ASAKA: For my last talk, I mean, it HAD to be you!

MAKAZE: Kyaaaa!! (laughs) I’m extremely honored!!

ASAKA: The past 2 1/2 years have been a rich experience, haven’t they. They’ve gone by in a flash.

MAKAZE: They really have.

ASAKA: Yurika, when you came over from Star Troupe, since I had also experienced a troupe transfer, I thought I wanted to share with you all the things I understood about it. You also blew a new wind so to speak; you motivated me in a lot of different ways, and not to brag but I think we each drew the good parts out of each other. I’m singing my own praises (laughs).

MAKAZE: (Laughs). But, Maa-sama, you really did teach me so much, because you created an environment that was easy to feel at home in… I really feel like that originates from your character.

ASAKA: No no no. But, whenever something came up I’d invite you to dinner.

MAKAZE: Yes you did. The first time we went out to eat together was during A Song for Kingdoms. The advice you gave me was particularly spot on, and important. It felt like we didn’t have nearly enough time, didn’t it.

ASAKA: Yes it did. From then on whenever I felt like I wanted to talk to you more, I said let’s go out to eat (laughs).

MAKAZE: During the national tour of Melancholic Gigolo as well…

ASAKA: Our Kanazawa date (laughs).

MAKAZE: We took that rare opportunity to go to the Kanazawa 21st Century Art Museum but it was closed (laughs).

ASAKA: Right (laughs).

MAKAZE: We just found a place on the railing to sit down (laughs), and you gave me all kinds of advice.

ASAKA: We really got close during that performance.

MAKAZE: Not did we form a connection through our characters, but since it was a national tour we were with each other the entire time, and we had such great conversations I couldn’t believe it was only our second performance together.

ASAKA: I know right? Of course, I really enjoy discussing things, and I think it’s important, but with you, I think the things that were born out of the performances we did together were really interesting.

MAKAZE: I’m honored.

ASAKA: I think perhaps that’s the most important part of chemistry. No matter how close I am with someone normally, if I don’t mesh with them on stage, I think “huh?” But we meshed perfectly there. It’s been motivating and fun, and it’s been continuing all the way up to today.

MAKAZE: Before I came to Cosmos Troupe, I always thought your acting and your emotive abilities were so wonderful, but in practicality the more I had the opportunity to get close to you, there were so many subtleties and things to learn from, and it was a lot of fun for me too. When I was in Star Troupe, there was a part of me that felt like I was being chased after, but you sort of helped pull out the fun part for me…

ASAKA: We enjoy each other’s performances. With ad-libs too, you do them without ever breaking character, but because the amplitude of them is so intense you’re hilarious. It’s fun to wonder huh, what’s going to come today. You’re really clever aren’t you.

MAKAZE: Not at all, it’s you who’s hyper clever, Maa-sama.

ASAKA: No no. If I say one word to you, Yurika, you understand 10, so you’ve REALLY helped me out.

MAKAZE: It’s not like that at all.

ASAKA: There are ways in which we resemble each other, but because we have totally different sensibilities it’s interesting. If we had the same way of perceiving things we’d only have one viewpoint, but instead, because you’re someone with whom I can have a discussion regarding one issue—like aah it’s this, or maybe it’s that—things have gone well.

MAKAZE: Kwaaah…

ASAKA: Kwaaah? What does “kwaaaah” mean? (laughs)

MAKAZE: I mean we’ve gotten mad a lot too. But you’re always exactly right, like there have been times when you’ve said to me “it could also be like this,” or you’d tell me if I wasn’t doing something well, or you’d reign me in when I was going overboard (laughs)… We can really talk about anything, can’t we.

—————

ASAKA: There are so many performances that have left an impression on me but… Chateau de la Reine was fun wasn’t it.

MAKAZE: It was fun. Doing a comedy.

ASAKA: I loved the “To Versailles” number. But, even though we were able to do something that was that much fun, in the second half we were also able to convey serious drama, and isn’t that our strong point? Uh, I’m singing my own praises again (laughs). In the second half, if that part where Louis (Makaze) gets angry didn’t come properly, after that I wouldn’t be able to carry myself into Kitashirakawa’s (Asaka’s) feelings, but it was always fresh, and every time you’d say that part with tears welled up in your eyes, and you really helped me out in that way.

MAKAZE: That’s because no matter what show we were doing you always performed with this freshness, and because you placed such importance on this “live feeling” so to speak, every day I was able to feel that.

ASAKA: We’ve also been paired up in revues a lot. Looking back, it’s been that way since the finale of A Song for Kingdoms.

MAKAZE: That’s right.

ASAKA: With that one, I was surprised at first. Up to that point I was the one wrapping my arms around people, but I’d never had it done to me, so it was new and different. I was like we’re doing THIS in our first performance together? (laughs).

MAKAZE: Since we were enemies in the play, that part of that finale number was kind of sudden wasn’t it. And with that as a starting point… (laughs)

ASAKA: (Laughs). In HOT EYES!! I played a guy who toys with you.

MAKAZE: The roles were flipped.

ASAKA: And the culmination of it all is the Sapphire number in Classical Bijou.

MAKAZE: Yes!

ASAKA: But let’s save that discussion for the Talk DX* (laughs)

—————

ASAKA: I watched your Parisai performance from the authorized personnel seats in the back. And you know, there’s this part where you come out from the audience while the lights are down! And Makaze Suzuho-san!! She grabbed my hand!!! I was all “Kyaa, so cool!!!” (laughs).

MAKAZE: While the lights were still dim (laughs). I got a bit carried away (laughs).

ASAKA: I felt my chest tighten when you did that〜!! (laughs).

MAKAZE: (Raising her hand) Ok! Now can I say something that made me happy!? During A Motion, you said to me, “So there’s this scene where I act while envisioning you…” and I thought huh? You’re envisioning ME!? Could it be… Ahh!! You know, when I was watching it, I really wanted to get up on stage (laughs).

ASAKA: Come on up〜!! (laughs) Hey everyone, do you know which scene it was?

TOGETHER: “Romeo” and “Death”!!

MAKAZE: Aaahh, to think that you were envisioning my “Death,” it makes me so happy, is there a greater honor?!?!

ASAKA: I thought about you ever since rehearsal started, you know. If I were to play Romeo, the only person I could imagine playing Death would be Makaze Suzuho, so I acted while envisioning that.

MAKAZE: Just now, I’ve received such greatly appreciated words. This is the moment I received them (laughs)

ASAKA: You’re so cute!! (laughs)

MAKAZE: That segment where you played all those different characters was the best. Romeo & Juliette, Phantom, Me and My Girl… I’d have loved to see you in all of them…

—————

ASAKA: I felt like I had to tell you that I was planning to retire before I told anyone else, so after we watched the full rehearsal for the Chateau de la Reine shinjin kouen**, I called you over and said there was something I wanted to tell you. When I said, “You may have guessed this already, but I’m going to graduate after the next show,” you fell silent, and the next thing I knew, you burst into tears.

MAKAZE: Of course I’d cry at that.

ASAKA: I didn’t think you’d cry… And then, after I comforted you, you calmed down a bit, and I said, “Please keep taking care of me, let’s go home now.” And then as I was walking out, I noticed you weren’t with me.

MAKAZE: There was a Chateau de la Reine poster stuck on the wall right there, and I’d turned toward it like “Maa-samaaaaa〜” (laughs).

ASAKA: You were clinging to the picture of Ukyo on the poster and crying (laughs). It was sooo cute (laughs). And after that, right when we parted ways to go home I got a text from you, and when I looked at it it just said “Maa-sama,” so I replied, “What’s wrong?” and then you replied, “I just wanted to try calling your name.”

(They both burst into laughter)

MAKAZE: My mind had lapsed into chaos (laughs).

ASAKA: No no. I thought it was so pure.

MAKAZE: I cried during the national tour of Valencian Passion too. There was a performance in Saga, your hometown, and a return performance on top of that.

ASAKA: You were tearier than I was (laughs).

MAKAZE: Because, if I thought about the situation, how a long time ago you had your ballet recital in that same theater, and now you’re standing on that stage as top star, and all these people from your hometown got to come and watch you there, I couldn’t help but tear up… but despite all that, you said totally normally, “Yurika, you look like you’re gonna cry.” That was our difference in enthusiasm.

ASAKA: (Laughs). That’s because I can’t cry about things related to myself. But when I see you come down the stairs in your big feathers at your debut performance, I’ll definitely be sobbing.

MAKAZE: When we watched Kurenai-san’s debut also, it was intense for us.

ASAKA: We watched it next to each other.

MAKAZE: Right from the first “A Piece of Courage,” our tear ducts gave out.

ASAKA: We were bawling together. I didn’t think I’d cry that much right from the beginning.

MAKAZE: You had your glasses hanging from your shirt, and so many tears fell on them they got soaking wet.

ASAKA: When the show ended, you were wiping them dry for me for the longest time (laughs). So since we’ve established that I have that previous offense, when it’s your turn, I’ll bring a bath towel, ok? Or maybe, I should just cut eye holes out of a bath towel and wear it on my head (laughs).

MAKAZE: Noooo don’t, if I see you like that I won’t be able to concentrate (laughs).

ASAKA: No good? (laughs)

—————

MAKAZE: Maa-sama, you’ve pushed and pulled Cosmos Troupe along in so many ways… it’s hard to put into words, but your love for the troupe members, and the way you look at things with a wide scope rather than just your feelings of the moment, I’ve learned so much from that. If it were me though, I don’t think I’d have nearly enough strength… (cries).

ASAKA: (Crying) That’s not true at all.

MAKAZE: Aahh… if I say I respect you, that one phrase isn’t enough, but I feel like I’m really glad I’ve had the privilege of watching you from so close. Since I think I can express my gratitude to you by taking the things you’ve taught me and applying them to my performances… well, it ends with me saying I’ll do my best, but… I’m just so happy I’ve been able to spend time under your guidance (cries).

ASAKA: (Cries). For me too, I thought… that what I wanted was to make Cosmos troupe a better troupe than it was when I inherited it so I could pass that along to you… (cries). If I look back on my life as a Takarasienne, because I was able to feel so relaxed in coming to Cosmos Troupe, and because I got to meet parts of myself that I never noticed before, I thought I absolutely must make sure those good parts of the troupe remain intact, but on the other hand, I also thought there were areas where we were lacking, so I was able to discuss them with you and accomplish all sorts of things, and I think the troupe has taken on the best possible form that I was capable of giving it. From now on, if you take it and do what you think is best, that will make me the most happy, and I won’t have anything to worry about. You may be my junior, but as a person and as an actress, you’re careful and good at taking care of things… and I’m really glad I got to meet someone like that. I have nothing but gratitude.

MAKAZE: I’m the one who should be thanking you.

(They both cry)

MAKAZE: It’s a miracle that we got to meet.

ASAKA: It really is a miracle. It’s like our feelings just jive, or more specifically, like we’re connected from the very bottoms of our hearts.

MAKAZE: It’s like we can’t lie to each other at all when it comes to performing, we just lay it all out. Part of it is the strong sense that we’re facing each other as we are, and because when I see you expressing yourself by throwing your whole self into something, I also think I’ll throw my whole self into it, there have been times it’s gone well, and times we’ve failed, but at the culmination of all those things, it’s like we’ve been bound together.

ASAKA: I think so too. Our bond has grown stronger with each performance we’ve done together, and we’ve grown able to lay everything out for each other, and our reliance on each other has deepened… There have even been times when I’ve cried in front of you, but just the fact that the person I can open myself up to like that is my nibante***, there’s nothing more reassuring. I’m so happy you took the approach of trying to get close to me, thank you. I think the reason I was able to perform in such a broad range of shows is because I was with you.

MAKAZE: No no no. I’m the one who should be saying all that. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

ASAKA: I wouldn’t either… I love you, you know.

MAKAZE: Yes (cries). Maa-sama, will you quit quitting?

ASAKA: (Laughs). No, I won’t quit quitting, but even when I leave, our ties will be for life.

MAKAZE: Mmhmm (cries)… Aahh, every one of our performances is a treasure to me.

ASAKA: Me too. But Yurika, your treasures are going to multiply from here on out. I can’t help but look forward to it. Starting with West Side Story… I’ll prepare my bath towel with the eye holes. Or maybe I should just use a ski mask (laughs).

MAKAZE: I won’t be able to stop thinking about that so please stooooop (laughs).

ASAKA: We could talk like this forever, huh… So should we go eat? (laughs)

 

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Translation Notes:

*Talk DX is another column in Graph where two stars discuss the performance currently running. Later in this same issue Asaka and Makaze appear in the Talk DX column to discuss Land of the Gods/ Classical Bijou

** Shinjin kouen are special performances featuring only the youngest members of the troupe

*** Nibante: the second-ranked otokoyaku (male role player) in a troupe