Takarazuka Revue – Torodoki Yuu’s retirement press conference: as herself to the end

This article covering Todoroki Yuu’s retirement press conference was published by Kobe News Next. The original article was written by Kataoka Tatsumi [estimated reading] and was originally published here on March 18. (Archive link here.)

Continue reading

Aran Kei – Aran: Chapter 6 – What I finally realized – “Letting things happen to me is what I should be doing”

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

Continue reading

Aran Kei – Aran: Chapter 5 – My voice won’t come out! A turbulent start to my time as Top Star

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

Continue reading

Aran Kei – Aran: Chapter 4 – “Is it that great to be Top?” My long spell as second supporting star

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 to make it more readable in English.

Continue reading

“The Two Noble Kinsmen” double lead – Ryuu Masaki and Asumi Rio, Takarazuka Revue Moon Troupe

This 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 reading

Aran Kei – Aran: Message from Haruno Sumire

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 reading

Aran 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 reading

Talk 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 reading

Aran Kei – Aran: Foreword

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.

Continue reading

Talk DX – Elisabeth (Snow 2007)

This talk, featuring Mizu Natsuki, Ayabuki Mao, and Otozuki Kei, was recorded late in the Takarazuka run of the 2007 Snow Troupe Elisabeth and published in the August 2007 issue of GRAPH.

lost-in-the-land-of-stories kindly provided the translation excerpts used when they quote the show.

Continue reading