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== Troupe History == |
== Troupe History == |
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In the Takarazuka Revue, all the parts are played by women, based on the original model of [[Kabuki]] before 1629 when women were banned from the theatre in Japan.<ref>Leupp, Gary P. ''Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokugawa Japan.'' University of California Press, 1997. ISBN 0520209001.</ref> The women who play male parts are referred to as ''otokoyaku'' (literally "male role") and those who play female parts are called ''musumeyaku'' (literally "daughter's role"). The costume, set designs and lighting are lavish, the performances [[melodrama]]tic. Side pathways extend the already wide proscenium, accommodating elaborate processions and choreography. |
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[[File:Takarazuka-Hana-nihongo.jpg|thumb|Flower Troupe: 1992–2004]] |
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[[File:Takarazuka-Tsuki-nihongo.jpg|thumb|Moon Troupe: 2004–2009]] |
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Before becoming a member of the troupe, a young woman must train for two years in the Takarazuka Music School, one of the most competitive of its kind in the world. Each year, thousands from all over Japan audition. Between 40 and 50 students are trained in [[music]], [[dance]], and [[acting]], and are given seven-year contracts. The school is famous for its strict discipline and its custom of having first-year students clean the premises each morning. |
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The first year, all women are trained together but subsequently are divided by the faculty and the current troupe members into ''otokoyaku'' and ''musumeyaku'' at the end of the year. Those playing ''otokoyaku'' cut their hair short, take on a more masculine role in the classroom, and speak in the masculine form. |
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The company has five main troupes: Hana, Tsuki, Yuki, Hoshi, and Sora (Flower, Moon, Snow, Star, and the Cosmos), and Senka (Superior Members), a collection for senior actresses no longer part of a regular troupe who still wish to maintain their association with the revue. They perform periodically. The original troupes, Flower and Moon, were founded in 1921. Snow Troupe began in 1924. Star Troupe was founded in 1931, but disbanded in 1939, and reestablished in 1948. Founded in 1998, Cosmos is the newest troupe. |
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==Information == |
==Information == |
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Revision as of 18:38, 11 May 2010
 | This article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject. (October 2009) |
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (January 2008) |
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Jun Sena (瀬奈じゅん, Sena Jun), real name Asako Doi (土井麻子, Doi Asako) is a former top star otokoyaku, an actress who plays male roles of the Japanese Takarazuka Revue's Moon Troupe. She joined the revue in 1992 and reached top star status in 2005. Her nicknames are Asa and Asako. She was born April 1, 1974 and grew up in Suginami, Tokyo.
She was the first otokoyaku from her class (1992) to reach top star status.
She resigned her position as top star and retired from Takarazuka Revue in December 2009 after the run of Last Play / Heat on Beat.
Troupe History
In the Takarazuka Revue, all the parts are played by women, based on the original model of Kabuki before 1629 when women were banned from the theatre in Japan.[1] The women who play male parts are referred to as otokoyaku (literally "male role") and those who play female parts are called musumeyaku (literally "daughter's role"). The costume, set designs and lighting are lavish, the performances melodramatic. Side pathways extend the already wide proscenium, accommodating elaborate processions and choreography.
Before becoming a member of the troupe, a young woman must train for two years in the Takarazuka Music School, one of the most competitive of its kind in the world. Each year, thousands from all over Japan audition. Between 40 and 50 students are trained in music, dance, and acting, and are given seven-year contracts. The school is famous for its strict discipline and its custom of having first-year students clean the premises each morning.
The first year, all women are trained together but subsequently are divided by the faculty and the current troupe members into otokoyaku and musumeyaku at the end of the year. Those playing otokoyaku cut their hair short, take on a more masculine role in the classroom, and speak in the masculine form.
The company has five main troupes: Hana, Tsuki, Yuki, Hoshi, and Sora (Flower, Moon, Snow, Star, and the Cosmos), and Senka (Superior Members), a collection for senior actresses no longer part of a regular troupe who still wish to maintain their association with the revue. They perform periodically. The original troupes, Flower and Moon, were founded in 1921. Snow Troupe began in 1924. Star Troupe was founded in 1931, but disbanded in 1939, and reestablished in 1948. Founded in 1998, Cosmos is the newest troupe.
Information
As a three-year-old, Sena was in a car accident during which she tore her Achilles tendon. Her doctor suggested certain exercises were necessary for her recovery, so her mother enrolled her in ballet lessons.
Her stage name, Jun Sena, is a combination of ideas from her parents: Sena comes from Ayrton Senna, her father's favourite Formula One racing driver. "Jun" comes from Jun Ariake, a former vice troupe leader of Takarazuka's Moon Troupe, with whom her mother went to high school.
She was one of the promising young stars promoted by the company in 1999, with Sumire Haruno, the former top star of Flower Troupe, and Hikaru Asami the former top star of Snow Troupe. Before she was promoted to top star status, she was considered as one of top-stars-in-waiting, with such other former Cosmos Troupe top stars Kei Takashiro and Yūga Yamato, former top star of Star Troupe Kei Aran, and current top star of Snow Troupe Natsuki Mizu.
In 2001, she had her first leading role in the Bow Hall production Manon. Her co-star, Kanami Ayano, later became her top star partner. With the resignation of Mire Aika and Hibiki Takumi as top stars, Sena became a prominent figure in Flower Troupe. When Sumire Haruno became the top star of the troupe in 2003, Sena became the second man for Haruno.
Sena received much acclaim for two roles in 2003: Luigi Lucheni, from Flower Troupe's production of Elisabeth and Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities.
In 2004, Sena and classmate Kei Takashiro, who was then a member of Snow Troupe, were invited into the cast of Moon Troupe's production of The Glow of Sunset in Asuka. The pair, with classmate Yūhi Ōzora, had prominent roles in the show. From that time on, Sena was unofficially transferred to Moon Troupe, though officially she was still a member of Flower Troupe.
With the resignation of Nao Ayaki in 2005, Sena became the top star of Moon Troupe with Kanami Ayano as her partner. Their debut performance was Ernest in Love, and their début at the Grand Theater was in Jazzy Fairies.
Versatility
Sena is famous for her portrayal of a series of such strong male characters as Luigi Lucheni, Sydney Carton and Jack Worthing. However, she also received praise for her female roles, such as Scarlett O'Hara in the Flower Troupe production of Gone with the Wind in 2002 and Elisabeth of Bavaria in the Moon Troupe production of Elisabeth in 2005.
Although an otokoyaku usually has a deep voice, her voice is versatile enough to allow her to sing in both the male and the female ranges without any difficulties.
Notable Performances and Roles
Flower Troupe Era
- Speakeasy - Macheath (New Actor Show lead)
- Manon - Rodrigo (first leading performance at Takarazuka Bow Hall)
- Gone with the Wind - Scarlett O'Hara
- In the Amber-Hued Rain - Michel de Plaire (Grand Theater) / Louis Valentin (Tokyo)
- Elisabeth - Luigi Lucheni
- Immortal Thorns - Albert
- A Tale of Two Cities - Sydney Carton
- Akanesasu Murasakino Hana - Prince Ōama
Flower-Moon Era
Moon Troupe Top Star Era
- Ernest in Love - Jack Worthing (Top Star debut)
- Jazzy Fairy - Patrick Gale (Top Star debut at Grand Theater)
- Rose of Versailles (special appearance in Snow Troupe performance) - Andre
- Rome at Dawn - Marcus Junius Brutus (with special guest star Yū Todoroki)
- Akanesasu Murasakino Hana - Prince Ōama
- Higher Than the Sky of Paris - Armand Jacquet
- Love at Dal Lake - Hachiman
- The Magician's Melancholy - Champsdor
- A-“R”ex - Alexander the Great
- Me and My Girl - Bill
- Elisabeth - Der Tod
- Last Play - Alistair
After Takarazuka
Interesting Fact
She is the third top star for Moon Troupe that is originally from Flower Troupe and one of two stars that portrayed a female role before becoming an otokoyaku top star.
- ^ Leupp, Gary P. Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokugawa Japan. University of California Press, 1997. ISBN 0520209001.