Miki Maya

Miki Maya (真矢みき, Maya Miki^?, born January 31, 1964 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture) ^[1] is a Japanese actress, and also a former top star of the Takarazuka Revue. Her real name is Miki Sato (佐藤美季, Satō Miki^?). During her childhood, she lived in several different cities because of her father's job. It was Toyonaka, Osaka, where she had spent most of her teen years before she joined the Takarazuka Revue in 1981. Her debut performance was "Takarazuka Haru no Odori" and she became the top star of the Flower Troupe for her role in East Of Eden in 1995. She retired in 1998 and her last show was 'Speakeasy',^[2] in which she sang the theme song Kaze no machi no junjō na akutō tachi(風の街の純情な男たち). This musical is based on John Gay's 1728 ballad opera, The Beggar's Opera.

Miki, as she is affectionately known, is considered by some as one that affected many changes in the image of the "otokoyaku" ( male role), having many "first"s under her name.".^[2] Surprisingly, she originally wanted to play female roles when she first entered the music school.

Troupe History

• Flower Troupe: 1981–1998

Trivia

She is the first Takarasienne to have a solo photo book shot by Kishin Shinoyama, "Guy".^[2] She is also the only Takarasienne to appear in NHK's Top Runner in December 1997. Furthermore, her concert, "Miki In Budokan", had a sell-out crowd of 30,000 in just 2 days.^[2] Her other talents include Japanese dance and baton work.

She debuted in the Flower troupe and stayed in the same troupe until she became top star and retired in 1998.

Since her retirement, she has enjoyed popularity as a drama, stage and movie actress and has acted in various dramas including "Himitsu no Hanazono", "Kaze no Haruka" and "Attention Please". She has also shot commercials for Wella, Hagen Daz and Kikkoman, among others.

In 2008, she returned to the stage with Chariteau Versailles to commemorate her 10th year after leaving the Tarazuka stage. In the same year, she married ballet dancer, Nishijima Kazuhiro. The wedding ceremony took place in April 2009 at the famous Meiji Jingu Shrine, where she and her husband were surrounded by the press and their fans.

Notable Roles and Performances

Takarazuka Era

New Actor Era

• If There's Love, I'll Live Forever - Napoleon Bonaparte (lead role)

Regular Cast Era

• Berusaiyu no Bara - Girodelle [Star Troupe Special Performance]
• Jewel of Romanov - Angelo
• Beautiful Beast - Quinby
• The Rose of Versailles:Fersen - Oscar and Joseph II
• The Prelude to Winter - L'Ubor
• Chou-Saishi's Choice - Ryudou
• The Emblem of Venetia - Vittorio
• Dance Festival - Savinius
• Melancholic Gigolo - Stan
• Bay City Blues - Leonard
• Apple Tree - Adam, Barbara and Ella
• Black Jack:A Lucky Bet - Cain [Takarazuka Cast]
• Gone with the Wind - Rhett Butler [guest]
• Black Jack:A Lucky Bet - Black Jack [Tokyo Cast]
• Winter Storm ~Death in St. Petersburg~ - Andre
• Kanashimi no Cordova - Romero

Top Star Era

• East of Eden - Cal
• The Scarlet Pimpernel - Sir Percy Blakeney
• Hana wa Hana Nari - Hanawaka
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - J.Pierrepont Finch
• Ryoma - Sakamoto Ryoma
• Hollywood Babylon - Arthur Cochran
• Gone with the Wind - Rhett Butler [National Tour]
• That's Revue - Harukaze Taihei
• Blue Swan - Alex
• Speakeasy - Macheath [Sayonara Show]

Concerts/Dinner Shows

• Song and Portrait
• Miki in Person
• Nice Guy
• Miki in Budokan

Performance After Takarazuka

Concert

• Adieu Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre
• TCA Special OG

TV

• "Hi wa Mata Noboru" - (TV Asahi, 2011)
• "Mioka" - (NTV, 2010)
• "Ohitorisama" - (TBS, 2009)
• "Buzzer Beat" - (Fuji TV, 2009)
• "Sirius no Michi" - (WOWOW, 2008)
• "Zettai Kareshi" - (Fuji TV, 2008)
• "Attention Please" - SP (Fuji TV, 2008)
• "Tokyo Daikushu" - (NTV, 2008)
• "Shabake" - (Fuji TV, 2007)
• "Galileo" - (Fuji TV, 2007)
• "Shinkansen Girl" - (NTV, 2007)
• "LIFE" - (Fuji TV, 2007)
• "Attention Please SP" - (Fuji TV, 2007)
• "Himitsu no Hanazono" - (Fuji TV, 2007)
• "Bengoshi Haijima Hideki" - (Fuji TV, 2006)
• "Attention Please" - (Fuji TV, 2006)
• "Kaze no Haruka" - (NHK, 2005)
• "Batsu Kare" - (TBS, 2004)
• "Onjuku Kawasemi" - (御宿かわせみ) (NHK, 2004)
• "Teruteru Kazoku" - (NHK, 2003)
• "Boku dake no Madonna" - (Fuji TV, 2003)
• "Dobutsu no Oisha-san" - (TV Asahi, 2003)
• "Two Hand Man" - (TV Asahi, 2002)
• "Straight News" - (NTV, 2000)
• "Ai wo Kudasai" - (Fuji TV, 2000)
• "Kizu Darake no Onna" - (Fuji TV, 1999)

Film

• Bayside Shakedown 2 (2003) - Superintendent Okita
• Take the 'A' Train, Someday (2003) - Anna
• Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009) - Cate Wilson (Japanese dubbed version)

Stage

• Big (1999) - Susan
• CABARET (2004)
• Chariteau Versailles(2008)

Preceded by Mira Anju

Top Star (Otokoyaku) for Flower Troupe 1995-1998

Succeeded by Mire Aika

References

1. ^ "麻矢みき結婚へ！きっかけはＷ主演舞台 [Miki Maya to marry triggered by costarring]" (in japanese). Sponichi. July 1, 2008. http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/special/2008kekon/KFullNormal20080701084.html. Retrieved March 21, 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "Miki Maya Official Web site at Blooming" (in japanese). http://www.blooming-net.com/agency/talent/mayamiki/index.html. Retrieved March 21, 2010. 

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Name	Maya, Miki
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