Derived from the main performance of the musical “Touken Ranbu”, the latest work in the series “Tsurumaru Kuninaga Daikurikara Double Knight Departure ~Spring Breeze Tori~”, which develops various styles of performances with a small number of swordsmen. This time, the story of two swordsmen, Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Okurikara, who are old acquaintances of the Date family, is depicted. The familiar 2-part composition of the musical part and the live part is hot and exciting “Twins Departure”. Let’s play back the special pattern from the public Genepro held at the Tennozu Galaxy Theater on Sunday, August 7, 2022.
Ever since the ban on “Tsurumaru Kuninaga Daikurikara: Double Equestrian Departure” was lifted, rumors and speculations abounded about what the stage would be like. When the curtain of the first part opens, this is exactly the musical. A two-hour long historical drama was prepared, focusing on the past events of the two Touken Danshi.
The beginning is the order of the judge to Tsurumaru Kuninaga. “I want you to accompany Okurikara and see how Date Masamune is being targeted by the Time Retrograde Army. However, I haven’t been able to narrow down when he will appear.” – So, the first place I went to was Bontenmaru, who suffered from smallpox when he was a child and lost the sight in his right eye. It is adorable how he writes a letter to Okurakara because he has the monk Koya Soutsu, who acts as his foster parent, look at his training and says, “Because he looks like he has never received a letter.” . Guided by Soutsu’s teachings of “navel curve”, the second part witnesses the turning points of Date Masamune’s life as he grows into a strong, kind, wise, generous person, and a person with a heart that appreciates taste, and his human power. While touching it, you will continue to watch over it with a sense of distance without being attached or separated.
Many letters still exist today, from trivial daily news to songs and poems in a stroke of “emergency”. Using what was left behind as a clue, the “letter as a weapon” is spelled out as a key item. “A brush is as good as a sword,” and “a piece of paper can be related to history.” At the same time, according to the teaching that Furitsumoji is the essence of communicating through experience, there are many scenes in which Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Okurikara take the place of historical figures and recreate historical events in skits, giving the viewers an opportunity to experience the story. There are also a variety of theatrical ideas that create a story with a small number of people while imagining the big historical facts surrounding Date Masamune.
(C) NITRO PLUS, EXNOA LLC/Musical “Touken Ranbu” Production Committee
The scrim curtain covered with skillfully written characters that dances across the front of the stage looks like a stratum of time made up of words. A variety of musical numbers… and the fashionable world view that spreads out in front of you is also a good match for Date Masamune’s smart appearance. Through the whole, I was able to enjoy the work with the feeling of coming into contact with high-quality small pieces.
In the early stages, Tsurumaru Kuninaga pulls out his sword to greet Okurakara, who has just emerged as a baby bird. The sight of him mercilessly driving in a defensive opponent is a little different from Tsurumaru Kuninaga’s sword mu that I’ve seen so far. drift. Raimu Okamiya, who plays the character, skillfully rewinds time and embodies the “former Tsurumaru Kuninaga” by making use of the character resolution cultivated in the Toumu series. It was full of power and persuasiveness that made me think, “There is Tsurumaru Kuninaga, who seems to have a philosophical view after going through many events including this series.”
On the other hand, Okurakara is irritated by the overwhelming difference in combat power due to the difference in manifestation time, and tries to gain strength recklessly. Date Masamune’s life, which follows his own growth in parallel, is full of suggestions, and coupled with “something” that can be felt from the words and actions of Tsurumaru Kuninaga, who is always close to him, plays the process of gradually establishing his identity. Teru Makishima expresses carefully. Through restrained dramatization, he clearly conveyed Okurakara’s way of being, who dislikes unnecessary acquaintances. In the second half, at the very last minute of the battle, I can’t forget the moment when Okurikara, which I’ve seen in Tou-Myu so far, was unleashed, as if his strength level had risen by several levels at once.
Kojiro Oka plays Masamune Date, the pillar of the story. From the freshness of a young man when he first appeared, to the fact that he gradually grew older and gained weight and depth as a samurai through repeated battles, he played lively until his mature age when he dreamed and hoped for Spain across the sea. With her sweet, elegant and clear singing voice, she gently grabs the hearts of the audience and never lets go. This is what it means to have flowers.
Mitsuru Karahashi led the story as a storyteller. In the first half, he preached his teachings with his stoic and witty demeanor as Souto Koya, and in the second half, he devoted himself to cheerful Latin music as Tsunenaga Hasekura, who supports Date Masamune’s new dream. He played two different types of roles as lovable characters, sprinkling a wonderful theatrical spice on each end.
The scenes where Oka and Karahashi’s voices overlap are also very rich, and have a dramatic feel that is full of adult charm. The contrast between the young Okamiya and Makishima, and the balance of the four was exquisite.
There is an inescapable destination in history, but the journey to get there is all yours. The world is connected to one by the sky and the sea. The beauty that makes you proud that you can always sail, and the happiness that comes from the sound of gospel. The afterglow toward the finale was overflowing with the joy of living.
(C) NITRO PLUS, EXNOA LLC/Musical “Touken Ranbu” Production Committee
In his previous work, “Paraiso of the Quiet Sea”, which depicts the fierce mission of the Shimabara Rebellion, Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Daisuke, who entrusted their backs with an undeniable sense of trust, sometimes held hands and jumped into battle. Kurikara. For the audience who know these two figures, this work is one answer, and it has a luxurious content with many new discoveries and unexpected depictions. That’s why the main theme song “Touken Ranbu” sung by Tsurumaru Kuninaga & Okurikara is also outstanding! It is an anthem that can only be found here, with only two bonds and two footprints.
And in the long-awaited part 2, while Masamune Date and Tsunenaga Hasekura’s surprise, voluminous performance with sword fighting and rap will liven up the venue, Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Okurakara will run non-stop live! From stylish numbers to slightly mischievous and unexpected numbers, sing and dance earnestly. The vocals, which have different bass voices with different tastes, are quite comfortable, and the mellow sound in unison as well as harmony is unique. It was a stage where you could enjoy 120% of the full entertainment spirit of Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Okurikara, a groove that could only be created by Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Okurikara.
Interview and text = Yuka Yokozawa
Performance information
Musical “Touken Ranbu” Tsurumaru Kuninaga Daikurikara Two Horsemen Departure ~Spring Breeze Tori~※end
Schedule/Venue:
＜Tokyo Performance＞ August 7 (Sun) to August 14 (Sun), 2022 Tennozu Galaxy Theater
August 20 (Sat)-September 4 (Sun), 2022 Sankei Hall Breeze
Draft: From “Touken Ranbu -ONLINE-” (DMM GAMES/NITRO PLUS)
Directed by Isamu Kayano
Screenplay: Sayaka Asai, Yuki Shirakawa, Aoi Tsukimori
Screenplay supervision: Einoshin Ito
Music Director: YOSHIZUMI
Choreography/Staging: TETSUHARU
Cast:
The part of Tsurumaru Kuninaga Okamiya Raimu
Teru Makishima as Okurikara
Kojiro Oka
Mitsuru Karahashi
Shigeki Goto (double cast)
Yuki Tanaka (double cast)
Daisuke Iwasaki Kazuki Muranaka Tomokazu Kanuka Masaki Konosu Ryoji Sugiyama Seiichi Sato Keisuke Chiba
Yasuhiro Date Koji Shirahama Yu Chidai Kirai Kawashima Hisho Suzuki
(Nelke Planning Nitroplus DMM GAMES Euclid Agency)
Musical “Touken Ranbu” official website:https://musical-toukenranbu.jp/
Musical “Touken Ranbu” Official Twitter: @musical_touken
(C) NITRO PLUS, EXNOA LLC/Musical “Touken Ranbu” Production Committee