| Rei Yuzuka | |
| Native Name: | 柚香 光 |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Pronunciation: | ゆずか れい |
| Birth Date: | March 5th |
| Birth Place: | 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 |
Rei Yuzuka (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]
In 2007, she passed the Takarazuka Music School entrance exam on the first try,[3] and entered the school as part of the . In 2009, she debuted in the Cosmos Troupe's performance "Amour, it's something like..." and was later assaigned to the Flower Troupe. She graduated 20th in her class.[4]
In 2013, Yuzuka was featured in NEW GENERATION III.[5] In 2014, she had her first lead role in a newcomer performance (新人公演) "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) 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 was transfred 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]
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).[17]
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."[18]
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.[19] Before leaving for Tokyo the next day, she called her parents to ask about the dog and later took it home.[20] Since then, Noah frequently appeared in her photoshoots and various pet-themed Sky Stage programs.[21]
She 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;[22] 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).[18]
Yuzuka has close relationship with her classmates. She is a longtime friend of Maito Minami. In 2024 Sky Stage's farewell program she expressed, that Minami is "more than family" to her.[23] Minami also appeared on Rei's closing "Arc-en-ciel" performance to give her retirement flowers.[24] 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.[25]
Yuzuka's younger brother used to attend the same high school as Madoka Hoshikaze, her Top Combi partner, making them acquaintances since Takarazuka Music School.[26] She has also appeared in Rei's Personal Book as a High School Girl in 2016,[27] before becoming Cosmos Troupe's Top musumeyaku in 2017.