愛と青春の宝塚: 〜恋よりも生命よりも

I was recommended to watch Ai to Seishun no Takarazuka. Koi Yori mo Inochi Yori mo -  that's a TV mini-drama about Takarazuka's life. It's highly amusing, but at the same time it is Kansai-ben (関西弁) which means - I struggle to understand ))) But still lots of fun.

And I found the official website of the drama  and the picture just deserves to be worshiped )))))

Ai to Seishun no Takarazuka. Koi Yori mo Inochi Yori mo

While I was playing with an idea of going to Japan next year, I was checking out what's Takarazuka has on offer here and of course could not pass on this one:

The Sword of the Habsburgs / BOLERO (Star 2010)

宝剣 --ほうけん-- (n) treasured sword

I mean, I'm a rabbid Habsburg's fangirl (Spanish and Austrian ... Sisi and Margaret Theresa...), so this Habsburg's unapologetic fangirling is something I definitely would love to see...  A girl can dream, right?

There is no DVD yet released with this prettiness, but definitely something to look forward.

Theater Noh.
能 --のう -- (n) (1) talent; gift; function; (2) noh (theatre
Noh is traditional Japanese theater originating from the 14th century. It is based on the very Japanese concept of procedure typical for many Japanese arts - 序破急 --じょはきゅう-- roughly "beginning, middle, rapid".

• 序 --じょ -- (n) (1) order; ordering; (2) beginning; start;
• 破 --は-- (n) (in gagaku or noh) middle section of a song
• 急 --きゅう-- (adj-na) (1) urgent; sudden; abrupt; (2) sharp; steep; precipitous; (3) rapid; swift; fast; (n) (4) emergency; crisis; (5) hurrying; haste;

The Noh performers are mostly:

• The main character - 仕手--して--(n) (1) doer; performer; (2) protagonist (in noh or kyogen); hero; leading part; main character; (3) (仕手 only) speculator (in trading);

• The support character - 脇 --わき-- (n) (1) (usu. 脇) side; aside;

• The actor(s) performing interludes- 狂言 --きょうげん-- (n) (1) kyogen (farce played during a Noh cycle); play; drama;
• The musicians who play 4 instruments used in Noh  - 囃子--はやし-- (n) Japanese orchestra; band; accompaniment

I would not dare to suggest that I know anything about Noh, but there is plenty of literature describing and analyzing Noh theater.  I just wish to remember the main terms in case I happen to see Noh performance.

宝塚歌劇団 Takarazuka Kagekidan is a all-female theatrical troupe in the city Takarazuka (宝塚市 ) in Hyougo Prefecture (兵庫県 - ひょうごけん) that makes fabulous performances in the most glamorous style.

歌劇団 --かげきだん -- (n) opera company; opera troup
劇団 --げきだん -- troupe; theatrical company

It's a pure lush!

湖月わたる, Kozuki Watar - a former member of Takarazuke playing male characters (Otokoyaku)

男役 -- おとこやく  -- (n) male part or role