Rio Asumi

is a Japanese actress and former leading otokoyaku (男役, "male role") of Takarazuka Revue. Biography Asumi Rio was born on June 26, 1985, in Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan. Asumi participated in many sports and arts growing up. She did swimming from the age of 1 until she was in elementary school, as well as ballet from the age of 3, and piano and calligraphy from the age of 4. She entered a private middle school, where in her third year a ballet friend of hers lent her a video of a performance by the Moon Troupe of Takarazuka Revue. After watching it, she became obsessed with Takarazuk and begged her parents to let her take the entry exam for the Takarazuka Music School. Her parents initially wouldn't allow her to attempt the exam. She later locked herself in her room for 3 days and 3 nights, crying until she started running a fever. Eventually, her parents let her take the exam, and she passed on the first try. Career Asumi joined Takarazuka Music School in 2001. She graduated and debuted in Takarazuka Revue in 2003 as part of the 89th class. She initially belonged to the Moon Troupe (Tsukigumi) as an otokoyaku (男役, male role), but she later transferred to Flower Troupe (Hanagumi), in 2013. She became the Top Star of Flower Troupe in 2014, where she stayed for 5 years up until her retirement from the company in 2019. Asumi Rio officially retired from Takarazuka on November 24, 2019, after being in the company for 16 years.