Richard E. Rae (76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM)
Thu, 4 Feb 1999 06:32:15 -0500
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express Macintosh Edition - 4.5 (0410) Message-ID: <199902041208.HAA26524@dub-img-ims-5.compuserve.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 06:32:15 -0500 From: "Richard E. Rae" <76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: Takarazuka
>> surprising given the national enthusiasm of women for the Takarazuka Revue.
>
> What's this? Please enlighten me, Richard. ^_^
Ray,
The famous Takarazuka Kagekidan is actually the "Teikoku Kagekidan"
personified, and Hiroi Ouji certainly based the Teigeki on it. It's a very
old, all-female theatre company founded in 1912 which puts on elaborate
Western-style plays and glorious musicals (gee, just like the Teigeki!) in
both Tokyo (at the Tokyo Takarazuka Gekijou) and in the town of Takarazuka
itself. It was a bit scandalous at the time because it contrasted
immediately with the all-male Kabuki theater, but their fresh, showy
approach was an instant hit with the public and it continues to be so to
this day. Many Takarazuka stars have a heavy fan following by young girls
and women, and there was even a recent Takara doll issue of a well-known
performer. Yuu Daiki, a well-known star of the Revue, played the role of
Daichi in another of my favorite anime series, "Hime-chan no Ribbon".
>> And if you want to experience this phenomenon in reverse, try the "Shoujo
>> Kakumei Utena- Itsu ka Kakumei sareru Monogatari" game, where you're
>> playing as a female character. Lots of fun, especially when getting involved
>> with Juri! You have an equal chance to get "close" to a male or female in
>> that game <g>.
>
> Well, you don't have to go that far. Just look at Sailor Moon and all
> the American "male" fans... a manga/show that was intended purely
> for a shoujo audience in Japan.
Well, I'll have to include myself among those fans, as I'm a Sailor Moon
dai-fan as well (and have every episode of every series). As well as of
"Shoujo Kakumei Utena", one of the best anime series ever.
--Richard