Assembly day for Star Troupe’s New Year production, 『恋する天動説│DYNAMIC NOVA』.
At last, the new Star Troupe is truly getting underway.
I’ve lived through that odd, unnameable feeling many times — the one that arrives after a beloved top star leaves. It never gets easier.
“So this is the rehearsal hall without Koto-chan (礼真琴)…”
It may take a little time for that thought to fade completely.
Even so, I do feel real anticipation for what this new Star Troupe will become.
And then — today’s official announcements dropped right into the middle of those mixed emotions.
The shock was… considerable.
Departures and Transfers
On assembly days, my finger always hovers over the “Notification of Departures,” bracing for impact.
Every troupe’s announcement draws attention each production cycle.
For a debut run by a new top pair, there are often no departures; this time, however, one was announced.
蒼舞咲歩（Sobu Sakiho） will retire.
She’s one of Star Troupe’s great mood-makers — the kind of person who brings light and laughter wherever she goes.
There was a period when her younger sister in Cosmos Troupe, 亜音有星（Anon Yusei）, took a long hiatus, the Cosmos issue unfolded, and shortly after that we learned Saki-ppo（Sobu Sakiho） would also be absent. It was a worrying stretch.
Happily, Anon returned to the stage, and Saki-ppo bounced back and thrived in Star Troupe—so this announcement stings.
After graduation, I’m sure she’ll keep cheering on her sister as an OG.
I hope she enjoys her final stage to the fullest.
And then there was a second, completely unexpected announcement — one I suspect many Star Troupe fans felt in the same way:
ひろ香祐（Hiroka yu）is transferring to Senka (the Superior Members troupe).
What?!
It really feels like the company intends to refresh the image of Star Troupe from the ground up.
Footsteps Toward a New Era
When a top star changes, a troupe’s color naturally shifts. You can’t stop that tide — and if a top star couldn’t shift the color, that would be more worrying.
So yes, I’m excited to feel the new breeze that the reborn Star Troupe will bring.
Still, what’s happening now carries a faint sense of dissonance.
It almost looks as if, rather than waiting for Ari-chan (暁千星 Akatsuki Chisei)’s color to emerge on its own, they’re working to strip away Ray Macoto’s lingering color entirely.
That’s the suspicious narrative whispering at the edges.
ひろ香祐（Hiroka yu） is 95th class, the runner-up to Ray Macoto in class standing, and a consummate all-rounder.
That Senka would call on her makes perfect sense; she’ll shine across all troupes.
And yet, to move her to Senka now, precisely when she’s been a pillar supporting Star Troupe in the post-Ray Macoto moment… It reads like a deliberate reset of the old regime.
A Star Troupe renovation.
So the day really has come when there are no more 95th-class stars in Star Troupe — and it came fast.
From the age of Yuzuki Reon onward, a long wave has flowed through Star; Ray Macoto’s graduation seems to mark a natural breakpoint.
Yes, Ari-chan and Moe-chan（瑠風輝 Rukaze Hikaru）, who once looked up to Chie-chan（柚希礼音 Yuzuki Reon）, now stand at center.
It’s a major turning point all the same.
The footsteps of a new era are approaching, ready to launch the next movement.
It’s bittersweet, but this is exactly how Takarazuka renews its magic — by changing, and still passing the flame.
Parallels Between Snow and Star
Star’s new top pair comes from other troupes: Akatsuki Chisei and Uta Chizuru(from Moon); the No. 2 is Rukaze Hikaru (from Cosmos).
Beneath them are Star-raised talents who’ve been carefully nurtured: Amato Kanon, and the scion Kisho Kazuto.
This structure mirrors Snow Troupe: top star Assami Jun (from Moon) with top daughter Yumeshiro Aya (from Cosmos), No. 2 Seo Turia (from Star), followed by Snow-raised Agata Sen and the scion Kase kyo.
Is the baton being calculated to pass to homegrown scions in the 120th anniversary window?
Another common thread: in both cases, the No. 2 and the top are classmates.
And to advance to the very top, one must be “…”— well, you know the conditions. ＞＜
Will a wave of transfers sweep through other troupes next?
Are we looking at a sweeping reshuffle in 2026?
I’m curious about the 100th-class “star concerto” in Flower Troupe, the trajectory of route-line producing in Moon, and the star-packed traffic jam in Cosmos — curious about everything, frankly.
Senka also gains heavy hitters: from Star, Kozakura Honoka and Hiroka Yu; from Snow, veteran Sono Haruto.
How will that chessboard move?
Personally, I’d love to see a veteran troupe head sent into Cosmos.
But that would require reassigning an active troupe leader, so… we’ll see what’s feasible.
Closing Thoughts
I’m not planning to travel to Takarazuka for the New Year run.
Even so, I’m sure we’ll witness a Star Troupe that inherits the best of the past while revealing a Star Troupe we haven’t met yet.
Joy and sadness, eagerness and reluctance — that paradox is part of the charm.
And when the curtain actually rises, I know myself : I’ll be shouting, “Star Troupe is the best!!!”
The troupe with Ray Macoto and the troupe to come are different creatures; I should enjoy them as different creatures.
Meanwhile, 瀬央ゆりあ Seo Yuria has departed for Snow, and 極美慎 Kiwami Shin for Flower.
Ray Macoto’s otokoyaku is gone, but Takarazuka’s fun has widened across the other troupes.
That, right there, is the Takarazuka rabbit hole.
Thank you, Takarazuka!!
The Japanese version of this article is here.↓↓↓
