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Japanese actor and singer

Tomu Ranju

Quick Facts

Intro

Japanese actor and singer

Places

Japan

Actor Singer

Work field

Film, TV, Stage & Radio Music

Gender

Female

Birth

12 August 1975 People who share this birthday

Place of birth

Nishinomiya

Age

49 years

The details (from wikipedia)

Biography

Tomu Ranju is a Japanese actress/singer most widely recognized as Takarazuka Revue Flower Troupe's otokoyaku (男役 Takarazuka actresses who play male roles) top star from 2011 to 2014. Ranju is considered one of the best singers the revue has had in the recent years, and was selected to record songs for many of Takazuka's albums, both while she was with the revue and after she "graduated" from Takarazuka Revue.
After her "graduation", Ranju began to actively pursue a career on stage, focusing mainly on musicals; but she can also been seen on television, playing supporting roles and as co-host of the monthly TV show "Takarazuka Dream Tours".

Early life

Tomu Ranju was born Mayu Sakamoto (阪本真由) in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, a city in the same prefecture as the city where the Takarazuka Revue is based and got its name from.

Sakamoto started to take ballet classes at the invitation of her friends while she was in elementary school, and has been dancing ever since. In eighth grade she heard about the revue for the first time and became interested. On her off days she would take morning trains to Takarazuka to line up for same-day tickets for shows. She was particularly fascinated by Mizuki Oura's (大浦みずき) performances - who was famous for her dance skills, and also a Flower Troupe otokoyaku top star.

Sakamoto continue to go to Takarazuka performances, but it wasn't until she was in high school that she decided to try out for the extremely competitive entrance exam of the Takarazuka Music School, known for low acceptance percentage.

In 1994, a year for record low acceptance percentage of only 2%, Sakamoto was admitted to the Takarazuka Music School with the highest score. Throughout her 2 years at the music school, she maintained the status as No. 1 pupil (all Takarazuka students and actresses are considered "pupil" until they leave the revue, regardless of their seniority, popularity and stature).

Takarazuka Revue Career

In 1996 Sakamoto graduated as top of her class, and successfully joined the revue. By tradition, pupil would have already decided on her stage name (subject to revue approval), and switch to be addressed by it now. Sakamoto began to be billed as Tomu Ranju. The stage name was suggested by her teacher and family. The first name "tomu" was going to be written in kanji as "人夢", which means giving people dreams; but the kanji was considered too complicated, so it was changed to Hiragana form "とむ". The last name "蘭寿" is the kanji form of "l'ange", French for "angel". Following Takarazuka customs, she also has couple of nicknames (given by fellow Takarazuka actresses and fans): Tomu (とむ), Mayu (まゆ), Rantomu (らんとむ).

Ranju debuted in Can-Can, after that she was assigned to Flower Troupe. In addition to minor roles in regular revue productions, she was also cast for minor roles in novice productions and dinner shows.

In 2001 she began to be cast for lead roles in novice productions. In 2002, she won her first lead role in the revue's Bow Hall production of Tsuki no Hokage, sharing the lead role of Jiroukichi with Ayabuki Mao. In the same year, Ranju won the Newcomer of the Year award.

In 2005 Ranju won the Best Effort of the Year award. In 2006, she had her own first dinner show Sensation!, further fortifying her rising popularity and singing skills. In the same year, she was reassigned to Cosmos Troupe as third lead otokoyaku. In 2007, as Yūga Yamato was promoted to Cosmos top star, Ranju was promoted to second lead.

In February 2009, Ranju was cast in the lead role for another Bow Hall production Phoenix Wright (逆転裁判 -蘇る真実), based on the Capcom legal thriller video game Ace Attorney. The production was so well-received that the revue presented a sequel, Phoenix Wright 2 (逆転裁判2 -蘇る真実、再び・・・) just six months later. These 2 productions greatly boosted and attested to Ranju's popularity and her talent, leading to her first Takarazuka concert "R"ising!! in 2010.

In 2011, as Sei Matobu retired, Ranju was re-assigned back to Flower Troupe as the next otokoyaku top star. She debuted as top star in the Takarazuka production of Phantom.

During her 3 years as top star, it was considered that Ranju did well to carry on the tradition of Flower Troupe as "otokoyaku treasure" and "Flower Troupe of Dance". Retired top star Kazuho So was second lead under Ranju before being re-assigned to Snow Troupe as top star, and current Cosmos top star Manato Asaka was third/fourth lead under Ranju before her re-assignment to Cosmos as second lead.

On October 8, 2013, Ranju announced in a press conference that she will retire in 2014. Her farewell production was The Love of the Last Tycoon / Takarazuka Dazzling Dreams, a musical/show based on The Love of the Last Tycoon by F. Scott Fitzgerald. On May 11, 2014, after the last performance of The Love of the Last Tycoon / Takarazuka Dazzling Dreams, Tomu Ranju officially retired and became an "OG" (old girls, referring to retired Takarazuka actresses).

Career After Takarazuka Revue

Like most graduated Takaruzuka actresses, Ranju chose to continue on with her career using her Takarazuka stage name.

Ranju's post-Takarazuka activities are focused on musical, dinner shows and concerts, but there are also television drama supporting roles and variety show appearances . Her relationship with Takarazuka Revue remains close, and was chosen to participate in 2 of its centennial celebration events: recording Reijin, an album with other otokoyaku OGs; and singing in the celebration concert of the post-mortem 90th birthday of Fubuki Koshiji, a Takarazuka OG from the 1940s with legendary stature in Japanese entertainment history.

Theater

Ranju's first non-Takarazuka appearance is the musical "ifi", a show focuses on showcasing various dance styles. She had a busy 2015 - 2016, balancing 2 stage productions while participating in various Takarazuka 100th anniversary special performances, leading roles in "The Love Bugs" and "Sister Act".

TV

As one of the "Sentinel Tops" (the 5 troupe otokoyaku tops), Ranju made numerous TV talk show and variety show appearances. She also did some narrating jobs for Sky Stage (Takarazuka's own TV channel) programs.

Ranju's first TV drama appearance was a supporting role in Netflix's first Japanese production Atelier, playing an influential Vouge-ish magazine editor. She will next be seen in ja:私結婚できないんじゃなくて、しないんです (literally translated to "It's Not that I Can't Get Married, But I Don't Want To"), a TV drama about the "lost dogs", attempting to understand why successful and beautiful women prefer to stay single. Ranju plays one of the female lead character's friends, a successful financial adviser who's over 40, happily single, and has a younger boyfriend.

In March 2016, Ranju co-hosted pilot for "Takarazuka Dream Tours" with veteran entertainment show host Shinsuke Kasai (who is an avid Takarazuka fan). The pilot was picked up by Fuji Television, and in June it became a monthly show. The show is shot 100% on location, interviewing the special guest while she's doing an activity she's always wanted to do but haven't had the chance. All special guests are Takarazuka OGs, many top star OGs have appeared in the show, including Ranju's top musumeyaku (娘役, Takarazuka actresses who play female roles) Ranno Hana, Jun Sena, Sei Matobu, Kazuho So, Natsuki Mizu.

Personal life

During her Takarazuka years, following the "Sumire Code" (a set of rules that was established to enhance Takarazuka actresses' mystic, to enhance their images on stage - that they are not "just one of us"), only generic "revue-approved" information about Ranju was officially available. Ranju is one of the OGs who likes her privacy, and continued to adopt this attitude towards sharing information about her private life after she graduated. Her blog on Ameba is the only official social media outlet, and is maintained by herself.

On September 28, 2016, Ranju posted that she has just gotten married, but no information on her husband was provided.

Takarazuka Revue

Flower Troupe 1996 - 2006

1996: Can-Can/Nightless Castle in Manhattan
1996: How to Succeed
1996: How to Succeed, as Coffee Boy & Tackaberry (Novice Production)
1996-97: Hong Kong Nocturne (Bow Hall)
1997: Hollywood Babylon/Southern Cross Revue
1997: Hollywood Babylon, as Mike Taylor (Novice Production)
1997: The Labyrinth of Loving You! (Bow Hall)
1997: That's Revue
1997: That's Revue, Fukuoka (Novice Production)
1997: Blue Swan (Bow Hall and Nippon Seinenkan)
1997 - 98: Pale Dawn (Bow Hall and Nippon Seinenkan), as Ryuu
1998: That's Revue (Chunichi), as Shizuoka
1998: Speakeasy/Sniper
1998: Endless Love (Bow Hall), as Alif
1998: Speakeasy/Sniper, as Frederick
1998: Speakeasy, as Charles Randy (Novice Production)
1998: Miki in Budokan (Maya Miki Concert)
1999: Dawn Overture
1999: Dawn Overture, as Kushibiki Yumindo and Rickshaw Man (Novice Production)
1999: Endless Love (Nippon Seinenkan), as Alif
1999: Tango Argentino/The Revue '99, as Alan
1999: Tango Argentino, as Jean (Novice Production)
1999: LA GARE (Aika Mire Dinner Show)
1999: Third Takarazuka Kyougen Club
1999: TCA Special 1999 - Hello! Wonderful Time
2000: Tango Argentino/The Revue IV (Chunichi), as Otto
2000: Lived in a Dream/The Beauties!, as Koremitsu
2000: Lived in a Dream, as Time Spirit (Novice Production)
2000: Takarazuka: Snow, Moon, Flower/Sunrise Takarazuka (Berlin Tour)
2000: LOVE BEAT (Iori Naoka Dinner Show)
2000: TCA Special 2000 - King of Revue
2000 - 01: Ludwig II/Asian Sunrise, as Eckeert
2000 - 01: Ludwig II/Asian Sunrise, as Journalist
2000 - 01: Ludwig II, as Bernhard von Gudden (Novice Production)
2001: Michelangelo/Viva!, as Niccoro
2001: Michelangelo, as Michelangelo (Novice Production lead role)
2001: Manon (Bow Hall and Nippon Seinenkan), as Lescaut
2001: VIRTUAL GUY! (Sena Jun Dinner Show)
2001: Felicita Arcobaleno (Aika Mire Dinner Show)
2001: TCA Special 2001 - Takarazuka Dream Century
2001 - 02: Canary (Drama City), as Dijon
2002: In the Amber-Hued Rain/Cocktail, as Roland and Pierre
2002: In the Amber-Hued Rain, as Claude de Bernard (Novice Production lead role)
2002: Gone with the Wind (Nissay), as Rene Picard
2002: Tsuki no Hokage (Bow Hall and Nippon Seinenkan), as Jiroukichi (double lead with Ayabuki Mao)
2002 - 03: Elisabeth: The Rondo of Love and Death, as Elemer
2002 - 03: Elisabeth: The Rondo of Love and Death, as Der Tod (Novice Production lead role)
2003: Love Goblin (Bow Hall), as Yata (lead role)
2003: A Flute Named Wind/A Revue is Born, as Shiranui
2003: In the Amber-Hued Rain/Cocktail, as Louis Valentin (National Tour)
2003: TCA Special 2003 - Dear Grand Theater
2003: Paris Festival 2003
2004: Endless Flight/Season of Angels/Applause Takarazuka!, as George
2004: Javan Dancer, as Haji Tamran (National Tour)
2004: La Esperanza/Takarazuka's Dancing Dreams, as Tom
2004: TCA Special 2004 - Takarazuka 90
2004: The Rose of Versailles 30
2005: Kurawanka (Bow Hall), as Hachigorou (lead role)
2005: Marrakesh: A Crimson Tombstone/Enter the Revue, as Gunther
2005: Ernest in Love (Nissay), as Algernon Moncrieff
2005: R・Hatter
2005-06: Palermo Shines in the Setting Sun/Asian Winds!, as Nicola Gilotti
2005: TCA Special 2005 - Beautiful Melody, Beautiful Romance
2005: Hana no Michi ~ Yume no Michi ~ Towa no Michi
2006: Scout (Bow Hall), as Sean Finlay (lead role)

Cosmos Troupe 2006 - 2011

2006: Copacabana (Hakataza), as Sam Silver
2006 - 07: Sketches from the Life of Ryoma Sakamoto/The Classical Music ~I Love Chopin~, as Yoshinobu Tokugawa
2006: Sensation! Dinner Show
2006: TCA Special 2006 - Wonderful Dreamers
2006: Dream Memorandum
2007: Never Sleep (Bow Hall and Umeda Arts Theater), as Samuel Hart (lead role)
2007: Valencian Passion/Space Fantasista!, as Ramon and Rodrigo Granados (role-switch with Hokushou Kairi)
2007: Valencian Passion/Space Fantasista!, as Ramon (National Tour)
2007: TCA Special 2007 - 'Allo! Revue!
2007: Takarazuka Sky Stage 5th Anniversary Special
2007: 48th Takarazuka Buyoukai
2008: A Morning Breeze/Passion - A Journey of Love, as Tatsumi Eiji
2008: Singin' in the Rain (Umeda Arts Theater), as Cosmo Brown
2008: Paradise Prince/Dancing for You, as Anthony Black
2008: 49th Takarazuka Buyoukai
2009: Phoenix Wright (Bow Hall and Nippon Seinenkan), as Phoenix Wright (lead role)
2009: Raindrops Fall on Roses/Amour, it's something like..., as Victor
2009: Phoenix Wright 2 (Bow Hall and Akasaka ACT Theater), as Phoenix Wright (lead role)
2009: Takarazuka Special 2009 - Way to Glory
2009 - 10: Casablanca, as Victor Laszlo
2009: 50th Takarazuka Buyoukai
2010: Shangri-La (Drama City and Nippon Seinenkan), as Ran
2010: Trafalgar/Funky Sunshine, as Napoleon Bonaparte
2010: "R"ising!! Concert
2010: Takarazuka Special 2010 - Forever Takarazuka
2010 - 11: For Whom the Bell Tolls, as Agustin
2011: MUGEN! Dinner Show

Flower Troupe 2011 - 2014 as top star

2011: Phantom, as Phantom (Top Star debut)
2011: A Small Flower Has Bloomed/Love Potion II, as Shigeji (National Tour)
2011: 51st Takarazuka Buyoukai
2011: Melodies of Love~Dreams of Remembrance
2011: Takarazuka Special 2011 - Dreams Built on Tomorrow
2012: Resurrection/Canon ~Our Melody~, as Count Nekhlyudov
2012: At the End of A Long Spring/Canon ~Our Melody~, as Stephan (National Tour)
2012: Saint-Exupéry/CONGA!!, as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
2012: Streak of Light Concert (Drama City)
2012: Takarazuka Special 2012 - The Stars ~ Pre - Pre - Centennial~
2013: The Rose of Versailles: Oscar and Andre, as Andre (Special Appearance)
2013: Ocean's 11, as Danny Ocean
2013: Sengoku BASARA (Tokyu Theater Orb), as Sanada Yukimura
2013: The Poem of Love and Revolution / Mr. Swing!, as Andrea Chénier
2013: T-ROAD Dinner Show
2014: Love of the Last Tycoon / Takarazuka Dazzling Dreams, asMonroe Stahr