The New Tale of Genji / Melodia (Flower 2015)
Picture Credit: coeuraubonheur | Official Chirashi
English Title: The New Tale of Genji / Melodia －A Warm and Lovely Melody－
Japanese Title: 新源氏物語 / Melodia －熱く美しき旋律－
Romanized Title: Shin Genji Monogatari / Melodia -Atsuku Utsukushiki Senritsu-
Troupe: Flower
Year: 2015
Performances: Grand Theater, 10/02 - 11/09 ; Tokyo Theater, 11/27 - 12/27
Shinjin Kouen Performances: Takarazuka Grand Theater, 10/20; Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, 12/10
The New Tale of Genji:
Based On: The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu
Author: Shibata Yukihiro
Director: Oono Takuji
Composer: Yoshida Yuuko, Terada Takio, Irie Kaoru, Nakamoto Kiyozumi, Takahashi Megumi, Uzaki Ryuudou
Choreographer: Yamamura Tomogorou, Mine Saori
Conductor (Takarazuka):
Conductor (Tokyo):
Shinjin Kouen Director: Oono Takuji
Melodia:
Author/Director: Nakamura Kazunori
Composer: Nishimura Kouji, Kai Masato, Kuratomi Shinichi, Nakagawa Akira
Choreographer: Hirasawa Satoshi, KAZUMI-BOY, Bryant Baldwin, Satou Chikanori
Conductor (Takarazuka): Ooyagi Yasushi
Conductor (Tokyo):
Available on DVD: Yes (release date 12/17/15)
Available on BLU-RAY: Yes (release date 12/17/15)
DVD Scene/Music Cuts: Yes
From Melodia: Music and vocals have been replaced for "Spain" from scene 14A and 14C, "My Favorite Things" from scene 19, and "Entre Rejas" from scene 20.
| Role | Cast | Shinko Cast | |
| Prince Hikaru Genji, Emperor Kiritsubo's second son | Asumi Rio | Yuzuka Rei | |
| Fujitsubo, his stepmother and lover Kiritsubo's concubine | Kano Maria | Asazuki Kiwa | |
| Emperor Kiritsubo, father of Prince Hikaru Genji | Natori Rei | Mineka Towa | |
| Kokiden Consort, the Consort of the Minister of the Right | Kyou Misa | Hina Ririka (1) | |
| Prince Suzaku, the eldest son of Emperor Kiritsubo / Amagimi, nun | Takashou Mizuki | Ouma Shion | |
| Minister of the Right, To no Chujo's father | Shihou Nanami | Chiyuki Aki (Grand Theatre), Kureha Maki (Tokyo) | |
| Akashi nyuudou | Yuugiri Rai | Nanaki Kaoru | |
| Aoi no Ue, Genji's wife | Hanano Juria | Mahou Tsugumi | |
| Oomyoubu, Fujitsubo's lady-in-waiting | Mebuki Yukina | Wakakusa Moeka | |
| Nakatsukasa, Kokiden's lady-in-waiting | Marika Yume | Kano Maria | |
| Shounagon, Murasaki's lady-in-waiting | Umesaki Ibu | Sarasa Nachi | |
| To no Chujo, the son of the Minister of the Left, Aoi no Ue's brother, Genji's friend | Seto Kazuya | Minami Maito | |
| Chief of the Left Stables (sama no kami) | Ootori Mayu | Ayaki Hikari | |
| Koremitsu, Genji's follower | Serika Toa | Yuunami Kei | |
| Yoshikiyo, Koremitsu's follower | Yuunami Kei | Takamine Jun | |
| Minister of the Left, father figure of Prince Hikaru Genji and Aoi no Ue's father | Tenma Michiru | Kureha Maki (Grand Theatre), Chiyuki Aki (Tokyo) | |
| Oborozukiyo, Kokiden's sister and Genji's lover | Senna Ayase | Otohane Emi (2) | |
| Murasaki no Ue, the niece of Fujitsubo, Genji's second wife | Ousaki Ayaka† | Shiroki Mirei | |
| Chujou, Rokujou's lady-in-waiting | Kaga Ririka | Himeka Hinano | |
| Chuunagon, of the same | Nana Kurara | Itotsuki Yukiha | |
| Kumoi no Kari, To no Chujo's daughter, Yuugiri's lover | Shiroki Mirei† | Haruhi Urara | |
| Onna san no miya, Genji's third wife, Suzaku's daughter | Asazuki Kiwa | Marei Sayana | |
| Reizei | Maizuki Nagisa | Haruya Yuuri | |
| Kurodo no suke | Maki Izumi | Hiryuu Tsukasa | |
| Rokujou no miyasudokoro, Genji's lover / Kashiwagi, To no Chujo's son and Yuugiri's friend | Yuzuka Rei | Hozumi Mahiro | |
| Yuugiri, the son of Prince Hikaru Genji and Aoi no Ue | Houzuki An | Yabuki Sena | |
| Shikibu no jo, Genji's friend | Minami Maito | Seino Asuka | |
| Hyobu no taifu, Genji's friend | Kazumi Shou | Aren Touma | |
| To no shosho | Saezuki Runa | Aomiya Ruka | |
| To no ben | Wataru Hibiki | Sumizuki Naoto | |
| Kurimaru, a charioteer | Haryuu Mitsuki | Ichinose Kouki | |
| Hachimaru, the same | Aren Touma | Maiki Tsubasa | |
| Usuki, the same | Ayaki Hikari | Izumi Maira | |
| Kaniro, the same | Hiryuu Tsukasa | Kazu Reisa | |
| Wakamurasaki | Haruhi Urara | Oto Kurisu | |
| Shikibu | Mihana Rino | Rinno Shizuka | |
| Commander of the guard | Shiraki Akari | Ouka Rina | |
| Inuki | Yabuki Sena | Mano Kazuma | |
| Akitsu | Oto Kurisu | Hana Yuuki | |
| Tsukushi | Marei Sayana | Rinka Mone | |
Other Cast: Niina Kaho, Saebana Riona, Sachika Seira, Rinno Shizuka, Haruya Yuuri, Maiki Tsubasa, Mano Kazuma, Sakino Mion, Serina Ei, Tsubasa Anju, Ryouka Kina, Tatsuki Mio
(1) Kano Maria in Takarazuka.
(2) Hina Ririka in Takarazuka.
† As of 11/27 Ousaki Ayaka will be absent due to poor physical health. Shiroki Mirei will assume the role of Murasaki no Ue while Haruhi Urara takes her role as Kumoi no Kari.
Announced on 11/30: instead of Haruhi Urara, the role of Kumoi no Kari will be played by Oto Kurisu.
WARNING!! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!
The Tale of Genji
Hikaru Genji was born to Kiritsubotei when he was Emperor, as the second imperial Prince. Since childhood, he has harbored feelings of love for Fujitsubo-no-Nyogo, the Empress of Kiritsubotei. She is the living image of his late mother, Kiritsubo-no-Koui. Genji grows up to become a strikingly beautiful young man, whom the people call “the Shining Prince”. One night, he is unable to control his yearnings. He sets off for the Sanjo estate where Fujitsubo is visiting her parents, as the Milky Way shines brightly. With unrestrained passion, he embraces Fujitsubo. She, leaning on Genji, is unable to calm her heart. The couple have knowingly committed the sin of forbidden love.
Afterward, tortured by his secret romance, Genji chases shadows of Fujitsubo by having numerous trysts with a variety of women.
One of them is the proud and noble-looking Rokujo-no-Miyasundokoro. However, Genji responds to her quite fervent love but tending to keep his distance from the Rokujo estate. Also, his relationship with Aoi-no-Ue, his haughty first wife, is no longer the way it was when they first married. This leaves him with the opportunity to encounter a beautiful young girl at a priest’s hermitage on Kitayama. Young Murasaki in some respects looks like Fujitsubo. Genji enlists the help of his attendant Koremitsu in an attempt to bring her closer to him so he can mold her into his ideal woman. After taking her away from a protesting nun, he brings the girl to his estate.
One afternoon in spring, Hikaru Genji, encouraged by Emperor Kiritsubo, who is delighted with the Prince’s birth, to hold the handsome, noble child (later to become the Emperor Reizei) in his arms. In fact, the prince is an illegitimate child born between Genji and Fujitsubo. His heart contains a mix of joy and dread.
Emperor Kiritsubo eventually abdicates. The Emperor Suzaku, Hikaru Genji’s elder brother, is enthroned. The new Emperor is the child of Kokiden-no-Nyogo, a court lady from the family of the Minister of the Right, a political foe of Genji. The carriages of Rokujo-no-Miyasundokoro and Aoi-no-Ue collide while the two are out on an excursion on the day of Kamo-no-Saiin-no-Misogi, and conflict ensues as a result. From that point on, the vengeful spirit of Rokujo-no-Miyasundokoro makes trouble for Aoi-no-Ue every night. Aoi-no-Ue passes away, leaving behind Genji’s child Yugiri.
Genji’s heart is in turmoil. The pure form of Young Murasaki (to become Murasaki-no-Ue) is the only thing he takes comfort in. As time progresses, she grows into a fresh and well-rounded woman, and the two marry.
Genji appears to put aside his associations with other women. Even so, he succumbs to a dangerous romance with Oborozukuyo, the younger sister of Kokiden-no-Nyogo and much-loved mistress of Emperor Suzaku. The Minister of the Right and Kokiden-no-Nyogo find out about the relationship. Sensing he is in danger, Genji makes a firm decision to leave Kyoto and go to Sumanoura.
After time passes as if in a dream, Genji returns again to Kyoto.
Emperor Suzaku abdicates and Reizei is enthroned. Spring comes again for Genji, who has become a guardian for the Emperor Reizei. Both his once-young son Yugiri and the son of Tonochujo, Kashiwagi have grown into splendid youths. Tonochujo (the Interior Minister) is a close friend and worthy opponent of Genji’s. It seems no clouds at all hover over Genji’s prosperity. But, he is about to receive his destiny’s retribution, which will come in an unexpected form.
Melodia
This performance comprises a number of musical pieces played to passionate as well as beautiful melodies and rhythms that generate excitement. They all are part of passionate and beautiful tunes that brim with love, dreams, hopes, passion, sorrow and an energy that knows no bounds.
The revue weaves together the charm of the Flower Troupe, led by Asumi Rio who brims over with brilliance and youth, through lively songs and dancing.
- Shibata Yukihiro's The New Tale of Genji was first performed by Moon Troupe in 1981, and then revived in 1989.
- Final performance for Maki Izumi and Himeka Hinano, also for fukukumichou Shihou Nanami.
- Though originally sheduled to perform, Hizuki Yume retired on August, 21st without prior announcement.
- 25/09/15: Otohane Emi will be absent from the Takarazuka run (both hon-kouen and shinjin kouen).
None yet.
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