Mari Hanafusa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
February 28, 1973
Hanafusa Mari 花總 まり | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Hana, Fusa, Dai-chan |
| Born | Daigo Mariko (醍醐まり子) February 28, 1973 |
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Musical theatre |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
| Website | www |
Mari Hanafusa (花總 まり, Hanafusa Mari) (born February 28, 1973) is a Japanese actress and former member of the Takarazuka Revue. She held the position of Top Musumeyaku (lead female-role) in both the Snow and Cosmos troupes, holding the longest tenure in Takarazuka history at 12 years and 3 months. She’s best known for playing Empress Elisabeth of Austria in the Japan premiere of the musical Elisabeth and is currently active under Blooming Agency.
- Star Troupe: 1991–1993
- Snow Troupe: 1993–1998
- Cosmos Troupe: 1998–2006
Personal information
Mari Hanafusa quickly gained audience attention during her early years with the Star Troupe. Only three years after her debut in 1991, she was appointed as the Top Musumeyaku (lead female-role) star of the Snow Troupe in 1994. During her career, Hanafusa partnered with five different Top Otokoyaku stars—Maki Ichiro, Fubuki Takane, Yū Todoroki, Asato Shizuki, and notably, Yōka Wao, her longest-running partner. Her tenure remains the longest in Takarazuka history for a musumeyaku, with 12-year and 3-month.
In 1994, she became the first musumeyaku ever to achieve Top billing during a newcomer performance as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. Traditionally, such billing had exclusively belonged to male-role actors (otokoyaku), marking her performance as a notable exception.[1]
Hanafusa’s portrayal of Elisabeth in the Japanese premiere of the musical Elisabeth in 1996 became one of her signature performances. She subsequently continued to take on numerous significant roles, such as Carmen in Passion: José and Carmen, Marie Antoinette in The Rose of Versailles, and Christine in the Japanese premiere of Phantom.[1]
In 1998, she transferred to the newly established Cosmos Troupe, becoming one of the few musumeyaku—alongside Hitomi Tsukikage (Star and Snow troupes), Rei Dan (Moon and Star troupes), Yuri Shirahane (Star and Snow troupes) and Madoka Hoshikaze (Cosmos and Flower troupes) — to serve as top star in two different troupes.
Hanafusa retired from Takarazuka in 2006 alongside Yōka Wao after the production Never Say Goodbye. She returned shortly afterward, co-founding Wao Enterprise with Wao in February 2007, serving as Wao's representative and frequent co-star until 2011.[2]
After leaving Wao Enterprise, Hanafusa resumed her stage career with From First Production in 2012, later joining Blooming Agency. She continues performing in musicals, with notable main roles in The Count of Monte Cristo, Lady Bess (in its world premiere, she became the cover feature of a German magazine), Mozart!, Elisabeth, 1789: Les Amants de la Bastille, Romale, Marie Antoinette, The Odd Couple, Galaxy Express 999, Sunny, and Beethoven. In addition to her stage career, she has appeared in television dramas such as NHK's historical drama (Taiga) Onna Joshu Naotora, Berabou, and Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit.[1]
Her distinguished career has earned numerous awards, including the Yomiuri Theater Award (2015), the Kazuo Kikuta Theater Award Grand Prize (2016), an Austrian national honor (2019), and the Matsuo Entertainment Theater Excellence Award (2021).[1]
Performances and roles
Takarazuka era
Debut
| Year | Performance | Troupe | Theater | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Rose of Versailles ~Oscar~ | Moon | Grand Theater | ||
Troupe rotation
| Year | Performance | Troupe | Theater | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Great Gatsby / Lovers' Concerto | Snow | Grand Theater | ||
| 1991 | The Emblem of Venezia / Junction 24 | Flower | Tokyo Theater |
Star Troupe era
| Year | Performance | Troupe | Theater | Role | New Actor Show Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Sunset of the Forbidden City | Star | Tokyo Theater | |||
| 1992 | Legend of the Midnight Sun / One Night Mirage | Star | Grand Theater | Mimir | ||
| 1992 | Hello, George! | Star | Bow Hall | Elizabeth | ||
| 1993 | Houjushou / Parfum de Paris | Star | Grand Theater | Dancing Lady S / Lover / Parisienne (HY: Shiraki Ayaka) | ||
| 1993 | Hello, George! | Star | Nippon Seinenkan | Elizabeth | ||
| 1993 | Mayerling / Paparagi | Star | Grand Theater | Millie Stübel | Marie Vetsera (HY: Shiraki Ayaka) | First New Actor Show Lead Musumeyaku |
Snow Troupe era
| Year | Performance | Troupe | Theater | Role | New Actor Show Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-4 | Seal of the Bourbons / La Cote d'Azur | Snow | Grand Theater | Mariel | ||
| 1994 | A Battlefield for the Two of Us | Snow | Bow Hall / Nippon Seinenkan | Lyla | First Small Theater Lead Musumeyaku | |
| 1994 | Gone with the wind | Snow | Grand Theater | Carreen O'Hara | Scarlett O'Hara (HY: Ichiro Maki) | First New Actor Show Lead |
Snow Troupe Top Musumeyaku era
| Year | Performance | Troupe | Theater | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | A Battlefield for the Two of Us | Snow | Aichi Annuity Hall | Lyla | Pre-Top Musumeyaku Debut |
| 1994-5 | An Actor’s Revenge / Sagittarius | Snow | Grand Theater | Namiji | Top Musumeyaku Debut |
| 1995 | JFK / 1001 Baroque Nights | Snow | Grand Theater | Jacqueline Kennedy | |
| 1995 | Aria Dream Song | Snow | Drama City | Mary | |
| 1995 | Love Blooms Out on the Murasakino / Ma Belle Etoile | Snow | Grand Theater | Nukata no Ookimi | |
| 1996 | Elisabeth | Snow | Grand Theater | Elisabeth | |
| 1996 | Love Blooms Out on the Murasakino / Ma Belle Etoile | Snow | National Tour | Nukata no Ookimi | |
| 1996 | Natasha of the Rainbow / La Jeunesse! | Snow | Grand Theater | Natasha | |
| 1996 | On a Clear Day You Can See Forever | Snow | Bow Hall | Daisy Gamble | |
| 1997 | Romanesque Mask / Golden Days! | Snow | Grand Theater | Marquise de Merteuil | |
| 1997 | On a Clear Day You Can See Forever | Snow | Nippon Seinenkan / Aichi | Daisy Gamble | |
| 1997 | Ghost at Midnight / Les Cherubim | Snow | Grand Theater | Marie | Final show as Snow Troupe Top Musumeyaku |
Cosmos Troupe era
| Year | Performance | Troupe | Theater | Role | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Mugen Houjushou / This is TAKARAZUKA! | Cosmos | Hong Kong tour | Cosmos Troupe Pre-Top Musumeyaku Debut | ||
| 1998 | Excalibur / Citrus Breeze | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Rosaline | Cosmos Troupe Top Musumeyaku Debut | |
| 1998 | Bow Voyage! | Cosmos | Bow Hall | |||
| 1998-9 | Elisabeth | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Elisabeth | ||
| 1999 | Excalibur / Citrus Breeze | Cosmos | National Tour | Rosaline | ||
| 1999 | Passion: Jose and Carmen / The Revue '99 | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Carmen | ||
| 2000 | Black Rose of the Desert / Glorious | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Marianna | ||
| 2000 | Mayerling / Glorious | Cosmos | National Tour | Marie Vetsera | ||
| 2000 | Nostalgia Across the Sea / Millennium Challenger! | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Princess Yu, Catherine the Great | ||
| 2001 | Nostalgia Across the Sea / Millennium Challenger! | Cosmos | National Tour | Princess Yu, Catherine the Great | ||
| 2001 | Rose of Versailles: Fersen and Marie Antoinette | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Marie Antoinette | ||
| 2001-2 | Castel Mirage / Dancing Spirit! | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Eva-Marie | ||
| 2002 | Castel Mirage / Dancing Spirit! | Cosmos | National Tour | Eva-Marie | ||
| 2002 | Legend of the Phoenix -Calaf & Turandot- / The Showstopper | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Turandot | ||
| 2002-3 | Miracle of the Holy Star | Cosmos | Drama City / Akasaka ACT | Lydia | ||
| 2003 | Pierre the Mercenary / The Star Dust Party | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Joan of Arc | ||
| 2003 | Legend of the Phoenix -Calaf & Turandot- / The Showstopper | Cosmos | Drama City / Akasaka ACT | Turandot | ||
| 2003-4 | Lightning in the Daytime / Temptation! | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Vivianne de Pauvert | ||
| 2004 | BOXMAN | Cosmos | Nippon Seinenkan / Drama City | Dolly Page | ||
| 2004 | PHANTOM | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Christine Daaé | ||
| 2004 | Gone with the wind | Cosmos | National Tour | Scarlett O'Hara | ||
| 2005 | Hotel Stella Maris / The Legend of the Revue | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Stacy Lancaster | ||
| 2005 | Hotel Stella Maris / The Legend of the Revue | Cosmos | National Tour | Stacy Lancaster | ||
| 2005 | A Kiss to the Flames / Neo Voyage | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Leonora | ||
| 2005 | W-WING- | Cosmos | Drama City | |||
| 2006 | Never Say Goodbye | Cosmos | Grand Theater | Katherine McGregor/Peggy McGregor | Last musical with Takarazuka |
Performance after Takarazuka
Source:[1]
- 2010: Dietrich – Edith Piaf
- 2011: Dracula, the Musical – Mina Murray – Heroine
- 2011: LOVE LETTERS 2011 21st Anniversary – Melissa
- 2011: MODEA Winter Live 2011 – Guest vocals
- 2012: Elisabeth Special Gala Concert
- 2013: No Words, No Time
- 2013: Eien Monogatari – Yoshioka Yoshiko – Heroine
- 2013: Broadway Musical Live
- 2013: The Count of Monte Cristo – Mercédès – Heroine
- 2014, 2017: Lady Bess – Elizabeth I – Lead role
- 2014: Mozart! – Nannerl
- 2015, 2016, 2019, 2023: Elisabeth – Elisabeth – Lead role
- 2016: 1789 – Marie Antoinette
- 2018: Romale – Carmen – Lead role
- 2018: The Secret Garden – Lily Craven – Heroine
- 2018, 2021: Marie Antoinette – Marie Antoinette – Lead role
- 2020, 2023: The Odd Couple – Florence Unger – Double Lead with Daichi Mao
- 2021: Closed today – Teruko – Lead role
- 2022: The Little Prince – The Rose
- 2022: Galaxy Express 999 THE MUSICAL – – Maetel – Heroine
- 2023: SUNNY – Nami – Lead role (based on Korean movie SUNNY)
- 2023: Beethoven Secret – Antonie "Toni" Brentano – Heroine
- 2024: The Tiny Wife – Stacey – Lead role
- 2024: Ōten no Mon - Shouki - Special appearance
- 2025: Bagdad Cafe the Musical - Jasmine - Lead role (Based on movie Bagdad Cafe)[6]
- 2026: Musical Pagwa - Chogak - Lead role (based on Korean novel The Old Woman with the Knife)[7]
Concert
- 2012, 1016: Elisabeth Special Gala Concert
- 2016: 25th Anniversary Hanafusa Mari First Concert ~ Especially For You ~
- 2020: Premium Symphonic Concert ~ Hanafusa Mari: Stories of the Queens
- 2020: Premium Symphonic Concert ~ Hanafusa Mari: Stories of the Queens ~ Xmas version
- 2022: Premium Symphonic Concert ~ Mari Hanafusa: Stories of the Queens Vol.2[8]
- 2025: Imperial Theatre Concert - THE BEST New HISTORY COMING
Television drama
- 2017: Naotora: The Lady Warlord – Sana[9]
- 2017: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit – Yuuka
- 2021: Meiji Kaika: Shinjuro Tanteicho – Kanou Atsuko – Episode 1 (guest)
- 2024: Black Forceps Season 2 – Toshima Kazuko – Episode 4, 5 (guest)[10]
- 2025: Unbound – Hōren-in[11]
- 2025: News Anchor - Odonera Motoko[12]
