Hey! Shanelle here! Last weekend, I attended a play that I thought would be something interesting to discuss. HaHasHas anyone heard of Takarazuka or the Takarazuka Revue before? Specific to Japan, Takarazuka is a type of popular culture that takes a unique twist on musicals. The entire cast is made up of only females! That’s right; this means that all the characters in the musical, whether male or female, are played by women! Interesting concept, right? If you’ve heard of kabuki before, it’s essentially the same thing, but with women.
As I stated previously, I was given the opportunity to attend a Takarazuka play, because it was a scheduled field trip for one of my courses here in Japan. Prior to going, we talked about it in class and learned some of the history behind Takarazuka; therefore, I was anticipating a lot before I went, and it did not disappoint! It was absolutely amazing! There were two parts: part one was the actual play, in which a story was acted out, and the second half was more glitz, glamor, and dancing.
When I went to see the musical, the story during this time was “A Passage Through The Light – Maximilien Robespierre, The Revolutionary”. Sadly, but expected, it was all in Japanese, so I did not understand what the characters were saying; however, the way in which they acted kept me emotionally invested the entire time. Also, you could definitely believe that the male characters were played by men! The look, voice, and even mannerisms all resembled that of an actual male – it was truly astonishing! Although I enjoyed the first half, the second part – “Super Voyager” – was by far my favorite! It consisted of a variety of dance sequences and singing to music, which was themed around being out on sea on a cruise ship. It was fascinating! The music, the costumes, the dancing – it was like something out of Las Vegas! The best part, in my opinion, was when all the male characters formed a group and sang and danced like a boy band group!
This was a very memorable experience! Before we went, I learned that the male characters are supposed to be played in a way that shows the “ideal man” from a woman’s perspective – he only thinks about his partner and does everything he can to be with her – I think that’s why Takarazuka is so popular with women. It’s a fantasy created for women by women, because it’s only women that know what women truly desire. If I had the time, I would definitely go back again! If any of you ever come to Japan, I highly recommend attending a Takarazuka play if you have the chance. It is something that everyone should witness at least once, because it is another side of Japanese culture, and it helps us to gain a better understanding of this country. Japan has many different aspects that make it what we know today, and I’m glad I was able to find another one of those during my time here!