Sunset of the Forbidden City
Picture Credit: Caithion
English Title: Sunset of the Forbidden City
Japanese Title: 紫禁城の落日
Romanized Title: Shikinjou no Rakujitsu
Troupe: Star
Year: 1991-92
Performances: Takarazuka Grand Theater, 11/1 - 12/15; Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, 3/5 - 3/31
Shinjin Kouen Performances: Takarazuka Grand Theater, 11/19; Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, 3/17
Based On: The life of last China emperor.
Author/Director: Ueda Shinji
Composer: Terada Takio, Irie Kaoru, Yoshida Yuuko
Choreographer: Kita Hiroshi, Hayama Kiyomi, Kurotaki Tsukio, Shou Sumire
Conductor (Takarazuka): Okada Yoshiki, Odakane Bonpei
Conductor (Tokyo): Izawa Ichirou, Kiyokawa Tomomi
Shinjin Kouen Director:
Available on DVD: Yes (release date 12/20/08)
DVD Scene/Music Cut: None
| Role | Cast | Shinko Cast | |
| Sentou-tei Aishinkakura Fugi (Puyi), the last Emperor of China | Hyuuga Kaoru | Minoru Kou | |
| Empress Enyou (Wanrong) | Marimo Eri | Ryou Akino | |
| Aishinkakura Fuketsu (Pujie), Puyi's brother | Shion Yuu | Emao Yuu | |
| Kouka (Heng Xiang), Enyou's mother | Konohana Sakuya | Mimi Anri | |
| Yoshioka Yasunao (Kwantung Army lieutenant) | Asazuki Mario | Manaka Hikaru | |
| Eigen (Yuan), Enyou's father | Hoshihara Misao | Kyougoku Ayano | |
| Reika (Li Hua), lady-in-waiting | Kuni Natsuki | Takayagi Midori | |
| Chin (Chen), eunuch | Hayama Michiko | Nanki Chihiro | |
| Okaezo Youji (jazz band leader) | Itsuki Chihiro | Saegusa Mizuki | |
| Tankyou (Duan Gong), Bunshuu's brother | Natsumi You | Kouki Subaru (Grand Theater) ? (Tokyo) | |
| Lieutenant Miyada / Ryu (Long), inspector | Marimura Nao | ||
| Inumaru Akihiko (jazz singer, Okaezo's friend) | Senju Hikaru | Miyabi Kei | |
| Yanagiba Toshiko (jazz singer) | Shima Yuuka | Tomo Maika | |
| Etoile | Shima Yuuka | ||
| Eishou (Ying Shao), Bunshuu's sister | Agi Katsura | Sagikusa Kaoru | |
| Muromachi Kyou (jazz singer) | Ema Naoki | ||
| Yoshizumi Jirou (jazz singer) | Kinami Chie | ||
| Joujou (Niang Niang), lady-in-waiting | Matsubara Midori | Nijou Yuzuru | |
| Meigyokukin (Mei Yuqin), Chinese intelligence member | Izumo Aya | Maiji Haruka | |
| Bunshuu (Wenxiu), Puyi's second wife | Hanabusa Rio | Marisa Hitomi | |
| Renren (Lian Lian), lady-in-waiting | Asaoka Nari | Migusa Yuu | |
| Captain Matsukawa | Uzuki Kei | ||
| Lieutenant Takebe / Kan (Guan), inspector | Chiaki Shin | ||
| Kuraishi Shingo (Japanese military adviser) | Asaji Saki | Kanda Tomo | |
| Shimojou Fumiko (jazz singer) | Hagoromo Ran | ||
| Rinrin (Lingling), lady-in-waiting | Mari Yuzumi | ||
| Ranran (Lanlan), lady-in-waiting | Tomo Maika | ||
| Kondou Yoshinari (jazz singer) | Saegusa Mizuki | ||
| Matsushita Masaru (jazz singer) | Minoru Kou | ||
| Captain Umino | Manaka Hikaru | ||
| Meimei, lady-in-waiting | Sagikusa Kaoru | ||
| Yuuyuu (Yuyu), lady-in-waiting | Takayagi Midori | ||
| Sugimoto Tamotsu (jazz singer) | Miyabi Kei | ||
| Ookura Seiji (jazz singer) | Shijou Hikaru | ||
| Hon (Fan), inspector | Migusa Yuu | ||
| Machida Tetsuya (jazz singer) | Emao Yuu | ||
| Saga Hiro (Pujie's wife) | Shiraki Ayaka | Hoshina Yuri | |
Other Cast: Otohara Ai, Sakaki Jun, Nishiki Ai, Shouno Saki, Nozomi Kei, Asao Ritsuki, Chitose Manabu, Ayaka Yuu, Kanou Chiho, Hozuki Mio, Mimi Anri, Machi Arisa, Shinobu Murasaki, Asukai Mari, Tachibana Hitomi, Kamiya Yuki, Kozuki Wataru, Jun Atsuki, Kujou Akira, Misono Erika, Mibae Yuuri, Ayato Rena, Oonatsu Shizuki, Hoshina Yuri, Suzuna Saya, Ryou Akino, Oka Kazumi, Manami Shiho, Oohiro Ayumu, Asamine Hikari, Takao Rio, Hanafusa Mari, Asamiya Mayu, Akira Kazuki, Shiratori Yurie, Hara Miteki, Asazora Riho, Hibiya Megumi, Kahou Yurika, Tsuzushiro Ai
Grand Theater only: Hagio Hitomi, Machikaze Kana, Amachi Hikari, Kokonoe Haruka, Izumi Tsukasa
WARNING!! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!
A dramatic and large scale production about the troubled life of Emperor Fugi (Puyi in English), last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. The story revolves around Fugi and his empress, Enyou, and Fugi's younger brother Fuketsu and his Japanese wife Hiro.
(from official booklet)
For three centuries the Manchurian Qing dynasty ruled all China. In 1911 the Xinhai Revolution toppled the Qing Empire and established the Republic of China. The kindness of Yuan Shikai, a revolutionary but a close friend of the Empress Dowager, Longyu, permitted the Imperial Court to survive intact within the confines of the Forbidden Palace (Shikinjou).
The Xinhai Revolution forced the abdication of the six-year old Emperor, Puyi, who had been on the throne for three years. Even though his Empire had disappeared, Puyi was raised in Imperial splendour and he desired to rule again. In 1922 Puyi married two women according to custom the First Empress, Wanrong, and the Second Empress, Wenxiu. Wanrong was a beautiful woman who had been given a modern, liberal education. The restrictions of court life were a burden to her and she couldn't tolerate the existence of a rival. Wenxiu detested Wanrong as much. She had been selected as a First Empress, but the Empress Dowager wanted her own niece, Wanrong, to reign as First Empress.
Puyi's younger brother, Pujie, studied military science in Japan and married a Japanese aristocrat, Hiro, the daughter of count Saga. Pujie returned to China with his bride but Puyi was enraged that his brother had flouted the marriage conventions by marrying outside of the Manchu race.
When the protector of the Imperial Court died, General Feng led an attack on the Forbidden Palace. The National Chinese Army demanded that the Emperor leave the Palace at once. Just then the Lieutenant General of the Japanese Kwantung Army Yoshioka Yasunao intervened and invited Puyi and his family to come with him to Manchuria. Puyi accepted the Japanese military's plan for him to reign over the Manchurian Empire.
Since Puyi was Manchurian he readily agreed to the offer of a new throne and the accession ceremonies were held at Changchun in Manchuria in 1934. Puyi finally had an Empire to reign over even though he was a figure-head ruler for General Yoshioka and Japanese government. Pujie, his wife Hiro and Wanrong were critical of the Emperor's relationship with the Japanese Army. Wanrong had turned to opium to forget her troubles.
In 1941 the Pacific War started. Although in the early stages the war was in Japan's favour it later seemed inevitable that Japan would be defeated. Even so Japan continued to fight after Germany and Italy had been defeated in Europe.
On August 9, 1945 the USSR declared was on Japan and invaded Manchuria. Yoshioka ordered that the capital had to be moved to Tonghua. Puyi asked Wanrong to come with him. Wanrong realized that due to her opium addiction she would only be a burden to the Emperor. Shw flew into a rage to make Puyi so disgusted that he would leave her behind. Puyi saw through the pretense and realized that the Empress truly loved him. But sadly he understood that it really was best to leave her behind in Changchun.
On August 15, Captain Kuraishi, a secret envoy from the Japanese Imperial Court, arrived with a plan to help Puyi and his family escape to safety in Japan. However, two days later the Soviet Army was closing on Tonghua...
- Final performance for top stars Hyuuga Kaoru and Marimo Eri.
- Also the final performance for: Hagio Hitomi (retired after Takarazuka run), and Konohana Sakuya, Hanabusa Rio, Asaoka Nari, and Uzuki Kei (retired after Tokyo run).
- Kokonoe Haruka changed her stage name spelling from 九重はるか to 九重遥 after Takarazuka run (on December 30th).
- Troupe changes between performances: 12/30 - Machikaze Kana, Amachi Hikari and Kokonoe Haruka to Flower, Izumi Tsukasa to Snow; 02/03 - Kouki Subaru from Moon to Star.
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