Recent fan culture studies have often focused on formation of fan communities in cyberspace and much has been written about fan culture that develops around popular cultural texts. Similarly, studies of Japanese fans often analyse characteristics of community-specific fan behaviour and address social aspects of fan interactions.

This has also been the case with existing research on fans of the Takarazuka Revue – a popular all-female Japanese theatre company boasting over 100 years of history.

As a self-proclaimed “world of dreams”, Takarazuka is well-known for glamorous productions which attract a steady following among a predominantly female audience.

It has been debated that Takarazuka owes its commercial success to the popularity of otokoyaku (male role players) and their distinct relations with zealous fans.

However, so far little attention has been paid to individual and collective fan behaviour that is not limited to enjoying theatrical performances or activities performed strictly within the organization of actresses’personal fan clubs.

This paper expands discussion on modern fan cultures by presenting a study of Takarazuka fan behaviour specific to the local fan community of the Revue’s birthplace – the Takarazuka city. Informed by 3months of immersive fieldwork and in-depth interviews with Takarazuka fans, this paper explores narratives of belonging and affect while investigating the process of personal fan identity formation of Kansai-located Takarazuka fans.

By examining differences in individual fan experiences, I demonstrate how local Takarazuka fans’ practices highlight complex fantasies of spatial belonging and illustrate how urban landscapes can be utilised in fan community formation.