This interview with Rei Makoto ahead of the opening of Romeo et Juliette was published by Kobe News on January 21, 2021. The original article, written by Kataoka Satomi [estimated reading] can be found here. (Archive link here.)
Continue readingAran Kei – Aran: Message from Asami Hikaru
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.
Paragraph breaks have been added for ease of reading in English.
Continue readingSalut! – Ren Tsukasa (March 2019)
Salut! was a 2019 GRAPH feature interviewing young performers. Ren’s was published in March.
Continue readingTo the Future: Hana Yuuki, Flower Troupe
To the Future is a small GRAPH interview of junior actresses. This one was published in the August 2017 issue.
Continue readingTalk DX – The Rose of Versailles 2001 (Cosmos Troupe – Wao Youka and Ayaki Nao)
Talk DX is a GRAPH talk feature with the otokoyaku leads of a recent Grand Theatre show. This one, which was recorded towards the end of the Takarazuka run of The Rose of Versailles 2001: Fersen and Marie Antoinette, was published in the July 2001 issue, when the show was being performed in Tokyo.
Ayaki was in Senka at the time, and they also spend some time discussing her previous show with Cosmos Troupe, Nostalgia Across the Sea.
An outtake photo from the back of the magazine is also included.
Continue readingAran Kei – Aran: Chapter 2 – My goal! To be a Takarasienne!
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.
Some paragraph breaks are added for ease of reading in English.
Continue readingI was told “You’re too small for an otokoyaku”… – Asumi Rio speaks about her time in Takarazuka and post-retirement
Additional interview content with Asumi Rio, published by anan on January 8, 2021. In this portion, Asumi talks about her experience of the difference between being an otokoyaku and an actress, and her time on the set of morning drama Ochoyan. The original feature, written by Mochizuki Risa [estimated reading] can be found here. (Archive link here.)
Continue readingAsumi Rio challenged again with musical The Poe Clan – ‘I was uncertain at first’
Asumi’s first post-Takarazuka stage performance, the co-ed revival of Koike Shuuichiro’s The Poe Clan, opened today (January 11th, 2021) in Japan. Asumi did this promotional interview with anan on January 7, 2021. The original interview, written by Mochizuki Risa [estimated reading] can be found here. (Archive link here.)
Continue readingBlossoming Takarazuka: Full speed ahead to being ‘An intense otokoyaku’ – Akatsuki Chisei (Moon Troupe)
This edition of Tokyo Shinbun’s column on Takarazuka features Akatsuki Chisei, talking about her current performance in Frenesie a Pigalle and WELCOME TO TAKARAZUKA. The original column was written by Yamagishi Toshiyuki (estimated name reading) and was published here on November 26, 2020. (Archive link here.)
Continue readingAran Kei – Aran: Chapter 1 – “One day I’ll fly away from here!” – What I swore in my heart during my childhood
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.
Some paragraph breaks have been added for ease of reading in English.
Continue reading