Yesterday I was at McDonalds for lunch reading a book on Japanese history. I read about the formation of the Takarazuka Revue, an all female troupe founded in 1914 that retains great popularity to-day. I came home and was reading Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix, a manga I borrowed from a friend, pleased to find most of its Japanese was simple enough for me. I read a bit about it on its Wikipedia page and there saw that the Takarazuka Revue staged a production based on the manga. It also turns out the troupe was a big influence on Osamu from an early age. Then I realised the Takarazuka Revue is based in Hyogo Prefecture, not far from where I live.
It's an interesting alternative to the traditionally all male kabuki troupes. From what I've read, kabuki initially had female performers but they were banned after it was decided that they incited too much lust in their samurai patrons. I guess that concern was gone by the twentieth century but the Revue's fanbase seems to be primarily women. I kind of wish I could afford to see one of their shows.
X Sonnet 1970
A winter ghost would only meet with thieves.
Beneath the cells of hardened thugs she waits.
With icy tears through frozen hands she grieves.
She daily guards the shining silver gates.
Intruders came in form of screaming wisps.
The snow was granted life by evil eyes.
A liar cited Crosby's song in lisps.
The gullible believe a sack of lies.
She tries to write on rocks with frozen pens.
But hardened ink results in empty scrawls.
To spy on her they use a secret lens.
They lust for her but pay her vicious calls.
Twixt walls of ice she sadly dreams and waits.
While trolls who watch her hone their petty baits.
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