Kiriya Hiromu, the Otokoyaku top star of Moon Troupe has announced that she will be leaving Takarazuka Revue in April 2012.

The star held a press conference in Osaka on October 25th where she commented with a little strained face, "I've decided to end (my career as Otokoyaku) next spring, approximately 18 years since I began Takarazuka Revue."

Takarazuka Revue is all-female musical theater troupe based in Hyogo prefecture. �There's five troupes (Flower, Moon, Snow, Star and Cosmos), and each troupe has a pair of top stars (Otokoyaku who plays the male role, and Musumeyaku who plays the female role). �Kiriya has been the top star of the Moon Troupe since December of 2009.

According to Kiriya, she decided to leave the company 6 months ago. She stated, "I have been spending substantial and fulfilling days as the top, and the Moon Troupe members have improved. �I thought I should go on to the next step when the troupe is�stable."

Kiriya has not decided about what she plans to do in the future beyond Takarazuka, and there are no plans for marriage.

Her last performance will be "Edward VIII/Misty Station" which will be play from February 3rd ~ March 5th at Takarazuka Grand Theater, and March 23rd ~ April 22nd at Tokyo Takarazuka Theater. �Kiriya's final day as an Otokoyaku will be on April 22, 2012.

Source & Image: asahi + Daily Sports Online