zukadiary

[zukadiary]

Hi, I bought a ticket for Takarazuka grand theater on the English website. It says we need to have the same name as in the passport, but in my case, my name is quite long, so I only put my first name and last name. Would that be okay or will there be a problem that I didn't put my second name and middle name like in my passport?

Hi, you’ll be fine! Most Japanese interfaces don’t even support second and middle names.

[zukadiary]

Takarazuka Roundup 2025.7.3

Oops sorry almost a month, June was a shitshow

STATUSES!

🌸 Hanagumi is in Takarazuka (Castlevania/Ai Love Revue) 🌙 Tsukigumi is rehearsing Guys and Dolls ❄️ Yukigumi is rehearsing Step By Me/American in Paris ⭐️ Hoshigumi is in Tokyo (Ashura/Esperanto!) 🪐 Soragumi is mid RED STONE, and Zorro closed today

VISUALS!

Danza Serenata/Tiara Azul II poster! Prince of Legend/Bayside Star poster!

🚨TAIDANS🚨

❄️ Yumeshiro Aya will retire with Beau Brummel ❄️ Ayana Miki will retire with American in Paris

OTHER NEWS!

🌙 Yumena Rune will take over as fukukumichou upon Shirayuki Sachika's retirement 🌙 Guys and Dolls full shinko cast 🌙 Guys and Dolls livestream schedule:

Mura raku: Sunday, September 7, 2025 13:30 JST Tokyo shinko: Thursday, October 16, 2025 18:30 JST Tokyo raku: Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 13:30 JST

❄️ Yumeshiro Aya music salon livestream schedule:

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 13:45 and 19:45 JST

⭐️ Akatsuki Chisei/Uta Chizuru Grand Theater ohirome announced

[zukadiary]

↳ nanami hiroki & kurenai yuzuru in star troupe's killer rouge (2018) ☆

[zukadiary]

anju mira, todoroki yuu, kouju tatsuki, takane fubuki as scarlett o'hara ☆

ichiro maki being surrounded by several scarlett o'haras... ☆

[zukadiary]

Takarazuka roundup 2025.6.10

On a Tuesday? Why not. I have, finally, halfway through the year 2025, succumbed to covid for the first time.

STATUSES!

🌸 Hanagumi is in Takarazuka (Castlevania/Ai Love Revue) 🌙 Tsukigumi is rehearsing Guys and Dolls ❄️ Yukigumi is in Tokyo (Robin the Hero) ⭐️ Hoshigumi is on break between Tkz/Tokyo 🪐 Soragumi is rehearsing RED STONE and Zorro

VISUALS!

Prince of Legend visual! American in Paris poster! Step by Me poster! AYA MATSURI POSTERS YIKES

🚨TAIDANS AND TRANSFERS!🚨

🌙 Shirayuki Sachika, Irodori Michiru, and Sou Yuuki will retire with Guys and Dolls

🌙 -> ⭐️ Amana Ruria will move to Hoshigumi after Guys and Dolls

OTHER NEWS!

🌸 Kiwami Shin will lead DEAN (Drama City/Seinenkan) in November 🌸 Top combi to lead Goethe! (Tokyo Forum/Umeda) in November

🌙 Guys and Dolls full cast 🌙 Shirayuki Sachika salon concert 9/11-12 at Takarazuka Hotel

❄️ Souno Haruto will be moving to Senka in February '26; Touma Kazuki -> Kumichou, Mana Haruto -> Fukukumichou

⭐️ Danza Serenata and Alexander cast splits w/ partial cast for Alexander (Rurihana lead!!!)

🪐 ZORRO livestream 6/29 13:30 JST 🪐 RED STONE livestream 7/13 16:00 JST

[zukadiary]

Takarazuka roundup 2025.5.23

I have failed to do this for many weeks. Here's a quick and dirty version!

STATUSES!

🌸 Hanagumi is rehearsing Castlevania 🌙 Tsukigumi just closed Twinkle Moon and is wrapping up Nat'l tour ❄️ Yukigumi is in Tokyo (Robin the Hero) ⭐️ Hoshigumi is in the GT (Ashura) 🪐 Soragumi is rehearsing RED STONE and Zorro

VISUALS!

Guys and Dolls poster! American in Paris! Step By Me! Obsessed with the latter and how un-photoshopped it is 🤩

NEWSES!

Castlevania shinko cast

Castlevania livestream schedule

Nagisa Yuri will retire from Soragumi with Zorro

[zukadiary]

Hi! A huge thanks for your blog, I’ve been reading it since I watched my first Takarazuka show a few years ago in Tokyo.

Since then, Kazama Yuno has really caught my eye and I’d like to know more about her! Is she quite popular? I understand that she’s now nibante and is likely to become top star (although nothing is 100% confirmed). But (maybe I remember incorrectly) there wasn’t much movement in Tsuki in December, despite lots of changes in all other troupes, so could things change in the future?

Thank you so much!

Of course unexpected things could always happen—including troupe shuffles—but of all the nibante in the whole company right now Kazama Yuno is the one I feel closest to 100% about making top. You have a lot to look forward to!

[zukadiary]

Hi! I've been reading your stuff for many years, and it's been both an invaluable and a fun resource for me. So thanks! Now I've got a bit of a wonky question for you. :)

I am finally writing my first fan letter! My Japanese is not yet advanced enough to write this letter, so I'm planning to write in easy concise English. However, I have this hopefully-not-too-stupid question: I know if I wrote in Japanese, I would customarily avoid using "you" pronouns and write the recipient's name instead. So if I'm writing in English should I avoid the English "you" as well? Should I plug in a (last name)-san? (e.g. "My favorite role (last name)-san played was..." or "I love (last name)-san's singing voice," etc.) Or would that just be weird? I'm aiming for what will be the most polite and the least awkward! Thank you for your consideration! <3

Omg I love this question. I have no idea what the answer is, but I love it. The two places my brain goes are:

1) name-san instead of you is absolutely how my brain translates English <- -> Japanese in my head. There is also a nonzero chance that if I’m talking to a Japanese person who is trying to use basic English with me that I also do this unconsciously.

2) as an adult language learner I feel like I want to read things that follow the rules of the language I’m learning perfectly.

It’s 6am and this tickled my Japanese nerd brain but I feel reasonably confident that you could go either way and it won’t affect their comprehension. Good luck with the letter and thank you for the kind words :D

[zukadiary]

Takarazuka roundup 2025.4.25

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Status: rehearsing Castlevania

News:

Haryuu Mitsuki and Tsubasa Anju will be retiring with Castlevania

Roles for Castlevania announced

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Status: Rehearsing Hana no Narihira and Twinkle Moon

News:

Hana no Narihira livestream May 10 at 13:00 JST

Twinkle Moon livestream May 23 at 14:30 JST

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Status: On break between Takarazuka/Tokyo for Robin the Hero/Overture!

News: Ayana Miki will be absent from the shinko only, and Seina Rion will be absent from all performances, due to injury

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Status: Performing Ashura/Esperanto! in the Grand Theater

News: Amato Kanon will probably* lead her first 2-city show, Alexander, based on the Akaishi Michiyo manga Alexander Daiou -Tenjou no Oukoku-, in October

*this got announced?? and then deleted?? and it's currently on the PDF schedule but not the schedule page?? so, stay tuned, I guess 🤔

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Status: Performing 110 Years of Takarazuka Love Songs / Razzle Dazzle in Tokyo until 4/27

News:

PRINCE OF LEGEND cast list is out

Zorro and Red Stone posters are out

[zukadiary]

Sherlock Holmes 2: Bloody Game (2015) subtitles

jstage.dreamful .org/holmes-bloody-game/

Or click the link under “source”.

Please do not upload the subs anywhere else!

—

Trigger warning/content warning: Murder, mentions of physical and sexual violence against children

—

I tried watching this back when the DVD was released, but I couldn't understand enough given my limited understanding of Japanese. 10 years later, there are still no English subtitles for this, so here's my attempt!

This is the Japanese adaptation of the Korean musical, and the sequel to "Sherlock Holmes: Secret of the Anderson Family". It's an independent story, so you don't need to watch the first one to understand this. You won't find John Watson here—it's Jane Watson instead, played by Ichiro Maki.

If you love Sherlock Holmes, or just enjoy stuff from crime or mystery genres, this is worth watching!

[zukadiary]

Takarazuka Roundup 2025.4.11

It's my blog's 12th birthday :D And check out these 111th class photos.

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Status: on break ahead of rehearsal for Castlevania

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Status: Rehearsing Hana no Narihira and Twinkle Moon

News:

Shiragiri Tsubaki retired effective March 31

First Guys and Dolls visual:

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Status: Performing Robin the Hero/Overture! in the Grand Theater until 4/13

News: Cast splits for American in Paris, Step By Me, and Yumeshiro Aya's music salon

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Status: Rehearsing Ashura/Esperanto!

News: Kizaki Reo will take over as fukukumichou on August 11

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Status: Performing 110 Years of Takarazuka Love Songs / Razzle Dazzle in Tokyo until 4/27

[zukadiary]

Takarazuka roundup 2025.3.28

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Status: Performing Magician's Misfortunes (Towaki Sea, Hoshizora Misaki) in Hakataza, and Fleeting Stars Shining at the Ocean's End (Kinami Raito) in Bow Hall

News: Castlevania poster is out

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Status: Rehearsing Hana no Narihira and Twinkle Moon

News:

Ichiki Kakeru will retire with Hana no Narihira

Remaining roles for same announced

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Status: Performing Robin the Hero/Overture! in the Grand Theater

News: Grand Theater show announced for Nov-Feb: Beau Brummell -The Man Who Was Too Beautiful / Prayer

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Status: Rehearsing Ashura/Esperanto!

News:

Livestreams for Ashura (in JST):

Takarazuka raku: Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 13:00

Tokyo shinko: Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 18:30

Tokyo maeraku: Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 15:30

Tokyo raku: Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 13:30

Next top combi announced!! Congrats Akatsuki Chisei and Uta Chizuru

They will debut with a national tour of Danza Seranata / Tiara Azul -Destino- II on 9/27.

Ashura shinko roles also announced - leads are Kishou Kazuto and Uta Chizuru.

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Status: Performing 110 Years of Takarazuka Love Songs / Razzle Dazzle in Tokyo

News: Visuals for Zorro and RED STONE released

[zukadiary]

Hello! I was wondering if you know whether going to a newcomer performance would be worth it? I couldn't find any info on what it's like exactly and if it's possible to buy (is it for everyone or only for fan club members?), but the seatings would be more affordable imo xD

Anyone can technically buy tickets to newcomer performances, but they are REALLY hard to get on the website. Usually you need a connection to an actress in the show, or you need to be a member of Tomo no Kai.

They are really fun if there are younger actresses you like who don’t get a lot of exposure in the regular show.

Something to note is it is NOT the full show. These performances are either just the 1-act musical with no revue, or if it’s a 2-act musical, the newcomer performance is abridged.

[zukadiary]

hello! i plan to see 'robin the hero' at the tokyo takarazuka theatre in may. it will be my first time in japan and my first time at a takarazuka show - i've been doing my research and reading all the guides at the takawiki, but i was wondering if you have any 'common mistakes' or quick tips? tickets have not gone on sale yet so it will also be my first time doing that - i'll be purchasing my ticket through the website for english speaking international fans. if you have nothing, that's okay, i just want to cover all my bases! thanks <3

Hi! My biggest tip is set an alarm because the tickets go REALLY fast. Other than that, since you’re not doing any fanclub activities, just show up and have a great time!!

[zukadiary]

Hey!

First off, I just wanna say that I really love your blog!

I had a couple of questions, if that’s okay!

My favorite musumeyaku was Hoshikaze Madoka, but now that she’s retired, I’m looking for someone new to follow. Is there anyone you’d recommend keeping an eye on?

Do you know if Takarazuka has any plans to bring Elisabeth back? It’s one of my favorite musicals, and I’d love to see it performed again.

Thanks so much in advance, and seriously, your blog is amazing!

Thank you! It’s all a matter of personal taste, but I really love Yumeshiro Aya right now.

I have no idea when Takarazuka will put on Elisabeth again, but it’s basically guaranteed to happen.

[zukadiary]

Takarazuka Roundup 2025.3.14

The Grand Theater renovation is complete! Pics here.

111th class stage name reveal!

110th class troupe assignments!

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Status: Performing Magician's Misfortunes (Towaki Sea, Hoshizora Misaki) in Hakataza, and rehearsing Fleeting Stars Shining at the Ocean's End (Kinami Raito) till 3/20

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Status: Break between nat'l tour/Bow workshop rehearsal

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Status: Performing Robin the Hero/Overture! in the Grand Theater

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Status: Rehearsing Ashura/Esperanto!

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Status: 110 Years of Takarazuka Love Songs / Razzle Dazzle opens in Tokyo TODAY (JST)

[zukadiary]

robin the hero / overture! first day