Sumire Classmates: Otozuki Kei vs. Hokushou Kairi (Graph June 2003)
Otozuki: Micchan, during the Takarazuka Music School entrance examination, you had long hair, didn’t you? (laugh)
Hokushou: Yeah, my hair was long (laugh)
Otozuki: So you put it in a bun (laugh). Even though it was long, I wondered if you would be an otokoyaku (laugh)
Hokushou: (laugh) During the second round of the Music School examination, I noticed you, you know.
Otozuki: Ah, really?
Hokushou: Yeah. At that time you had short hair. The impact was really strong, and I thought “This person is really an otokoyaku, how cool!”
Otozuki: (laugh) Because I was pushed to the limit at the time of the test, I didn’t notice not only you, but nobody at all. Because I truly am plagued by demons of nervousness, even during times outside of taking tests I get too nervous and I can’t see the things around me. (laugh)
Hokushou: During the second round of the examination, because I had a cold and I was feeling unwell, I objectively looked at the people around me and thought that it was impossible for me to pass. On that occasion I would look at the people next to me and think, “Time to go home” (laugh). Kei, you were very conspicuous, you know (laugh).
Otozuki: (laugh)
Hokushou: During our time at Takarazuka Music School, we were dormitory students and our rooms were next to each other, weren’t they.
Otozuki: That’s right, that’s right. Because we entered the Music School immediately after graduating middle school…
Hokushou: We were always chirping together (laugh)
Otozuki: Yeah (laugh). We were really close.
Hokushou: But our Music School class, which had been together for two years, was split up.
Otozuki: Yeah, that’s right.
Hokushou: Speaking of which, you liked “101 Dalmatians”, didn’t you?
Otozuki: Yeah, I reaaaaly liked it (laugh).
Hoksuhou: Whenever I entered your room in the dormitory, “101 Dalmatians” was… (laugh)
Otozuki: That’s right, that’s right (laugh). I put up “101 Dalmatians” wallpaper (laugh)
Hokushou: When we were second year students, on rainy days we went by train to Expo Land, didn’t we?
Otozuki: Ahh! We went, didn’t we!! (laugh) The two of us went together then.
Hokushou: Yeah.
Otozuki: What was it, I wonder? (laugh) The mood completely changed, between the two of us. I don’t really know, but… (laugh)
Hokushou: Yeah, I really don’t know at all (laugh) At that time because we went wearing the first year uniforms, we had dark umbrellas and dark clothes, didn’t we? (laugh)
Otozuki: That’s right, that’s right (laugh), we were profound… (laugh)
*****
Otozuki: You can see a lot of common features between us, huh.
Hokushou: Both of us are laughing drunks.
Otozuki: That’s right, it seems like we crack up a lot (laugh)
Hokushou: It’s unbearable, huh (laugh)
Otozuki: You’re grinning (laugh) But, two years ago, when we were given the opportunity to participate in the German Berlin performance, we got homesick together, didn’t we? (laugh)
Hokushou: That’s right. Even though the performance was so fun and moving… (laugh) I guess there were occasions when it felt like being lonely (laugh)
Otozuki: Yeah (laugh)
Hokushou: Also, I’m timid (laugh)
Otozuki: I’m also pretty timid. People often say, “I can’t see it”, but… (laugh) I’m the type who is too attentive, and then my stomach gets upset. I think you’re also the same. I too worry about what the people around me are thinking. I get nervous about small things.
Hokushou: Because I’m also timid, before shinjinkouen performances and so on, I get this hangdog look (laugh)
Otozuki: (laugh)
*****
Hokushou: I’m able to watch your acting and feel relief. From our time at Music School, you always ranked highly and were the kind of person who became a role model for classmates. For singing too you were awesome, and in this way I was envious while looking at this person singing with her head held high. It was like I was adoring you.
Otozuki: What are you saying?! You’re way too kind (laugh)
Hokushou: (laugh) When our classmates found out about roles, usually we were all nervous, but when you received a shinjinkouen lead as a ken-3, both me and classmates in other troupes said “It’ll be okay!” You’re that kind of person.
Otozuki: Me, I feel like you on a large scale feel things like flowers and things that are glorious in acting. [Translator’s note: Sorry, that was a hard sentence.]
Hokushou: Eh~~! (laugh)
Otozuki: Whenever I see another troupe’s performance I think it’s good whenever I can return home and absorb that troupe’s strengths. But in terms of Moon Troupe members, the places where they show off and so on…their performance ability is amazing.
Hokushou: Really~?
Otozuki: Yup. You’re also a show-off (laugh)
Hokushou: That’s not truuuuue (laugh) I always think that you’re a really handsome man when I go to see your shows (laugh). When I went to see Snow Troupe’s “Love Goblin”, somehow, your stance was very cool, like a really handsome man. Even though I was a very uncool country bumpkin. (laugh) [Note: Both Kimu and Micchan played the same character in different productions of “Love Goblin”]
Otozuki: I myself don’t think that, but… (laugh) However, because I heard that the Moon Troupe production of “Love Goblin” was well regarded, we had a lot of pressure as the troupe who was performing after you. That show became a good stimulus for both of us.
Hokushou: Yeah. Because there were various discoveries of “Ah, that pattern is there too!”, I feel like as actresses and in terms of our method of interpretation, the way we acted as performers truly changed. I feel like it became a way of studying.
*****
Hokushou: From here on, I myself am concerned with the stage, and am after all obviously concentrating on improving. But, I think that we also have to raise the underclassmen.
Otozuki: That’s right. Because I think that as underclassmen we grow up by watching the upperclassmen, I want to become an upperclassman who makes the underclassmen want to follow her. So recently, I feel like my goals have become greater.
Hokushou: It’s bad to not set high goals. If you have set a goal, you hit what you’re aiming for. More than that, then I have a feeling that you can’t go up.
Otozuki: People who have things out of reach are good, huh.
Hokushou: Yeah, always, always… Truly, if we don’t challenge ourselves, I think we don’t understand things like our strengths and our hidden abilities.
Otozuki: That’s right. But beforehand, I didn’t give myself the flexibility to think that… (laugh)
Hokushou: Maybe that’s just a quality of people who have been with Takarazuka longer (laugh).
Otozuki: That’s right. Speaking of that, this time around we’ve been given the opportunity to perform together in the TCA Special.
Hokushou: That’s right, that’s right.
Otozuki: I want to be in the same performance as you again. I was truly given a valuable experience by being able to perform in the Berlin Tour.
Hokushou: Yeah. I want to once again experience a show with you where we together can absorb the colors of every troupe.
Otozuki: Yeah! Also, good luck on your first shinjinkouen lead performance.
Hokushou: If you have any words of advice as my sempai…
Otozuki: Eh?? What are you talking about!! (laugh) I would say to be careful to not overdo it. I was way too serious at the recent shinjinkouen (laugh). I truly was nervous (laugh)
Hokushou: Yes (laugh) You too, from here on, do your best!
Q&A Kei Otozuki:
If Hokushou was a color, she would be…?
Yellow, because she has a sunflower-esque feel to her and is full of energy.
If Hokushou was an animal, she would be…?
I have the image of a rabbit. Cute and can’t stand being alone (laugh)
What is Hokushou’s charm point?
She’s “Takarazuka otokoyaku-esque.” She’s moving in the direction of mastering Takarazuka otokoyaku-ness, and I think this is a good thing.
Q&A Kairi Hokushou:
If Otozuki was a color, she would be…?
Rainbow-colored, I think. Like the seven colors in a rainbow, her personality is full of many colors, and when she’s playing a role she can alter her colors.
If Otozuki was an animal, she would be…?
A Dalmatian. You don’t hear about any dalmations with the exact same pattern, and in that way I don’t think there’s another actress with colors quite like Kei (laugh).
What is Otozuki’s charm point?
She has many of them, but…for example, like a telephone pole, her center core stands up straight and she allows for a lot of electric cables to run through her. She not only transmits her own electro-magnetic waves, but also absorbs lots from other people as well.
Hokushou: Yeah, my hair was long (laugh)
Otozuki: So you put it in a bun (laugh). Even though it was long, I wondered if you would be an otokoyaku (laugh)
Hokushou: (laugh) During the second round of the Music School examination, I noticed you, you know.
Otozuki: Ah, really?
Hokushou: Yeah. At that time you had short hair. The impact was really strong, and I thought “This person is really an otokoyaku, how cool!”
Otozuki: (laugh) Because I was pushed to the limit at the time of the test, I didn’t notice not only you, but nobody at all. Because I truly am plagued by demons of nervousness, even during times outside of taking tests I get too nervous and I can’t see the things around me. (laugh)
Hokushou: During the second round of the examination, because I had a cold and I was feeling unwell, I objectively looked at the people around me and thought that it was impossible for me to pass. On that occasion I would look at the people next to me and think, “Time to go home” (laugh). Kei, you were very conspicuous, you know (laugh).
Otozuki: (laugh)
Hokushou: During our time at Takarazuka Music School, we were dormitory students and our rooms were next to each other, weren’t they.
Otozuki: That’s right, that’s right. Because we entered the Music School immediately after graduating middle school…
Hokushou: We were always chirping together (laugh)
Otozuki: Yeah (laugh). We were really close.
Hokushou: But our Music School class, which had been together for two years, was split up.
Otozuki: Yeah, that’s right.
Hokushou: Speaking of which, you liked “101 Dalmatians”, didn’t you?
Otozuki: Yeah, I reaaaaly liked it (laugh).
Hoksuhou: Whenever I entered your room in the dormitory, “101 Dalmatians” was… (laugh)
Otozuki: That’s right, that’s right (laugh). I put up “101 Dalmatians” wallpaper (laugh)
Hokushou: When we were second year students, on rainy days we went by train to Expo Land, didn’t we?
Otozuki: Ahh! We went, didn’t we!! (laugh) The two of us went together then.
Hokushou: Yeah.
Otozuki: What was it, I wonder? (laugh) The mood completely changed, between the two of us. I don’t really know, but… (laugh)
Hokushou: Yeah, I really don’t know at all (laugh) At that time because we went wearing the first year uniforms, we had dark umbrellas and dark clothes, didn’t we? (laugh)
Otozuki: That’s right, that’s right (laugh), we were profound… (laugh)
*****
Otozuki: You can see a lot of common features between us, huh.
Hokushou: Both of us are laughing drunks.
Otozuki: That’s right, it seems like we crack up a lot (laugh)
Hokushou: It’s unbearable, huh (laugh)
Otozuki: You’re grinning (laugh) But, two years ago, when we were given the opportunity to participate in the German Berlin performance, we got homesick together, didn’t we? (laugh)
Hokushou: That’s right. Even though the performance was so fun and moving… (laugh) I guess there were occasions when it felt like being lonely (laugh)
Otozuki: Yeah (laugh)
Hokushou: Also, I’m timid (laugh)
Otozuki: I’m also pretty timid. People often say, “I can’t see it”, but… (laugh) I’m the type who is too attentive, and then my stomach gets upset. I think you’re also the same. I too worry about what the people around me are thinking. I get nervous about small things.
Hokushou: Because I’m also timid, before shinjinkouen performances and so on, I get this hangdog look (laugh)
Otozuki: (laugh)
*****
Hokushou: I’m able to watch your acting and feel relief. From our time at Music School, you always ranked highly and were the kind of person who became a role model for classmates. For singing too you were awesome, and in this way I was envious while looking at this person singing with her head held high. It was like I was adoring you.
Otozuki: What are you saying?! You’re way too kind (laugh)
Hokushou: (laugh) When our classmates found out about roles, usually we were all nervous, but when you received a shinjinkouen lead as a ken-3, both me and classmates in other troupes said “It’ll be okay!” You’re that kind of person.
Otozuki: Me, I feel like you on a large scale feel things like flowers and things that are glorious in acting. [Translator’s note: Sorry, that was a hard sentence.]
Hokushou: Eh~~! (laugh)
Otozuki: Whenever I see another troupe’s performance I think it’s good whenever I can return home and absorb that troupe’s strengths. But in terms of Moon Troupe members, the places where they show off and so on…their performance ability is amazing.
Hokushou: Really~?
Otozuki: Yup. You’re also a show-off (laugh)
Hokushou: That’s not truuuuue (laugh) I always think that you’re a really handsome man when I go to see your shows (laugh). When I went to see Snow Troupe’s “Love Goblin”, somehow, your stance was very cool, like a really handsome man. Even though I was a very uncool country bumpkin. (laugh) [Note: Both Kimu and Micchan played the same character in different productions of “Love Goblin”]
Otozuki: I myself don’t think that, but… (laugh) However, because I heard that the Moon Troupe production of “Love Goblin” was well regarded, we had a lot of pressure as the troupe who was performing after you. That show became a good stimulus for both of us.
Hokushou: Yeah. Because there were various discoveries of “Ah, that pattern is there too!”, I feel like as actresses and in terms of our method of interpretation, the way we acted as performers truly changed. I feel like it became a way of studying.
*****
Hokushou: From here on, I myself am concerned with the stage, and am after all obviously concentrating on improving. But, I think that we also have to raise the underclassmen.
Otozuki: That’s right. Because I think that as underclassmen we grow up by watching the upperclassmen, I want to become an upperclassman who makes the underclassmen want to follow her. So recently, I feel like my goals have become greater.
Hokushou: It’s bad to not set high goals. If you have set a goal, you hit what you’re aiming for. More than that, then I have a feeling that you can’t go up.
Otozuki: People who have things out of reach are good, huh.
Hokushou: Yeah, always, always… Truly, if we don’t challenge ourselves, I think we don’t understand things like our strengths and our hidden abilities.
Otozuki: That’s right. But beforehand, I didn’t give myself the flexibility to think that… (laugh)
Hokushou: Maybe that’s just a quality of people who have been with Takarazuka longer (laugh).
Otozuki: That’s right. Speaking of that, this time around we’ve been given the opportunity to perform together in the TCA Special.
Hokushou: That’s right, that’s right.
Otozuki: I want to be in the same performance as you again. I was truly given a valuable experience by being able to perform in the Berlin Tour.
Hokushou: Yeah. I want to once again experience a show with you where we together can absorb the colors of every troupe.
Otozuki: Yeah! Also, good luck on your first shinjinkouen lead performance.
Hokushou: If you have any words of advice as my sempai…
Otozuki: Eh?? What are you talking about!! (laugh) I would say to be careful to not overdo it. I was way too serious at the recent shinjinkouen (laugh). I truly was nervous (laugh)
Hokushou: Yes (laugh) You too, from here on, do your best!
Q&A Kei Otozuki:
If Hokushou was a color, she would be…?
Yellow, because she has a sunflower-esque feel to her and is full of energy.
If Hokushou was an animal, she would be…?
I have the image of a rabbit. Cute and can’t stand being alone (laugh)
What is Hokushou’s charm point?
She’s “Takarazuka otokoyaku-esque.” She’s moving in the direction of mastering Takarazuka otokoyaku-ness, and I think this is a good thing.
Q&A Kairi Hokushou:
If Otozuki was a color, she would be…?
Rainbow-colored, I think. Like the seven colors in a rainbow, her personality is full of many colors, and when she’s playing a role she can alter her colors.
If Otozuki was an animal, she would be…?
A Dalmatian. You don’t hear about any dalmations with the exact same pattern, and in that way I don’t think there’s another actress with colors quite like Kei (laugh).
What is Otozuki’s charm point?
She has many of them, but…for example, like a telephone pole, her center core stands up straight and she allows for a lot of electric cables to run through her. She not only transmits her own electro-magnetic waves, but also absorbs lots from other people as well.