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 love the same performers I do. A list of my favorites and a list of who I think are the most talented/skilled would look 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
Troupe: Star
Most fans have a favorite performer, that they like better than everyone else. My favorite has been otokoyaku (actor of male roles) Aran Kei since almost the very beginning. The DVD of "Elisabeth" 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. Then I bought "Icarus" which is a Bow Hall play in which she played the lead - and I was once again quite impressed.
Now, I'm not going to claim that Aran Kei is "The Best Performer " in the troupe or that she's Perfect. For one thing, pretty much everyone is very talented. But even the early shows I saw her in demonstrated that she had marvelous potential. She has talent and every time I saw a new performance she had improved. And now,Aran Kei has matured as a performer. She's no longer a junior troupe member, an underclassman. She's an amazing singer, dancer, and (when she really tries) an incredible actress. I was so happy to get to see her when I was in Tokyo, & now I'm thrilled that she will be the new top for Star Troupe!
I could go on and on about Aran Kei (And on occasion have...) but I'll leave it at that.
Stage Name: Ayabuki Mao
Nickname: Yumiko
Debuted: 1994
Troupe: Flower (Moving to Snow in late 2006)
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 just now at the "second star" stage. I saw her a long time ago 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 young star, who combines a good singing voice, excellent dancing, and committed acting with an open and friendly personality.
I'm predicting it now: This girl will go far.
As for my favorites now? First, Aran Kei. Second, Ayabuki Mao. Third, everyone else. :)
EVERYONE ELSE
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.
Toono Asuka
Debuted 1998
Recommended Show: She has wonderful small roles in many Flower Troupe plays. To see her in the lead, I suggest “Naked City” (Flower Bow Hall, 2004)
Another performer I’ve had my eye on for awhile. Asuka first impressed me with her high-energy turn as “Scarlett II” in Flower Troupe’s 2002 “Gone With the Wind.” Asuka has had impressive stage presence from the beginning, though her singing was at first quite… screechy. She’s improved a lot since then, however. Don’t be fooled by her baby-doll face: she can play an impressive variety of roles.
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
Recommended Shows: Guys and Dolls (Moon, 2002) & Earnest in Love (Moon, 2005) - but I could list several more.
Yes, there will actually be otokoyaku on this list too. To start: Kiriya Hiromu. Kiriyan excels so much at comedy - and her "off-stage" persona is so open and funny - that when she suddenly morphs into a gruff middle-aged man, or an earnest young lover, I feel whiplash coming on. 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 this generation of up-and-coming otokoyaku.
Yashiro Kou (Shibi)
Debuted 1968
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.
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
Recommended Shows: I adore her as Carlotta in "Phantom" (Cosmos, 2004).
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, and will now be going to Moon Troupe as their new Kumichou (Troupe Leader).