Asura / Esperanto!
Picture Credit: serikagumi | Official Chirashi, from personal collection
English Title: Asura / Esperanto!
Japanese Title: 阿修羅城の瞳 / エスペラント！
Romanized Title: Ashurajou no Hitomi / Esuperanto!
Troupe: Star
Year: 2025
Performances: Takarazuka Grand Theater, 04/19 - 06/01; Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, 06/28 - 08/10
Shinjin Kouen Performances: Takarazuka Grand Theater, 05/15; Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, 07/10
Asura:
Based On: the famous play of the same title, written by Nakashima Kazuki and performed by 劇団☆新感線 / GEKIDAN☆SHINKANSEN
Original Director: Inoue Hidenori
Adaptor/Director: Koyanagi Naoko
Original Composer: Tsukasa Okazaki
Composition / Arrangement: Aoki Tomoko
Music Arrangement: Tada Risa, Ueda Hironori
Choreographer: Wakao Risa, Kawasaki Etsuko
Conductor (Takarazuka): Nishino Jun
Conductor (Tokyo):
Esperanto!:
Author/Director: Ikuta Hirokazu
Composer: Oota Takeshi, Senju Akira, Saitou Tsuneyoshi
Choreographer: Miori Yumino, Wakao Risa, Sakuragi Ryousuke, Mitsui Satoshi, Ooishi Hiroka
Conductor (Takarazuka): Nishino Jun
Conductor (Tokyo):
Available on Blu-Ray: Yes (release date 07/31/25)
Available on DVD: Yes (release date 07/31/25)
Scene/Music Cuts: TBA
Other Cast (Tokyo only - 111th Class Group A): Chihaya Yuu, Utaha Tsukino, Haruiro Inori, Hatsuki Suzukaze, Himari Airi, Kohaku Sora, Hono Momoka, Haruhi Oto, Byakuran Kaoru, Harutsuki Kurea, Nanasaki Rika, Kanato You, Kisou Rai
(※) The role name will be changed to Koharu (female theater troupe member) for the shinjin kouen performances.
(✩) The role name will be changed to Chinatsu (female theater troupe member) for the shinjin kouen performances.
(⚶) The role name will be changed to Akiyo (female theater troupe member) for the shinjin kouen performances.
(⟁) The role name will be changed to Fuyuka (female theater troupe member) for the shinjin kouen performances.
WARNING!! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!
CONTENT WARNING(S):
Add warnings here, or write "None".
(From official site)
Asura
“Asura” is a representative part of the legacy of GEKIDAN☆SHINKANSEN, renowned for producing a series of innovative works that garnered immense popularity. This legendary work depicts the intense love story between a human and a demon, brought to life with the dynamic, flamboyant direction known as Inoue Kabuki, will now come to the Takarazuka Grand Theater. The first collaboration between GEKIDAN☆SHINKANSEN and the Takarazuka Revue, we invite you to the unveiling of a masterpiece of ultimate entertainment performed by Star Troupe, led by Makoto Rei.
“When Asura awakes, an indestructible fortress will appear in the upside-down sky. The world as we know it will revert to a realm of demons.”
In the early 19th century, man-eating demons had quietly infiltrated the town of Edo. After a millennium-long battle between humans and these evil spirits, the time was coming for Asura, their king, to awaken. The Edo shogunate forms an army, Onimikado, to stop the demons. Wakuraba Izumo, one of the top soldiers, is known as Demon-slayer Izumo. Night after night, he slaughters monsters, goblins, and ghosts.
On one such night, Izumo visits a temple where demons and other evil beings gather, when he spies a surprisingly innocent-looking girl.
“If those who kill humans are demons, then the men who kill demons are the worst of all!” Izumo is confused by these words she speaks. The girl clings to him, but he strikes her down with his sword.
Five years later. After the incident at the temple, Izumo quits Onimikado, is taken under the wings of Tsuruya Nanboku IV, one of the most successful writers in the genre of Edo-era popular fiction. One day, Izumo meets Yami no Tsubaki, a mysterious woman trying to escape from Abe no Jakuu, second in command of Onimikado. Tsubaki, it turns out, is a female thief who has Edo in an uproar. She is wanted as the murderer of Abe no Seimei XIII, the victim of a surprise attack at Tsukuda no Modoribashi. Abe is Izumo’s mentor, but Izumo is drawn inexplicably to Tsubaki and harbors her from capture by Onimikado. Izumo and Tsubaki have been brought together by something or someone, and the strong attraction they feel is.... The fate that joins the two is connected to the wakening of Asura. It is a bond that can be neither explained nor broken.
Esperanto!
Across time and space, humanity has harbored hope, wishes, and prayers in many forms.
People, pursuing beauty from a time long past. Characters, created by pure imagination. Lost under the metropolitan skyscrapers that tower above them... Fulfilled wishes, unanswered prayers, hopes that can transform into insatiable desires, and even dreams of the future that lies ahead. If only you open your heart, you can see the infinite beauty of the world. With each uttered hope, /with each prayer exchanged, Esperanto (those with hope in their hearts) will continue to be born...
Nostalgic yet novel, and quintessentially Takarazuka. Neither a Parisian revue nor an American revue. Continuing beyond 110 years of tradition, to a new era of the Takarazuka Revue. Join us to celebrate the wishes, prayers, and hopes that bind us to one another on this blue planet, a fantastic tapestry woven together with Makoto Rei!
This performance also marks the debut of the 111th class in the Takarazuka Grand Theater.
- Final performance for top star Rei Makoto, as well as vice-kumichou Shirotae Natsu, Murasaki Rira, Nijou Hana, and Miyako Yuuna.
- Final Star Troupe performance for Kiwami Shin and Kozakura Honoka before transferring to Flower Troupe and Senka, respectively.
- Hatsubutai for the 111th class.
- Japanese Wikipedia article about 阿修羅城の瞳 by GEKIDAN☆SHINKANSEN.
- Wikipedia article about Ashura, a film adaptation of 阿修羅城の瞳.
- Announced 03/25/25: One of the songs in Esperanto!, tentatively titled "Blue Planet," will be composed and arranged by renowned Japanese composer Senju Akira.
- Announced 04/19/25: Kokyou Yuuhi, Haruka Nana, and Natsunagi Mare of the 111th class were announced as absent from the hatsubutai line dance in the Takarazuka run of Esperanto! due to injury, until further notice. They will still participate in the hatsubutaisei greetings during Asura, as well as the final parade (Scene 22) for Esperanto!
- Announced 04/29/25: Misuzu Sakura was announced as absent from the Takarazuka run from 04/23 - 04/24 due to injury, but resumed partially performing on 04/25. Out of dedication to performing in the honkouen, she will be absent from the Grand Theater shinjin kouen performance on 05/15. Her shinko role of Demon will be covered by Natsu Otoha.
- Announced 05/09/25: Misuzu Sakura resumed fully performing on 05/09.
- Announced 05/18/25: Kokyou Yuuhi and Haruka Nana began fully performing in the hatsubutai line dance on 05/20.
- announced 05/22/25: Byakuran Kaoru of the 111th class was announced as absent from the Takarazuka run of Esperanto! due to injury, until further notice. She will still participate in the hatsubutaisei greetings during Asura.
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