Takarazuka transfer announcement from hell

[winter]

...yeah. I need some time to think this through.

Some things, I really like. The reason Tomomin initially caught my attention was not her goofiness, but the fact that she's one of those girls who gives all to her role, allowing it to subsume her. Onstage, Yumeno Seika isn't there, and this is a very Yukigumi thing.

Similarly, I think Masako will do nicely in Hoshigumi (giving Toyoko someone to bounce off of) and MiyaRuri in Tsukigumi - Hoshi just has too many people and she hasn't been well-utilised lately; Mii-chan's situation in Sora was the same. Dai-chan I'm not sure about - there's going to be Tomomin and Koma above her and Kingu gaining fast. I'm curious about Serika Toa in Hanagumi. Dammit. Have to start watching them.

But I'm... annoyed about the Senka transfers. I know, I've been talking for ages about how Senka needs new blood, but it rubs me the wrong way to take Ema Naoki and Asuka Yuu away from troupes that they've been with for respectively 30 and 35 years. Let them retire with the people who care for them, would you?

Micchan... I'm hoping it's a New Senka thing, Tom-style, stealing All The Shows. And better than the dreaded alternative!

Originally posted at Dreamwidth - comments

Comments

[yumenotatsu.livejournal.com]

I've heard too many people say that New Senka was a Bad Thing, killing the careers of most of its participants.

[winter]

New Senka was moving 10 star-tracked otokoyaku there. And out of that ten, two went on to be long-term top stars, four were shorter-term top stars (Charlie due to health reasons, Emao Yuu I still don't know why, Saeko and Tartan both managed a year plus), two bowed out pretty early and two (Gaichi and Juri Sakiho) had five-six years of interesting roles, basically filling in whenever a distinguished upperclassman type could be useful. Not that bad an average all in all, and not worse than other transfers - at the same time Nettan and Touko were shunted into Hoshigumi, and while Touko hung on tightly, Nettan eventually quit, so 50-50 there.

What I'd most like to see is the company shunting talented no-longer-star-track upperclassmen into Senka. The people who might not have the fanclub numbers, but are dedicated to their craft and see a future for themselves with the company. Itsumine Aki is this type, and I could actually more likely see the younger kumichou they left in place this time. (I wonder if Naga-san, Hacchi-san and Junko just can't take the rehearsal pace anymore...)

[yumenotatsu.livejournal.com]

What I'd most like to see is the company shunting talented no-longer-star-track upperclassmen into Senka.

Oh yes. I mean, I think Micchan is better off in Senka - more chances for interesting stuff to do (and I actually wouldn't mind seeing Morie in there after Kiriyan's retirement, as she seems to be stuck. Though her retirement seems more likely :( )

I think it's the high percentage of short-term stars seems worrisome about New Senka, and the fact that many people aren't fond of transfer tops (again, I know too little to opine, but I've seen reasoning that Emao Yuu and Kashi both were very short-term because they were more-or-less transfers coming after a very popular top with a long run)

[winter]

...I wouldn't be surprised about Morie. (Was also thinking Toyoko, and keep thinking it since Chie's not retiring). Morie's on late-2012 calendars, past Kiriyan's retirement, so she may stick around...

Some transfer tops are successful. Mizu was only in Snow for less than a year before becoming top, and just look at Yuuhi <3

[yumenotatsu.livejournal.com]

*nods* I was also thinking Toyoko. That would be a _really_ interesting Senka... (it's already sort of my second favourite troupe)

Yeah, and also there's Asako, who fit in with Tsukigumi so splendidly.

[yumenotatsu.livejournal.com]

Morie's on late-2012 calendars, past Kiriyan's retirement

... is she? I've only seen the one where she's April... (desktop?)

[winter]

She's on in August on the big A2 one: http://www.hankyubooks.com/t_kageki/cal2012/index.html

[yumenotatsu.livejournal.com]

That's encouraging.