Favorite Stars
Everyone has favorite stars - and no one I know has the same favorites. For me, which stars I like is very much a personal preference - I would never ask or expect other people to only love the same performers I do. A list of my favorites and a list of who I think are the most talented/skilled at times has looked quite different.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is... This is who I like. Your mileage will vary. :)
Stage Name: Aran Kei
Nickname: Touko
Debuted: 1991 Retired: 2009
Top Otokoyaku of Star Troupe December 2006 - April 2009
I found my favorite performer almost as soon as I discovered Takarazuka. The Elisabeth DVD that I first bought shows her in two roles - one as a little boy (young Rudolph) and the other as a grown man (Death). I was fascinated to see the same actress performing such very different roles, as well as by her promising singing voice. Then I bought "Icarus" which is a Bow Hall play in which she played the lead - and I was once again quite impressed. These early shows I saw her in demonstrated that she had marvelous potential and every time I saw a new performance she had improved. It was a wonderful experience as a fan to follow a performer's career over the years until she became an amazing upperclassman, and then finally top star. The years where Touko was "top" were like a dream, and I got a second job so I could afford to go to Japan and see all her main theater shows live. I continue to follow her career now that she's debuted as a "regular" actress.
In terms of recommendations, I enjoyed all of Touko's show as top star. Her most popular is undoubtedly "The Scarlet Pimpernel" which is a phenomenal spectacle with amazing singing and costumes. Personally, my favorite show remains "El Halcon", which requires more of an acting stretch with its dark hero and complex plotline.
Toono Asuka
Nickname: Asuka
Debuted 1998 Retired 2009
Top Musumeyaku of Star Troupe December 2006 - April 2009
Asuka had been one of my favorite musumeyaku for several years, ever since I first saw her live as "Scarlett II" in the 2002 production of "Gone With the Wind", so I was thrilled beyond belief when it was announced she would be partnered with Aran as top star of Star Troupe. Asuka is a truly incredible performer who can play everything from cutesy to elegant. Her singing voice was strong when she was young, but it took her several years to master the highest of the musumeyaku ranges - but by the time she became top star she was there and belting it out amazingly in shows like "The Scarlet Pimpernel". Pretty much all of Aran's fans adored Asuka, and I'm no exception. I look forward to seeing what she does post-Takarazuka.
If you're looking for a good show with Asuka as top star, I would again recommend "El Halcon", where she gets to play a tough-as-nails female pirate. Of course, "Scarlet Pimpernel" is the choice if you want to hear her amazing vocals. For a show from before she was top, I recommend either "The Naked City" with Flower Troupe, or "Copacabana" from while she was in senka.
Stage Name: Ayabuki Mao
Nickname: Yumiko
Debuted: 1994
Troupe: Snow
Well, my predication that Yumiko would go far seems to have come true, seeing how, as of this writing, she's nibante (second star) of Snow Troupe. To be honest, I've sort of last track of Yumiko a bit the last few years. When Aran became top, almost all my "fan" energy was taken up by her shows. I've only seen a couple of Yumiko's plays since she moved from Flower Troupe to Snow Troupe, though I hope to change that now. From what I've seen, despite becoming an "upperclassmen" her beautiful cheerfulness hasn't changed much. I'll leave the text below so you can see how she initially charmed me.
For a long time Aran Kei was my only favorite star. When people asked me about my favorites I replied that they were "First, Aran Kei. Second, everyone else." I really do love all the performers in Takarazuka, so I wasn't joking... But aside from Aran Kei there wasn't anyone I PARTICULARLY liked...
How quickly things can change. :)
Ayabuki Mao is an otokoyaku who when I first noticed her was around the "yobante" (4th-star) level. I had actually seen her a long time before that, in the video of "Icarus", and really liked her - but not seeing anything else she had a big part in, forgot her name. Then in spring 2002 I saw the 88th anniversary production of "Gone With the Wind" while I was in Tokyo. Ayabuki had a somewhat small part as Scarlett's second husband Frank. Although she was only on stage for one scene, I was impressed by the earnestness and sincerity she put into the role, and the conviction with which she played it. But I didn't recognize her as the same girl I'd seen in the "Icarus" video...
When I watched the stars leaving at demachi, I noticed Ayabuki again - again, without connecting her to the actor who was in "Icarus" or who played Frank - because she was so sweet and friendly with her fanclub, talking and laughing with them. I kept thinking "Who is that?" every time I saw her...
Well, eventually I figured it out. :) Ayabuki is a very talented performer, who combines a good singing voice, excellent dancing, and committed acting with an open and friendly personality.
I'm a bit out of date in terms of Yumiko shows, but I strongly recommend "The Naked City" from when she was in Flower Troupe. I also quite enjoyed "Silver Rose Chronicles", a very cute vampire story, from after she transferred to Snow Troupe.
Pretty Much Everyone
Star Troupe
As of September 2009
Thanks to Touko and Asuka's time as tops, I had the opportunity to see Star Troupe many, many times over the last few years. Not surprisingly, I became fond of many of the troupe members. It's been great fun learning the names not just of the main "star track" people, but the supporting players and the young underclassmen. I still have a ways to go before I can recognize everyone, but right now I'm finding that being a troupe fan is wonderful in its own way.
OTHER PERFORMERS
And here, in no particular order, are some other performers I like. Lack of a listing doesn’t mean I don’t like someone. I’m adding folks as mood and timing allow.
Tsukikage Hitomi (Gun-chan)
Debuted 1990, retired 2002
Recommended Show: “Arch of Triumph/Department Store” (Snow, 2000)
It’s hard for me to choose a favorite musumeyaku, but Tsukikage epitomizes the classic musumeyaku strengths. With a partner like Todoroki Yuu, it would be easy for a partner to be overwhelmed, but Tsukikage held her own with grace and good humor. A stunning actress, and a fine singer and dancer, Tsukikage has a gentle radiance that makes her a joy to watch.
Fuzuki Miyo (Fuu-chan)
Debuted 1995, retired 2006
Recommended Shows: “Age of Innocence” (Cosmos Bow Hall, 2002) and “La Esperanza” (Flower, 2004)
Fuu-chan first came to my attention while she was in Cosmos Troupe – I was impressed by her portrayal of Ellen Olenska in the Bow Hall play “Age of Innocence” and soon sought out more of her work. I enjoyed her performances in the shinjin-kouen of “Asaki Yume Mishi” and other small roles from her Flower Troupe years, and became a fervent Fuu-chan advocate. I was thrilled when she was chosen as the top musumeyaku of Flower Troupe. Fuu-chan does best with genteel, dignified roles, though she's good with humor as well, but fans should beware that her stage time is often limited, to the point of robbing her of such top-musumeyaku givens as the final pair dance.
Dan Rei
Debuted 1992, Retired 2005
Recommended Shows: For a strong, serious role, “Song of Kingdoms” (Star, 2004) For her earlier, lighter work, “Luna” (Moon, 2000) and “Ai no Sonata” (Moon, 2001) are quite fun
Dan is an easily underestimated performer. In her first run as top musumeyaku (with Makoto Tsubasa in Moon Troupe) she did a lot of fun, light characters. Her whispy, chalky voice made her seem very young and I never really thought of her for strong roles. After Mami retired, she spent some time in senka (a very wise choice by Takarazuka management not to lose her! She and Rika never had much in the way of chemistry, IMHO) before bouncing back to be the partner for Kozuki Wataru. She wowed me by her performance in “Song of Kingdoms.” So beautiful and dignified – I wanna be Dan Rei when I grow up!
Hanafusa Mari
Debuted 1991, Retired 2006
Recommended Shows: Many, many great ones! “Elisabeth” (Cosmos, 1998), naturally, and “Gekijou: Jose and Carmen” (Cosmos, 2001) are two of my favorites.
What can I really say about O-Hana that hasn’t been said before? Here we have a musumeyaku who’s been top star of two troupes, with 5 otokoyaku partners, over twelve years! Hana is a phenomenal performer. Her acting is mind blowing, her singing beautiful (when given free-range) and her dancing exquisite. What more can I say? She’s the queen of Takarazuka.
Kiriya Hiromu (Kiriyan)
Debuted 1994, Top Star of Moon Troupe from Fall 2009
Recommended Shows: Guys and Dolls (Moon, 2002), Earnest in Love (Moon, 2005), Me and My Girl (Moon, 2008).
Ah, it's so funny to think of Kiriyan as top star - to me she'll always be that cute and funny youngster in "Guys and Dolls"... Kiriyan exceled so much at comedy when she was young that I was surprised to see that over the years she'd developed a reputation as being rather serious. This woman has all kinds of talent, not the least of which is amazing vocal ability. By which I don't mean just singing, but adapting her speech style to her role and putting just the right emphasis in the right place. She may well be the most all-round talented of her generation of otokoyaku.
Yashiro Kou (Shibi)
Debuted 1968, Retired 2008
Recommended Shows: She's had supporting roles in so many shows... I'm gonna go with "Arch of Triumph/Department Store" (Snow, 2000) because she has solos in both parts. I also really liked her in "Romantika Takarazuka".
Yashiro sings like an old-school cabaret singer, with this amazing deep voice, even though she's an onnayaku. She's played supporting roles in more shows than I can name, always as that slightly-sultry older woman. Any show is better with Yashiro Kou in it!
Izumo Aya (Taki)
Debuted 1983, Retired 2008
Recommended Shows: I adore her as Carlotta in "Phantom" (Cosmos, 2004). Her turn as Maria in 2008's "Me and My Girl" is also amazing and she brings impressive depth.
Another incredible talent; I love Izumo's singing and stage presence. She can play the most amazing scary bossy women - like Carlotta in "Phantom" and Sophie in "Elisabeth". She's been in a number of troupes, then spent some time in senka, to Moon Troupe as their Kumichou (Troupe Leader) for a couple years before retiring - far too early by my estimation, though I suppose a 25 year Takarazuka career is nothing to complain about...