This book is a memoir of Aran Kei’s time as a member of Takarazuka, as well as her post-Takarazuka career and memories of her childhood. It was published in 2010 to commemorate the 20th year of her stage career. It also features messages from Takarazuka classmates and other colleagues and theatre artists she has worked with.

I have collected many archival images from various sources to illustrate the book.

Foreword

In 2010, I, Aran Kei, reached my 20th year as a stage performer.

To commemorate this milestone, I decided to publish this book. 

Because of this opportunity, I started looking back on my past once again, but, strangely enough, I found that I had forgotten all of the difficult and painful things.

If I recall, there were countless times where I went through trials, or ran into barriers.

However, at those times, no matter when, I still believed that it would turn out to be a positive thing.

Or, rather, I determined that it would be that way.

I think that is how I came this far.

I held on to my faith that the path I was on was the path I was supposed to be on, and just kept walking forward.

Sometimes, there were moments when everything around me would be dark and I couldn’t see the path at all.

But even then, I could still tell that the road was there under my feet, so I believe that as long as I keep stepping forward everything will be alright.

I’ve made a record of the road I came down in this book.

I don’t know what is on the road in front of me yet.

But I still think that I want to keep going forward.

Aran Kei