English Title: A Morning Breeze: The Challenge of Jiro Shirasu, the Samurai Gentleman / Passion - A Journey of Love
Japanese Title: 黎明（れいめい）の風 －侍ジェントルマン　白洲次郎の挑戦－ / Passion　愛の旅
Romanized Title: Reimei no Kaze - Samurai Gentleman, Shirasu Jirou no Chousen / Passion - Ai no Tabi

Troupe: Cosmos
Year: 2008
Performances: Takarazuka, 2/08 - 3/17; Tokyo, 4/4 - 5/18
Shinjin Kouen Performances: Takarazuka, 2/26; Tokyo, 4/15

A Morning Breeze

Based On: the life of Shirasu Jirou
Author/Director: Ishida Masaya
Music: Nishimura Kouji
Choreography: Ai Erina
Shinjin Kouen Director: Kodama Akiko

Passion

Author/Director: Sakai Sumio
Music: Yoshida Yuuko, Kuratomi Shinichi, Tama Shouichi
Choreography: Hayama Kiyomi, Miori Yumino, Wakao Risa, KAZUMI-BOY


Available on DVD: Yes (release date 05/09/08)
DVD Scene/Music Cut: None

Role	Cast	Shinjin Kouen Cast
Shirasu Jiro (Director of Central Liaison Office (CLO) who worked hard for Japan's postwar rehabilitation)	Todoroki Yuu	Houshou Dai
Douglas MacArthur (Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers who ruled Japan under occupation)	Yamato Yuuga	Hasumi Yuuya
Shirasu Masako (Count Aisuke Kabayama's daughter who married Jiro and was active as a novelist and essayist)	Kazune Miou *	Hanakage Arisu
Tatsumi Eiji (CLO's staff, an ex-army officer of the Japanese Imperial Army who was pro-British and American)	Ranju Tomu	Nagina Ruumi
Colonel Breston (Pro-Japanese US Army officer working for the Government Section of the Occupation headquarters)	Hokushou Kairi	Sumiki Sayato
Yoshida Shigeru (Diplomat and statesman who served as ambassador to the United Kingdom; minister of Foreign Affairs; was later elected prime minister)	Natori Rei	Harukaze Misato
Kondou Fumio (Retiring governmental official)	Misato Maya	Nanami Hiroki
Robin (Robert Cecil Bying, 7th Earl of Strafford; Jiro's friend)	Kotobuki Tsukasa	Asane Satsuto
Lieutenant Colonel Gruber (Anti-Japanese US Army officer working for the Government Section)	Yuumi Hiro	Akatsuki Gou
Jean (MacArthur's wife)	Miwa Asahi	Sumireno Rei
Major Russell (US Army officer working for the Government Section)	Toki Irisu	Amaki Tonika
Uchida Tomohiko (CLO's official; served as secretary of the political leader Konoe Fumimaro)	Nanaho Hikaru	Houju Ichi
Yoshida Kazuko (Shigeru Yoshida's daughter; acted as his first lady during his years as a widower	Fujisaki Eri *	Aihana Chisaki
Satomura Kiku (Masako's maid)	Suzuna Saya	Hanatsuyu Sumika
Ah Chu (MacArthur's maid)	Ayazono Yuki	Ayane Raira
Tokyo Rose	Mikaze Maira	Fujisaki Eri
Trebenko	Amou Tamaki	Tsukie Juma
Kumazawa Tennou	Natsu Hiromi	Tenrei Mion
Mutou Hayata	Kazari Jin	Kashou Naoto
Boogie Woman	Otono Izumi	Himiya Sakura
Miyagawa Kiichirou	Sagiri Seina	Sorahane Riku
Paula	Hanakage Arisu	Amasaki Chihana

• *Due to Hizuki Hana's accident (see below), some role changes were necessary.

Others: Suzu Haruki, Oomi Ako, Ayuse Mito, Yakumo Mika, Karin Moyuru, Mimaki Sakyou, Maiki Ayumi, Miyabi Ouka, Moeno Riria, Kanon Mai, Mikage Rin, Chisuzu Mayu, Kotoha Sakurako, Kazahane Reia, Koumi Maito, Ayahane Maya, Amakaze Ibuki, Sakuma Takane, Hanasato Mana, Tenrei Mion, Shizaki Hiroka, Ayase Akina, Sasara Eru, Maika Kurumi, Souma Neo, Momochi Ito, Matsukaze Akira, Tsukie Juma, Sahane Yuna, Yumeri Miko, Anri Mau, Chisa Reina, Yuino Kanari, Seoto Risa, Aizuki Hikaru, Nanase Ririko, Hoshibuki Ayato, Aishiro Moa, Kazami Keito, Yukino Kokomi, Yumesuzu Rian

WARNING!! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!

"Japan has lost the war, but that doesn't mean Japan has been enslaved," declares Jiro Shirasu, who dashes through the turbulent twentieth century like a morning breeze. He never shrinks from the Occupation authorities. He decides to devote himself to the postwar reconstruction and to the restoration of sovereignty to Japan.

In 1929, Jiro Shirasu returns to Japan from England where he studied and becomes a journalist for an English newspaper. He looks at Masako, a daughter of the House of Kabayama, with a view to marriage. She falls in love at first sight with Jiro, a gentleman educated in England. Jiro also feels attracted to Masako, an open-minded young lady who graduated from an American college. They decide to get married. Shortly afterward, he finds a position in a trading company and travels around in Europe accompanied by Masako. He becomes acquainted with Shigeru Yoshida, Ambassador to England. One day when he calls on Yoshida in London, Jiro predicts that if there is war, Japan will certainly be defeated and hit by a severe food shortage. Then he declares before Yoshida and the pro-British and American army officer Eiji Tatsumi that if there is war, he will live away from the center of decision-making as a country gentleman and observe the government from a distance. Eiji Tatsumi is so impressed by Jiro's insight and patriotism that he utters that Jiro is a true samurai gentleman. Tatsumi believes that he is more a Japanese loving peace than a soldier. Japan plunges into war in spite of the efforts of Tatsumi and his group to keep peace; the war claims many lives. The war ends in August 1945 as Japan accepts the Potsdam Declaration and unconditionally surrenders to the Allied Powers. Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, lands at Atsugi Base in order to occupy and rule Japan. MacArthur says that the postwar reconstruction of Japan should be carried out in cooperation with the Allied Powers and the emperor. However, Japan's bureaucracy, businesses and media are all under the control of the Occupation authorities. Then pleaded by Shigeru Yoshida who has assumed the premiership, Jiro becomes director of Central Liaison Office. He sportingly argues with the staff of the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers headed by MacArthur about the real sovereignty of Japan. Soon he is held in awe by the staff and regarded as the only Japanese who is not obedient.

-------




A gentleman is standing inside the Ring of Passion, a red ring at the center of the stage.

Gentleman S - Todoroki Yuu


As the scene changes, Man of Passion appears in the spotlight from below at the center of the stage.

Man of Passion S - Yamato Yuuga
Woman of Passion S - Miwa Asahi*


All the performers enter and parade. The prologue ends as soon as they complete their marching around on the apron stage.

Men of Passion S - Todoroki Yuu, Yamato Yuuga
Woman of Passion - Miwa Asahi*
Men of Passion A - Ranju Tomu, Hokushou Kairi
Women of Passion A - Miwa Asahi, Otono Izumi, Kazune Miou
Men of Passion B - Yuumi Hiro, Toki Irisu, Nanaho Hikaru, Sagiri Seina, Harukaze Misato, Nagina Ruumi
Belles Noires - Miwa Asahi, Oomi Ako


Man of Passion remains alone before the curtain slit and sings Endless Journey of Love.

Man of Passion S - Todoroki Yuu


Students of a military academy look up at the sky on their day of graduation, dreaming of the future and searching for hope. They are enthusiastic about serving their country and its future.

Young Man of the Sky S - Yamato Yuuga
Young Woman of the Sky S - Miwa Asahi*
Young Men A - Ranju Tomu, Hokushou Kairi


A young man is traveling deep in a desert in the Middle East.

Stranger - Todoroki Yuu
Odalisque - Nagina Ruumi*
Clown Man - Misato Maya
Oriental Men A - Yuumi Hiro, Toki Irisu, Nanaho Hikaru, Harukaze Misato
Harem Women A - Miwa Asahi, Oomi Ako, Hanakage Arisu, Aihana Chisaki


On carnival day in a remote southern country, three young men go to the festival singing.

Man of Carioca S - Yamato Yuuga
Men of Carioca A - Ranju Tomu, Hokushou Kairi


The whole town is filled with the gaiety of carnival. Men and women spend the burning night passionately dancing in the southern country.

Man of Carioca S - Yamato Yuuga
Woman of Carioca S - Miwa Asahi*
Men of Carioca A - Ranju Tomu, Hokushou Kairi


The carnival night advances. The stars twinkle, the sea shines blue and white palm trees turn up while tunes of the southern country are playing in the distance.

Man of Rua - Todoroki Yuu


A young man and a little girl sing exquisitely together Passion -A Journey of Love-, while Latin tunes can be heard in the background.

Singing Young Man - Hokushou Kairi


The Rockette Girls of Takarazuka gorgeously dance to Passion -A Journey of Love-.


Men dance to the famous songs of Gilbert Becaud's.

Dancing Young Man A - Ranju Tomu


Dancing Charmant sings with a gentleman while they spin together.

Gentleman S - Todoroki Yuu
Dancing Charmant - Yamato Yuuga


Gentlemen and gentlewomen dance to the famous songs of Charles Aznavour's.

Gentleman S - Todoroki Yuu
Gentlewoman S - Miwa Asahi*


Gentlemen dance.

Gentlemen S - Todoroki Yuu, Yamato Yuuga


All the performers parade to the theme song.

Gentleman of Parade S - Todoroki Yuu, Yamato Yuuga
Gentlewoman of Parade S - Miwa Asahi*
Etoile - Otono Izumi
(And all other performers)

• *Announced 1/30/08: Only a week before the performance run started, top musumeyaku Hizuki Hana broke her left ankle during rehearsals. She was out for the entire run of the performance. Kazune Miou took up her role in the play, and Fujisaki Eri subsequently played Kazune's role. Miwa Asahi performed Hizuki's parts in the revue, save one number in which Nagina Ruumi took her place.
• Final performance for: Misato Maya (then kumichou), Otono Izumi and Ayahane Maya.

ENAK Sumire Style Graph
Takarazuka Precious: Sakakihara Kazuko's Takarazuka First Night & Event Revue article - A Morning Breeze
Takarazuka Precious: Sakakihara Kazuko's Takarazuka First Night & Event Revue article - Passion


None yet.

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