This article about the Cosmos Troupe anniversary event was published in Hochi News on February 20th. (Archive link here.)

First Cosmos Troupe Top Star at 20th anniversary event – ‘I’m so glad it wasn’t Tiger Troupe’

On the 19th, an event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Cosmos Troupe took place at the Takarazuka Grand Theatre in Hyogo, with the previous Top Star OGs and current Top couple Makaze Suzuho and Hoshikaze Madoka appearing.

Cosmos Troupe was created in order to make Tokyo Performances possible year-round. It was formally established on January 1, 1998, as the ‘5th Troupe’, following Flower Troupe, Moon Troupe, Snow Troupe, and Star Troupe (in order of their establishment) after 65 years.

First Cosmos Troupe Top Star Shizuki Asato, who was transferred from Moon Troupe to take on the position, looked back to the birth of Cosmos Troupe seriously. “While nobody had thought that a fifth troupe would be possible, we had no time to consider how difficult this was – we just rehearsed. Rather than spending time talking about it, we had to simply do it.”

The other former Top Stars attending, in order of taking the position after Shizuki, were Wao Youka, Takashiro Kei, Yamato Yuuga, Ozoora Yuuhi, Ouki Kaname, and Asaka Manato.

Shizuki and Wao were both members at the time the troupe was first established. At the official inauguration of the new troupe – which nobody knew the name of yet – they watched as professional calligrapher Mochizuki Misa wrote ‘宙/Sora (Cosmos)’ with a giant brush right beside them. Shizuki said “since there was a dot on top, I could tell it wasn’t ‘夢/Yume (Dream)’ or　’虹/Niji (Rainbow)’, so I was thinking ‘Is it　’寅/Tora (Tiger)’?’ I didn’t think of reading ‘宙’ as ‘Sora’. I’m so glad we weren’t Tiger Troupe.” She and Wao made the audience laugh with their reminiscing.

Yamato Yuuga, who was Top at the time of Cosmos Troupe’s 10th anniversary, was in Moon Troupe when Cosmos Troupe was established. Regarding her impression of Cosmos Troupe at that time, she said “I thought of it as a very dynamic and energetic troupe, with endless possibilities. I hope it will continue to soar and make even greater progress,” she added, cheering on the next generation. Oozora said “As it is 20 years old now, this is its coming-of-age ceremony. In the future it will mature even more. Although Cosmos Troupe already has its own distinctive style, it also has plenty of potential left for grown, which is really going to be fascinating,” expressing her hopes for the future.

At the end of the event, Makaze, along with Shizuki and Wao, presented the new song ‘Dream Amour’. Shizuki sang ‘Energy for Tomorrow’ passionately together with all of Cosmos Troupe. In conclusion, all of the OGs joined the troupe members to perform ‘Citrus Breeze.’

The ‘home base’ debut performance for the new Top Combi will be Sky on the Banks of the Red River and Citrus Breeze: Sunrise ~Special version for 20th anniversary~. Makaze swore to give it her all, saying “in order to not permit the passion and hopes of my predecessors to fade, I’m going to put my heart and soul into performing.”