English Title: The Wanderer Kenshin -The Romantic Story of a Meiji Swordsman-
Japanese Title: るろうに剣心 －明治剣客浪漫譚－
Romanized Title: Rurouni Kenshin -Meiji Kenkaku Roman-tan-

Troupe: Snow
Year: 2016
Performances: Takarazuka Grand Theater, 02/05 - 03/14; Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, 04/01 - 05/08
Shinjin Kouen Performances: Takarazuka Grand Theater, 02/23; Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, 04/14

Based On: The comic of the same name by Watsuki Nobuhiro.
Author/Director: Koike Shuuichirou
Composer: Oota Takeshi, Aoki Tomoko, Okada Ayumi
Choreographer: Sha Tamae, Wakao Risa, Sakuragi Ryousuke, KAORIalive, Suzukaze Miyuki
Conductor (Takarazuka): Sasada Aiichirou
Conductor (Tokyo): Shiota Akihiro
Shinjin Kouen Director: Tabuchi Daisuke

Available on DVD: Yes (release date 04/28/2016)
Available on Blu-Ray: Yes (release date 04/28/2016)
DVD Scene/Music Cuts: None

Role	Cast	Shinko Cast
Himura Kenshin (also known as Hitokiri Battousai), a wandering swordsman	Sagiri Seina	Towaki Sea
Kamiya Kaoru, a kendo teacher	Sakihi Miyu	Irodori Michiru
Kanou Souzaburou, an expelled member of the Shinsengumi, now "Gerard Yamashita" a trader between Japan and France	Nozomi Fuuto	Suwa Saki
Yamagata Aritomo, Prime Minister of Japan	Natsumi You	Shinjou Makara
Inoue Kaoru, Minister for Foreign Affairs	Mishiro Ren	Kanou Yuuri
Hiruma Kihee	Mishiro Ren	Shinjou Makara
Yamagata Tomoko, Yamagata's wife / Owner of the "Icchouya"'s wife	Rika Masumi	Saizuki Tsukushi as Tomoko
Owner of the "Ageya" tea house in Shimabara	Maisaki Rin	-
Shikijou, Oniwaban member	Mana Haruto	Yume Maoto
Newspaper seller	Mana Haruto	Kanami Sena
Inoue Takeko, Inoue's wife / Prostitute	Sahana Mako	Aoi Miki as Takeko
Sagara Sanosuke, former mercenary, Kenshin's friend	Houshou Dai	Machi Yuuka
Takani Megumi, a doctor	Daigo Seshiru	Arisa Hitomi
Catherine / Prostitute	Satsuki Aina	Mizusa Ruru as Catherine
Katsura Kogorou, former Chōshū clan leader	Renjou Makoto	Ayanami Keito
Belcour	Renjou Makoto	Senami Haya
Hiruma Gorobei, Kihee's brother	Karyou Shizuru	Kanou Yuuri
Sebastian	Karyou Shizuru	Seika Rian
Owner of the "Mengin" tea house in Shimabara	Asakaze Rei	-
Sekihara Yae	Chikaze Karen	Sara Anna
Beshimi, Oniwaban member	Touma Kazuki	Manomiya Rui
Policeman / Tatsumi	Ouga Mitsuki	Riou Jun
Takeda Kanryuu, an opium dealer	Ayanagi Shou †	Tachibana Kou
Akane Tayuu, a courtesan	Momohana Hina	Himehana Yukino
Owner of the "Icchouya" tea house in Shimabara / Sekihara Otokichi	Souno Haruto	Kanami Sena as Otokichi
Prostitute	Shouno Chio	-
Saitou Hajime, special agent for the Meiji, rival of Kenshin, former Shinsengumi squad captain	Ayakaze Sakina	Hinata Haruki
Hyottoko, Oniwaban member	Kujou Asu	Shiose Kazami †††
Newspaper seller	Kujou Asu	Yume Maoto
Hannya, Oniwaban member	Kiraha Reo	Hiyori Haruma
Belcour's wife / Prostitute	Anno Konomi	Karen Emiri as Belcour's Wife
Yukishiro Tomoe, Kenshin's late wife / Prostitute	Hoshino Anri	Seina Nozomi as Yukishiro Tomoe
Shinomori Aoshi, leader of the Oniwabanshuu, foe of Battousai	Tsukishiro Kanato	Agata Sen
Prostitute	Shiramine Yuri	-
Kishida	Tachibana Kou	Mochizuki Atsuno
Kenshin's shadow	Towaki Sea	Houka Haruna
Sekihara Tae, manager at "Akabeko" restaurant	Arisa Hitomi ††	Haori Yuuka
Sanjou Tsubame, waitress at "Akabeko"	Seina Nozomi	Nonoka Himari
Myoujin Yahiko (a samurai's son, Kenshin's friend)	Irodori Michiru	Kirara Umi

† When Ayanagi Shou was absent from the Takarazuka run due to illness from 02/11 - 02/16, Mana Haruto filled in as Takeda Kanryuu while Shinjou Makara played the newspaper seller and Houka Haruna played Shikijou, both of which were Mana Haruto's roles.

†† When Arisa Hitomi was absent from the Takarazuka run due to illness from 02/15 - 02/20, Haori Yuuka took up her role as Sekihara Tae, manager at "Akabeko" restaurant.

††† Due to injury, Shiose Kazami was announced out of the Takarazuka shinjinkouen on 02/22 and Kujou Asu who plays Hyottoko in the honkouen, filled in.

Other Cast: Ai Sumire, Ouji Kaoru, Amatsuki Tsubasa, Kazushiro Runa, Hizakura Honori, Yumenoka Mai, Sakurara Karan, Sakuraba Mai, Aotsuki Ren, Yumi Serina, Kotohane Riri, Mika Monami, Asato Mire, Asazumi Mare

WARNING!! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!

The original "Kenshin the Wanderer: The Romantic Story of a Meiji Swordsman" is a comic by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Since April 1994, when the story's serialization in weekly comic magazine Shukan Shonen Jump began, "Kenshin" has been a major commercial success. The comic has sold over 59 million books and produced hit animated features and live-action films. Today, "Kenshin" has legions of fans of all ages.

Now the Takarazuka Revue is creating the story's first incarnation as a musical, with a script and direction by Shuichiro Koike.

Our story begins in Kyoto, in the closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Himura Kenshin, a swordsman from Choshu Domain aiding the cause to restore Imperial rule, fought on the front lines to topple the shogunate and inaugurate a new era. A master of the Hiten Mitsurugi school of sword fighting, he battled the Shinsengumi special police and other foes defending the old order. With his savage swordsmanship Kenshin cut down innumerable enemies, earning him the nickname Hitokiri Battosai.

By the end of the war, Edo Castle's gates were opened without bloodshed and the shogunate fell. Ten years into the Meiji Era, Tokyo is undergoing rapid change in the name of cultural enlightenment. Kenshin is now a "rurouni," an endlessly wandering swordsman who has taken a "korosazu" vow to never kill again.

Suddenly, word gets around about a swordsman known as Himura Battosai of the Kamiya Kasshin school. Kamiya Kaoru is the assistant instructor at the Kamiya Kasshin dojo. She suddenly attacks Kenshin, as she believes this man, sword on his hip yet knowing nothing about the legendary sword Sakabato, is the so-called Battosai tarnishing her school's name. Soon, though, she realizes it is all a misunderstanding.Another man searching for Battosai is Saito Hajime, also known as Fujita Goro. He is a former captain of the Shinsengumi's third unit and now a lieutenant with the police. The so-called "Battosai" is a hoodlum who was once in the employ of Takeda Kanryu, a young businessman. Kanryu has his sights set on the property where the Kamiya Kasshin dojo stands. He eventually schemes to tarnish the school's honor and sends his henchman to steal the land. However, Kenshin is at the dojo to block the way. Hearing about the disturbance, Saito rushes over and meets Kenshin, whom he has not seen since the shogunate's fall 11 years earlier.

Meanwhile, Kano Sozaburo, a former Shinsengumi soldier who was expelled from the force, is reminded of his life over a decade ago when he hears about Battosai's re-emergence. Kano now trades goods between Japan and France and has a new name, Gerard Yamashita. He comes up with a plan to unseat the Meiji regime by using a new type of opium manufactured by Takani Megumi, a female physician Kanryu holds captive. Kano intends to obtain the opium from Kanryu in exchange for troops brought over from France, but Megumi escapes her confinement. On the run, she happens upon Kenshin and begs him for his help. He hides her in Kaoru's dojo. Kanryu, meanwhile, is frantic and hires Shinomori Aoshi, a famed master spy who once guarded the inner gardens of Edo Castle, to find Megumi.

It is around this time that Saito has sniffed out the plan to conquer Japan with opium and is seeking the people behind it. He asks Kenshin, who is staying at Kaoru's dojo, to aid the police in exchange for a high position in the army. Kenshin, however, declines, since he has vowed to never take another life. As he confronts his past as a butcher of men, Kenshin dearly wishes for the power to create a happy world for everyone in his life without relying on the strength of the sword. Yet under these circumstances, his heart heads in the opposite direction...

• Wikipedia entry on the Rurouni Kenshin comic.
• Final performance for Daigo Seshiru, Renjou Makoto, Ouga Mitsuki, Hizakura Honori and Riou Jun.
• The manga author, Watsuki Nobuhiro, and former top star Suzukaze Mayo, a voice actress for Himura Kenshin in anime series, both were present on the opening night of the Takarazuka run.
• Kotohane Riri was absent from 02/08 to 02/12 and Shiose Kazami from 02/08 to 02/13 during the Takarazuka run, both due to illness.
• Mizusa Ruru was absent from 02/09 to 02/16 and Aotsuki Ren from 02/09 to 02/10 during the Takarazuka run, both due to illness.
• Ayanagi Shou and Yumi Serina were absent from 02/11 to 02/16 during the Takarazuka run, both due to illness.
• Asazumi Mare was absent from 02/12 to 02/18 during the Takarazuka run due to illness.
• Kanami Sena and Arisa Hitomi were absent from 02/15 to 02/20 during the Takarazuka run, both due to illness.
• Seika Rian and Manomiya Rui were absent from 02/18 to 02/22 during the Takarazuka run, both due to illness.

None yet.

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