Risa Junna


Risa Junna is a Japanese actress, singer, and voice actress. She was part of Takarazuka Revue's Snow Troupe and Flower Troupe. During her time in the Revue, she specialized in female roles. She was the musumeyaku top star from 1995 to 1996.

Career

Junna was born on March 15, 1971, in Minoh, Osaka, and grew up in the nearby Toyonaka. Her parents were both junior high school teachers. Her father taught English and her mother taught physical education.
In March 1988, she passed the audition for Takarazuka Music School and subsequently entered the school. She trained for two years and graduated at the top of her class. She joined the Takarazuka Revue in 1990. Her first stage was in Flower Troupe's The Rose of Versailles: Fersen. Due to her singing ability, she was chosen to be the etoile. From then on she was part of the Snow Troupe.
In 1994, following encouragement from the troupe, she auditioned and was chosen to star in NHK's 51st asadora Piano. She took one year off from the revue for the drama. After returning in 1995, she transferred to the Flower Troupe. She made her top musumeyaku debut that same year, starring alongside Miki Maya in East of Eden/Dandyism! Her final stage was How to Succeed in 1996. Since her retirement, she has had success as an actress in television, film, and commercials.
In 2001, she starred alongside Anita Mui and Simon Yam in the 2001 Hong Kong film Midnight Fly. She also sang its theme song. The film was nominated for nine Golden Horse Awards and won one for Best Original Film Song.

Stage

YearTitleRoleTheatre
1997–1999Les MisérablesCosetteImperial Theatre
1999Chikyu Gorgeous Vol 3: Chizu ni Nai MachiIzumi SunaharaThe Galaxy Theatre, Theater Drama City
2000The Makioka SistersTaekoImperial Theatre
2000Chikyu Gorgeous Vol 4: Sakura no UtaTomiko AzumaBunkamura Theatre Cocoon, Theater Drama City
2001Christmas BoxKellyAoyama Theatre
2002Love LettersMelissa GardnerParco Theater
2003The Angels with Closed EyesLe Theatre Ginza
2003Saturday Night Fever: The MusicalStephanie ManganoShinjuku Koma Theater
2004–2005Nine The MusicalClaudiaTheater Brava!, The Galaxy Theatre
2006NobunagaNōhimeShinbashi Enbujō, Osaka Shochikuza Theatre
2006Me and My GirlJacqueline CarstoneImperial Theatre
2007Blue Stockings no Onna-tachiNoe ItōKinokuniya Hall
2007LOVE 30 MisakoParco Theater
2007Misuzu to Teru to Haha-sama toTeru Kaneko/Misuzu KanekoSuntory Hall
2007Ijin no uta: AntigoneMeiNew National Theatre Tokyo
2009Reijō to MeshitsukaiAkasaka Red Theater

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994PianoLead role, asadora
1997Love Generation
1998Love Generation '98Television special
1998Hitoribocchi no Kimi ni
1998Seikimatsu no UtaEpisode: "Kurumaisu no Koi"
1999Rasen
2000Aijin no Okite
2001Akui
2002Joshi-ana Keiji Kareinaru Zaihō SatsujinTelevision special
2002Okashina Futari 2Television special
200224th NHK Kayō Charity ConcertHostMusic program
2002Kuro no HonryūTelevision special
2002AibōSeason 1, episode 1
2002Ally McBealVoice role, 13 episodes
2003Kasai Chōsakan Kurenai RenjirōTelevision special
2003Koi no EtudeUnknownEpisode: "Storm"
2003ChūshinguraOkaruTelevision special
2003Kōgen e IrasshaiKaru
2003Astro BoyVoice role, Episode: "Robot Boy"
2003YosomonoTelevision special
2004Sekai de Ichiban Nagai 24-jikanNaoTelevision special
2005Ruri no Shima2 episodes
2005Kuidōraku! Shutchō RyōrijinTelevision special
2006YaohTamakiEpisode 9
2007NHK Kansai Special FeatureHerselfTelevision special
2007Shokatsudeka 3Television special
2007Zou no HanakoTelevision special
2007Manhattan Diaries
2008Seikatsu Hot MorningHerselfTelevision special
2008Little Charo: Karada ni Shimikomu EikaiwaHerself Episode 1
2008–2009Little CharoCharoVoice role, 50 episodes
200837th NHK Kayō Charity ConcertHerselfTelevision special
2008Mito KōmonSeason 39, episode 1
2009Risa Junna Yūkyū no Taiga 800km no TabiHerselfDocumentary
2009Okan no GyakushūLead role, television special
2009Keiji no Genba 2UnknownEpisode 4
2009Kareinaru SpyEpisode: Mission 6
2010–2011Little Charo 2CharoVoice role, 50 episodes
2010Natsuko to Tensai Sagishi-tachi
2011Kyūkyū Kyūmei-shi 8Television special
2012Yume Kikō MinamisatsumaHerselfDocumentary
2012Little Charo: Tōhoku-henCharoVoice role, 12 episodes
2013Little Charo 4: Eigo de Aruku New YorkCharoVoice role, 36 episodes
2014Hana wa Saku: Tōhoku ni SakuCharoVoice role

YearTitleRoleChannel
2010–presentArigatō Sensei! Another StoryNarratorTokyo FM
2011Seishun Adventure: Kosode NikkiKyoko NHK FM Broadcast
2011Survivors Guilt: Watashi no Inai Machi deNHK FM Broadcast
2018Seishun Adventure: Toki Suna no ŌHimikoNHK FM Broadcast

YearTitleRole
2011Little Charo Travels in English!Charo

Discography

Albums

  1. Propose
  2. Misty Moon
  3. Silent Love

    Singles

  4. "Pīka Pika"
  5. "Propose"