Suburban Bushlands

A Host to many things

虹翔伝説

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English: Rainbow Legend

Year: 1984, 1985

Writer: J.A. Seazer, Domoto Masaki

Location: Urasayu Culture Centre(1984), Amagasaki Archaic Hall(1885)

Releases

Lyrics

Opinion

Rainbow Legend is one of J.A. Seazer's magmum opuses, a rock opera like Shintokumaru. With the granduer that comes with it. With the addition of 2 unique elements.

  1. Rainbow Legend, being based off the Hindu Epic Poem the Ramayana by Valmiki; incorperating from Bali, Kecak dance. When you watch the VHS, you'll see mass group of dancers, at various point, doing Kecak chants and movements.
  2. Aside from Bali influences, a lot of the music in Rainbow Legend is very jammy and jazz fusionesque.

I can't comment much on the play otherwise, since the play hasn't been subtitled, but the most important thing about the play that should infer from it as visual experiance. Is that Rainbow Legend apart from being based on Prince Rama's story, is that it also incorperates the Koga Saburo, folk hero from iga, who fell into Jigoku, was kept there by his wife, and left it, transformed into a snake. Who after he was cured from the curse. Eventually became Takeminakata or Suwa Myojin, the head god of the Suwa Grand Shrine and the ancestor of the Suwa clan. Who arrived at lake Suwa, and overthrew Moreya as the head god of Lake Suwa.

If this sound vaguely familiar, it's because Takeminakata conquest of Lake Suwa and Moreya's displacement was the basis for the 10th Touhou game, Mountain of Faith. Takeminakata became Kanako, and Moreya becaem Suwako. The Final and extra boss respectively. But that just me, being a Touhou otaku.

That being said, this play is swan song in terms of production, J.A. Seazer music after this, became more minimalist and digital sequenced in terms of accompiment. And as consequence, considering synth technology. It tended to be pretty thin and demo tapish, especially after King Lear. J.A. Seazer would never really have a full band until he started to resume live performances around 2012 or earlier, give or take. And his music generally became more Dark Wavish with industrial influences. But overall, it's a essential listen, particularly for those who want the shintokumaru sound.

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