This is an older iteration of To The Future in GRAPH, so some of the questions being answered are different. This feature was published in the September 2006 GRAPH.
To The Future: Self Introduction @ GRAPH (Renjou Makoto, Aihara Mika, Miya Rurika, Hanazuki Yuma)
Renjou Makoto (Snow)
Debut performance – 2003, Takarazuka Floral Diary
Prominent roles – At the End of Roaming: Sergeant William, Rose of Versailles (junior performance): Gerlois
Your motivation for taking the entrance exam:
In my hometown of Oita I saw the Moon Troupe regional regional performance of Afterglow of Eire/Takarazuka Ole!, and after seeing that performance I thought I wanted to stand on that stage too and took the exam.
The first Takarazuka show you saw:
Afterglow of Eire/Takarazuka Ole!
Your treasures:
All the people I have met so far. I’m only here now thanks to all of them.
Costumes you long to wear:
I want to wear costumes in really vivid colors. I’d also like to try wearing the kind of dresses the musumeyaku wear once.
Your qualifications:
Standard driver’s license, STEP A2 English certification
Club activities as a student:
I was in the chorus club. I loved how you could take everyone’s voices and bring them together into one harmony.
Memories of your debut performance:
Every day we all laughed together, cried together, and talked together so much, and I could feel our bonds as classmates, so everything about my debut is a treasured memory for me!
Your dream as a stage performer:
As much as I can, I want to become someone who can change the atmosphere onstage and have a real sense of presence as a performer.
Seniors who you admire:
Aran Kei-san. I admire her since she has a feeling of sexiness as an otokoyaku, a beautiful voice, and because she’s also a great person.
Aihara Mika (Snow)
Debut – 2004, Susano’o
Prominent roles – Rose of Versailles: child Andre, Rain that Stops a Guest from Leaving: O-Sode
Your motivation for taking the entrance exam:
Ever since I saw my first Takarazuka performance in middle school, I came to love Takarazuka and would end up at the theatre over and over. While I loved it from the beginning, gradually I came to think ‘I want to be on that stage!’ and decided to take the entrance exam.
The first Takarazuka show you saw:
Now the Violet Flowers Bloom/Love Sonata
Your treasures:
My family. That I can be here now is all thanks to my family.
Costumes you long to wear:
I want to wear a hoopskirt dress. When I had the opportunity to be in Rose of Versailles, I would always watch them from the wings.
Your qualifications:
I want to get a driver’s license, but…my classmates and everybody are against it.
Your club activities as a student:
I was in the Tea Ceremony club. I loved the traditional sweets you ate with the tea.
Memories of your debut performance:
That rockette with all 50 of us on the grand stairs at the very beginning of the show is something I’ll never forget in all my life.
Your dream as a performer:
I want to be a performer who puts in the effort and grows every day.
Seniors you admire:
I have been in Snow Troupe since my debut, and I really admire all the senior actresses in Snow Troupe who always look after me and teach me all kinds of things.
Miya Rurika (Star)
Debut – 2003, Takarazuka Floral Diary
Prominent roles – Young Bloods!!: Luca, Rose of Versailles (junior performance): Alain de Soissons
Your motivation for taking the entrance exam:
When I was in third grade, I saw Takarazuka on TV for the first time, and I was struck by the dreamlike world. Then I thought ‘I want to be a Takarazuka otokoyaku too!’ and took the entrance exam.
The first Takarazuka show you saw:
PUCK/Memories of You
Your treasures:
My family, my classmates, everyone who has kept treating me with such warmth.
Costumes you long to wear:
I would love to wear a pure white tailcoat or uniforms ✨
Your qualifications:
English certification, Computer certification
Your club activities as a student:
When I was in elementary school, I was in the lacrosse club and the badminton club.
Memories of your debut:
I experienced how hard it really is to be a stage performer through the strictness of the rockette rehearsals. All of us classmates standing on stage with united hearts is an important memory to me.
Your dream as a stage performer:
I think I want to be a stage performer who values each and every day and always is changing and bringing something fresh. Also, I want to always do my best to give dreams to the audience!!
Seniors you admire:
Suzukaze Mayo-san. She’s so lovely and I admire her androgynous atmosphere.
Hanazuki Yuma (Flower)
Debut – 2003, Takarazuka Floral Diary
Prominent roles – Apartement Cinema: Mireilles, Marakesh (Hakataza): Aman
Your motivation for taking the entrance exam:
When I was in fifth grade I saw Afterglow of Eire on TV and thought ‘I want to be on that stage too!’ and decided to take the entrance exam.
The first Takarazuka performance you saw:
I saw Rose of Versailles on TV while I was in kindergarten, but I don’t remember anything at all from back then… 💦
Your treasures:
My beloved pet toy poodle, ‘ICE’. They’re such a precious existence to me 💖
Costumes you long to wear:
I longed to be an otokoyaku, so of course I was yearning to wear a black tailcoat. Last year, when I was able to be in Haruno-san’s concert I GOT MUSIC, I was able to wear one, and I was so happy ⭐️
Your qualifications:
Standard driver’s license, English certification
Your club activities as a student:
When I was in middle school, me and some classmates I got on well with started a rhythmic gymnastics club, since we were interested in it. In high school I wasn’t in any clubs.
Memories of your debut:
Anything and everything was totally new to me, so every day I would be really nervous onstage. I can still remember how moved I was when the curtain opened on the first day. Also, most importantly, I felt how much I treasured by classmates and our bonds even more strongly.
Your dreams as a performer:
I want to be able to fulfill the hopes of everyone who comes to see the performances. Also, this is something one of the senior actresses told me, but when it comes to acting, singing, and dancing, I want to be ‘selfish’ (in a good way). These two things are what I want to strive for from now on.
Seniors you admire:
I admired Haruno Sumire-san even before I took the Takarazuka entrance exam. I respect her passion, her warmth, and her kindness onstage, and everything about her.