Anza

, also known as simply Anza (stylized in all caps), is a Japanese singer and theater actress best known as vocalist of the heavy metal band Head Phones President and for playing Sailor Moon in thirteen separate musical productions.

Early life Anza was born in Cape Town, South Africa, to a White South African mother and a Japanese father. When they moved to Nagasaki, Japan in her childhood, Anza was not fluent in the Japanese language and was bullied because of her foreign appearance. She and Ayako Morino, also of Sakurakko Club fame, were in a spin-off duo called Momo.

In late 2008, she joined the rock band Vitamin-Q along with Masami Tsuchiya, Kazuhiko Katō, Gota Yashiki and Rei Ohara. However, after Katō's suicide on October 17, 2009, the group ceased activity. In 2009, she also appeared in Vamps' music video for their cover of Shampoo's "Trouble".

In 2011, Anza started a webshop in collaboration with Riho, "Raz -Rabbit" is a shop of clothes and accessories. On May 1, 2011, Anza performed a solo show in support of 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami victims. At the show, named Anza's Box, she sang songs from the Sailor Moon, Gift and Les Misérables musicals, as well as her solo career. Misako Iwana (from Sailor Moon), Manabu Oda (from Gift) and members of Head Phones President also participated. On December 24, Anza performed the solo show Anza Xmas Live at the Live & Cafe Bar Rocky in Tokyo.

In late 2012, Anza was featured on the song "Unmei no Megami" from the group Dragon Guardian, at the album The Best of Dragon Guardian Saga. Since 2013, Anza has performed as a DJ sporadically, alone or with her bandmate Narumi. On May 24, 2014, Anza celebrated her 22 years of career in the show Anza Solo Live with participation of musicians Kato Tomoko, Hiro and Masaru Sakaguchi, in addition to special guests Okuyama Momoko, Iwana Misako (formerly Kotani Misako), Oda Manabu, Haruka (Rouse Garden) and Fujiwara Yuki.

The music of Head Phones President was the genesis of the rock musical Stand in the World written and directed by Shohei Hayashi, which ran at the Tokyo Arts Center from June 11–13, 2016. The band performed during the show which stars Erika Yamakawa, Manabu Oda and Hikari Ono. For the 15th anniversary of the PGS Special, RAZ had a physical store in Ikebukuro from November 10 to 28. On December 2, 2016, Anza performed the show Anza Solo Live" at New Eight in Kamata, Tokyo. The show featured Misako Iwana, in addition to the musicians Tomo on keyboards and Hiro on guitar. On May 4, 2017, Anza performed the show Anza Birthday Live in the same location, with the same guests, with the additional participation of Manabu Oda. On February 26, 2017, Anza made a guest appearance on JENOFES at Ikebukuro Live Inn Rosa in Tokyo. On March 25, she started the column "Good times for a change ☆" on the Beeast online music magazine.

Anza World, a special live celebrating the 20th anniversary of Anza's colo career and the seventh anniversary of RAZ, was held on July 13, 2018 at Sengawa Fix Hall with guests Misako Iwana and Nana (Reasterisk); musicians Tomo and Hiro; apparel RAZ; DJ Narumi and models Chiro, Area, iPo, Erina Nagano, Misato Koromo, Tetsutaro Otaki and Rika Ayami.

Stage career Anza has performed in a number of stage productions, the majority of which being musicals. Her first major production was as the leading role of Sailor Moon in the Sailor Moon musicals, commonly referred to as "Sera Myu". She is one of the longest-running cast members to ever perform in the musicals and is the longest-running to play the Sailor Moon character to date. She held the role for five years performing in thirteen separate productions between 1993 and 1998.

Nearing the end of her stretch as Sailor Moon, Anza also performed in a musical called 2050-nen no Aoi Shima between 1997 and 1998. Chiruchiru was the name of her character. In 2000, she broke off from the musical scene in a Japanese stage production of Mr. Holland's Opus. Similarly, in 2002, she was in a Japanese stage production of When Harry Met Sally....

In 2003, Anza returned to doing musicals by taking on the role of Éponine in several Toho productions of Les Misérables until 2006. In 2004, Anza appeared as Ellen in one production of Miss Saigon (also produced by Toho) as well as a Japanese adaptation of Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters in the role of Irina.

Discography Solo

"Dream" (April 18, 1998) – 2nd opening theme song to the Cardcaptor Sakura anime – ending theme song to the Glass no Kantai anime – ending theme song to the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal: The Movie Part 2 anime Voice of My Heart (June 20, 2021)

With Sakurakko Club Sakura-gumi

With Momo Just Combination (1993) Summer Candle -Momo in New Caledonia (VHS, 1993) Pocket Bell Night wa 5643# (1994)

With Sailor Moon musicals Memorial Album of the Musical "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon": An Alternate Legend: The Dark Kingdom Revival Story Memorial Album of the Musical 2 "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S": Usagi — The Path to Become the Soldier of Love Memorial Album of the Musical 3 "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon SuperS": Dream Warriors — Love — Into Eternity... Memorial Album of the Musical 4 "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Sailor Stars" Memorial Album of the Musical 5 "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon" Eternal Legend Memorial Album of the Musical "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon": ~ Best Sound Track ~ Memorial Album of the Musical "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon": Theme Songs 1993~1999 Memorial Album of the Musical "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon": Best Songs Collection —Best Songs Chosen by Fans— Memorial Album of the Musical "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon": Love Ballad Edition Memorial Album of the Musical "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon": Dark Side Edition: Best Songs

With Head Phones President See Head Phones President discography

With Vitamin-Q Vitamin-Q Featuring Anza (December 12, 2008)

Other "Mienai Chizu" - song insert at episode 68 of Cardcaptor Sakura "Ai wo Shizumeteru" - the ending theme song of the PlayStation game Psychic Force 2, 1999 - Dragon Guardian, at album The Best of Dragon Guardian Saga

Musicals Anza performed as Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon in the following musicals: 1993 - Summer Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon - Gaiden Dark Kingdom Fukkatsu Hen 1994 - Winter Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon - Gaiden Dark Kingdom Fukkatsu Hen-(Kaiteiban) 1994 - Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon - Super Spring Festival 1994 - Summer Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S - Usagi: Ai no Senshi e no Michi 1995 - Winter Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S - Henshin – Super Senshi e no Michi- 1995 - Spring Spring Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S - Henshin - Super Senshi e no Michi (Kaiteiban) 1995 - Summer Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS - Yume Senshi - Ai - Eien ni... 1996 - Spring Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS - (Kaiteiban) Yume Senshi - Ai - Eien ni... Saturn Fukkatsu Hen 1996 - Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS - Special Musical Show 1996 - Summer Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon - Sailor Stars 1997 - Winter Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon - Sailor Stars (Kaiteiban) 1997 - Summer Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi - Eien Densetsu 1998 - Winter Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi - Eien Densetsu (Kaiteiban) - The Final First Stage

As herself/guest 1998 - Golden Week Fan Kansha Event 1999 - Boys Be ... Alive 2000 - 500kai Kouen Kinen - 500th Performance Special~ 2002 Spring 10th Anniversary Festival Dai 2 Bu - Memorial Talk & Live Show 777kai Kouen Kinen - 777th Performance of Sera Myu

Other musicals 1997–1998 - Chiruchiru in 2050 no Aoi Tori 2000 - Rowena Morgan in Mr. Holland's Opus 2002 - Emily Diner in When Harry Met Sally... 2003–2006 - Éponine in Les Misérables 2004 - Ellen in Miss Saigon 2004 - Irina Sergeyevna Prozorova in Three Sisters 2006, 2009, 2013 - Ayaka in Gift 2007 - Sint-Margherita in Ai, Toki wo Koete Sekigahara Ibun 2008 - Julia in Rag and Jewelry 2008 - Homma Ayako in Only You Really Musical 2008 - Tsukino Yayoi in Ninshin Sasete 2008 - Julia (Sawamoto Yuriko) in Boro to Houseki 2008 - Honma Ayako in Kiss Yori mo Setsunaku 2009 - Madeleine in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg 2009 - Amneris in Aida 2016 - Hikaru in Stand in the World - The Rock Musical Show

Filmography 1992 - Susume! Chikyū Bōei Shōjo-tai ("Earth Defense Corps Girl! Promoted") - herself 1992 - Chuugakusei Nikki ("Junior High School Diar"y) - herself 1998 - Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Kamiya Tōichirō 2009 - "Trouble" - music video for Vamps

Photobooks Anza Complete (1997)