Sakura Taisen Live Performances - Help wanted

[Magic_Knight]

I wasn't too sure where to post this, but I figured this was the most logical forum.

I was interested in picking up at least one of the Sakura Taisen Theatrical plays. So I was curious if any of you have seen any of these and could post your thoughts on them and what they are about / what happens during them, and how many songs were performed. (Since my japanese is very limited the more songs the better)

The ones I was looking at are these:

Shinseiki Count Down Hangumi
Shinshun kayo show
Super Live
Christmas Kiseki no kane
'Imperial Musical Troupe'' hanagumi special performance [Ai yue ni]

If you've seen one I haven't listed feel free to mention it (and hopefully a link to it)

Thanks!

[slerch666]

I've seen, and I own, every Sakura Taisen musical.

The ones you list are probably my least favorites.

Shinseki Count Down- this would be the first of the New Year shows (or was this one the second?). It has plenty of music/singing of songs ST fans probably know by now. It wasn't bad, but wasn't amazing either. There isn't much by way of drama.

Super Live- this is a spring show that was recorded outside after a rain storm. Again, the songs are all tried and true ST tracks people should know, but the sound quality on it leaves some to be desired. Not bad, but not amazing either. No drama stuff.

Shinshun- Pretty much the same setup as the Shinseiki Count Down with different songs. There isn't much by way of drama.

Kiseki no Kane- of all the ones you listed, this is one of my favorites. It's almost 100% singing/music with little to no drama at all.

Ai Yue Ni- this was THE FIRST Kayou show. It was a small performance on a small stage on a small scale. There is some drama (more than the Shinseki and Shinshun anyway). All the songs included are, for the most part, the tracks from the first ST game, so if you know those tracks, you should be good to go.

In all honesty, I believe you'd be better served getting the most recent Super Kayou Show release, Shin Aoi Tori. The menus on it crack me up (they are done in the LIPS style like the games). The music is great (though nothing that's been in anything else, minus Gekitei).

There is also Arabia no Bara which is a more traditional Kayou Show and pretty good still available.

My favorite of all the readily available regular Kayou shows is Benitokage. The performances the seiyuu give is nothing short of amazing and it's a lot of fun to watch.

Though I did notice, the shows you listed are the less expensive ones. They also don't give a person a real feel, IMO, as to what a Kayou Show should be all about.

Oh, and there should be a New Year 2006 show coming to DVD in March. It hasn't been listed anywhere as of yet, not even Sega Direct or Red Entertainment's websites. Hopefully this will be another of the "easily obtainable" shows like Shin Aoi Tori was. Before Shin Aoi Tori the last readily available (not a Digi Cube or Sega Direct Exclusive) was Arabia no Bara (I'm talking about the more traditional Kayou shows, not the new year's stuff).

[slerch666]

BTW, if you buy Benitokage, I created a rather ridiculous post in another forum that gives a close blow by blow of what goes on during the show. I know we aren't supposed to link to other forums, so I hope the MODs will look past this one this one time.

Benitokage translation guide of sorts.

It certainly isn't perfect, as my Japanese isn't 100%, but you should have a fare idea of what it's all about by the end. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Magic_Knight]

Thanks so much, you've been a great help!

[slerch666]

Don't mention it. Just come back and post some impressions once you've gotten one.

Benitokage will always hold a special spot for me, as it was the first one I bought.

Ai Yue Ni (1st) was decent, Tsubasa (2nd) was too long and drawn out though not entirely unenjoyable (also the first appearance of the Sannin Musume, who hadn't been in a show since, until the recently released Shin Aoi Tori) and then Benitokage was released which was a perfect blend of drama and song. Arabia no Bara (4th Kayou Show) continued that trend. You also can't forget the Kaijin Bessou show, as the LE set had the ONLY recorded footage of the Paris Kagekidan included. The next show was the Sumire Retirement, then Shinpen Hakkenden, 2003 NY Show Shichinen Fukujin (I could be wrong on the name), Shin Treasure Island (one of my favorites, Sakura in a cat costume is [img]/images/graemlins/noseblef.gif[/img]), 2004 NY Show, Shin Saiyuki (Kanna seems to have a sore throat and her singing is a little off, which is disappointing), 2005 NY Show Warae! Hanagumi and then the just released Shin Aoi Tori.

Tsubasa is damn near impossible to find, and if you decide to look for it, expect to spend $100-$150 for it. The next hardest to find is the Kaijin Bessou LE, and the price is generally in the $150-$200 range on YJA.

[lordwu]

I also own all kayou show DVDs and I would also recommend getting Benitokage as your first kayou show DVD if you really want to get a feel of what a Sakura Taisen kayou show is about. It has great music and drama, especially the Kanna and Sumire duet in the end. Kaijin Bessou is also good since you know part of the story already if you've watched the Movie. Although as slerch pointed out, it's quite costly to get one because it was the first limited release under the Digicube brand (which is now out of business).

[Rhodes]

the le version is the only one that has the cast interviews...

the re-release standard version from digi-cube which i have also has the paris mini show. just no cast interviews.

[slerch666]

[ QUOTE ]
Rhodes said:
the le version is the only one that has the cast interviews...

the re-release standard version from digi-cube which i have also has the paris mini show. just no cast interviews.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hmm... interesting. I could have sworn they removed the Paris piece. Not removing that means the show is probably worth owning either in LE or non LE format. I mean, I only watched the interviews once, I doubt I'd be watching it again any time soon, if ever...

Thanks for the info! Always good to have. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]