The fabulous Takarazuka Revue

In the late ’50s and early ’60s, whenever I visited Japan, I never fail to watch the Takarazuka Revue. The show was fabulous, participated in by 400 all-girl performers, held at the Grand Theater, which could accommodate 3,000 seats, with the most modern acoustic and lighting effects.

The presentations onstage included traditional Kabuki plays, folk dances from every corner of Japan and Western musical comedies and operettas. The scenery was gorgeous and the costumes extravagant. The actresses charmed the audience at every show.

The girls could not stay at the Takarazuka Revue once they get married. Most left show business and became happy housewives, but a few turned to the movies and television.

The Revue was founded in 1914 in Takarazuka City, which is located in the central part of Japan, called Kansai, near Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto.

Since 1936, the Takarazuka Revue has been invited to many foreign countries, including Europe, the United States and Southeast Asia. It visited Manila in 1967. — RKC