Need Help? My Profile Logout 52nd annual Takarazuka Bluegrass Festival (2024) – photo © Jeromie Stephens …or, how I learned to navigate among friends in Japan. With my luggage dropped, the cameras were unpacked and strapped on. I was finally ready.  Standing just inside the ticketing tent was Toshio Watanabe; nearby I found Shin Akimoto. Two familiar faces who spoke English very well. I tried to learn Japanese during the early planning stages, but it didn’t stick. Most signage has some English subtext and, if you are polite and ask around, you’ll find someone who can help. Tent jamming was just like any other festival. The Hanshin Bluegrass Club, hosted by the very gracious Hiro Motoyasu, was open at all hours of the day and night. Musicians cycled through to jam, drink, eat, talk, and jam some more. At one point we all sang Take me Home, Country Roads at least three times. The musicianship ranged from beginning students to accomplished Nashville-seasoned professionals.   An area underneath the main cottage served as both food concession and gathering point for young university students. Clusters of banjo pickers here, packs of mandolin pickers there, guitar and bass players everywhere else. There was no green room. There was no dressing room. Everyone warms up wherever space can be found. Because the campsite is relatively small, the musician to attendee ratio is very high. At times you can’t walk 20 feet without bumping into a jam or practice session.  The weather was warm, hovering in the upper ’80s with high humidity. Most carry hand fans. More than one time I would suddenly feel a light breeze. A quick look around would reveal someone standing nearby was fanning me. This is a cultural phenomenon in Japan. People taking care of each other, even strangers. I was always grateful for the cooling-off. I must have looked very, very hot. It’s taken me three days to edit this work and catch up on sleep. Takarazuka is no longer a mystery. Somehow, someday soon I want to come back and do this all over again. I owe a big thanks to Shin, Toshio, and Hiro and Akira Otsuka who helped me prepare for this bluegrass Journey. Postscript: Several times I was asked how I learned about Takarazuka. My answer, through the work of master bluegrass photographer, Mr. Nobuharu Komoriya.   Through my friend Akira Otsuka I contacted Nobuharu. For several years we have been pen-pals. Out of respect and admiration, I shipped him several of my favorite images. For the same reasons, he shipped me several of his own. Though he lives in Tokyo, he took two long trains down to Osaka so we could meet. For that I am eternally grateful. Being able to share time with my photographic Sensei was icing on the cake.  We’ll have more of Jeromie’s fine images from the Takarazuka Bluegrass Festival over the next few days. emailAbout the AuthorJeromie StephensJeromie Stephens has been photographing bluegrass musicians for a little over 30 years In keeping with the photo-reportage styles of Jim Marshall he shoots in black and white and tries to always stay in close to his subjects He's illustrated articles for Bluegrass Unlimited The Nashville Tennessean and Fretboard Journal Additionally his photos have been used in CD packages for musicians like Tony Rice You are likely to see JJ with his Dad taking photos at festivals Latest Event ListingsSearch Events powered by AhSo © Bluegrass Today 2025powered by AhSo the poster for the Takarazuka Revue's official Castlevania musical draws upon Ayami Kojima's iconic art for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night It was revealed last year that Japan’s all-female Takarazuka Revue will do a stage adaptation of Konami’s Castlevania video game series Performances will be held from June to September 2025 at the Revue’s theaters in Takarazuka and Tokyo The poster shows the top stars of the Flower Troupe in their respective roles with the gothic castle looming ominously in background The poster is particularly reminiscent of Ayami Kojima’s official artwork for 1997’s Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Established in 1913 by the Hankyu railway company the Takarazuka Revue is a large musical theater group in which all roles are played by women they have done adaptations of a huge range of Japanese and Western works such as a series of musicals based on the Ace Attorney series and 2023’s Final Fantasy XVI musical.   Entitled “Akumajo Dracula – Gekka no Kakusei” (Castlevania: Awakening Under Moonlight) the upcoming musical will have an original story that will “open a new door to the Castlevania series.” Judging by the usual Takarazuka performances the musical will feature spoken scenes interspersed by songs dramatic set pieces and an appropriately gothic atmosphere It will last approximately 1 hour and a half and be coupled with “Ai Love Revue,” a one-hour set of song and dance numbers.  She has a soft spot for old-school Sierra adventure games and Final Fantasy VIII (yes Can often be found hunting down weird forgotten games and finding out everything about them Frequently muses about characters and lines from Metal Gear Solid and Disco Elysium Aims to keep Automaton fresh and interesting with a wide variety of articles Dynasty Warriors Origins focused on balanced sex-appeal that doesn’t compromise female characters’ roles and backgrounds, says series producer  Japanese NFT game company’s currency crashes after users discover infinite money glitch Shin Megami Tensei artist Kazuma Kaneko says teaching AI to draw like him was more time-consuming than making art from scratch  and website in this browser for the next time I comment AUTOMATON WEST is operated by Active Gaming Media Inc.Reproduction in any form or medium without acknowledgment of Active Gaming Media Inc Copyright © 2025 - AUTOMATON WEST / Theme by Creative Themes an all-female theater troupe established in 1913 will perform a musical adaptation of Castlevania in 2025 As reported by Automaton Media which translates to Castlevania: Awakening Under the Moonlight the Takarazuka Revue will perform at its home base: the Takarazuka Grand Theater in Takarazuka the troupe moves to the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater in the Japanese capital Each hour-and-a-half performance will be coupled with Ai Tickets are not yet available as of the time of writing, but English-speaking fans can check periodically for announcements on the Takarazuka Revue website Takarazuka Revue is no stranger to video games, having adapted series such as Ace Attorney and, earlier this year, Final Fantasy XIV. Check out the troupe’s take on The Great Ace Attorney Want to hear more about musical adaptations of RPGs Source: Automaton Media Lessa Jovine Lessa Jovine is a life long gamer who has been playing RPGs since the '90s - from SNES through to the modern day she's been getting lost in sidequests - only now she's doing it professionally You must be logged in to post a comment This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. RPGFan is a gaming website focused on roleplaying games and related genres such as graphic adventures Advertise on this site. © 2025 Emerald Shield Media LLC | Designed by Valkyrie Studio and MPT Creative around 40 teenage girls will be accepted to study at Takarazuka Music School in Takarazuka where these special few will be taught everything they need to know to eventually become “Takarasiennes” — performers with the famous all-female theater troupe the Takarazuka Revue Company the number of girls taking the exam to enter this school has been declining please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent By Sayaka Aoki and Aki Ikeuchi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers The continuing drop in applicants is believed to be attributable to factors such as Japan’s declining birthrate as well as to harsh working conditions within the Takarazuka Revue Company which came to light in the wake of the death of a member in 2023 The school has been struggling to increase the number of applicants again the website revealed the 40 applicants who passed the test to enroll in the music school The successful applicants traveled to the school where rows of cherry trees stand like crowds of well-wishers to complete the procedures for enrollment and receive their tickets to join the adored ranks of the Takarasiennes Takarazuka students spend two years learning the arts of singing Takarazuka Music School was established in 1913 but it was in the 1970s that the number of applicants shot up after the Takarazuka Revue Company’s stage drama “The Rose of Versailles” became a big hit The number of exam takers peaked at 1,930 in 1994 during the time when stars like Yuki Amami were active in the troupe the school had an acceptance rate of just one in 48 Takarazuka Revue was shaken by issues of performers being overworked and power harassment of junior members by senior ones The number of entrance exam takers that year fell to 480 less than a quarter of what it was at its height bringing the acceptance rate to one in 11.75 “Prospective students do not get the opportunity to and so [the falling number of applicants] may indicate that this makes many exam takers and their guardians uneasy.” The trend toward falling application numbers is not a new one It has continued steadily for the past 30 years spurred on by factors like the Great Hanshin Earthquake Some concerned officials say one reason for the decline is the difficulty performers face in establishing post-Takarazuka careers Takarasiennes enroll in the school between ages 15 and 18 and they spend the entirety of the ensuing decade doing nothing but performing with Takarazuka Revue only a handful of star members of the troupe manage to become active on the front lines of the entertainment industry after leaving the company Unlike in eras when women were generally expected to orient their lives around marrying and starting a family many of today’s former Takarazuka Revue Company members work part-time while continuing to perform on non-Takarazuka stages There have also been cases of former members retiring from the Takarazuka Revue Company and enrolling in universities which operates the Takarazuka Revue Company a firm that plans and produces public performances by former Takarazuka Revue members it does not provide broader support for ex-members Takarazuka Music School is now working to provide anti-harassment education The music school has made attempts to be more reflective of modern sensitivities such as removing physical attractiveness as a requirement for applicants who serves as both the chair of the Takarazuka Revue Company and the chair of the board of Takarazuka Music School said he hopes that “Our efforts to improve the environment will be recognized as being sufficient the number of entrance exam takers will increase again.” “With an increasing number of women now attaining higher levels of schooling [Takarazuka Music School students] will surely need career-oriented education that gives consideration to the long portion of their lives that will come after they leave the theater company.” Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Login | Sign Up Time Extension Guest The poster visual for Takarazuka Revue's Castlevania: Awakening in the Moonlight has been released Original Story: Tue 29th Oct 2024 Konami's Castlevania series is to get its own musical in Japan The vampire-hunting franchise – which began life back in the mid-'80s – will be adapted into a musical by Takarazuka Revue (thanks, Famitsu) "Castlevania" ~Awakening under the Moon~ will be performed by the Flower Troupe Kei Suzuki is handling the script and direction – as was the case with musicals based on the Ace Attorney series and Sengoku BASARA both of which were also performed by Takarazuka Revue Here's some info from the official site, translated via Google: The "Castlevania" (overseas name: Castlevania) series is a gothic horror action game by Konami Digital Entertainment Co. The story of the endless battle between Count Dracula who is resurrected from a 100-year slumber has been loved by fans both in Japan and abroad since the first game was released in 1986 and has been expanded to include not only a game but also an anime series that has been released worldwide this timeless masterpiece that shines brilliantly in the history of games will be turned into a musical for the first time by the Hanagumi troupe With an original story and direction unique to Takarazuka Revue it opens a new door to the "Castlevania Dracula" series This "musical romance" will run from June 7th to July 20th at the Takarazuka Grand Theater and from August 16th to September 28th for the Takarazuka Grand Theater run and July 13th 2025 Castlevania has been in the public eye recently thanks to animated shows on Netflix and collections of classic titles on modern hardware, but we haven't had a new mainline entry in the series since 2014's Lords of Shadow 2 You can view some footage of Takarazuka Revue's Great Ace Attorney performance below Konami's much-maligned coin-op gets spruced up [source famitsu.com] Prev Next Damien has been writing professionally about tech and video games since 2007 and oversees all of Hookshot Media's sites from an editorial perspective. He's also the editor of Time Extension which – paradoxically – is all about gaming's past glories I mean all that's left I'd either the N64 Collection or more likely Lords of Shadow collection But a new game similar to Symphony of the Night would be nice I would watch this for sure hope it gets an English translation and a World Tour eventually after Japanese success.. Could see Video Game Musicals being a large growth area in the West musical concerts have been hugely popular with videogame music...Zelda RPGs would work well as have more intricate narratives... As for a new high profile 2D Castlevania game the 3D era is kind over with Lord of Shadows so may as well revert back to a polished 2D iteration but Konami going to be Konami in 2024 obviously.. It's about time Sega or some company start making a remake of sword of vermillion It's the first game I ever play on my Playstation 2 Sega mega drive collection! @AstraeaV ooooh a lords of shadow collection would be sweet 😊I have all the castlevania games (my fave gaming series) and as much as I think the n64 games are under rated I don't know how well they'd hold up for a remaster.Mind you if nightdive studios had at it I could see it being good but they're more shooter happy.Either way this musical sounds cool and I Hope it makes it over seas 🤞🏻 Hire a passionate studio to make a new game already!! @AstraeaV I’ll take anything that isn’t a mobile game at this point Just got the Dominus Collection in the mail finally and been enjoying it so far 👍 Castlevania seems to be getting everything but a new game Show Comments Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment.. 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News Soon, You'll Be Able To Play Diddy Kong Racing Natively On Your PC News Wii Homebrew Community "Built On Lies And Copyright Infringement" Show More © 2025 Hookshot Media, partner of IGN Entertainment | Hosted by 44 Bytes | AdChoices | Do Not Sell My Personal Information Please upgrade to a more modern version to fully experience JapanToday site and for security reasons draws from some pretty eclectic source material for their stage productions they’ve performed adaptations of anime such as "The Rose of Versailles" and works of literature such as works of literature like "Pride and Prejudice," and even drawn inspiration from the life of Abraham Lincoln Now Takarazuka is branching out yet again with the announcement of a musical stage adaptation of video game "Akumajo Dracula." Aside from the “Dracula” part that might not be a name that means much to audiences outside of Japan but there are a whole lot of people worldwide who are familiar with Akumajo Dracula’s international title: "Castlevania." Takarazuka’s newest project is a musical version of developer Konami’s landmark franchise focused on the repeating resurrections of Dracula and the equally consistent efforts of various vampire killers who rise up to oppose him And as if that wasn’t enough to grab fans’ interest the stage play’s full title will be "Akumajo Dracula: Gekka no Kakusei."  "Gekka no Kakusei" translates to “Awakening Under the Moon” or “Moonlight Awakening,” but even more so than its aura of mysterious elegance the enticing part of the subtitle is its similarity to "Gekka no Yasokyoku," or “Moonlight Nocturne,” which was the Japanese-market title of 1997’s "Symphony of the Night," arguably the best-loved game in the entire "Castlevania" franchise ▼ Trailer for "Castlevania Requiem," the bundled re-release of "Symphony of the Night" and its series predecessor "Rondo of Blood" Though Takarazuka’s announcement says that "Moonlight Awakening" will be “the opening of a new door in the 'Castlevania' series,” the obviously intended connection to "Symphony of the Night" is a sign of more than just a surface-level affection for the franchise and Takarazuka’s description of “beautiful visuals” and “majestic classical music” as key characteristics of "Castlevania" likewise speaks to a confidence-inspiring respect for the source material’s artistic merits A full cast and list of characters has yet to be announced but the "Castlevania" musical’s lead role will be played by Sea Towaki top actress of Takarazuka’s Hana-gumi/Flower Troupe ▼ Towaki in an ad for Mitsui Sumitomo’s credit services While her slender physique might not match the beefy builds of "Castlevania’s" Belmont family of protagonists Dracula’s estranged son and the main character of "Symphony of the Night." Takarazuka’s "Castlevania: Moonlight Awakening" will open at the Takarazuka Grand Theater in Takarazuka City the production then moves to the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater in Tokyo’s Yurakucho neighborhood from August 16 to September 28 Tickets go on sale to non-fan club members for the Hyogo performances May 17 Related: Takarazuka Revue official website -- All-female Final Fantasy musical stage play coming from Japan’s Takarazuka troupe -- Anime music legend Yoko Kanno to compose music for Japan’s Takarazuka all-female revue -- Rurouni Kenshin comes to picture-perfect life as photos of stage musical’s cast are released Join the leading Asian tourist attraction to assist our diverse range of customers Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts A mix of what's trending on our other sites The official website for the all-female Takarazaka Revue announced on Tuesday that its Flower Troupe (Hanagumi) will perform a stage musical adaptation based on Konami's Castlevania video game series titled "Akumajō Dracula: ~Gekka no Kakusei~" (Castlevania: Moonlit Awakening) in 2025 The show will run at the Takarazuka Grand Theater from June 7 - July 20 and at the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater from August 16 - September 28 Kei Suzuki (Takarazuka's Sengoku Basara musical) will direct and pen the script Sena Towaki and Misaki Hoshizora will appear in the play The troupe previously adapted Square Enix's Final Fantasy XVI game in May Konami released the Castlevania Dominus Collection on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam on August 27 The collection includes the series' three Nintendo DS games Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow It also includes the first original Castlevania arcade game Haunted Castle and a reimagining titled Haunted Castle Revisited Konami released Castlevania Advance Collection (pictured at right) a collection of four games from the Castlevania game series Source: Takarazuka Revue's official website Blow the Horn wins the Takarazuka Kinen at Kyoto Racecourse The Japan Racing Association has announced its schedule for the 2025 season with 288 meetings to be conducted The opening meetings will be held at Nakayama and Chukyo beginning Jan 5 with the final conducted at Nakayama Dec One of the major schedule changes is the date of the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) Usually held at the end of June to conclude the first half of the season the race will be held two weeks earlier on June 15 The JRA explains midday temperatures and humidity have been high at the end of June recently making it not the ideal climate to conduct the race for high-profiled runners contested over 2,200 meters (about 1 3/8 miles) on the turf for horses aged 3-years and up is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) The JRA also introduced a new format on a trial basis for two weeks at Niigata Racecourse during the hottest time of the year in 2024 they have expanded it to four weeks and introduced a meeting at Chukyo as well in 2025 the first race scheduled will be at 9:35 a.m The card will take a 3 1/2-hour break after the fifth race at 11:35 a.m and is conducted until the 12th and final race at 6:25 p.m.  Sign up for BloodHorse Daily Third favorite Blow the Horn won the 65th Takarazuka Kinen to claim his first Grade 1 victory on Sunday claimed his fifth graded win and first G1 title Jockey Akira Sugawara who debuted in 2019 and has partnered with this horse in recent starts scored his 10th graded and first G1 victory.  the Epiphaneia-sired Blow the Horn debuted as a 2-year-old in November 2021 He broke his maiden in his ninth career start in June 2022 (Hakodate And he marked another win the same year in December (Nakayama Blow the Horn captured three victories between 2,200-2,600-meter distances as a 4-year-old But due to an atrial fibrillation he did not finish his last start of the season in the Kyoto Daishoten (G2 He kicked off this season by registering his first graded title in the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (Kyoto And after moving to the current stable with the retirement of his former trainer he finished third in the Hanshin Daishoten (G2 Blow the Horn was second in his previous start Five-year-old Blow the Horn broke smoothly from stall 12 and settled second from last As the field entered the uphill climb in the backstretch the Epiphaneia bay edged forward from the outside.  Blow the Horn turned the final corners the widest and passed his rivals one by one in the lane before taking the lead 100 meters out. Despite rainy conditions, he pulled away with a powerful late kick that marked the fastest final three furlongs (34.0 seconds) for a comfortable two-length victory.The winning time was 2 minutes, 12.0 seconds. (Watch the race on the JRA's YouTube channel.) "We were able to win the race because the horse ran really hard despite the heavy going," Sugawara said after winning the 13-horse competition "Although we were positioned further back than planned and took the widest route the horse seemed to have plenty of strength left when we turned the fourth corner."So I urged him to go at the stretch and he responded with a remarkable turn of speed." Seventh pick and 2023 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000 meters) winner Sol Oriens, ridden by Takeshi Yokoyama dropping position turning the last corner wide to enter the stretch in 12th And though he had too much ground to catch up with the eventual winner he matched Blow the Horn's time for the fastest final three furlongs.  Sol Oriens secured the runner-up seat just before the wire Fifth choice Bellagio Opera (Kazuo Yokoyama He rallied for the lead after the third corner and briefly took command before the 200-meter pole But Bellagio Opera soon surrendered the lead and was denied a runner-up finish by Sol Oriens Bellagio Opera settled for third while holding off Deep Impact-sired Pradaria (Kenichi Ikezoe) by a neck.Rousham Park (Keita Tosaki) finished fifth Race favorite Do Deuce (Yutaka Take) traveled in the very rear and took an inner path after entering the stretch to make a bid for the win But he was unable to catch up with the leaders and finished sixth Second favorite Justin Palace (Christophe Lemaire) placed 10th Japan Racing Association G1 racing returns on September 29 with the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Funabashi Read the full report including details on each of the Takarazuka Kinen entrants Author: JRA News You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Japan's all-female theater group the Takarazuka Revue will turn Konami's Castlevania/Akumajo Dracula series into a musical it was announced that Japan’s all-female Takarazuka Revue will do a stage adaptation of Konami’s Castlevania video game series Performances will be held from June to September 2025 at the Revue’s theaters in Takarazuka and Tokyo.  and last year’s Final Fantasy XVI musical.  Castlevania is one of Konami’s longest running video game series Although it recently spawned a Netflix animated series this upcoming Takarazuka production will be the first time that it gets adapted into a musical Entitled “Akumajo Dracula – Gekka no Kakusei” (Castlevania: Awakening Under Moonlight) the musical will have an original story that will “open a new door to the Castlevania series.” Judging by the usual Takarazuka performances dramatic set pieces and an appropriately gothic atmosphere.  It will last approximately 1 hour and a half and be coupled with “Ai The musical will run at the Takarazuka Grand Theater in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, from June 7 to July 20, 2025. It will then move to the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater and run from August 16 to September 28, 2025. It will be performed by the Takarazuka Revue’s Flower Troupe. Tickets will be available from the official English website at a later date.  where performers train for the all-female Takarazuka Revue Company has removed “good-looking” from its application requirements under the name Takarazuka Shokatai (Takarazuka Chorus) in 1913 the school unveiled last month its guidelines for applicants who aspire to enroll in April next year the guidelines stipulated that applicants had to be “those who are good-looking and suitable to become a performer as a student of the Takarazuka Revue Company after graduation [from the school].” this stipulation has been replaced with “those who are healthy physically and mentally and suitable to become a performer as a member of the Takarazuka Revue Company after graduation.” In its response to inquiries from The Yomiuri Shimbun the school said it “refrains from elaborating” on the reasons behind the removal of “good-looking” in its requirements the school added that it has been constantly considering how to administer its entrance examination to “better suit changing times and [social] conditions.” the school recruits about 40 girls between the ages of 15 and 18 The death of a theater troupe member last year is believed to have been one of the contributing factors behind the lower competitiveness The move is “quite natural in light of the time and global trends in how to recruit personnel,” said Keifu Ishii a 75-year-old woman in Tokyo who said she has been a Takarazuka fan for 60 years “Beautiful stars are what Takarazuka performances are all about,” she said “I believe that applicants will continue to be evaluated based on their looks.” Official posters for Takarazuka Revue’s musical adaptation of the hit Korean drama “Crash Landing on You” (2021) [TAKARAZUKA REVUE] Hyogo — A reproduction of the exterior of the old Takarazuka Hotel building has been unveiled in front of Takarazuka-Minamiguchi Station in Takarazuka which was beloved by locals over the roughly 100 years of its existence has been demolished and a new hotel built nearby The reproduction will officially open this spring as a four-story commercial building attached to one of the apartment towers under construction on the site of the demolished hotel the old Takarazuka Hotel building was made in a Western style with an impressive red gabled roof the hotel was requisitioned by the Occupation Forces was also known to have visited the hotel as a child and to have held his wedding reception there Many people used the hotel for weddings and to celebrate other milestones in their lives The hotel was closed in 2020 due to the structure’s aging was built about 400 meters away next to the Takarazuka Grand Theater is now constructing the two 32-story apartment towers on the site of the old hotel The reproduction of the old hotel is directly connected to the north tower ANN's coverage of Anime Expo 2024 sponsored by Yen Press and Ize Press Theatre fans received a rare treat on Day 2 of Anime Expo with the On Stage & Beyond panel, which featured two very special guests—Takarazuka Revue veterans Hiroki Nanami and Urara Reimi the Takarazuka Revue is an all-female musical theatre troupe known for its beautiful costumes it is now one of the country's largest troupes with members split into one of five sub-troupes with members specializing and training extensively in each Asked what led her to the Takarazuka Revue, she said that she grew up in the countryside where she never had the chance to attend performances. After watching a Takarazuka Revue production of Gone with the Wind on TV, she became enamored with Yūki Amami's portrayal of Rhett Butler who was a Takarazuka Revue member from 2009 until 2017 She specialized as a musumeyaku (female role specialist) and starred in productions like Valencian Passion and Sanctuary Talking about her inspiration to audition for the troupe she said that her mother had taken her to a show when she was in the fifth grade “The performers gave me a lot of energy and it made me really happy I wanted to be on the side of giving energy to people.” members of the Takarazuka Revue are required to go through a lengthy audition process Reimi said she was struck by the realization that everyone there had the same dream of wanting to join the Revue “I was overwhelmed by the pure energy and passion of these people I'm passionate about this too!' It gave me the energy to project my voice.” Nanami confessed that she had failed the first time she auditioned so I didn't have any classes available to me to prepare for the Takarazuka Revue exam.” She started attending a prep school 2.5 hours away I had the strong will to think I'd make it this time It pushed me to be able to get it.” As for a post-exam celebration we got a big cake and I just shoveled into it,” she laughed The panelists were asked to talk about their most memorable roles it was Lady Oscar from The Rose of Versailles I loved reading the manga… I was very honored to be in the show Being able to say my favorite lines and scream them on stage gave me so much energy.” For Reimi, her most memorable role was Clara from Winged People. The production follows composers Johannes Brahms and Franz Schubert “This was a turning point in my career and made me love acting.” Nanami also talked about how she prepared to perform as the otokoyaku She mentioned that it often takes a long time to master the otokoyaku role saying that it takes ten years just for the mannerisms and movements to become second nature “The male role is of course never complete without the musumeyaku next to him we need an extra push to make it believable The musumeyaku casts a spell on the otokoyaku to make it more believable “Because we're wearing dresses a lot of the time our upper body is very important,” Reimi added “And the skirt movement,” Nanami chimed in coaxing Reimi to stand up and mimic swishing a long skirt back and forth The two also talked about the conditioning they did to stay stage ready For Reimi it was stretching to keep herself flexible she added that it really helped going through the intense two-year training program She said they were all required to practice ballet “It's all to build you as an actor,” she said I focus on the angles in my outstretched arms because it adds to the beauty and makes it stand out I also do weight training because I need to be able to lift the female lead.” The most thrilling part of the panel was when the two actresses were asked to show the audience a movement that encapsulated their roles adjusting it while grinning at the fawning audience who conspired with Nanami to help her pose The audience shrieked in delight as Nanami spun Reimi by the waist dipping her in an elegant pose that ended in an outstretched arm the actresses were asked to lead the crowd in a short posing workshop Nanami showed the audience how to smolder with their chin in their hand while Reimi demonstrated another dip that involved both actresses elongating their arms into exaggerated lines With the audience finally sitting back down, the panel ended with a few last quick plugs. Reimi is focused on challenging herself with different roles on the stage, and focusing on her handmade jewelry business, Urara. Nanami is reprising her role as Senya in Sengoku Yōko season two You can also hear her vocal performance on the ending theme AD Leave a rating/comment#SculptureBack to ArticlesSHARE With his two-length victory over Sol Oriens in the 2,200-meter (about 1 3/8-mile) grass race Blow the Horn gained an automatic berth into this year’s $5-million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In Australia's premier weight-for-age contest Oct The Takarazuka Kinen served as one of two "All-Star" races in Japan in which fans vote for horses they wish to see in competition and Blow the Horn showed why he merited inclusion he took the long way around a yielding turf course racing wide while traveling near the tail of the pack The Takaruzaka Kinen was the last of four Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races held in Japan this year.  the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 graded stakes races in 12 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships 1-2 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar As a part of the benefits of the Challenge Series Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Blow the Horn to start in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships Mohaymen has found a niche with pasture breeding methods and the debates surrounding trainer Bob Baffert Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Manga & Anime Hyogo Prefecture--A special exhibition dedicated to Buichi Terasawa is running at the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum here The event features 100 or so handwritten manuscripts original illustrations and other items from the late manga artist’s representative works Terasawa found his calling when he won a manga prize while he was preparing for college exams after finishing high school He moved to Tokyo in 1976 to join Tezuka Productions Co.’s manga department While working as an assistant to Osamu Tezuka aka the “god of manga,” Terasawa received an honorable mention at an award bearing the name of the legendary artist hosted by Shueisha Inc “Cobra,” his debut manga serialized in the publisher’s Weekly Shonen Jump comic anthology follows the titular space pirate whose left arm is replaced with an energy cannon called the Psychogun The manga became hugely popular and spawned animated adaptations The artist once said he would retire when he could create a better story than Tezuka’s “Black Jack,” a medical drama about the genius doctor without a license The exhibition also introduces Terasawa as a pioneer who strived to create digital manga since 1985 when only eight colors were available on personal computers 300 yen for junior and senior high school students and 100 yen for elementary school pupils visit the official website at (https://www.city.takarazuka.hyogo.jp.e.pc.hp.transer.com/tezuka/) Museum displays fan’s collection of 1,000 comics by Osamu Tezuka Exhibition shows creative secrets of horror artist Shigeru Mizuki Anthology to feature Tezuka’s works from childhood years ‘Nyx’s Lantern’ wins top manga prize at Tezuka Osamu awards Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE TDN FOR FREE! Remember Ben with a gift to Thoroughbred aftercare Subscribe for FREE to the Daily PDF or the News Alerts Home » Archive » Top News Europe » Blow The Horn Proves Much the Best in Takarazuka Kinen Runner-up to T O Royal (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) when tackling 3,200 metres in April's G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) Blow The Horn (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) made full use of his staying power as he ran out an impressive winner of Sunday's G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Kyoto Racecourse a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf he defeated Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) by two lengths to gain the first Group 1 success of his career Blow The Horn was dropping back fully 1,000 metres in distance for the Takarazuka Kinen but the rain-softened ground at Kyoto ensured that stamina was at a premium He was settled at the rear of the 13-strong field in the early stages with favourite Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) for company before starting to make gradual headway out wide approaching the home turn Brought widest of all in the straight by jockey Akira Sugawara Blow The Horn proceeded to pick off his rivals one by one and was never stronger than at the finish quickly powering clear after being produced to lead with 100 metres to run Last year's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) scorer Sol Oriens also made up plenty of ground in the closing stages to snatch second from Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) the winner of the G1 Osaka Hai on his previous start Just a neck separated that pair at the line with the same distance back to Pradaria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in fourth a three-time Group 1 winner who had earned the most votes in the fan poll which helps to determine the final field for the Takarazuka Kinen Sugawara and trainer Tatsuya Yoshioka were both celebrating their first Group 1 wins with Blow The Horn who arrived at Kyoto as the winner of six races including a listed contest at Sapporo last August and the G2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai “We were able to win the race because the horse ran really hard despite the heavy going,” said Sugawara “Although we were positioned further back than planned and took the widest route the horse seemed to have plenty of strength left when we turned the fourth corner so I urged him to go at the stretch and he responded with a remarkable turn of speed.” the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes rate higher — World Horse Racing (@WHR) June 23, 2024 Blow The Horn becomes the fourth new Group 1 winner for Epiphaneia in 2024 adding to the Classic victories of Stellenbosch (Jpn) in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) and Danon Decile (Jpn) in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) plus the win of Ten Happy Rose (Jpn) in last month's Victoria Mile The five-year-old Blow The Horn is the only runner to date out of Halteclere (Jpn) (Durandal {Jpn}) a four-time winner in Japan and a half-sister to the Listed-placed Desert Snake (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) is a half-sister to the US champion filly Go For Wand (Deputy Minister) and the Grade II scorers Dance Spell and Discorama both by Northern Dancer and also placed at the top level on multiple occasions Not a subscriber? 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Copy Article Link Editor / News Stories:editor@thetdn.com Advertising:advertising@thetdn.com Customer Service:customerservice@thetdn.com Click Here to sign up for a free subscription Hyogo — A giant white whale is swimming leisurely with the blue sky as the ocean and flowing clouds as white-capped waves By Mao Nakayama / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer the Takarazuka Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Osaka-Takamatsu who was one of Japan’s leading architects of the 20th century the more I felt the wavy roof represents a white whale’s body The inner space underneath could be considered the whale’s stomach Some people also compare the building to an upside-down high heel or a very large fish The church seems almost to have sprung from the earth “My grandfather always told me that the design was to keep the building and the earth from fighting each other,” said Satoko Takenaka he worked on many famous modernist buildings The church in Takarazuka is known by the local people as “the church of the white whale.” “I heard the story [of a large fish] in the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament,” said Satoko He prays for three days and nights in the fish’s stomach and is then vomited out “The ceiling of the cathedral is like the upper jaw of a whale or a giant fish She says the experience is similar to events held at Buddhist temples in which people walk through the darkness regarded as the womb of the Buddha said: “The cathedral seems to have something special “My grandfather always carried a brown bag in his pocket containing his rosary sincere attention to each work,” Hisashi said “Perhaps it was partly because he was involved in many religious building projects.” we can be closer to God’s will,” Father Park said during a sermon The church is currently undergoing renovation and is temporarily closed to outsiders “The work will be finished by Christmas Eve The architect wrote in a note: “After drifting across the ocean [the whale] has finally found safe haven.” I felt like there is a prayer embracing everyone in the church About a seven-minute walk from Takarazuka-minamiguchi Station on the Hankyu Line the Shinkabukiza theater in Osaka and the Takarazuka City Hall He was awarded the Medal of Honor with Blue Ribbon in 1958 and the Order of Culture in 1967 His Memorial Cathedral for World Peace in Hiroshima is a designated important cultural property Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Today's print edition Home Delivery Tokyo police on Wednesday arrested Terumi Ogura a former star of the all-female musical theater troupe the Takarazuka Revue on suspicion of defrauding a fan out of ¥10 million who currently goes by the stage name Emika Mitsuhara deceived a female acquaintance in her 70s to invest ¥10 million by telling her a lie that she was planning to produce a movie Ogura also promised to repay the money by selling her home in Tokyo’s wealthy Denenchofu district according to the police.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); the funds were used to finance a dinner show a longtime fan who first met Ogura during a performance decades ago had been assisting her with organizing dinner shows Ogura debuted in 1963 under the stage name Takiko Dai after graduating from Takarazuka Music School rising to the top star of Takarazuka's Moon troupe before leaving in 1976 She has since been active in dinner and charity shows In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Blow the Horn has made steady progress since moving to trainer Tatsuya Yoshioka early this year and reached the heights with a late-running victory in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) June 23 at Kyoto Racecourse The 5-year-old son of Epiphaneia  went to Yoshioka upon the retirement of his former trainer and promptly finished third in the Hanshin Daishoten (G2) and second in the Tenno Sho (Spring) G1 before claiming his first grade 1 victory in the Takarazuka Kinen With the win, Blow the Horn earned a "Win and You're In" spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 2 at Del Mar and in Australia's iconic Cox Plate (G1) in the Southern Hemisphere spring Heavy rain and a yielding course faced the field for the 2,200 meters (about 1 3/8 miles) and the conditions may have taken their toll as favorites played little part in the outcome 12 in the 13-horse field and settled right at the back of the pack Swinging around the outer loop into the straight Sugawara steered Blow the Horn extremely wide Blow the Horn found new energy and blew by on his way to a 2-length victory Do Deuce found some late foot to finish sixth and the second-favorite Japanese fans voted for the horses they wanted to see in the race and got that wrong Do Deuce was the top vote-getter with Bellagio Opera third Blow the Horn finished 24th in the non-binding referendum missing the top-10 cut for automatic eligibility to run but started anyway due to the short field Photo: Katsumi SaitoThe winning connections with Blow the Horn "We were able to win the race because the horse ran really hard despite the heavy going," Sugawara said "Although we were positioned further back than planned and took the widest route the horse seemed to have plenty of strength left when we turned the fourth corner so I urged him to go at the stretch and he responded with a remarkable turn of speed." The outcome justified the trainer's pre-race optimism "His training's been good these past two weeks and he's found a good rhythm in his work He's in good shape," said Yoshioka Out of the Durandal  mare Halteclare Blow the Horn was bred by Okada Stud and races for Makio Okada He took nine tries to claim his first win in June of 2022 he's missed a top-three finish only twice in 12 starts while specializing in long-distance events he was competitive at 3,200 meters (about 2 miles) and 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles) He has won on turf rated from firm to heavy including the soggy conditions of the Takarazuka Kinen the globally hit drama 'Crash Landing on You' will be transformed into a performance by the traditional Japanese women's theater and will have its grand opening in Tokyo on the 30th This year marks the 110th anniversary of the Takarazuka Revue a traditional Japanese musical theater company composed entirely of female members which has a large audience not only in Japan but also worldwide 'Crash Landing on You' is the second Korean drama to be adapted into a Takarazuka performance following 'The Great King’s Dream' in 2009 The Takarazuka performance of 'Crash Landing on You' will take place from the 30th to December 15th at the 1,300-seat Tokyo Tatemono Brillia Hall and from December 22nd to 28th at the 1,905-seat Osaka Umeda Arts Theater Main Hall the performance will feature Asami Jun (朝美絢) and Yumeshiro Aya (夢白あや) playing the roles of Ri Jeong-hyuk and Yoon Se-ri It is rumored that they have dedicated over three months to choreographing and planning the action to reinterpret the original work in a Takarazuka style Following the recent release of the Takarazuka performance poster for 'Crash Landing on You' local audiences have reacted with comments like “Asami Jun's Ri Jeong-hyuk looks amazing,” and “I can't wait to see Takarazuka's romantic direction.” Studio Dragon produced the musical 'Crash Landing on You' in collaboration with A2Z Entertainment and T2N Media successfully showcasing it in Japan in partnership with Fuji TV recorded consecutive sell-outs and received a warm response an encore performance was successfully held at the Tokyo Shin National Theatre “The fact that the musical 'Crash Landing on You' is being adapted into a Takarazuka performance the first of its kind for a Korean musical “We plan to present a replica performance composed solely of local musical actors alongside the Season 2 performance in Japan.” A representative from Studio Dragon mentioned “The local anticipation for the Takarazuka performance of 'Crash Landing on You' following the musical clearly demonstrates the global impact that the localization of a hit IP can generate,” and added “We plan to enhance the vitality of the IP through an IP expansion strategy that considers local characteristics.” which was globally released through tvN and Netflix in 2019 ranking in the Netflix TV section's TOP 10 for a cumulative 72 weeks in the '2023 K-Content Overseas Expansion Status Survey' published by the Korea Creative Content Agency in January this year 'Crash Landing on You' was listed as one of the most frequently watched K-dramas by Japanese viewers ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool This month the school scrapped several longstanding and unwritten rules that governed the behaviour of students for decades For more than a century the Takarazuka Music School has transformed thousands of young women from unpolished amateurs into accomplished singers dancers and actors who perform to sell-out audiences with kitsch adaptations of everything from Japanese manga to classic western novels based in the Japanese hot spring resort from which it takes its name is not just in the business of nurturing talent View image in fullscreenTakarazuka Music School students wear masks as they head to their graduation ceremony in Takarazuka Photograph: Newscom/Alamy Stock PhotoFounded by Ichizo Kobayashi an industrialist-turned-politician and president of Hankyu Railways – the performers’ employer to this day – the school combines coaching in the performing arts with a demand for absolute discipline and obedience But a revolution of sorts is sweeping though the school’s spotlessly clean corridors it said it had scrapped several longstanding and unwritten rules that have governed the behaviour of new recruits for decades They include bowing to passing trains on the local railway line in case its passengers include older students; adopting a sombre facial expression that requires them to lower the corners of their mouth and limiting their vocabulary to a simple “yes,” “no” and a few other sanctioned phrases when in the company of senior trainees View image in fullscreenThe dancers of the Japanese dance theatre Takarazuka on stage in 1930 Photograph: Ullstein Bild/Getty ImagesAfter graduating students join one of five groups that together make up the Takarazuka Revue a fixture of Japanese theatre since its first performance a year after Kobayashi opened the music school Broadway-style productions at theatres in Takarazuka and Tokyo attract around 2.5 million people a year – almost all of them women – with the most febrile adoration reserved for headline stars who play the lead male and female roles View image in fullscreenKei Aran as Oscar Francois de Jarjayes a female captain of the royal guards in charge of Queen Marie-Antoinette fighting for Parisians in a revolution during the Takarazuka theatre’s The Rose of Versailles in Tokyo Photograph: Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty ImagesDespite reported opposition from some traditionalist students the school says its has dropped outmoded rules governing interactions between juniors and seniors and eased the requirement that all women have black hair to one that allows them to keep their “natural” colour an essayist and expert on Takarazuka’s history disagrees with critics who say the rules blurred the line between discipline and bullying “They have been in place for such a long time with the consent of the students themselves so I don’t think they’re a bad thing,” said Kusaba who has been a Takarazuka devotee since watching his first performance as a five-year-old more than half a century ago View image in fullscreenThe 100th batch of students of Takarazuka Music School line up for photos during their entrance ceremony at the school in Takarazuka Photograph: Newscom/Alamy Stock Photo“We want to preserve good traditions but we also need to change so we can fit in with the times,” Naoya Horiuchi Media reports speculated that pressure for a relaxation of certain rules had built after the discovery that some younger students were cutting back on sleep to do extra homework in an attempt to impress their superiors Despite the school’s reputation for fierce discipline around 1,000 women aged 15 to 18 apply every year with just 40 invited to spend two years training for the right to become one of Takarazuka’s “brilliant gems” Patrick W Galbraith, who teaches Japanese popular culture at Senshu University in Tokyo, attributes the strict code of conduct to its founder’s desire to dissociate Takarazuka from the unseemly behaviour associated with kabuki and other forms of traditional theatre had envisioned the school as a place for “wholesome family entertainment” and as a finishing school for women from “good families” “The school promised to not only keep them safe Takarazuka and its school served to socialise young women into a life of discipline and vertical relationships as well as to prepare them to become good wives Keeping them supervised this way also ensured that they could perform While well-documented cases of harassment in Japan’s entertainment industry had influenced the school’s decision to ditch some of its archaic rules Galbraith believes the school’s ethos will remain intact disciplining performers and threatening punishment for transgressions – they are not going anywhere anytime soon,” he said View image in fullscreenMembers of the Japanese all-female theatre company Takarazuka perform in ‘Chicago’ in New York 2016 Photograph: Linda Vartoogian/Getty ImagesKusaba concedes that the changes were inevitable but worries that by ditching longstanding rules that engender respect for authority among younger students the school was abandoning an important part of its identity “The more the school attempts to modernise – or liberalise – the more it risks losing some of the qualities that make it special including the strict hierarchy among students,” he said “I want Takarazuka to continue being what it is now – a place where women can realise their dreams.” Japan's all-female musical theater company Takarazuka Revue on Thursday admitted to all claims of harassment against a deceased actress by troupe members and apologized to her family The two sides have reached a broad agreement on various issues as the theater company acknowledged all 14 incidents of harassment pointed out by the family an official of the troupe's parent firm Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc said at a press conference held in Osaka Prefecture "We cannot give any excuse for what we have done considering the feelings of the bereaved family," Yasuo Shimada Many of her seniors who perpetrated the harassment submitted personal letters of apology to the family according to a lawyer representing the family The 25-year-old actress was found dead on the premises of her condominium in Hyogo Prefecture Her family has since demanded an apology and compensation from Hankyu Hanshin Holdings The family claimed that among the incidents the actress suffered burns when a senior theater member pressed a hair iron against her forehead but such an excessive action falls under harassment," said the official vowing to change the company culture overshadowed by excessive discipline and long work hours The official also acknowledged the theater company's negligence in adequately educating its actresses to keep up with modern standards The fifth meeting between the family and the parent company was held on March 15 with the company apparently conceding to the family It is significant that the Takarazuka side clearly admitted to many harassment incidents and apologized the family lawyer said at a separate press conference in Tokyo the lawyer said that Takarazuka Revue admitted to approximately half of the harassment claims while denying the rest suggesting the two sides needed more time to reach an agreement The theater company said in November that an investigation by an Osaka law firm could not confirm bullying or harassment but did acknowledge the psychological stress she suffered due to long working hours Emergency service in Japan: 119If you are having suicidal thoughts Japan theater firm Takarazuka admits harassment of deceased actress Takarazuka Revue director to quit post after actress's death Scandal-hit Takarazuka Revue to set up experts' panel to improve culture To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible The Takarazuka Revue (Takarazuka Kagekidan) has finally acknowledged that "power harassment" played a role in the sudden death of a 25-year-old member in September 2023 the family of the deceased remains unsatisfied by a lack of concrete details.  Takarazuka Revue is an elite all-female musical performance troupe in Japan with an over 100-year history Its nationwide visibility enhances the extreme seriousness of the matter The harassment resulted in the death of a promising young woman Management's feeble response makes us wonder whether the Takarazuka Revue truly takes the issue seriously.  There are reports that the bereaved family and the musical revue company are still holding discussions They are aiming to reach an agreement on an apology Yet it seems the Revue company is incapable of even offering an agreement with contents satisfactory to the family of the dead woman Takarazuka still has a long way to go on its path to recovery It needs to become acutely aware of that fact.  Up to this point, Takarazuka's management has gone so far as to admit that the deceased was overworked it claims that power harassment by the woman's seniors in the troupe "cannot be confirmed." Despite this in January it indicated a willingness to acknowledge roughly half of the 15 cases of power harassment pointed to by the woman's family.  It seems that the problem lies in how these cases are to be explained the Takarazuka Revue has said that it will admit that power harassment took place and apologize "provided a negotiated agreement is reached." Takarazuka's stance reflects its insincerity and is absurd Their position gives priority to the conclusion of an agreement over the feelings of the bereaved family.  the two sides are at a stalemate on the content of the apology or how to announce the agreement the Takarazuka side has not indicated which of the 15 instances cited by the family it will recognize as constituting power harassment It is only natural that the family should refuse to accept such a position.  Representatives for the family also see problems with the investigation conducted at the behest of the company They say that in the outside interviews arranged by Takarazuka with leaders and seniors in the woman's troupe "there was a  strong tendency to accept at face value whatever the seniors and others said."  The family representatives go so far as to accuse Takarazuka of being woefully unknowledgeable about harassment issues.  a statement addressed to the Takarazuka management was read out by the younger sister of the deceased She is also an active member of the performance troupe the sister declared that the Takarazuka Revue was a "world in which the norm is for individuals to engage in power harassment on a daily basis." She added "Takarazuka is not a place where the law does not apply."  they (Takarazuka) should face up to the facts from a position of fairness."  Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc is the parent company of the railway company Hankyu Corporation to heed these earnest words from the bereaved family.  (Read the editorial in Japanese.) Author: Editorial Board You must be logged in to post a comment The chairman of Japan's all-female musical theater company Takarazuka Revue said Tuesday he will step down over the recent death of one of its actresses who a lawyer said committed suicide due to overwork and bullying within her troupe Kenshi Koba apologized to the bereaved family of the 25-year-old actress at a press conference "for not being able to protect the life of your precious loved one," but said an external probe team set up to investigate her death has found no evidence of bullying But the team acknowledged the possibility that the actress was under a "strong psychological burden" just prior to her death the company told the press conference held in its base of Takarazuka Hyogo Prefecture and presented a series of proposed measures to improve working conditions 1 to take responsibility for the oversight in the group's duty of care The findings come as a lawyer representing the family said last week that the actress' suicide had been caused by overworking and bullying by senior members of the group demanding an apology and compensation from the company and its operator called for a reassessment of the report that claimed no bullying occurred citing its "inappropriate recognition of facts and evaluation." He also criticized the report for viewing the harsh scolding by senior members toward the actress as being within the scope of guidance saying that it reflected "thinking based on outdated values" such as hierarchical relationships The actress was found dead on the premises of her condominium on the morning of Sept 30 in what police called a suspected suicide has been investigating the circumstances surrounding her death including conducting interviews with other members of the Cosmos troupe to which she belonged It found that the group's tight performance schedule had led to a situation where the mental and physical well-being of the actresses was being compromised amid a lack of oversight But Kawahito said the report had underestimated the overtime the actress had clocked in the last month before her death at 118 hours Her family asserts that excessive overtime of 277 hours per month and bullying had compromised her health and led to her suicide Takarazuka theater actress' suicide due to overwork, bullying: lawyer 2022 Little League Baseball® World Series – August 17-28 Takarazuka Little League of Hyogo, Japan, will head to Williamsport for the first time in its league’s history to represent its country at the 2022 Little League Baseball® World Series (LLBWS), earning the Japan Region Tournament crown with a 12-3 victory over Hiroshima Aki Little League in the championship game A chartered league with Little League International since 1975 Takarazuka Little League will be the 31st team from Japan to make the trip to the LLBWS looking to take home the country’s first title since 2017 Japan has had direct entry into the tournament since 2007 and is second all-time with 11 LLBWS Championship crowns During its last appearance at the 2019 LLBWS Japan’s Chofu Little League finished the tournament with a 4-1 overall record falling only to Pabao Little League in the international championship game before rounding out the tournament with a 5-0 victory in the consolation game over Central East Maui Little League The 75th Anniversary celebration of the LLBWS will continue through August leading up to this year’s World Series. More information about the 2022 Little League World Series tournaments, including full schedules and downloadable brackets, can be found at LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries known as a “secluded station” among railway enthusiasts in Takarazuka fulfilling a longtime wish of local residents Construction will be completed in four years The station on the JR Fukuchiyama Line is about a 10-minute train ride from Takarazuka Station Passengers must climb about 50 steps to go from the ticket gate on the second floor to the platform on the third floor Locals had long asked for elevators to be installed at the station not only because the community is ageing but also for the convenience of travelers There are many tourist spots around the station dahlia and peony gardens and the track of the now-defunct Japanese National Railways’ Fukuchiyama Line According to the Takarazuka city government the station was used by 988 passengers per day in fiscal 2022 which was not enough for the West Japan Railway Co (JR West) to justify installing elevators itself the cost of the two new elevators will not be borne by JR West but by the local government and other entities Locals are happy that the elevators will finally be installed in the near future having seen foreign tourists descending the stairs with heavy suitcases and wheelchair users visiting the area by taxi from Takarazuka Station KOBE - The school training teenage girls to become actresses in the Takarazuka Revue has abolished irrational rules observed for decades by students including bowing to a train that might be carrying a senior-class student The Takarazuka Music School spent several years to do away with the unwritten rules whose origins are unknown which also include making a prescribed facial expression toward senior-class students and saying only "yes," "no," and several other prescribed words when talking with them The officials said although the school places importance on discipline they have decided to scrap the rules in consideration of growing social awareness of harassment issues following a spate of scandals involving bodily punishment in sport and bullying at schools but we also need to change so we can fit with the times," said Naoya Horiuchi one of the officials at the school located in Takarazuka Launched in 1913 as the theater troupe Takarazuka Shokatai (Takarazuka Chorus) the Takarazuka Revue marked its centennial in 2013 and has performed overseas as well The only persons eligible to join the revue company are graduates of the music school where young women spend two years in taking lessons in performing arts such as ballet The school accepts 40 new students each year who have passed a highly competitive entrance exam with a rate of one successful applicant out of more than 20 "I'm surprised to know that they were still doing the bow to trains which has often been talked about by retired Takarazuka actresses as an anecdote," said theatrical entertainment critic Ayako Bando in commenting on the school's abolition of the rules "I am sure the school can develop discipline and good manners without resorting to irrational traditions and the Takarazuka Revue's beauty of form will not be diminished," Bando said adding she hopes the reform will lead to creating an even more attractive revue National Report Lawyers outlined the final days of a budding entertainer of the famed all-female Takarazuka Revue who took her own life in late September after sacrificing sleep to perfect her art and enduring daily verbal abuse from the older members The 25-year-old member of the Cosmos Troupe was found dead in the grounds of her apartment complex in Takarazuka Police suspect she jumped from the building In addition to working almost six straight weeks without a single day off prior to her death the exhausted woman endured repeated insults and other power harassment from senior members of the troupe according to lawyers for the bereaved family the lawyers said they plan to seek an apology and compensation from Takarazuka Revue Co The woman was in her seventh year with the Cosmos Troupe As such she had to both handle the matinee performance by about 45 younger members as well as rehearse for the main evening performance of the Cosmos Troupe Preparations to ensure the younger members look riveting on stage were done after the main performance was over meaning the work extended well into the night Those in their seventh year are considered at the top of the group of younger members The woman was part of an original cohort of eight members but in her seventh year only one of those members remained as the others had quit the troupe That meant those two members had to handle all the chores of looking after their younger members former Takarazuka Revue members said that those in their seventh year also had to bear any criticism raised by older members of the troupe about the way the younger members looked the woman signed a service agreement contract with Takarazuka Revue But the lawyers asserted it amounted to a labor contract because the document obligated the woman to take part in rehearsals and other revue activities Takarazuka Revue had a contractual obligation to ensure its employees were physically and mentally in tip-top shape They used a record of the woman’s temperature as well as her exchanges with her mother through the Line messaging app to calculate her overtime The woman also worked on the script for the performance by the younger members after she returned home meaning she survived on only around three hours of sleep each night The exchanges over Line also showed that senior members of the troupe heaped verbal insults on the woman right up until her death They also blamed her for any mistakes by the younger members saying it was her responsibility to get it right the lawyers read a statement from the bereaved family that said: “While placing our daughter in an extremely exhausted state through abnormal working hours We ask that it accept its responsibility and apologize and we also ask the senior members who engaged in power harassment to accept their responsibility and apologize.” one of the lawyers who attended the news conference said: “To have the life of a young woman with a promising future taken at a company that is representative of Japan’s arts and entertainment is an extremely serious matter Hankyu must make every effort to respond appropriately.” Both Takarazuka Revue and Hankyu released statements on Nov 10 saying they took the matter gravely and pledging to make a sincere effort toward the bereaved family Takarazuka Revue held a news conference on Oct 7 at which it said a committee of outside lawyers and others would investigate the woman’s death a company official denied a report by a weekly magazine earlier this year that the woman was bullied by senior members (This article was written by Takashi Narazaki Outside lawyers to probe death of Takarazuka Revue member Two Takarazuka stars to perform on stage for last time on April 11 Takarazuka school tosses out outdated conduct rules for students 40 start training as future stars of Takarazuka revue troupe marked the hundredth anniversary of the first performance by the all-female Takarazuka Revue offering its distinctive brand of dream-filled romance to legions of mainly female fans at its theaters in Takarazuka Most of its 400-plus performers belong to one of five themed troupes (Flower but there are also skilled performers who float between the troupes as necessary was held as entertainment for tourists at a hot spring resort The company was the brainchild of Kobayashi Ichizō (1873–1957) the founder of the Hankyū Tōhō Group and a brilliant businessman Kobayashi was also known as a man of culture with a love of the tea ceremony the final stopping point on a line of his Minō Arima Electric Railway (now Hankyū Railway) connecting to central Osaka His idea for an attraction that would bring in audiences and increase passengers on the line was a musical theater group consisting only of girls Kobayashi hired 16 girls in their mid-teens The next year they performed three times as the Takarazuka Girls’ Revue took place at a theater converted from an indoor swimming pool in a building attached to the main resort The popularity of the Revue among tourists led the performances to be held regularly the girls appeared at the Imperial Theater in Tokyo and by 1924 they had their own Takarazuka Grand Theater with a capacity of around 4,000 The group had come a long way in a short time Chorus line dancers from the 1930 show Parisette This was the golden age of the “revue” that appears in the name of the company a spectacular concoction of song and dance that was popular then still so essential to Takarazuka productions In 1944 both theaters were requisitioned by the military and then held briefly by the Allied Occupation authorities before being returned in 1946 the performer Kasugano Yachiyo came to fame playing male characters establishing the gender-crossing role of the otokoyaku as a key part of the Takarazuka experience She was dubbed the “White Rose Prince” for her handsome looks an adaptation of a manga serial about a beautiful girl raised as a man Berusaiyu no bara (The Rose of Versailles) gave the Takarazuka Revue its biggest hit ever now inextricably associated with Takarazuka made a huge contribution to the company’s current popularity and has been restaged numerous times Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution the musical performance centers on the hero(ine) Oscar a girl who was raised as a boy to inherit her father’s estate and portrays her relationship with a childhood friend as well as the relationship between Queen Marie Antoinette and the Swedish Count Axel von Fersen Nemuranai Otoko: Naporeon (Napoleon: The Man Who Never Sleeps) performed by the Star troupe in January 2014 at Takarazuka Grand Theater was faithfully adapted for the stage by Takarazuka’s playwright The cross-dressing heroine was perfectly suited for the company’s repertoire The tragic love story appealed to starry-eyed girls of all ages rococo sets lived up to the expectations of fans of the manga—and the result was a smash hit Restagings switched between different troupes and versions and within two years there were 560 performances watched by an astonishing 1.4 million spectators The four performers who emerged as stars from the show came to be known as the “four heavenly kings” of The Rose of Versailles The Takarazuka Revue has had over 4,000 members Many former “Takarasiennes,” as they are known have gone on to apply their singing and dancing talents to successful careers on the stage and screen Top former Takarasiennes gathered to participate in the hundredth anniversary “Yume no Saiten” (Dream Festival) event on April 4 Yachigusa Kaoru starred alongside Mifune Toshirō in the Samurai Trilogy while Otowa Nobuko played leading roles in the J-horror classics Onibaba and Kuroneko former members returned to the Takarazuka Theater for the hundredth anniversary ceremony and “Dream Festival” show The presence of so many gifted performers gave the occasion a real sense of history The Takarazuka Revue’s biggest stars of all time taking part in the “Dream Festival” event One of the reasons for the enduring success of the company’s unique style of theater is the requirement for budding performers to attend the Takarazuka Music School girls with dreams of the limelight come from all over the country to apply for entry The competition is so fierce that it is compared with that for Japan’s top school in the phrase: “In the east Those accepted undertake two years of intense study of ballet This ensures a steady supply of well-honed talent The pyramid-style star system is supported by these regular infusions of fresh blood allowing fans to pick out new favorites from a deep pool of Takarasiennes A further strength is that the company trains scriptwriters These members assist with productions from the time they arrive building experience by getting involved with stage work As the Takarazuka Revue mainly relies on producing new shows it is essential for staff members to fully understand the company’s ethos and distinctive features Another major factor is having a solid corporation like Hankyū Railway as a parent company The Revue has faced hard times in its century of existence but Hankyū has backed the undertaking with an extraordinary amount of money and enthusiasm over the years Takarazuka remains the public face of the company as important as the Hanshin Tigers baseball team it also sponsors Ranju Tomu leads the Flower troupe in a 2012 performance A recent development for Takarazuka is shows adapted from popular works in other media there have been productions based on the video game Sengoku Basara which stylishly depicts leading warriors from Japan’s Warring States period (1467–1568) and on the Korean historical TV drama The Legend starring Bae Yong-jun Takarazuka has also joined forces with Sanrio’s Hello Kitty character to offer goods and stage shows blending their respective visions These initiatives have given the Takarazuka Revue fresh life and helped it to find new fans the Star troupe appeared in shows in Taiwan in the first self-instigated Takarazuka overseas expedition Previous performances in 24 cities in 17 countries had always been based on requests and invitations for the purposes of international friendship and cultural exchange this time Takarazuka did everything from seeking sponsors to selling tickets Around 18,000 people attended the 12 sold-out shows over the course of nine days a major step in establishing the potential for overseas commercial expansion in which the Flower troupe will present The Rose of Versailles and other works Beauty,” is the motto of the Takarazuka Revue may be the words he expressed on a separate occasion: “Change in itself is a great art.” (Originally written in Japanese by Kamitani Chiaki of Kobe Shimbun Banner photo: Chorus line of 100 dancers at the hundredth anniversary revue “Takarazuka hanashishū 100!” (Takarazuka Flower Poetry Collection 100!) on April 5 The chairman of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc will step down as a director of Japan's all-female music theater company Takarazuka Revue and its training school following the death of one of its actresses Kazuo Sumi's exit as of Thursday is seen as taking management responsibility after Hankyu Hanshin acknowledged the 25-year-old actress had been subjected to harassment and conveyed to the bereaved family his intention to apologize admitting she was under a heavy psychological burden due to long working hours and scolding by senior members But it said it did not confirm bullying or harassment Following criticism from the bereaved family the parent company conducted an internal probe and acknowledged harassment had taken place Sumi has been a director of the revue since March 2014 he stepped down as president of the Takarazuka Music School but has been one of its directors since Takarazuka group head to quit over actress' death but denies bullying Osaka Prefecture--The Takarazuka Revue Company has admitted that power harassment by senior members of a troupe contributed to the death of a 25-year-old member in 2023 in an agreement reached with her bereaved family The agreement that includes an apology to her family was announced at a news conference here on March 28 attended by officials of the company as well as of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc. a railway company that operates the all-female theatrical troupe “We have committed an irretrievable act toward the individual who entered the revue with high hopes as well as her bereaved family,” said Yasuo Shimada “There is no way for us to explain away what happened.” The member of the Cosmos Troupe was found dead on the grounds of her apartment complex in Takarazuka Hyogo prefectural police believe it was a suicide a panel of lawyers established by Takarazuka Revue released its  investigation report into the incident the company only acknowledged its failure to properly oversee the long hours the members worked in the weeks before her death but only said there was the possibility the woman experienced psychological stress that might have led to psychological disorders Lawyers for the bereaved family subsequently met with representatives of Takarazuka Revue over a number of occasions The family submitted a written request outlining 15 acts of power harassment and asked the company to admit to power harassment The family claimed that senior troupe members had committed acts including burning the woman's forehead with a hair iron and daily verbal abuse The lawyers for the bereaved family held a news conference in February explaining the discussions between the two sides While the Takarazuka Revue admitted to excessive demands of the woman the lawyers said the company denied power harassment by senior troupe members The bereaved family said the company should specify in writing an apology based on the facts (This article was written by Ai Tanabe and Mamie Kawai.) Takarazuka to admit to harassment of deceased woman Hankyu Hanshin exec to resign from Takarazuka Revue board New panel to look into death of up-and-coming Takarazuka star Bereaved family releases evidence of harassment in Takarazuka Lawyers detail horrific final days of rising Takarazuka star Hankyu Hanshin exec to resign from Takarazuka school’s top post Japan's all-female theater troupe Takarazuka Revue will set up a panel of experts possibly by year-end as it seeks to improve its corporate culture following the death of one of its actresses a source related to the troupe's parent firm said Monday The development came after the troupe found that the 25-year-old actress was under a "strong psychological burden" just prior to her death in late September amid long working hours and scolding by senior members The envisioned third-party panel will look into the tightness of performance schedules and what could be deemed as excessively demanding coaching The panel is expected to be joined by university professors and experts on harassment issues Takarazuka plans to draw up a reform proposal based on interviews with all of its around 400 actresses as well as its about 80 students undergoing training to become performers decided to seek opinions from the third-party panel to help formulate drastic reform measures indicated that a reinvestigation into the death of the actress as requested by a lawyer representing the bereaved family The lawyer has said overwork and bullying by senior members of the group led to her death said it was not able to confirm evidence of bullying or harassment of her when it announced a summary of an investigation report on the case last week The report acknowledged the tight schedules and said the overtime the actress had clocked in the last month before her death reached at least 118 hours Hyogo prefectural police believe her death was likely a suicide "Final Fantasy X" was adapted into a kabuki play as is the Japanese theatrical art form’s custom Now there’s another single-sex live-action Final Fantasy stage show on the horizon but this time with all roles being played by women the all-female Takarazuka troupe has been performing lavish musical revues and plays becoming Japan’s best-known and most highly respected theater company In a recent announcement of its upcoming schedule the troupe revealed that it will be staging a Takarazuka version of "Final Fantasy XVI," the latest installment in the long-running series from Square Enix which just released last month The play will be performed at both the Takarazuka Grand Theater in Takarazuka City the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater in the Yurakucho neighborhood in downtown Tokyo The "Final Fantasy XVI" play will be written and directed by Naoko Koyanagi who has been with the company since 1999 and whose writing/directing credits include Takarazuka’s adaptations of "Lupin III" and "Shall We Dance." the top male-character performing actress in Takarazuka’s Cosmos troupe is set to appear ostensible as "Final Fantasy XVI’s" protagonist Clive Rosfield “I myself am a 'Final Fantasy' fan,” said Serika of her involvement “so this is a very exciting project for me.” will be one half of a two-part performance that also includes an unrelated musical revue) will open at the Takarazuka Grand Theater on May 17 and run until June 23 before heading to the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater from July 13 to August 25 Ticket pre-sales open on April 27 for the Grand Theater performances Sources: Takarazuka official website, Nikkan Sports -- Final Fantasy X kabuki stage play to stream internationally with English subtitles -- Sailor Moon Sanrio partnership adds pairings for Sailor Starlights in new crossover merch line【Pics】 -- Studio Ghibli is taking a bold step to prevent spoilers for its newest anime movie FF is a good series to adapt to stage plays Especially 16 seems right up this troupes alley if they're going to do a Square Enix title I'd rather they did Chrono Trigger :) Hyogo Prefecture--The Takarazuka Revue Company on Dec 1 resumed the troupe’s shows here for the first time in two months after suspending the performances following the death of a 25-year-old member in late September Prior to the opening of the show at the Takarazuka Grand Theater “I would like to again express my deepest apologies for the fact that the opening day of the Snow Troupe is today and for the great concern that we are causing regarding the current situation of the Takarazuka Revue Company,” he said “Boiled Doyle on the Toil Trail,” and a revue “Frozen Holiday,” which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the troupe to be marked in 2024 The theater was full and standing room tickets were also sold out who has been a fan of Takarazuka for 35 years and came from Kyoto to see the opening day performance “The passion of the performers to be on this stage and to dance was evident in the performance both the performers and the audience were in tears and they were all on their feet and excited.” “Excessive guidance and bullying are not good I hope that good traditions will be maintained while improving those that are out of step with the times.” said that tears welled up in her eyes as the performers shed tears during the finale and top star Sakina Ayakaze greeted the audience in a choked voice “I think there was some anxiety even as they practiced I was also conflicted about whether it was good or bad to watch the show but now I feel like I want to support those who are doing their best,” she said The Takarazuka member was found dead on the morning of Sept 30 on the grounds of her apartment complex in Takarazuka Police believe her death was most likely a suicide The woman's family has accused the Takarazuka Revue of overwork and power harassment An investigation into reports of abuse was inconclusive The troupe’s shows scheduled to open at the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater on Nov (This article was written by Mamie Kawai and Ai Tanabe.) Takarazuka head resigns over death of rising troupe star Japan's all-female musical theater company Takarazuka Revue Co admitted to some claims of harassment against a deceased actress a lawyer representing her family said Tuesday The bereaved family believes there were 15 incidents of harassment by senior actresses and theater officials before her death with the theater company admitting to approximately half of them while denying the rest the theater company said that a third-party investigation could not confirm bullying or harassment but did acknowledge the psychological stress she suffered due to long working hours Takarazuka admitted to harassment after the family asked for another probe expressing dissatisfaction that the third-party investigation did not fully reflect their opinions The family has demanded an apology and compensation from the company adding the two sides have met several times and plan to meet again and senior members yelled at her until dawn Takarazuka still denies the hair iron incident will step down as a director of Takarazuka Revue and its training school following the death of the actress Hankyu Hanshin Holdings is the parent company of Takarazuka Revue Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible.