Tuesday 24 February 2015

The 100th Anniversary of Takarazuka Revue

Memorial plate of "the 100th anniversary of Takarazuka Revue" is displayed on the 8000 series

One of the features of private railway companies in Tokyo is their diversification of business. For example, almost all major companies have their own department stores on their lines. The other example is the real estate business. Railway companies own land and develop housing and condominiums to rent or sell on their lines. An unusual business example is the sponsoring of professional baseball teams. The most famous of one is the Saitama Seibu Lions, which is owned by Seibu Railway in the Tokyo Metropolitan area.

Railways in Osaka are also not to be outdone by those in Tokyo. For instance, Hakyu Railway has a revue and their theater in Takarazuka City on the Hankyu Takarazuka Line. Takarazuka Revue is a famous musical troupe featuring an all-woman cast. It was established in 1914, so last year marked its centennial. Since the revue side is unfamiliar territory to me, please review an example of the stage information in the website of Takarazuka Revue.

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Takarazuka Revue, Hankyu Railway displays a celebration plate on the front of their trains. Please look at the pictures. It is the EMU 8000 series with a special plate. The 8000 series is a standard commuter train, which was launched in 1989 for the Kobe and the Takarazuka lines. A total of 102 units have been manufactured over nine years by Alna Koki. The so-called architrave-style front mask is a typical design of the trains in the 1990s.

EMU Hankyu 8000 series (with the memorial plate) stands at Juso Station on the Takarazuka Line