‘Hatsumoude’ or ‘first temple visit’ is an important part of the New Year festivities in Japan. Each year, one of the newest class of Takarazuka performers is photographed for the corporations ‘Hatsumoude Posters’.

The 2021 Hatsumoude Model is 106th class member Kase Kyou, who was assigned to Snow Troupe after the Takarazuka run of WELCOME TO TAKARAZUKA. Her Hatsumoude photo can be seen here.

This interview with Kase was published in Hankyu Railway’s promotional magazine TOKK on December 25, 2020, and can be found online here. (Archive link here.)

Interview with 2021 Hankyu-Hanshin Hatsumoude Poster Model, Takarazuka Revue Snow Troupe member Kase Kyou

“I want to polish my individuality with the goal of being a performer who can shine no matter where I am on stage.”

Please tell us what motivated you to try for Takarazuka.

When I was in my third year of middle school, I went to watch Takarazuka for the first time when a friend who was a third-generation Takarazuka fan invited me. I came to love the splendid world of Takarazuka. Though I kept going to see shows as just a single fan for a long time, when it came time to decide on my post-high school path, I realized that if I went down a different road without ever taking the entrance exam I would surely regret it, so [my parents] let me take the exam.

What is your ideal type of otokoyaku?

I’ve always admired Ayakaze Sakina, of Snow Troupe. Her unique individuality and aura are so evident in every aspect of her; her acting, singing, and dancing, of course, but even her gaze and gestures… I want to study these subtle aspects like gestures and expressions as a Takarazuka otokoyaku and create my own unique individuality, and become an otokoyaku who can sparkle no matter where I am on stage.

Please tell us the origins of your stage name.

Because I yearned for the splendid, dazzling world of Takarazuka, I became a fan and tried out for the company. I thought I had to put “華” (‘ka’) from ‘splendid’ in my stage name, so I selected the other characters to fit with that. “世” (‘se’) is from the splendid ‘world’, and then to go with “華” “世” I chose “京” (‘kyou’). I imbued it with my determination to live as a performer in this splendid world.

Please tell us your favorite Takarazuka works.

The show that I first went to see from Takarazuka was the Flower Troupe Elisabeth, where Asumi Rio played Der Tod. I was pulled in instantly by the eerie, fantastic atmosphere and the wonderful music. It’s a show I will never forget.

Please look back on 2020 and tell us your aspirations for 2021.

Making it through our entire debut production with no absences, and creating one scene as a group of all 39 of us classmates, made me so happy. I want to learn many things from my seniors in Snow Troupe, and take on all kinds of challenges in order to grow as an artist and as a person.