Mari Hanafusa
Encyclopedia
is a former member of the Takarazuka Revue
, in which she specialized in female roles (Musumeyaku). She is from Tokyo and joined the revue in 1991 and retired in 2006. She is the first and the only musumeyaku of her class to receive top billing.
of Takarazuka", she gained audiences' attention during her first years in Star Troupe, and three years after her debut, in 1994, became top musumeyaku of Snow troupe. Having performed with five different stars as partners, Maki Ichiro (of the Snow troupe), Fubuki Takane (Snow), Yū Todoroki
(Snow), Asato Shizuki (Cosmos) and Yōka Wao
(Cosmos)--the latter her partner the longest—over the course of twelve years, Hanafusa enjoyed the longest run as star musumeyaku in the Takarazuka
's history.
Also, upon her participation in the 1994 new actor production of Gone with the Wind
as Scarlett O'Hara
, Hanafusa became the only musumeyaku to have her own billing (top billing usually goes to otokoyaku; so this was an exceptional case).
Along with Tsukikage Hitomi (of Star and Snow troupes) and Dan Rei (Moon and Star), she was one of the few musumeyaku to star in two troupes.
In 1998, she founded Cosmos Troupe with Asato Shizuki, Yōka Wao
, Wataru Kozuki
and Hikaru Asami
with an overseas performance in Hong Kong
. She retired in 2006.
In January 2007, she came out of retirement and performed on stage along with Yōka Wao
in Wao's concert.
Currently, Hanafusa works as an official representative for Yōka Wao
in Wao's company, Wao Enterprise, which they founded together in February 2007. It is unusual for partnering stars who have left Takarazuka to continue to work together so closely. Hanafusa may participate in future Wao
concerts.
in the musical Elisabeth
and the only one to do so twice: first in a 1996 Snow production and then in a 1998 Cosmos production. Thus she was an Elisabeth who was haunted by two deaths (Maki Ichiro and Asato Shizuki), married to two Franz Josephs (Fubuki Takane
and Yōka Wao
), assassinated by two Luigi Lucheni
s (Yū Todoroki
and Wataru Kozuki
). She crowned four Prince Rudolf
s (Tatsuki Kōju, Yōka Wao
, Hikaru Asami
and Sakiho Juri
) because Kōju and Asami changed troupes before the Tokyo performance and were substituted by Wao and Juri.
Most of the actresses playing Franz Josephs, Rudolfs and Luigis became stars later on, except Juri, who was moved to Senka.
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...
, in which she specialized in female roles (Musumeyaku). She is from Tokyo and joined the revue in 1991 and retired in 2006. She is the first and the only musumeyaku of her class to receive top billing.
Troupe membership history
-
Star Troupe: 1991–1993 -
Snow Troupe: 1993–1998 -
Cosmos Troupe: 1998–2006
Facts
Considered the "Mary PickfordMary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
of Takarazuka", she gained audiences' attention during her first years in Star Troupe, and three years after her debut, in 1994, became top musumeyaku of Snow troupe. Having performed with five different stars as partners, Maki Ichiro (of the Snow troupe), Fubuki Takane (Snow), Yū Todoroki
Yu Todoroki
Yu Todoroki is a current member of Takarazuka Revue, where she plays an otokoyaku. She joined the Revue in 1985, became the top star of Snow Troupe in 1997, transferred to Superior Members in 2002 and became the youngest member to serve on the company's board of directors in 2003...
(Snow), Asato Shizuki (Cosmos) and Yōka Wao
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....
(Cosmos)--the latter her partner the longest—over the course of twelve years, Hanafusa enjoyed the longest run as star musumeyaku in the Takarazuka
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...
's history.
Also, upon her participation in the 1994 new actor production of Gone with the Wind
Gone With The Wind (musical)
Gone with the Wind is a musical based on the Margaret Mitchell's novel of the same name and its 1939 film adaptation, with music and lyrics by Margaret Martin, and a book by Martin, adapted by Sir Trevor Nunn....
as Scarlett O'Hara
Scarlett O'Hara
Scarlett O' Hara is the protagonist in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and in the later film of the same name...
, Hanafusa became the only musumeyaku to have her own billing (top billing usually goes to otokoyaku; so this was an exceptional case).
Along with Tsukikage Hitomi (of Star and Snow troupes) and Dan Rei (Moon and Star), she was one of the few musumeyaku to star in two troupes.
In 1998, she founded Cosmos Troupe with Asato Shizuki, Yōka Wao
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....
, 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 Hikaru Asami
Hikaru Asami
Hikaru Asami 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 1991 and resigned in 2006...
with an overseas performance in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. She retired in 2006.
In January 2007, she came out of retirement and performed on stage along with Yōka Wao
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....
in Wao's concert.
Currently, Hanafusa works as an official representative for Yōka Wao
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....
in Wao's company, Wao Enterprise, which they founded together in February 2007. It is unusual for partnering stars who have left Takarazuka to continue to work together so closely. Hanafusa may participate in future Wao
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....
concerts.
As a star
- Legend of the Midnight Sun - Mimiru
- Parfum de Paris
- Mayerling (New Actor Show) - Marie Vetsera
As top star for Snow
- JFK - Jacqueline Kennedy
- Elisabeth - Elisabeth
- Glowing Purple Flowers
- Natasha's Rainbow - Natasha
- On a Clear Day You Can See ForeverOn a Clear Day You Can See ForeverOn a Clear Day You Can See Forever is a musical with music by Burton Lane and a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner based loosely on Berkeley Square, written in 1929 by John L. Balderston. It concerns a woman who has ESP and has been reincarnated...
- Daisy Gamble - Midnight Ghost - Maria
As top star for Cosmos
- Excalibur - Rosaline (the first Cosmos Troupe production)
- Elisabeth - Elisabeth
- Passion: Jose and Carmen - Carmen
- Mayerling - Marie Vetsera (First show with 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....
as a star couple) - Nostalgia Over the Sea - Catherine the Great
- Rose of Versailles: Fersen and Marie Antoinette - Marie AntoinetteMarie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
- Calaf & Turandot - Turandot
- Pierre the Mercenary - Joan of ArcJoan of ArcSaint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
- Lightning in Daytime - Vivianne
- Gone with the WindGone With The Wind (musical)Gone with the Wind is a musical based on the Margaret Mitchell's novel of the same name and its 1939 film adaptation, with music and lyrics by Margaret Martin, and a book by Martin, adapted by Sir Trevor Nunn....
- Scarlett O'HaraScarlett O'HaraScarlett O' Hara is the protagonist in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and in the later film of the same name... - PhantomPhantom (musical)Phantom is a musical with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Arthur Kopit. Based on Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera, the musical was first presented in Houston, Texas in 1991....
- Christine DaaeChristine DaaéChristine Daaé is the main female character in Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera , the young singer with whom the main character Erik, the Phantom of the Opera falls in love.- Character history :... - Boxman - Dolly
- Hotel Stella Maris - Stacy Lancaster
- A Kiss to the Flames - Leonora
- Never Say GoodbyeNever Say Goodbye (musical)Never Say Goodbye is a musical with a book and lyrics by Shûichirô Koike and music by Frank Wildhorn. It was written specifically for Takarazuka Revue, the all-female Japanese theatre company...
- Katherine McGregor/Peggy McGregor (her last musical with Takarazuka)
Elisabeth trivia
Hanafusa was the first star to perform as Elisabeth of BavariaElisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth 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...
in the musical 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...
and the only one to do so twice: first in a 1996 Snow production and then in a 1998 Cosmos production. Thus she was an Elisabeth who was haunted by two deaths (Maki Ichiro and Asato Shizuki), married to two Franz Josephs (Fubuki Takane
Fubuki Takane
Yukihime Asada , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese actress and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters . She joined the revue in 1983 and resigned in 1997....
and Yōka Wao
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....
), assassinated by two Luigi Lucheni
Luigi Lucheni
Luigi Lucheni was an Italian anarchist who assassinated the Austrian Empress, Elisabeth of Bavaria , in 1898...
s (Yū Todoroki
Yu Todoroki
Yu Todoroki is a current member of Takarazuka Revue, where she plays an otokoyaku. She joined the Revue in 1985, became the top star of Snow Troupe in 1997, transferred to Superior Members in 2002 and became the youngest member to serve on the company's board of directors in 2003...
and 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 ....
). She crowned four Prince Rudolf
Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria
Rudolf , archduke of Austria and crown prince of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia, was the son and heir of Franz Joseph I, emperor of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia, and his wife and empress, Elisabeth...
s (Tatsuki Kōju, Yōka Wao
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....
, Hikaru Asami
Hikaru Asami
Hikaru Asami 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 1991 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...
) because Kōju and Asami changed troupes before the Tokyo performance and were substituted by Wao and Juri.
Most of the actresses playing Franz Josephs, Rudolfs and Luigis became stars later on, except Juri, who was moved to Senka.
- Fubuki TakaneFubuki TakaneYukihime Asada , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese actress and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters . She joined the revue in 1983 and resigned in 1997....
(Franz Joseph [Snow])--> Snow Troupe - Yū TodorokiYu TodorokiYu Todoroki is a current member of Takarazuka Revue, where she plays an otokoyaku. She joined the Revue in 1985, became the top star of Snow Troupe in 1997, transferred to Superior Members in 2002 and became the youngest member to serve on the company's board of directors in 2003...
(Luigi Lucheni [Snow])--> Snow Troupe - Tatsuki Kōju (Rudolf [Snow])--> Star Troupe
- 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....
(Rudolf [Snow] and Franz Joseph [Cosmos])--> Cosmos Troupe - Wataru KozukiWataru Kozukiis 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 ....
(Luigi Lucheni [Cosmos])--> Star Troupe - Hikaru AsamiHikaru AsamiHikaru Asami 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 1991 and resigned in 2006...
(Rudolf [Cosmos])--> Snow Troupe