so beautiful and the more you act into the role, the deeper it becomes. I hope to have fun enjoying this process.”
Towaki Sea. Born in Tokyo. Entered Takarazuka Revue in 2011, assigned to Snow Troupe, had her first newcomers’ performance lead for 2015 “Lupin the Third”. Later on, she starred in 4 lead performances for the newcomers’ performances. She starred in “PRxPRince” in 2019 and transferred to Flower Troupe then. She starred in “Paris in the Winter Fog” in 2022.
I was rewatching the Takarazuka play and I decided to record it through my phone so the video is a little funky and subs wedge.
This is the original and complete version of the Kamiya Kasshin song, I like the version better as Kaoru is teaching both Kenshin and Yahiko the kamiya kashhin technique. Also, I really like the ending when Kaoru said, ”never”! hahaha
In the new kyoto musical play, it was very short and it was Sano instead of Kenshin who was with Kaoru and Yahiko. Still, love the version as well, it’s just different.
Sagiri Seina as Kenshin and Miyu Sakihi as Kaoru. Miyu is so adorable and lovely!
anyway, enjoy this version! The subs were done by the Karyudoo group which was available at that time for anyone to use.
The Tokyo production opened on July 8, 2022, using the new format of the show where the two-part play was condensed into one. Differently from other productions, the Tokyo show double (or triple!) casted some characters
Tatsuya Fujiwara, Kanji Ishimaru and Osamu Mukai as Harry Potter
Aoi Nakabeppu and Seina Sagiri as Hermione Granger
Finally I watched Takarazuka Rurouni Kenshin musical. The ladies are amazing and I like it. If watched it before I watched Kyoto stage play musical I surely would say that it was the best adaption. My opinion kinda biased right now because of Kyoto stage play .
Some main poin that I like from Takarazuka:
+ music score really good, interesting
+ love the one who play saito
+Seina Sagiri kenshin is goofy
+miyu kaoru really sound like kaoru
+ really love Saito. Love the smirk
+Aaah I can't believe I like Kanryu too
+Tho the storyline kinda different I still like it
I just wish they still add Udo Jineh in the storyline, but I still love the original character in this version.
Overall everything is really really good. Kudos for Koike Shuichiro sensei who’s writing and directing both Takarazuka and Kyoto stage play musical. He really know how to bring Rurouni Kenshin into live.
Compared with live action the stage play much better in characterization and storyline (except the first movie, Rurouni Kenshin: Origin, it has good writing). For now, my favourite is still Kyoto arc stage musical.
And because Koike Shuichiro sensei excecuted Tokyo arc and Kyoto arc very very well… Is it okay to put hope and manifesting well adapted Jinchuu arc?
thank you for the tag jack my boy. this is gonna be a weird top 5 because i'm big into a couple musical hyperfixations rn and most of these are just audio clipped from videos
hi bully - 터치드 TOUCHED
kidd - 새소년 SE SO NEON
the current king of masked singer covering the death note ost in episode 439 who is definitely not jo yunmin from TOUCHED
el amor from specifically takarazuka's 2015 sorrowful cordoba, sung by sagiri seina, sakihi miyu, hoshino anri, and nozomi fuuto
this one goes out to you @psychic-waffles, i also have die schatten werden langer on here but i clipped mine from a video of the 2014 elisabeth performance so it's sung by asumi rio and serika toa
i don't know who of my friends has already been tagged in this so if you haven't this one goes out to you