Takarazuka Revue 宝塚歌劇団
Founded by Ichizo Kobayashi in 1913, the Takarazuka Revue is one of the oldest and biggest musical theater in Japan. Contrast to the traditional all-male Kabuki Theater originated in the early 17th century, the Takarazuka Revue is all-female musical theater.
From my childhood, the Takarazuka was the meeting spot with my grandparents. As the age of 8 – 14, I (with my sister Ayako) went to the pre-educational musical school Takarazuka-Athen every Sunday and later I study at the musical Academy Takarazuka Music School. And at the age of 17 I started my performance career at The Takarazuka Revue.
As you can see, I primarily played male characters, not because of my sexual orientation, but simply because I am tall as a Japanese. Cross-dressing in Japanese culture has a centuries of history, such as the male -dressed female performers Shirabyohshi (12th-14th century) or the Onna-gata (female rolls) of Kabuki theater (17th – ). Even today, Nihon-Buyoh, the Japanese traditional dance, dancers learn both male and female rolls.
Compare with Germany, Japan has relatively few economically well-established theater companies and I was truly fortunate to had been able to dedicate all my those years to uncountable theater performances. However, moving to Berlin was necessary step to re-discover my own voice, movement and Denkweise*.
*= way of thinking [mental] attitude
2005 to 2010 I was back to Tokyo, joined some further productions by the directors and choreographers of Takarazuka Revue.
Engagement 1989-2001
– 001989–2001 Takarazuka Revue Company, Japan
Artist name | 祐輝薫 (Yuhki Kaoru)
At the theater I performed well-known musical productions such as Me&My Girl, Grand Hotel and Elisabeth, as well as various Revue, Dance Shows, Dinner Shows and Japanese traditional style of performances.
International Tours
2000 Berlin Performance – Friedrichstadtpalast
1998 Hong Kong Performance – Hong Kong Cultural Center
1994 London Performance – London Colosseum Theater
↓ (Thank you Julie and TakaWiki for the details)
2001: The Rose of Versailles 2001 -Fersen and Marie Antoinette-, Joseph II
2001: Nostalgia Across the Sea / Millennium Challenger! (Chunichi), Simon
2000: Nostalgia Across the Sea / Millennium Challenger!, Simon
2000: Black Rose of the Desert / Glorious!!, Najiil
2000: Takarazuka: Snow, Moon, Flower / Sunrise Takarazuka (Berlin Tour)
1999: The Tempest (Bow Hall), Anthony Neville
1999: Passion: Jose and Carmen / The Revue ’99, Miguel
1999: Excalibur / Citrus Breeze (National Tour), Julian, Golden Deer
1998-99: Elisabeth, Black Angel aka. Tot Dancers
Michael Kunze (Libretto) & Sylvester Levay (Music)
1998: Excalibur / Citrus Breeze, Ben
1998: Mugen Houjushou / This is TAKARAZUKA! (Hong Kong Tour)
1997: Fake Love (Drama City), Eugene
1997: El Dorado (Grand Theater), Garcia
1996-97: The Descendant of a Baron / Grandes Belles Folies, Gerald
1996: Cesare Borgia / Prestige, Francesco Orsini
1996: Beyond the End (Nippon Seinenkan Hall)
1996: Can-Can / Nightless Castle in Manhattan, Louis
1996: Me and My Girl (Chunichi)
Noel Gay, L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber
1995: Me and My Girl
1995: Beyond the End (Bow Hall)
1995: Hard-Boiled Egg / Exotica!
1995: Lone Wolf (Bow Hall), C. C. Bonnard
1994: Wanted (Bow)
1994: Kasenshou / The Door to Here / Million Dreams (London Tour)
1994: The Afterglow of Eire / Takarazuka Ole!, Lieutenant Morgan
1993-94: The 10 Cent Silver Coin of Dreams
1993: Kasenshou / The Door to Here / Million Dreams
1993: Lost Angel (Bow Hall)
1993: Tommy Tune’s Grand Hotel / Broadway Boys, The Doorman
1992: Jump For Joy (Drama City)
1992: Puck / Memories of You
1992: BLUFF (Nippon Seinenkan)
1992: Takaterasu Hi no Miko (Bow)
1992: Cafe Carnival / Dreamy Fragrance
1992: Bonjour Shakespeare! (Bow Hall)
1991: Silver Wolf / Break the Border!
1991: As If There’s a Storm in Your Eyes (Bow Hall)
1991: Rose of Versailles: Oscar
1990-91: Romeo and Juliet (Bow Hall / Nippon Seinenkan)
1990: The Kawagiri Bridge / Love Potion
1990: Bluff (Bow)
1990: Great Expectations / The Modern
1989: Rose of Versailles -Andre and Oscar-
Performance With Young Artists – excerption
1995: Me and My Girl, Charles Hethersett
1995: Hard-Boiled Egg, Sydney
1994: Gone with the Wind, Ashley Wilkes
1993: Tommy Tune’s Grand Hotel, Jimmy A
