Takarazuka Revue Day — The Birth of 'Mon Paris'

What Is Takarazuka Revue Day?

September 1st marks "Takarazuka Revue Day" (Takarazuka Kagekidan Revue Kinenbi). On this date in 1927, the Takarazuka Girls' Opera (now the Takarazuka Revue Company) staged the premiere of Japan's first full-scale "revue" production, "Mon Paris — Waga Pari yo!" ("Mon Paris — Oh, My Paris!"). The Takarazuka Revue Company established this anniversary in 1988: after holding events for the 60th anniversary of "Mon Paris" in 1987, it designated September 1st as "Revue Day" from the following year.

What Made "Mon Paris" So Groundbreaking?

"Mon Paris" was written by playwright Tatsuya Kishida and choreographed by Tessei Shirai. The story recreates the scenery of Paris and other foreign places as seen by a character named Fukutaro Kushida, modeled on Kishida himself. The production ran an unbroken sequence of 16 scenes without lowering the curtain, featured a cast of some 250 performers, and introduced two elements that would astonish audiences: the grand staircase and the line dance.

• A first for Takarazuka: the first production to carry the word "revue" in its name
• Staging traditions born here: established the grand staircase and line dance that remain hallmarks of Takarazuka style today
• Groundbreaking structure: a continuous sequence of scenes without a curtain drop, unheard of at the time
• Its inspiration: drawn from Tatsuya Kishida's own overseas study trip, made at the request of founder Ichizo Kobayashi

What Is the Takarazuka Revue Company?

Founded in 1914 in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture by Ichizo Kobayashi, founder of the Hankyu Railway, the Takarazuka Revue is an all-female theatrical company. Organized into five troupes — Flower, Moon, Snow, Star, and Cosmos — it has spent more than a century building a distinctive brand of entertainment centered on lavish costumes and large-scale spectacle.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Watch a Takarazuka performance live or via streaming and take in the glamour of a revue
• Pay special attention to the grand staircase and line dance — staging traditions born from "Mon Paris"
• Visit Takarazuka City in Hyogo Prefecture or a museum dedicated to the Revue's history
• Rewatch the big revue-style numbers from your favorite musicals or stage shows

One Stage, a Century-Long Legacy of Dreams

On September 1, 1927, the streets of Paris recreated on a Takarazuka stage, brought to life by a total of some 250 performers, offered audiences an entirely new form of entertainment. Nearly a century later, the Takarazuka Revue continues to evolve and captivate audiences. On Revue Day, take a moment to reflect on how a single bold production can create a culture that outlasts its era.