Guest update: The New Legend of Kaguya Island

Sunday, July 18th - 12:02 am
Update - takaj

On January 13th, 2004, I dressed in all black. I went around in mourning for the loss of my precious myu. It was Kakyuu-Ouhi Kourin's final performance day and they had unexpectedly subtitled that musical "The Second Stage Final!!". What's more, the program book for Kakyuu had no upcoming fan kansha event (fan appreciation event) information in it. Everyone thought the myu was over.
And then, the report came through. A fan asked Marina Kuroki personally if the myu was over. She replied, confused, that there was another musical in the Summer.
Needless to say, I flipped out and began dancing around my apartment singing "Tsukiiro no Syndicate".

After I recovered from my jubilation, I began to wonder:

What in Serenity's name are they doing for a storyline? And, more importantly, is Akiko Nakayama sticking around?
After months of horrible pondering, the truth came out - they were remaking Fumina Hara's triumphant swan song.

The storyline of Shin Kaguya Shima Densestsu is a bit different than the original. The biggest difference is the reason for the trip to Kaguya Island. In the original Kaguya musical, the group went to the island for a treasure hunting vacation, but, according to the sailormoon.channel website, in Shin Kaguya, they go to Kaguya Island for intense training in order to overcome their weaknesses as senshi. There are also apparent differences in storyline based on the cast and the CD listings. King Endymion is nowhere to be found and neither is Loof Merrow's love for him. The three kittens have been reduced to two, and the mention of jewels is basically gone. Leah Ruby, Bilhah Emerald, and Zilpah Sapphire have been replaced by Dark Menorah and Dark Mirror.

The CD listing reveals a lot more about this musical. I personally cannot wait for the day when my pretty pretty CD will arrive on my doorstep. Now, as we all learned from Starlights, just because a song isn't on the CD doesn't mean it's not in the musical. But, I'm going off of what information is available right this moment.

The CD is missing several old Kaguya songs. "Ai Yori Houseki Kaguya Shima", "Welcome HARE HARE HIRE HARE", "You're My Jewelry", and "Just Love Wasurerarenai" are all gone. A few of the old songs seem to have been replaced. "I Do Justice" seems to have been replaced by the new song "Moonlight Justice". "Chibiusa no Hanran" by "Chibiusa no Umi". "Solar Miracle Make-Up" is also now gone, as is "LINK". My thought, by the order of the songs on the CD, is that either "Tsukimushiba no Crime" or "Junketsu no Narcism" is replacing them as the battle song. Here is the full CD listing, as taken from official website of Akiko Kosaka, the composer for the myu, and a recently discovered listing of each track's performers, along with my comments and predictions.

...is my CD here yet?

Overture (Shin Kaguya Shima Densetsu)
In the original, the overture was directly followed by "Suisei Coatl no Hibou". There are no vocals on this track.
Chikyuu iro wa Salad Time
A possible remake of "Tsukiiro no Syndicate" from Starlights. It's probably just a brand new song, though. Considering where it is in the musical, I'm thinking it's a civilian form song. It's performed by Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto, Minako, Haruka, Michiru, Setsuna, and Hotaru.
Onna Kaizoku no Sakusen (2004 Summer Version)
An interesting note is that this remake has new lyrics. Not only is the original lyricist listed, but the current lyricist (also the director) as well. Performed by Loof Merrow, Selkie, Cairn, Serpen, and Kraken.
Suisei Coatl no Hibou (2004 Summer Version)
This remake also has new lyrics, which makes sense considering the Coatl is no longer jewel-oriented. It is performed by Dark Plasman, Dark Mirror, and Dark Menorah.
Ankoku no Menorah ~ Yume wo Kaimasu Shima no Tabi ~ (2004 Summer Version)
A remake of "Ruby no Aka ~ Yume wo Kaimasu Shima no Tabi~", the main difference is that Leah Ruby has been replaced in the musical by Dark Menorah. This remake, obviously, has new lyrics. Strangely, it is credited as being performed by Dark Plasman, Dark Mirror, and Dark Menorah. The original had Usagi and everyone come in during the latter half of the song, so I have to wonder if this is that different, or if it's a typo.
Moonlight Justice
A brand-new song. I thought this might be replacing "I Do Justice", but now that I've seen who's singing it (and finished hyperventilating), I know. It's a new fight song. A new "OUTER" SENSHI SONG! It's performed by Moon, Tuxedo Kamen, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Saturn.
Arashi no naka Zenshousen (2004 Summer Version)
Once more, new lyrics. This is still sung by Dark Plasman and Loof Merrow.
Natsukashii no wa Naze? (2004 Summer Version)
New lyrics, which isn't surprising to me. They went from three kittens to two. This is performed by Mikku and Fukku.
Toraware no ARUTOUKA
Brand spankin' new song. My original guess was that it's a song about the senshi being captured on Kaguya Island. I was wrong. This is sung by Loof Merrow, Selkie, Cairn, Serpen, and Kraken.
5000nen Kaguya Shima (Dark Plasman iri Version)
Dark Plasman's arrival song. This song was originally sung by Leah Ruby. The lyrics are the same as the original, and it is now performed by Dark Menorah and Dark Plasman.
Okaasan te Nan darou? (2004 Summer Version)
More new lyrics. This isn't surprising because, again, we have two kittens now instead of three. It is performed by Mikku, Fukku, Chibiusa, and Mamoru? Yuu Shirota is listed, however, he may be playing Endymion. At this point, I don't know.
Hitosuji no Hikari no Kokoro ~ Yabou no Kao (2004 Summer Version)
The triumphant return of Kon! The actress playing Saturn is listed on pamphlets and such as playing Kon, so the character is returning. More new lyrics. Performed once more by Kon and Dark Plasman.
Star Glory (2004 Summer Version)
Again, new lyrics. Big Coatl villain song performed by Dark Plasman, Dark Mirror, and Dark Menorah.
Hyouchaku Shita Keredo....(2004 Summer Version)
YES! Solos!! New lyrics, so maybe an extended version with Haruka and... ok, I'm chasing a pipe dream. It's performed by Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto, and Minako.
And Believe In All
This is NOT a 2004 Summer Version. The lyrics are not changed at all. Tuxedo Kamen originally performed this song. I hope they do the Kaguya Kaiteiban arrangement onstage with all of the senshi joining in on the chorus. It's very powerful. As it is, Tuxedo Kamen is the only listed performer.
Ice Doll
New song. I have no freaking clue, but I do now know that Loof Merrow, Selkie, Cairn, Serpen, and Kraken perform it.

The official musical flyer. Now with clueless Pluto!
Chibiusa no Umi
New song. It's performed by Chibiusa.
Pinky Typhoon (2004 Summer Version)
My guess is that ChibiMoon takes over for Space Knight in this version of Kaguya, saving the day and whatnot, but I could be very wrong. This is performed by ChibiMoon.
Yatto Aeta ne (2004 Summer Version)
No new lyrics. I'm assuming the arrangement is just different because of the change in the number of mothers and kittens. It's performed by Mikku, Fukku, Dark Mirror, and Dark Menorah.
Haha no Chisuji
New song. It's performed by Dark Mirror. (Why are there no Miki songs?!)
Tsukimushiba no Crime
New song. Sung by Dark Plasman.
Junketsu no Narcism
Another new song. I believe this to be the new fight song. It's performed by Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, and ChibiMoon.
Minna Dareka ni Aisarete (2004 Summer Version)
Ah, the slow LINK. (It's the same song, pay attention to the tune next time you listen.) The lyrics are, happily, the same. Originally performed by the entire cast, the CD listing show it being performed by only the senshi.

BONUS TRACKS

LINK (1.5 Chorus 2004 Summer Version)
La Soldier (1 Chorus 2004 Summer Version)

But, enough about the songs. Let's talk eye candy!
I remember the moment very clearly. I was sitting at my computer, and my dear friend told me that she had to call me because she couldn't tell me this in IM. Concerned, and confused as we'd been discussing the myu, I answered the phone. And then I heard the words for the first time.

"Akiko Uranus".

I began to dance around my apartment singing "A Shooting Star Light".
OK, I know not everyone's an Akiko-fangirl like I am. So, here's the actual cast listing, names in Western order, with links to their official sites if I know of one, because I'm nice (and crazy).

Akiko is hot.

Marina Kuroki - Moon (returning)
Manami Wakayama - Mercury (returning)
Risa Honma - Mars (returning)
Mai Watanabe - Jupiter (returning)
Erika - Venus
Akiko Nakayama - Uranus (former StarMaker)
Takayo Ooyama - Neptune
Yukiko Nakae - Pluto
Eriko Futanashi - Saturn / Kon
Moe Oosaki - ChibiMoon (returning)
Yuu Shirota - Tuxedo Kamen (returning)
Mai Shinada - Mikku
Mizuki Saitou - Fukku
Maki Aizawa - Loof Merrow
Ado Endou - Selkie (former Lead Crow, among others)
Yoshiya Yukimura - Cairn (former Hematite, among others)
Kazuo Asakura - Serpen
Satoshi Suzuki - Kraken
Yuji Hirota - Dark Plasman
Miki Kawasaki - Dark Mirror (former Kunzite, among others)
Mai Shibada - Dark Menorah

The new musical brings us the youngest Uranus and Neptune ever. Akiko is two years younger than Sanae Kimura was when she originated the role, and Takayo is barely 16. Neptune is now younger than Mercury!

However, we do have a promising new cast. Akiko acted her star gentle uterus off as Maker in Kakyuu and has a gorgeous singing voice. Erika looks like a taller clone of Momoko Shibuya, the Venus from Starlights and Kakyuu. And Yukiko was in the TV drama "Dollhouse". Really, my only worry with this new cast is Takayo. Everything I've seen her in has been a bit more Usagi than Michiru. I'm really hoping this is unfounded and she sticks around for a while....mainly because she puts fan kansha pictures on her website.

God bless you, Takayo Ooyama. God bless you.

The new musical premieres on July 20th in Saitama. The show travels around the country, hitting Sendai, Osaka, Kobe, Okayama, Fukuoka, Aichi, and Yokohama before landing in Tokyo for the final weeks of performances. The curtain closes on Shin Kaguya Shima Densetsu on September 5th.

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