what do you mean Izumi Shuhei isn't Undertaker anymore. what do you MEAN 😭
Second Kuromyu ask: oh we’re still talking about Kuromyu? good. as we should be 🙂↕️
I fully get it :C... I think we're all a little sad that Izumi stepped down from the role of Undertaker, but it's worth remembering just how long he carried that character for!! He first took on the role in 2009 at 31 years old and said goodbye to it at 40. For an entire generation of Kuromyu fans, he was Undertaker. He was the only actor to portray the character for so long and in many ways he helped define and shape the stage version of Undertaker that we know today.
So when Kandai Ueda inherited the role, he wasn't simply replacing a predecessor, he was stepping into the shoes of a literal legend. And let's not forget that, outside of Undertaker, Izumi himself is a highly respected and accomplished performer. He was never "just" the guy who played UT.
His decision to step down wasn't simply a matter of being tired. It was an incredibly professional and self-aware choice. He recognized the physical demands the role had begun to place on his body and chose to leave while he could still deliver the level of performance fans had come to expect. In doing so, he wasn't only protecting himself... he was also protecting his fellow cast members, who had to perform alongside him in complex and physically demanding scenes.
Poor Izumi is just a regular human being bound by the annoying laws of physics and aging! Just like the rest of us. 🥲
If I recall correctly, in interviews, Izumi explained that if the musicals had remained in the territory of the earlier arcs (where Undertaker mostly lurked in the background, laughed mysteriously and acted eccentric) he probably could have continued playing the role indefinitely. But Tango on the Campania changed everything. Suddenly Undertaker was involved in intense, fast-paced fights and physically demanding action sequences. Izumi joked about having to swing that enormous, top-heavy Death Scythe while buried beneath layers of heavy robes and an almost completely vision-obscuring wig, all of which required an incredible amount of stamina.
He also admitted that his body simply didn't recover from consecutive live performances the way it had when he first began playing the role at 31. To him, Tango on the Campania represented the absolute pinnacle of Undertaker's story on stage. It contained the character's long-awaited reveal and some of his most spectacular action scenes in the entire series. Rather than pushing himself until his body made the decision for him, Izumi chose to leave on a high note while he could still give fans the flawless, breathtaking performance they deserved~
And in that sense, it feels fitting. Undertaker's crowning moment became Izumi's final bow, a farewell delivered at the culmination of the character's long journey.
[synopsis: years after the bet grim and you (sunshine), are living together happy and content with your new lives]
[warning: spoilers for a date with death beyond the bet:]
[a/n: this doesn't portray the actual ending
You smiled as you placed the flower pot on the shelf. Surrounding you were several other pots filled with blooming flowers, both tall and small.
You smiled as you watered the plant, and your wedding ring sparkled in the sun's rays. You hummed to yourself, smiling. You sighed contently, reminiscing on the past few years of your life. Meeting and falling in love with the Grim Reaper.
Casper is the love of your life. He is your soulmate, your other half. Despite the things that keep you apart, the two of you have found your way to each other.
The playful banter and teasing is unforgettable. You remember the first time you both attended the festival, and the look of awe in Casper’s eyes as the fireworks lit up the night sky with vibrant colors. With your head resting on his shoulder, the two of you watched the dazzling display together.
You looked over and saw Casper and you smiled at him, and he smiled at you. As he held a flower pot which helped a fully grown Sunflower.
“Mommy! Daddy!” a tiny voice shouted excitedly as she ran up towards her parents, holding a flower pot in her hands. You and Casper turned to look at your daughter, whose long, flowing white hair swayed behind her in a ponytail. Her red eyes sparkled as she gazed at her parents with excitement.
“Its growing its growing!” she giggled jumping up and down, a tiny sprout peeking out from the dirt. Her hands covered in dirt, so were spots of her knees and face. You giggled, looking down at your adorable little girl.
“Thats my little gardener,” You said, pinching her noise. Causing her to squeal bashfully while smiling. Her axolotl shirt covered in dirt as well. You shook your head, “Some ones going to need a bath~” You said, and he eyes widened and she looked towards her father.
“But first.” You picked her up and walked towards Casper, “We have a little gardener.” You exclaimed, and Casper wrapped an arm around your waist. “We sure do,” He said, looking at his little girl you looked at him and giggled.
Casper still couldn't believe this was his life now. He was no longer following orders or living in fear of the consequences of his actions.
Now he was free, living the life he had always dreamed of with you. He was happily married, with a beautiful little girl and a flower shop. Their daughter loved planting vegetables and couldn't get enough of broccoli. He would lay down his life for his little family if it ever came to that. Now that he was mortal, he could live his life by your side.
Raise your child and grow old together. Be reincarnated and meet again. No matter he'd always find a way back to you. You were his sunshine his everything.
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