While there is pressure (from multiple angles) on actresses to preserve a specific public image as Takarasiennes, the truth is they are humans, too. There’s bound to be a number of actresses who either identify as LGBTQ+ in their private lives or would use those labels in a different cultural context. It is quietly known that some actresses have had female partners during or after their time in the Revue. Hopefully, as society progresses, more actresses will feel comfortable speaking up about their personal connections to their onstage gender presentations. Some already have: when questioned about her style of dress, recently retired actress Nanami Hiroki said in an interview, “The Takarazuka otokoyaku Nanami Hiroki is actually very close to my genuine self. So comparatively, suddenly becoming a very feminine woman would have been more unnatural for me, but at the same time, it’s not like I’m a guy either. [ . . . ] I think it would be interesting to [ . . . occupy] the space somewhere between masculine and feminine.” However the actresses choose to identify, the fact remains that the stage world created by the Revue presents dynamics of gender and attraction that aren’t found on such a large scale anywhere else in the world.
How Can I Experience This Myself?
So… Are They Lesbians?
If you want to attend performances yourself, tickets to shows at the Grand Theater in Takarazuka or the Tokyo Theater can be purchased on either the English website or the Japanese version. If the show is very popular or you’re hoping to spend less money, standing-room-only tickets (tachimi) can be purchased on the day of the performance by joining the line outside the theater a couple of hours before the tickets go on sale.
As a queer theatre artist, I’ve always been drawn to theater’s potential for allowing us to imagine ourselves in roles outside of what is considered the norm for society. Because of the fantastical romances and flirtatious revues performed by the actresses of Takarazuka, foreigners sometimes assume the Revue is “lesbian theater.” Given that the overwhelming majority of hardcore Takarazuka fans are women, many academics have written articles attempting to dissect the gender and sexual dynamics of the Revue, attributing fans’ passion variously to homoromantic desire, needs unmet by husbands, motherly competitiveness, or an outlet to see women breaking the boundaries of gender norms.
Every time I attend a Takarazuka performance I discover something new. Given its uniqueness in the world of theatre and Japanese society, it’s definitely worth your time to experience it at least once while in Japan. I can promise it will be an adventure to remember!
While the Revue continues to promote the image of otokoyaku as attractive and romantic, the company has historically been wary of homoerotic associations beyond the world of the stage. The original premise was that Takarazuka was a stepping-stone before the greater calling of marriage and motherhood, and to this day the actresses aren’t allowed to be married or even openly dating anyone while they are still members of the Revue. Many Takarasiennes do go on to marry men and start families after they leave the company, while others continue their careers for years.
Originally from Minnesota, USA, Laura Steblay currently works at a junior high school in northern Osaka prefecture. While her dreams of becoming a Takarasienne can never come to fruition, she’s holding out hope for that drag king gig someday. Reach out on Facebook or Instagram (@lgsteblay) if you have questions or want to attend theater (Takarazuka or otherwise) with a buddy!
Further Reading Interview with Nanami Hiroki Takarazuka Wiki Page Takarazuka Official Website Takarazuka Revue Fan Podcast
All photos provided by Laura Steblay
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