It has been announced that former Takarazuka Revue Snow Troupe top star Sakina Ayakaze will be appearing on the WOWOW program "Takarazuka Premiere," which will be broadcast on December 27th. Irodori Michiru, a former Moon Troupe female lead who was a friend of Ayakaze's from her time with the troupe and who just left in November, will also be appearing. As a special feature, the two will be taking on the challenge of assembling the "karakuri devices" that adorn Takarazuka Revue productions.
Ayakaze joined the Takarazuka Revue in 2007 as the top graduate of the 93rd class. In 2010, she made her debut as the lead in the Snow Troupe's newcomer production of "Dawn of Solferino," and went on to star in newcomer productions five times, tying the company's record for most such roles. Since becoming the Snow Troupe's top star, she has appeared in such productions as "CITY HUNTER/Fire Fever!", "Sokyuu no Subaru," and "BONNIE & CLYDE." She retired from the Takarazuka Revue in October 2024, following the final performance of the Tokyo production of "The Rose of Versailles."
Aya joined the Takarazuka Revue in 2013 as a member of the 99th class. She was assigned to the Snow Troupe and played her first leading role in the 2015 debut production of "Hoshiai Ichi-ya." In 2016, she took on the role of a young boy named Myojin Yahiko in "Rurouni Rurouni Kenshin," and in 2019, she played the leading role in her third debut production in "Mibu Gishi Den." She was then transferred to the Moon Troupe, and left the company on November 16th this year after the final performance of the Moon Troupe's "GUYS AND DOLLS." This will be her first television appearance since leaving the troupe.
Ayakaze and Aya have previously performed together in the 2017 Snow Troupe production "CAPTAIN NEMO." In the show, the two will use trial and error to assemble a mechanical device and create Takarazuka-style decorations. At the end of the device, there will be a special mechanism that displays the name of the show, "Takarazuka Premiere." The video of this mechanical device moving is planned to be used as the opening theme for future shows.
"Takarazuka Premiere" will be broadcast on WOWOW Live from 3:30 pm on December 27th.
Also, from 4:00 PM on the same day, "Invitation to Takarazuka" will be broadcast on WOWOW Live. The program will feature the 2003 Star Troupe performance of "Aida," accompanied by audio commentary by Kozuki Wataru and Aran Kei. The program includes a new recording of a valuable audio commentary for the Takarazuka version of the opera "Aida," a masterpiece performed by the Star Troupe led by Kozuki and Dan Rei. Unreleased footage will also be available on WOWOW On Demand.
