happy pride month to the straightest couples out there (they definitely weren't attracted to the women because they looked and acted like men, no it's because they knew deep down that they were women 🤓☝️) yeah yeah I believe you 😌
Maisora Hitomi × Minami Maito Special Talk for Maisora's photobook Sincerely ~my twinkling dreams~
Scanned from my personal collection.
Translated interview by @yuzukahibiscus under the cut!
Maisora: It almost felt like I had been in Flower Troupe for so many years and months, and yet it’s hard to believe that it’s only 3 years. I think the reason I felt that this time felt so meaningful was because of the time I spent together with Minami-san. I wanted to take this opportunity to say what I’m grateful for… so thank you for coming today!
Minami: Thank you for inviting me, I’m very glad to be here (LOL). When Maisora came to Flower Troupe… and when I saw you play Hanna in Hanna’s Florist, I thought “this girl will definitely become a star”. But at the time, since I still saw you as “the underclassman Maisora Hitomi”, we didn’t talk much (LOL).
Maisora: Both Minami-san and I are shy people… (LOL)
Minami: I’m not the type to talk to underclassmen so enthusiastically (LOL).
Maisora: I think our relationship changed because of Minami-san’s starring Bow Hall performance Senhor CRUZEIRO!. When it was announced that I would be in this performance, before we went into our actual rehearsals… I remember that we went to take tango lessons together after our Tokyo performances in our previous Grand Theatre performance (The Poe Clan).
Minami: But at first both of us were very careful. Just wondering, “should we do it…like this…today?” (LOL).
Maisora: Both of us were quite nervous (LOL). This was almost the first time that I’m paired to dance with an otokoyaku, not to mention how difficult the dance genre of tango is… it became a greater challenge. From when we began our rehearsals, there were also other genres of dance I had to perform in various scenes, but every day Minami-san would take the time to practise tango with me. After the various lessons, you would say “Okay, let’s practise tango now!!”
Minami: I thought “let’s go!!!” (LOL). We kept practising. I think in Takarazuka revue shows, rather than just the genre of tango, this concentration for serious choreography between the pairing of otokoyaku and musumeyaku, so they’re quite difficult. In normal Takarazuka dance scenes, I’d say a complimentary effect happens when the otokoyakuk leads the musumeyaku step by step, but tango can’t be made possible if the otokoyaku and musumeyaku aren’t dancing as contrasting equals. Then I started to realise there’s no time to be shy anymore (LOL). We started thinking how we could make the dance look better, and our relationship became one like comrades when we had the same goal.
Maisora: Yes. I couldn’t remember how many times I accidentally stepped on your feet…
Minami: (LOL).
Maisora: You said “Don’t worry about it!’ “It’s okay if you got it wrong, just try it once more!” Every day, I observed how sharp Minami-san was with her dance moves… I think that didn’t impact just me, but also all of our members too.
Minami: No, no, no…
Maisora: During the performances, when I came back to the company every morning before the performances, you were already getting ready (LOL). You were always so diligent on yourself.
Minami: Did that really happen…
Maisora: Since going on stage and going to rehearsals were so different, I still felt nervous over it. I thought, what if I couldn’t dance as I thought I would? But at the time, I thought of overcoming this with an unwavering mindset…
Minami: I felt the same. Because if one of us were uncertain, then the other should support her!
Maisora: You were so fantastic at leading the dance.
Minami: No, Maisora has great sense too. You’re like this now as well, but you have always been straightforward without thinking too much.
Maisora: Because at the time, I didn’t know anything.
Minami: Yes, but that also makes accomplishing things much easier. And your body balance has always been firm. I guess both of us were diligent in body training. I also think that we’re quite passionate the same way we approach things.
Maisora: Yes. I wanted to focus on that scene, because it conveyed a world where only two people remain. Then on the closing day, before I realised it, the scene was already over… Before I noticed it, I was already hearing the audience’s applause.
Minami: The applause was deafening. I was really glad.
Maisora: The moment I heard the applause, I remember how happy I felt to be on stage, that I still remember how it feels now.
Minami: Me too.
Maisora: I was truly happy. And then afterwards, we went on the national tour Melancolique Gigolo / EXCITER!! 2018 in the same year.
Minami: We danced tango as a pair again in the prologue of this show. Because the two of us wanted to show this burning passion, to look cooler than any other couple! (LOL).
Maisora: It was as if we turned this switch on (LOL).
Minami: Yes, yes.
Maisora: You told me, “Dance more, dance more!”, so I said, “Yes, I’m coming!!”
Minami: (LOL). I don’t usually do that. But that’s because I trust Maisora.
Maisora: The “Havana” scene too..!!
Minami: That was fun too. I remember that scene made me realise again, “Wow, Maisora is so good!”
Maisora: No, no, no… I’ve loved EXCITER!! for a long time, so I was really happy to be in this scene in this show that I used to watch a lot. And as the national tour ended, there was the TAKARAZUKA SPECIALS, and the rehearsals for CASANOVA began… what a dizzying schedule.
Minami: That’s true.
Maisora: In which you told me after the TAKARAZUKA SPECIALS was over, “You did great in the national tour, let’s work hard together!”
Minami: Huh, really? I don’t remember that at all (LOL).
Maisora: I thought Minami-san also worked so hard for it too, but hearing your words really made me so happy.
Minami: No, I mean Maisora too was so busy, but didn’t you and Hana Yuuki-chan create this national tour photo album for Rei (Yuzuka) and me? “How cute these girls are”, we thought. Now I still cherish that album. I come to look at it once in a while.
Maisora: Thank you. Later, it was announced that I’d be transferring.
Minami: I was too shocked to hear that…
Maisora: When I told everyone, I remembered Minami-san disappeared elsewhere.
Minami: At that time, I just couldn’t come to accept it… I don’t know (LOL).
Maisora: Even after we were in different troupes, every time we met, it was as if our relationship never changed, since you’d call out to me, “Hey, Maisora!” like that.
Minami: That’s because I still see you as my friend and comrade.
Maisora: Thank you. I’m so grateful. And then time flew by… then came the Hakataza performance Me And My Girl!!
Minami: I was surprised. Hearing from the company that I’d be performing in Star Troupe’s Me And My Girl and Maisora would be playing Sally, I screamed… I even worry if the whole company could hear the echoes of my screaming (LOL). After I became a Senka member, when I heard that my first performance would be with Maisora, I was deeply thankful from the bottom of my heart. How can this destiny be possible, I thought.
Maisora: I was also surprised. Before our rehearsals, together with Akatsuki-san, the three of us went to Hakataza for the interviews.
Minami: That’s right. Both me and Ari-chan (Akatsuki Chisei) were shy (LOL). Thanks to Maisora that we were able to break the ice. I was grateful to spend the time with you two.
Maisora: Then our rehearsals began. You had to play both Bill and Sir John… I can’t imagine how difficult that would be.
Minami: At first, I was like “you’re lying” (LOL). But looking back, that was such a valuable experience. I think Star Troupe members, led by Co-chan (Rei Makoto), were all very energetic and powerful, and that’s exactly how you all were. At first I was really overwhelmed by your power.
Maisora: I remember you telling me that.
Minami: Everyone was so bright and straightforward, so I was inspired by the Star Troupe members’ philosophy of “Let’s give it a try” on anything. While creating the role, I could feel how difficult it was because many seniors performed this performance in the past. And to me, I wanted to bring something out of me, so that I could perform it like how a particular actress did it in my favourite Me And My Girl version. But the director Miki Akio-sensei said, focus on creating the Me And My Girl with these members this time. And then, I was most moved by Maisora’s growth. As a Top Musemayku, you had various experiences… and there must be countless things you have to consider that I didn’t know. But with the guidance from Co-chan and from all members of Star Troupe, I believe you worked even harder. So to feel this Maisora Hitomi was really amazing…
Maisora: Nothing… like that at all. It’s because everyone was guiding me.
Minami: The applause was deafening. I was really glad.
Maisora: Since this was a musumeyaku role I admire, I was concerned and frustrated and couldn’t find myself breaking through this bottleneck, and when I was troubled with these things, Minami-san would kindly guide me along. Since you already knew me back when I knew nothing, so I’m delighted that you could tell me how you really felt or thought when you look at me now.
Minami: Sometimes I find it difficult to express my thoughts if what I say will have a negative effect, but I also believe that there`s no good in being reserved and not telling you... because you`re my comrade Maisora.
Maisora: I’m so thankful.
Minami: Even though it would be great if I took care of myself the same way (LOL). But I certainly feel that the quality of the performance shouldn’t drop. And I think that’s possible because the members were leading me.
Maisora: No, no, I believe that it’s because Minami-san led everyone!! You always cared how everyone was doing… And even though you were already busy with your two roles, you wrote every one of us a letter and gave it to us on the last day of performance, just like what you did during Senhor CRUZEIRO!!.
Minami: Well, there’s that (LOL).
Maisora: You wrote to me, “When I’m with Maisora, there’s nothing I have to worry about and I can tell you everything, and so I’d like to aim higher”. You don’t know how happy that made me feel. Thank you so much (cries).
Minami: Thank you too.
Minami: Earlier, I watched your Music Salon, and it was really amazing.
Maisora: Thank you, for writing such a warm message to me.
Minami: Did I (LOL)? Well, that’s because you sent me a long message first. I hope that you’ll be healthy in mind and body until the end… I’m looking forward to it, that while you may be fighting it to the end, I hope you can accomplish everything and complete your Takarazuka journey to the end.
Maisora: Thank you.
Minami: Ah yes. My fans told me that they found me calling you “Maisora” in a manner with such affection and love… so I hope you understand if I continue calling this as such (LOL).
Maisora: Speaking of that, during Me And My Girl, I think you called me “Hitomi” at some point.
Minami: I did (LOL). Everyone in Star Troupe were surprised to see me calling you “Maisora”... even you told me so. I remember you telling me, “You called Hana (Yuuki)-san as Hana-chan♡ too so why are you calling me ‘Maisora’”... And I had to do my best explaining to you why my affection for each of you was different, but in the end I did call you ‘Hitomi’. I said, “Hitomi, you did well.” But then…
Maisora: It was quite awkward for me to hear that… So I said you can still call me Maisora just fine (LOL).
Minami: And I’m like what… In the end, I’m back to calling you Maisora.
Maisora: (LOL).
Minami: … With that, I hope Maisora will always be Maisora.
Maisora: Okay!! (LOL)
BONUS!!!
Caption: In this photoshoot, since both are splendid dancers, they kept doing more mature and fantastic poses, but... they kept chattering before and after the shoot, and that's the Maitii and Maisora who kept laughing all about.`
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