Saturday 27 February 2016

Oshimen (H!P Maruwakari Summer 2015)


The HaroPuro MaruWakari Books are released in conjunction with the twice-yearly Hello! Con tours. The contents usually take the form of questionnaires to the members, mainly asking about other members.

This one, which came out for the 2015 Summer Hello! Cons, would be the first without Berryz Kobo, and the first with Kobushi and Tsubaki Factories. As new entries into H!P, the members of the two Factories also got a 'New Face Maruwakari Special', which has additional questions for the girls.


Q1. This person: I love her! I'm interested in her! She's my oshimen!

Yajima MaimiSuzuki Kanon-chan. She's kind of soothing ♥ I'd like to go for a meal with her, mostly to watch Zukki eat her fill (^_^) ♥

Nakajima SakiHagiwara Mai! Simply said, her face is my type. Any sort of make-up suits her, and she can pull off any sort of fashion! I envy her.

Suzuki AiriThinking about oshimen isn't really my cup of tea......but someone I've newly got interested in is Tanimoto Ami-chan!! Because ever since the first time I saw her, her beauty had me taken at first sight. I'm interested in finding out how her singing is like ♥

Okai Chisato: Kudo Haruka ☆ She's cute, isn't she? With her always husky voice, I want her to bring Morning Musume。´15 forward (^o^)

Hagiwara MaiKudo-chan♥ She's cute and I like the way she dances. She's a good girl and her face is adorable.

Thursday 25 February 2016

Takeda Rena: 100 questions and answers (Part 5)

Well, either I missed out on the remainder of the tweets, or they ended up never releasing the final parts. Anyway, it's been ages, and I'd like to clear up my drafts, so here's the last part I have of RenaRena's Q&A.

Previous parts:
Questions 1-21
Questions 22-44
Questions 45-67
Questions 68-80

【武田玲奈100問100答32】
Q81. What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
A81. Turn my alarm off lol

Q82. Rice for breakfast? Or bread?
A82. Rice!

Q83. What's your daily routine?
A83. Playing Love Live!

Tuesday 23 February 2016

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Suzuki Airi x Okai Chisato

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hello! Project Kids in 2012, a book entitled Rival - 12 shoujo no 10-nen monogatari - (The 10-year legend of the 12 girls) was released. The book contains 2-page discussions between various pairings of the girls, covering all 66 possible combinations. In the process of reading this book, I'll be putting up some highlights as I read through the interviews.


Special Crosstalk Book "RIVAL 12 shoujyo no 10 nen monogatari (10 years stories of 12 girls)" / Berrz Kobo / Cute

Suzuki Airi X Okai Chisato

With their distinctive singing prowess, Suzuki and Okai lead ℃-ute in singing.
They each talk about what they keep in mind and how they motivate one another when it comes to singing.


I believe that ℃-ute currently are led by Airi-chan and Chisato-chan in the singing aspect. We would like to ask for a discussion about singing from the 2 of you.

Okai: I think I gained my love of singing thanks to Airi.

Suzuki: Wha, What!? That's a big surprise!!

Okai: No, I'm serious (laughs). In the past, I just wanted to talk rather than work on my singing (laughs). Even in ℃-ute, I didn't have much singing parts at first, but I never thought of that as something to be frustrated over. But watching Airi sing in various groups, I thought that I'd like to work hard at singing, just like Airi.

Suzuki: But I get really motivated by Chisato. Something that made an impact on me was when we were at the studio, and they played the completed version of 'JUMP', the coupling track to 'Sakura Chirari'. It was the first time for us to find out how our lines would be distributed. That was also the first time that I heard Chisato's vibrato, and I was stunned. While I got to sing as the main for 'Sakura Chirari', I felt like I couldn't do that, I couldn't pull off a vibrato like Chisato, so I felt that I should become able to do that. Even now, Chisato is the member whose singing I pay attention to.

Okai: Now it's my turn to go, wha, what~ (laughs)?

Sunday 21 February 2016

Budokan Interviews - Miyamoto Karin (Role:Hidaka Aiko)

The official website for the drama 'Budokan' includes interviews with the author Asai Ryou and the five girls who act as the five members of Next You. Here's the interview that was held with Miyamoto Karin, who plays the role of Hidaka Aiko in the drama.


Please introduce yourself!
I'm Miyamoto Karin from Juice=Juice. 17 years old, in my 2nd year of high school. My favourite foods are karaage, tamagoyaki, and strawberries. My hobby is yoga, which I've been doing a lot recently.
What were your thoughts when you first heard that you'd be starring in 『Budokan』?
Before we heard about what roles we got, we'd only heard that 「All of Juice=Juice will be appearing in a drama」, but it came as quite a surprise, we couldn't believe it, it was chaotic, like we weren't sure whether we were dreaming or not. When we heard that it would be based off Asai Ryou-san's 『Budokan』, I read the original work, and when I heard that I'd be playing the role of Aiko, the feelings slowly welled up in me. And along with that, there was this huge pressure from the things that I had to relay through the production, like the messages contained in the original work.

Saturday 20 February 2016

Sensitive - Suzuki Airi (Gravure the Television Vol 36 - Nov 2014)


[Omitted: Discussion about how ℃-ute contributed to their 2014 autumn tour and about their latest single The Future/I Miss You]

Both songs (The Future/I Miss You) are songs about the conflicts of youth, but Airi-chan, are you currently going through a period of time where you yourself are thinking about various things?

Hm~, Morning Musume。´14's Michishige Sayumi-san will graduate and Berryz Kobo will enter their hiatus as well,  and thus ℃-ute will become the oldest sisters in H!P. Recently, a lot of people have been telling us that we'll be taking the lead, but we're like 'Eh!?' Looks like we've hit that age. Without us realising it, you could say that we're being pressured by our surroundings.

It does feel like that.

In the past, there was a period when we were called the fresh ones, but time has passed since then. With increasingly more young blood in H!P, there was a time when we thought that we could give them a run for their money in terms of perkiness, but true youth can't be beat (laughs). So recently, we've been emphasising on the things that we've built up, thinking that it's better if we do it in ℃-ute's own way.


℃-ute's change in position [to become the oldest group in H!P] comes off the heels of the hiatus of Berryz Kobo. How did you receive that announcement from your contemporaries?

Not just sadness, I was flooded over with emotion, my tears wouldn't stop flowing. But as contemporaries, we wanted to make memories together with them until the very end. Berryz Kobo gives us opinions that stem from a different viewpoint compared to the dance teachers and the fans, so it's unbelieveable that we'll no longer have that, and I can't imagine a Hello! Con without them. There's more new members, so we're wondering, what's going to happen to us!? We've turned into Santa Claus. Like we're carrying lots of baggage.

Hmm? Santa Claus?

Ah, nothing... (blushes). But it really does feel like that!! We're said to be standing at the forefront of increasingly more new girls.

Just like Santa, you carry a huge burden.

Yup, we remain the only ones who know about H!P's unsparing era, so we have to teach the others about the courtesies that we ourselves were taught by the senpai. But I'm no good at putting those into words, so I've got to become a senpai who can teach them through my actions. And that's why I don't mess around (unleashing a torrent of puns or funny faces) at photo shoots any more!!

Hahaha! That sort of guidance is important as well, but on the occasion of Takahashi Ai-san's graduation from Morning Musume。, she entrusted you with the ace baton. Isn't it time for you to run all out with that in hand?

Whoa, that's scary~  But I got a message from Tsunku♂-san the other day. Having watched our September Budokan, he said 'Isn't it about time that Suzuki becomes preeminent? Do your best.' I was like 'OMG!', but honestly I was really happy. He gave me heaps of praise, 'I think you can go further. Please plunge on even further ahead', and I don't want those expectations to go to waste. So thinking lightly about it, when I reach the peak of H!P, it would be nice if I gave out an atmosphere like Takahashi-san (laughs).


Recently, even other idols have been saying that 'Suzuki Airi-san is the one who shines the greatest amongst the idols of the present', so I'm sure that this is the period when you're in your prime {lit. filled with fat, i.e. when a fish is at its most delicious}.

Like I'm a yummy fish (laughs). While I feel I had the strongest awareness as an idol when I had short bangs, I feel like I've become stereotypical once I grew my bangs out. I feel like my mood changes with my bangs. Age-wise, one's prime would be when they're 18, but I'd like to do my best to continue on sparkling (laughs). So as I take in the opinions of the fans, I want to try the things I want to do while opening up a 'Suzuki Airi World'!

And what is that Suzuki Airi World?

The fans have told me that it would be nice for me to have some sort of contrast, so while having that, I think that I should be a woman with a mature, dignified aspect to me as well.

That is so, retaining a distinctive character. For example, something like the smoothness of your pronunciation.

Argh, I'm always doing my best to pay attention to the nerves of my mouth throughout interviews! But there are always things that you can't catch, aren't there!? To everyone, I'm so sorry (bitter laugh).


Thursday 18 February 2016

New Faces: Face I like (H!P Maruwakari Summer 2015)

The HaroPuro MaruWakari Books are released in conjunction with the twice-yearly Hello! Con tours. The contents usually take the form of questionnaires to the members, mainly asking about other members.

As new additions to H!P, the Kobushi and Tsubaki Factories also get an additional questionnaire - the 'New Face Maruwakari Special''.



Q6. Senpai whose face I like

Fujii RioKudo Haruka-san. Her angel face is wonderful.

Hirose Ayaka: Kudo Haruka-san. She is indeed the angel-face ♥

Nomura MinamiWada Ayaka-san. I like hers!

Ogawa RenaHagiwara Mai-san. I love how regular her facial features are.

Hamaura AyanoSato Masaki-san and Suzuki Airi-san and Tsugunaga Momoko-san. Sato-san's eyes and mouth sparkle. For Suzuki-san, her smile. I love Tsugunaga-san's silhouette and eyes and mouth.

Taguchi NatsumiSuzuki Airi-san. Particularly her face when she's laughing.

Wada SakurakoSuzuki Airi-san. She can make all sorts of facial expressions, but I like the face she makes when singing in particular.

Inoue ReiHagiwara Mai-san. Her face is pretty and cute. I particularly like her face when she's laughing.


Q6. Senpai whose face I like

Ogata RisaFukuda Kanon-san. I love her singing and dancing, but what I like most about her is her face. Her eyes are wide, and I like the way she smiles without really showing her teeth. Normally she'll have her bangs down, but on the rare occasion that her bangs are raised, it suits her as well. At any rate, I like everything!

Yamagishi RikoNakajima Saki-san. She's beautiful and cute. It's super adorable how she winks and averts her gaze in the middle of concerts. I like when her hair's down as well as when it's in a ponytail. At any rate, I like everything about Nakajima-san, who goes well with anything!!

Niinuma Kisora: Yamaki Risa-chan. Risa-chan's eyes are large and slightly tawny, it's really cute!

Tanimoto AmiSuzuki Airi-san, Makino Maria-san. Because their faces are my type.

Kishimoto YumenoNakanishi Kana-san. No reason in particular, but she's pretty!

Asakura KikiYajima Maimi-san. I think she's a really beautiful person. I feel like a glow flows out from her face.

Notes and observations:
  • With 4 nominations, the most liked face by the new faces turns out to be magazine model Airi! After her, MaiMai and Kudo received 2 votes each.

  • By group:
    ℃-ute - 8
    Morning Musume。´15 - 4
    ANGERME - 3
    Country Girls - 2


Hello! Project 2015 SUMMER - DISCOVERY CHALLENGER - Complete Edition / Hello! Project Hello! Project 2015 SUMMER - DISCOVERY CHALLENGER - Complete Edition / Hello! Project

Tuesday 16 February 2016

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Shimizu Saki x Hagiwara Mai

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hello! Project Kids in 2012, a book entitled Rival - 12 shoujo no 10-nen monogatari - (The 10-year legend of the 12 girls) was released. The book contains 2-page discussions between various pairings of the girls, covering all 66 possible combinations. In the process of reading this book, I'll be putting up some highlights as I read through the interviews.


Special Crosstalk Book "RIVAL 12 shoujyo no 10 nen monogatari (10 years stories of 12 girls)" / Berrz Kobo / Cute

Shimizu Saki X Hagiwara Mai

¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

While the 2 of you are the most distant in terms of age within BeriKyuu, just as all the fans know, you're very close friends. When did you start getting close?

Hagiwara: Unexpectedly recently, around this past one year.

Shimizu: Last year we had increasingly more activities as BeriKyuu, and as we talked about various things, it turned out that a lot of our opinions were the same, and we ended up hanging out together.

Hagiwara: There was a point in time when we hung out together so frequently that people would comment on my blog posts, 'You're hanging out with Saki-chan again?' (laughs). Up until then, we'd just normally associated with one another, only going 'Hey, morning', but we'd never had discussions or deep conversations.

Shimizu: Maybe it was around the recent GekiHaro (Theatre 'Gekidan GekiHaro Dai 11kai Kouen Sengoku Jieitai'). Up to then, we'd hardly had any involvement, but when we just happened to talk about our thoughts at the time, our thoughts were virtually all the same, and it was then that I found out that there was someone who had the same opinions as me.

¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

What would you say are the good points of one another?

Shimizu: I guess that I'm so comfortable with her that I don't have to mind about awkward pauses in our conversations.

Hagiwara: You're really level-headed, and we have similar ways of thinking, so the true Mai is exposed.

I get the impression that Mai-chan is lively, but when it's just you and Saki-chan, do you show a different part of yourself?

Shimizu: She's unexpectedly serious. She really thinks about her family, and has her own proper opinions.

Hagiwara: I'm actually the kind of person who doesn't really want to talk too deeply about what I think.

Shimizu: You get easily embarrassed.

Hagiwara: I've had this weird sense of pride from the past, and I never really want to talk about sad stuff. But I let that be seen by Saki-chan as well.

Shimizu: Our standpoint is that we're equal. We don't feel the 5 year difference in age. 

Hagiwara: We think the same way, so there are lots of moments where we're like 'Ah, that's it!'

If that's the case, do you have similar tastes in men?

Hagiwara: We have similar ideals when it comes to men.

Shimizu: It would be nice to get someone who tends to take the lead.

Hagiwara: That definitely has to be the case.

¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

I wonder how will the 2 of you be like after this?

Hagiwara: I don't know about work, but but the both of us will probably be married. I feel that Saki-chan will be a really reliable housewife. She really likes to keep things clean, so she'd settle up all the cleaning in the morning, and there wouldn't be a speck of dust in her home. Like 'I'll do the housework so come back quickly'.

Shimizu: Mai would be all clingy, as if you were always newlyweds, and you'd always be smiling (laughs). From the outside, you'd get along with your husband like a friend, saying this and that, but he'd spoil you when it's just the 2 of you. You'd act tough in front of friends, telling him 'Don't get close!', but if it's just the 2 of you, you'll be all lovey-dovey.

Hagiwara: Ah, that's embarrassing~.

If just that makes you self-conscious, that means she hit the mark (laughs). By the way, at that time, would you continue with your existing relationship?

Hagiwara: I think we will. Even if we've stopped doing this job, I think we'll continue on as normal. 

Shimizu: That's right. I don't think our sense of values will change. It's just that we're indecisive, so we'll completely be unable to make up our minds about where to eat. I hope we'll fix that (laughs).

¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

Monday 15 February 2016

Favourite music genres of the H!P members

On the official profiles of the H!P members from the major groups, one (new?) question that's asked is their favourite music genre. Someone on 2ch compiled it into a list (324), so here's a quick translation.


Yajima: Rock
Nakajima: J-Pop
Airi: Rock
Okai: Rock
Hagiwara: K-Pop

Fukumura: J-Pop
Ikuta: J-Pop, Reggae, Western music
Kanon: J-Pop, Dubstep
Iikubo: R&B
Ishida: J-Pop
Sato: J-Pop
Kudo: Anime songs
Oda: Techno pop, Vocaloid
Ogata Haruna: Pop, Idol ballads, Christmas songs
Nonaka: Western Music, Instrumental
Makino: Enka, Disney, J-Pop, Pro baseball team songs, Individual support songs for Fighters players
Haga: If it's a Hello! Project song, I'll like it.

Wada: J-Pop, R&B
Nakanishi: Classical
Takeuchi: J-Pop, Western music
Katsuta: Western music, J-Pop, K-Pop
Tamura: Showa ballads, songs from musicals
Murota: Pop
Aikawa: Pop
Sasaki: Rock
Kamikokuryo: K-Pop
Kasahara Momona: Classical

Miyazaki: Soothing music
Kanazawa: I aim to listen to all sorts of music, regardless of whether it's traditional Japanese or Western music ♪
Takagi: Folk, Blues, R&B, African-American music, traditional Japanese music
Miyamoto: 80s idol music, R&B, EDM styles
Uemura: Ballads

Tsugunaga: I'm Country Girls' PM, so of course... Country
Yamaki: Hello! Project, J-Pop
Inaba: Jazz Hip-Hop
Morito: Rock, J-Pop
Ozeki: Rock that lifts your spirits
Yanagawa: Jazz, J-Pop
Funaki: J-Pop

Fujii: J-Pop
Hirose: J-Pop, Rock, Ballads
Nomura: J-Pop
Ogawa: Ballads
Hamaura: J-Pop
Taguchi: R&B
Wada: J-Pop
Inoue: I like genres with calm melodies that can be sung to enthusiastically.

Yamagishi: Hip-Hop, R&B, J-Pop
Ogata Risa: Idol ballads, Jazz, Techno pop
Niinuma: J-Pop
Tanimoto: J-Pop
Kishimoto: Soul music
Asakura: J-Pop,  Classical

Mitsui: Lavender-coloured; If it's clothes, I have lots of black ones [T/N: I think some sort of mix-up may have happened here, but this was definitely what was on Mitsui's official profile when I last checked it]

[Note: This question does not appear on Sayashi's profile]

♫♫♫

And while I'm at it, let's just sum things up:

  1. J-Pop - 23
  2. Rock - 7
  3. R&B - 6
  4. Western music - 4
  5. K-Pop, Pop, Idol music, Ballads - 3 each

Saturday 13 February 2016

Great expectations (H!P Maruwakari Summer 2015)


The HaroPuro MaruWakari Books are released in conjunction with the twice-yearly Hello! Con tours. The contents usually take the form of questionnaires to the members, mainly asking about other members.

This one, which came out for the 2015 Summer Hello! Cons, would be the first without Berryz Kobo, and the first with Kobushi and Tsubaki Factories. As new entries into H!P, the members of the two Factories also got a 'New Face Maruwakari Special', which has additional questions for the girls.


Q3. Member(s) whose activities you have high future expectations of

Yajima MaimiInoue Rei-chan! The first time I met her, I got this impression that she was dainty and calm. But when I first heard 'Nen ni ha Nen', her punchy singing surprised me!!

Nakajima SakiInaba Manaka-chan. She's extremely good at dancing!! I want her to dance even more. The contrast between her dancing and her cute voice is great.

Suzuki AiriMurota Mizuki-chan. I'd like to keep an eye on her singing and sexiness. I feel that they're going to improve even further ♥ Ozeki Mai-chan. She's gradually getting cuter, so I'd like to know more about her!! Morito Chisaki-chan. I get the impression that she's really been smiling a lot more recently. I'm keeping an eye on her, because I think that she'll get even cuter.

Okai Chisato: Nomura Minami-chan. It surprised me just how grown-up she was when we got to do a stage-play together. So I'll cheer her on ☆

Hagiwara MaiMakino Maria-chan. She's got a really pretty face, and Makino-chan's really pretty in Morning Musume。´15's MVs, so I've got my hopes up ♥

Thursday 11 February 2016

New Faces: Figure I like (H!P Maruwakari Summer 2015)

The HaroPuro MaruWakari Books are released in conjunction with the twice-yearly Hello! Con tours. The contents usually take the form of questionnaires to the members, mainly asking about other members.

As new additions to H!P, the Kobushi and Tsubaki Factories also get an additional questionnaire - the 'New Face Maruwakari Special''.



Q7. Senpai whose figure I like

Fujii RioYajima Maimi-san's slender limbs and hip muscles are the best.

Hirose Ayaka: Yajima Maimi-san and Wada Ayaka-san. I envy their long legs......

Nomura MinamiSuzuki Airi-san. She's flourishing as a model in a fashion magazine, I look up to her!

Ogawa RenaYajima Maimi-san. I admire her sleek psoas muscles.

Hamaura AyanoSuzuki Airi-san, Hagiwara Mai-san, Ikuta Erina-san, I always pay a lot of attention the waists of these three!

Taguchi NatsumiSuzuki Airi-san appears in a lot of magazines, and any sort of clothing suits her.

Wada SakurakoYajima Maimi-san. Because she's tall in stature, her legs are long, and her face is small, she's beautiful.

Inoue ReiWada Ayaka-san. The lines of her slim upper arms are pretty.


Q7. Senpai whose figure I like

Ogata RisaHagiwara Mai-san. Whatever she wears, be it skirts or trousers, I always think that she's got a nice figure whenever I watch her~.

Yamagishi RikoHagiwara Mai-san. When they wore midriff-baring outfits at ℃-ute-san's concert, Hagiwara-san's waist was really slender. Her clothes are stylish, and I think that her figure is nice, whatever she's wearing.

Niinuma Kisora: Wada Ayaka-san and Kudo Haruka-san. Wada-san and Kudo-san are slim, and their knees are pretty too.

Tanimoto AmiSuzuki Airi-san, Iikubo Haruna-san. I envy how they're really slender and tall.

Kishimoto YumenoUemura Akari-san. When I saw her silhouette from afar, she was really stylish.

Asakura KikiHagiwara Mai-san. She's got a slim waist and long legs. She looks cool in trousers, they really suit her.

Notes and observations:
  • ℃-ute takes it all. H!P's oneesan group are the biggest representatives for this question, with Maimi, Airi, and MaiMai bagging four nominations each. Ayacho comes a close second with three votes.
  • No, seriously, MaiMai's waist still boggles my mind. Look at how tiny it is! It's like she's distorted reality, her proportions don't make sense...


Hello! Project 2015 SUMMER - DISCOVERY CHALLENGER - Complete Edition / Hello! Project Hello! Project 2015 SUMMER - DISCOVERY CHALLENGER - Complete Edition / Hello! Project

Tuesday 9 February 2016

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Kumai Yurina x Sugaya Risako

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hello! Project Kids in 2012, a book entitled Rival - 12 shoujo no 10-nen monogatari - (The 10-year legend of the 12 girls) was released. The book contains 2-page discussions between various pairings of the girls, covering all 66 possible combinations. In the process of reading this book, I'll be putting up some highlights as I read through the interviews.


Special Crosstalk Book "RIVAL 12 shoujyo no 10 nen monogatari (10 years stories of 12 girls)" / Berrz Kobo / Cute

Kumai Yurina X Sugaya Risako

ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ

Compared to the past, have you become more able to control your feelings?

Sugaya: When we were small, I didn't understand anything at all, so I thought that everything I was told was correct. So maybe I was more stable in the past. But as age caught up to me, perhaps in the way of a grown-up (laughs), I learned what was good and what was bad, and would straight-up point out when something was wrong. I don't really put much thought into how people will see me. On those occasions, I don't know what I shouldn't say, and if I pay too much heed to myself, nothing would get across, so I end up butting heads. And so, from the eyes of those around me, perhaps it might seem like I have less control over my feelings now (laughs).

Kumai: I envy that Risako. Risako is really brimming with confidence, wherever we go, you're always dignified, you have an axis that doesn't waver. The basis for that axis is that you're clear about what you enjoy and what you don't. Perhaps due to that, you might appear to have turbulent emotions, but I really envy Risako, who can say things like that. Whatever happens, I'd be saying nothing but 'What should I do?' or 'OMG OMG'.

So, what if the outfits that had been prepared for you were in a colour that you don't look good in? What would you do?

Sugaya: I'd probably hate it.

Kumai: I'm the type of person who'd wear it, thinking that it can't be helped.

Sugaya: In the past, Kumai-chan didn't seem like she was full of confidence. But at times I'd catch a glimpse of your dancing or acting and think that you were brimming with confidence. That's been happening in these past one or two years. Compared to the past, I'd say that you were dignified, or perhaps, there were countless times when I thought you were really good. Something else that changed is that what you're thinking about shows in your face.

Kumai: Eh, really?

Sugaya: Yup. All the members have said so.

Kumai: I see. It surfaces without me noticing, perhaps. Those are waves of emotion as well, aren't they? I should fix that.

Sugaya: But for those around you, it's better to let it out just a bit. Because if you don't, it gets difficult to make an approach. Kumai-chan, ever since you really started letting your feelings show more, compared to the past, we can tell whether it seems like a good time to talk to you, or whether it's a good time to get close to you because you seem to be enjoying yourself. I prefer that. It's easier to get along with someone who's open.

Once you'd let out your emotions, it seems like you had confidence in singing and acting. What was the trigger?

Kumai: Last year we got to star in a movie (Ousama Game). The shooting was about a year ago, but at first I had no confidence with acting. But I thought about it as a chance that had been given to me, and I should seize it, which led to quite a big change. It was a high hurdle for me, but I guess I changed a bit. I started to enjoy acting, and there was the sense of accomplishment after working hard, so I guess I took a step forward.

Sugaya: That's right. Speaking of the film, I've appeared together in films with Kumai-chan in the past!

Kumai: In 'Hotaru no Hoshi' with Risako and myself and Okai-chan, the 3 of us appeared in the next movies, 'Koinu Dan no Monogatari' and 'Mini moni。jya Movie Okashi na Daibouken!' We fought a lot back then (laughs).

Sugaya: Over really silly things.

Kumai: We were in primary school, but they were low-level fights, as if we were preschoolers. But while Risako is close to me in age, you've always been a girl who's had a mature way of thinking, so there are times when that's helped me out. You can answer clearly, so you can state your opinion, saying things like 'Wouldn't this be better?' Because I've always been the type of person who hesitates easily.

ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ

The two of you are close in age, but after 10 years, how do you hope the other person will be like?

Sugaya: The 2 of us will be 29. I'd like to see Kumai-chan get married. Because I think that you're unexpectedly prudent, you'd look at things realistically rather than just looking at the ideals, and while the requirements may be strict (laughs), once that's been cleared, I'd like to see you get married and have children.

Kumai: I'd like to see Risako as a mother as well. I'd like you to go down your own path even as a married woman. 

Sugaya: Just as Kumai-chan says, I'd always like to be myself. I hate the thinking that I should be prim and proper just because I've turned 30, and even when I've become a mother, I'd like to be fashionable as I always am. I'd like to appear how I want to no matter how old I am.

Kumai: I think that suits Risako. If you weren't an idol, I feel that you'd work at Harajuku. Doing hair or make-up, you'd change to match the day's fashion, and I think you'd completely suit the cosplay-ish Harajuku  as well..

Sugaya: Kumai-chan, you'll definitely be modelling. You've got a great figure, and you look so stylish even if the only thing you're doing is standing up, so I think it's completely the line of work for you. I think you'll gain currency in the world!

Kumai: No way, that's impossible (laughs).

Sugaya: So, Kumai-chan, in 10 years time, how would you like to be?

Kumai: Instead, I'd like to aim to become an unornamented woman. Because with my personality, it's impossible for me to be like Risako (laughs), I don't really dress up, and I'd like to become a person who can draw attention even without being stylish.

ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ

Saturday 6 February 2016

Tsugunaga Momoko x Yamaki Risa (Top Yell September 2015)


{Omitted: Promotion of new songs and talking about the new groups}


On your tour with Kobushi, are you performing songs from the Country Musume。 era?

Tsugunaga: Of course! We've already been doing Country Musume。 covers at events. After all, we are the group who have taken over from Country Musume。 I won't go into much detail, but we've thought about all sorts of other things for our tour setlist.

However, Country Musume。  is a pretty old group. How did the fans respond?

Tsugunaga: They got excited. We have fans from that era as well. Some people wear Satoda Mai T-shirts. With regards to Country Musume。, didn't Satoda-san work hard by herself in the later half? Satoda-san may not be with us on-stage now, but they perceive that will of hers within us, and cheer us on as Country Girls.

Satoda-san is the supervisor, but basically what does she do?

Tsugunaga: She contacts me quite frequently. But there is the time difference of course, so she'll send LINE messages in the ear~ly hours (laughs). On the other hand, I'll take a look at the world clock so that my updates won't bother her. Satoda-san will send photos with messages like 'I got your CD~'. A lot of her correspondence is supportive, like 'You're all so cute~', or 'I watched "Tele Tou Ongakusai"'.

Rather than giving out instructions like the specifics of dances or MC-ing, it's like she spiritually supports you.

Tsugunaga: That's right. With her indiscriminate flattery, perhaps her main role is to keep the members in a good mood (laughs). Ah, she also sent us Satoda rice! It was really delicious!


Friday 5 February 2016

Twitter Tidbits: Juice=Juice's Uemura Akari and Next You's Dogakiuchi Aoi

【S=S】 Uemura Akari is on the cover of the Young Jump that went on sale today! Have all of you already checked it out?😆
#juicejuice #PleaseRT


@JuiceJuice_uf  Uemura-san's amazing✨ Our Aoi-chan's sad, 「There weren't any offers for me」...😭


Our Uemura said that it would be nice if Aoi-chan got some offers!😆  It'd be great if they could appear together someday 👍 Let's all do our best 🙋



Juice=Juice's Uemura Akari-chan was so cute that I ended up buying Young GanGan...💦




Next is you ! / Karada dake ga Otona ni Nattanjanai / NEXT YOU / Juice=JuiceNext is you ! / Karada dake ga Otona ni Nattanjanai / NEXT YOU / Juice=Juice

Thursday 4 February 2016

Morning Musume。´15 Fukumura Mizuki talks about 'Sayashi's Graduation' 'The evolution of '16'

Excerpt from a dwango interview with Morning Musume。´15 leader Fukumura Mizuki, published 30th December 2015. To set the scene, this was just before Sayashi Riho's graduation, and Morning Musume。´15's latest single 'Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi/ Endless Sky/ One and Only' had just been released.


♣♣♣

While [Sayashi] will be studying abroad, she will still be a member of Hello! Project.

Yup. That's right. But, while she says that she'll be picking up English and dancing, I think that picking up English will take quite some time.

Eh? Why is that?

Based on my expectations, you have to get used to the lifestyle once you've gone to study abroad... While I say that, she'll probably be at ease after about one to two months (laughs).

Sayashi-san's unhurried rhythm.

Sayashi really goes at her own pace, so I feel that she probably wouldn't go with her parents but would go on ahead to study abroad by herself... That's my gut feeling. Though I do wonder if that'll definitely happen just because that's how it's been up to now. I'm sure she'll be at ease after several months (laughs).