Rei Yuzuka

Rei (Ray) Yuzuka
柚香 光
Pronunciation	ゆずか れい
Born	March 5th Suginami City, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Education	Takarazuka Music School
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2009-present
Known for	Flower Troupe Top Star (2019–2024)
Predecessor	Rio Asumi
Successor	Sea Towaki
Awards	2021 Takarazuka Excellence

Ray Yuzuka (formerly Rei) (柚香 光, born 5 March) is a Japanese actress and a former Takarazuka Revue otokoyaku (男役, "male role"). She was a leading actress of the Flower Troupe ("Top Star").^[1][2]

Career

In 2007, she passed the Takarazuka Music School entrance exam on the first try,^[3] and entered the school as part of the 95th class [ja]. In 2009, she debuted in the Cosmos Troupe's performance "Amour, it's something like..." and was later assigned to the Flower Troupe. She graduated 20th in her class.^[4]

In 2013, Yuzuka was featured in the "rising star" guidebook NEW GENERATION III.^[5] In 2014, she had her first lead role in a newcomer performance (新人公演)^{[Note 1]} "The Love of the Last Tycoon" as Monroe Stahr. Same year, she had her first main stage lead in a Bow Hall performance "Nocturne" as Vladimir.^[6]

After Toa Serika's transfer in 2017, Yuzuka became the second-ranking otokoyaku (二番手, nibante)^{[Note 2]} of the Flower Troupe after then-Top Star Rio Asumi, starting from "The Poe Clan".^[7]

Without transferring, she became a Top Star in November 2019, second in her class after Makoto Rei.^[8] Her Grand Theater debut performance was delayed for 4 months due to COVID-19.^[9] Her first partner was a musumeyaku (娘役, "young female role") Yuuki Hana, until her retirement in 2021;^[10] later Madoka Hoshikaze [ja] was transferred to Flower Troupe and became her second partner. Rei was a Top Star at the time of 100th Anniversary of the Flower Troupe (2021).^[11]

During her 15 years in the revue she has played a large amount of roles. Notably, she played a lead role twice in "Haikara-san: Here Comes Miss Modern", in 2017 and 2020; has portrayed a historical figure of Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria in both "Elisabeth" and "Mayerling";^[12] portrayed Der Tod in "Elisabeth" newcomer performance, and is one of the five actresses who did and later became Top Stars.^[13]

Yuzuka retired from Takarazuka Revue on May 26, 2024. She and Madoka Hoshikaze decided to graduate together,^[1] which didn't happen in Flower Troupe since the graduation of Miki Maya and Hosachi Sen in 1998.

Yuzuka has modeled for apparel brand Joseph Japan since 2017^[14] until her retirement with the 2023 autumn-winter photoshoot;^[15] also has modeled for stage makeup brand Chacott Cosmetics (2020 - 2022).^[16]

Following her retirement, Yuzuka made the spelling "Yuzuka Ray" official, as only this version is shown on the posters and teasers.^[17] The Japanese spelling is the same.

Biography

She has two older and two younger brothers. As a child, she studied ballet and played the piano.^[3]

The first Takarazuka Revue show that she saw live was Moon Troupe's "Higher than the Sky of Paris / Fancy Dance" (2007).^[18]

While in Takarazuka Music School, students have to decide whether to become an otokoyaku or a musumeyaku; at the time, Yuzuka's height was in between of excpected for male and female roles (around 167 cm). She made the decision on the spot when already asked and later commented: "I wonder what would have happened if I had chosen to be a musumeyaku instead [...] Choosing to be an otokoyaku was a big turning point in my life."^[19]

In 2016, she adopted a Pomeranian named Noir or Noah (ノア). She saw it at the pet shop during Takarazuka Precious Star program with Makoto Rei.^[20] Before leaving for Tokyo the next day, she called her parents to ask about the dog and later took it home.^[21] Since then, Noah frequently appeared in her photoshoots and various pet-themed Sky Stage programs.^[22]

She has named many of her Takarazuka roles as important to her. Among them, Fred Astaire in "Forever Gershwin", after which he has become the otokoyaku image and dancing role model for her, and later she played his role in "Top Hat", which was her favorite performance of Astaire;^[23] Rudolf and Ijuuin Shinobu, who she has portrayed twice; as well as Alan Twilight, Doumyouji Tsukasa, Franz Lizst and others. Some of her roles were based on the characters from shōjo manga and later she has received illustrations from their original creators (Waki Yamato, Moto Hagio and Yoko Kamio).^[19]

Yuzuka has close relationships with her classmates. She is a longtime friend of Maito Minami. In 2024 Sky Stage farewell program she expressed that Minami is "more than family" to her.^[24] Minami also appeared on Rei's closing "Arc-en-ciel" performance to give her retirement flowers.^[25] Rei and her classmate Makoto Rei had similar career paths: both had their first Bow Hall lead performances in 2014 (both were based on Russian literature), they both became Top Stars in 2019, and also both won the Takarazuka's 2021 Excellence of The Year Award.^[26]

Yuzuka's younger brother used to attend the same high school as Madoka Hoshikaze, her second Top Combi partner, making them acquaintances since Takarazuka Music School.^[27] Hoshikaze has also appeared in Rei's Personal Book as a High School Girl in 2016,^[28] before becoming Cosmos Troupe Top musumeyaku in 2017.

Takarazuka works

Stage roles

As a Top Star

• 2023, Singing Lovebirds - Asai Reisaburou
• 2023, Mayerling - Rudolf
• 2022, Years of Pilgrimage - Franz Liszt
• 2022, Top Hat - Jerry Travers
• 2021, Nice Work If You Can Get It - Jimmy Winter
• 2020, Haikara-san: Here Comes Miss Modern - Ijuuin Shinobu

Flower Troupe performances

• 2019, Boys Over Flowers - Doumyouji Tsukasa
• 2018, The Poe Clan - Alan Twilight
• 2016, Me and My Girl - Jacqueline Carlton (female role)
• 2015, The Rose of Versailles - Oscar
• 2014, Elisabeth - Rudolf
• 2014, Nocturne - Vladimir

Newcomer performances

• 2015, The New Tale of Genji - Prince Hikaru Genji
• 2014, Elisabeth - Der Tod
• 2011, Phantom - Sergio

Concerts, events, shows

• 2024, Expression!
• 2023, Be Shining!!
• 2019, Love Arena (Rio Asumi Concert)
• 2016, Prelude of Yū (Yuu Todoroki Dinner Show)

Post-retirement activities

• 2025, Shinkasen Theater 45th Anniversary Inoue Kabuki [Tan] Retrospective "Title undecided" (main role) ^[29]

• 2024, Special Entertaiment Stage "Runway" ^[30]

• 2024, 1st Solo Concert "Tableau" (with guests Yuuki Hana and Madoka Hoshikaze)^[31]

Notes

1. Newcomer performance (新人公演, shinjin kouen) happens once during the main show run and is performed by underclassmen (less than 7 years in the revue). Young prominent actresses usually have a few newcomer lead roles over the years.
2. "Nibante" is not directly announced by the revue. However, it's always clear based on a few factors: when actress (1) wears a smaller version of Top Star feathers for a final parade of the show, (2) continuously gets a central secondary role and is put above the line in the cast list, (3) has her own lead performances and (4) frequently appears on the posters, photos and Sky Stage programs.

References

1. "花組トップスター・柚香光 退団記者会見". Takarazuka Revue Official Website. Hankyu Corporation. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
2. "宝塚花組トップ柚香光、ラストステージに感無量「とてもよい青春でした". Sanspo. SANKEI DIGITAL INC. 26 May 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
3. "花組・柚香光、注目度ナンバーワン 入団６年目で憧れの役". zakzak.co.jp. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
4. Takarazuka Otome. Hankyu Communications. 30 April 2009. pp. 155–163. ISBN 978-4-484-09505-9.
5. NEW GENERATION III. Hankyu Communications. 29 November 2013.
6. "『ノクターン －遠い夏の日の記憶－』". Takarazuka Revue Official Website. Hankyu Corporation. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
7. "ポーの一族". Takarazuka Revue Official Website. Hankyu Corporation. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
8. "Top Star Chart". TAKAWIKI. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
9. "Japan's famed Takarazuka Revue to resume performances after virus shutdown". Mainichi Daily News. THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. 16 June 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
10. "宝塚花組トップ娘役・華優希が退団 来年7月に". デイリースポーツ. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
11. "The Fascination（ザ ファシネイション）!』 -花組誕生100周年 そして未来へ-". Takarazuka Revue Official Website. Hankyu Corporation. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
12. "Yuzuka Rei". TAKAWIKI. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
13. "Elisabeth Cast Lists". TAKAWIKI. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
14. "JOSEPH PHOTO EXHIBITION "DANCING STRIPES" FEAT. REI YUZUKA」を JOSEPH GINZA SIX 店で開催" (PDF). Onward Kashiyama Co., Ltd. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
15. "AUTUMN WINTER 2023 – "THE FINALE"". Rei and Joseph (archive). Retrieved May 28, 2024.
16. "SEPTEMBER 2020". Rei and Chacott (archive). Retrieved May 28, 2024.
17. "Ray Yuzuka 1st Solo Concert「TABLEAU」". natalie.mu. Natasha, Inc. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
18. 柚香光メモリアルブック. Hankyu Communications. 22 March 2024. p. 37. ISBN 978-4-86649-257-5.
19. "ZUCASINO". 宝塚Graph: 10–18. 10 October 2022.
20. "タカラヅカ・プレシャス・スター＃１７「柚香光・礼真琴」". Takarazuka Sky Stage. Takarazuka Creative Arts. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
21. "SKY STAGE SUMMER SCHOOL". Takarazuka Sky Stage. Takarazuka Creative Arts. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
22. "TAKARAZUKAあにまるハウス＃１２「柚香光・星風まどか」". Takarazuka Sky Stage. Takarazuka Creative Arts. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
23. "The shining light that falls, The voice calling for spring". Anan (アンアン) (2384). 14 February 2024.
24. "タカラヅカニュースSELECTION「集まれ！95期」". Takarazuka Sky Stage. Takarazuka Creative Arts. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
25. "花組・柚香光、黒えんび服で大劇場で別れ「この絶景を一生忘れません」 退団公演は東京宝塚劇場で５・２６まで". Hochi News. Sports Hochi. April 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
26. 2022年宝塚 Stage Album. 宝塚クリエイティブアーツ. 2023. p. 75. ISBN 978-4-86649-224-7.
27. "星風まどかサヨナラ特集". 宝塚Graph. Takarazuka Creative Arts Co.: 31–44 5 May 2024.
28. 宝塚ファーストフォトブックvol.3　柚香光. Hankyu Communications. 25 October 2016. ISBN 978-4-908135-79-8.
29. "旗揚げ45周年の劇団☆新感線、2025年初夏＆秋冬公演に柚香光・早乙女兄弟ら豪華顔ぶれ". natalie.mu. Natasha, Inc. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
30. "Runway". umegei.com. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
31. "柚香光、退団後初のコンサート「TABLEAU」3都市で開催決定！". natalie.mu. Natasha Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2024.