Takarazuka Ladies Fascinate Chicagoans with “World of Dreams” Show
Takarazuka Revue OG Show "World of Dreams" Photo from left: Mayura Tama, Tamaki Amo, Rei Ayaka and Erina Mariho
Takarazuka Revue O.G. concert “World of Dreams” took place at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg, Chicago’s northwest suburb, on August 20. Four former Takarazuka ladies, Erina Mariho, Tamaki Amo, Rei Ayaka, and Mayura Tama, attracted the audience with their strikingly beautiful song and dance, and gorgeous costumes. Their highly sophisticated performance, which pursues perfection by strict training, would be unique to Japan.
The program of World of Dreams consisted of 20 lovely music pieces such as Medley of the Rose of Versailles and Disney Princess, “Balcony” from Romeo and Juliet, “You are Music” and “You are My Own” from Takarazuka’s Phantom, “1978: Ca ira mon amour,” “Boote in der Nacht” and “ich Gehor Nur Mir” from Elizabeth, and “Sakura.”
After an intermission, the ladies changed their costumes to kimono dresses and sang Japanese flavored “Takarazuka Koshinkyoku (march)” and “Talarazuka Soran (folk song)”, and then they changed to western costumes and performed “Blue Mother Earth”, “Night & Day”, “Gold von den Sternen” from Mozart!, “El Cumbanchero”, “Time to Say Goodbye”, “Ashinayo”, “Kokoro no Tsubasa (Wing of Heart)”, and “Energy for Future.”
The ladies worked on dress rehearsal in the morning and then performed on the stage in the afternoon. It would be a tough and busy day for them, but they performed tirelessly with full of professionalism and energy. They were very impressive artists.
This year, Takarazuka O.G. Revue, “World of Dreams”, was organized by Executive Producer Sakiko Flower, cosponsored by the Chicago Sister Cities International Osaka Committee as a part of the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Chicago-Osaka sister-city relationship, and supported public-relations activities by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Chicago.
Takarazuka ladies also made a special performance at the Chicago Japan Festival on August 19 at the Cassidy Theater of the Chicago Cultural Center. The ladies fascinated the audience.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
World of Dreams in Chicago was originally planned for March, 2020; however, it was cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
The show series was initiated by Sakiko Flower, who lives in Seattle and was born in the City of Takarazuka in Japan. She said that she had talked with anime fans who had been enjoying cosplay and dreaming of watching Takarazuka Revue in Japan someday. “When I saw twinkles in their eyes, I thought that I could do something to help realize their dreams,” Flower said in an e-mail to Shimpo.
Sakiko Flower, whose name sounds like a stage name related to Takarazuka, did not have any connection to the Revue, so she began to find a way to contact Takarazuka OGs. It was like a groping, but she brought the first World of Dream show to Seattle in 2017. Since then, she continued to organize the show until COVID-19 spread over the world.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
After the Schaumburg show, Flower greeted the audience saying, “Although the 2020 Chicago show was cancelled, its program was already completed, and the Takarazuka ladies had several rehearsals. So I really wanted to bring the show here in Chicago. I’m delighted to have this opportunity and really appreciate the kind support from many people.”
Eriko Abe, Production Manager of the show, said, “We all have the same feeling that we’d like to introduce Takarazuka to all over the world, how wonderful the Takarazuka Revue Company is, and how much these ladies had trained themselves for doing this. I hope you spread the word to the people, who didn’t come today, how wonderful the show was! Please let us come back to Chicago again.”
Greetings from Takarazuka Ladies
After the Schaumberg show, Takarazuka ladies pose for a photo. From left: Rei Ayaka, Mayura Tama, Tamaki Amo, and Erina Mariho
Erina Mariho
Erina Mariho
“I’m very pleased that our dream came true today because of your support and love. We are now linked by fate with you, and that makes me very happy. I wish to see you again here in Chicago, and please come to Japan to see us. Thank you so very much!”
Erina Mariho was a member of the 80th class at Takarazuka School and made her debut in 1994 with a piece called “Phoenix.” She actively performed in the Yuki-gumi and the Sora-gumi and then retired from Takarazuka in 2006. Her last performance was “Never Say Goodbye.”
After her retirement, she has been performing in music and theatre fields such as live concerts, dinner shows, overseas concerts, and party inner events. She is also busy teaching for young performing artists. More information is available at https://4j6of.hp.peraichi.com (Japanese only).
Tamaki Amo
Tamaki Amo
“I was in the role of man for 15 years, and it’s been 11 years since I left Takarazuka. During my retirement years, I sometimes performed on the stage, but my main job is an acupuncture therapist. This time, Ms. Abe invited me to join the group, and I really had a good time. Thank you so much! If you have a chance to visit the City of Takarazuka, please call me. I’ll give you acupuncture therapy.”
Tamaki Amo was a member of the 83rd class and made her debut in 1997. She played a male part in the Sora-gumi, and retired in 2011. Her last stage was Classico Italiano-Nice Guy.
She obtained a National Government Certification for acupuncture therapist in 2015 and was recognized by Japan aesthetic acupuncture massage association as a certified practitioner. She also gives advice to younger members or wannabes of Takarazuka as a voice trainer. She enjoys sports such as swimming, tennis, and rhythmic gymnastics and has been active as a sports aroma trainer. For more information, visit https://www.tamakiamo.com (Japanese only).
Rei Ayaka
Rei Ayaka
“I’ve performed all the World of Dreams series, and now the pandemic is over, I’m very glad to see Japanese people and super fans outside of Japan. Takarazuka Revue Company is going to celebrate its 110th anniversary next year, and I think Takarazuka Revue is one of the Japanese cultures. We are OGs and have modest influence power, but we’d like many more people to know about Takarazuka. We got a lot of links with the audience today. Thank you very much!”
Rei Ayaka was a member of the 84th class and made her debut in 1998 with a romantic revue of “Citrus no Kaze” (Wind of Citrus) presented by the Sora-gumi. She moved to the Hoshi-gumi later. She was in a male part and played the role of Alain and Bernard in the Rose of Versailles. She was selected as a star member and performed in the Takarazuka Creative Arts special program for sequential years. She retired from the stage in 2008.
After her retirement, she has been active in musical and overseas shows, as well as dinner shows at hotels, live stages, and many others. She won a grand prize at an online beauty contest among women in their 40s. For more information, visit https://ameblo.jp/rei-ayaka/ (Japanese only).
Mayura Tama
Mayura Tama
“I’ve also performed all the World of Dreams series and missed the 2020 Chicago show so much. Before coming to Chicago, I often checked YouTube about Chicago, and amazingly Chicago is much more beautiful than YouTube images, so I’m really excited here in Chicago. We were warmly welcomed by the audience in this theatre, so my memories in Takarazuka flashed back to me, and my heart became fraught with great emotion. Thank you very much for your support. I look forward to seeing you again.”
Mayura Tama was a member of the 86th class and made her debut in 2000. She played a female role in the Hana-gumi and retired in 2006.
After her retirement, she helped operate a chemical company owned by her family while she was performing on many occasions such as anniversary events and others. In recent years, she founded her own company Embaumer, and became its CEO.
In her performing arts field, she has organized many shows. One of them is Showa-era-modern-theatre “Fuji no Ougi”, and she has been working on it with Rei Ayaka and others. More information is available at https://ameblo.jp/tonton86th/ (Japanese only).