Rhythm was a Q&A feature for young otokoyaku stars published through 2016, with fun questions about the performers’ on and offstage lives as well as some drawings. The specific questions and number of questions vary between features.
Minami’s was published in the November issue.
Continue readingThis photo and essay book was written by Moon Troupe Top Star Sena Jun and published during promotions for the 2008 show ME AND MY GIRL, where Top Musumeyaku Ayano Kanami retired. It’s very charming and occasionally emotional.
Some chapters are very short, or contain only pictures, and thus are combined.
The book also featured dual Japanese and English chapter titles, which were not always the same. Where these differ, both are included, with the translation of the Japanese title following in brackets. (For example, Chapter 8 is That time [The era of Asa and Osako])
Continue readingThis interview with Asazuki Kiwa was posted by Sports Hochi on August 12, 2021, just before the opening of CITY HUNTER/Fire Fever!. The original article was written by Tsuitsui Masaya [estimated name reading] and can be found here (archived link here).
Continue readingThis photo and essay book was written by Moon Troupe Top Star Sena Jun and published during promotions for the 2008 show ME AND MY GIRL, where Top Musumeyaku Ayano Kanami retired. It’s very charming and occasionally emotional.
Some chapters are very short, or contain only pictures, and thus are combined.
The book also featured dual Japanese and English chapter titles, which were not always the same. Where these differ, both are included, with the translation of the Japanese title following in brackets. (For example, Chapter 8 is That time [The era of Asa and Osako])
Continue readingThis photo feature, which ran in GRAPH through 2016, had subjects selecting photos they had taken with other Takarasiennes. This edition features Uzuki Hayate, Ootori Mayu, Aizuki Hikaru, and Towaki Sea.
Continue readingAshizawa Jin’s 2004 GRAPH column featured illustrations of actresses in one dream role of their choice, and one dream role Ashizawa had for them. Ayabuki’s was published in the January issue.
Continue readingAshizawa Jin is an illustrator/columnist who seems to have worked for GRAPH since the 1960s (yes, you read that right). His interview column generally gets a new title every year but has been fairly consistent format-wise in recent years. I’m giving him his own tag in the Staff category since he is one of the few interview conductors to be credited by name in the publications.
This interview with Serika Toa was published in the May 2017 issue of GRAPH (while she was still a Flower Troupe member) and seems to have been recorded during or around the production of MY HERO.
Continue readingBackstage Journal is a short Kageki feature where very young cast members write anecdotes about what’s going on behind the scenes of the productions. They’re not very deep, being full of emojis and more like blog entries than articles, but they are a good way to get to know the newest actresses in each troupe or see what your favorite performers got up to in their younger days.
This one is by Flower Troupe member Takumi Hibiki (of the 73rd Class), and was published in the August 1990 issue.
Continue readingThis interview with Ryuu Masaki and Asumi Rio was published by Asahi News on Feb 19, 2009. They discuss the upcoming production of The Two Noble Kinsmen, the just-concluded Floating Bridge of Dreams/Apasionado!!, and their relationships with then-Top Sena Jun. The original column was written by Satou Sakura and can be found here. (Archive link here.)
Continue readingThis 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.
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