<![CDATA[A-to-J Connections - A-to-J Culture]]>

<![CDATA[A-to-J Connections - A-to-J Culture]]>Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:12:22 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Oshogatsu In Little Tokyo 2024 Photo Gallery]]>Wed, 03 Jan 2024 05:58:48 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/a-to-j-culture/oshogatsu-in-little-tokyo-2024-photo-gallery

The new year means a lot of festivites and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California recently held its annual New Year Celebration Festival in Little Tokyo Los Angeles just a few days ago!

Held in Little Tokyo's Weller Court and Japanese Village Plaza, this event always had entertainment, food, cultural activities, and even a sake fest. There was also a kimnono fashion show, an ondo dance, as well as several performances. This is always a really fun event, and we have a gallery for everyone to check out below! While the festivities are over, you can still experience it vicariously through the gallery, and maybe make plans to attend the event next year! We hope that everyone had a great 2023, and will have an even better 2024, and we have lots more to show you here at A-to-J!

All photos by Ivan Aburto.

]]><![CDATA[Alicein Project's THE GUARDIANS OF WONDER Makes Hollywood Debut]]>Tue, 16 May 2023 18:04:35 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/a-to-j-culture/alicein-projects-the-guardians-of-wonder-makes-hollywood-debut

We're big fans of live theater here at A-to-J Connections, and an upcoming event just popped up on our radar: THE GUARDIANS OF WONDER, produced by Alicein Project, will have be having its Hollywood debut in just a few weeks!

Formed in 2010, Alicein Project is Japan's largest theater company that has put on several shows featuring emerging actresses. They've hosted dozens of shows in Japan, and overseas, and have previously participated in the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2021. June 2023 will mark their return to the Hollywood Fringe Festival with a run of free shows that begin on June 3rd. This run will be the highly anticipated THE GUARDIANS OF WONDER.

THE GUARDIANS OF WONDER stage play will showcase Japanese-subcultural style live-action entertainment, infused with the essence of anime, manga, and video games. Each show will feature a 30 minute action show that will be followed by a 30 minute interactive sword fighting workshop. THE GUARDIANS OF WONDER stars Reina Kaneta, Emika Kamieda, Shio Yamazaki, Stella Takasegawa, and Mizuki Kimura.

Shows will be held at the McCadden Place Theater and are completely free, following ticket reservation. Additional details, as well as the reservation link, can be found below. Overseas productions like this are an especially rare treat so be sure to grab your tickets today!

Alicein Project's Past Productions

THE GUARDIANS OF WONDER Event Information
Date:
8:00 PM on Saturday, June 3rd
7:30 PM on Sunday, June 4th
6:00 PM on Friday, June 9th
9:30 PM on Saturday, June 10th
※A 30 min action show & a 30 min sword fighting workshop (a total of 60 min)

Venue:
McCadden Place Theatre
(1157 N McCadden Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90038)
Admission: FREE
(Advance reservation is required on the official website)
Ticket Reservation: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/9985

Story:
A timid girl named 【Miko】 finds herself lost in a different world after being noticed by a mysterious being named 【Rei】. With the help of the righteous warriors, 【Hana】 and 【Sora】, who reside in this world, Miko's adventure begins.
"I'm just..." "You're a special person."
"I'm shy and I'm not brave." "You're a delicate and pure child, and I'll watch over you."
Will Miko confront and overcome her weaknesses? What is Rei's goal? Will Miko be able to return to reality?

Cast:
Rena Kaneta @renakaneta
Emika Kamieda @Emika_Kamieda
Shio Yamazaki @shio_yamazaki
Stella Takasegawa @Stella_0917
Mizuki Kimura @sakura_s0513

The cast consists of five Japanese girls dressed glamorously. They will perform a powerful stage show, using sword-fighting choreography and projector images. After the performance, an interactive sword fighting workshop will be held.

Alicein Project's Past Productions

Hollywood Fringe Festival
Theater festival held in the entertainment capital. It is committed to freedom of expression and artistic expression and aims for open access and community-led management. During the one-month period, approximately 400 groups perform on 2,000 stages in about 50 small theaters in the South Hollywood area, making it an international fringe theater festival with a large number of art companies and performers from not only the United States but also abroad.

Website: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollywoodfringe/

Alicein Project
Alicein Project is established in 2010 and it's the largest "theater company" in Japan that only casts emerging actresses (female talents/idols). They have performed approximately 100 plays to date, and the number of cast members has exceeded 1,800 actresses, including top idols. Their plays have also been performed in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and they participated in the Hollywood Fringe in 2021, receiving high praise in the global entertainment scene and being nominated for the Streaming Overseas Production Award.

Website: http://alicein.info/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliceinpro
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliceinpro/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aliceinproject/

]]><![CDATA[Take A Tour of Okinawa & Shurijyo Castle Via "Vitual OKINAWA"]]>Tue, 26 Apr 2022 07:00:00 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/a-to-j-culture/take-a-tour-of-okinawa-shurijyo-castle-via-vitual-okinawa

acttil, on behalf of Ashibi Company, recently announced that the Shurijyo Castle Area, a reproduction of Okinawa's World Heritage Site "Shurijyo Castle Area", has been unveiled in the metaverse location, "Virtual OKINAWA" today!

The Mission of Virtual Okinawa:
As the first company from Okinawa to participate in the Metaverse, Ashibi Company is developing an Okinawa experience called "Virtual OKINAWA." Within this virtual world, there are tourist attractions like “Kokusai Street Area" and "Beach Area," and we are also adding the "Shurijyo Castle Area" to help develop and revitalize the tourism industry in Okinawa for the post-Corona era.

This project will allow visitors to experience Okinawa's World Heritage sites from anywhere in the world and also enjoy virtual tourism while chatting with other visitors. Ashibi Company is hoping this will strengthen the desire to rebuild Shurijyo Castle and contribute to the preservation of traditional Okinawan culture.

For access to Virtual OKINAWA: https://virtualokinawa.jp/

About Shurijyo Castle Area:
Shurijyo Castle was destroyed by fire on October 31, 2019. Voices for restoration increased and Shurijyo Castle was restored within the Okinawan metaverse "Virtual OKINAWA" under the supervision of the Okinawa Churashima Foundation. The "Shurijyo Castle Area" in VIRTUAL OKINAWA is a faithful reproduction of Shurijyo Castle Park which includes the Shureimon Gate leading to the Shoden (main hall) of Shurijyo Castle.

In addition, the "Shurijyo Castle Area" is not only a place to see and enjoy Shurijyo Castle, but also a place where you can talk to an area guide to learn more about Shurijyo Castle and its history. We are also planning to hold various events, such as guided sightseeing tours, Eisa (Okinawa's traditional performing art) events, and more. In addition, their will be light up of the castle, fireworks displays, etc.

Nemu Ui Live Broadcast Introducing Shurijyo Castle Area:
To commemorate the opening of the "Shurijyo Castle Area," Nema Ui, a local Okinawan virtual YouTuber, has made a live broadcast on her YouTube channel on April 26 JST.

Nema Ui is a virtual tour guide to introduce attraction spots in the Shurijyo Castle Area. The live broadcast can be viewed below.

]]><![CDATA[Wright Flyer Studios Releases "Hello Ktty's Room" on Google Assistant]]>Mon, 01 Nov 2021 07:00:00 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/a-to-j-culture/wright-flyer-studios-releases-hello-kttys-room-on-google-assistant

Tech company WFS, Inc. recently announced the release of "Hello Kitty’s Room", a new communication game featuring Sanrio Company, Ltd.’s Hello Kitty, on Google Assistant.

■About Hello Kitty’s Room
In Hello Kitty’s Room, users can collect furniture such as differently themed table sets or plushies to furnish their very own room. Users can cook using food harvested from a field, or collect furniture by helping Hello Kitty on a trip. Users also have a chance to encounter other popular characters like Cinnamoroll - by taking a photo together, they will also visit Hello Kitty’s room from time to time. The game can be played on smart device touchscreen such as Google Nest Hub, and also via Google Assistant’s voice input on supported devices. Vibrant conversations featuring Hello Kitty’s rich vocabulary are made possible by HOYA Corporation’s ReadSpeaker Original Voice.

■Example voice commands to Google Assistant
“OK Google, talk to Hello Kitty.”
“OK Google, talk to Hello Kitty’s Room.”

■About Google Assistant
Google Assistant is your own personal Google, always ready to help whenever you need it. To get started, just say “OK Google.” Google Assistant is available on smartphones as well as smart displays such as Google Nest Hub and Google Nest Mini, and on smart speakers

Hello Kitty Room Overview
Release date : November 1, 2021
Price : Free
Supported languages : English, Japanese
Supported devices : Smart displays powered by Google Assistant (Google Nest Hub and others), Android™️ smartphones

▼How to access Hello Kitty’s Room
Speak to a supported device using the command “OK Google, talk to Hello Kitty’s Room.” to launch the app.

▼Hello Kitty’s Room website
https://assistant.google.com/services/a/uid/00000002351c8bee

]]><![CDATA[Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries and Dessert Review & Sample Works]]>Tue, 12 Mar 2019 07:00:00 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/a-to-j-culture/amigurumi-sweets-crochet-fancy-pastries-and-dessert-review-sample-works

Here we have another super adorable release! Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries and Desserts, by Miyuki Ichikawa, is another crafting book that joins the line of VIZ Media DIY manuals. This book allows you to make an array of different aesthetic sweets such as: parfaits, cakes, macarons, doughnuts, taiyaki, and more! These projects can either be standalone pieces or made into items that you can use every day: jewelry, coin purses, and scrubbers.

The cover for Amigurumi Sweets features a select array of their projects on a matte cover. The book is 99 pages long and the first 33 pages are detailed pictures of the finished crafts. From then on are the detailed instructions for making said crafts. The first 33 pages are printed on a thicker weight glossy paper for the photos while the instructions are on matte thick paper. For the simpler projects the instructions are an average of 2 pages long, while the more difficult ones, such as the Mini Parfait Trinket Case or Tart Charm Straps, can take up to 4 or 5. Each project will indicate the materials needed for that particular item as well as a detailed diagram. In additional to the diagram, we are also given a chart clearly stating how many stitches should be increased and decreased per row and the total stitches for each row. This is definitely great for just in case you lose count by accident. Tiny tips also given on the side as notes. The last few pages are used as a glossary for terms and techniques that are used in the book.

This books is definitely very cute. I love the projects that this book provides and can’t wait to try to make all of them. I would recommend that before getting this book, you are very comfortable with crocheting and its techniques. I found that Amigurumi Sweets is definitely a step above Amigurumi San-X Crochet Patterns in difficulty, which we have reviewed before. Amigurumi Sweets require smaller attention to details for the tiny fruit adornments and color changes. I would recommend this book for crafters beyond beginner level. I do have to admit that this book had better instructions and visuals that its predecessors.

I decided to tackle something simpler for this review, the doughnuts. Not only were the instructions super amazing on this one but I just love a good doughnut aesthetic. This project turned out so much better than my last review and the finished product actually looked like what it was supposed to. Amigurumi Sweets is amazing is that they actually give you options to customize your projects. For the doughnuts they gave the options of different colors to represent flavors as well as instructions to add beads to act as sprinkles. This is something that I really appreciated from this book. I decided to opt out on the sprinkles but made two doughnuts, a strawberry flavor and matcha flavor. I love how they turned out and can’t wait to make more!

Something to keep in mind for this books is that the table of contents in the front won’t tell you the page that the instructions are on but instead are for the pages that the pictures are on. Only when you get to those pages will it lead to you the actual instructions. Amigurumi Sweets feature an astounding 28 projects and each of those have different color options as well. Some of the projects that are listed in this books are:

Mini Parfait Trinket Case
Three Types of Cakes
Macaron Charm Straps
Biscuit Coin Purses with Metal Clasp
Assorted Chocolates and Truffle Rings
Cookie Magnets
Doughnuts
Cream Puffs
Taiyaki
And so much more!

Much like Amigurumi San-X Crochet Patterns, this book can keep you occupied for a very very long time.

Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries and Desserts retails at $14.99 USD, the standard price for VIZ Media crafting books. I find that for this book the price is worth the product that you get. Unlike the last book, you get so much more options per projects. The projects themselves are more useful from day to day. I would rather have a coin purse to use than just a doll to collect dust on the shelf. I definitely recommend this book for crafters that love adorable aesthetics. You can create so much cute accessories which are perfect for matching coordinated outfits! As a crafter I love this book and hope that you can get as much fun and entertainment as I did.

-Eunice

You can find our more about Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries and Desserts here:
https://www.viz.com/read/craft-book/amigurumi-sweets/product/5826

Rating: A

Pros:
+ Detailed instructions
+ Great visuals
+ Customizable options
+ Useful projects for day to day
+ Cute aesthetic
+ More bang for your buck

Cons:
- Definitely not for beginners
- Material needed can be either too specific or hard to find

]]><![CDATA[VIZ Media Announces Release of Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries And Desserts!]]>Mon, 07 Jan 2019 08:00:00 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/a-to-j-culture/viz-media-announces-release-of-amigurumi-sweets-crochet-fancy-pastries-and-desserts9469218

VIZ Media presents the vivid world of Japanese amigurumi with the release of Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries And Desserts! set to release on February 12th.

Featuring easy-to-follow patterns created by Miyuki Ichikawa, Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries And Desserts! carries a print MSRP of $14.99 US. The book features various patterns that can be used to crochet an array of delectable desserts from parfaits and macarons to cream puffs and taiyaki. Patterns also contain instructions on how to turn desserts into a variety of sweet accessories including key chains, pouches, bag mascots, and more!

About Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries And Desserts!:
“Amigurumi Sweets features the Japanese aesthetic that has made amigurumi so wildly popular,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Senior Editor. “We’re excited to publish these adorable dessert patterns in English for crocheters and fiber arts enthusiasts.”

More Japanese amigurumi designs are available in VIZ Media’s previously released Amigurumi: San-X Crochet Patterns, which features crochet patterns for several popular San-X characters, such as Rilakkuma and Sumikkogurashi, plus their accessories.

For additional information on Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries And Desserts! and other titles available from by VIZ Media, please visit viz.com.

]]><![CDATA["Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live" To Open the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, in 2019!]]>Fri, 02 Nov 2018 13:16:23 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/a-to-j-culture/pretty-guardian-sailor-moon-the-super-live-to-open-the-national-cherry-blossom-festival-in-washington-dc-in-2019

Fans of Sailor Moon have a once in a lifetime chance to catch the Sailor Moon Super Live in Washington DC next March as the live opens the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival!

The opening ceremony will take place Saturday, March 23rd, at the Warner Theater in Washington, DC. This is a rare production of an official Sailor Moon live in the US, with hopefully more to come. The live will also be performed in Paris before the end of 2018.

No word on if the single performance will lead to a mini tour through North America, or if fans can catch it online. For more information, please visit the official Sailor Moon website and the National Cherry Blossom Festival website.

]]><![CDATA[Takashi Murakami's "The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg" Exhibit Gallery]]>Wed, 05 Sep 2018 13:34:56 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/a-to-j-culture/takashi-murakamis-the-octopus-eats-its-own-leg-exhibit-gallery

A "Flowerball" against a wallpaper of Murakami's flowers

There's a good chance at some point you've seen a work by Takashi Murakami. Perhaps his ubiquitous flowers? Or maybe a picture of My Lonesome Cowboy floating around online? Probably his cover for Kanye West's Graduation album in passing? No matter how you've seen some of his work, there's nothing quite like seeing the pieces for real, to really grasp the scale and detail behind his often brightly colored, cartoony, and occasionally unsettling works.

Kaikai and Kiki statues in front of "Jellyfish Eyes"

The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg is the name of this particular exhibit, a reference to a Japanese story that struck a chord with Murakami. Murakami here is the octopus, continually eating the legs of Japanese art and pop culture, to breathe new life into it and himself. Many of his works over his career are evident of this concept, from his modern takes on ancient ukiyo-e paintings to countless repetitions of his own paintings with slight variations each time.

One of Murakami's Arhats paintings

The sheer size of some of his works are awe-inspiring, with some paintings easily 15 feet tall and 30 feet long, making Murakami a standout against his peers in that regard. His Arhat series is great at showing off his mastery of scale, with some of the pieces almost not fitting into the gallery. The easily tiled nature of some of this works also allows entire rooms to be engulfed by his designs, with many walls covered by wallpapers and glorified curtains covered in his flowers and his mascots Kaikai and Kiki.

Tan Tan Bo Puking

While many who come to the exhibit might have seeing the Graduation Bear or the very NSFW My Lonesome Cowboy in person as their big draw, personally I was excited to see Tan Tan Bo Puking in person. Tan Tan Bo, a stand in for Murakami himself, shown ill and vomiting, a reflection of Murakami being sick himself some years ago. The colors are bold, the design more disturbing the more you look at it, the size so large that it's hard to take the whole piece in just standing in front of it.

727

Fort Worth is the last stop of the tour for this gallery, and I'm glad I got to catch it. I've long admired Murakami's works, and getting to see some in the flesh was quite enjoyable.

-Janette G

Check out our gallery of the exhibit below!
WARNING: Some of the pieces are NSFW

]]><![CDATA[maidreamin Brings Maid Culture to Toronto at Fan Expo Canada 2018]]>Sun, 26 Aug 2018 07:00:00 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/a-to-j-culture/maidreamin-brings-maid-culture-to-toronto-at-fan-expo-canada-2018

Japan’s top maid cafe chain maidreamin gives Canadian fans a double dose of Akihabara culture this month, returning to North America to perform at the four-day Fan Expo Canada event at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, August 30 – September 2.

maidreamin’s upcoming appearance at Fan Expo Canada will be one of their biggest-ever overseas events as they present genuine maid cafe service and musical performances at the the largest comics, anime, and gaming event in Canada. Top maids Peace, Mariru, and Hima will represent the internationally popular restaurant chain, just a few weeks after maidreamin’s performance at Montreal’s Otakuthon earlier this month.

Fan Expo Canada information:
https://www.fanexpocanada.com/en/attractions/anime/maidreamin.html

maidreamin will take part in fan Q&As, autograph and photo sessions, and live concerts with exclusive goods available for fans throughout the weekend.

maidreamin continues their overseas “service” and their mission to spread Japanese “moe” culture worldwide. Previous events include Anime Expo, Ani:Me Abu Dhabi, and Middle East Film and Comic Con Dubai. maidreamin has also collaborated on promotions for video games Dx2 Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation, Goddess Masters, Kurokishi to Shiro no Maou, and Akiba’s Trip 2, as well as Shibuya design firm Team Labo and cookware designer Joshi Spa.

About maidreamin

maidreamin is the No.1 Maid Café restaurant in Akihabara. Founded in 2008, maidreamin has become the largest maid cafe chain with 16 locations and over 450 cast members from Japan and around the world.

maidreamin has become a symbol of Akihabara, famous for unique menus (available in multiple languages) and serving meals and drinks with cute magical performances.

maidreamin’s restaurants have won multiple awards from Trip Advisor for their family-friendly service and fun activities for every master and princess who enters the maid café dreamland. Each restaurant is designed around a different creative visual theme, and features daily live performances from the most energetic and talented maids in Japan.

maidreamin performs at multiple overseas events, where they demonstrate the traditions and excitement of maid cafe culture. maidreamin created the official Anime Expo theme song in 2017.

maidreamin is happy to welcome new customers every day as their popularity and influence continue to expand, bringing smiles to Japanese culture fans everywhere.

Moe Moe Kyun! (=^・^=)

LINKS
maidreamin website (English): https://maidreamin.com/multilp
maidreamin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maidcafe.maidreamin
maidreamin Twitter: https://twitter.com/maidreamin
maidreamin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maidreamin

]]><![CDATA[Interview with ex-Takarazuka Actress Mio Cloud (Jun Sagiri)]]>Mon, 30 Jul 2018 07:00:00 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/a-to-j-culture/interview-with-ex-takarazuka-actress-mio-cloud-jun-sagiri

A-to-J Connections is no stranger to the Takarazuka Revue we've hosted panels on the topic and even had a blog dedicated to it in our early days. We recently had the opportunity to speak with a former Takarazuka actress and we were very excited to conduct this interview. While Mio Cloud's time in the Takarazuka Revue might have been somewhat brief, her time as Jun Sagiri (an otokoyaku or "male player") provided us with a lot of insight on what being a part of the troupe was like and gave us an insider's look at the Revue itself. We're really excited to bring everyone this interview so we hope that you all check it out!

Before we jump in, here's a brief rundown on what the Takarazuka Revue is: The Takarazuka Revue is an all-female musical theater troupe based in Takarazuka, Japan formed in 1913. It held its first performance in 1914 and has been in operation ever since and currently consists of five troupes, Flower (Hana), Moon (Tsuki), Snow (Yuki), Star (Hoshi), and Cosmos (Sora). There have been countless shows, from originals to adaptations of popular works, arguably the show that brought the Revue to massive popularity was The Rose of Versailles which debuted in 1974. Several other popular adaptations also include Black Jack, Rurouni Kenshin, Sengoku Basara, and more. What makes the Takarazuka Revue stand out among others is the fact that all roles are played by highly-trained female actresses. While there is much more to be discussed regarding the Revue and its history we will refrain from delving too deeply into it here, but instead suggest that interested readers check out online resources such as the Takawiki (http://www.takawiki.com)!

A-to-J: For starters, thanks for this interview! Can you please introduce yourself?
Mio Cloud: Hi, my name is Mio Cloud (maiden name is Hirano), I am 55 years old, an attorney and I live in New Canaan, CT. I am a Class of 1981 to Takarazuka Revue.

A-to-J: Before we jump into the core of the interview, regarding your time with the Takarazuka Revue, can you tell us a bit about what led up to that part of your life?
Mio Cloud: I started ballet when I was 6 years old. By the time I was 10 or 11, it was obvious that I was going to be too tall to be a ballerina (I am 5’8” now, and Japanese male dancers are notoriously very short!). So, I concentrated on other activities (e.g. swimming), but one day I saw the Rose of Versailles by Takarazuka on TV. My friend, who was already a big fan, explained to me that they are all women, and tall women are playing male roles. I really wanted to sing and dance on stage, so decided to get into Takarazuka.

A-to-J: Did you have any prior theater experience prior to joining the Takarazuka Revue?
Mio Cloud: Other than ballet performances, NONE!

A-to-J: Was joining the Takarazuka Revue something you aspired to? Like were you a fan of past productions and/or top stars?
Mio Cloud: Like I said earlier, since I was too tall to be a ballerina or regular theater actress, I thought that joining Takarazuka was the only option. Of course, I became a fan once I saw it.

A-to-J: The audition process is notoriously difficult with very few of the applicants making it through, can you tell us a bit about it?
Mio Cloud: Training to get into Takarazuka Music School was insane. I was a 15 year old student living in Nagoya, about 150 miles northeast of Takarazuka. Every Saturday (we have half-day school on Saturdays in Japan), my mom picked me up at school and drove me to the train station, from which I took 5 different trains (including a bullet train) to get to a ballet class taught by a Takarazuka Music School teacher at 6 pm in Osaka. I stayed at a local ryokan Saturday nights, took a vocal lesson with a Takarazuka Music School teacher, went to another ballet class, and took trains back home Sunday night. In addition, every weeknight, I had a ballet, vocal or Japanese dance lesson in Nagoya. I did that for about a year, took the entrance exam, and didn’t get in for the first time. So, I continued this crazy schedule for another year, and I got in for the second time. The passing rate was 1 in 22.4 candidates.

A-to-J: What was it like in the Takarazuka Music School? Is it as tough as is often cited?
Mio Cloud: YES! But in hindsight, the first year of the school (Yoka) was the only time that I was taught any discipline. Also, I really enjoyed doing what I loved, so it wasn’t too bad.

A-to-J: Do you have standout moments during your training period where you thought that completing your training and joining the Revue might be a little too out of reach?
Mio Cloud: Well, not really -- not because I was confident or really good, but because I wasn’t thinking. I was just running from one lesson to another, and dreaming that I would be on Takarazuka stage someday.

A-to-J: Becoming an otokoyaku (male player) is something many aspire to, what was it like training to take on male roles? Was this something you aspired to versus becoming a musumeyaku (female player)?
Mio Cloud: I had no choice but becoming an otokoyaku because I was tall. The hardest thing for me was that I naturally had a high singing voice, and my singing in falsetto (uragoe) was better than in a normal voice (jigoe).

A-to-J: Did you find it hard at all to adapt to a "male" okoyaku voice?
Mio Cloud: I had no problem speaking like a male in plays, but wasn't very good at singing in "jigoe". But some of my classmates were naturally good at singing, opera, popular, or anything, and I was so jealous!

A-to-J: It's been often mentioned that activities like smoking are sometimes encouraged to develop a huskier voice, was this something you witnessed or heard stories of?
Mio Cloud: I started smoking when I was in Takarazuka simply because most otokoyaku smoked. I don't remember anyone encouraging us to smoke, though.... Perhaps there was an unspoken rule.... I am happy to report that I quit smoking before I had my kids!

A-to-J: We understand that you also occasionally took on the role of a musumeyaku, was it hard to switch from one to the other?
Mio Cloud: The only times I had to play female roles were in corps (e.g., line dance). But Maki Ichiro, who played Scarlett O’Hara in hon koen and played Rhett Butler in shinjin koen of Gone with the Wind, told me that was really difficult.

A-to-J: When you were in the Takarazuka Revue you took on the name “Jun Sagiri”. Taking on a stage name is extremely common as is basing them off special meanings or references to past stars. Was there any special reason behind you choosing your stage name?
Mio Cloud: “Jun” came from another Takarazuka actress whom I was a fan of (Jun Asaka). “Sagiri” was a mix of kanji letters that I liked.

A-to-J: What were some of the productions you took part in? Did you have any favorites out of them?
Mio Cloud: The most memorable was of course my debut stage, “First Love.” The rehearsals for the line dance were so hard, but I can still remember the excitement and “chill” when we finished the line dance and the audience was applauding on the first day of the production.

A-to-J: Flower Troupe is the oldest of the Takarazuka troupes. What was it like joining such a well-established group?
Mio Cloud: Actually, I wanted to get into Star Troupe because there were many actresses that I liked in that troupe... Anyway, when I was there, Flower Troupe had a rare “double top” situation – there were two top stars (Akira Matsu and Mitsuki Jun). So, it was a very popular troupe at that time.

A-to-J: Do you have any experiences regarding interacting with the then-stars of either Flower Troupe or within Takarazuka in general during your time there?
Mio Cloud: I, like many junior members, helped with the senior members’ changing of costumes, managing their props, etc. during performances. But the most memorable interaction with a star was when Ran Otori, one of the biggest starts in Takarazuka history, came to perform at a Japan Chamber of Commerce dinner in New York about 15 years ago. I went up to her table and introduced myself, Ms. Otori thought that it was so interesting that a former Takarazuka actress became a NY lawyer, and we talked for a long time.

A-to-J: Was there a point where you thought you’d like to make a long career out of your work in the Takarazuka Revue?
Mio Cloud: No. As I said before, my otokoyaku singing was not great. Even in dance, I found it difficult to dance male roles – I was a ballet and lyrical dancer, not a crisp, sharp theater dancer, which otokoyaku should be. As soon as I joined the troupe, I realized that this was not for me…. I don’t know why I didn’t see that when I was in school.

A-to-J: Were you part of any of revues? (Referring to a collection of song and dance numbers) Were there any differences or challenges in these versus standard productions?
Mio Cloud: The standard combination for a production is one play (Japanese or Western) and one revue. (Exceptions are long plays, like the Roses of Versailles or Gone with the Wind,) Revues are Takarazuka’s signature productions, with many dancing and singing, bright costumes with feathers, and quick scenery changes. Everyone loves them!

A-to-J: Do you have any funny stories that you could perhaps share with us that happened during a production, either onstage or backstage?
Mio Cloud: I fell from the top to the bottom of the ookaidan (big staircase) during a finale…. Thankfully, I didn’t knock anyone down.

A-to-J: Would you mind letting us know why you eventually left the Takarazuka Revue?
Mio Cloud: I didn’t think I was good enough to become a star in Takarazuka. I also wanted to go back to school.

A-to-J: Can you tell us a bit about your life post Revue?
Mio Cloud: Because I left high school after the freshman year, I had to take the test to earn the high school diploma equivalency (like GED). Then, I took the national university entrance exam and was accepted to Okayama University. I graduated with BA in Law, worked at Deutsche Bank Tokyo Branch, decided to go to law school in the U.S., took LSAT, and was accepted to Boston College Law School. Upon graduation from BC Law, I worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as a staff attorney. Since then, I have worked at major international financial institutions, including MUFG, JPMC, Citi, and RBS, as a bank regulatory attorney. I met my future husband while I was in law school, got married, and had two children who are now 23 and 22 years old.

A-to-J: Do you still keep up with the Takarazuka Revue since your time with them? (i.e watching shows, following troupe lineups, etc.)
Mio Cloud: It is difficult to get tickets from overseas, so the last time I saw the performance was more than 10 years ago. But I check on youtube, takawiki, etc. once in a while. One of my classmates is still there (Masumi Rika) as kumicho of Snow troupe. Some of my classmates are doing well as actresses (Miki Maya, Mayo Suzukaze, Hitomi Kuroki, etc.). I really want to see my vocal teacher who was a second mother to me while I was in Takarazuka Music School again. I have to make plans to go back soon!

A-to-J: Recently there have been more shows brought to the US as well as more media based on the Takarazuka Revue. What are your thoughts regarding its growing popularity outside Japan?
Mio Cloud: Fantastic! Spread the dreams!

A-to-J: Lastly, what are your overall thoughts regarding Takarazuka as someone looking at it from the outside who was once a part of it?
Mio Cloud: When I was young, I didn’t realize how special Takarazuka was. Do you know any performing arts troupe in the world that is backed by a conglomerate that includes a railroad company, department store and bank, has three theaters dedicated to it, has an affiliated school and a movie studio, is performing as many as 20 shows a year throughout the country, employs over 600 people, and has been successful over 100 years? Now that I know something about business and finance, I must say that Ichizou Kobayashi was a genius!

Thank you for the interview!

For More Information on The Takarazuka Revue:
Official Site (English):
http://kageki.hankyu.co.jp/english/index.html
TakaWiki:
http://www.takawiki.com

All photos (c) Takarazuka Revue Company

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