Japanorama - Season 3, Eps. 2, Takarazuka interview

[TokiNoOkarina]

Founded in 1913, actually. Way to go. I just feel that this was very poorly done overall, and biased to boot. Getting that date wrong right off the bat does not inspire confidence.

On a happier note, Touko-san! <3 Osa is love of my life, but I love you too.

[ydkmn]

Aran Kei is the most wonderful person I have ever had the chance to meet in my life!!!

she is also a wonderful performer and a very smart woman!

[amintajuliette]

@ydkmn I love Aran Kei as the great actress she is! When I see her in a performance she make it so special and different every time! She has a great capacity for improvisation!

You're so fortuned to meet her!

[2010LSK]

This happens in Japan because only a small no. gay ppl in Japan.

Much more gay population in Europe and US, just that that they wont do a show like this because its too common in western countries.

[bombaykitty]

@2010LSK

Except Takarazuka has nothing to do with being homosexual. Women who adore the otokoyakus in Takarazuka adore them because of the image of the "perfect men" they portray, they don't love them because they don't have a p***s.

I don't know what you're even attempting to say with the "its too common in western countries" claim considering as far as I know there are NO organizations similar to Takarazuka in Western countries.

[ydkmn]

@bombaykitty 20000000 thumbs up to that comment ;)

[NinjaYuki666]

Has anyone else noticed the similarities between Aran Kei and the singer Camui Gackt? They have a simillar look to them. That is kind of hot.

[takahu]

WHAT...?! there's no similarity....!and i don't mean it in th offensive way

[KitVishnu]

What is up with this ricoculous voiceover in pidgin, the misinformation, and the mispronunciation?

[bombaykitty]

Well the voiceover is so that English-speakers can know what she's saying, whether it's mis-information or not I wouldn't know since I don't speak Japanese and even if I did I can't hear what Touko says, and the mispronounciation is just an accent. It's just a basic, basic intro to 'Zuka for English-speaking audiences. Doesn't seem that bad to me, but you can write to the BBC and ask what's up if the series somehow makes you unhappy.

[KitVishnu]

I am definitely glad that you posted it and am interested in how the theatre gets introduced to foreign audiences, but my problem with the clip is that a) he drops a completely incorrect date in the first moments of the clip, b) mispronounces names (which even get fixed later "Kai" becomes Kei and c) by using heavily-accented translations of the interviewees, they portray Takarisiennes and their Japanese fans as weird and laughable to the viewers of the show. It isn't a politically neutral take.

[LanBao]

[sighs of content] Aran Kei is ONE of the many sexiest things with two legs in Takarazuka. Gawd, she makes me feel so fangirly. I just... [swoons] MAN! I totally want to go to Japan andjoin a fangroup... Or multiple fangroups. Aran Kei...!! I love you. I wish there was some way to express to the Takarazuka that they have many fans OUTSIDE Japan too.

[PrincessSushii]

*fangirl squeal* Aran Kei is bloody sexy! The Takarazuka Theatre is on my list of things to see in Japan <3

[csmars]

awesome! i would love to see a Takarazuka show!

[BlueCosmo]

Them showing Aran Kei's last comment is going to make people who don't understand Japanese society to assume there is a huge undercurrent of lesbianism in Takarazuka theatre

[AntiquePrincess]

Saying you want to be a man in your next life is nothing to do with being gay.

[BlueCosmo]

No it doesn't.  But that is how some people will think.

[meiers]

@AntiquePrincess yup, u're right =)

I want to be a man in my next life lol!

Sometimes it just sucks being asian + female... haha... or maybe it's just me? lol...

[inbuninbu]

Some have argued, convincingly enough, that there *is* a huge current of lesbianism in Takarazuka. Not that I'm saying I think there is. But the whole point of Takarazuka is that it could swing either way. A little ambivalence goes a long way in the world of showbusiness

[ngrandy]

its just a figure of speech, there's nothing offensive. She's talented and she knows what she wants or say :D

[Ohtori]

Thanks for posting, there really is so little in English about Takarazuka.  They did get a couple of things wrong though, it was started in 1913, and they're not the longest performing group in Japan. But Aran Kei *is* the hottest thing on two legs.

[bombaykitty]

Erm...I don't quite understand how this makes them racist. That's quite a generalization to paint all the people of a country the same based on a 3 minute video clip. Second of all why does it matter if it's an Asian woman or not doing the voice-over? The purpose is so that an English speaking audience can understand what Aran Kei was saying, and regardless of who did the voice-over the purpose has been achieved...so I don't see what the big problem is and how it makes anyone racist.

[AntiquePrincess]

Lol what? Please explain.

[ishikawaalex]

I agree. This whole Japanorama series smacks of racist overtone.

[Corsairette]

Thank you so much for posting this! I've been scouring all over for clips of this episode!

[choney100m]

thanx for this vid! i love japanorma!