Kageki Shojo!! The Curtain Rises

Art: 4Characters: 4Plot: 4Total: 4I've been a Takarazuka fan and scholar for many years, so Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across this manga that deals with this exact topic: all-female theatre in Japan! This manga is a prequel to the [b:Kageki Shojo!! Vol. 1 56550461 Kageki Shojo!! Vol. 1 Kumiko Saiki https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1612742425l/56550461.SX50.jpg 88294611] series which follows the lives of newly admitted Kouka theatre students. The prequel introduces the main characters, Sarasa and Ai, as well as a slew of classmates, seniors, and teachers at the school. Ai is an ex-idol with little to no motivation in life other than to be in a place far from men (hence why she chose to join Kouka). On the other hand, Sarasa has always dreamed of being a Kouka actress, especially in the iconic role of Oscar in [b:The Rose of Versailles, Omnibus 1 28577172 The Rose of Versailles, Omnibus 1 Riyoko Ikeda https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563516388l/28577172.SX50.jpg 50114452]. Soon, we discover that these two have many secrets and often dark reasons for joining the school, as do the other girls in their class. Above: The girls attend a Kouka show of Romeo and Juliet and are dazzled by what they see.I was surprised that this manga introduced hard-hitting topics such as eating disorders, sexual abuse, and the dark world behind the glitzy façade of entertainment. The girls at Kouka all have different motivations for being there, but they are all unified by their love of Kouka theatre and the allure of the stage. Even though they don't always see eye-to-eye, the girls can agree on the fact that Kouka is all but lifesaving to them.All in all, I really enjoyed this volume, and I'm excited to read the main series from here on out. If you're already a Zuka fan, then this is a must-read or you. If you're new to the glamourous world of showbiz in Japan, then maybe this will be a good entry point for you to discover this fairly niche cultural area.