A totally fantastic theatre in Japan is the Takarazuka Revue Company which was founded in 1914. In contrast to the Kabuki theater which consists of only male performers,Takarazuka consists of only female performers who, btw, are single throughout their career with Takazaruka. The actresses live in dormatories, except the star performers who have their own apartments. The performers are students of the Takarazuka School of Music. The only way to become a performer of Takarazuka, by being a student. Of about 2,000 applicants each year, only about 40 are accepted.

Currently there are five troupes: Flower (Hana) Troupe, Moon (Tsuki) Troupe, Snow (Yuki) Troupe, Star (Hoshi) Troupe, and Cosmos (Sora) Troupe. In addition there is the Senka Troupe which contains specaility performers. About 400 performers are divided up into these six troupes. The performers are students of the Takarazuka School of Music. They perform shows and plays in the Takarazuka Grand Theater in Hyogo, the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, and domestic and international tours throughout the year. There are two top stars in each troupe: one actress who plays the lead male role and one actress who plays the lead female role. The top stars couple is called "A Golden Combination. "Takarazuka's performances are usually romantic love stories, and it's said that 80-90% of the audience is female.

Getting tickets to these performances is next to impossible, unless you are a fan club member. However, don't dispair, especially if you are stuck in the USA or Canada, because you can purchase DVDs, videos, CDs of their shows., which cost a small fortune, btw, but heck, it's cheaper than the price of an airline ticket, hotel room, a bunch of grapes and a cantalope in Japan. Plus... you can watch the shows over and over again!

If I have made any errors in my discussion of Takarazuka, please let me know. I'm like a kid in a candy store about Takarazuka, and I want it ALL!!!

Takarazuka: Sexual Politics and Popular Culture in Modern Japan by Jennifer Ellen Robertson, gives a historical and cultural background of Takarazuka. Ms Robertson did a lot of research for this book, which helped me appreciate Takarazuka much more! I found my used copy through Amazon.com

I first discovered Takarazuka on the internet while on a tangent and I got hooked almost immediately. I found music and video clips online and then I got my first Takarazuka CD, which was a 1969 recording of selections from Oklahoma and West Side Story. I was totally blown away by this recording! I played it for days!!! It was one of the most beautiful show recordings I have ever heard...in any language!!!

© 1969, 1995 Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd./Manufactured by Nipon Columbia Co.,Ltd./Special Product for HMI Records, a Division of Honda Music International/Distributed by Victor Family Club, Inc.

Takarazuka Top Stars 2003


Since my first CD, I have now in my Takarazuka collection: Rose of Versailles, 2001 starring WAO Youka and HANAFUSA Mari; Guys and Dolls starring SHIBUKA Jun as Sky Masterson, and EMI Kurara as Sarah Brown; BELIEVE! WAO Youka's dinner show; and the DVD of TCA Special 2002 - LOVE & DREAM which has all the stars!!!

I knew it had to happen sometime. I have my favorite Takarazuka group. It is the Moon Troupe, or Tsuki Gumi. The top stars are Jun Shibuki and Kurara Emi. Jun Shibuki aka Rika, was a classical ballerina before becomming a student at Takarazuka. She is the most amazing dancer! The male roles Rika plays are incredibly charming! Rika also can play a female role with equal charm and style! Kurara Emi is totally adorable as Rika's partner. When she smiles her whole face lights up a room! Kurara can break your heart just as easy. I find I have to have a box of tissues next to me when watching these two act together. They have a magical chemistry onstage!!!

Thanks to Rika, I now have more CDs and videos from the Tsukigumi. "The Pirate"/"Jazz Mania", "All About Rika",and "End of a Long Spring"/"With A Song In My Heart" which is my favorite show right now. More recent additions to my video library are "Wind of Buenos Aires", "Blue Sky of Provance" and Hoshigumi's 1996 version of "Elisabeth" with Rika playing the role of Luigi. I have added, as of October, 2003, Rika's Dinner Show. It makes me very sad to say that Rika has announced she will retire from Takarazuka on March 21, 2004.
Dang, I was praying she would stay in Takarazuka until I get to Japan, but it ain't gonna happen! However, she has three more videos coming out. One is her concert, that was videotaped in September, then Tsukigumi new show opens in November. It is a vampire show! Rika's sayounara show will be on March 21st. It will also be videotaped. Then, where does Rika go from Takarazuka? I dunno, but I hope she stays in show business, cuz she is a mighty big talent to dissappear from view! I'm gonna miss seeing Rika in any new shows from Takarazuka.

I gotta quit buying videosand CDs...I'm going broke!

Disclaimer: No ostriches were harmed in the creation of this webpage!

Gaijin Love Rika-chan This is my best bud's website. You gotta see Juri in Rika's feathers! What Juri does with Photoshop is uncanny! She recreates reality! And also there is fabulous art work by Romanian artist Sami!

Revue Sphere ~Takarazuaka~ ~ I found this to be a great source of information on Takarazuka in English.

Sissi's Wonderful Takarazuka Website. Sissi has been attending Takarazuka performances for years! ~ English

The Jasper TRS ~ English

Hotaru's Most Excellent Takarazuka Webpage ~ English

Strawberrie's Takarazuka's Collections Page ~ English

Official Takarazuka Revue Website ~ Japanese/English

The Iceberg ~ Wonderful art galleries of Top Stars!

Marcie's LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Wonderful manga art of Top Star, EMAO Yuu, who retired in 2003, in the Nobunga Gallery

Takarazuka-an where I am able to order CDs, DVDs and video tapes in english, by e-mail. They are very nice to bumbling Yanks like me.

"Takarazuka Kagekidan", "Takarazuka Revue", "Takarazuka," and any images from any of the mentioned theater troupes © Takarazuka Revue Company, Hankyu Corporation and associated parties. No infringement is intended. This webpage is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the aforementioned parties.
This webpage is intended for promotional and informational purposes only.