Posted by Daryl (Amagasaki, Japan) 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?
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Well, he said he'd be back.
1 May 2008 11:41am
@Zorilla: !!!
definately! he's so pretty :-)
1 May 2008 12:30pm
@Cheryl: He is isn't he?
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.
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.
Very nice capture. These women are so pretty!
1 May 2008 8:38pm
@standley: Thanks standley!
You have captured the poster well. The show seems interesting.
3 May 2008 11:25pm
@Amir: Thanks Amir. Are you interested in Japanese history?
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.
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...
Yes I am interested in Japanese history.
6 May 2008 7:22pm
@Amir: It's an interesting subject Amir...
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!
PREVIEW ONLY
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