, is a Japanese actress and former top star of the

Takarazuka Revue The is a Japanese all-female musical theatre troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo, Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Women play all roles in lavish, Broadway theatre, Broadway-style productions of musicals and stories adapted from films, nov ...

's Moon Troupe, a Japanese theatre organization in which women portray all parts. She was born April 1, 1974, and grew up in

Suginami, Tokyo is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward in the Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. The ward refers to itself as Suginami City in English. As of June 1, 2022, Suginami has an estimated population of 588,354 and a population density of 17,274 pe ...

. During her time in the Revue, she was an ''otokoyaku'', an actress who specializes in male roles. After two years of intensive training at the Takarazuka Music School, she joined the revue in 1992 and reached top star status in 2005. Her nicknames are Asa and Asako. The first ''otokoyaku'' from her class of 1992 to reach top star status, she resigned her position as top star and retired in December 2009 after the run of ''Last Play / Heat on Beat'' and is now pursuing an acting career outside of the Revue.

Troupe History

* Flower Troupe: 1992–2004 * Moon Troupe: 2004–2009 Sena entered the Takarazuka Music School in 1990 and graduated in 1992. Upon graduation, she was placed in the Revue's Flower Troupe. During her time in Flower Troupe, she had one ''shinjinkouen'' (performance for junior troupe members) lead, and also had the lead role in two performances at Takarazuka Bow Hall. In 2002, she had her first lead role as a female character when she performed as Scarlett O'Hara opposite Yu Todoroki's Rhett Butler in an adaptation of ''

Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * Gone with the Wind (novel), ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * Gone with the Wind (film), ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind ...

''. As part of the Revue's 90th anniversary celebration in 2004, Sena made a special appearance in a Moon Troupe performance. She was also selected to portray the title role in the 2005 Moon Troupe production of '' Elisabeth''. Although Sena was never officially transferred into Moon Troupe for these two performances and appeared only as a special guest, she was named the next top star of the troupe in 2005. From that point on until her retirement from the Revue in 2009, Sena would remain a member of Moon Troupe.

Biography

As a three-year-old, Sena was in a car accident during which she tore her

Achilles tendon The Achilles tendon or heel cord, also known as the calcaneal tendon, is a tendon at the back of the lower leg, and is the thickest in the human body. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius (calf) and soleus muscles to the calcane ...

. Her doctor suggested certain exercises were necessary for her recovery, so her mother enrolled her in

ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...

lessons. Her stage name, Jun Sena, is a combination of ideas from her parents: ''Sena'' comes from

Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna da Silva (; 21 March 1960 – 1 May 1994) was a Brazilian racing driver, who competed in Formula One from to . Senna won three Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles with McLaren, and—at the time of his death—held ...

, her father's favourite

Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

racing driver. "Jun" comes from Jun Ariake, a former vice troupe leader of Takarazuka's Moon Troupe, with whom her mother went to high school. After attending Takarazuka Music School, she was one of the promising young stars promoted by the company in 1999, with

Sumire Haruno (born 15 December 1972) is a Japanese actress from Komae, Tokyo, a former member of Takarazuka Revue, specializing in otokoyaku. She joined the revue in 1991, became the top star of Flower Troupe in 2002 and resigned from the company in 2007. He ...

, the former top star of Flower Troupe, and

Hikaru Asami Hikaru Asami (朝海ひかる, born January 24, 1972) is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters (Otokoyaku). She joined the revue in 1991 and resigned in 2006. ...

the former top star of Snow Troupe. Before she was promoted to top star status, she was considered as one of top-stars-in-waiting, with such other former Cosmos Troupe top stars Kei Takashiro and

Yūga Yamato (born August 4, 1977) is a former ''otokoyaku'' (a female playing a male part) for Cosmos Troupe of Takarazuka Revue. She joined the company in 1995 and became the top star in February 2007 upon the resignation of Kei Takashiro, which made her t ...

, former top star of Star Troupe

Kei Aran , , is a South Korean actress and former top star ''otokoyaku'' (an actress who plays male roles) of the Japanese Takarazuka Revue's Star Troupe. She joined the revue in 1991 and became the top star in 2007, five years after her classmates Sumire ...

, and former top star of Snow Troupe Natsuki Mizu. In 2001, she had her first leading role in the Bow Hall production ''

Manon ''Manon'' () is an ''opéra comique'' in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille, based on the 1731 novel '' L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut'' by the Abbé Prévost. It was f ...

''. Her co-star in that production, Kanami Ayano, later became her top star partner. With the resignation of Mire Aika and Hibiki Takumi as top stars, Sena became a prominent figure in Flower Troupe. When

became the top star of the troupe in 2003, Sena became the second man for Haruno. Sena received much acclaim for two roles in 2003:

Luigi Lucheni Luigi Lucheni (born Louis Lucheni; 22 April 1873 – 19 October 1910) was an Italian anarchist and the assassin of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Early life Louis Lucheni was born in Paris on April 22, 1873. His father, unknown, and his moth ...

, from Flower Troupe's production of '' Elisabeth'' and

Sydney Carton Sydney Carton is a central character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel '' A Tale of Two Cities''. He is a shrewd young Englishman educated at Shrewsbury School, and sometime junior to his fellow barrister Stryver. Carton is portrayed as a brillia ...

from ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long impr ...

''. In 2004, Sena and classmate Kei Takashiro, who was then a member of Snow Troupe, were invited into the cast of Moon Troupe's production of ''The Glow of Sunset in Asuka''. The pair, with classmate Yūhi Ōzora, had prominent roles in the show. From that time on, Sena was unofficially transferred to Moon Troupe, though officially she was still a member of Flower Troupe. She is the third top star for Moon Troupe that is originally from Flower Troupe and one of two stars that portrayed a female role before becoming an ''otokoyaku'' top star. With the resignation of Nao Ayaki in 2005, Sena became the top star of Moon Troupe with Kanami Ayano as her partner. Their debut performance was ''

Ernest in Love ''Ernest in Love'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by Anne Croswell and music by Lee Pockriss. It is based on ''The Importance of Being Earnest'', Oscar Wilde's classic 1895 comedy of manners. Background The two-act musical is an expanded ve ...

'', and their début at the Grand Theater was in ''Jazzy Fairies''.

Versatility

Sena is famous for her portrayal of a series of such strong male characters as

and Jack Worthing. However, she also received praise for her female roles, such as

Scarlett O'Hara Katie Scarlett O'Hara is the protagonist of Margaret Mitchell's 1936 in literature, 1936 novel ''Gone with the Wind (novel), Gone with the Wind'' and the 1939 Gone with the Wind (film), film of the same name, where she is portrayed by Vivien Le ...

in the Flower Troupe production of ''

'' in 2002 and

Elisabeth of Bavaria Elisabeth (born Duchess Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie in Bavaria; 24 December 1837 – 10 September 1898), nicknamed Sisi or Sissi, was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary from her marriage to Franz Joseph I of Austria on 24 April 1854 until h ...

in the Moon Troupe production of '' Elisabeth'' in 2005. Although an ''otokoyaku'' usually has a deep voice, her voice is versatile enough to allow her to sing in both the male and the female ranges without any difficulties.

Notable Performances and Roles

Flower Troupe appearances

*''Speakeasy'' - Macheath (New Actor Show lead) *''Manon'' - Rodrigo (first leading performance at Takarazuka Bow Hall) *''Gone with the Wind'' -

*''In the Amber-Hued Rain'' - Michel de Plaire (Grand Theater) / Louis Valentin (Tokyo) *'' Elisabeth'' -

*''Immortal Thorns'' - Albert *''

'' -

* ''Akanesasu Murasakino Hana'' -

Prince Ōama was the 40th Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 天武天皇 (40) retrieved 2013-8-22. according to the traditional order of succession. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 53. He ascended ...

Flower-Moon performances

*''The Glow of Sunset in Asuka'' - Nakatomi no Kamatari/Prince Karu *'' Elisabeth'' - Elisabeth

Moon Troupe Top Star performances

*''

'' - Jack Worthing (Top Star debut) *''Jazzy Fairy'' - Patrick Gale (Top Star debut at Grand Theater) *'' Rose of Versailles'' (special appearance in Snow Troupe performance) - Andre *''Rome at Dawn'' -

Marcus Junius Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC) was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, which was reta ...

(with special guest star Yū Todoroki) *''Akanesasu Murasakino Hana'' -

*''Higher Than the Sky of Paris'' - Armand Jacquet *''Love at Dal Lake'' - Hachiman *''The Magician's Melancholy'' - Champsdor *''A-“R”ex'' -

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...

*''

Me and My Girl ''Me and My Girl'' is a musical with music by Noel Gay and its original book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose. The story, set in the late 1930s, tells of an unapologetically unrefined Cockney gentleman named Bill Snibson, wh ...

'' - Bill *'' Elisabeth'' - Der Tod *''Last Play'' - Alistair

After Takarazuka

*''

Fun Home ''Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic'' is a 2006 graphic memoir by the American cartoonist Alison Bechdel, author of the comic strip '' Dykes to Watch Out For''. It chronicles the author's childhood and youth in rural Pennsylvania, United States, ...

'' (2018),

Allison Allison may refer to: People * Allison (given name) * Allison (surname) (includes a list of people with this name) * Eugene Allison Smith (1922-1980), American politician and farmer * Allison family, a family of RMS Titanic passengers Compan ...

*''

Hairspray Hairspray may refer to: * Hair spray, a personal grooming product that keeps hair protected from humidity and wind * Hairspray (1988 film), ''Hairspray'' (1988 film), a film by John Waters ** Hairspray (1988 soundtrack), ''Hairspray'' (1988 soundt ...

'' (2020), Velma Von Tussle

Film

*''April Come She Will'' (2024), Takahashi

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sena, Jun 20th-century Japanese actresses 21st-century Japanese actresses Japanese stage actresses People from Suginami Actresses from Tokyo Takarazuka Music School alumni Living people Place of birth missing (living people) Year of birth missing (living people) Takarazuka Revue otokoyaku