Name: Wao Youka
Kanji: 和央 ようか
Current Troupe: n/a
Role: Otokoyaku
Status: Retired Top Star (2000 - 2006)

Nickname: Takako, Taka-chan, Wao
Height: 174 cm
Birthday: February 15, 1968
Blood Type: O
Hometown: Osaka
Favorite Food: Japanese food, jelly and fruit
Favorite Flower: Lily-of-the-Valley, Moth orchids, Casablancas (white lilies)
Favorite Colors: Black, white and silver
Hobbies: Traveling, driving, diving
Collections: Venetian glass
Special Talent:
Origin of Stage Name:
Favorite Role: All the roles up till now
Would Like to Try Playing:

Debut: 1988 (74th Class) Kiss Me Kate
Troupe History:
1998 - 2006 Cosmos Troupe
1988 - 1997 Snow Troupe


2006: Never Say Goodbye, Georges Malraux
2005: A Kiss to the Flames / Neo Voyage, Manrico
2005: Hotel Stella Maris / The Legend of the Revue (National Tour), William O'Dannell
2005: Hotel Stella Maris / The Legend of the Revue, William O'Dannell
2004: Gone With the Wind (National Tour), Rhett Butler
2004: Phantom, Erik
2004: Boxman (Nippon Seinenkan / Drama City), Kevin Randall
2003-04: Lightning in the Daytime / Temptation!, Albert de Clair
2003: Legend of the Phoenix -Calaf & Turandot- / The Showstopper (Hakataza), Calaf
2003: Pierre the Mercenary / The Star Dust Party, Pierre
2002-03: Miracle of the Holy Star (Drama City / Akasaka ACT), Fredrick
2002: Legend of the Phoenix -Calaf & Turandot- / The Showstopper, Calaf
2002: Castel Mirage / Dancing Spirit! (National Tour), Leonard Ruby
2001-02: Castel Mirage / Dancing Spirit!, Leonard Ruby
2001: The Rose of Versailles 2001 -Fersen and Marie Antoinette-, Hans Axel Von Fersen
2001: Nostalgia Across the Sea / Millennium Challenger! (Chunichi), Kuki Umihito
2000: Nostalgia Across the Sea / Millennium Challenger!, Kuki Umihito (top star debut at Grand Theater)
2000: Mayerling / Glorious!! (National Tour), Rudolf (top star debut)
2000: Black Rose of the Desert / Glorious!!, Yawan
1999: Passion: Jose and Carmen / The Revue '99 (Tokyo), Prospère Mérimée, Garcia
1999: Crossroad (Nippon Seinenkan), Alphonso (lead role)
1999: Passion: Jose and Carmen / The Revue '99 (Grand Theater), Prospère Mérimée, Garcia
1999: Crossroad (Drama City), Alphonso (lead role)
1998: Elisabeth, Franz Joseph
1998: Excalibur / Citrus Breeze (Tokyo), Christopher
1998: Wuthering Heights (Cosmos) (Nippon Seinenkan / Aichi Annuity Hall), Heathcliff (lead role)
1998: Excalibur / Citrus Breeze (Grand Theater), Christopher
1998: Mugen Houjushou / This is Takarazuka! (Hong Kong Tour)
1997: Ghost at Midnight / Les Cherubim, Eric
1997: Romanesque Mask / Golden Days (Tokyo)
1997: Wuthering Heights (Bow Hall), Heathcliff (lead role)
1997: Romanesque Mask / Golden Days (Grand Theater), Comte de Gercourt
1997: Natasha of the Rainbow / La Jeunesse! (Chunichi), Nagaoka Hitoshi
1996: Natasha of the Rainbow / La Jeunesse! (Tokyo), Nagaoka Hitoshi
1996: On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (Bow Hall), Edward Moncrief
1996: Natasha of the Rainbow / La Jeunesse! (Grand Theater), Nagaoka Hitoshi
1996: Elisabeth (Tokyo), Rudolph
1996: Invitation from Alice (Bow Hall), Michael
1996: Elisabeth (Grand Theater), Elemer Batthyány
1995: Love Blooms Out on the Murasakino / Ma Belle Etoile, Amano Inukai no Murajikatsumaro
1995: Grand Shanghai (Bow Hall), Chan Kun-li (lead role)
1995: JFK / 1001 Baroque Nights, Sorensen
1995: An Actor’s Revenge / Sagittarius (Tokyo), Benkou
1995: Goodbye Merry-Go-Round (Bow Hall / Nippon Seinenkan), The Lover, King of the Forest, Golden Rock 'n Roller, Night Dread A
1994: Kasenshou / The Door to Here / Million Dreams (London Tour)
1994: An Actor’s Revenge / Sagittarius (Grand Theater), Benkou
1994: A Battlefield for the Two of Us (Aichi Annuity Hall), Alva
1994: Gone with the Wind
1994: Ride On (Bow Hall), Arimura
1993: Seal of the Bourbons / La Cote d'Azur (Tokyo), Michel
1994: A Battlefield for the Two of Us (Bow Hall / Nippon Seinenkan), Alva
1993: Seal of the Bourbons / La Cote d'Azur (Grand Theater), Michel
1993: Heaven and Hell / Take Off, Howard, Louis-Napoléon
1992-93: Chuushingura, Yomiuri Unosuke, Fuwa Kazuemon
1992: Jump For Joy (Drama City)
1992: This Boundless Love (Tokyo), Tongyama
1992: The Land of Smiles (Tokyo / Nagoya), Count Gustav von Pottenstein
1992: This Love Until the Cloudy Horizon, Tongyama
1991-92: The Great Gatsby / Lovers' Concerto, Eddie
1991: The Land of Smiles (Bow Hall), Count Gustav von Pottenstein
1991: Spotlight Magic (Bow Hall)
1991: Kagenshou / Saburomaru and His Comrades / Sweet Typhoon
1991: Illumination Black (Nippon Seinenkan), Todd
1990: Dusk-Colored Half Moon / Paradise Tropicana, Alan
1990: The Castle Tower Enveloped in the Smell of Flowers / Bright Delight Time (National Tour)
1990: The Castle Tower Enveloped in the Smell of Flowers / Bright Delight Time (Tokyo), Iwasa Hannojou
1990: Rose of Toulon (Nippon Seinenkan / Bow Hall)
1990: The Castle Tower Enveloped in the Smell of Flowers / Bright Delight Time (Grand Theater), Iwasa Hannojou
1989: Rose of Versailles -Andre and Oscar-
1989: Monsieur du Paris / La Passion! (Toyko)
1989: Illumination Black (Bow Hall), Todd
1989: Monsieur du Paris / La Passion! (Grand Theater)
1988-89: Rose of Toulon (Bow Hall)
1988-89: Book of Lingering Memories (Bow Hall / Nippon Seinenkan)
1988: Chronicles of Tamayura / Dynamo!
1988: Kiss Me Kate (Flower)


1994-95: An Actor’s Revenge, Nakamura Yukinojou (lead role)
1994: Gone with the Wind
1993-94: Seal of the Bourbons, James, Louis XIV (lead role)
1993: Heaven and Hell, Robert, Jacques Offenbach (lead role)
1992-93: Chuushingura, Asano Takuminokami, Okano Kinemon
1992: This Boundless Love, Fujiwara no Tadahira, Chou Eikun
1991: The Great Gatsby, Tom Buchanan
1991: Saburomaru and His Comrades, Hikoroku
1990: Dusk-Colored Half Moon, Pete
1990: The Castle Tower Enveloped in the Smell of Flowers, Kanou Kojirou Kiyotaka
1989: Rose of Versailles -Andre and Oscar-, Oscar
1989: Monsieur du Paris, Alain
1988: Chronicles of Tamayura


2005: W-Wing (Concert)
2005: Takarazuka Revue Charity Concert
2003: So in Love (Dinner Show)
2000: Believe (Dinner Show)
1998: Blue Fantasia (Dinner Show)


2005: TCA Special 2005 - Beautiful Melody, Beautiful Romance
2004: TCA Special 2004 - Takarazuka 90
2002: TCA Special 2002 - Love
2001: TCA Special 2001 - Takarazuka Dream Century
2000: Adieu Takarazuka 1000days Theater
2000: TCA Special 2000 - King of Revue
1999: Revue Special '99
1999: '99 TCA Special - Hello! Wonderful Time
1998: Revue Special '98
1998: '98 TCA Special - Takarasienne!
1997: Revue Special '97 - Christmas Eve in Takarazuka
1997: Four Colors (Video)
1997: '97 TCA Special - The Festival
1996: '96 TCA Special - Melodies and Memories
1995: '95 TCA Special - Magnifique Takarazuka
1994: TMP Special - Dream Festival Takarazuka '94
1993: '93 TMP Music Festival - Youth Forever!
1992: '92 TMP Music Festival - Songs in Your Heart
1991: '91 TMP Music Festival - Ethno Pops
1990: '90 TMP Music Festival - Sound In Big City


2007: WAOH! Vol. 2: Wao Youka No Okurimono (Wao Youka's Gift)
2007: WAOH! Vol. 1: Wao Youka No Natsu (Wao Youka's Summer)
2006: Wao Youka Stage
2003: Be Natural


2024: The Rose of Versailles 50th Anniversary (OG Performance)
2019: The Rose of Versailles 45th Anniversary (OG Performance)
2018: Cosmos Troupe Formation 20th Anniversary Event
2014: Chicago , Velma Kelly (with Mine Saori, Asaji Saki, Shizuki Asato, Kozuki Wataru, Mizu Natsuki, Asami Hikaru, Takashiro Kei, Yamato Yuuga)
2014: Celebration 100! Takarazuka Special Guest 06. 06 / 07.06 / 08.06
2014: The Club with Yamato Yuuga, Haruna Yuri, Asaji Saki, Kitajima Mami, Hatsukaze Midori, Yumeki Noa
2013: Dracula The Musical, Count Dracula (lead role)
2011: Dracula The Musical, Count Dracula (lead role)
2011: Charity Concert at Chikazawa Lace
2011: Utau Hit Man! (The Singing Hit Man!) (heroine)
2010: Dietrich (Official Website) (lead role)
2009: TBS TV Drama Special : Central Drift-Sand (lead role)
2008: Chicago, Velma Kelly
2007: Movie: "Chacha" (Official Website) (lead role)
2007: Concert: New Yoka Rockin' Broadway
2007: Yoka Wao Concert


Official Website (currently offline)
Official Twitter
Official Instagram
Talent Profile with Ogi Production

• She attended the same ballet studio as Takumi Hibiki and was her playmate.
• Has one of the longest runs as a top star (72 months, 6 years & 2 months) in the revue's history. Her top combi partner Hanafusa Mari also set the record for the longest run as a top musumeyaku.
• Has portrayed the same historical figure of Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria in two different musicals (Mayerling and Elisabeth), as did Flower Troupe top star Yuzuka Rei later.
• One of the three actresses to have portrayed both Emperor Franz Joseph and Prince Rudolph (the others are Juri Sakiho and Ayabuki Mao).
• She has an older brother who runs a hospital.
• After retiring from Takarazuka, she and Hanafusa Mari established a private office, with Hanafusa as the manager and Wao as the top talent. In 2011, Hanafusa resigned from said office and restarted her own career.
• Wao does several concerts a year (nine as of 2010). In particular, she holds a yearly Christmas Dinner Show.
• Her engagement to the American composer Frank Wildhorn was announced in 2014, and confirmed on her Twitter. They were married in July 2015. They met when he was commissioned to write for Never Say Goodbye.