Truly fits a sunny December day in Tokyo suburbs seen from a rapid train window.
8.30 in the morning
After coming back at 1 AM, I just couldn't make myself get up as early as I should have.
9.59
No matter how I try to pack my stuff quickly, I always end up being exactly on time or 2-3 minutes late for check-out... >___<
11.30
If last year I was leaving with one bag, then this time I'll have two. And I'm so glad I took this one with me...
13.45
I'm so glad we're on time. We still have half an hour to shop for the last time.
14.00
Why is it taking so long to check in two passengers? There was no one but those two Japanese guys before us in the queue, and what?
14.05
And why is there only one woman at the check in counter?
14.10
Oh finally.
14.15
Since when did it become prohibited to carry more than 1 bag as your luggage? Oh, since this October. Nice.
You say, we're allowed to take more because there's enough space and it's not overweight? Oh thank you. Thank you, kind woman.
14.20
I guess we have to move to the plane already. Why does it always happen that our gate is in some farthest neck of the woods possible?
14.55
Goodbye, Japan. Oh... I'm coming back to Russia. To the cold winter winds and -16 that feels like -30, traffic jams in the evening and roads covered with ice. No... No...... NOOOOOO!
song of the day - 'Omotesandou 26ji' by sakanaction
11.00
Finally we're here! Omotesando! Oh, how I wanted to see it and to have a walk here. This part of the street is narrow and does not look like a big boulevard, but the famous brands have their shops here just one after another.
11.30
This is finally the 'boulevard'. And here is Norihiko Dan's work! Wow.
I guess we can create a collection of Christmas-tree-resembling-weird-things already
I'm so glad the weather is fine. The boulevard is even better than I expected.
First 'kukuruza' ('corn'), then what... Ryabina ('rowan')?
15.30
I'd say that I liked 'Night on the Galactic Railroad' by Kagaya better than this Fuji-san fantasy, but it was still very beautiful
We're from here!
A long-awaited lunch. The Japanese do love Italian cuisine, even at a planetarium.
16.20
No to boring selfies!
Yes to huge yellow half-eggs!
16.30
Even though if I could choose I'd say I want to live in a noisy busy big city, visiting Osaka and Tokyo neighbourhood made me think those small towns are really cute. It's not that I changed my opinion, but look at this...
Native Russian language speakers will understand.
Again, NO to boring selfies.
There was an apartment house called 'haide-ru be-ru'. I am pretty sure it was 'Hider Bell'. Why not? It's a name easy to sing.....
20.15
Let's go to the Ikebukuro West Gate Park! Oh, where is it? Where did it hide? Erm... So, we're standing in the middle of it right now, right?
20.20
Let me take a photo with you. Now stand here. To the left. Ok. SYMMETRYYYY!
You think so, too?
Music~
20.00
Ok, so I'll jusy buy that dress for my mom and we'll get going. 8 o'clock? Oh no... Don't tell me... The shop is closed already!
21.00
Thank you Google for creating Street View. I'm not sure I'd find the bar without your help.
23.30
Goodbye, small cute bar. Goodbye, cute bartenders and staff. I love you~
song of the day - 'Jingle Bells'. because girls from the troupe in Seinenkan were singing it in the break between the acts of 'Two gentlemen of Verona'
10.30, hotel
Yesterday when someone knocked at our door we decided we're too tired to open and have a conversation, so we just went to bed. Now I see what that was about!
11.15, Tokyo Daijingu
And two lonely girls went there to pray for happiness in romance... Haha, as if. Just bought a few cute charms for me and my friends.
13.30, Nippon Seinenkan
I though we'd be wiser this time, but again we're extremely late for the musical. Well, we managed to get to our seats just in time, 2 minutes before start.
16.30
Kiriya-sama! <3 And mr. Nishikawa. You did surprise me.
16.37
Of course I cannot pass by such a wonderful stand and take no photo for a nice memory
Now this looks extremely Klimt-ish, if you understand me
At the entrance to Seinenkan
and to Zuka
17.10
I know that Hibiya Chanter is connected with Zuka because there's a Quatre Reves shop in there, by the way it's open much later than the one in the Theatre is. However, I didn't expect such a treat. Real costumes on display in the halls of the shopping mall! Uwwww..... I guess they collaborate with Zuka sometimes in Chanter, right?
'U-tan, please make a very natural photo of me!' haha... >___<
18.10, Roppongi sta.
After arguing for several days whether it is better to go to see Christmas illuminations in Caretta Shiodome, so praised by Lili Florea, or visit Tokyo Midtown, like my consul has recommended, we made our decision choosing the latter, but ended up standing in a long queue in order to visit Tim Burton's exhibition. I can see already how this trip turns to be half-planned half-impromptu. Not bad, right? Having a brief look at what Roppongi Hills is like is not bad either.
20.15
Even though I left the exhibition extremely tired, I must say this was a chance that we couldn't really miss. Though I really didn't intend to spend so much time there, so we didn't manage to save any energy to go to Midtown like planned. Who knew that the exhibition would be THAT big and THAAAT crowded?!
20.40
I guess there's not even a single decent spot to have some supper for a budget traveller at Roppongi. All restaurants are expensive and nowhere to find shelter for some 500 yen.
20.55
At last we found a small Japanese fast-food cafe. What can I say? Katsu-don is the best.
23.25, hotel
Good night!
says the team of 'Two gentlemen of Verona' to you.
First of all, this is what I learnt from a friend working in the Grand Theatre. Though this is the order in which I learnt the facts, it is also an attempt to think it over while I'm writing.
1. The next Top Star of the Star will be miss Hokushou. That's no news for anybody who follows Takarazuka's life. The reason miss Makaze (or miss Kurenai?) was not chosen is that she doesn't look handsome enough and there are people who dislike their appearance.
2. On the contrary, Mirio is very beautiful. I can't disagree, because I like her type of appearance very much, too, though I wouldn't really compliment that in first place, like my friend did. The Japanese really do care a lot about a sienne's face.
3. And the reason why miss Hokushou is to become the Star's Top only now is that though she was originally popular in Moon, she couldn't become a Top because there was miss Ryuu, a daughter to a rich family. That's why they let miss Hokushou escape to Superiors and wait there for a while. That's what the rumour says, but even though a rumour, it is a very certain one.
4. It is a common-spread thing that the Tops are there not 'accidentally'. The only ones among the recent Top Stars who achieved their position thanks to their ability are miss Sou from Snow and miss Ranju from Flower.
5. Moreover, miss Ryuu has a high voice which makes many spectators regret that she's not manly enough.
6. Moreover, Moon Troupe as a whole is also bad at singing. They have bad pronounciation, too, which makes elder visitors of the Theatre complain sometimes that they couldn't understand what the actresses were saying.
I wonder why it is exactly mss Ranju and Sou for whom my admiration is limited to respect only, because they really failed to capture my heart even once.
Not that I thought that they are really allowed to become a Top for free. But it kinda... hurts. I mean, I could agree if I heard that a Top-Star-to-be, already chosen by her skills, is asked to make a 'small contribution'. Not vice versa.
1) Puck
Story and characters
There's nothing to say. Puck is one of my favourite musicals in Zuka, because it's so funny, so strange and so touching. And because of Suzukaze Mayo, too, because she created all that initial impression of the musical itself.
It happened so that both musicals we saw were based on Shakespeare's plays. Very loosely... And even though Shakespeare is not my cup of tea, I wouldn't mind drinking 'Puck' again (how was that? a nice phrase I made huh?).
Acting
Now comes the main part. *taking deep breath*
I was not very happy when I heard miss Ryuu would play Puck. It wasn't her type, I thought. It was for Suzukaze, it wasn't for Ryuu. She was still that villain Jacques in my mind. She could do Romeo credibly, too, I thought.
Everything changes with the first note that she utters after appearing on stage. She's not a bad copy of Suzukaze. She isn't a completely new version ruining the original charm of the character. She's just another Puck. Cute Puck. Mischievous Puck. Then suffering Puck. Then poor Puck. Then kind, good boy Puck. My Japanese friend said that 'Puck' is a 'very-happy-ending' enjoyable musical. I wonder if that counts as a 'very happy end', but it's not a tragedy either.
And what can I say? I don't agree that they are bad at singing. Puck's aria or Hermia's song, or just one number of Tytania meeting Bobby - sung by mss Touka and Tamaki - is enough to hear that.
I didn't feel it was hard to understand them, either. My friend would say that's because I'm young and have no problems with hearing, but I'm not Japanese and still only a small percentage of words stay incomprehensible to me when I try to write the script down.
I can't say they are bad actresses. When miss Miya starts joking about her billiard playing being so unusual because of the Christmas Eve, and you understand that's obviously ad lib because it IS the Christmas Eve, when Puck looks at his hands that have just touched Hermia's, when both guys fall in love with Helen after Puck cast a spell on them, it may touch you, or it may fail to do so, but it's the real acting.
I was actually sad and distressed when I heard all those things from my friend. However, it doesn't matter anymore. It's not important anymore, because this I know for sure: after coming to the hotel at midnight having travelled with a heavy bag and getting lost while trying to go to a convenient store, after a difficult getting up in the morning, and after even the breakfast failed to make me feel energetic, it was the Moon Troupe that fixed me.
Music
It was 90s. A time drowning in pop'n'rock. If you listen to Masao's voice when she sings the first song after Puck was born, or to 'Growing up', or to 'Just say dance tonight', you'll hear Okui Masami, Shiina Hekiru, Mazda Julia in there. (upd: I've just read that 'Midsummer Eve' was specially written by Matsutoya Yumi, so you'll probably hear her there, too)
2) 'Crystal Takarazuka'
I'd say it wasn't the best show I've ever seen. It didn't become my favourite either. I didn't even buy the CD. First of all, I was a bit disappointed by the main theme. It was not bad, it was as energetic, GENKI, as always, but I can't help comparing it with 'Dance Romanesque'. And it lost.
Other than that, I really liked one number, the one about marionettes, except for the fact it doesn't have a happy ending >___<
Still, I enjoyed very much both the dolls dancin' part and the duo dance, coupled by... Coldplay. Wow. Takarazuka even borrows things like that...
The other two pieces I recognised were 'Bamboleo' by Tamaki Ryou
and 'Misirlou' used in the fight between Coppelius and mr Detective, just before 'Viva la vida'
the latter, I must confess, I only recognised thanks to it being used in The Black Eyed Peas' song 'Pump It' (had to google for it).
I guess I could also recognise the 'gypsy' main theme, but it appears to be a bit hard to find how it's called. I'm also pretty sure the otokoyaku stairs dance was accompanied by a variation on some classical piece, but I just can't remember what it is.
If you ask me what seat to choose when buying tickets with a limited budget, I'd say - buy A seats on the balcony, row #8 in the Grand Theatre and #7 in Tokyo. It's the first row after a wide aisle connecting the right and the left sides of the balcony. Why those seats? Haha. Try yourself.
By the way, I was sitting 2 rows behind, and still the impression was deep.
I mean, just a metre away from Chinami Karan or Kanoha Toki giving high five to those who were sitting in front of them...
I guess I spilt it out.
And the point I cannot miss - Top Combi. It was the first time I've seen the current Combi and I was afraid I'd dislike it, but I was wrong. I think I might like them less if I saw them earlier, when they were still not 'used' to each other, but now they are a good couple. I like it extremely how Reika looks at Ryuu whenever possible - in all dances where she has at least some interaction with her, and even during the dancing numbers in the Grand Sports Day. If KiriMari were an unusual Combi, then Reika is a very typical nice, tender, cute musumeyaku. And why don't I hate her? Probably because she's very natural, with no shadow of showing-off, no attempts to make the audience actually notice how she's trying to behave in a cute way, and first of all, because there is no part of her body she'd spare for her performance, not a single piece of her soul she's not laying down on a tray to present to the audience. She gives all she has to those who watch her, and I can see that. The one thing that still bothers me is that they're not as close as I wish them to be in, like, Top Combi duet dance, etc. After 2 years together I'd like them to be clinging to each other, and they still aren't.
As for the young siennes who made their appearance in the usual 'boys band singing and dancing number' in the middle of the show, I can't really understand well why Ryou is so promoted, especially on part of her vocals. She's a good girl and she'll do well, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed her voice very much. I also feel sorry for mss Uzuki and Shimon who are not getting as much attention than they used to, and whom I would really praise for her vocals in this 'pop group' is ms Akatsuki.
Apart from them, my favourite vocalists would be mss Seijou and Saou. I'd drown in their voices...
Conclusion
How to make your friend a Zuka fan? Try to guess. Well, she's into musicals in general. And she is interested in what a 'revue' is like in Japan. Still, she wouldn't watch what you tell her 'just because'.
And then you just take her with you to see it live.
upd. after watching the dvd version
- Puck, get on this swing
- can I, lord Oberon?
- of course, it's made-to-order for you!
- wow thanks!
- and now fly up!
- fly-fly, shrimp-fry!
- it's not THAT fry...
- oops...
- now be gone with the wind!
- ok, I'll think about that tomorrow!
song of the day - 'Last Christmas'. 'cause it was everywhere
9.30, hotel
A usual twin room in Hotel Juyoh. Good morning
16.35
Catching a moment when no one is around, let me make a photo with the anniversary stand. Thank you for 100 years.
17.40
Tokyo Tower sure looks good, no matter how you loot at it.
18.00
Well, well. I guess Japan knows how to celebrate Xmas in a unique way.
19.00
An hour in a queue. I guess I'll die here. Standing. Yes, I'll be a standing mummy.
19.10
Is it only me or all men here are already occupied by the opposite sex? If anything, Christmas in Japan is a sad holiday for a lonely girl.
19.20
So this is all there is on the top observing deck? Huh? more than one hour in a queue, and 700 yen of additional cost for this?
While waiting, we've watched a trailer for the upcoming puppet movie based on Nutcracker. Even here former Takarazuka actresses take part. No, they just can't do without Takarazuka! haha...
There where we were just yesterday
19.50
What Christmas in Japan can do without a cake with cream and strawberry?
20.31
This evening the special illumination on Tokyo Tower is romantic. Well of course.
21.10
4 times in Juyoh Hotel, and 4 times I have captured this wall. This year's composition is very nice.
23.00
As if one cake wasn't enough, the second one in the hotel room. In fact, we were going to eat it yesterday but didn't have time and strength to, 'cause came at midnight. Well, Merry Christmas to you!
song of the day - sakanaction, 'music'
It was playing at the 'Miraikan' museum and was the perfect choice to fit the atmosphere.
9.25
Since I've noticed a poster saying that there is a museum of Mucha in the Sakai city neighbouring Osaka, I couldn't miss it. That's why we had to get up at 8 and start packing to manage to get to the museum and back by the time we need to get to Shin-Osaka station for our Shinkansen. Now that everything's packed we're ready to leave. I guess for a hostel, this was an extremely good, convenient and cosy hotel.
10.05
When I see Mucha's works I lose my mind...
12.20
About to board the Shinkansen. Finally my dream has come true. Shinkansen-bento, wait for me!!!
13.30
They have a special bento celebrating half-a-century to Shinkansen trains. Have a nice meal, +U-tan
And me, too
14.00
I know it's always like this - scenery that you see from aboard a train or a plane looks much more attractive than if you saw it real. It's because the inability to touch it makes it more mysterious. However, I's still say I'd like to visit Nagoya some day and probably several other smaller cities situated on the shore.
15.30
We're finally on Odaiba. For some reason, it has never been an attractive place to me, but now I guess it's my favourite place in all Tokyo. The sea, the sunset and the beautiful blue glass that many buildings are made from.
17.45
I never imagined there would be something like this inside the building...
KIETA! KIETA! kawa wa nagareru...
17.40
By the time we got to the Team Lab exhibition the talk-show with its leader, mr. Inoko, whose interview impressed me so much, had already ended. I doubt, though, we could've enjoyed it very much. Instead, we're enjoying their works. It did look great in the programme, but I couldn't imagine it feels this wonderful to be within the flower stream yourself.
The works created on the basis of traditional Japanese paintings do look good, too
and +U-tan sure liked the room for children very much. I'm feeling like her mom =)
However, this is what I consider the greatest work by Team Lab ever
upd.:
The official website of Team Lab says that this video is a kind of a contribution to a prominent Japanese animator whose swiftly moving mecha in 'Ideon' earned him a fame of a master who is able to create a 3d-like experience in 2d, and gave birth to a special name to a phenomenon when objects that fly inside some space create an impression of a trapeze show: Itano circus
To gen an impression of what it's like just type 'Itano circus' or 板野サーカス in YT and watch a few vids
19.38
Just were passing by this wonderful stand...
19.45
U-tan wants to get on the Ferris wheel. There's no helping it, though it's really cold.
19.50
Goodness gracious! They did it! There is a heater under the seats! Why didn't they think of it in Osaka???
20.00
We're finally at Venus Fort. It does not look like a very attractive or special shopping mall from outside, nor it does impress you as soon as you enter from the side of the Ferris wheel situated next to it. However, finally getting to the main part of it... Christmas market,
illumination,
fountain,
halls made to resemble European streets with blue sky
21.30
Going to the hotel. I hope we won't be late for check-in. The Ferris wheel we were just in is visible in the window of the automatic self-moving train of the Yurikamome line.
23.50
We got lost when we went to a combini. Streets and intersections looks so alike in Japan. Especially at night.
It's Christmas Eve tomorrow. Everybody tries to decorate the streets as possible.
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