Digital Guff
Takarazuka Review Poster
Posted by Daryl Johnson (Farnham, United Kingdom) on 1 May 2008 in Lifestyle & Culture.
Poster for a recent show by the famous all-female Takarazuka Review, in Takarazuka, Hyogo prefecture. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takarazuka_Revue
"Passion" is set during the US Occupation period following World War II. The only reason I know this is because you can obviously see the character on the right is Douglas MacArthur (they've even got a little label with the character's name on it there, in case the pipe, uniform and.. er.. eye-liner didn't give it away). I think they've truy captured something of the essence of the real MacArthur here, wouldn't you agree?
Although I'm now in England, this blog will still feature photos from Japan for the foreseeable future.
I apologise in advance if I'm tardy with commenting on your blogs or returning comments during the week... I will get to you though!
@Zorilla: !!!
@Cheryl: He is isn't he?
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Excellent, WOW what a great poster.. they're so pretty, the girls...they are girls, right?
1 May 2008 1:21pm
@Lorraine: Yes Lorraine, they're girls.
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Wow, MacArthur is a lot better looking than I remember from history class. I found the take on the US occupation in the Yakuza Papers interesting, though I've only watched the first episode so far: Battles Without Honor or Humanity. As I understand it, it was virtually the first movie to depict the occupation somewhat realistically.
1 May 2008 2:56pm
@Twelvebit: I don't know that film; will check it out.
standley from Brou-sur-Chantereine, France
Very nice capture. These women are so pretty!
1 May 2008 8:38pm
@standley: Thanks standley!
Amir from Tehran, Iran
You have captured the poster well. The show seems interesting.
3 May 2008 11:25pm
@Amir: Thanks Amir. Are you interested in Japanese history?
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Not to mislead you about the movie series --it doesn't deal directly with the occupation but starts just after the war (although the opening scene depicts US soldiers attempting rape a young Japanese woman, an aspect of the occupation I can't say I've ever seen addressed in any movie). According to one of the extras on the DVD set, by a historian of Japanese film, the series deals with how the occupation authority used the Yakuza to control local governments and shape the political process to fit US interests --among other things.
5 May 2008 8:29pm
@Twelvebit: Unfortunately I can't watch it in Japan because the DVDs don't have English subtitles! There were lots of shady dealings going on in those days as I'm sure you can imagine.
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
I thought you spoke Japanese. I watched the second movie last night: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima. This one already takes place in 1950, and there is nothing about the occupation.
6 May 2008 3:24pm
@Twelvebit: Maybe I should check Amazon...
@Amir: It's an interesting subject Amir...
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
I remember in the mid sixties, when I was hardly highschool graduate, we saw on TV a Takarazuka show, back in Romania! And it was smashing!
Of course, I am not anymore a fan of the ensemble, BUT...I must say that the girls ARE BEAUTIFUL!
8 May 2008 10:05am
@Japanalia: ...Even the pipe smokers!
Olympus C750UZ
1/30 second
F/2.8
ISO 170
7 mm