Excited lead actress says she’s already a Final Fantasy fan.
Earlier this year, Final Fantasy X was adapted into a kabuki play, with, as is the Japanese theatrical artform’s custom, all of the roles being played by men. Now there’s another single-sex live-action Final Fantasy stage show on the horizon, but this time with all roles being played by women.
Since 1913, the all-female Takarazuka troupe has been performing lavish musical revues and plays, becoming Japan’s best-known and most highly respected theater company. In a recent announcement of its upcoming schedule, the troupe revealed that it will be staging a Takarazuka version of Final Fantasy XVI, the latest installment in the long-running series from Square Enix which just released last month,
The play will be performed at both the Takarazuka Grand Theater in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture, and also at the company’s secondary venue, the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater in the Yurakucho neighborhood in downtown Tokyo. The Final Fantasy XVI play will be written and directed by Naoko Koyanagi, who has been with the company since 1999 and whose writing/directing credits include Takarazuka’s adaptations of Lupin III and Shall We Dance.
▼ Final Fantasy XVI game trailer
A full cast list is yet to be announced, but Toa Serika, the top male-character performing actress in Takarazuka’s Cosmos troupe is set to appear, ostensible as Final Fantasy XVI’s protagonist Clive Rosfield. “I myself am a Final Fantasy fan,” said Serika of her involvement, “so this is a very exciting project for me.”
▼ Toa Serika, posing with Excalibur (the Arthurian legends-version of the sword, not the Final Fantasy one
ちな宙組は“コーラスの宙組”と言われる程歌や表現が素晴らしい組です…宙組トップはこの大変エッッッッッッな芹香斗亜(せりかとあ)様でございます愛称キキさんでございます…
— よっさん🐧🏹 (@ye_mogmog) July 10, 2023
黒髪すっっごい似合うの……
エッチなクライヴ絶対似合う…どうしよう… pic.twitter.com/jzptR3UhTd
The Takarazuka Final Fantasy XVI (which, like all Takarazuka plays, will be one half of a two-part performance that also includes an unrelated musical revue) will open at the Takarazuka Grand Theater on May 17, 2024, and run until June 23 before heading to the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater from July 13 to August 25. Ticket pre-sales open on April 27 for the Grand Theater performances, and o June 9 for Tokyo.
Related: Takarazuka official website
Source: Takarazuka official website, Nikkan Sports
Top image: YouTube/FINAL FANTASY
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he’s wondering if the Takarazuka Final Fantasy will include a lavish musical rendition of the Chocobo theme.
Anime’s greatest pervert inspires all-female stage play in Japan with Takarazuka City Hunter
All-female musical stage adaptation of Castlevania video game series on the way in Japan
Live-action Castlevania all-female stage adaptation reveals first photo of Alucard and Maria
Anime music legend Yoko Kanno to compose music for Japan’s Takarazuka all-female revue
Japan’s all-female Takarazuka Revue to perform in U.S.A. this summer
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store drinks with new Grilled Corn Chilled Soup Smoothie
This Japanese chopping board sanitising bag might be the handy kitchen gadget we never knew we needed
Tired of city life? Try out Japanese rural life for a few days on an active volcano in Kagoshima
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Studio Ghibli unveils new finger puppets featuring anime characters from My Neighbour Totoro
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan’s all-female Takarazuka theater has enlightened 31.5:1 female to male bathroom stall ratio
Final Fantasy X kabuki stage play to stream internationally with English subtitles
Our reporter breaks her Takarazuka virginity with an all-female performance of City Hunter
Takarazuka, Japan’s all-woman theater troupe, is producing a musical about Abe Lincoln
All-female Takarazuka Revue set to perform Rurouni Kenshin musical early next year
Final Fantasy X is becoming a kabuki play with actor with anime-to-stage experience
Rurouni Kenshin comes to picture-perfect life as photos of stage musical’s cast are released
There’s a Final Fantasy live-action stage musical coming to Tokyo!
Full cast of live-action Final Fantasy X play appears in costume for the first time【Pics】
Final Fantasy XVI’s story and primary development are finished, Square Enix hiring “final” staff
Final Fantasy XVI will draw on “anguish you can only understand once you become an adult”
Beautiful live-action Final Fantasy X kabuki preview shows Yuna performing Sending【Video】
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Can’t make it to the Rurouni Kenshin musical in Japan? Preview video gives a taste of the action
Main cast for Spirited Away live-action stage play finally revealed!