#anju mira

[giro-revuescope]

Anju Mira with a young fan (1994)

[zukadiary]

10 years, 10 top stars: pt 2

ICYMI, which is understandable since I haven't followed up in like TWO MONTHS, I'm celebrating my blog's 10th birthday by streaming 10 of my favorite top stars.

(This, once again, will be done over some amount of time, at absolutely not a regular cadence, because unfortunately I live a busy life).

Hopping from recent to definitely not recent...

10 years 10 top stars profile #2: Anju Mira

A few things I love about Yan-sensei:

Anyone who knows me knows I'm weak for tiny dancers with deep voices

Her Hanagumi is one of my favorite eras of Takarazuka in any troupe. Some of that is because she happened to have like, 8+ future tops under her, but a lot of that is the tone she set and how she led those diverse personalities.

She has an indescribable aura, like you'd disintegrate if you got too close

To this day she consistently choreographs some of my favorite revue scenes

Top memories:

The first time I got up the courage to go to Japan was in 2013, primarily to see all my favorite former tops in DREAM A DREAM, the final OG showcase of the 99th anniversary. Seeing her live led to instant obsession (especially when your options for watching 90s Takarazuka were secondhand VHS or passing DVD-recorded Sky Stage through a CPRM stripper that only ran on Windows XP or earlier, triggered all the antivirus software, and made you guess what the buttons did because the Japanese text didn't render) ((yells at cloud))

I had the privilege of seeing the Umegei production of Grand Hotel in 2016, and her Elizaveta was without flaw

The OsaAsa talk where they essentially said if she murdered them they'd just say thanks

Stream #2 will be Sorrowful Cordoba (Flower 1995) and It's a Love Story (Flower 1993)

(cw: incest for Cordoba)

I decided to mix and match play/revue, not because I don't love Mega Vision, but because I have the shiny NHK version of Love Story, and it's way more presentable!

While I don't have subs for this one, @chemicalperfume and I translated the script of the 2015 Snow Troupe version for @zukalations, and you can read it ahead of time (or follow along) here!

WHEN: Friday, June 30, 7:30am ET (That's NY time, I'm waking up early for everyone who was boxed out of my last stream timezone wise)

WHERE: DM me for link/password (please don't be shy!)

[yuzukahibiscus]

Musical “Li Kou Ran – Flower and Flower” Hiryuu Tsukasa (Kawashima Yoshiko) Comment and Photoshoot Making Video

(Note: Hiryuu Tsukasa is a former Takarazuka sienne who graduated in September last year in the Flower Troupe Grand Theatre Performance “Years of Pilgrimage”/”Fashionable Empire”. She’s currently rehearsing for her post-Takarazuka stage performance – Li Kou Ran – Flower and Flower *rough translation of title*. She was recently featured in a comment and making video which you can find here.)

I am Hiryuu Tsukasa who plays Kawashima Yoshiko.

Question: Thoughts about the musical

This is my first musical stage after graduating from Takarazuka Revue. This is Nishiuchi Mariya-san's first musical stage performance and she plays Li Kou Ran. I'm honoured and happy to work with her together in this commemorative performance. Also Anju Mira-san plays as Yamaguchi Yoshiko and doing this together with her makes me very, very happy!

Question: About the role you're playing?

Acting as Kawashima Yoshiko is called as a beauty dressed up as a man, I'll do my best to emphase and play her role while thinking "what did she think about life?" "how did she want to live as a person?"

Question: Message to the audience?

The title is Hana to Hana (花と華, Flower and Flower?) and it focuses on Li Kou Ran and Yamaguchi Yoshiko, but I'll blossom like a flower and do my very best as Kawashima Yoshiko in the performance too.

I hope to deliver a performance that the audience will enjoy the time and hoping that they will think "It's great that I've watched this!" and endeavour my efforts. I'll be waiting for you in the theatre!

[kittychan-sings-enka]

tonight i would like to present to you my new favorite way to experience takarazuka...

THE DEAD HUSBANDS SCALE OF DINNER SHOW QUALITY

It happens less now, but especially in the 80s and 90s almost all the otokoyaku stars seemed to be grabbing the chance to wear dresses that scream ‘beautiful high society lady whose third husband just happened to die under mysterious circumstances, officer, no i have no idea who possibly took the ladder out of the pool :0′

so. on to a few of my favorites

Tsurugi Miyuki, Step by Step (1986) 8/10 spousal fatality

A little more ‘lounge singer’ than ‘tastefully grieving high society widow’ but her enthusiastic audience work covers a lot of distance.

Mori Keaki, Footsteps of Youth (1988) 4/10 spousal fatality

Listen this one is just adorable. I think she’ll get there eventually but right now it’s just the bachelorette party.

Anju Mira, Miracles of Love (1994) 2000/10 spousal fatality

HE! IS! IN! THE! GROUND!

[wtheckzukasubs]

“Spartacus” subs

Download here: wtheckzukasubs.tumblr.com/shows

Timed to Sky Stage, so it might from your VHS rip but it should still be the same day. Let me know if you find trouble retiming. :-D

I can’t point out why I feel so attracted to this play, but it really engaged me. I swear it’s not because we get Yan and Miki and Miharu and Tamo and Mami and Charlie and Rika and ZUNKO... this list goes on but Zunko is just so cute in there I had to mention her. The story itself is pretty much what you’d expect. I really don’t know.

Many, many, many thanks for the script!

By the way, this talks about slavery, including for sex. They also describe crucification. And there’s a war, including deaths in battle. I can’t remember more trigger warnings, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t there, so apologize.

[lilywilde]

The alpaca is clearly a fan....

[eternalyjun]

Trois Violette

[don-dake]

『トロワ·バイオレット』[參照]

[chemicalperfume]

Stream alert!

Streaming hanagumi's "Fancy Touch" and "Hyper Stage" in approximately 90' from now (8pm GMT) for @captainsconsort

Check trello for time conversions. (I'm on mobile so cannot link)

Channel is the usual: rabb.it/chemicals

I am unfortunately very sick today so not sure if I will chat in the stream myself, but you're most welcome to come and watch / chat if you want

edit: Finished! Thanks for coming ^^

[oksana810000]

[lilywilde]

Red hot

[don-dake]

今日は４月９日だ。 ㊗ 🎂 千田さん、お誕生日おめでとうございます! 🎂

４月１日:　あさちゃんの誕生日 ４月９日:　千田さんの誕生日

同じ誕生月の夫婦、いいね! 😊 [參照: X, X]

[chemicalperfume]

Winter Storm / Hyper Stage stream

Watching this 1994 Hanagumi thing tonight with @captainsconsort at 8PM (check trello for time conversions)

If you happen to be free, join us at rabb.it/chemicals

Play is an adaptation of Pushkin’s “The Queen of Spades”, also includes: Anju Mira’s cheekbones framed by a mullet and dressed with military uniforms, righteous blonde prince Maya Miki in a hairstyle  inspired by the McDonalds logo, more bad life choices than you can shake a stick at.

edit: FINISHED. Thanks for coming!

[flo-n-flon]

scribbly Yan in a slinky dress

[eljc00]

It’s a Love Story was one of the first Takarazuka shows I watched and I found it so incredibly charming and alluring. I love how the show oscillates between light and dark, comedic and mysterious, ballet to swing dance. The music doesn’t sweep me off my feet, but it’s pleasant and catchy. Oh yeah, I also fell hard for Anju Mira and her cheekbones. I had no idea cheekbones could be that perfect. It also made me hungry for more ‘90s shows. 

[lilywilde]

Yan was always lovely...but I swear she gets more gorgeous with every passing minute