Photo/Illutration Kazuo Sumi, chairman of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., in Osaka in 2021 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The chairman of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc. plans to resign from his position as president of the Takarazuka Music School, which trains Takarazuka Revue Company performers, following the apparent suicide of a 25-year-old member, sources said.

Kazuo Sumi is expected to be replaced as president on Dec. 1 by Koji Murakami, a director at Hankyu Corp., the railway subsidiary of the holding company that operates the all-female troupe, sources said.

The Takarazuka Revue Company announced on Nov. 14 that Murakami will become its chairman as of Dec. 1 after current chairman Kenshi Koba steps down.

Sumi currently serves on the board of directors of the revue company.

The Takarazuka Music School, based in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, celebrated the 110th anniversary of its founding in July.

The woman, who was member of the Cosmos Troupe, one of the company’s five troupes, was found dead in the grounds of her apartment building in Takarazuka on Sept. 30. Police suspect that she committed suicide.

At a news conference on Nov. 14, the Takarazuka Revue Company said that an independent investigation team found that the woman was possibly suffering from strong psychological strain due to long hours of activities and other factors, although it could not confirm if bullying or power harassment by senior members had occurred.

The revue company plans to interview about 400 members of the company to ascertain the conditions of training and senior-junior relationships within the troupe and consider measures for improvement, sources said.

Hearings with performers, who are known as “Takarasienne,” will be conducted mainly by producers attached to each troupe.

A new investigative committee, which is expected to be established this year, at the earliest, will discuss measures to prevent a recurrence based on the findings of the interviews.

It has yet to be decided whether the committee will be formed at the Takarazuka Revue Company, Hankyu Corp. or Hankyu Hanshin Holdings.

The outside investigation team found the existence of rules among performers and guidance by senior members that the revue company had not grasped.

Koba, the outgoing chairman, had said the company would consider changing practices if inappropriate.

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