#Mika Yamamoto

[tnbscans]

Interview with Kenji Hayama, Norihiro Itagaki, and Mika Yamamoto from The Rising Superfan Book included in The Rising King of Works.

A few tidbits are translated here:

[anamon-book]

中継されなかったバグダッド　山本美香 小学館 装幀＝真舘嘉浩（WATERS）

[vampire-wizard-solidarity]

this is still yuri

[kuroi-tsuki]

Haikyuu-bu!! Chapter 148: Cerita Guru Cengeng di Kelas yang Tidak Terpublikasi

Sampai jumpa di chapter berikutnya~

[phantombanquet]

【Ikemen Zunka】 [Dress rehearsal report] Theatrical Company Dramatica ACT 4 / Witch and Gingerbread House

Original Article

translated by phantombanquet

The first day of Theatrical Company Dramatica ACT 4 / Witch and Gingerbread House has kicked off at Shinagawa Stellar Ball on August 23, 2024! Here is a report on the stage rehearsal.

※ Please note that the report below the cut contains spoilers

For ACT 4, “Witch and Gingerbread House” will be performed based on Grimms’ Fairy Tale “Hansel and Gretel”!

This work is an original story by the theater circle and theatrical company ‘Dramatica’ organized by Wataru Hibiki, a character appearing in the idol produce game Ensemble Stars!!.

The appeal of the theatrical company Dramatica is its ‘double theatrical structure’ in which the characters from the game play the roles. This is a stage where fans of the game hold high expectations as they will be aboe to see a new side of the characters.

Another popular stage project of Enstars!!, which has continued to adapt stage projects since the first performance of ACT 1 in 2021, will depict a new story based on the fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel”!

We bring to you a detailed report on the stage, where the audience was captivated by the singing, dancing, and acting!

Wandering through the forest, the brothers arrive at an ‘unfinished gingerbread house.’

The play begins with a scene in which Hansel (played by Mika Kagehira / Hiroki Ino) and Gretel (played by Nazuna Nito / Natsuki Osaki), who were abandoned by their step-mother, wandered into a forest, huddled up together.

Hansel and Gretel realize that they have been abandoned, and try to act cheerful to shake off their sadness.

As they travel deeper into the forest, they discover a strange house. The house made up ‘sweets.’ In there, Patty (played by Wataru Hibiki / Kazuma Yasui) and Ark (played by Hokuto Hidaka / Ikkei Yamamoto) were are arguing over something.

The cause of their argument is that they cannot compromise to their commitment to each other in order to fulfill the request of “creating the ultimate gingerbread house.” When Hansel hears their argument, he offers to help build the gingerbread house.

Hansel is first asked to pick fruit for the raw ingredient of sugar. As he heads into the forest with his ‘taming whistle’ to ward off beasts, he is immediately attacked by a beast. Hansel was given a ‘taming whistle,’ but is unable to tame the beast because he has not been taught how to blow it.

In a tight spot, the witch Dicey (played by Shu Itsuki / Taiki Yamazaki) appears.

Dicey plays a beautiful tune and tames the beast in the blink of an eye. The beautiful sound and the kindness shown by Dicey captivated Hansel as if “time had stopped.”

Hansel is fascinated Dicey and asks to be his apprentice. Even though Dicey refuses, saying, “You are not a witch to begin with,” Hansel—with all his strength—pushes his way into Dicey’s house. Thus, Hansel became Dicey’s helper.

Just when it seems that they are living in peace, something strange begins to happen to Dicey. It appears that the ‘secret’ that the witches possess is affecting them. Once the ‘secret’ is revealed, their relationship begins to change.

A suspicious figure watches over Dicey. Lao (played by Tsumugi Aoba / Hiromu Kudo) calls himself “a strange person who likes to take walks,” but what exactly is his true identity and purpose...

Theatrical Company Dramatica ACT 4 is based on the Grimms’ fairy tale Hansel and Gretel and begins with a new story involving the strange encounter between a witch and children. Please enjoy the ‘miracle’ they create in the theater☆

Cast Comments:

Dicey (Shu Itsuki) played by Taiki Yamazaki

I thought that this work, Dramatica ACT 4, which was challenged under a new organization, was a result of fearless triar and error. Although this work is derived from Ensemble Stars!!, I think it has been completed as a single story, and I feel that we are getting closer to the real ‘Dramatica’ one step at a time. I would be happy if you could come visit the theater.

Hansel (Mika Kagehira) played by Hiroki Ino

First of all, I am happy to be involved in Enstars!! once again. I would like to take on the baton firmly and pass it on to the next in hopes that the series of works that have been performed and weaved will continue to be loved for many years to come! The result is a typical fun and pop-like work of Dramatica. I know this is personal... But I am sure I’ll be able to show you a side of myself that can only be seen in this work.... (Laughs). Everyone in this company is looking forward to your sweets.... No, or rather, your ‘visit’!

Gretel (Nazuna Nito) played by Natsuki Osaki

Since it was my first time to join Dramatica, I was quite nervous until rehearsals started, but I read the script, shared lines with everyone, and had a lot of fun being engaged during the rehearsals. This is Gretel, not played by Natsuki Osaki, but played by Nazuna Nito. I would like to bring you the fresh ideas born out of our imagination during rehearsals!!

Lao (Tsumugi Aoba) played by Hiromu Kudo

This will be Tsumugi's first time participating in Dramatica troupe, and I am very much looking forward to playing him as completely different from the Tsumugi Aoba in Enstage, which I did in the past! This work is based on ‘Hansel and Gretel,’ a fantasy filled with a human touch. I look forward to working with Tsumugi to figure out how to portray this original role of Lao. I will do my best to convey a wonderful work and show you a new side of Tsumugi Aoba. Please look forward to it!

Patty (Wataru Hibiki) played by Kazuma Yasui

I am truly grateful that this theatrical company Dramatica has continued to ACT 4 and that I am still able to play the role of Wataru Hibiki! ACT 1, 2, 3 each had their own unique color, and we will bring you another unique color this time as well! Please enjoy the newly directed and powered-up Dramatica by Ikkei-kun, who plays the role of Hokuto!

Ark (Hokuto Hidaka) played by Ikkei Yamamoto

Finally! Theatrical Company Dramatica ACT 4 / Witch and Gingerbread House has begun! A new fairy tale story based on Hansel and Gretel. The entire company has been working hard during rehearsals to create a work that will remain in everyone's hearts. In this work, the characters of Enstars!!, each played by a different person, faced their own thoughts and worries about their roles, and the answers to their worries are found in this work. I hope that you will remember each and every one of them in your hearts. I would like to deliver this production without missing a single person until the final performance, so we appreciate your support until the very end!

[weirdlookindog]

Noroi no yakata: Chi o suu me/呪いの館 血吸う眼 (1971)

AKA Lake of Dracula; Bloodthirsty Eyes

[touteytout]

hq girlies

[liliththunder]

Every Chizuru. Ryu is official a Chizuru, you know it!

Anyway let these be my prayers for announcements again. This time with our latest Chizuru, Takeno Ruri.

[classybeardbluebird]

NEW JUMP SQ ONS ART BY YAMAMOTO

[brand-upon-the-brain]

Evil of Dracula (Michio Yamamoto, 1974)

[bigbrainbiology]

Sometime true love is just you and your eyeball bf <3

Ref/Vol 30 cover ->

[prick-love-for-arting]

I am now allowed to have the only thing in my head be the random character dynamics i haven't been able to draw but use to fill the empty space in my head. So, here are some of those thoughts. Assume timeskip unless otherwise specified.

Kyoutani and Koganegawa get along really well, on and off court. They're buddies! Kyoutani likes to point out when Kogane needs to fix his roots, and Kyoutani will offer to do it for him if he's already planning on redoing his own hair.

Watari, "Hey look at this cool picture of a fish I found", and Yahaba, "Dude, that's terrifying, show me more". Best friends that are constantly sending each other anything they like or think could get a good reaction out of the other. The seijoh second years are a pretty stable friend group after highschool imo

Fukunaga loves cooking for people outside of working, he likes learning what his friends like to eat and figuring out the recipes. He learned to bake so he could make little apple pies for Kenma.

Emergency doctor Shirabu and Nurse Mika, they know everything that's happening in the hospital. All the drama. They are also just good at their jobs.

Someone has to mistake Matsukawa for Sakusa or vice versa, maybe Bokuto? Oikawa? They're about the same height, same haircut, both have "i wear all black" energy. I just think it'd be funny. Sakusa would absolutely refuse to stand within like 6 feet of Matsukawa after learning he works in a funeral home though, dead bodies? Disgusting.

Yaku actively keeps up with all of Shibayama's games, and will text him afterwards to essentially say good job.

Akane likes to send Yamamoto snapchats of her doing an annoucer voice over clips of him playing, half of it's just playing around. Yamamoto's favorite person is his sister.

Thanks for coming to my rambling, wish me luck in presentations in the morning. Everything should go well enough.

[mariocki]

Noroi no yakata: Chi o suu me (Lake of Dracula, 1971)

"Kyusaku... why did you do that to me yesterday?"

"What do you mean, Miss? What did I do?"

"Who was the stranger I saw here the night before? Who was it?"

"My master."

"Master? But I know your master well."

"He's changed."

[kimigia]

my problem with owari no seraph's writing, from someone who's been reading it since 2016

finally decided to revive this blog after it sat untouched for years and collected copius amounts of dust.... just ignore my old posts LMAO

anyways, i have a small list of issues that i think i've already posted about before? but i wanted to compile them all, and add on anything i haven't mentioned before.

*small spoiler warning for recent chapters & light novel*

the countless neglected side plots and characters. i understand that every side story will eventually get its time to shine... but when? i don't think i'd have such a problem with it if the comic updated more often, but i understand that kagami has other scripts to write and it takes yamamoto time to draw the beautiful art. but it's been years since we last saw characters like lacus welt, rene simm, seishiro hiragi, chess belle, makoto narumi and horn skuld. i definintely think it's a huge shame that after being present for like, 50 or so chapters, they just... disappeared. hell, last time yoichi's plan to get revenge on lacus was mentioned was over 5 years ago. again, if the updates were faster i wouldn't have such a problem with it taking so many chapters to finally get to the side storylines. but i just feel like it's been way too long at this point... this has already been stated before, but the lack of mistuba, kimizuki, yoichi, and sometimes shinoa's respective stories being addressed is also really annoying. it feels like they've been completely forgotten and neglected and like the comic is just 'mika & yu + extras''. i want to see yoichi get his revenge on lacus, i want to see ferid's backstory, i want to see mitsuba's relationship with her sister branched out more, i want to see chess and horn and how they're relevant to crowley's story, i want to see where narumi ran off to, i want to see kimizuki's storyline with his sister, and i know these will be addressed eventually, but like... when? to add onto this, i feel like new storylines keep being added on without old ones being addressed. the whole thing with mika turning into a demon, turning into a sword, finding out the first's past, and all of that. but then again, it took us years to finally figure out the first's past, so i trust that these side plots will also eventually get addressed! it's just very messy, and all over the place.

2. the same lines being repeated over and over again. i swear to god every couple of chapters they go through the same dialogue of "we're going to revive everyone and save all of our family members and save the whole world" and i just feel like nothing really happens after that? just from chapters 100-130 it's been mentioned SO many times and i just. if i'm missing something i'd appreciate it if someone could just tell me at this point because i really don't see why the almost exact same dialogue has to be said so often. i am perfectly aware that the whole storyline revives around the importance of companionship, friendship, and love, but it just seems futile for the same exact thing to be stated so often. i think when it's SHOWN rather than just being told is really nice, like how krul and ashera's backstory was played out, or how the love between paimon and bael was shown. we can draw our own conclusions and interpret the story differently based on what we see rather than being spoonfed the same information over and over again. ashera basically cursed his sister because he couldn't fathom living without her, and bael ended his life because he couldn't fathom living without paimon. i think when the love and importance of the character's relationships with each other is shown like this, rather than the same dialogue being restated chapter after chapter, the story flows much smoother.

3. the lack of character development. again, if i've somehow missed it then please just tell me because i can't find it anywhere. specifically in yu's case, because it's been YEARS. i will say, in the early volumes of the manga i definitely saw him undergo a huge change, because before he got put in the demon army he had a very sour attitude and refused to make friends. but after he found his new family, he did a complete 180 and made it his life's mission to live for them and do anything to save them, mika included (later on) but again, that was years ago and since then i've honestly been unable to see much change in his behavior. despite the numerous times guren has shown himself to be a shifty, shady person that's hard to trust, it doesn't go through yu's head. even after they had that huge fight around chapter 112, his anger towards guren wasn't even about the fact that guren planned for his family to be murdered by ferid! he rarely listens to mika, and he generally just goes off and does whatever he likes. i UNDERSTAND that this is just part of his character and personality, but my god is it frustrating to watch... i will say though, him bowing to krul and requesting her help to save mika was a nice surprise that i didn't anticipate. i'd really like to see more of that! more of him listening to other characters who desperately try to help him, etc.

4. the way female characters are written and treated. i understand that this is a shounen manga, but the only female characters in the series being used for fan service gets on my nerves a LOT, especially since they're not really that well written in the first place. also the dialogue and interactions between them... i really really hate that majority of the conversations between just shinoa and mitsuba are played off as boob jokes or something when they could be having legitimate bonding moments and building their friendships. like i'm not gonna lie, shinoa is an absolutely FASCINATING character to me. but i want to see the girls interact with other girls outside of topics that have to do with a man or just making boob jokes!!! (i've only read volume 1 of the catastrophe manga,) but going off of that, the way there could've been so much more attention paid to sayuri's character for example but a lot of the spotlight on her just consisted of either a. her boobs being shown or b. somebody talking about her boobs. i'm not gonna lie, one of the first pages of the manga being a naked 14 year old girl was ....?? anyways. and how could i forget about chess and horn! they're vampires that're hundreds to thousands of years old, and they can't even fall in love or feel romantic desire, but the whole blushing thing while getting down on their knees to suck crowley's blood from his finger? chess getting jealous of horn for being able to suck his blood? hello? like... come on. i will say though, i really like how krul's character is written. in my opinion, she's an example of a well written female character.

an additional note that's not criticism: my opinions on the new art style are kinda 50/50... i feel like for the adult/older characters, the tiny eyes and sharper/more realistic features can make them look kinda weird sometimes, especially their front profiles. but for the younger/child/teen characters, i actually really like it and i feel like it suits them! not having their eyes take up half of their faces anymore looks good, and it can also be interpreted as physical growth.

anyways, there are so so so many things that i legitimately love about owari no seraph, so this isn't me just shitting on the entire series. i'm gonna follow it through to the end, and i'm excited to see how that goes! i just think the writing could use.... some work.

*please excuse any typos*

[kuroi-tsuki]

Haikyuu-bu!! Chapter 116: Nohebi Sekarat, Jangan Mati, Nekoma

Sampai jumpa di chapter berikutnya~

[lynaerith]

demon mika and the parallels between mahiru/guren and mika/yu

Something i've been giving a lot of thought to recently is how Mika has ended up as Yu's sword/demon—following in the same steps that Guren fell into with his literal fiancé/girlfriend.

Subtextually, this implies a mirror between Yu and Guren, and Mahiru and Mika. Mika is to Yu what Mahiru is to Guren, and by that nature, implicitly romantic by nature. We know that Guren and Mahiru were in love despite her being arranged to be with Shinya, and even with Shinya in the picture, it's said she still went behind Shinya's back and saw Guren.

I think that Shinoa is Shinya in this situation; she's forced to take the back seat and just watch as Mika and Yu run off together (even if Yu wouldn't disregard her as a friend completely, he IS and HAS disregarded her feelings several times now). Will she be as forgiving as Shinya? Probably not. After all, she did say she's willing to kill Mika if it means getting Yu back. Disregarding the fact that Yu would never forgive her if she killed Mika for good.

In this context, Shinya may be Shinoa's foil, since he was aware and let Mahiru be with Guren despite the family arrangement.

What's even more interesting is how not only are they paralleling in that regard; but Yu and Mika are running off and causing their own "catastrophe at sixteen" and may be setting up Yu's own "resurrection at nineteen" arc.

Guren raised Yu after all, it's befitting that they become mirrors. And I think we can roughly guesstimate what's going to happen at the climax of the manga by looking at what happened in the prequels of Guren's catastrophe and resurrection novels.

Maybe Yu's "catastrophe" is him finally unraveling the entire timeline of his life with Mika, or maybe it's more literal wherein it's referencing the destruction he's causing to get those answers. Maybe Yu's "resurrection" parallel will be successfully reviving all of humanity along with Mika.

Who knows :') I hope Kagami and Yamamoto are nice to the boys... I need to read up the Guren prequels to more fully understand what's going on. Along with doing a deep dive into biblical imagery because phew

Feel free to reblog with your own thoughts since I'm just spitballing and I wouldn't even be surprised if I'm like, totally off the mark and someone's already talking about this way more in depth. I'm always happen to hear more :-)