Yōka Wao

Wao first attracted attention when she played the role of Oscar in the New Actor Show of 1989 Snow Production Rose of Versailles.

After graduating from the New Actor Show cast, she progressed to playing solid supporting roles in the main troupe productions.

When Kouju Tatsuki, who played Rudolf in the Grand Theater, changed troupes, Wao took the role for the Tokyo performance.

She is one of the three actresses to portray both Emperor Franz Joseph and Prince Rudolph in Elisabeth (the other are Sakiho Juri and Mao Ayabuki) and is one of two actresses to portray Rudolf in two different musicals (Elisabeth and Mayerling), the other being Ouki Kaname, the current top star of the Cosmos troupe.

In December 2005, she injured herself during the performance of W-Wing (her personal concert) but was able to come back for Never Say Goodbye, her last musical with Takarazuka.

In 2008, it was announced that she will be Velma Kelly for the Japanese version of Chicago with Ryoko Yonekura as Roxie and Ryuichi Kawamura as Billy in October and November.