History: Wao Youka

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 50 (OG Performance)
2019: The Rose of Versailles 45 (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 on 2014/03/30, and confirmed on her Twitter. They were married on 2015/07/26. They met when he was commissioned to write for Never Say Goodbye.