This article about Tamaki Ryou’s ascension to second supporting star was published by Daily Sports Online on November 13, 2015. (This was prior to Ryuu’s announcement of her own retirement, but her quotes in the article seem to foreshadow it.)

Moon Troupe’s Tamaki Ryou becomes most junior supporting star

On the 17th, when the first day of performances of Takarazuka Revue Moon Troupe’s “Manon/Golden Jazz” took place at the Takarazuka Grand Theatre in Hyougo prefecture, Tamaki Ryou appeared onstage as second supporting star. Up until then, she had shared the position of supporting star with Nagina Ruumi and Miya Rurika, but during the finale she was dressed differently from all the other troupe members in an eye-catching spangled suit, and descended the stairs with Top Star Ryuu Masaki and Top Musumeyaku Manaki Reika wearing huge feathers.

Tamaki debuted in 2008: it has been 8 years since her debut, making her ken-8. Joining Flower Troupe’s Serika Toa (ken-9), Snow Troupe’s Nozomi Fuuto (ken-13), Star Troupe’s Kurenai Yuzuru (ken-14) and Cosmos Troupe’s Makaze Suzuho (ken-10), Tamaki’s appointment makes her the most junior second supporting star in all the troupes.

Tamaki is 172 cm in height, and her strong point is her dynamic dancing. So far, she has had 3 junior performance leads as well as Bow Hall lead roles. After graduation from junior performance roles, it was clear that the company had high hopes for her as she played Amami Yuuki’s role in the restaging of “Puck”. She has made marked improvement in singing and acting, and now she has officially become second supporting star.

Starting March of 2016, she will be playing the lead role in the national tour of “Passion–Jose and Carmen/Apassionado!! III” with Manaki as her partner.

Current Top Star Ryuu gave a hint of her confidence in the improvement this would make for the troupe, commenting “right now there are lots of positions for young actresses. It’s time for Moon Troupe to change.”