AJET Connect MAY 2014

THE TAKARAZUKA REVUE:PART 2Sabrina Zirakzadeh, OkayamaThe city of Takarazuka in Hyogo prefecture is undeniably lovely, with itsflowering trellises, Mediterranean-inspired architecture, and numerousscenic pedestrian walkways. This bedroom community nestled betweenOsaka and Kobe is a popular spot for photographers, cosplayers, andtourists alike due to its accessibility, scenery, and intimate atmosphere.It is also the birthplace of the father of anime and manga, OsamuTezuka, best known for his series Astro Boy. However, were it not for itscentenarian main attraction—the Takarazuka Revue theater company,the city itself would never have become anything more than anothercute little town.Whenever I hear someone talk about uniquely Japanese phenomena,I always have to bring up the Takarazuka Revue. On the surface, thereview is simply a group of performers, based around one main theater,who perform plays and musicals primarily based on North Americanand European stories. The revue also puts on shows based on traditionalJapanese tales and modern pop culture hits, and the performers often goon to become some of Japan’s top theater stars and idols, occasionallycrossing over into film work as well. The performers are selected fromrigorous auditions, with only forty or so getting into the company eachyear, and train for two years while waiting for their big break on themain stage. It just so happens that, in a twist unique amongst theatercompanies around the world, the Takarazuka Revue consists of onlyfemale actresses.The concept of female-only theater companies exist throughout historyaround the world, and Western operatic and panto traditions include“pants roles,” where women would play handsome young men andboys whose voices were too high for the parts to be played by men.However, the Takarazuka Revue is the only well-known, truly successfulall-female theater troupe in the world.22Successful might even be putting it mildly—attending a show at themodern times.but be aware that both options are extremely time-sensitive and 23buyers are extremely lucky to get anything even then.Takarazuka Grand Theater is a lot like going to a boy band concert, atThe Snow Troupe houses most of the strong dancers andleast between acts and during the finales. At every show, the dedicatedclassically-trained singers, and used to specialize in traditional For an affordable, more certain, and unique experience, its bestfans welcome the actresses on to the stage and also cheer for them asJapanese stories and theatrical traditions, though in recent to wait in line for the same-day ticket sales. You may have to linethey make their exit. Even casual fans will spend hours waiting in lineyears they have tended more towards operatic productions. up before 7:00 AM, but with two shows a day—and seated andthe morning of the show in the hopes of scoring an available ticket.This troupe debuted one of Takarazuka’s signature shows, standing tickets available for half the price of advance tickets—The fan clubs even hold events to meet their favorite actresses, andan adaptation of the German musical Elisabeth, which has it’s fairly likely there will be tickets available. Plus, some same-dayevery day the theater stores are constantly packed with women andbecome so popular over time that even Japanese pop stars tickets allow for a chance to shake the performers’ hands duringgirls buying photo books, DVDs, CDs, posters, and more.have covered its most popular song, “The Last Dance,” to the second act revue! It’s really worth the effort if you want togreat acclaim.experience the Takarazuka Revue to the fullest.The shows themselves are great fun as well. From translated musical andopera performances, to Japanese legends, to adaptations of Ocean’sEleven and the Phoenix Wright video game series, there’s somethingfor everyone to enjoy. Even if you don’t speak Japanese, it’s worth it justto hear the amazing musical talents of the famed Takarazuka stars andtake in the lavish, spectacular sets, effects, and choreography.The revue shows are two-part affairs, with the first half being the playor musical itself and the second half consisting of a lavish, cabaretinspiredrevue usually celebrating a specific theme or milestone forthe revue. The plays are executed with an eye for detail and periodaccuracy—within the confines of the play itself, of course. The revuethrows everything the company has at its disposal at the audience;from Las Vegas-style showgirls joining in chorus lines to giant featheredcostumes denoting the actress’ star power. Often, the revue even findsitself spilling right into the audience.Really, it simply has to be seen to be believed.Takarazuka Grand Theater This AprilThe company consists of five acting troupes, each with their ownspecialty, though the overlap between troupes and shows canmake it difficult to distinguish for newcomers. Here’s a quickbreakdown:The Flower Troupe is considered the top troupe in thecompany, with many of the revue’s biggest stars among itsmembers, and therefore the productions are more lavish andoperatic.The Moon Troupe is best known for its strong singers andperforms mostly Western musicals and plays set in moreStar Troupe specializes in, as the name implies, the starperformers of the revue, particularly otokoyako, or maleroleperformers.Finally, Cosmos Troupe is the newest addition to the revueand presents more experimental and modern works, inaddition to being the only troupe to have a well-known non-Japanese musical composer, Frank Wildhorn, create a showespecially for them.A Takarazuka Revue show really is a truly uniquely Japaneseexperience, but getting tickets can be difficult, not to mentionexpensive! The revue is currently celebrating its 100th anniversarywith some of its most famous shows, including the currentlyrunning The Rose of Versailles: Oscar and Andre as well as thefirst performance in six years of Elisabeth, and tickets are sellingout within minutes of going on sale. If you have the money andwant to ensure that you have seats on the day of your choice,your best bet is to find a member of one of the stars’ fan clubs, asENTERTAINMENT CONNECTCONNECTENTERTAINMENTMay Issue 2014 May Issue 2014The Takarazuka Grand TheaterA statue in front of thetheater of Oscar and Andrefrom The Rose of Versailles,one of the revue’s mostpopular showsthey get advance purchases and can order tickets for friends toensure packed houses for their favorite performers. You can alsotake your chances buying online through the official website(Japanese only), by phone, or at the Loppi machines at Lawson,The entire city of Takarazuka breathes with the life of the theatercompany. Because the aesthetic and atmosphere are reminiscentof the theater’s Western influence, and because the town iscentered around the Grand Theater itself, a visit to the revuebegins the second that you step off of the train. For somethingas easy to explain as an all-female Japanese musical theatercompany, the experience cannot be captured in words. Yousimply have to see it for yourself.Sabrina Zirakzadeh is a second-year ALT living a short hopfrom Takarazuka in Okayama prefecture. She has seen fiveTakarazuka shows since coming to Japan, but is not dedicatedor close enough to join a fan club yet. When she isn’t goingto concerts and musicals, she writes her own! Read moreabout her musings on Japanese music and theater at http://www.jupiter-star.com or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jupiter-star!