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Essay: My Star
It seems that everyone who falls into Takarazuka eventually has one performer especially they claim as their own. No matter how many others you watch, or whichever troupe you follow, there's someone you will look at and thing 'she is mine'. It's part of being in the community, I suppose. I never saw it coming, when my Sienne wandered into my life, and has since becoming my source of eternal glee.
My particular Sienne is one I discovered back in 2006, in Poland of all places. Takarazuka has had my interest since earlier in that year, but it was in my late Autumn trip that I saw Asaji Saki for the first time, in the 1996/7 Hoshigumi production of Elisabeth. I'd seen other productions of the same show by then, including the 96 Yuki and parts of 02/03 Hana and 05 Tsuki. However, Saki bowled me over with her interpretation of Death.
What actually really snared me was the way she acted. There was so much depth to her interpretation, such grief and joy in such restrained gestures. People frequently rail against her singing voice, but personally, I couldn't care less about it - give me someone who can act the part well, and even if their voice is a little rough and rasping, I will be happy. Too many 'actors' these days can't act. Saki can.
Of course, at that point, my only reason for indulging in Takarazuka was because they had several productions of Elisabeth. Things rapidly changed as I got more and more entrenched in the world of Zuka, and all at once I was finding out that more of her shows were out there, and thanks to my Supplier, I was able to see more. Of course, the particular 'more' in question was Ephemeral Love. If someone can make you like that show, you know she's a good performer.
While her vocals are criticised, I couldn't care less. She's always seemed a gracious and kind woman, and on top of that, she's a wonderful actress, with greast comedic timing, but also the double-edged sword of being able to be dark and vengeful too. She's a wonderfully talented dancer, famous for her lifts and boldness of movement. On top of all of that, she can also play the piano fantastically and doesn't mind being the butt of jokes, as long as it makes the audience smile.
The more I've seen of her, the more I've come to adore her. Unlike current Top Stars, she never ended up as bone-thin and ill-looking. She grew with grace and dignity as she moved through her Top Star Career, and in clips of her interactions with her troupe, it is clear that she led by example and that she was loved for it.
It's telling that from only her 9th year in the company, she was already playing leading roles and actively supporting the then-Top Star. Many of the people who began or rose through the ranks under her tutelage went on to become strong Top Stars themselves (including Shibuki Jun, Ayaki Nao, Matobu Sei, Hanafusa Mari, Kozuki Wataru among others). I know it's not entirely down to her, but I can see a lot of her traits in their performances, so something must have rubbed off :)
I also remain a loyal fangirl of Hoshigumi, although with the number of her gang who were poached over to Tsukigumi, it's no wonder I'm an ardent follower of Tsukigumi as well. Saeko especially would have me following her anywhere. After Mariko, I do believe she's my second OG, and I fear I may need to collect her shows next ;)
Oh, and on a Saeko-related note, what has also made me happy is that Saki has started performing again, and has a forthcoming show with a group of other OG including Saeko too. Saki's happily married to a jeweller, lives in Brazil and has a beautiful little boy, but just recently, with the child now of school age, she's back and performing and she's as charismatic and electrifying as she always was.
I've become a quietly content Asaji Saki fan. I will happily leap to her defence if someone disses her, I will squee about her to anyone who will listen, I will watch her shows when I need a lift, and I lurk on her website on the off-chance that there will be a performance I will actually be able to see live. Her fanclub is still active, from the looks of it, but I wouldn't have the nerve to apply to join it, as much as I adore her. Fanclubs scare me a bit.
Still, I have my quiet little fangirly world that is settled around her. I like other performers, of course. I'd have to be insane not to, but when in doubt, I will return to Saki and her shows like a faithful friend who knows me and can make me smile.
And, as a mark of utter geekdom, I have a small collection of Saki-related-glee:
Photobooks:
- On-Off (1998)
- Sayonara Photobook (1998)
- Asaji Saki (1993)
Programmes/Magazines:
- Emperor/Hemingway Revue (1998)
- Graph w/ Elisabeth feature (1997)
- Elisabeth (1996/7)
Videos:
Shows
Emperor/Hemingway Revue
Lure of the Icon
The Spirit of the Samurai/Fascination II
Vanished with the Musahino Dew
A Map Without Borders
Dinner Shows
Forever the Star
My Diary
World Time
Now's The Season
Forever Yours
Hello Beautiful Night
DVDs:
Elisabeth
Elisabeth - 10th Anniversary Concert 1 & 2
Love at Dal Lake
Who Is Bad?
Ephemeral Love
Cinderella (OG performance w/ Morning Musume)
There is also a photo I found of her as Death. I am a happy, happy fangirl :)
My particular Sienne is one I discovered back in 2006, in Poland of all places. Takarazuka has had my interest since earlier in that year, but it was in my late Autumn trip that I saw Asaji Saki for the first time, in the 1996/7 Hoshigumi production of Elisabeth. I'd seen other productions of the same show by then, including the 96 Yuki and parts of 02/03 Hana and 05 Tsuki. However, Saki bowled me over with her interpretation of Death.
What actually really snared me was the way she acted. There was so much depth to her interpretation, such grief and joy in such restrained gestures. People frequently rail against her singing voice, but personally, I couldn't care less about it - give me someone who can act the part well, and even if their voice is a little rough and rasping, I will be happy. Too many 'actors' these days can't act. Saki can.
Of course, at that point, my only reason for indulging in Takarazuka was because they had several productions of Elisabeth. Things rapidly changed as I got more and more entrenched in the world of Zuka, and all at once I was finding out that more of her shows were out there, and thanks to my Supplier, I was able to see more. Of course, the particular 'more' in question was Ephemeral Love. If someone can make you like that show, you know she's a good performer.
While her vocals are criticised, I couldn't care less. She's always seemed a gracious and kind woman, and on top of that, she's a wonderful actress, with greast comedic timing, but also the double-edged sword of being able to be dark and vengeful too. She's a wonderfully talented dancer, famous for her lifts and boldness of movement. On top of all of that, she can also play the piano fantastically and doesn't mind being the butt of jokes, as long as it makes the audience smile.
The more I've seen of her, the more I've come to adore her. Unlike current Top Stars, she never ended up as bone-thin and ill-looking. She grew with grace and dignity as she moved through her Top Star Career, and in clips of her interactions with her troupe, it is clear that she led by example and that she was loved for it.
It's telling that from only her 9th year in the company, she was already playing leading roles and actively supporting the then-Top Star. Many of the people who began or rose through the ranks under her tutelage went on to become strong Top Stars themselves (including Shibuki Jun, Ayaki Nao, Matobu Sei, Hanafusa Mari, Kozuki Wataru among others). I know it's not entirely down to her, but I can see a lot of her traits in their performances, so something must have rubbed off :)
I also remain a loyal fangirl of Hoshigumi, although with the number of her gang who were poached over to Tsukigumi, it's no wonder I'm an ardent follower of Tsukigumi as well. Saeko especially would have me following her anywhere. After Mariko, I do believe she's my second OG, and I fear I may need to collect her shows next ;)
Oh, and on a Saeko-related note, what has also made me happy is that Saki has started performing again, and has a forthcoming show with a group of other OG including Saeko too. Saki's happily married to a jeweller, lives in Brazil and has a beautiful little boy, but just recently, with the child now of school age, she's back and performing and she's as charismatic and electrifying as she always was.
I've become a quietly content Asaji Saki fan. I will happily leap to her defence if someone disses her, I will squee about her to anyone who will listen, I will watch her shows when I need a lift, and I lurk on her website on the off-chance that there will be a performance I will actually be able to see live. Her fanclub is still active, from the looks of it, but I wouldn't have the nerve to apply to join it, as much as I adore her. Fanclubs scare me a bit.
Still, I have my quiet little fangirly world that is settled around her. I like other performers, of course. I'd have to be insane not to, but when in doubt, I will return to Saki and her shows like a faithful friend who knows me and can make me smile.
And, as a mark of utter geekdom, I have a small collection of Saki-related-glee:
Photobooks:
- On-Off (1998)
- Sayonara Photobook (1998)
- Asaji Saki (1993)
Programmes/Magazines:
- Emperor/Hemingway Revue (1998)
- Graph w/ Elisabeth feature (1997)
- Elisabeth (1996/7)
Videos:
Shows
Emperor/Hemingway Revue
Lure of the Icon
The Spirit of the Samurai/Fascination II
Vanished with the Musahino Dew
A Map Without Borders
Dinner Shows
Forever the Star
My Diary
World Time
Now's The Season
Forever Yours
Hello Beautiful Night
DVDs:
Elisabeth
Elisabeth - 10th Anniversary Concert 1 & 2
Love at Dal Lake
Who Is Bad?
Ephemeral Love
Cinderella (OG performance w/ Morning Musume)
There is also a photo I found of her as Death. I am a happy, happy fangirl :)