A talk from Kageki between the two former Star Troupe members, from the April 2017 issue. (At the time, Asaka Manato had not yet announced her retirement so Makaze Suzuho was not known to be the ascending Top Star for Cosmos).
Sparkling TIME – Makaze Suzuho and Saotome Wakaba
Makaze: It’s been ages since the last time I had a photoshoot with you, Wakaba.
Saotome: That’s right. Not since we were in Star Troupe together. It makes me nervous standing next to you for photos after 5 years.
Makaze: Don’t tease!
Saotome: It’s true though!
Makaze: Haha! You were nervous. But why?
Saotome: Listen~
Makaze: Look, you’re getting like that again (laughs). Today’s photoshoot had kind of a mature atmosphere, didn’t it.
Saotome: I failed at that so badly!
Makaze: O~h?
Saotome: What? You really think it was good?
Makaze: Yes! You’re a senior actress by now, so of course.
Saotome: Ah…yes, that’s true, I suppose.
Makaze: No, no. (laughs) I just think you showed off your womanly charm really well.
Saotome: And of course, Makaze-san was as cool as ever. (blush)
Makaze: What’s with that! (laughs)
Makaze: How long has it been since you transferred to Moon Troupe?
Saotome: It’s been three years now. What about you, Makaze-san?
Makaze: Since coming to Cosmos Troupe…is it two years? But you’ve always come to see my shows, haven’t you?
Saotome: I do. I mean, I’m your fan, so… (laughs)
Makaze: It does seem that way… (laughs)
Saotome: (laughs) When it was decided that I would be moving troupes, you wrote me a letter saying ‘don’t start pretending you don’t know me just because you’re in a different troupe’ so I was like ‘oh, thank goodness, even once I move troupes it’s okay to talk to Makaze-san.’
Makaze: What’s with that! (laughs) But I also go see your shows a lot. When we were in Star Troupe together, we really got paired up for shinkos a lot, and we spent a lot of private time together, so of course I would.
Saotome: I don’t know what would have become of me if you hadn’t been there… That’s how much you looked after me.
Makaze: It’s true. (laughs) But when did that start? It must have been Lancelot. It was my first lead and you were the heroine.
Saotome: That was my first time doing a duet dance.
Makaze: Me too. You were my first partner, Wakaba.
Saotome: No…that’s so… (blush)
Makaze: I made you happy (laughs)
Saotome: But I was so nervous and struggling so much that my dancing was really stiff so you said ‘the musumeyaku has to dance freely and relaxed or the otokoyaku won’t look good’.
Makaze: What, did I really say that? (laughs)
Saotome: That’s the way a musumeyaku ought to be, I suppose you could say…that’s really stayed with me.
Makaze: Ah, that takes me back. After that we had duet dances together in the shinjin kouen of Dansa Serenata and Etoile de Takarazuka, right?
Saotome: Yeah. Ah…no, uh…
Makaze: You can’t make conversation with just noises! (laughs)
Saotome: Sorry. (laughs) I was just like ‘We’re off on this tangent now?’
Makaze: Oh, that Dansa Serenata stuff. (laughs)
Saotome: Back then I was also really happy to be paired with you, but I was so terrible…I must have been such a bother to you.
Makaze: Totally not! I wasn’t ‘there’ either. And Chie-san and Nene-san frm the main cast were so amazing that no matter how much we practiced we couldn’t be at that level. It was a really hard show, but both of us learned a lot. Do you remember the letter you gave me then? You filled a postcard with tiny little letters…and there were three of them in the envelope!
Saotome: Ah~ You really helped me out so much! There’s just too many memories.
Makaze: I was like ‘she really can’t do anything’ at first (laughs), but I was happy. It was fun.
Saotome: Oh…really?
Makaze: Yes! (laughs) So, what was after that?
Saotome: Then there was Jean-Louis Fargeon. I played Antoinette.
Makaze: Oh, right. And I was Fersen.
Saotome: The card you gave me then said ‘I’ll always be watching over you’. I was lucky enough to have so many roles where Makaze-san played my protector. But I wonder how you remember it. (laughs)
Makaze: It’s true! There was a big emphasis on that. I felt ‘I was born with the destiny of protecting Wakaba-san.’
Saotome: Even now, if I’m worried about something, you pick up on it right away.
Makaze: It’s because I’m watching. I just know ‘today she’s concerned about something’ or whatever. I usually don’t ask the specifics, though.
Saotome: I think it’s very kind of you not to pry.
Makaze: Now, now… (laughs) Moving on, up to when were you in Star Troupe?
Saotome: Until Napoleon. We played lovers in that, too. It was White Day1 during that run – do you remember what you gave me?
Makaze: Ah…not at all…
Saotome: It was a stuffed puppy toy.
Makaze: Oh! When I gave you that you were so surprised that you started crying.
Saotome: Well, you said ‘I thought you’d like this so I bought it.’ Just with those words, I felt ‘I’m so glad I’m alive!’
Makaze: That’s so over the top! (laughs) But I feel like it must have been fate that we were a couple at the very end.
Saotome: That’s probably part of why I started crying…
Makaze: And did you keep it after that?
Saotome: Yes. It protects me. (laughs)
Makaze: I think it’s more likely to just attract attention. (laughs)
Saotome: I don’t mind. (laughs)
Makaze: (laughs) And how is Moon Troupe nowadays?
Saotome: Somehow I feel like I’m not the same person as I was in Star Troupe. I feel like I’m much more serious, but…
Makaze: What!? You!?
Saotome: Am I not!? (pouts) No, wait, I’m not asking you! Because I couldn’t be serious in front of you…
Makaze: Nothing wrong with that! That’s just what it’s like when classmates are together, right?
Saotome: That’s true.
Makaze: So, you’re breaking new ground.
Saotome: And what about you, Makaze-san?
Makaze: Changing troupes…of course when performing with new people the atmosphere will be different. But especially in the revue shows when we would be doing dance numbers and ensemble dances I’d feel ‘oh, so this troupe has its own style too.’ I don’t think I’m breaking new ground as such yet though. (laughs)
Saotome: But after this…
Makaze: New ground…but listen, I’m not going to change!
(both burst out laughing)
Makaze: See, I feel like since I know the good points of both troupes, it’s a good idea to incorporate all of that as I go on. And since I’m a senior actress now, I feel like it’s good to take these good things and pass them down to the junior kids in Cosmos Troupe.
Saotome: Definitely. I also hope to pass on everything I learned from senior actresses (starting with you) to the junior actresses in Moon Troupe. But honestly, Makaze-san, you’re so good at looking after people.
Makaze: It’s because I’ve had so much experience. (laughs)
Saotome: Is that so… (laughs)
1 – White Day is a Japan-only holiday where boys are supposed to give gifts to the girls they like. It takes place a month after Valentine’s Day.