Apologies Issued by Japan's Takarazuka Revue Theatre Company as Actress's Suicide Raises Concerns Over Overworking

A renowned all-female theatre group in Japan, Takarazuka Revue, has accepted responsibility for the death of a young actress, which is believed to be a result of overwork. The company did apologize for the loss of life but did not offer compensation to the family of the 25-year-old actress. Chairman Kenshi Koba also announced his resignation. The group, founded in 1913, is known for its glamorous interpretations of romantic musicals and is highly competitive to join. The performers, who predominantly play male roles, draw large audiences. The chairman admitted that they did not adequately fulfill their duty of care for the actress and apologized to her family. The company pledged to take measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, including reducing the number of weekly performances. However, the executives claimed to be unaware of the struggles faced by young artists in the troupe. The actress, who had been with the company for six years, died in suspected suicide at her condominium in Takarazuka. An independent investigation commissioned by the company did not find evidence of bullying or harassment but acknowledged that the long hours and pressure from senior members may have caused a psychological burden on the woman. Her family is suing the company for compensation, alleging overworking and bullying led to her deteriorating mental and physical health. They also claimed that she suffered burns from a senior member pressing a hair iron against her forehead, an allegation that the company denied. The company expressed intentions to compensate the family but did not provide further details.