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masahiSummary: During the Bafuku period, Princess Kazu, half-sister of Emperor Koumei, is sent - to her distress - to marry the young Shogun, Iemochi Tokugawa. She is accompanied by Hashimoto Saneyana, a childhood friend of Kazu and the envoy of the Emperor, who is as grieved as she by the decision. It is expected to unite the two houses as the Tokugawa power wanes, but with Iemochi's death, matters change. Hashimoto is reunited with her during the surrender of Edo Castle.
(This is a loose estimate, I'm afraid)
This is a Nihonmono in a very traditional sense: there is no singing, no revue, there's a lot of spoken dialogue and traditional music, and what dancing there is is entirely traditional. That, by no means, means it's a bad show. I bought it since it had Asaji Saki in it (do I hear you cry 'duh!'?), but the whole cast was unsurprisingly lovely.
While I'm not entirely knowledgeable about Japanese history, the tale of Princess Kazu can be easily found by poking online. Emperor Koumei was very much an isolationist, wanting Japan for only the Japanese, and distrusting of foreigners. He shipped off his half-sister to marry the young Shogun to consolidate power and in an attempt to keep the Westerners away from Japanese doors.
Princess Kazu (played by Shiraki Ayaka), who was previously engaged to Prince Arisugawa Taruhito, was promptly picked to marry Iemochi. The show begins with Kazu reacting to the news of her impending nuptials and shipping off to Kanto, which she seems to view as the barbarian heartland. To say she is not thrilled may be an understatement.
As honour dictates, she is delivered to the Shogun, who is still grieving for his lost lover, and a deep fondness emerges. When the young Shogun dies of tuberculosis and the Black Ships are threatening, it is Kazu who steps in and negotiates the surrender of the Castle at Edo, saving the lives of those sheltered there.
As much as I can tell Hashimoto Saneyana - played by Asaji Saki - is an entirely fictitious nobleman, who shares a deeply unrequited smit with Princess Kazu. They have clearly known one another for many years, and his fondness for her remains even after his betrothal and her marriage. And especially when she's tragically widowed, a billion times more dignified and a hardcore negotiator.
I've only seen a few Nihonmono, and none of them were as purely traditional as this show, but what surprised me what the eroticism of the dancing. Particularly worthy of note was a dance between Mariko and Ayaka, which brought them so heatedly close to one another. The moment when Ayaka dropped her fan and Mariko returned it should not have smouldered with UST, but it did. You could practically hear the air crackling between them.
The use of sleeves and fans as extensions of the body were beautiful. It's such a minimalist dance style, but when it's done well, it can be so expressive. Act one ended with Mariko dancing alone as Shiraki is carried away, as snow begins to fall, and you can see the grief and misery in every movement of her body. While in tears. She does know how to grab your heart-strings and twist.
Now, to the cast:
Asaji Saki as Hashimoto Saneyana: I was surprised that Mariko's character was the one I wasn't all that interested in. She was as good as ever, with that wonderful dignity she gives to all her male roles, but for once, the Top Musumeyaku stole the show from her.
There were some lovely, understated scenes with them, one of the first being when the fraught Kazu runs into Hashimoto, and he observes she's running around in bare feet and must be cold. He promptly kneels down and slips his shoes onto her feet. Another is when they reunite after she surrenders Edo Castle, and their chemistry smoulders.
On top of that, seeing them dance together was breathtaking. While I knew Mariko could dance, I'd only seen her do western dance, jazz-style and latin-style, so to see her being equally proficient in traditional Japanese style, so graceful and elegant, was a lovely surprise.
And really, despite her character being a bit to prim and proper and honour-bound for my tastes, that scene when he's watching Kazu being taken off to Edo was absolutely heart-breaking, especially watching hime dance alone in the falling snow.
Shiraki Ayaka as Princess Kazu: While at first, Kazu comes off as a typical Musumeyaku role, what really impressed me was the transition and maturing of the character which Ayaka achieved through the show.
She never quite managed with Elisabeth, but this time, Kazu went from a teenager having temper-tantrums and flailing about and screaming about how much she didn't want to go to Kanto to the dignified widow of the Shogun, who sacrificed some of her own honour to protect the lives of those in her care.
On top of that, seeing her doing traditional dance was a revelation. I could happily watch her and Saki dance together that way for hours. The chemistry there was lovely and beautifully understated, which made it all the more powerful and poignant.
Ayako Nao as Shogun Iemochi: Yes, this is another reason I bought the video. She was on the back of the box and I went "WHEE!". I love Saeko for her acting style, and I think Mariko was fond of her from the number of decent roles she had her in.
Or, in this case, one of the main roles.
Iemochi started out as a sweet, smitten young man, smitten on his favourite and playing hide and seek with her in the palace gardens. After said love-interest's death from an 'illness' (which strangely came on after the doctor, in the pay of his step-mother, gave her medicine), Iemochi turned quiet and sombre. The death scene of his girlfriend was impressive as well, but more on her later.
This show gave Saeko a chance to show her range of emotions and capabilities as a young man, and there was a lovely trio dance for the scene opening act two, with Koumei, Kazu and Iemochi dancing together, a symbolic transition of Kazu's position in Koumei's household to her position in Iemochi's.
While not as sizzling as Kazu/Hashimoto, the dynamic between Iemochi/Kazu was one of a surprising amount of mutual respect and deep fondness. Her reaction to his death was touching, and her determination to do what she did came from that fondness.
Incidentally, the death scene was very beautifully done, with the young Shogun struggling to rise and carry out his duties, even as his bloodied handkerchief fell to the floor.
Ritsu Tomomi as Hashimoto Saneakira: I'm hoping I've got this right, actress-name-wise, because really, no one stole the show quite as much as the somewhat camp old relative of Hashimoto. I suspect this is her, and quite honestly, I want to see more with her in it, because she was priceless, with wonderful timing and a great sense of mischief in her character.
Gleefully tripping about, Saneakira would tease everyone in sight, then laugh gleefully behind his fan, or grinning to show off his blackened teeth, and generally be having a jolly good time, singing to himself as he pranced off into the wings. I adored him :)
Izumo Aya as Tenshouin: another scene-stealer. She didn't really do much, but the biggest character scene for her was when she decided to get rid of Iemochi's 'unsuitable' girlfriend. Bribing the doctor to poison the girl, she stood by and watched as the girl died in agony, and then briskly told Iemochi to get over himself when he flailed with angst.
Izumo Aya is far too good at tough, fierce, resilient and sometimes downright unpleasant women. And yet, she still manages to put something in them that makes their actions understandable, even if no less pleasant.
Miya Erika as Hina: now, I'm hoping I got this one right as well. They're not really ones for saying the character name out loud.
Still, for a character who got all of two scenes, she got one of the most horrible on-stage Takarazuka demises I've ever seen. Being poisoned is bad enough, but they had it happen centre stage, so this beautiful, gentle loving girl who had clearly adored Iemochi was left foetal in agony, half-crawling from her deathbed, her hair spilling all around her as she choked. And it wasn't half-hearted. She sounded like she was in agony.
Kudos go to Erika, who is a fantastic little singer and dancer. I never imagined she'd have the power to pull off such a horrifically brutal death scene.
Ema Naoki as Kidou Takayoshi: SHE GOT A SWORD DANCE!!! Well, a katana dance! Even better :D And playing a hardcore warrior type, she got to run about being fantastically tough and fierce. Plus, she had the best male wig in the show.
Plus, according to Japanese history, Kidou was incredibly significant to the changes that happened in Japan during the Meiji restoration, so it makes me glad she got such a spiffy role.
Also, she's a fricking spiffy dancer :)
Mayuzuki Kou as Itou Magonosuke: this is another of the names I'm a little shaky on, but I think this one's right, and she was playing an extremely hardcore samurai type, who quite easily dispatched several people before stalking into a teahouse and - without a word - getting everyone's attention.
For someone with such a quiet, brooding and brief role, she made quite an impression. She moved like she owned the stage, and like no one could take it from her. I certainly approve.
On the whole, those are all the big roles which made an impression on me. Now, I just need to get the video converted to DVD before it gets worn out from the re-watching...
(This is a loose estimate, I'm afraid)
This is a Nihonmono in a very traditional sense: there is no singing, no revue, there's a lot of spoken dialogue and traditional music, and what dancing there is is entirely traditional. That, by no means, means it's a bad show. I bought it since it had Asaji Saki in it (do I hear you cry 'duh!'?), but the whole cast was unsurprisingly lovely.
While I'm not entirely knowledgeable about Japanese history, the tale of Princess Kazu can be easily found by poking online. Emperor Koumei was very much an isolationist, wanting Japan for only the Japanese, and distrusting of foreigners. He shipped off his half-sister to marry the young Shogun to consolidate power and in an attempt to keep the Westerners away from Japanese doors.
Princess Kazu (played by Shiraki Ayaka), who was previously engaged to Prince Arisugawa Taruhito, was promptly picked to marry Iemochi. The show begins with Kazu reacting to the news of her impending nuptials and shipping off to Kanto, which she seems to view as the barbarian heartland. To say she is not thrilled may be an understatement.
As honour dictates, she is delivered to the Shogun, who is still grieving for his lost lover, and a deep fondness emerges. When the young Shogun dies of tuberculosis and the Black Ships are threatening, it is Kazu who steps in and negotiates the surrender of the Castle at Edo, saving the lives of those sheltered there.
As much as I can tell Hashimoto Saneyana - played by Asaji Saki - is an entirely fictitious nobleman, who shares a deeply unrequited smit with Princess Kazu. They have clearly known one another for many years, and his fondness for her remains even after his betrothal and her marriage. And especially when she's tragically widowed, a billion times more dignified and a hardcore negotiator.
I've only seen a few Nihonmono, and none of them were as purely traditional as this show, but what surprised me what the eroticism of the dancing. Particularly worthy of note was a dance between Mariko and Ayaka, which brought them so heatedly close to one another. The moment when Ayaka dropped her fan and Mariko returned it should not have smouldered with UST, but it did. You could practically hear the air crackling between them.
The use of sleeves and fans as extensions of the body were beautiful. It's such a minimalist dance style, but when it's done well, it can be so expressive. Act one ended with Mariko dancing alone as Shiraki is carried away, as snow begins to fall, and you can see the grief and misery in every movement of her body. While in tears. She does know how to grab your heart-strings and twist.
Now, to the cast:
Asaji Saki as Hashimoto Saneyana: I was surprised that Mariko's character was the one I wasn't all that interested in. She was as good as ever, with that wonderful dignity she gives to all her male roles, but for once, the Top Musumeyaku stole the show from her.
There were some lovely, understated scenes with them, one of the first being when the fraught Kazu runs into Hashimoto, and he observes she's running around in bare feet and must be cold. He promptly kneels down and slips his shoes onto her feet. Another is when they reunite after she surrenders Edo Castle, and their chemistry smoulders.
On top of that, seeing them dance together was breathtaking. While I knew Mariko could dance, I'd only seen her do western dance, jazz-style and latin-style, so to see her being equally proficient in traditional Japanese style, so graceful and elegant, was a lovely surprise.
And really, despite her character being a bit to prim and proper and honour-bound for my tastes, that scene when he's watching Kazu being taken off to Edo was absolutely heart-breaking, especially watching hime dance alone in the falling snow.
Shiraki Ayaka as Princess Kazu: While at first, Kazu comes off as a typical Musumeyaku role, what really impressed me was the transition and maturing of the character which Ayaka achieved through the show.
She never quite managed with Elisabeth, but this time, Kazu went from a teenager having temper-tantrums and flailing about and screaming about how much she didn't want to go to Kanto to the dignified widow of the Shogun, who sacrificed some of her own honour to protect the lives of those in her care.
On top of that, seeing her doing traditional dance was a revelation. I could happily watch her and Saki dance together that way for hours. The chemistry there was lovely and beautifully understated, which made it all the more powerful and poignant.
Ayako Nao as Shogun Iemochi: Yes, this is another reason I bought the video. She was on the back of the box and I went "WHEE!". I love Saeko for her acting style, and I think Mariko was fond of her from the number of decent roles she had her in.
Or, in this case, one of the main roles.
Iemochi started out as a sweet, smitten young man, smitten on his favourite and playing hide and seek with her in the palace gardens. After said love-interest's death from an 'illness' (which strangely came on after the doctor, in the pay of his step-mother, gave her medicine), Iemochi turned quiet and sombre. The death scene of his girlfriend was impressive as well, but more on her later.
This show gave Saeko a chance to show her range of emotions and capabilities as a young man, and there was a lovely trio dance for the scene opening act two, with Koumei, Kazu and Iemochi dancing together, a symbolic transition of Kazu's position in Koumei's household to her position in Iemochi's.
While not as sizzling as Kazu/Hashimoto, the dynamic between Iemochi/Kazu was one of a surprising amount of mutual respect and deep fondness. Her reaction to his death was touching, and her determination to do what she did came from that fondness.
Incidentally, the death scene was very beautifully done, with the young Shogun struggling to rise and carry out his duties, even as his bloodied handkerchief fell to the floor.
Ritsu Tomomi as Hashimoto Saneakira: I'm hoping I've got this right, actress-name-wise, because really, no one stole the show quite as much as the somewhat camp old relative of Hashimoto. I suspect this is her, and quite honestly, I want to see more with her in it, because she was priceless, with wonderful timing and a great sense of mischief in her character.
Gleefully tripping about, Saneakira would tease everyone in sight, then laugh gleefully behind his fan, or grinning to show off his blackened teeth, and generally be having a jolly good time, singing to himself as he pranced off into the wings. I adored him :)
Izumo Aya as Tenshouin: another scene-stealer. She didn't really do much, but the biggest character scene for her was when she decided to get rid of Iemochi's 'unsuitable' girlfriend. Bribing the doctor to poison the girl, she stood by and watched as the girl died in agony, and then briskly told Iemochi to get over himself when he flailed with angst.
Izumo Aya is far too good at tough, fierce, resilient and sometimes downright unpleasant women. And yet, she still manages to put something in them that makes their actions understandable, even if no less pleasant.
Miya Erika as Hina: now, I'm hoping I got this one right as well. They're not really ones for saying the character name out loud.
Still, for a character who got all of two scenes, she got one of the most horrible on-stage Takarazuka demises I've ever seen. Being poisoned is bad enough, but they had it happen centre stage, so this beautiful, gentle loving girl who had clearly adored Iemochi was left foetal in agony, half-crawling from her deathbed, her hair spilling all around her as she choked. And it wasn't half-hearted. She sounded like she was in agony.
Kudos go to Erika, who is a fantastic little singer and dancer. I never imagined she'd have the power to pull off such a horrifically brutal death scene.
Ema Naoki as Kidou Takayoshi: SHE GOT A SWORD DANCE!!! Well, a katana dance! Even better :D And playing a hardcore warrior type, she got to run about being fantastically tough and fierce. Plus, she had the best male wig in the show.
Plus, according to Japanese history, Kidou was incredibly significant to the changes that happened in Japan during the Meiji restoration, so it makes me glad she got such a spiffy role.
Also, she's a fricking spiffy dancer :)
Mayuzuki Kou as Itou Magonosuke: this is another of the names I'm a little shaky on, but I think this one's right, and she was playing an extremely hardcore samurai type, who quite easily dispatched several people before stalking into a teahouse and - without a word - getting everyone's attention.
For someone with such a quiet, brooding and brief role, she made quite an impression. She moved like she owned the stage, and like no one could take it from her. I certainly approve.
On the whole, those are all the big roles which made an impression on me. Now, I just need to get the video converted to DVD before it gets worn out from the re-watching...
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-07 08:47 pm (UTC)Just a random spammy observation. XD I do enjoy reading your commentary (and admire those who can put forth coherent ones, since my responses usually are limited to things like "shiny!" and "oh god I want that fabric" and techie-related flail).
... and out of curiosity, is there a particular gizmo you use for the VHS to DVD conversion? I had no luck with the first few methods I tried and -- well, yes, tapes wearing out. :D
/spam
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-09 08:31 pm (UTC)As for switching, I fortunately have a friend with a gadget who can do it. She did several of them, and the ones she didn't, she already had converted from her own collection. Galynthia on LJ is the person to ask, as she does my little twiddles for me :)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-13 03:32 pm (UTC)And thanks for the pointer -- I'll ask her for advice. The conversion was one of the few things neither I nor my usual tech-geek resources had a clue about computerwise, so I was at a loss. :) Much appreciate it!