On Star Troupe Performance: Shigure Hill Road in Nagasaki / Soul of Shiva!


Todoroki: Since I started taking part in Grand Theatre productions as a member of the Senka Troupe, I have somehow been putting myself under pressure. This time, I’ve reacted against it in a sense and I’ve been able to look forward to the rehearsals. I have the feeling that, thanks to that, I fitted into Star Troupe quickly. Of course, it’s always so, but it really helped that the head of the troupe and everyone was so considerate. When we started rehearsing, I was really interested in finding out about all the new people I had never met before, as well as seeing how the people I did know would perform their roles.

Kozuki: When I read the script for the play and found out that Todoroki-san would be joining us for this production, I thought “Wow, I bet this is going to be great.” Todoroki-san really pulls you into the imaginary world of the play in rehearsals so it’s good fun. The director, Ueda-sensei, doesn’t allow us to repeat a scene over and over in rehearsals, so I felt that everyone was concentrating extra hard on each scene. Also, of all of us, only I get a scene in which I get to argue with Tomomi-san (Ritsu) but it’s great. You feel kind of mentally overpowered.

Aran: I had already performed in a play with Ishi-chan (Todoroki) since my time in Snow Troupe, so this time, on the one hand, I was really excited, but on the other, I was very nervous at the beginning. But in my role, I worship Ishi-chan as my leader, so…

Todoroki: It’s _Big_ _Bro_! (1)

Aran: Yes, Big Bro (laughs). So, in addition to working on the role, I was able to slip into it very naturally. Other than that, it’s the first time I have been on stage with Matsumoto Yuri-san. I was really impressed by her dancing in rehearsals and I’ve learnt a lot from it.

Todoroki: During rehearsals, you had to learn the songs and dance steps for the revue, but at the same time you had rehearsals for the TCA Special, so it was really hard, wasn’t it, Wataru-kun, Touko-chan?

Kozuki: Yes, it was.

Todoroki: A little bit more and you’d probably have burst into flames, right? (laughs)

Kozuki: Whoosh! (laughs)

Todoroki /Aran: (laughs)

Kozuki: It was tough, but the scenes in the revue all had a different style, so they were fun to rehearse. And Yan-san (Anju Mira) came to help with the choreography.

Aran: Yes, it’s the first time she’s come to Star Troupe, isn’t it?

Kozuki: Yan-san was sooo cool!

Todoroki /Aran: Yeah!

Kozuki: When Yan-san danced, we got to see her in a man’s jacket, although she didn't have to wear one.

Aran: Yes, that’s true!

Todoroki: It’s been 10 years since she retired from Takarazuka but she could still play a male role with ease.

Kozuki: She was so cool, I was unconsciously grinning away in the middle of rehearsals (laughs).

Todoroki /Aran: (laughs)

***


Aran: In this play, we see a world that is fairly unusual for Takarazuka, don’t we? Characters with tattoos and stuff.

Kozuki: Wearing sarashi (2) and suchlike.

Aran: I think it’s a nice change for the spectators, isn’t it?

Kozuki: It’s also rare in a traditional Japanese story for almost none of the characters to be wearing swords.

Todoroki: And there are no fight scenes either. Wataru-kun, ever since the rehearsals, you put tape on your leg because you used to forget about it, didn’t you?

Kozuki: Yes, because in the role, I have a bad leg. I’m still using a leg bandage. When we started the performances, I decided I wouldn’t need it anymore and stopped wearing it, but at times, for a moment, I would suddenly forget which leg was supposed to be the bad one. Especially when I was singing.

Todoroki: Alternately dragging both legs… (laughs)

Kozuki: Everyone’d be like “What’s up with you?!” (laughs)

Todoroki: (laughs) I wonder if the toy snake that Unosuke (Kozuki) is holding when he comes to Isaji’s (Todoroki) room looks cute because it’s in Wataru-kun’s hands.

Kozuki: What’s that supposed to mean? It would look small and cute in anybody’s hands!

Todoroki: (laughs) In the play, I bet the audience cry when Rasha (Aran) dies.

Kozuki: I cry every day.

Todoroki: One day during rehearsals, I also came close to tears. But I thought if someone like me, who always says “Never cry in front of other people!” ended up crying…

Aran: Yes, that’s true! (laughs)

Todoroki: I swallowed my tears.

Kozuki: Typical Isaji.

***

Kozuki: In the first scene of the revue, although I’m wearing light blue socks, everyone says they’re white… (3)

Todoroki: Maybe you should write “light blue” on the bottom (laughs).

Kozuki: (laughs) The shoes that I put on on stage are the same colour, but they’re enameled, so that when the light hits them, they shine. Afterwards, until the tap dance scene, I’ve changed into proper black socks.

Aran: You have to change socks quickly - sounds hard.

Todoroki: Are you wearing the other pair over the top?

Kozuki: No, no. If I wore two pairs of socks on top of each other, just how enormous do you think my feet would be? (laughs)

Todoroki /Aran: (laughs)

Kozuki: But I wear the overall over the top of the tracksuit. For the tap dance, I’m wearing two layers and I’m so incredibly hot, I’m sweating like mad.

Todoroki: When you two are singing the words “Kyukkyukkyukkyu”, I’m changing my hairstyle in the wings, but I’m singing along with you. Lake (Kozuki) is really quick at polishing shoes, isn’t he?

Aran: Incredibly quick!

Kozuki: Orchid (Aran) gives me lots of money, you know.

Aran: Because I’m so generous (laughs).

Todoroki: Why does Orchid get jealous and bully Lake in the second half?

Aran: Lake turns back into Unosuke at that point.

Kozuki: And Unosuke’s leg is also healed. (4)

Todoroki: Does he sing “Shinden Hayashi ga”? So should I appear in the play singing Shiva’s “Kono Shikkoku”? (5)

Kozuki: If you did, Unosuke’s leg would be cured! (laughs)

Todoroki /Aran: (laughs)

Kozuki: In the Lord of Dance scene, when I meet Ishi-chan in the sky, I get all dewy-eyed.

Todoroki: At that point, when the audience can’t see and only I can, there’s a particular expression Wataru-kun has on her face. It’s a good expression. A bit like a little puppy.

Kozuki: Call me ‘Lil Puppy’.

Todoroki: One of those little puppies you know are going to grow really really big one day.

Aran: Like a Labrador Retriever?

Todoroki: Like a St Bernard (laughs). That kind of puppy.

Kozuki: (laughs) That scene’s good, you know. I feel like I’m being enveloped.

Todoroki: Wataru-kun doesn’t only dance, she’s acting out the story of the show, so I get sucked in by her expression.


***

Aran: Have there been any notable incidents since the the performances started?

Kozuki: I got the dance steps wrong. I’m sorry.

Aran: That’s unusual.

Todoroki: Next time, how about I fulfill our readers’ hopes and when the revue starts, instead of enameled shoes, keep Isaji’s geta on? Do geta tap!

Kozuki: Ewwww, nooo! (laughs) Speaking of which, there was a time when I was having trouble getting those enameled shoes on, and I was going “Yo-heave-ho!” and got the audience laughing. Kind of “Yes, yes, this is really meant to happen, honest!” (laughs)

Todoroki: That’s also a part of acting, isn’t it? (laughs)

Aran: (laughs) Oh, I just remembered Ishi-chan’s goof.

Todoroki: (laughs)

Kozuki: She did something today too (laughs).

Aran: What?

Kozuki: I’m not going to reveal other people’s mistakes… (laughs).

Todoroki: (laughs). Today, I... No, I can’t admit it. It would be too awful if I said…

Kozuki /Aran: (laughs)

Kozuki: In the play, when I enter Isaji’s room, I often bump into the walls. That room is so small.

Aran: When Rasha comes back into the enclosure (6), the secret passage he uses is really narrow too. I’m being held so I’m okay, but Tonami (Shirahane Yuri), who’s holding me, often hits her head.

Todoroki: It’s a good thing Wataru-kun doesn’t have to go through it, isn’t it?

Kozuki /Aran: (laughs)


***

Todoroki: Wataru-kun is big, isn’t she?

Kozuki: What, you mean physically?

Todoroki: Yes, well, big to look at, you know.

Kozuki /Aran: (laughs)

Todoroki: But big when you talk too.

Kozuki: What does that mean? I don’t understand!

Todoroki: The way you tackle things is just… big.

Kozuki: You mean rough and clumsy?

Todoroki: (laughs) But if one listens to you carefully, you’re really subtle.

Kozuki: Hmmm, I dunno, am I?

Todoroki: It probably depends if you’re interested in something or not.

Aran: Yes.

Todoroki: When you’re not interested in something, you just don’t talk about it much. But when you are, you talk about it in great detail. It’s like: “How do you know all this stuff?”

Kozuki: Yes, that’s about it (laughs).

Todoroki: Touko, you’ve not changed at all, have you?

Aran: No, I don’t think I have, really.

Todoroki: Ever since you were a 1st grader. (7)

Aran: A 1st grader… (laughs). Not changed… No, I think I have changed since then!

Todoroki: You have?

Aran: I’ve grown up a bit!

Todoroki /Kozuki: (laughs)


***

Aran: I’m trying to go on improving my acting right up to the last performance in Tokyo. In the revue, I want to become an expert tap-dancer.

Todoroki: What, even better than now?

Kozuki: You’re already more than good enough, Orchid!

Aran: (laughs). Also, since I’m performing with Ishi-chan for the first time in a while, I want to have a lot of good memories!

Todoroki: (laughs)

Kozuki: I want to do my best in each peformance, bearing in mind that performing with Todoroki-san is a unique opportunity. What’s more, this is Dan-chan’s farewell show, so… I want to make the most of it before she retires.

Todoroki: Working with the Star Troupe on this production has been great and I have learnt a lot from it. As a member of Senka, I have perfomed with three different troupes, and I’ve noticed each time that the atmosphere surrounding the top stars is what most affects the whole troupe. I think we should aim not just to be good models for the younger actresses, but also to be open to learning things and improve ourselves, show by show and performance by performance. If we don’t, the younger actresses will not make any progress. Until the last day, we must keep that in mind and try to be good models.

Kozuki /Aran: Yes!

Kozuki: I’m right behind you, big bro!

Aran: Yep, right behind you!

Todoroki: Wha-!!

Kozuki /Aran: (laughs)


******

Notes:

(1) This is a translation of aniki, which is a term of respect and affection used for one’s older brother, but also used among groups of young men for the boss or leader. Aran (Rasha) calls Todoroki (Isaji) aniki in the play.

(2) A sarashi is a long strip of cotton cloth that is wrapped around the midriff. It used to be worn by samurai as extra protection against getting wounded, and, because of its tough image, has become a symbol of yakuza and ruffians.

(3) The first scene of the revue is entitled “White shoes” and opens with a pair of (enchanted?) shoes on stage. Kozuki comes in dressed all in white and puts them on, which prompts her to start an energetic tap-dance. If you look closely at the photos, the shoes are in fact blue, but they look white because of the way the light hits them.

(4) Wataru’s character in the play, Unosuke, has a permanent limp, as she mentions higher up. In the revue, her character (Lake) gets his leg injured by a jealous Orchid (Aran) and loses his will to dance. He’s healed by Shiva (Todoroki) singing “Kono Shikkoku” and revives to dance alongside Shiva’s children.

(5) “Shinden Hayashi ga” is Unosuke’s song in the play. “Kono Shikkoku” is (presumably) what Shiva sings to Lake when he heals his leg.

(6) Isaji and his band, including Rasha, are outlaws hiding out in the Chinese quarter of Nagasaki, which is closed off and outside the authority of the Japanese police. In fact, the police know perfectly well they’re there and are just waiting for them to venture outside their haven. Rasha is tricked into going out and gets mortally wounded. He staggers back inside, held up by his Chinese girlfriend (Shirahane Yuri), and kills the guy who betrayed him to the police.

(7) Literally, a Takarazuka Ken 1 student.