You are undoubtedly right in choosing to do what's best for you. Only (a) I hope you will still maybe share the news about musumeyaku OGs - I love to hear about them doing well; and (b) I can't help noting that Chapi is good. I really wish they hadn't promoted her so fast - I would have loved to see her _next_ top musumeyaku, but she is a talented one no matter how she started her career (and I would have loved to see Rina top this time around, and she's a former otokoyaku too).
First of all, thanks for being so nice about it. :)
*smiles* I still love my OG, definitely. And it's not about Chapi being good--it's about how older, more seasoned, and very talented musumeyaku careers were squashed, because fuck them, we have a man, someone IMPORTANT, to put forwards, and besides, this one is younger!
Talking to Japanese fans, the older musumeyaku have more support, which would mean more ticket sales for zuka, and I don't see any difference in fan club sizes from musumeyaku vs. otokoyaku-turned-musumeyaku. But Zuka seems to put youth and chauvenism before even sales and fan wishes, and that's just...a blatant message on their part about their values. And it's not welcome.
This is, of course, not about Chapi, but I still felt the need to say that.
*trying to put thoughts into shape* I kind of want not everything being about top positions - I love it when there are Bow Halls for various kinds of people, but, well... also this - I do not know why they are doing this. Why Chapi now, and not next time - give her a couple more Bow Halls, shinko leads, second-important roles. I don't know if they know what they are doing, especially with what you say about older musumeyaku having more support (I am always thinking about how much the Western fandom opinions correlate with Japanese ones). Are they honestly convinced people aren't interested in older musumeyaku (sounds funny - what's _older_? I suspect Tsukigumi vice-kumichou is about my age, and I'm not old!)?
... I really wish we could know the reasons for this thinking. SInce they do search for new ways, obviously - this thing with demi-top Mirio and all.
I know absolutely nothing about Takarazuka except what I read in your posts - I've been meaning to tell you how interesting they are to someone completely unfamiliar with it! But if those are the messages the form or genre is sending then I don't blame you for feeling jaded, and I share your exasperation at the notion that 28 is 'old' - really, so much entertainment/culture is already sending out that signal to women, it's insidious. You know, when I think of it, a lot of what you're saying here could almost be a post about mainstream comics... I've heard many similar sentiments expressed about, for instance, the DC reboot. It's sad these issues exist in so many fandoms.
*nod* To be a fan is to have an emotional connection. When what you're a fan of changes, it's a similiar emotional reaction to a person you love changing; it's jarring, and some people--hell, a lot of people--handle it badly.
I agree about the signals being sent in general, too, and like I said, being thirty, it's harder to shrug off. I remember not even noticing how girls were drawn in comics when I was a teenager--I mean, I noticed, but who cared? Now it bugs me.
That said, thanks for saying my posts are interesting. :) I appreciate that.
Honestly I'm glad I got out of Takarazuka when I did. These sorts of trends are cyclical, but they last a good long while, and there's no point stewing every time an announcement comes out. Better to find a hobby you enjoy.
Well I ain't leaving yet, since Remi hasn't announced her retirement yet (and will continue to love up a lot of OG), but I know what you mean. You too, I love the back-posts of yours I've read.
I relate to people bitter about their fandom, BTW. *laugh* I just...don't want to get that sad and know better now.
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*smiles* I still love my OG, definitely. And it's not about Chapi being good--it's about how older, more seasoned, and very talented musumeyaku careers were squashed, because fuck them, we have a man, someone IMPORTANT, to put forwards, and besides, this one is younger!
Talking to Japanese fans, the older musumeyaku have more support, which would mean more ticket sales for zuka, and I don't see any difference in fan club sizes from musumeyaku vs. otokoyaku-turned-musumeyaku. But Zuka seems to put youth and chauvenism before even sales and fan wishes, and that's just...a blatant message on their part about their values. And it's not welcome.
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*trying to put thoughts into shape* I kind of want not everything being about top positions - I love it when there are Bow Halls for various kinds of people, but, well... also this - I do not know why they are doing this. Why Chapi now, and not next time - give her a couple more Bow Halls, shinko leads, second-important roles. I don't know if they know what they are doing, especially with what you say about older musumeyaku having more support (I am always thinking about how much the Western fandom opinions correlate with Japanese ones). Are they honestly convinced people aren't interested in older musumeyaku (sounds funny - what's _older_? I suspect Tsukigumi vice-kumichou is about my age, and I'm not old!)?
... I really wish we could know the reasons for this thinking. SInce they do search for new ways, obviously - this thing with demi-top Mirio and all.
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I agree about the signals being sent in general, too, and like I said, being thirty, it's harder to shrug off. I remember not even noticing how girls were drawn in comics when I was a teenager--I mean, I noticed, but who cared? Now it bugs me.
That said, thanks for saying my posts are interesting. :) I appreciate that.
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(BTW, been looking at Ahi's blog. Glad to hear she's doing so well.)
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I've enjoyed getting to know you. Keep us updated with how you're doing in your journal?
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I relate to people bitter about their fandom, BTW. *laugh* I just...don't want to get that sad and know better now.
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