The dream collaboration of “Art x Photo”!
Kamio Yoko, the artist from the popular manga “Boys Over Flowers” will be taking inspiration from the various Top Combis and draw a fantastic art. The drawings portray a love story within the characters to which the Top Combi will present it in their style!
Kamio Yoko – Manga Artist (From Tokyo)
Kamio Yoko – Manga Artist (From Tokyo)
- In 1986, she debuted with her work in “The Margarett” for the story “Hatachi is waiting”. Her representative work “Boys Over Flowers” is declared as the top of the pyramid of shojo manga and is translated in countries all over the world to be adapted in anime, movie and dramas. Takarazuka Revue staged the play “Boys Over Flowers” in 2019. She received the award for the 41st Manga Awards (Shojo Division)
Yuzuka Rei x Hoshikaze Madoka: A fresh combination between the guitarist and the girl
He lives in Brooklyn. She loves listening to him play guitar. They live in an antique and trendy environment surrounded by music.
—— Yuzuka-san was the lead role in Kamio Yoko-sensei’s “Boys Over Flowers”-adapted musical. How was the photoshoot this time?
Yuzuka: Because it’s rare that both of us have this impression and setting in mind, but because of Kamio-sensei’s theme many readers are going to be thrilled and excited by the setting, so it’s inspiring and interesting. Hoshikaze: I think it’s fun that the illustration drawn is going to be taken to revive as real photos. Yuzuka: I’m grateful and honoured. Also Kamio-sensei’s impression of me seems to be a bad boy (LOL). Hoshikaze: This is because Domyouji-san in “Boys Over Flowers” is so amazing! The musician setting for Yuzuka-san is really easily convincing from the heart. Yuzuka: I was wondering how we could expand Kamio-sensei’s story and suddenly I want to read the manga about the two. |
—— The setting of the drawing is based in New York but do you have anything you want to do there?
Yuzuka: There are a lot! I want to walk in the parks and watch broadway musicals during the musical season. Even just looking at the people walking by can be interesting. Hoshikaze: So you want to walk freely! Yuzuka: Yes, with our dogs. Hoshikaze: Ah! But can we bring them on the ferries? (LOL) |
Enthusiastic preparation for the performances “Mayerling” “Enchantement – A Luxurious Perfume”
—— Looking back on recent performances, we want to hear what is memorable for both of you.
Yuzuka: “Mayerling” was difficult. Hoshikaze: Yes. Every day there are new things created. We talked how “in this certain way could make the emotions of the two appear more vivid”. Yuzuka: “Because there’s this line, the other would respond as such” and something like that. Hoshikaze: I think I’ve had more discoveries during the performances. Yuzuka: Because in “Mayerling”, it’s not really about “love”. Hoshikaze: The love was short-lived. Yuzuka: The prologue in “ENCHANTEMENT” is very dreamy from the start. Hoshikaze: It’s so grand! Yuzuka: In the New York “Floral” scene, we decided and talked through the small details such as “how we should place our sense of gravity here during this music note”. Because we wanted to show how the two of us are dancing freely. How does “Madodon”-san think!? Hoshikaze: Madodon-san dreams of Marilyn Monroe (LOL) and hopes of meeting a NYC guy just like Yuzuka-san’s Fred Astaire… “I was able to see Yuzuka-san in this scene!” and when I was able to see it closely, I thought “Thank you for serving” (LOL). Yuzuka: You always said you wanted to be in the “Musk” scene where it was only for otokoyaku. Do you still remember the choreography? (LOL) Hoshikaze: Kind of (LOL). I was always watching from the stage wings, so I can’t bear to see it the last time during the final closing performance. Yuzuka: I was fired with passion in the latter half of the revue, but the duet dance in the end felt very peaceful, so I was filled with happiness. Hoshikaze: That’s how 1 hour passed! To me, that’s also a scene of happiness. |
—— How is “A Battlefield for the Two of Us”?
Yuzuka: Masatsuka Haruhiko-sensei is so full of love that I’ve had quite the fun in the rehearsal rooms, that I thought “acting is really interesting!” Hoshikaze: I’ve had Masatsuka-sensei’s classes during Takarazuka Music School so I really enjoyed his lessons this time too. Yuzuka: At that time, I’m still unable to understand the meaning of that. But Sensei demonstrated to us that while you’re acting this character in the rehearsal room, the roles are still humans with flesh and blood, and that is something you couldn’t see in the script. Try and forget the story, and imagine it’s just normal human interactions. Even though the stage is taken in the setting of a battlefield, Sensei said that the most he wanted to convey is the form of love amidst all this. Lyla is such a wonderful character. Hoshikaze: Yes. Meeting Sensei and this performance in this timing, I was able to absorb and learn so much. |
It starts from a nostalgic photo, and towards now when they both pursue the fun in performing arts
—— Hoshikaze-san transferred to Flower Troupe and both of you became the Top Combi in 2021. How are you both feeling about it?
Hoshikaze: First of all, I want to thank her two parents that gave birth to Yuzuka-san that we were able to meet as a Top Combi. Yuzuka: You always speak in such great scale of words (LOL). Actually for us, we first knew each other from lessons of a singing teacher outside. Hoshikaze: When I was still a second-year student (honkasei) in Music School, I would be right after Yuzuka-san’s lessons. Sensei asked us to take a picture together. Yuuzka: Do you still have that picture now? Hoshikaze: Yes! I have it. “How can someone be so kind!” I thought. As I transferred to Flower Troupe, ever since Yuzuka-san has spared much time with me for the rehearsals. And now in the rehearsal rooms, we solve the problems one by one. and create some new tasks for ourselves, and it became a new level to approaching performing arts. Even though you have other work to do… Yuzuka: It’s okay, because I sleep a lot after that (LOL). Hoshikaze: I think Yuzuka-san can aspire to be an instructor. Because you’re great at teaching the underclassmen too. Yuzuka: Don’t you think it’s fun to be able to do something you couldn’t, and to know more about something you didn’t before? I think that’s the case for me, but I also hope to share this intriguing process with everyone. |
I hope to create a convincing stage performance with the thriving Flower Troupe members
—— We’d like to hear any aspirations you have as a Flower Troupe Top Combi.
Yuzuka: We have so many talented people so I’m always inspired by them and I’ve always wanted to shape an environment where they could have rising ambitions to feel “I should belong here” or “I want to try more of this!”, but I think everyone has always been thriving and exceeding my expectations, to which I’m grateful of.
Hoshikaze: It’s because Yuzuka-san can shape this kind of ambience for everyone. Everyone follows Yuzuka-san’s directions, with the prereuiqiste that we all want to deliver “a stage that would make the audience happy” together, and it becomes a sparkling performance.
Yuzuka: From the next grand theatre performance “Singing Lovebirds”, I could feel how free it is during the poster photoshoot, and it’s also fun to have the mushiri hairstyle the first time.
Hoshikaze: It suits you!
Yuzuka: I hope this to be a bright and gorgeous musical, like the sun always shines on it. Also this time Okada Keiji-sensei who has directed my debut stage performance, and I’ve always said that I’m waiting for him to direct another one for us, and this time I’m happy that we could have “GRAND MIRAGE!”.
Hoshikaze: I’m happy Okada-sensei is working with us this time. I’ll work hard without being lax on any day.
Yuzuka: I hope for our current Flower Troupe could grow and flourish, to continue creating fantastic performances that you could feel the conviction in the coming performances.
Hoshikaze: Sure!
Yuzuka: We have so many talented people so I’m always inspired by them and I’ve always wanted to shape an environment where they could have rising ambitions to feel “I should belong here” or “I want to try more of this!”, but I think everyone has always been thriving and exceeding my expectations, to which I’m grateful of.
Hoshikaze: It’s because Yuzuka-san can shape this kind of ambience for everyone. Everyone follows Yuzuka-san’s directions, with the prereuiqiste that we all want to deliver “a stage that would make the audience happy” together, and it becomes a sparkling performance.
Yuzuka: From the next grand theatre performance “Singing Lovebirds”, I could feel how free it is during the poster photoshoot, and it’s also fun to have the mushiri hairstyle the first time.
Hoshikaze: It suits you!
Yuzuka: I hope this to be a bright and gorgeous musical, like the sun always shines on it. Also this time Okada Keiji-sensei who has directed my debut stage performance, and I’ve always said that I’m waiting for him to direct another one for us, and this time I’m happy that we could have “GRAND MIRAGE!”.
Hoshikaze: I’m happy Okada-sensei is working with us this time. I’ll work hard without being lax on any day.
Yuzuka: I hope for our current Flower Troupe could grow and flourish, to continue creating fantastic performances that you could feel the conviction in the coming performances.
Hoshikaze: Sure!
Yuzuka Rei answering Hoshikaze Madoka’s questions!
—-- ON: What’s the closest point one could get to becoming an otokoyaku like Yuzuka-san? Basic knowledge in classical ballet. I think it’s important to have the foundation so as to understand otokoyaku. After all posture is necessary for learning the movement and dancing part. Also I think it’s also about thinking like a man. —— ON: What kind of occupation or setting of role do you want to be? (immediately replying) Spy. Recently I’m too good at being “good” roles. (Upon responding to Hoshikaze’s reply of “I want to see you as a flying and sprinting ninja) Yes, I want to be a ninja! That’s the Japanese kind of spy.) —— OFF: Yuzuka-san is always walking to the front of what’s trending, what’s a fashion you want to challenge? Sometimes, the clothes for cover photoshoots were simply those that I found in stores and bought, but then everyone was saying that that was fashionable (LOL). I tried combining pleated skirt on the pants. |
Hoshikaze Madoka answering Yuzuka Rei’s questions!
—-- ON: What kind of role do you want to play on stage? I’ve never been a fighting role, so I’d say a fighting role. (Yuzuka added “So we can fight as spies together”) I’ve always been protected so now I want to be the one protecting instead. —— ON: What’s something you want the Flower Troupe underclassmen to focus on? Don’t compare with others. And also, there are many cute musumeyaku in Flower Troupe, but there are also mature and elegant sides to them, so I hope the underclassmen to explore more and more of their range, to make “Flower Troupe the best!” —— OFF: When are we going to see Hoshikaze Madoka-san’s back flip? If I could do the back flip, I want it to look cool….When Yuzuka-san can do it, then I will also do my best and do it!! |