Former Takarazuka Top Star and Actress Hanayo Sumi Passes Away at 94

Hanayo Sumi (real name Setsuko Takashima), a former top male-role star of the Takarazuka Revue's Star Troupe and an acclaimed actress, passed away from old age at 4:43 a.m. on August 3. She was 94. Her agency, Toho Entertainment, announced her passing.

After taking the entertainment world by storm as a Takarazuka top star, Sumi married the late actor Tadao Takashima. Her sons, Masahiro and Masanobu Takashima, are both prominent actors, making her well-known as the matriarch of one of Japan's most celebrated show business families. In a joint statement, her sons paid tribute to her unwavering dignity, writing, "To the very end, our mother remained the grand actress Hanayo Sumi."

Following the news of her passing, fans and viewers poured out heartfelt condolences on social media. Many fondly recalled her radiant beauty and commanding stage presence from her Takarazuka era, as well as her cheerful, affectionate television appearances alongside her husband on the popular NTV cooking show "Gochisousama." Messages such as "Have you reunited with your husband in heaven?" and "She was always such a glamorous and wonderful actress" flooded online platforms as people expressed deep gratitude for her life's work and prayed for her peaceful rest.

The context

Hanayo Sumi was a legendary figure in Japanese entertainment, first gaining fame through the Takarazuka Revue—an all-female theater company founded in 1913 where women play both male ("otokoyaku") and female roles. After graduating from the revue, Sumi built a successful television and film career. She and her husband, Tadao Takashima, became one of Japan's most beloved celebrity couples, famous for co-hosting the popular daytime cooking show "Gochisousama." Their sons, Masahiro and Masanobu, became accomplished actors in their own right, cementing the Takashima name as one of Japan's most influential acting dynasties.

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