The Okepi's blog reporting on practices of theater performances did report on OSK!!

It has a movie of practice session and another with interview. Also, it shows Shouchiku Channel's new Minami-za practice movie.


x-posted to osk_skd

SHOCHIKUch (Shouchiku's official YouTube account)uploaded promotion video for this July's Minami-za performance! It is made from last Minami-za performance's video, but since the non of Minami-za performance got released on DVD, it is nice to see some sequences again.



Shouchiku, thank you so much!!

x-posted to osk_skd

Channel NECO announced the airing time and date for Fuuma no Kojiro T.V. series rerun. 

#1-2  2/9 19:00-20:00
#3-4  2/10 19:00-20:00
#5-6  2/11 19:00-20:00
#7-8  2/12 19:00-20:00
#9-10  2/13 19:00-20:00
#11-12  2/16 19:00-20:00
#13  2/17 19:00-19/30

#1-4  2/15 06:00-08:00
#5-8  2/21 06:00-08:00
#9-12  2/22 06:00-08:00
#13  2/28 06:00-06:30

X-posted to fuumanokojirou

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS KAMEN RIDER!

It was the craziest 30 min. I've ever seen for Kamen Rider. 

The production team must had a plenty of drink (10th anniversary series for Heisei Kamen Rider, so they have good enough excuse for toasting... a lot) before start writing and shooting the episode one. 

I just heard from a friend.

Ray will appear on a stage play with Miwa Akihiro. The title of the play is not on the news, but with the name Miwa slapped on as the lead, you can expect Ray getting a good oppotunity to make a break to non-Tokusatsu fans.

Right now, my friends and I pray the play to be "Kegawa no Marie (Mink Marie, La Marie-Vison)", a play written by Terayama Shuuji.  Because, if it so, Ray's role could be a really juicy one for an aspiring artist. The only trouble is, getting a ticket will be a war. 

According to this article, all male stage play company Studio Life will do the stage play version of Fruits Basket. It means all female characters will be played by male actors (Onnagata).

Studio Life has been known to perform stage plays based on Shojo manga by Hagio Moto and Shimizu Reiko, but Fruits basket was pretty new type of Shojo manga for them.

Studio Life will have an audition for new member before kicking out Fruits Basket production, and I just cannot imagine what will happen.

Application guide for Studio Life auditon. You can surely see the words 「2009年2月銀河劇場にて初舞台化！ 『フルーツバスケット』」 in it.

Takahashi-san (Rinpyo of Fuuma no Kojirou) moved his blog from Yahoo! blog to Ameblo.

高橋剛流一撃必殺技の完成を目指した修行の旅！！！！！！！！の巻
目標。五日に一度は更新！
I'm glad he did so because Yahoo! blog is really slow to load recently.

Looks like Takahashi-san cannot stop from using his Yankii style image. LoL

Kiryu Shimin Kaikan (桐生市民会館, A fansite managed by a loyal Kiryu Asaya fan) reported on the blog that Ousa-san announced that there will be "Haru no Odori 2009" at Shochiku-za on March, and a performance at Minami-za next July!  Yes!

Takayama (Ryuuhou)-san seems to love the picture of ex-Fuuma at track and field day of Ryokurin Koukou.

On this entry, he used the picture againa and revealed that Takahashi (Rinpyou)-san asked Suzuki (Reira)-kun to a meal after seeing Suzuki the Cheerleader. LOL Judging from the photoes and entries from Takahashi-san's own blog, he seems like to be with cute boys like Yasuka, ON/OFF and Suzuki-kun!!

Also, Takayama-san admits even he is not sure what to do when Suzuki the Cheerleader staired at him. LOL

Cuteness is indeed, irresistible.

I really hoped this article is some mistake.

First time I heard she is ill was when she left Les Miserables during rehearsal because she is ill. After that, I heard that she is taking a leave for a year to recover.

I didn't think her illness was this serious.

She is way too young to die...

May her soul rest in peace.

From 鈴木拡樹の取扱説明書(Suzuki Hiroki no Toriatukai Setsumei-sho), Shun will play cheerleader like he did on the manga!

I'm also glad to see Takayama (Ryuuhou of Fuuma) san and Takahashi (Rinpyou of Fuuma) san taking a part in the show, too. (Even though I have to admit they don't look like high school kids.) Wheeee!

I just cannot stop loving all of the actors and actresses who was the part of Fuuma no Kojirou drama. (^^)

Live Action Drama: Koko ha Greenwood

Coming soon, July 2008.

I heard a rumour about an actor, but I won't mention it here because I cannot find any official announcement yet.

Here is yet another manga based musical.

The casts

Nishi Koichiro 西興一朗 (Abared/Hakua Ryouga: Abaranger) as 遠藤和希 Endo Kazuki

Matsui Ao 松井 蒼 as young Endo Kazuki

Kariwa Yu 苅羽 悠 as 伊藤啓太 Ito Keita

Deai Masayuki 出合正幸 (Bouken Silver/Takaoka Eiji: Boukenjer) as Niwa Tetusya 丹羽哲也

中嶋英明 Nakajima Hideaki as Nitsu Kazuyuki 二津一行

Suzuki Hiroki 鈴木拡樹 (Reira: Fuuma no Kojiro, Genjyo Sanzo:Saiyuuki the Musical) as Saionji Kaoru 西園寺郁

Okada Hikaru 岡田 光(Riku Takaida: Hanazakari no Kimitachi e - Ikemen Paradise) as Shichijo Omi 七条臣

Kawakubo Yuuki 川久保雄基 (Dan Taichi: Prince of Tennis, Mark: Ribbon no Kishi ) as Taki Shunsuke 滝俊介

Yoshihama Shun 吉濱 駿 as Naruse Yukihiko 成瀬由紀彦

Sakura Ken 桜倉ケン as Iwai Takuto 岩井卓人

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I have really complex feeling about recent let's-make-everything-musical fad. I am a die hard musical fan, thanks to my mom who took me to the bunch of kiddie musical as part of my early age education since I am three years old. (BTW, she now truely regret about addicting me to the stage, which is really, really expensive hobby.), and I's so glad to see "musical" had become natural form of entertainment for young Japanese.

On the other hand, so many of those manga related musicals are made for quick money and have cheap quality, often casting actors because they are handsome, not they can sing and dance.

Of course, I cannot abondon all those musicals, because they always have chance to turn out to be a really cool show like 1st stage Sailor Moon and Naruto.

Here is my question. Should I go to this musical? I saw at least one cast who has promising capability as a musical actor and I am dying to see how Suzuki Hiroki is developing his skill. During Fuuma drama, Hiroki is always listed as the worst actor, along with Furukawa, and ON/OFF, but he was much, much better at the stage!

Someone, please tell me why I am wearing winter clothing?

Oh, it is sooo cold!!

Well, it is not exactly about Kirikaze, but Furukawa.

On the special feature on DVD vol.2, Kazuya revealed that Furukawa has habit of taking off not only his shoes but also his clothes except for his underpants when he want make himself confortable. When Furukawa visited the twin's room he started stripping on the moment he said
"Ojyamashimaaasu! (Literal translation: I am going to bother you! Connotative translation: Hi!)
Also, Kazuya discovered Furukawa in HIS bed, sound asleep.

I must tell you, Furukawa is a really weird kid. LOL

Yey!

OSK got 7min. feature on News Scramble's Closeup News (Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation: YTV) section!! It shows some bits from "Haru no Odori 2008", and works a pretty good promo.

You can watch the feature here. (Need Windows Media Player)

( In case you cannot see the news from above link... )

x-posted to osk_skd

One of the worst morning is the morning you found your neck is stiff!!

OUCH!!

I got an flyer for Saiyuuki the Musical at Fuuma no Kojiro on Stage but decided to withhold my interest until the casts are decided. A friend of mine just informed me.

"REIRA and SHIEN are IN! They will play Sanzo and Gojyou!!"

Now, I have a feeling I am buying at least one ticket for the show.

I kinda interested how Suzuki-kun will play Sanzo. I know he talk naturally in really deep voice (he showed it as a part of last performance ad-lib at Fuuma Stage). Judging from the characters listed at the site, the show will probably include both young and current Sanzo. Now I am dying curious how he will make difference between young and current Sanzo. Will he use his deep voice? Can he sing in that tune??

Now, does this news made anyone dying to visit Japan on September????

Edited 2008/04/16: I found TWO BIG MISTAKES on this list and corrected them. I know there are still a lot of grammar errors and missing words (blame it on my ADD), but I'll take care of them later.

-Yagyu Ranko DOES killing.
-Kojirou never met or know about Erina.
-Kojirou and Himeko never fall into love
-Ranko and Ryouma never had romance
-No explanation on how Ryouma lost his eye.
-No explanation on Byakko and Shien's past.
-Ryouma can use his psychic power without risking his life.
-Kojirou was sent to rescue Hakuou because all other available Fuuma are assigned to mission. Yap, he was treated as a sort of reserve member with potential.
-Hearing about a "new student" at Hakuou is finishing canon fodder Yasha one after another, Mibu Kousuke decide to take care of the matter despite of the fact that most of Yasha thought sending Mibu is overkill.
-Mibu is not Yasha-hime's younger sister brother. He is a really decent, well mannered and elegant man. He know and accept the fact he is a good swordman, but not the best.
-Mibu seems to dominated and won the battle, but he collapsed into Musashi's arm. Several of his last words proves that he know that Kojirou, who is lying unconcious on the ground had given him a fatal blow. Not only that, he also noticed that the first collision of his and Kojirou's sword had practically destroyed his sword. (Where is the sour loser on the drama?)
-Kojirou was nearly killed by Ranko because he become the star student of Hakuou by winning championship after another. (He was ordered to support Hakuou from behind the scene by the Fuuma leader.)He got hanged upside down from a tree.
-While being hanged, he was attacked by three Yasha with notable ability (even Musashi thought sending the three were over kill at this moment), but kills them all.
-Loss of Mibu and the three made Musashi to request the summoning of Hachi Shougun
-Musashi almost finished Kojirou after piercing his leg, but mysterious shadows (later revealed as Ryouma, Ryuuhou and Kirikaze Kouu) snatch Kojirou and made retreat. Kojirou was treated and dumped on the front door of Ranko's.
-Kojirou stupidly challanged Musashi and Hachi Shougun only after a few days from the leg injury, but Ryouma, Ryuuhou, and Kouu shows up, knocks him out, say hi to Yasha and retreated.
-Right before retreating, Ryouma silently finishes Shiranui without any Yasha noticing about it. Poor Shiranui did not had a chance to show his face. (All Hachi Shougun were drawn as a shadowy figure at this point.)
-During retreat, Kouu notice Byakko's following them and make Ryouma and Ryuuhou go ahead while he block Byakko's pursuit. Ther rest is pretty much the same on Kouu, Byakko, Shien and Rinpyou's fates on manga, TV and stage.
-While heading to join the reast of Fuuma, Kirikaze kills Raiden as he try to report Byakko's death and his dying message. Kirikaze did not drive Raiden to a cliff, but stabbed him from behind using mist as his cover.
-Anki was killed by Kirikaze while searching for Raiden's murderer, by the same way on drama and stage.
-Musashi intercepts Kabuto-maru and Reira before they manage to join the rest of Fuuma, and send a letter to Fuuma informing their death.
-Fuurinkazan was given to Kojirou by Ranko as the last present to a warrior who is heading to the last battle.
-Kagerou was killed by Ryouma's Shikyou-ken
-Yousui and Kurojishi were killed by Kojirou with FuurinKazan
-Asuka Musashi owns Ougon-ken from very first and knows he is owning one of the sacred sword. It turned gold upon encounter with FuurinKazan.
-On the last battle, Musashi's mind was destroyed on the moment of Erina's death, making him a breathing dead body. No ghost of Erina, but a telepathic communication.
-Kojirou thought Musashi turning into a breathing dead body as a great chance to finish an enemy who would be a great threat even if he is mentally dead.

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This list is originally written on April 15, 2008, 03:43