NOZOMI: When I thought about who I want as my talk partner, you popped right into my head…
RANJU: You thought of me?
NOZOMI: Yes. I was incredibly indebted to you in Hanagumi, but we never really had the opportunity to talk leisurely about performances and things like that, so I’d been thinking that I definitely want to ask you sometime.
RANJU: I’m glad. When I went to see Yukigumi’s performance, your presence had grown and I felt how large it had become after only one go-around, and you also showed a kind of resolution. During the tailcoat dance in the revue, I was thinking that the aesthetics and spirit of the Hanagumi otokoyaku were still flowing inside you. From there you’ve leveled up and your current sparkle is clearly visible, and I watched the show all the while thinking how happy I was.
NOZOMI: In tailcoat dance scenes, while holding onto the memories of how I’d feel while watching your back, I’d think about how to incorporate them into myself, and since that’s something I really haven’t forgotten even now, I’m happy to hear you say that…
RANJU: Hehe.
NOZOMI: Because that’s still proving to be such an asset, I think it would be great if I could put it forth as my own individuality. Since I’ve changed troupes, underclassmen have said things like, “You’re really Hanagumi, aren’t you,” and, “Your dancing has a sharpness to it, and a sex appeal. What do I have to do to get mine to be like that?”
RANJU: What an adorable question haha.
NOZOMI: When I get those kinds of questions, I say, “It’s from studying Ranju Tomu.”
RANJU: Haha.
NOZOMI: It may not have been a proper answer to their questions, but anyway the thought made me happy.
RANJU: So you’re that upfront when talking about me, huh. Daimon, right now you’re in the middle of your first show since changing troupes, but watching you on stage, I remember my own experience with changing troupes profoundly. Without forgetting the pride of having been brought up in Hanagumi for 10 years, in Soragumi I basked in a new breeze…
NOZOMI: I consulted you right at the beginning. Truthfully I was thinking it would be best not to say anything, but I heard about my troupe transfer and I didn’t know what I should do, and before I knew it I was pressing Ranju Tomu’s number on my phone.
RANJU: Hehe.
NOZOMI: When I talked to you, you said, “This is a good opportunity.”
RANJU: Yeah. Since I’d already been through everything, I thought no way, this is an amazing opportunity for growth. That’s why I said “This is absolutely a chance for you to blossom.”
NOZOMI: Yes. And then, now that I’ve actually changed troupes, I’ve come to realize that that’s really true.
RANJU: When I visited you in the dressing room after the show, the atmosphere even back there was fun.
NOZOMI: Yes. Now we’re right in the middle of Chigi-san’s top debut performance.
RANJU: The part where everyone’s thinking let’s create a new order.
NOZOMI: Besides that, because Yukigumi had Sou-san previously, somehow there’s like, that kind of atmosphere.
RANJU: Naturally (haha).
NOZOMI: Like it doesn’t feel unfamiliar at all. Mito-san (Rika Masumi) who I was with in Hanagumi is also here. So I’m enjoying myself.
RANJU: Isn’t that the best! (haha).
———-
RANJU: In the Shinjin Kouen for “Season of Angels” in your first year after your troupe assignment, you were abruptly given my role of Georges, and I thought, what the heck is up with this first year who can do everything? She’s super skilled at singing and acting, and she’s really impressive; such an amazing person has joined our troupe. I really remember how you were giving it everything you had.
NOZOMI: Well, it’s not like I was a newly hatched baby bird, but my mother bird……..
RANJU: Hahahahaha.
NOZOMI: I couldn’t see you as anything but that… anyway I’d imitate everything you did, I’d look at the things you’d use and try to use them myself. Every day I’d do my makeup frantically the way you taught me, and around that time you also taught me how to do the regent hair style.
RANJU: Oh yeah.
NOZOMI: I’d heard that the way you blow it is important, and at first I was using a curling dryer, but no, if I want it to be like Ranju-san’s I need to use a brush! So I went to buy one immediately.
RANJU: I remember (haha), that really happened.
NOZOMI: Then something I really can’t forget, when that Shinjin Kouen was over, after you gave me all kinds of advice, you said, “Anyway, then you gotta take your breaks.” I had no idea what you meant, I was thinking what on earth does she mean by breaks, what a complex experienced person.
RANJU: Haha.
NOZOMI: Of course, you were saying it like a Kansai native…
RANJU: I meant because it was a comedy.
NOZOMI: Since you have to leave time for laughing, you and Marin-san (Yuuma Rin) who is also from Kansai explained to me, “so that’s where they go, the breaks.”
RANJU: Hehe. After all, it’s hard enough to do a normal play, to be suddenly thrown into a comedy, and to have to deal with comedic timing, I felt sorry for you!
NOZOMI: Every day even in the rehearsal room some how or other I’d have to do an ad lib and then exit the stage, but I’d get so embarrassed that I’d escape just before my exit. When I did that, Sonoka-san (Kiryuu Sonoka) said to me, “It doesn’t matter if you’re embarrassed, even in rehearsal until your actual exit comes please do it properly.”
RANJU: That’s good advice (haha).
NOZOMI: It is.
RANJU: There are a lot of good memories from our underclassman years, aren’t there. Like “Kurawanka.”
NOZOMI: I could never forget that.
RANJU: Miwacchi (Aine Harei) and I had the leads, and with all the changing roles there were 5 patterns in total, and with everyone playing different roles it was really difficult, but within that, when it was my turn, you played “Bin-chan” the god of the poor, right? What were you, a second year?
NOZOMI: I was a second year. Even though it was only you and Miwacchi-san playing Hachigorou, we rehearsed 5 patterns, and in rehearsal I had the opportunity to become acquainted with all of them. When I think about it now, despite the fact that all of us needed to support you guys as leads, we were such a mess. We were so frantic in those days and we really didn’t understand the situation, but it turned out to be an unforgettable production.
RANJU: That’s right, and I even said I’ll do it in my sayonara show (haha).
NOZOMI: I got to play Bin-chan again and I got to meet Hacchan again, and it was an indescribable feeling. But when I actually tried playing Bin-chan again, I thought wow, I’ve grown a bit, huh.
RANJU: There aren’t a lot of second years who can act like that. When I think about it, you’ve had so many different experiences since you were an underclassman, and you were brought up with a lot of expectations on you (haha).
NOZOMI: No……… I’ve been by your side since I was little.
RANJU: The time we were together when you were an underclassman was about 3 full years, but I wonder if the reason it feels longer is that you performed with me in my dinner show “Sensation” right before my troupe reassignment. The otokoyaku who appeared were you and Maa-kun, and when I found out myself that I’d be getting a dinner show, since you guys had grown so impressively, I thought it would be great if I could give you that opportunity.
NOZOMI: I was SO happy to have been given the opportunity to appear in your dinner show, and I have an emotional attachment to each and every scene. In rehearsal for the sort of Spanish scene, it was like taking a course in Spanish dance with you and the choreographer.
RANJU: I remember that!
NOZOMI: You’d both push on my butt and say “at this part you have to go more like THIS!” and you taught me till my whole body hurt. I remember that so clearly even now. At that time I was so upset that you were leaving Hanagumi, I couldn’t believe that however many years later…
RANJU: Never thought I’d be back, right? Even though you sent me away with such tears.
NOZOMI: Hehe. With the things I inherited that you left behind, in order not to let you down, I stood on stage thinking I really want to be cool. I think Maa-sama also probably had those same feelings, so when you came back, we said, “Wow, this is a sensation!”* Thinking of how much we had grown since then, for that reason in itself we knew we had to welcome you with confidence.
RANJU: I was thinking wow, people can grow so much in 5 years.
NOZOMI: When you went to Soragumi, since I was fairly unable to think for myself, there was a time when I felt myself falling into a huge slump, and during that time, I couldn’t figure out what to do, and I called you. But that time and when I transferred troupes were the only times I called you on the phone.
RANJU: Yeah.
NOZOMI: I itemized all the feelings that I wanted to put into words, and you generously listened to everything I was thinking. The number one thing that I can’t forget was you said, “There are times when you have to endure, and during those times you have to think of how you can push yourself to your limits. If you can think ‘I’m going to stretch what I can do now’ and then do it, eventually when a chance comes along you’ll seize it, and so I think this becomes a preparation period for that…anyway, right now work with what you’ve been given and search for something you can do.” Those words really stayed with me. So now, if there’s an underclassman in the same situation, I can say, “Back in the day I went through a time like that.”
RANJU: What a great thing I said (haha).
———-
RANJU: After I returned to Hanagumi, you continued to get roles with incredible dramatic power, and our plays steadily got deeper and deeper, didn’t they. In revues, if I gave you just a little bit of advice, your intuition was so good that you’d take it and change dramatically. That was also fun for me and made me happy.
NOZOMI: When rehearsal was over we could freely practice the choreographed scenes with the people who stayed behind. I had so much fun during those times. Because we wouldn’t especially receive any instruction, we’d just all do the parts we wanted to solidify for ourselves, and it was the absolute best chance to dance with you with only a few people around.
RANJU: Haha.
NOZOMI: I’d think because it’s free time it’s ok to watch you through the mirror, or do what you did, and being able to dance while watching you going “what is Mayu-san doing?” was so much fun. And then, if there was a part I didn’t know…
RANJU: If there was a spot that made you think “why is this move like this,” we’d break it down and study it.
NOZOMI: You’d often tell us about your tricks, like it’s ok not to put so much power into that part. Then when I tried to do it again, it’d be like, AH! Got it! You taught me so many things like that, where I’d just suddenly see the light.
RANJU: You know, I loved to dance while you were singing. You have a singing voice that creates this world where you are immersed into its atmosphere just by listening.
NOZOMI: It was my dream to sing during one of your duet dances. I was so happy when that came true, and I could feel all the little knacks to your dancing, and see the fire in your eyes, and I thought I really wanted to take these feelings you surrounded me with and expand them through my song.
RANJU: You have such skill and such sense…I wonder how far you’ll grow from here.
NOZOMI: Aa, that makes me happy. Because when you told me about that preparation period, I thought maybe the chance that I wanted to seize was that song…
RANJU: It’s the fruit of your efforts, right?
NOZOMI: That’s how I was able to persevere. I will always be indebted to you (haha).
RANJU: Don’t say that (haha). That’s just the tradition. I’m truly where I am now because of all the different people who taught me before, and I don’t think it’s that one person was so amazing, but that it’s just the tradition of Takarazuka. Daimon, from now on I want your possibilities to keep expanding. So you don’t get stuck, it’s good if every day is different, and that’s precisely what’s great about life. In your current show Lupin III there are a ton of ad libs.
NOZOMI: Yes (haha).
RANJU: The experiences you’ve accumulated up till now are so important, and I think it might also be good to bring forth some unexpected things within yourself.
NOZOMI: Bring forth something within myself…
RANJU: While enjoying the changes in yourself, you’ll absolutely enjoy what you’re doing and where you’re going too. Recently the people you’ve appeared with on stage, each performance without fail, have been saying “Have fun.” And then, even on stage, every time you’re really finding fresh enjoyment, and that becomes your new starting point. Even if there are times when you are feeling down, it’s so important that you always look ahead, be bright, enjoy yourself, and have fun. If I were to tell you one thing now I think it would be this: let yourself go freely. Because when you’re in good spirits, the shine you give off is incredible. And of course, enjoy being an otokoyaku!
NOZOMI: Yes. Thank you! You’ve given me such good advice.
————
NOZOMI: Right now, there are a lot of people in Yukigumi who have also experienced changing troupes, and it seems like they’ve properly held onto something like the spirits of the troupes and the upperclassmen that raised them, and they’ve melded together so well in Yukigumi that I can really feel the individual personality that everyone has developed. Even me, when it comes to my individuality, the things that I’ve done up till now that seemed obvious are like, “Ah, maybe this has become my strong point.” During the time I spent in Hanagumi, I was obsessed with the “Hanagumi otokoyaku,” and I think I was probably overdoing it. Like “When Mayu-san is gone, those feelings…….”
RANJU: !! (haha)
NOZOMI: So there were things that I overdid in weird ways, but now, I’m meeting so many different people, and since they’re unbiased they’re able to view me in a sort of non-emotional way. Gaining that time period where everyone was looking at me carefully was such a great opportunity. In that way, I can even see in myself that I was able to get kind of comfortable.
RANJU: Hey, maybe that’s why you seem stronger. When I watched you from the audience, you had real presence.
NOZOMI: When Miwacchi-san came to see me at the Grand Theater too, she said, “You know I was so worried about you, but you were unexpectedly relaxed, you looked like you were having so much fun, and you were really sparkling.” I thought “ah, maybe I am.” Letting myself go…….. Because I still don’t know anything.
RANJU: You totally are. No matter what you do in your new troupe I’ll be able to accept that as Daimon.
NOZOMI: I guess. Hehehehe.
RANJU: Daimon, when we first met in your first year, I got the impression that you could do anything, but right now I feel like I’m being transported back to that time.
NOZOMI: Aaahh…
RANJU: And you’re so adorable without makeup.
NOZOMI: Ahahahaha.
RANJU: You’re also a really shy person though.
NOZOMI: Yes I am. Because I’m an otokoyaku when I’m on stage I’m always thinking that I want to be cool, but well…as soon as I get off the stage I can’t maintain my coolness at all (haha). I joined my beloved Takarazuka, and I loved otokoyaku so much, and my desire to be an otokoyaku is even stronger now than it was when I joined, but when I get off stage and remove my makeup……. For a while I really yearned to be like the people who still look cool without their makeup, but then I thought, ah, it’s impossible.
RANJU: No way! Seriously, you’re great just the way you are. And once you’re holding onto that you can clear that hurdle.
NOZOMI: When I understood that part, and told myself ok that’s enough, unexpectedly, everyone came to accept me, and I really felt like I grew close with everyone. On stage I really analyze the meaning of “ideal,” and then I think about how I am just as myself…….I guess somehow or other I’ve come to show variety.
RANJU: That’s good though! But then somewhere in there is also the part of you that’s kind of a joker… (haha)
NOZOMI: That’s true (haha). I’m definitely aware of that part of me.
RANJU: You gotta open that door from halfway to all the way (haha). You’ll enjoy allowing for some of that within yourself.
NOZOMI: Aahh… You’ve said that if someone told you, “Mayu-san, you’re so cool!” you’d say, “Yeah I know. That gets me excited so say it more!”
RANJU: Uh huh. Oh yeah, because that’s tradition.
NOZOMI: Hahaha.
RANJU: Because Haruno-san and Sena-san, and everyone else would say that. Like, “Jeez, we’re so cool, it’s unbelievable isn’t it.” I’d see that and think, wow, that’s the best! And even though I thought I could never say those words, however many years later all of a sudden I noticed myself saying them.
NOZOMI: (haha)
RANJU: That’s like a “coming soon” for you too, right? The title can be “Geared-up Nozomi Fuuto, No One Can Stop Her!” That’s good right?! (haha)
NOZOMI: (haha)
RANJU: As an otokoyaku, enjoy feeling like “I’m so cool!” Like right before the lights went out, my last expression was cool! If you start to do that you can’t help but have fun.
NOZOMI: I’ll start doing that tomorrow!
RANJU: I can’t wait (haha).
NOZOMI: Today’s talk was a dream come true for me.
RANJU: Aw……. from now on, your dreams will be as big as you’d like.
NOZOMI: Yes. In addition to being nostalgic, I feel like being able to talk to you today like this will have huge significance for me during this time.
RANJU: You’ll be different from tomorrow on, right? You’ll get even better again! What are you gonna do, you can’t stop.
NOZOMI: I can’t stop…….(haha). Please look forward to it (haha).
RANJU: Everyone, please look forward to Daimon! (haha).
———
TN: “Sensation” is written differently than when Tomu said it, so I’m not sure if Daimon is trying to make a silly pun, or if she’s literally saying “it’s like the ‘Sensation’ reunion tour!”