6. I’m gonna redo this question – the most shocking announcement for me is Minami Maito’s transfer from Flower Troupe to Senka.
“I am Minami Maito of Flower Troupe.”
This seemed like a sentence that would never change. Flower Troupe-born Minami Maito for the X number of years in her career, now and evermore.
Until today. Today, I was really shocked.
I’m going to write what I feel in a chronological way of how I processed this because the transfer of Maiti is going to bring climate change in terms of understanding Maiti’s career, history of nibante strategies, and Flower Troupe, in particularly Rei. (Disclaimer: I put “almost” and “unless” to make these hypotheticals.)
(1) Reimai combro divorce is real and I’m taking it in. Some may say “Come on, Maiti doesn’t need Rei to shine, they don’t have to be together and they can both shine their own ways”. No, I’m talking about Reimai in terms of their relationship. Like Grand Theatre performance “MAYERLING”/ “ENCHANTEMENT” will almost be the last time of Reimai on stage, and we don’t know when the next one is confirmed. (And it is definitely not “A Battlefield for Two” because she has a dinner show on April 20-27 and after the dinner show, she will become Senka, there’s no time for her to rehearse. That’s already the first moment that Reimai’s not going to be there.) Last GT performance of that means almost last NOS together, last WOWOW together and some others. Talk to me about a friendship for the last 14-16 years and suddenly this kind of parting will not be easy, at least that’s what I think.
(2) “MAYERLING” and “ENCHANTEMENT” is almost the last of Maiti wearing these nibante feathers. She has worn 2 (in Fashionable Empire and in this one coming up; The Fascination! which we remember dear by heart of this regret but that she is definitely nibante in that performance). Some discuss that “They can’t possibly rank Maiti lower than Nibante when she is already official”. So in justification, Senka Maiti means she won’t have that feather moment so close in the near future yet, unless they’re planning something great for her or there are other large movements in other troupes. Also I’ll really miss Maiti because with how strong the ensemble is for other troupes, we can’t see Maiti in the chirashis so quick yet in the near future after "MAYERLING”. (Note: Currently the nibante of Moon Troupe is Houzuki An, 92nd class; the nibante of Snow Troupe is Asami Jun, 95th class; we are UNSURE of Star Troupe but it is unofficially Seo Yuria, 95th class; the nibante of Cosmos Troupe is Serika Toa, 93rd class) Does this mean also fewer bromides for her?
(3) I also want to know if this is an Aichan (Aizuki Hikaru) card situation. Aichan was in Cosmos Troupe for 12 years before transferring to Senka and then to Star Troupe as nibante for the next 2 years, having an interesting 14 year Takarazuka Career. I hope Maiti does not become Senka for a hot moment only to T-word after a few performances but not in Flower Troupe. If she gets to be in Senka, being such a great Takarazuka lover since she was a child and having her only dream to be a Takarasienne, I hope she goes further and expands longer into her Takarazuka career. In hindsight, please be ever happy with Mayupon (Kizuki Yuuma) and Saori-san (Takashou Mizuki) in Senka, have the greatest fun. It’ll be interesting on an encouraging note to see Maiti in some performances here and there in different troupes. Does this also mean that her frequency in shows is not as expected yet…? Mayupon’s very prominent, multiple appearances in Moon and a few times in Flower and in Cosmos. (Also, putting forecasts in advance but I’ll find it a bit weird when Maiti t-words and her sayonara show is not in Flower Troupe, but we’ll see again)
(4) This means official nibante for Hitoko (Towaki Sea) and sanbante for Honoka (Seino Asuka) for the new arrangement, and subsequently the very obvious on what it implies for Rei. They say, when you are Top Star your clock is already counting down but I think Maiti’s transfer gave me the first shock. It really made me pause there and just look at my phone, unbelieving my eyes. When Rei chooses to announce it will be the second blow, but I think this has given me mental preparation for it all already. It also makes me wonder what kind of performances Flower Troupe will have in the future – as per (1), it will be a pity to see Maiti’s absence among the cast lists of Flower Troupe.
(5) This affects my subbing plans in 2023, that I need to translate Minami Maito’s “CAST” side-B, alongside finishing up with “Dance Olympia”.
“Melancolique Gigolo” also becomes a priority for me, because this was their first show that they were uncanonically Top Star and Nibante position.
I’ll have to be honest that I’m not the happiest with this announcement. It opens doors for future possibilities of Senka’s Minami Maito but also I’m so cautious of whether it is a good arrangement for her. Nevertheless, when the time comes I will have to accept the fact when I watch “MAYERLING” and “ENCHANTEMENT” in March in Hong Kong cinemas. This also makes me want to purchase her two nibante feather bromides as per (2).
(Note: Those two are the only Reimai bromides I have: HANAOTOKO in “Beautiful Garden” and “Love Burns in Firenze”. It will definitely encourage me to go on a splurge for more Reimai bromides.)
i know there’s like a hole in 0 and 9 but i rlly didnt expect rei AND maiti to try to put their face in it, that’s like...CHILDREN !! they are CHILDREN!
edit: every other troupe just waves the balloons slightly so rei and maiti decided TO BE EXTRA, ok got it girls...~! <3
