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.
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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.
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.