Leonie Stickland - Gender Gymnastics: Performing and Consuming Japans Takarazuka Revue«

Gender
Gymnastics

JAPANESE SOCIETY SERIES
General Editor: Yoshio Sugimoto

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Social Welfare in Japan: Principles and Applications

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Escape from Work: Freelancing Youth and the Challenge to Corporate Japan

Reiko Kosugi

Gender Gymnastics: Performing and Consuming Japans Takarazuka Revue

Leonie R. Stickland

Social Stratification and Inequality Series

Inequality amid Affluence: Social Stratification in Japan

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Intentional Social Change: A Rational Choice Theory

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Constructing Civil Society in Japan: Voices of Environmental Movements

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Gender and Career in Japan

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First published in 2008 by

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ISSN 14439670 (Japanese Society Series)

ISBN 9781876843519 (Paperback)

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Cover illustration: The dazzling finale to a typical Takarazuka Revue show. Takarazuka Revue Company.

This book owes its existence to the support, generosity and patience of many people over nearly a decade of research. Above all, I thank Associate Professor Sandra Wilson of Murdoch University for her meticulous and untiring guidance. The encouragement of my mentors and colleagues at that same institution and at the University of Western Australia has also been much appreciated. My further gratitude is extended to Professor Yoshio Sugimoto and Ms Machiko Sato of Trans Pacific Press for their kindness and advice in the publishing of this volume.

I heartily thank my informants, whose frank and generous responses to my survey afforded many valuable, unique insights; and numerous past and present members of the Takarazuka Revue Administration, especially Mr Khei Kobayashi and Ms Yokiko Haruuma, for their generous cooperation and assistance in arranging interviews. Ms Masako Imanishi, Deputy Principal of the Takarazuka Music School, warmly welcomed me to the School on several occasions, and provided invaluable textual and photographic material. I also thank Ms Satoko Ksaka and the office of Ms Riyoko Ikeda, original author of