18 Facts About Keiko Sonoi

Keiko Sonoi was born Tomi Hakamada on 6 August 1913 in Matsuo, a village in Iwate Prefecture.

Keiko Sonoi was the first-born daughter of Seikichi Hakamada and his wife Kame, who both ran a business that made and sold sweets.

Keiko Sonoi moved to Morioka to stay with her uncle Tasuke's family, in order to attend the "upper elementary school" there.

Keiko Sonoi therefore decided to re-christen herself Hideko, by which she was exclusively known as during her time in the Takarazuka Revue.

Keiko Sonoi later called herself Masayo, and her last letter, written four days before her death, was signed with that name.

Keiko Sonoi allegedly chose these aliases from being immersed in onomancy, a type of fortune-telling based on the name.

Keiko Sonoi learned of the existence of the all-girl Takarazuka Revue through girl's magazines, and by the time she graduated elementary school, she wished to join this musical revue theatrical company, but this was foiled when her mother opposed the decision.

One of the principal actors at the Tsukiji Little Theater was Sadao Maruyama, and Keiko Sonoi later did indeed retire from Takarazuka to become a shingeki actor under Maruyama's direction.

Keiko Sonoi changed her stage name later that year to Keiko Sonoko.

Keiko Sonoi became recognized as a skilled and versatile supporting actress, especially in comedic roles.

Around this time, Keiko Sonoi had already indicated her inclination to convert to Shingeki acting.

Shigenori Utsumi who wrote the script later recalled being stunned by this choice of casting, but Yachiyo Kasugano, long-lived doyenne of Takarazuka, revealed that she had been tapped for the part, but lobbied to cede the role to Keiko Sonoi after learning of her imminent departure.

Keiko Sonoi played the widow's role as in the movie when the troupe produced the theater adaptation of Muhomatsu no issho, first in Kuraku-za's 4th run at Hogakuza in October 1944, after which the troupe took this play on the road, traveling through a large part of Western Japan.

Keiko Sonoi found actor Shozo Takayama lightly injured, and the two of them fled to Mount Hiji approximately 1 kilometre away.

Keiko Sonoi asked of news about Maruyama, and sensed he must have passed away.

Keiko Sonoi felt the coolness of the chilled gauze, and said "Oh, how good it feels".

Keiko Sonoi's remains were cremated the following day, and her bones and ashes buried in Onryu-ji in Morioka.

The childhood home of manga artist Osamu Tezuka in Takarazuka, Hyogo belonged to a row of houses dubbed "Musical Theater Tenements", and Tezuka recalls that Keiko Sonoi lived at the end of this block.