Miki Maya
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese actress, and also a former top star of the Takarazuka Revue
. Her real name is . During her childhood, she lived in several different cities because of her father's job. It was Toyonaka, Osaka
, where she had spent most of her teen years before she joined the Takarazuka Revue in 1981. Her debut performance was "Takarazuka Haru no Odori" and she became the top star of the Flower Troupe for her role in East Of Eden in 1995. She retired in 1998 and her last show was 'Speakeasy', in which she sang the theme song Kaze no machi no junjō na akutō tachi(風の街の純情な男たち). This musical is based on John Gay
's 1728 ballad opera, The Beggar's Opera
.
Miki, as she is affectionately known, is considered by some as one that affected many changes in the image of the "otokoyaku" ( male role), having many "first"s under her name.". Surprisingly, she originally wanted to play female roles when she first entered the music school.
, "Guy". She is also the only Takarasienne to appear in NHK
's Top Runner in December 1997. Furthermore, her concert, "Miki In Budokan
", had a sell-out crowd of 30,000 in just 2 days. Her other talents include Japanese dance and baton work.
She debuted in the Flower troupe and stayed in the same troupe until she became top star and retired in 1998.
Since her retirement, she has enjoyed popularity as a drama, stage and movie actress and has acted in various dramas including "Himitsu no Hanazono", "Kaze no Haruka" and "Attention Please". She has also shot commercials for Wella, Hagen Daz and Kikkoman, among others.
In 2008, she returned to the stage with Chariteau Versailles to commemorate her 10th year after leaving the Tarazuka stage. In the same year, she married ballet dancer, Nishijima Kazuhiro. The wedding ceremony took place in April 2009 at the famous Meiji Jingu Shrine
, where she and her husband were surrounded by the press and their fans.
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...
. Her real name is . During her childhood, she lived in several different cities because of her father's job. It was Toyonaka, Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, where she had spent most of her teen years before she joined the Takarazuka Revue in 1981. Her debut performance was "Takarazuka Haru no Odori" and she became the top star of the Flower Troupe for her role in East Of Eden in 1995. She retired in 1998 and her last show was 'Speakeasy', in which she sang the theme song Kaze no machi no junjō na akutō tachi(風の街の純情な男たち). This musical is based on John Gay
John Gay
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera , set to music by Johann Christoph Pepusch...
's 1728 ballad opera, The Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of satirical ballad opera to remain popular today...
.
Miki, as she is affectionately known, is considered by some as one that affected many changes in the image of the "otokoyaku" ( male role), having many "first"s under her name.". Surprisingly, she originally wanted to play female roles when she first entered the music school.
Trivia
She is the first Takarasienne to have a solo photo book shot by Kishin ShinoyamaKishin Shinoyama
is a Japanese photographer.Shinoyama graduated from Nihon University. He worked with the Light Publicity agency while still a student, and freelanced after graduation....
, "Guy". She is also the only Takarasienne to appear in NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
's Top Runner in December 1997. Furthermore, her concert, "Miki In Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
", had a sell-out crowd of 30,000 in just 2 days. Her other talents include Japanese dance and baton work.
She debuted in the Flower troupe and stayed in the same troupe until she became top star and retired in 1998.
Since her retirement, she has enjoyed popularity as a drama, stage and movie actress and has acted in various dramas including "Himitsu no Hanazono", "Kaze no Haruka" and "Attention Please". She has also shot commercials for Wella, Hagen Daz and Kikkoman, among others.
In 2008, she returned to the stage with Chariteau Versailles to commemorate her 10th year after leaving the Tarazuka stage. In the same year, she married ballet dancer, Nishijima Kazuhiro. The wedding ceremony took place in April 2009 at the famous Meiji Jingu Shrine
Meiji Shrine
', located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken.-History:...
, where she and her husband were surrounded by the press and their fans.
Regular Cast Era
- Berusaiyu no Bara - Girodelle [Star Troupe Special Performance]
- Jewel of Romanov - Angelo
- Beautiful Beast - Quinby
- The Rose of Versailles:Fersen - Oscar and Joseph II
- The Prelude to Winter - L'Ubor
- Chou-Saishi's Choice - Ryudou
- The Emblem of Venetia - Vittorio
- Dance Festival - Savinius
- Melancholic Gigolo - Stan
- Bay City Blues - Leonard
- Apple Tree - Adam, Barbara and Ella
- Black Jack:A Lucky Bet - Cain [Takarazuka Cast]
- Gone with the Wind - Rhett Butler [guest]
- Black Jack:A Lucky Bet - Black Jack [Tokyo Cast]
- Winter Storm ~Death in St. Petersburg~ - Andre
- Kanashimi no Cordova - Romero
Top Star Era
- East of Eden - Cal
- The Scarlet Pimpernel - Sir Percy Blakeney
- Hana wa Hana Nari - Hanawaka
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - J.Pierrepont Finch
- Ryoma - Sakamoto Ryoma
- Hollywood Babylon - Arthur Cochran
- Gone with the Wind - Rhett Butler [National Tour]
- That's Revue - Harukaze Taihei
- Blue Swan - Alex
- Speakeasy - Macheath [Sayonara Show]
TV
- "Hi wa Mata Noboru" - (TV Asahi, 2011)
- "Mioka" - (NTV, 2010)
- "Ohitorisama" - (TBS, 2009)
- "Buzzer Beat" - (Fuji TV, 2009)
- "Sirius no Michi" - (WOWOW, 2008)
- "Zettai Kareshi" - (Fuji TV, 2008)
- "Attention Please" - SP (Fuji TV, 2008)
- "Tokyo Daikushu" - (NTV, 2008)
- "Shabake" - (Fuji TV, 2007)
- "Galileo" - (Fuji TV, 2007)
- "Shinkansen Girl" - (NTV, 2007)
- "LIFE" - (Fuji TV, 2007)
- "Attention Please SP" - (Fuji TV, 2007)
- "Himitsu no Hanazono" - (Fuji TV, 2007)
- "Bengoshi Haijima Hideki" - (Fuji TV, 2006)
- "Attention Please" - (Fuji TV, 2006)
- "Kaze no Haruka" - (NHK, 2005)
- "Batsu Kare" - (TBS, 2004)
- "Onjuku Kawasemi" - (御宿かわせみ) (NHK, 2004)
- "Teruteru Kazoku" - (NHK, 2003)
- "Boku dake no Madonna" - (Fuji TV, 2003)
- "Dobutsu no Oisha-san" - (TV Asahi, 2003)
- "Two Hand Man" - (TV Asahi, 2002)
- "Straight News" - (NTV, 2000)
- "Ai wo Kudasai" - (Fuji TV, 2000)
- "Kizu Darake no Onna" - (Fuji TV, 1999)
Film
- Bayside Shakedown 2Bayside Shakedown 2is the second movie based on the popular Bayside Shakedown TV series, known for its unique and humorous depiction of the Japanese police force while avoiding the conventions that define most police dramas...
(2003) - Superintendent Okita - Take the 'A' Train, Someday (2003) - Anna
- Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009) - Cate Wilson (Japanese dubbed version)
Stage
- Big (1999) - Susan
- CABARETCabaret (musical)Cabaret is a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1966 Broadway production became a hit and spawned a 1972 film as well as numerous subsequent productions....
(2004) - Chariteau Versailles(2008)