WINGS is a Kageki feature (revived from a few years back) where a few young actresses answer questions about themselves and Takarazuka. This issue’s column includes Haruno Sakura, Mihane Ai, Neiro Yui, and Kase Kyou.
WINGS – July 2022
- Favorite Takarazuka shows
- Favorite __ (insert your own)
- Charm point
- A challenge you want onstage
- A challenge you want offstage
- Something you want people to notice about you onstage & personal promo
Haruno Sakura, Cosmos Troupe
Debut: 2016, THE ENTERTAINER!
Recent prominent roles: Hotel Svizra House (2021), Silvy; NEVER SAY GOODBYE junior performance (2022), Catherine MacGregor
- Elisabeth, Romeo et Juliette
- My favorite Disney Princess – Ariel, Rapunzel; My Favorite Takarazuka costumes – Hoopskirt dresses, otokoyaku’s black and white tuxedoes; My favorite otokoyaku actions – The way they loosen their neckties, the way they sweep back their hair
- My narrow eyes that disappear when I laugh
- I want to try acting in a Japanese-style play. I want to try learning different ways of speaking, gesturing, and posing that I havent challenged myself with before.
- I want to learn stage combat. I think women who can do combat are so cool.
- I will keep working hard so that I can become someone whose acting, singing, and dancing makes the audience watching forget everything else and pulls them completely into the world of the show.
Mihane Ai, Flower Troupe
Debut: 2018, Killer Rouge
Recent prominent roles: Prince of Roses (2021), Anne Neville; Genroku Baroque Rock junior performance (2021), Kira
- Romeo et Juliette
- My favorite color – Yellow; My favorite scent – chamomille; My favorite side dish – salted konbu cheese
- The way my ears are round and come to a point by my forehead. Recently they’ll even reflect the lights of the rehearsal room.
- I’m always challenging myself to take on each and every performance fresh instead of getting too caught up in things.
- Skydiving! I’ve only got one life so I want to master everything.
- I use a lot of things like hair accessories and earrings that I put a lot of emotion into making by hand, so if you had time I’d love if you could take a little look!
Neiro Yui, Snow Troupe
Debut: 2019, Ocean’s 11
Recent prominent roles: City Hunter junior performance (2021), Makimura Kaoru; Sweet Little Rock n Roll (2022), Mary
- 1789: Les Amants de la Bastille
- My favorite snack – Apollo [chocolates]; My favorite character – The Cute Otter and his Little White Lies; My favorite Takarazuka song – ‘The White Flowers Smile’ from L’Amour a Paris
- My broad forehead
- An offstage solo for a duet dance! It’s not like singing a solo on stage. I really yearn to perform an offstage solo that’s like a flower adorning the world the couple are creating onstage, so I would love to try that sometime.
- I really love cats, but I’ve never been to a cat cafe, so I want to do that!
- As an actor and as a musumeyaku I’m always studying makeup, hair and other accessories and being very particular about it. I’m going to keep doing my best to keep advancing with every performance and I hope a lot of you will spot me!
Kase Kyou, Snow Troupe
Debut: 2020, WELCOME TO TAKARAZUKA
Recent prominent roles: Yumesuke and the 1000 Ryo Souvenir (2022), Sousuke; Yumesuke and the 1000 Ryo Souvenir junior performance, Iseya Soutarou
- Guys and Dolls, One Night of Stars, When the Last Sword is Drawn
- My favorite media – K-Dramas, K-pop; My favorite beverages – Chai tea latte, Lipovitan D [energy drink]; Character – Gizmo from ‘Gremlins’
- I think it’s my wide mouth and the way the back of my head is round and easy to grab!
- I want to try a role where I express my emotions through dance. I feel like if I was just dancing out my emotions I could surpass my limits and discover something new.
- I have a huge sweet tooth so I’d love to try making sweets!! I’d especially like to try making strawberry daifuku mochi!
- My goal is to become a performer who can use my wide mouth as a charm point to make the audience think ‘I want to see her again’! I’ll passionately and powerfully keep doing my best!!