I hadn’t planned any trips for the Snow Troupe’s Grand Theater run, so I hadn’t been checking ticket availability.
But a few days ago I opened the general ticket page for the first time and was stunned.
Aside from standing room, it was almost sold out.
Lately, for Grand Theater general sales, you’d usually still see plenty of ○ and △ left, so it felt like the first time in a while that I’d seen such a clean row of “×”.
I didn’t check the situation for Moon Troupe’s Guys and Dolls, so I’m not sure about that, but at least for Flower and Cosmos Troupes there were lots of ○ and △. As for Cosmos Troupe, which just closed at the Grand Theater the other day, the sales were frankly worrisome.
So I’m surprised by how popular the Snow Troupe is.
Asami Jun’s Appeal | A singular aura that doesn’t fit the usual Takarazuka “star” mold
There’s no doubt about Asami Jun’s popularity.
To be honest, when she was a junior in Moon Troupe, I didn’t think she’d become a top star.
But now I feel she’s one of those top stars whose fans lifted her up.
Back in her Moon Troupe days, Āsa didn’t quite match the “Takarazuka star image” I had in mind, and I remember talking with friends like, “She probably won’t be top, right?”
To all the Asami Jun fans around the world — my apologies.
If I recall, during the FNS Music Festival or something like that — when she was still in Moon Troupe —she appeared on TV and it caused a buzz on social media.
People were asking, “Who is that beautiful person?”
Searches spiked, and I remember the official site getting sluggish.
Even then, I still hadn’t fully grasped what made her great.
My impression began to change after she transferred to Snow Troupe, swapping with Tsukishiro Kanato (Reiko).
I’d been mainly focused on the 95th class around Rei Makoto and Seo Yuria in Star Troupe, so Āsa was always in my field of view, but she still felt somehow at a different angle.
Now I think that very “difference” is what became her unique star quality.
Speaking purely from personal taste, she’s not my “type.”
But the beauty she radiates on stage is the real deal.
The simple elegance of a black swallowtail tailcoat suits her face, and she also stands up to the sparkle of sequins without being overshadowed.
No wonder the Snow Troupe’s popularity has been rising.
Seo Yuria’s Contribution … I have to say it as a fan.
And I also want to say a word about Seo Yuria (Nao-chan).
I believe she, too, has contributed greatly to the Snow Troupe’s surge.
Since Nao-chan joined the Snow Troupe, my own view of the troupe has changed.
The “Asami Jun + Seo Yuria” pairing feels like a perfect match.
I still have strong feelings for the “Rei Makoto + Seo Yuria” duo from Star Troupe, but on another plane, “Asami Jun + Seo Yuria” is also fantastic.
If the second-lead hadn’t been Seo Yuria, I think the Snow Troupe’s current popularity might have turned out a bit differently.
That’s how effective this combination has been.
The company’s decision was spot-on.
This synergy has raised Top Star Asami Jun’s evaluation and also boosted the value of the star Seo Yuria.
Some aspects that might have been overlooked when she stood next to the absolute ace Rei Makoto have become visible now that she’s in Snow Troupe, properly treated as the second-lead.
She even appears on the “customized CD disc-face design” this time, which has thrilled fans.
You could say the company realized Seo’s popularity a bit late.
Both are described as “beautiful,” but their types are different.
Āsa has a slightly mysterious beauty, while Nao-chan has a transparent, luminous beauty.
When they stand together, the contrast is fascinating.
Seo has blended into Snow Troupe completely and is loved by the members.
In Star Troupe, tickets were hard to get, so my chances to attend were limited.
I thought I’d finally be able to see a lot in Snow Troupe, but once again the Grand Theater has become a sell-out, ultra-popular troupe.
A happy problem, I suppose.
In Closing
People say ticket sales are a barometer of the top star’s popularity, but I think it’s not just the top; the relationships and atmosphere among the troupe members also matter a lot.
When each star shines, the whole troupe’s popularity rises.
I hope the company and each troupe’s producers will keep fostering synergies like “Asami Jun × Seo Yuria.”
I’m also excited to see what kind of synergy Flower Troupe’s same-class duo “Seino Asuka × Kiwami Shin” will create.
Will it turn out well or not… we’ll see.
The original Japanese article is here.
