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From Tokyo with `Namaste' and dance and song....

P. Anima

VISITORS FROM THE FAR EAST: "Hello India" by Takarazuka Revue OGs

NEW DELHI: The only Hindi words they have learnt so far are "Namaste" and "Dhanyavad". But the 16 visiting artistes from Japan will give India a taste of their popular culture through dance and song performances.

With 2007 being observed as Japan-India Friendship Year, a highlight of the cultural celebrations will be "Revue Show -- Hello! India'' by Takarazuka Revue OGs to be performed at Kamani Auditorium here this coming Monday. Performers of the Takarazuka Revue OGs are here in the Capital to entertain Delhiites with Japanese folk song and dance and also American musicals and Jazz.

The Revue is an all-woman acting troupe that was born in 1914. It gave birth to an all-new entertainment culture in Japan. Traditional Japanese stage arts like "Noh" and "Kabuki" were earlier the performing right of only the male artistes. But The Revue created a new cultural order with their all-woman performances.

The Takarazuka Revue OGs touring India comprise freelance members and artistes like Saori Mine, Tomoe Takashio and Michi Taira who have all been stars of the troupe. On their first-ever trip to India, the women are as much intrigued by the snake charmers as they are shocked by the driving and road culture of Delhi. But they will give a lesson or two on the Japanese way of life.

"During our performance we will show you how to put on the traditional Japanese kimono and how to hold the Japanese fan," says Saori Mine, a star performer.

The first part of the hour-long performance will bring alive the quintessential Japanese culture. "Japan has a long coast and our song and dance performances will bring out the folk culture of the country," says Saori. It will be a medley comprising "Kappore", "Hukagawabushi", "Kisobushi" and others. Some of the Broadway musicals and even standard Jazz will be recreated during the second part of the show.

The Revue, considered to be of great importance to Japanese society, has performed all over the world. It is divided into five main troupes -- Flower, Moon, Star, Snow and Cosmos -- and each group has about 70 performers. The performances consist of musicals as well as dance and drama.

It is the "stars" of the troupe who get to perform the male roles. They admit it involves extra effort. "For the male roles, it requires training to get the voice right," says Saori. "The style of walking and even the way they smoke, all have to be learnt," add the performers. "We need strength to lift the dancers," quips a performer who plays male roles. But despite all the effort involved, the performers take pride in their troupe being an all-woman affair.

"Our performances are a lesson even to men on how to deal with women," says Saori. The Takarazuka Revue OGs have trained for over a month for their show in India.

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