mit: a segment where conversation unfolds between a top combi based on questions collected from readers.
—Since you’re called the “Hope Combi”1, if you could each make one another’s hopes come true, what is one thing you’d ask of the other?
NOZOMI: I wanna see you as an otokoyaku! I’d like you to be in my position just once.
MAAYA: Ok, then you can be in mine…!
NOZOMI: I’d watch that!
MAAYA: (laughs)
NOZOMI: You wanted to be an otokoyaku originally, and everyone says you have a lot of boyish aspects, relatively.
MAAYA: Yeah… (laughs). As you might expect, watching otokoyaku gets my blood boiling. In the past I thought “I want to do that!” but now genuinely all I think is “you’re so cool!!!!!” But if that’s your request, I’d do it in a skit2 (laughs).
NOZOMI: I want you to take along some underclassman otokoyaku and put on a snobby character (haha).
MAAYA: (laughs). I would… want you to put on a 30 minute concert just for me!
NOZOMI: Ah…
MAAYA: Uh, you don’t seem to like that… (haha)
NOZOMI: No, if you pay I’ll do it whenever you want (haha).
MAAYA: REALLY?! How… how much (haha).
NOZOMI: Well it would be about 5 songs, plus rehearsal, costumes, musicians… so taking all that into account.
MAAYA: (laughs) If I can choose what you’ll sing, I want to hear the Disney song you’ve sung before, So Close. I could be like, I AM so close! (haha).
NOZOMI: That one is expensive.
MAAYA: Whaaaaat! (haha)
—Since you’re both known for your wonderful singing, if you could switch voices what would you like to sing?
NOZOMI: Aaaah, there’s so much! First of all, probably I Can’t Stop Dancing from Mozart! I’ve always wanted to.
MAAYA: I sing that at karaoke all the time!
NOZOMI: Really? I’d love to do it once with your voice. Also, the opening solo from Takarazuka Home in my Heart. I don’t really have that high of a register, and the song has punch, and I like how you can change your voice to fit the song.
MAAYA: …that makes me happy! (laughs) Thank you. I think it would feel amazing to sing the theme song from A Passage Through the Light ~Maximilien Robespierre, the Revolutionary~ in your voice!
NOZOMI: Oooh!
MAAYA: The way you sing so that your voice isn’t forceful but rather it envelops you, that’s something that I can’t really do, so if I could have your voice just once I’d want to take that opportunity to learn from it.
—If you could each write an instruction manual for the other, please tell us three warning points you’d include.
NOZOMI: “Goes crazy suddenly”
MAAYA: Ahahahaha!
NOZOMI: Like out of nowhere you’ll go “AAAAH” in some ridiculous voice. And your voice is piercing, so I’d say “be careful of your ears.” Let’s see… “Sometimes behaves recklessly.”
MAAYA: Wow, I’m no good huh?!
NOZOMI: There are times where you’ll just push forward with something and then there’s no turning back (haha). Oh! And also, “starts swaying when music plays so be wary of people around you.” Whenever we see shows together it always startles me (haha).
MAAYA: I SWAY?! Sorryyyy! (laughs) For you, hmmm… “When her switch is off, she moves slowly” (haha).
NOZOMI: Yeah that’s true (haha). Got any more? There must be a lot right?
MAAYA: Um… “Otokoyaku Nozomi Fuuto’s energy is so dangerous, you’ll get vertigo if you’re too close!”
NOZOMI: Okay (haha). Be careful!
MAAYA: And the third… occasionally in rehearsal, there are times when you look seriously absorbed in thought. At first I’d think “oh no, I must have done something wrong!” but gradually, I came to realize that during those times you’re not actually thinking about anything (haha).
NOZOMI: (bursts out laughing) Yeah, people often tell me my blank expression is scary (haha).
—You two start living together. How would you divide the chores?
NOZOMI: You’d do all of it!
MAAYA: Leave it to me!
NOZOMI: I don’t wanna do aaaaaanything. Well, I could at least do the dishes. I also don’t mind running the washing machine, but I hate hanging things to dry.
MAAYA: I’m no good at hanging… we’d have to do that together (haha). But I’ll cook! I’ll make anything you want morning noon and night!
NOZOMI: Woooow! Ok then, I guess I can take out the trash. Ooh, I hate ironing, but I actually like steaming things. Because I can do it sitting down (haha). Really, I think you’d be better off not living with me. I can’t wake up in the morning, I stay out late, I spend all my time at home on the sofa watching TV, and I never clean up.
MAAYA: As long as you come home that’s enough for me! Just come home, eat dinner, take a bath, and go to sleep.
NOZOMI: That’s all?
MAAYA: That’s all! I’ll do everything!
—Nozomi-san, in the past you mentioned you like the “Unraveling Beauty” page3 in GRAPH. Why don’t you ask Kiho-chan for her secrets directly?
NOZOMI: Of course! Ok, what’s your secret to beautiful skin?
MAAYA: Right now… I use SK-II.
NOZOMI: WOW!! AMAZING!!!
MAAYA: (laughs). But only in the evening. In the morning I wash my face with water, press it with a hot towel I’ve warmed on the stove, and start my makeup without any face lotion or anything.
NOZOMI: Ah, figures. Because the nighttime SK-II is such good stuff (haha).
MAAYA: I recommend it! (haha) But I’m not really picky! There are times when I use Nivea or Vaseline too. What do you use? Your skin is so porcelain…
NOZOMI: My usual foundation is THREE. Then before I go to sleep I take vitamins!
MAAYA: Is that so… I also want to know, how are your calves so thin?!
NOZOMI: (bursts out laughing) Yeah, my calves are pretty slender, I’m proud of it (haha). I think it’s just genetics. I never get to show them off though, I wish I could lend them to a musumeyaku (haha).
MAAYA: My legs swell easily, so to help with my circulation, I raise and lower my heels while I’m doing housework. Aw, I thought there might be a secret to it but it’s just genetics huh…
NOZOMI: Yep (haha).
MAAYA: I’ll just keep steadily working on being myself (haha).
TN: 1“Hope (希望) Combi” is a mashup of kanji in each of their names. 2Maaya is referring specifically to the skits they do to entertain each other at troupe/company parties. 3This is the 美ほどき section in 2018 GRAPH issues where musumeyaku discuss their skincare, makeup, hair care, etc.