Takarazuka [Archive] - Japan Forum

Shibuyaexpat

Mar 15, 2005, 19:20

I was flipping through the channels one day and became completely mesmerized by this. Only after asking a colleague, did I know the name of the show (?).

Has anyone ever seen this show? If so, what's the appeal?

epigene

Mar 16, 2005, 04:38

Seems no one is responding to this? :?

Well, Takarazuka is an all-girls revue that dates back to 1927 (according to its website), established in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture. It consists of a performing arts school (for girls on high school level) and a theatrical company of graduates of that school.

I think the popularity of the show stems from "sisterly" admiration girls used to have toward older girls (sempai) who were beautiful, intelligent, cool, etc., when girls were not allowed to associate with boys in the old days. It's not really a "lesbian" thing, because girls usually outgrew this phase and got married to men. The strange part is there are still girls like that and older women who remain diehard fans. I think it's "fantasy land" for them. (Me excluded, I never liked it. :relief: )

There was a report in the media a couple of years ago of Takarazuka touring the UK (I think) and being trashed by the local critics. :blush:

Today, Takarazuka regarded one of the best training grounds for breaking into show business. Quite a lot of Japanese actresses of the past and today are Takarazuka-trained.

epigene

Mar 16, 2005, 05:06

Yes, found an article on it for anyone interested:

http://www.japan-zone.com/modern/takarazuka.shtml

:wave:

Shibuyaexpat

Mar 16, 2005, 10:53

epigene

Mar 16, 2005, 11:32

Thanks epigene. I saw their Web site as well and it's all pretty interesting stuff. When I first saw a clip of their performance on TV, I was immediately drawn to how similar they all look to characters in the 1970s anime like Captain Harlock and Battleship Yamamoto.
I think that's very interesting observation. The makeup style Takarazuka uses has been roughly the same since my childhood days (Takarazuka revues were much more popular than today and were more frequently shown on TV.) It probably is the image that the Japanese idolizes (oversized eyes, lots of long eyelashes, tall nose, etc.) that is also reflected in Japanese manga and subsequently anime. I never associated it that way... thanks! :-)

Shibuyaexpat

Mar 16, 2005, 11:36

I know that the Takarazuka take their performances very seriously, but wouldn't it be hilarious if they did a musical version of one of those anime? I know that I would certainly pay good money to see it.

epigene

Mar 16, 2005, 11:42

Oh, Takarazuka hit it big when they produced a musical version of "Rose of Versailles," a manga for girls about the French royal court with Marie Antoinette, etc. It kept running for years and today is sometimes brought back on stage!

Maybe they'd be willing to do a "Yamato" or "Harlock" if they think it'll be well received! :giggle:

Shibuyaexpat

Mar 16, 2005, 11:50

It would be great way to reach out to the male audience :p

caster51

Jan 26, 2007, 23:12

takarazuka 2years trianing school is so strict like army..
preparatory-department student is like servant of regular course student:(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf3owyEaqXs&eurl=

KirinMan

Jan 26, 2007, 23:18

One of my "former" students is now a regular on the Takarazuka "main" stage. From what she tells me it really is a labor of "love" to get to the the point she is at.
I give her a ton of credit for sticking with it and "making" it.

Kirie_Maiden

Mar 3, 2009, 23:41

I am sorry to drag such an old thread back to the service, but I have recently discovered just how good Takarazuka Revue are (from watching youtube videos of them, sadly) and I was wondering if anybody living in Japan has seen them performing the Phoenix Wright musical? What I wouldn't give to see that...

Glenski

Mar 4, 2009, 07:26

There's an old Marlon Brando film called Sayonara or something like that, which features him as a U.S. serviceman who falls for the star of the Takarazuka review. So, you could see a little of what it's like if you watch it.

Kirie_Maiden

Mar 4, 2009, 19:04

I heard that the Takarazuka girls are all extensively trained. Sounds like an extremely harsh drama school. Does also sound fun to be a part of though. Wouldn't be so popular if it wasn't fun to take part in and fun to watch.

becki_kanou

Mar 5, 2009, 00:05

I heard that the Takarazuka girls are all extensively trained. Sounds like an extremely harsh drama school.

I can vouch for this. I live right outside Takarazuka city, and you often see the girls from the drama school on the train. Every one I've ever seen has had absolutely lovely manners, flawless grooming and almost inhumanly perfect posture. Their training must be strict indeed.

undrentide

Mar 5, 2009, 07:34

epigene

Mar 5, 2009, 07:51

Here's the website of the school （宝塚音楽学校/Takarazuka Music School (http://www.tms.ac.jp/index.html)).
Some photos in this page (http://www.tms.ac.jp/annai.html).
It looks extremely difficult to enter (http://www.tms.ac.jp/bosyu.html)this school...
:-)
And extremely expensive, too.

I was told you have to be willing to spend in the neighborhood of 10 million yen for tuition, let alone the expenses necessary for training in ballet, singing, etc., "just to enter the school"!!

And there's the reality of a lot of them giving up on pursuing careers in the performing arts after graduation and a stint with the Takarazuka revue... (Sorry for being a wet blanket! :p )

Kirie_Maiden

Mar 5, 2009, 19:58

Wow... if I won the lottery I'd move to Japan and send my kids there. Haha. Other than that, no chance.

I suppose if people are serious about wanting to be in the performing arts, it's worth it. I'd love to know just how many famous Japanese actresses or even singers were once part of Takarazuka... even if it was just the school and not any of the productions in particular.

pipokun

Mar 5, 2009, 20:35

Your future daughter even can be a British-Japanese (maybe the first one) politician.
Chikage Oogi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikage_Oogi)

But she should marry a Kabuki actor first.

Kirie_Maiden

Mar 5, 2009, 20:57

Hehe. There's lots of options if you attend Takarazuka! Haha.

I have found a few people who went into TV productions, but nobody I know, sadly. I was holding out hope for Yukie Nakama or something.

epigene

Mar 5, 2009, 21:20

In the old days (post-WWII period), a lot of top stars of the Takarazuka Revue went into the movies. The names I can remember offhand are Chikage Oogi (mentioned by pipokun, who became an LDP politician), Kaoru Yachigusa, Hanayo Sumi, Michiyo Aratama, Kaoru Yodo and Wataru Nachi (wife of a politician now).

It seems there aren't that many who went to become top stars in Japanese TV and movies these days, but there are a few top actresses:

Hitomi Kuroki (http://www.kurokihitomi.net/)

Yuu Amami (http://www.ken-on.co.jp/amami/)

Miki Maya (http://www.blooming-net.com/agency/blog_artist/mayamiki/index.html)

There are a number of singers and theatrical actresses, too.

Toritoribe

Mar 6, 2009, 01:22

Also, Mayo Suzukaze (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzukaze_Mayo) might be familiar, especially to anime fans. She is the voice actress of Himura Kenshin in Rurouni Kenshin.

Kirie_Maiden

Mar 6, 2009, 19:31

Ah... I never knew that! There must be a whole world of opportunity for the girls in Takarazuka. Is it a really prestigious theatre group? Kind of like the theatre world's version of Oxford and Cambridge University in England?

pipokun

Mar 6, 2009, 20:13

...
Is it a really prestigious theatre group? Kind of like the theatre world's version of Oxford and Cambridge University in England?

Just imagine how many British fans of those university theatrical production would bother to come to Japan (not Britons living in Japan, but Britons living in your country) when they come to Japan for their performance.

I bet many Takarazuka fans are willing to go to the West End...

Kirie_Maiden

Mar 6, 2009, 20:15

That's true, I bet they are. You misunderstood my question though. Oxford and Cambridge are not theatre groups, they are simply the top universities in England. What I was asking is that do you get the same respect from having attended Takarazuka as you would get from attending Oxford or Cambridge. Like, there is more opportunity for you than if you went to a different theatre group.

epigene

Mar 6, 2009, 20:19

Is it a really prestigious theatre group? Kind of like the theatre world's version of Oxford and Cambridge University in England?
Well, there are many Japanese Takarazuka fans who think so (though they don't know better, in my personal opinion).
I tend to agree with pipokun that people who know Broadway and West End won't exchange their theatergoing experiences with Takarazuka revues. (Read my very early post.)

At least, these girls are extremely desirable marriage partners for sure!! :p

Added after reading Kirie Maiden's post:
The fact that there are fewer actresses with Takarazuka background who gained popularity in Japanese show biz today should tell you how different the theatrical company is perceived today.

Kirie_Maiden

Mar 9, 2009, 22:08

Fair enough. None of the really HUGE actresses were part of the Takarazuka. I'm wondering if that is because some women see the Takarazuka as being a high enough honour anyway and retire from the theatre world after having a long run with one of the troupes? I have no idea how they think. I just know I'd kill to have had the chance to be a Takarazuka girl... even if I did become a Takarazuka 'guy'. Haha.

pipokun

Mar 9, 2009, 22:36

Pet shop (http://www.mogoo.jp/index.html) run by ex-Takarazuka actress
Doll shop (http://www.ne.jp/asahi/robe/rose/)
Yoga school (http://www.tsubakistudio.com/)

More ballet/dance/prep schools (for Takarazuka) run by ex-Takarazuka actresses below.
http://allabout.co.jp/entertainment/takarazukafan/subject/msubsub_ogShopsite_3.htm

So far, no British English school (lucky you!), though it might be possible that some restaurants have already served nice tea.

I suppose the rest of them become singing/dancing wives.

epigene

Mar 9, 2009, 22:38

Takarazuka girls retire young by tradition. Although there seems to be no retirement age written in stone, the girls retire in their 20s or at the latest in their early 30s. I bet there are very few performance opportunities for these women in the revues.

If they don't make it into show business, many of them become teachers in performing arts, choose other careers and/or marry. This part is all hearsay, since I don't think there is any statistical survey has been conducted.

FYI, the "top stars" in Takarazuka is always those who play the "guy" parts. Takarazuka fans follow the "guy" stars, not the girls.

I suppose the rest of them become singing/dancing wives.
I like that, pipokun!
Seems I always post at the same time with pipokun... :relief:

Kirie_Maiden

Mar 10, 2009, 00:49

Yeah, I suppose it's the Otokoyaku that are the most interesting thing about the Takarazuka. It wouldn't be as renowned without them. Mind you, I bet it's hard to find a play where all the characters are female, without including more lesbian undertones than people already think there are in the Takarazuka..

caster51

Mar 10, 2009, 02:20

Takarazuka Music School
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=34737022

an interesting one(it looks like women's military academy)

http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm4701669