New song on Youtube NOWWW!!
Love it. First band song since 2018. The one before was ここに which is also inspiring and fresh. This time, there was still the youthfulness spirit and same time matches the matureness they are.
(Correction here, ここに was released after they became 6, after that the song “Crystal” is also perform in band style.)
Hug your dreams whatever your age is. Hug yourself which-ever right or wrong way that dream had become. Love yourself for becoming who you wanna be, or if you cannot be that someone you hope you are. There could always be a new starting line, and you were never “haven nothing done” coming to this point now.
The music video is a work well done. The color and the light. The right among of shadow just a perfect balance resemble real life where hopes and disappointment are daily matters. It would be too bright and up and just too positive if they where bask in sunlight the whole video. Blue also sends feeling of both youth/energetic and sadness/stableness .
I think that blue was the theme color of this year celebrating their 18th anniversary? I have seen it as a theme on other project related to anniversary.
For me, again, I am most inspire by Yokoyama, he learned guitar when he was 39 years old, when one more member left the group and it became difficult for them to perform as a band.
Age is just a number << was written in the lyrics.
Also from the first single they release after they become 5 people, 友よ (Tomo yo) there was one lyric say, “ It was only a number on the page, it is stupid to judge people by that only. ”
"ME AND MY GIRL" Kassai (喝采) Feature with Minami Maito, Akatsuki Chisei and Maisora Hitomi
One of the best and popular musicals in Takarazuka Revue "ME AND MY GIRL" is going to be restaged in Hakataza. We meet Minami Maito-san and Akatsuki Chisei-san – who will swap between the protagonist Bill and the mature man Sir John – and Maisora Hitomi-san, who will play the heroine Sally, and they talk enthusiastically on their memories for the performance.
Musical: ME AND MY GIRL – A great hit musical loved globally! The romantic comedy masterpiece will appear in Hakataza!
Highlights
Premiered in London in 1937 and as a long running musical performed for 1646 times, Takarazuka Revue has its Moon Troupe premiere in 1987, with Tsurugi Miyuki as the centre and the performance received great acclaim. Later, this became a popular production after many restages. Setting stage at 1930s London, William (Bill) is a young man brought up in the villages and the next heir to the Earldom of Hareford. This is the story of how Bill grew as a proper gentleman, and the romantic comedy masterpiece between him and his lover, Sally. In this Hakataza performance, Minami Maito and Akatsuki Chisei will challenge switch roles for the character Bill, and together with Maisora Hitomi who plays as Sally, we will present to you this heartful musical that is filled with famous songs.
Storyline
It is 1930s London. Due to the passing of the Earl of Hareford, his younger sister, Duchess Maria is administering his household's affairs. In his will, the Earl made his only son his heir, but that son is the late Earl's illegitimate child whose whereabouts have been unknown for many years now. So, they try to find the young man who lives in Lambeth, a district of central London and summons him.
The heir who appears before them is an ill-mannered Cockney speaking young man. The astonished Duchess decides to have the young man educated in etiquette so he will not be an embarrassment to the dignified House of Hareford as its heir.
Bill, however, has a lover named Sally. At first Sally is honestly delighted to join the Hareford family with Bill, but the more she learns about the situation, the more she comes to believe she should distance herself from Bill so as not to ruin this golden opportunity for him.
Then comes the day that the Earl of Hareford plans a party to reveal the news of succeeding the heir. The family are concerned as to how Bill will make known to everyone. But, Sally didn't tell Bill in detail and brought along her friends from Lambeth along. How would the couple's love story continue...
(Omitting the journalist review on this coverage)
This spring, Minami-san transferred from Flower Troupe to Senka and is gong to perform with Star Troupe Top Musumeyaku Maisora-san and Star Troupe Otokoyaku star Akatsuki-san for the first time, so how are you feeling right now?
Minami: I've worked with Maisora before in Flower Troupe a few yeasr back, and it was a short period but of fulfilling days. Working together again is something I've never thought before in my dream, but it is my honour.
Maisora: It is my honour [to perform with you too]. I've performed in "Senhor CRUZEIRO!", Minami-san's Takarazuka Bow Hall lead performance and I asked for her help a lot. I still remember precisely what happened before.
Akatsuki: Ever since I knew that Minami-san went to Senka, because I've always wanted to perform with her together so I was very happy that my wish could be fulfilled so quickly. Even when she's just beside me, you can see how beautiful her side profile is.... I am nervous (LOL).
Akatsuki-san performed "The Kawagiri Bridge" "Dream Chaser" in Hakataza 2 years ago and will be performing the second time in Hakataza. This will be Minami-san and Maisora-san's first time performing in Hakataza.
Maisora: I've been to Hakataza to watch musicals before, and I remember that I was most fascinated by how dominant and grand the theatre exterior was.
Minami: That's true, I was also surprised that when I went to watch musicals. Since performing in Hakataza was my dream, I was really delighted.
Akatsuki: There were many souvenir booths next to the lobby in Hakataza, I remember how fun it was because the setup was like a fair and I will also look forward to that this time.
Even though the premiere of "ME AND MY GIRL" by Moon Troupe was in 1987 and that there were many restages since then, this was the first time Star Troupe will play it. And it has been 10 years since Star Troupe has had a Hakataza performance.
Minami: I can see Star Troupe having a bright, powerful, athletic image. So I'd think for a comedy like "ME AND MY GIRL" that they would do great, right!?
Maisora: Star Troupe recently doesn't have many comedy performances... But for "1789 – The Lovers of Bastille" this time, we have presented [a performance] where the characters all have vibrant styles and there are great numbers (scenes), so from there you can really see the Star Troupe power is thriving.
There are certainly many great numbers in this performance. We wonder what kind of chemical reactions would happen with Minami-san in this performance.
Minami: Yes, I wonder how it would be like!?
Akatsuki, Maisora: We are looking forward!
Minami-san has played "ME AND MY GIRL" Flower Troupe Grand Theatre performance in 2016 and had a role swap apart from playing the aristocrat Gerard. Could you tell us about some episodes of that time, or the charm of this performance?
Minami: Apart from myself, other performers also had great role swaps, so the rehearsals are more difficult than ever, and I remember rehearsing a lot for the opening scene in Act 1 at the house. It is a scene where it progresses with many people talking to each other, Miki Akio-sensei (Script/Direction) gave many detailed instructions in the direction. It's also much thanks to the gorgeous and bright nature of this performance, that the rehearsal classrooms were never tire of laughter.
Maisora: The rehearsal classroom was full of happy vibes.
Minami: Yes, the rehearsal classroom was full of happiness (LOL). And from Asumi Rio-san's role Bill, I got to learn a lot about how to approach a role while staying close to her. No matter when you watch this, this is always a happy and charming production. This is a bright and wonderful production, where the characters care and think of each other, and that it is overflowing with love, and you could feel the deep warmth of humans.
Akatsuki-san has performed in "ME AND MY GIRL" in the Moon Troupe Umeda Main Arts Hall Performance in 2013 when you entered the Revue in your 2nd year. For Maisora-san, this is your first time performing in "ME AND MY GIRL".
Akatsuki: Even though I have participated in various of these dance numbers before, when I watch the performance, it felt different and difficult that the choreography had so many lift turns, so I really struggled a lot. I've thought that if I became even more upperclassmen to perform this, I will be able to delve into this performance deeper, so I'm really happy that I could be perform in this performance.
Maisora: Many seniors have performed this show, and it is among the many famous musicals of Takarazuka, so I'm really blessed to be able to perform in this. When I was still a fan, I binge-watched Amami Yuuki-san's "ME AND MY GIRL" so many times, that I would dance to the "Lambeth Walk" to it. (LOL).
"Lambeth Walk" is the last numer in the first act, and is a dance number that especially heats up the tension of the musical. This is a stage set in the 1930s London and it was a time when people were really conscious of their statuses in class, so this is a scene where we could see the border transcended between the aristocrats and the people living downtown, and they were able and everyone could dance and have fun.
Minami: "Lambeth Walk" is aw wonderful song that once you hear of it, it can never get out of your head. When it was decided that I would be performing in this musical, this song started playing in my head, so at home I was in the state of "Lambeth Walk" alone (LOL).
Akatsuki: I get it, it just can't be stopped (LOL). For me, I like the "Leaning on a Lamppost" number. I was able to see Tsurugi Miyuki-san sing the song in an event 2 years ago, and I learnt about how Bill wants to convey his thoughts in this song, and I was moved. In the Moon Troupe performance that I was part in, I was dancing as the shadow lovers at the back, I once again think how amazing this song was.
Maisora: When speaking of dance, there's a lot of tap dance.
Minami: "That's right. There's the tap dance, Bill's hat trick and a lot of essential, technical details, so I'm very excited by it. Bill and Sally will dance on top of the long table, and I really like that continuous, cute scene. It's as if they were pretending to be little children there.
How cute can Billy and Sally be, right?
Maisora: They're cute!!
Minami: They're so lovely (LOL).
This time Minami-san and Akatsuki-san will have role swaps playing William Snibson (Bill) who will succeed the Hareford household, and Sir John, the guardian as instructed by the will of the previous heir and he who looks over Bill and Sally. This is the first time for both of them to have role swaps of these characters.
Akatsuki: Bill has a playful side, and is so devoted in love with Sally and once again I think how cool of a man he is. When I was a fan, I obviously saw the comedic parts of this musical, but when I watched this performance while thinking of Bill's perspective, I really think he's an amazing man, and I especially focus on that to play his role. The dandy Sir John is the role that will be challenging to me. But Sir John have some small parts that are similar to Bill, so I hope to deepen those parts when I am working on the role swaps.
Minami: I think it's because Sir John and Bill are quite similar that they pair off very well, so there are definitely similarities they share. As Akatsuki said, Bill's charm is definitely no matter what you say to him, he will still be devoted to love Sally. I want to emphaszie that point, and also even though he's brought up in the downtown Lambeth, I shouldn't forget that he also has that aristocrat blood flowing inside him. No matter how you say it, he's still a charming guy, everyone around him will eventually accept him in the end. I think this amazing personality also rings true in Sir John.
Maisora-san plays as Bill's lover Sally Smith, what do you think is her charm?
Maisora: She's someone with a bright "Sun" side, but there are also worries in her heart, because she's always thinking of Bill, her actions and behaviour show to me that after all Sally is someone that is full of empathy and relatable to others. People around her want to help her, and I thought it would be great if you could see that under her smile, there's something so relatable, and I will do my best to showcase that.
To Minami-san and Akatsuki-san, what do you think makes Maisora-san a compatible Sally?
Minami: I think it's how she's bright and gorgeous, how she's committed as a woman and that makes her fitting as Sally!
Akatsuki: I think she really suits that red dress and the beret she's wearing, Naco-chan (Maisora)'s bright smile, and within that you can see she has a strong heart, so that really fits Sally.
Maisora: Thank you (blushes).
Minami: After being Star Troupe's Top Musumeyaku, Maisora continues to unveil each and every side of hers, so I'm looking forward to how she can inspire me with much candor and honesty, and would like to work hard with her together. It's because [Bill]'s with Sally that they could nurture this love, so I'd look forward to creating that in the acting together.
Akatsuki: This is also my first time acting and paired up with the resilient Naco-chan, so I hope that we could talk more about it and aim high for the performance.
Maisora: Even though I'm playing the same role, but I will be having different kinds of chemistry with these two, so while feeling how each day would differ in that time on that day, I will do my best to embody as the Sally in this "ME AND MY GIRL" world.
For the story this time, there is a finale, and that's something unique to Takarazuka Revue on the glamorous stage. Since it's been 2 years since Takarazuka Revue came to Hakataza for performance, finally please tell us your goals towards this performance.
Maisora: This is a very valuable opportunity, so I'm substituted by the strength of "I must do my best!". Takarazuka performances are always full of love, but I feel this performance are contained with of various forms of love. I hope that I could deliver this love and happy brightness of this performance to all the audiences of Hakataza, and I will work on this role delicately.
Akatsuki: Two years ago in the Moon Troupe Hakataza performance, there may be people who found it difficult to come to Hakataza to watch us, but this time I thought this time the audience "could be able to come to Hakataza" so I'm looking forward. Also, I could feel this unique aura from Minami-san who was from Flower troupe, so of course I am excited to act, but also to dance alongside with her. I'll do my best and cherish this ambience that only the three of us could create.
Minami: There have been various performances performed in Hakataza, and I've also seen non-Takarazuka performances here before, and felt that I learnt a lot and was very touched by the experiences. Takarazuka stages surely have that "I watched Takarazuka!!" kind of charm. After all, it's Takarazuka where you could see your "dreams". So with that, we're now going to performance this famous musical in Hakataza. With that, I want to fully use my 5 senses, and enjoy every day while being inspired by Star Troupe membersin the rehearsal classroom, and grow. Also I would be very happy if the audience could feel the depths of this story and feel the happiness brought by this performance. I am grateful for this opportunity, and I will work hard for this.