Yoka Wao
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue
, where she specialized in playing male characters (Otokoyaku). She joined the revue in 1988 and resigned in 2006.
Her nicknames are Takako (from her real name: Takako Ōkawa (大川 貴子 Ōkawa Takako) and Wao.
She is the only Otokoyaku to be top in her class as well as the last otokoyaku top star to have joined the company during the Shōwa
era.
She is born and raised in Osaka (according to Takarazuka Graph 2003 April issue).
. After graduating from the New Actor Show cast, she progressed to playing solid supporting roles in the main troupe productions. One of her notable roles during the Maki Ichiro era is Elmer in the 1997 production of Elizabeth
. When Kouju Tatsuki, who played Rudolf in the Grand Theater, changed troupes, Wao took the role for the Tokyo performance.
She got her first Takarazuka Bow Hall show (Grand Shanghai) in 1995 and the second one (Wuthering Heights
) in 1997.
With the retirement of Maki Ichiro and her successor Fubuki Takane
, Wao became the firm second man for Yū Todoroki
in Snow Troupe before she was selected for the new Cosmos Troupe in 1998. She continued to be the second man in Cosmos Troupe until the resignation of Asato Shizuki. She became the top star of Cosmos Troupe in 2000 and when she retired in 2006, she had had the longest run ever as male-role top star of all time.
With a height of 174 cm, she was the tallest star among her peer top stars such as Mire Aika (Flower), Hibiki Takumi (Flower), Tsubasa Makoto (Moon), Jun Shibuki
(Moon), Yū Todoroki
(Snow), Yū Emao (Snow), Kō Minoru (Star) and Tatsuki Kōju (Star).
She is one of the three actresses to portray both Emperor Franz Joseph and Prince Rudolph
in Elizabeth (the other are Sakiho Juri
and Mao Ayabuki) and the only actress to portray Rudolf
in two different musicals (Elizabeth
and Mayerling)
In December 2005, she injured herself during the performance of W-Wing (her personal concert) but was able to come back for Never Say Goodbye
, her last musical with Takarazuka.
In January 2007, she had her first personal concert since she left the company.
Right now, she is considered as an independent artist as she and her top star partner Mari Hanafusa
have founded their own private office Wao Enterprise with Hanafusa
as her manager. It is rare that top star partners who have left the company would continue to work together in such close relationship.
While having her second concert (New Yoka ～Rockin' Broadway～) at Tokyo
in August 2007, she was the guest star for Russell Watson
's concert at Tokyo
later on. Watson
and she performed at Rokuonji Temple.
Her first movie was Chacha: Tengai no Onna, which she plays as the leading actress in the role of Lady Chacha. The movie premiered in Japan on December 22, 2007. She later received the award of Best Actress at the Osaka Cinema Festival for this role.
In 2008, it was announced that she will be Velma Kelly for the Japanese version of Chicago
with Ryoko Yonekura
as Roxie and Ryuichi Kawamura
as Billy in October and November. This was marked as her first musical drama outside Takarazuka.
Wao is currently set to star in Dracula, the Musical
, another Frank Wildhorn production, in August 2011. This is her first otokoyaku role outside of Takarazuka, and she is the first female to play the role.
, who is a year junior than Wao, shares some similarities of their career related to Elisabeth
:
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue
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...
, where she specialized in playing male characters (Otokoyaku). She joined the revue in 1988 and resigned in 2006.
Her nicknames are Takako (from her real name: Takako Ōkawa (大川 貴子 Ōkawa Takako) and Wao.
She is the only Otokoyaku to be top in her class as well as the last otokoyaku top star to have joined the company during the Shōwa
Hirohito
, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
era.
She is born and raised in Osaka (according to Takarazuka Graph 2003 April issue).
Troupe History
-
Snow Troupe: 1988–1997 -
Cosmos Troupe: 1998–2006
General information
Wao first attracted attention when she played the role of Oscar in the New Actor Show of 1989 Snow Production Rose of Versailles. Later on, she took the leading role in the New Actor Show of High and LowHigh and Low
is a 1963 film directed by Akira Kurosawa, starring Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai and Kyōko Kagawa. It was loosely based on King's Ransom, an 87th Precinct police procedural by Ed McBain.-Plot:...
. After graduating from the New Actor Show cast, she progressed to playing solid supporting roles in the main troupe productions. One of her notable roles during the Maki Ichiro era is Elmer in the 1997 production of Elizabeth
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...
. When Kouju Tatsuki, who played Rudolf in the Grand Theater, changed troupes, Wao took the role for the Tokyo performance.
She got her first Takarazuka Bow Hall show (Grand Shanghai) in 1995 and the second one (Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights is a novel by Emily Brontë published in 1847. It was her only novel and written between December 1845 and July 1846. It remained unpublished until July 1847 and was not printed until December after the success of her sister Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre...
) in 1997.
With the retirement of Maki Ichiro and her successor 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....
, Wao became the firm second man for 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...
in Snow Troupe before she was selected for the new Cosmos Troupe in 1998. She continued to be the second man in Cosmos Troupe until the resignation of Asato Shizuki. She became the top star of Cosmos Troupe in 2000 and when she retired in 2006, she had had the longest run ever as male-role top star of all time.
With a height of 174 cm, she was the tallest star among her peer top stars such as Mire Aika (Flower), Hibiki Takumi (Flower), Tsubasa Makoto (Moon), Jun Shibuki
Jun Shibuki
Tanazawa Rika , know by her stage name , is a musical actress and performer of Japanese stage acting. She is a former member of Takarazuka Revue, where she played Otokoyaku...
(Moon), 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), Yū Emao (Snow), Kō Minoru (Star) and Tatsuki Kōju (Star).
She is one of the three actresses to portray both Emperor Franz Joseph and Prince Rudolph
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...
in Elizabeth (the other are 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...
and Mao Ayabuki) and the only actress to portray 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...
in two different musicals (Elizabeth
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 Mayerling)
In December 2005, she injured herself during the performance of W-Wing (her personal concert) but was able to come back for Never Say Goodbye
Never 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...
, her last musical with Takarazuka.
In January 2007, she had her first personal concert since she left the company.
Right now, she is considered as an independent artist as she and her top star partner Mari Hanafusa
Mari Hanafusa
is a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, in which she specialized in female roles . She is from Tokyo and joined the revue in 1991 and retired in 2006...
have founded their own private office Wao Enterprise with Hanafusa
Mari Hanafusa
is a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, in which she specialized in female roles . She is from Tokyo and joined the revue in 1991 and retired in 2006...
as her manager. It is rare that top star partners who have left the company would continue to work together in such close relationship.
While having her second concert (New Yoka ～Rockin' Broadway～) at Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in August 2007, she was the guest star for Russell Watson
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...
's concert at Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
later on. Watson
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...
and she performed at Rokuonji Temple.
Her first movie was Chacha: Tengai no Onna, which she plays as the leading actress in the role of Lady Chacha. The movie premiered in Japan on December 22, 2007. She later received the award of Best Actress at the Osaka Cinema Festival for this role.
In 2008, it was announced that she will be Velma Kelly for the Japanese version of Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
with Ryoko Yonekura
Ryoko Yonekura
is a Japanese ex-fashion model and actress. She studied classical ballet for 15 years from the age of five. A member of the Oscar Productions agency, she won a national young beauty award in 1992. In 1993 she started her career as a model, working for fashion magazines such as CanCam. She announced...
as Roxie and Ryuichi Kawamura
Ryuichi Kawamura
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor and record producer. He is best known as lead singer of the rock band Luna Sea. After the group disbanded in 2000, Ryuichi went on to a successful solo career. In 2005 he formed Tourbillon with, fellow Luna Sea member, Inoran and Hiroaki Hayama...
as Billy in October and November. This was marked as her first musical drama outside Takarazuka.
Wao is currently set to star in Dracula, the Musical
Dracula, The Musical
Dracula, the Musical is a musical based on the original Victorian novel by Bram Stoker. The score is by Frank Wildhorn, with lyrics and book by Don Black and Christopher Hampton....
, another Frank Wildhorn production, in August 2011. This is her first otokoyaku role outside of Takarazuka, and she is the first female to play the role.
Snow New Actor Show Era
- Rose of Versailles - Oscar
- High and LowHigh and Lowis a 1963 film directed by Akira Kurosawa, starring Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai and Kyōko Kagawa. It was loosely based on King's Ransom, an 87th Precinct police procedural by Ed McBain.-Plot:...
Snow Era
- ElisabethElisabeth (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...
- Elmer/Rudolph (Replacing Tatsuji Kouju for Tokyo performance) - Grand Shanghai - Chan (First leading performance at Takarazuka Bow Hall)
- An Invitation from Alice - Michael (Bow Hall Performance, starring 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....
) - 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...
- Melinda's lover - Wuthering HeightsWuthering HeightsWuthering Heights is a novel by Emily Brontë published in 1847. It was her only novel and written between December 1845 and July 1846. It remained unpublished until July 1847 and was not printed until December after the success of her sister Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre...
- HeathcliffHeathcliff (Wuthering Heights)Heathcliff is a fictional character in the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Owing to the novel's enduring fame and popularity, he is often regarded as an archetype of the tortured Romantic hero whose all-consuming passions destroy both himself and those around him.Legend has stereotyped...
(Leading performance at Takarazuka Bow Hall)
Cosmos Era
- Excalibur - Christopher (First show for Cosmos Troupe)
- ElizabethElisabeth (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...
- Franz Joseph - Crossroad - Alphonso (Last leading performance before being top star)
- Black Rose of the Desert - Yawan
Cosmos Top Star Era
- Mayerling (Top Star Debut) - Rudolph
- Nostalgia Across the Sea (Top Star Debut at Grand Theater)
- Rose of Versailles: Fersen and Marie Antoinette - Hans Axel Von Fersen
- Castel Mirage - Leonardo
- Calaf & Turandot - Calaf
- Pierre the Mercenary - Pierre
- Lightning in the Daytime - Albert de Clair
- Boxman - Kevin Randall
- 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....
- Phantom/Erik - 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....
- Rhett ButlerRhett ButlerRhett Butler is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists of Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.-Role:In the beginning of the novel, we first meet Rhett at the Twelve Oaks Plantation barbecue, the home of John Wilkes and his son Ashley and daughters Honey and India Wilkes... - A Kiss to the Flames - Manrico
- Hotel Stella Maris - William Odenell
- Never Say Goodbye - Georges Malraux (Last musical with Takarazuka)
Concert
- Wao Yoka Concert
- New Yoka ~Rockin' Broadway~ (Also credited as the creator)
- JALJapan Airlinesis an airline headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. It is the flag carrier of Japan and its main hubs are Tokyo's Narita International Airport and Tokyo International Airport , as well as Nagoya's Chūbu Centrair International Airport and Osaka's Kansai International Airport...
Kinkakuji Otobutai
Award
| Year | Award | Work | Note |
| 2007 | Best Actress - Osaka Cinema Festival | Chacha: Tengai no Onna | |
| 2004 | Kazuo Kikuta Drama Award | Boxman | shared with Mari Hanafusa Mari Hanafusa is a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, in which she specialized in female roles . She is from Tokyo and joined the revue in 1991 and retired in 2006... |
Wao, Kozuki and Elisabeth
Wataru KozukiWataru 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 ....
, who is a year junior than Wao, shares some similarities of their career related to 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...
:
- Both are the veterans from the production of 1997 Snow and Star when they participated the Cosmos production.
- Wao portrayed Elmer in the Takarazuka run in the 1997 Snow production and Kozuki portrayed the same role in both locations.
- They became the top stars of the company later on (Cosmos and Star)
- During their junior years and before the founding of Cosmos Troupe, they had been in the same troupes with legend Mari HanafusaMari Hanafusais a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, in which she specialized in female roles . She is from Tokyo and joined the revue in 1991 and retired in 2006...
, who is the only star that portrayed Elisabeth in both Snow and Cosmos Production.