Kazuki Tsubasa poses for a photo.
06:00 JST, November 1, 2024
Kazuki Tsubasa, whose breakout role was in NHK’s recent morning drama “Boogie Woogie,” has been named the new lead in the OSK Nippon Revue Company, known for its spectacular revues.
Tsubasa joined the all-female revue company in 2013. She is a talented performer – good at singing, dancing and acting with a sparkling, glamorous presence. She performs in male roles in the company.
Tsubasa was promoted to first place on September 2 and is expected to make even bigger strides. I recently interviewed Tsubasa to hear about her current thoughts and ambitions.
“I am very honored. At the same time, I feel like I have to improve to earn this position,” Tsubasa said with a serious expression when I asked about her thoughts on becoming the best performer.
“The OSK has gone through many twists and turns in order to survive to this day. It exists thanks to the support of many people. I feel a great sense of responsibility in that regard,” she added.
Tsubasa at the revue “Natsu no Odori” this year.
Tsubasa, right in the front row, in a recreated revue scene from the TV drama ‘Boogie Woogie’ during the revue ‘Natsu no Odori’ (Summer Dance) in 2024.
The OSK was founded in 1922 under the name Shochiku Gakugekibu. In 1943 it was renamed Osaka Shochiku Kagekidan. Known as “OSK for dancing,” as opposed to “Takarazuka for singing,” the company shared the spotlight with the Takarazuka Revue Company, another all-female company. However, financial problems caused the OSK to be disbanded in 2003.
Members of the revue company mounted a signature-gathering campaign to keep it alive, and a new successor organization was formed and resumed performances.
Tsubasa did not experience those hardships as she joined the company later.
“I imagined how difficult it must have been at the time after hearing about it from older members and reading various documents,” Tsubasa said.
Tsubasa dressed as Aoi Tachibana, the character she played in NHK’s morning drama “Boogie Woogie,” poses with a smile during a break from filming.
A turning point came for Tsubasa when she appeared in ‘Boogie Woogie’, which aired from the fall of last year to the spring of this year. The drama was based on a real OSK star: Shizuko Kasagi. Tsubasa skillfully played the role of Aoi Tachibana, the biggest star of ‘Umemaru Shojo Kagekidan’, a revue company strongly reminiscent of the OSK.
“Through that role I was able to experience the early days of the revue company. I felt like history had become part of me,” Tsubasa said.
The broadcast generated a lot of attention for the OSK. The number of interviews and media attention increased dramatically, and people flocked to the theaters to see the revue company’s performances.
“It was a sight I had never seen before. I realized that the morning drama had such a big impact. I don’t want the popularity to be just a temporary boom. I definitely want to make the most of this opportunity,” said Tsubasa.
God has decided
Tsubasa is from Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture. She was originally a fan of the Takarazuka Revue Company, based in nearby Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture. She started taking the entrance exam for the Takarazuka Music School, the company’s training school, when she was a third-year high school student. Unfortunately, she failed on all four attempts, the maximum number of times an applicant can take the exam.
She was depressed about the outcome, so her teacher at the test prep school suggested she consider the OSK. Tsubasa immediately went to one of the shows and thought, “I can probably play a male role here.” She took the OSK entrance exam and passed.
‘Maybe God decided that I was suitable for the OSK. I was right to join OSK,” she said with a smile.
Tsubasa, second from left in the back row, sang a solo for the first time during a performance at the Osaka Shochikuza Theater in 2005. Since then, she has sung on stage more often.
The teacher gave her the stage name ‘Kazuki Tsubasa’. The kanji character ‘tsubasa’, which means ‘wing’, consists of two kanji characters, one meaning ‘feather’ and the other meaning ‘other’. The name expresses the wish that she would spread her wings and fly high without fear of being different from others.
Lately, Tsubasa has been receiving more requests from theaters to perform, filling her schedule until next summer. Such a tight schedule is very rare for OSK members. “I’m very grateful for it,” Tsubasa said with a grin.
What she values most as a headliner is ‘zasso damashii’ (a fearless spirit, like weeds), which is the motto of former headliner Yan Rin.
“The appeal of the OSK is its vitality, like a flower that blooms vigorously wherever it is,” Tsubasa said. “Without any exaggeration, I want to show our spirit to the people who come to see our shows.”
Inspired by Tsubasa’s motivation
I asked Emi Chisaki, Tsubasa’s classmate at the OSK training center who was promoted to headliner in 2021 among the members responsible for female roles, about Tsubasa’s character.
“When I think of Tsubasa, I immediately think of a ballet class at the training center. Our teacher said to us, ‘Do two pirouettes. If you can, try three.” I chose the safe option and did two spins, but Tsubasa chose to do three spins because she wasn’t afraid of falling. I was inspired by her fearless spirit,” Chisaki recalled.
Kazuki Tsubasa, right, and Emi Chisaki pose for a photo.
Chisaki stood out for her smooth singing voice and sharp dancing.
“When it was announced to the company members that I would be the main headliner among female roles, Tsubasa was the first to contact me,” Chisaki said. “Tsubasa said, ‘Congratulations. You’re my classmate, but I feel like you’ve gone to a place just beyond my reach.” She has always supported me. I am very honored to be Tsubasa’s partner on stage. I want to show people the uncompromising performance that only Tsubasa and I can give.”
