Asuka Tono
Encyclopedia
Asuka Tono is an actress who a top star (musumyaku) for Star Troupe of Takarazuka Revue
. She joined the revue company in 1998 and became the top star along with Kei Aran
. She is from Chiba Prefecture
, her birthday is November 28 and her nicknames are Asuka and Fukui.
She is second of her class to reach the top status, but she is the first to reach the top status who is originated from Cosmo Troupes.
As one of the second group of new members (the class of 1997 is the first group) to be assigned to the newly found Cosmo Troupe, she has a quick start of her Takarazuka career: she starred with Yōka Wao
and Sakiho Juri
in Crossroad in her third year, and she partnered up with Juri
in the latter's first Bow Hall starring, Freedom: Mr. Carmen as Josie, which both Juri
and she received great applause.
However, her main development is when she was in Flower Troupe, where she participated a couple New Actor shows: Elisabeth
are among those. Like Kanami Ayano
, she steadily became the second tier musumyaku and join Mao Ayabuki in her first Bow Hall starring, Naked City. She got her applause portraying as Yvette d'Amboise in Marrakech: A Crimson Tombstone and later on, she rejoined with Juri
in the latter's final Takarazuka performance, Ernest in Love
as Gwendolen Fairfax.
When Miyo Fuzuki, the musumeyaku top star of Flower Troupe from 2003 to 2006, announced her resignation, the public expected that she would be the next top star. However, she was transferred to Senka and a more younger star, Ayane Sakurano
was being promoted.
She just spent less than a year in Senka. During this period of time, she participated both Star's and Cosmo's production Copacabana
as Conchita Alvares, another highlight of her career.
Following the resignation of Wataru Kozuki
and the transfer of her then partner Yuri Shirahane (also the classmate of Tono) back to Snow Troupe to be paired up with Natsuki Mizu
, she finally became the top musumeyaku top star of Star Troupe with Kei Aran
.
Takarazuka Revue
The Takarazuka Revue is a Japanese all-female musical theater troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Women play all roles in lavish, Broadway-style productions of Western-style musicals, and sometimes stories adapted from shōjo manga and Japanese folktales. The troupe takes its name...
. She joined the revue company in 1998 and became the top star along with Kei Aran
Kei Aran
, , is a Japanese actress and former top star otokoyaku of the Japanese Takarazuka Revue's Star Troupe. She joined the revue in 1991 and became the top star in 2007, five years after her fellow classmates Sumire Haruno and Hikaru Asami became top stars...
. She is from Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
, her birthday is November 28 and her nicknames are Asuka and Fukui.
She is second of her class to reach the top status, but she is the first to reach the top status who is originated from Cosmo Troupes.
Troupe History
-
Cosmo Troupe: 1997–2001 -
Flower Troupe: 2001–2006 -
Supreme Member: 2006 -
Star Troupe: 2006–present
General information
Yoka Wao
' is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters . She joined the revue in 1988 and resigned in 2006....
and Sakiho Juri
Sakiho Juri
is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters . She joined the revue in 1990 and resigned in 2005...
in Crossroad in her third year, and she partnered up with Juri
Sakiho Juri
is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters . She joined the revue in 1990 and resigned in 2005...
in the latter's first Bow Hall starring, Freedom: Mr. Carmen as Josie, which both Juri
Sakiho Juri
is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters . She joined the revue in 1990 and resigned in 2005...
and she received great applause.
However, her main development is when she was in Flower Troupe, where she participated a couple New Actor shows: Elisabeth
Elisabeth (musical)
Elisabeth is a Viennese, German-language musical commissioned by the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien , with book/lyrics by Michael Kunze and music by Sylvester Levay. It portrays the life and death of the Empress consort of Austria, Elisabeth of Bavaria, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I...
are among those. Like Kanami Ayano
Kanami Ayano
Kanami Ayano is a former top star for Moon Troupe of Takarazuka Revue. She joined the revue company in 1997 and became the top star along with Jun Sena, a former troupe mate from Flower Troupe...
, she steadily became the second tier musumyaku and join Mao Ayabuki in her first Bow Hall starring, Naked City. She got her applause portraying as Yvette d'Amboise in Marrakech: A Crimson Tombstone and later on, she rejoined with Juri
Sakiho Juri
is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters . She joined the revue in 1990 and resigned in 2005...
in the latter's final Takarazuka performance, Ernest in Love
Ernest in Love
Ernest in Love is a musical with a book and lyrics by Anne Croswell and music by Lee Pockriss. It is based on The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde's classic comedy of manners.-Background:...
as Gwendolen Fairfax.
When Miyo Fuzuki, the musumeyaku top star of Flower Troupe from 2003 to 2006, announced her resignation, the public expected that she would be the next top star. However, she was transferred to Senka and a more younger star, Ayane Sakurano
Ayane Sakurano
is a Japanese actress in the Takarazuka Revue's Flower Troupe, where she performs as a musumeyaku .-Background:...
was being promoted.
She just spent less than a year in Senka. During this period of time, she participated both Star's and Cosmo's production Copacabana
Copacabana (musical)
Copacabana is a TV-musical, stage musical, and nightclub show written by Barry Manilow, based on the song of the same name. The show toured the United States and, as of 2006, became available to license to performing companies and schools for the first time....
as Conchita Alvares, another highlight of her career.
Following the resignation of Wataru Kozuki
Wataru Kozuki
is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters . She joined the revue in 1989 and resigned in 2006. She is from Iruma, Saitama ....
and the transfer of her then partner Yuri Shirahane (also the classmate of Tono) back to Snow Troupe to be paired up with Natsuki Mizu
Natsuki Mizu
Natsuki Mizu is the former top star for Snow Troupe of Takarazuka Revue from 12/24/06 to 09/12/10. She joined the company in 1993 and became the top star in December 2006 upon the resignation of Hikaru Asami...
, she finally became the top musumeyaku top star of Star Troupe with Kei Aran
Kei Aran
, , is a Japanese actress and former top star otokoyaku of the Japanese Takarazuka Revue's Star Troupe. She joined the revue in 1991 and became the top star in 2007, five years after her fellow classmates Sumire Haruno and Hikaru Asami became top stars...
.
Cosmo New Actor era
- Passion: Jose and CarmenCarmenCarmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
- Micaela (her role in regular performance is Conchita) - Crossroad - Helen (Starring Yōka WaoYoka Wao' is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters . She joined the revue in 1988 and resigned in 2006....
) - Freedom: Mr. CarmenCarmenCarmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
- Josie (Bow Hall performance, starring Sakiho JuriSakiho Juriis a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters . She joined the revue in 1990 and resigned in 2005...
) - Black Rose of the Desert - Marianna (first leading musumeyaku role)
Flower New Actor era
- In the Amber-Hued Rain - Sharon (her role in the regular performance is Francoise de Plaire)
- ElisabethElisabeth (musical)Elisabeth is a Viennese, German-language musical commissioned by the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien , with book/lyrics by Michael Kunze and music by Sylvester Levay. It portrays the life and death of the Empress consort of Austria, Elisabeth of Bavaria, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I...
- ElisabethElisabeth of BavariaElisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
- A Flute Named Wind - Princess Iroha (her role in the regular performance is Rindo)
- La Esperanza - Mirva (her role in the regular performance is Frasquita)
Flower era
- Naked City - Daisy (Bow Hall performance, starring Mao Ayabuki)
- Hand Drum of Heaven - Izu Ibuki
- Marrakech: A Crimson Tombstone - Yvette d'Amboise
- Ernest in LoveErnest in LoveErnest in Love is a musical with a book and lyrics by Anne Croswell and music by Lee Pockriss. It is based on The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde's classic comedy of manners.-Background:...
- Gwendolen Fairfax - Palermo Shines in the Setting Sun - Giuditta Ferri
With Cosmo Troupe
- CopacabanaCopacabana (musical)Copacabana is a TV-musical, stage musical, and nightclub show written by Barry Manilow, based on the song of the same name. The show toured the United States and, as of 2006, became available to license to performing companies and schools for the first time....
- Conchita Alvares (The top star debut of Kei Takashiro and Rui Shijō)
Star Top Star era
- Hays Code - Livy Fontaine (Top Star Debut)
- Secret Hunter - Jennifer (Top Star Debut at Grand Theater)
- El Halcon - Gilda
Performance outside Takarazuka
- CinderellaCinderella (TV)Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is a musical written for television, with music by Richard Rodgers and a book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based upon the fairy tale Cinderella, particularly the French version Cendrillon, ou la Petite Pantoufle de Vair, by Charles Perrault...
, Cinderella (with Sakiho JuriSakiho Juriis a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters . She joined the revue in 1990 and resigned in 2005...
/Sei Matobu and former members of TCATakarazuka RevueThe Takarazuka Revue is a Japanese all-female musical theater troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Women play all roles in lavish, Broadway-style productions of Western-style musicals, and sometimes stories adapted from shōjo manga and Japanese folktales. The troupe takes its name...
)
- During the regular performance, she also substituted for Rei Ootori when she was not available.