script! well, a kind of... ~ Cafe Break in April - Moon retirements, RomiJuri

introduction

1. after being so angry with Mirio's photo session I was almost unable to see her face. however, I made myself listen to her and look at her. the Cafe Break was much later than the session I speak about, and Mirio is still cute and funny. perhaps I am wrong for being so annoyed with that image of hers...
2. also, bear in mind that this time I am not 100% sure that I could hear all the words they pronounce. mistakes possible
3. I did not put my remarks as I usually do, below the text. this time I felt like writing them directly after the sentences they are related to. I hope this doesn't spoil the text too much

if I am not mistaken, this is it

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/bEhbYcF-_WE/

Snow Troupe part

the vid starts with Snow Troupe material which I have no interest in (hint: this means - no literal translation)

what I would say is that even if I cast aside the 'absence of love' towards Yukigumi in me, still both Otozuki-sama and Maihane-sama sound very, very, very hypocritical. they speak fast and their words sound as if they were prepared before and learned by heart. and their words are just so... general... and... hollow... well, perhaps, one can say that they always say general and hollow words on such occasions, and perhaps, I am too biased to be able to feel any sincerity in the Tops whom I do not like. still, I did not have such feelings when I watched videos with my beloved Moon...

well, I can write this part down, if anyone really needs literal translation...

retirement part

we see Kiriya-sama saying the first part of her text from the conference (which can be found in my previous post). nothing in the article on the official website was different from what she really said, unlike newspapers articles which tend to sum up different parts of press-conference and omit a considerable amount of information

then some scenes from the farewell show follow

then Kiriya-sama descends the stage. the subtitle below tell us that the melody is not 'sumire no hana' but from 'Phoenix'. the debut performance of Kiriya-sama

then we cannot see who gives the first part of the flowers to Kiriya-sama... >___< showing the person from the back... and very short...

Kiriya-sama's address is as follows

'In my life, meeting with Takarazuka Revue, and that I have lived up till this day as Takarazuka's Kiriya Hiromu, - 'even if the clock is turned back, I would choose the same path'. *audience laughs&applauds - because this is a famous line her character, Edward VIII, uttered in the performance* From tomorrow, I will departure to an adventurous stage, to search a new dream. To all the spectators here in the Theatre, and to numerous people outside who watched over me, I want to convey the feelings from the very bottom of my heart - thank you so much for these 18 years.'

then we see a very brief demachi for every retiring sienne. even Kiriya-sama was shown for several seconds, including the fans saying 'thank you for everything' and Kiriya-sama throwing her roses into the crowd (though of course, it lasted much longer in reality >_____< why are you so greedy, Cafe Break creators???)

RomiJuri part

the presentation starts. the full translation I already posted

then (finally~) we have a chance to watch the songs presentation (I though I would never see them T___T) - and I was quite delighted with the combination of Ryuu-sama's and Asumi-sama's voices with Manaki-sama's. and of course, I am happy to hear her singing is good, just as I wanted it to be - sonorous and bright like that of a bird, though might be not very strong 

then 'ASUMI Cafe Break' comes. Asumi-sama welcomes the 'guests' as new Top Star ans new Top Musumeyaku

she says that there was held a presentation and asks for the Top Combi impression of it

Ryuu-sama laughs that Mirio hosting the programme is an interesting thing, and they agree that it is a new page for her (as a joke, of course... well, if I understood them right)

then Ryuu-sama starts explaining her feelings. 'finally, this has started' she says, meaning obviously their Topness. 'I have swore once more that I would do my best to create a performance that the audience would enjoy.'

Manaki-sama adds 'Though I was worried a lot, when I started singing I realized keenly that this is the beginning, that it is enjoyable.' (ohhhh you see how she looks on her partners when speaking?)

then Asumi-sama goes on talking nonsense. I am very sorry to say this but she really is >____< and somehow 'tis really funny...

'When I saw you two singing 'aimer' from aside, I thought you were so sparkling! you were so... close! *here Ryuu-sama bursts laughing* I mean, you both have such small faces... (BTW, she uses polite word for 'you both') but it is so fitting! so I became looking forward to it very much. also, I would like to ask... though it might be strange for me to ask this... is there an image of how Ryuu-san is going to play Romeo?'

'Not only Romeo, but also Tybald, and all the following roles I will have, I would like to play in an enjoyable Moon Troupe, with passion and energetically, to tackle those roles, this is what I think... to be the basis of creating a role. (this is a hard phrase to translate... by 'creating a role' Ryuu-sama means the process when the actor thinks of how to act, how to behave on stage, how to become the character he is to play, etc.) And what do you think of it, Mirio?'

'Me? Well... though I am worried, I am thinking - what can jump up to me from the environment, and how am I to react? (I should admit I did not find any resemblance of Asumi-sama's last word in dictionaries, so this is only my speculation) This is how I enjoy the process. Well, maybe I should already start creating a plan for myself.' (by plan they mean the process of creating the role which I described)

Ryuu-sama notes 'Though we have switching roles in one performance, in a way, this is as if we had two performances, and this is also an enjoyable aspect...'

Asumi-sama agrees 'When the roles are different, it is as if we had different performances. The same I felt when in Scarlet Pimpernel. The lines, the feelings were different to the extent I could not imagine, and thinking of how it would turn out to be, is also a thing to enjoy. Chapi, what do you think of playing Juliette?'

Manaki-sama *blushing already beet-red* 'Until now there weren't a lot of chances for me to have the honour of playing together with Masaki-san, and Asumi-san...'

Asumi-sama interrupts her (which seems such a cruel thing to me... how could she say this instead of supporting her kouhai?) 'Your face is so read... You're nervous so it's so red...'

Poor Manaki-sama touches her face and starts repeating in nervousness 'There weren't, were there? There weren't, were there?'

Ryuu-sama is the first to put an end to this 'Finish properly!'

Manaki-sama comes to her senses 'Yes! There weren't, so I am looking forward a lot. For me... personally... I wonder, what colour I would be dyed in, and with a pure white heart I want to move futher.' *and she smiles, probably happy she finally managed to finish her speech properly* (I remember the phrase about the colour used in animes and doramas frequently. this means that a person would be changed depending on some circumstances or other people. if somebody knows 'Kaichou wa Maid-sama', Usui used this phrase in the episode about choosing colours for the maids uniforms - he said that Misaki's colour was white because she was not influenced by anyone, and that he wanted to paint her with his)

Ryuu-sama develops the thought of them three 'The three of us seem to be a party which cannot be separated even if we are severed, and from now on, perhaps, there will be a lot of moments when we think not of ourselves, but of the other two, beyond the stage too, and turning this into a bond, thus creating a better teamwork, it would be great to create a performance like this. This is what I think now.'

Asumi-sams finishes 'So, ASUMI Cafe Break comes to an end today, but I would be happy to do this again! Thank you a lot!' *everybody laughs* (I am not sure why, maybe Asumi-sama simply said a nonsense again... I guess she might have used a word which is not usually used in such cases to mark the ending of the programme)

Ryuu-sama and Manaki-sama also say 'Thank you a lot'

farewell show part again

Kiriya-sama 'Thank you! My dear guests, I see you have already stood up... *laugh* this means... *laugh* your preparations are completed, am I right? *laugh* Hiro-san, and Soruna-san (she calls them by nicknames, huh?), I hope your warming up is also all right. *laugh* So, I would like to conduct the traditional Moon Troupe Closing Night Great Jump. (look at Mirio, she is limbering up her hands and neck!) Guests on the second floor, please be careful. Please, kumichou...'

Koshino-sama 'So, I would like us to jump on ban-ZAI. Tsukigumi...'

everybody, including the audience jumps shouting 'ban-ZAAAAI!'

Kiriya-sama says 'Thank you!' again

the end

(I ended up rewatching the last part several times. not only to write down what they say. simply... to watch again...)

I might be sticking my nose into other people's business, but Maihane-san is not announcing her retirement. is she going to do it later or am I to give up on Snow completely?

my great thanx to Tudou ^.^

erm... I just wanted to express my happiness and gratitude to those who upload a lot of decent stuff on Tudou

f. e. the video about the last day oh those who retire in Grand Theatre is already there! ^___^

*upd*

why is everybody pronouncing so very touching speeches... I cannot cry anymore, my eyes ache!

at least I should provide the text of those speeches... I promise I would do this very soon, perhaps I might have finished translating them by the end of the week

interview translation. Ms Kiriya's Tokyo interview about her retirement

the first thing I should do today, of course!
the original article

The interview of Kiriya Hiromu, retiring after the closing night of Tokyo performance
On April, 22nd, Kiriya Hiromu, the Top Star of Moon Troupe, gave an interview on her retiring after the end of musical 'Edward VIII' and brilliance stage 'Misty Station' in Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre.

Kiriya Hiromu

'We have just successfully finished the performance of 'Edward VIII' and 'Misty Station' in Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre. Full of energy, with happy feelings, we were able to see the curtain fall down after the closing night, and now I am full of gratitude and sense of accomplishment. I thank you all for your cheering that I was honoured to receive.'

Q. If you recall the place called 'Takarazuka', what is it like?

A. The very essence of my life is that I have been doing my best with the feeling that I lived for the stage, and I still cannot realize the fact that I will not stand on that stage anymore starting from tomorrow. 'Takarazuka' is an irreplaceable thing, and I think from now on I will live on never forgetting this feeling, never losing it.

Q. The Farewell show was splendid, wasn't it?

A. We created the show having received a lot of recommendations from Saitou-sensei, so that it would be focused on the performances where I played the leading part, and the others who retire also got highlight scenes. There was a dance in black tailcoats on the Grand Staircase, and I think there were no Farewell shows before which went as far, but I wanted to show the path I have taken, so I was allowed to pack it with many things.

Q. The music which accompanied you descending the Staircase for the address?
A. It was a melody of rockette dance in my debut performance 'Phoenix'. One phrase from it is used in the show 'Misty Station' which has just ended.

Q. How and when did you think over your last address?

A. First, I made an address in the Grand Theatre, which was so close to me even before my enrolment, that was the first part, then I came to Tokyo, but in the everyday life being constantly pressed by the performances, I could not settle my thoughts, so I was thinking from the previous evening till today's morning, and finally decided during the performance itself.

Q. After this day has come to an end, the moment when you clearly realized that it is the retirement?

A. The atmosphere of the audience was quite different from before, so I was feeling today was the closing night, but I concentrated on the performance without being washed away by different feelings, and I acted aiming not to be overly worried by the fact of retiring.

Q. When will you have the actual feeling of retiring?

A. From those who already retired I was honoured to hear that it takes approximately one busy month to settle everything and get prepared to the new life, but in two or three months I will probably start feeling lonely.

Q. Any words you would like to convey to the juniors who are to meet the 100 anniversary of Takarazuka Revue in two years?

A. I have arrived on this day having lived with the belief that there is no other talent than to do your best, with the feeling that doing your best is never in vain, so I want you to be proud that you are in such a wonderful place where you can do your best, I want you to do your best in challenging yourselves to try all the chances for yourselves.

_____

translator's remarks

1.  almost cried at the last words, the address to the young generations...
2. *upd 27.04* 

changed 'rocket' to 'rockette'. I thought the dance to be a kind of motive of a rocket, as the revue 'Phoenix' uses the theme of other planets and spaceships etc. having read the description I see there were no rocket dances, likely ロケット means rockette, however I have never met any mentioning of rockettes in the interviews of siennes so far, therefore - hard for me to say anything... >___< please forgive my inexperience

now this is how the end looks like

you might remember me taking screencaps from personal pages on TakaWiki, I posted them some time ago

here is the next part of them. 'personal pages: next stage'
thanks to everybody who left, and congratulation to everybody who moved forward
nothing is eternal
somehow or other, life is going on

interview translation. Kiriya's last day in Grand Theatre

this time I decided to give up my proper sleep at night. so, I am trying to translate the article
hope my lack of sleeping does not affect the translation...

Interview with Kiriya Hiromu on the closing night of Moon Troupe performance in Takarazuka Grand Theatre

March, 5th, (Monday), was the closing day of the musical 'Edward VIII' -the love that cost him the crown- and brilliant stage 'Misty Station' -the terminal station in fog-.

After the performance ended, an interview concerning retirement was held

Kiriya Hiromu

'Just now, I was honoured to graduate from the Takarazuka Grand Theatre with a feeling of happiness. For me, the Takarazuka Grand Theatre is a 'home ground', and I am full of gratitude to all, for being able to come to finish so lively. I want to head the Tokyo performance polishing my skills even more, so that together with everyone we will creatre a good performance'

Q. Your feelings when you were waiting for today to come?

A. I was wondering, what I would feel heading towards this day, but I felt perfectly self-possessed and happy. The musical, farewell show, greeting, all of these I did with the same mental strain as usual, and I am releived that something is already finished. I felt that I was performing in the closing night show

Q. Reason why you chose hakama and haori for the greeting?

A. I am a male-role player, and a student of Takarazuka at the same time, therefore I decided long ago that I would like to give my greeting being able to wear a hakama for the last time

Q. How was the penlight in the audience during the farewell performance?

A. The audience was beautiful like a sea of stars. It was a moment of happiness, that I was bestowed with a chance to sing in such a space

Q. The moment you thought it was the last moment of standing in Takarazuka Grand Theatre?

A. I was not thinking that it was the last performance while playing, but when it ended and I was receiving applause on the curtain call, I was observing the audience of the theatre and I keenly felt  like 'so, I will never stand here again...'

the final day of Moon Troupe performance in Takarazuka

I was going to write this post exactly when the performance ends (approx 6 PM my local time), but I ended up sleeping. unfortunately, my getting up early in the morning had its effect...

nevertheless, I cannot miss this date

let me try and sum up what happened

there were 45 performances of the main cast, and there are 2500 seats in the Grand Theater. simple math can help us to see that

112500 people were able to watch the performance

well, in theory. in reality, there were not as many, but you can at least imagine the amount of them

on the other hand, the retiring siennas were able to experience their last show for 45 times. 'tis a commonspread topic - the case when an actor or musician or any other person of art has his last one appearance on public. what I am trying to imagine is how they should feel who were doing the same thing for 45 times (and will be doing this in Tokyo again) knowing that this particular performance is not the last yet, but every day pushes them towards the finale...

the other piece of news that seems interesting, is that

the Tokyo last day will be broadcast much wider

than the one in Takarazuka itself! unexpectedly... not only Bow Hall again, but also neighbouring Toho cinemas, namely the ones in Shibuya, Roppongi and Kawasaki

moreover, the price is competitively low - 4500 for a ticket. even an A-ticket in Zuka costs more, and 4500 is not a huge money for a Japanese, believe me. is only I were able to be in Japan on April. 22......... *_____*

what I am also surprised with is that some performances do have a very complicated structure, so that they even need

explanation provided here

'tis the corellation chart of the characters in 'Edward VIII'. to be honest, I do not even bother to read it as I am not good at remembering the names at all, so I prefer to watch and understand in the process

well, what I did bother to do was to make screenshots of official photos from the KiriMari Memorial website

they are not avaiable for saving to your computer via right-click, so I hope my work is useful

BTW, according to Rurustar Kiriya-sama will be on the cover of April Kageki issue

interview translation! - Oozora-sama retiring

The Top Star of the Cosmos Troupe Oozora Yuuhi - press-conference concerning retirement



December, 27th (Tuesday), Cosmos Troupe Top Star Oozora Yuuhi gave an interview concerning the announcement of her retirement after the musical 'Brilliant Days' and grand show 'Climax ~Cry-Max~' (Takarazuka Grand Theatre: from April, 13th, till May, 14th; Tokyo Takarazuka Theater: from June, 1st, till July, 1st, 2012).

Kobayashi Kouichi (the board chairman of Takarazuka Revue)
'The Cosmos Troupe Top Star Oozora Yuuhi decided to graduate from Takarazuka on July, 1st, next year on the final day of the performance in Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre. Before becoming the Top, she experienced different things, gained the true strength, speaking of her, she became a really great male-role player, and as the Top Star of the Cosmos Troupe she contributed to Takarazuka becoming the way it is now, she leads the theatre. Among the 5 troupes' Top Stars she is the only one to have experienced the old performances of Takarazuka, and she is graduating now, so I feel a bit lonely, but until she graduates, as Oozora Yuuhi, I pray you to support her so that she shines more and more'

Oozora Yuuhi
'I shall graduate July, 1st, next year. I would like to thank everybody for having been supporting me for a long time. Until the last day I want to live on the stage as Oozora Yuuhi, as a male-role player, so I hope for your further support'

The reason of the decision to retire?
'After I received the honour to play the leading part, I was bestowed with spending really productive days, but during 'Classico Italiano', 'NICE GUY!!' the stage performer Oozora Yuuhi, a male-role player, seemed to be interesting, I felt the definite feedback, that I was acknowledged, so I thought I can graduate'

A performance or a role that is memorable?
'After I began to play the leading part, all of the roles were memorable. Apart from them, when I was bestowed with the role of Kuraoka Ginshirou from 'Kamata March' ('Gin-chan's Love') as my first challenge, I think the thing I laid my hands on was a big one'

Considering the performance before the retirement
'The performance which I graduate with, is a debut performance (for the 98th class), and the 'Brilliant Days' is a debut of mrs Harada, so I think it will become a very bright and dramatic performance, and as I remember of my own initial intention, I think it would be good to bring to a finish my last performance' 
A message to colleagues
'I was honoured with opportunity to enjoy the world called Takarazuka, the world called male-role playing, and it seems to me, I was only savouring it. The time is different for everyone, but the time spent in Takarazuka was limited, and I think, the fact I put everything in that time will become the supplies of my life. I want you to put all your energy into what you face and live a productive time'

A message to the fans

'You have always, always kindly watched over the clumsy me, and my gratitude cannot be expressed with words. When I struggle for the last time, I think it is my fans who pushed me in the back to playing the leading part. That I am here doing this is also due to my fans, and I thank them with all my heart. I want to receive the honour of being enjoyed by everyone as male-role player, Oozora Yuuhi until the 1st of July, so I pray you to honour me with your support until the end'

_____

translator's notes

1. I do feel 'tis important to translate not only meaning, but also the style used by siennas. they are always polite, overly polite, pronoucing the unwieldy phrases as if the process is automatic. I personally do adore this feature of theirs, and if you do not, that is absolutely not my problem, as I am strict about myself and I am perfectly sure my kind of translation doth not affect the meaning as well
2. Oozora-sama named mrs Harada as 'Harada-sensei' (of course, she's a director), and as I am not going to leave the suffixes (and BTW I am against 'Gin-chan's love' as the English translation) in translations, any ideas of how to replace the 'sensei' suffix would be appreciated
3. yes I am controversial myself, as I do use suffixes, but that's a habit of mine that cannot be erased, and I consider it tolerable while speaking myself, not translating