BOMB February 2015

 BOMB
FEBRUARY 2015
Translated by Neve
AKBlogs.net
1 Table of Contents
Yokoyama Yui Interview ....................................... 3
Messages to Yokoyama Yui ............................... 10
Matsuoka Natsumi Interview .............................. 17
Nogizaka 46 Interview ......................................... 19
Watanabe Miyuki Interview ................................ 22
Nishiyama Reina Introduction ........................... 25
2 Yokoyama Yui Interview
3 Yokoyama Yui - serious and hardworking. On the other hand, she’s kind
and gentle. Her aggressive rise through the group makes her a force to
be reckoned with. Yokoyama, I was surprised to hear that you had to go
through a lot of auditions before getting into AKB48.
But it didn’t feel like I was all that aggressive. I wanted to be a singer, and so I
took a lot of lessons at record companies. I enjoyed the process of taking
lessons with everyone else, and then going to auditions. I did everything with
that relaxed feeling, and I never felt like it’d become my job, so I also turned
down some contracts. Back then, my mother gave me a strong drive to go into
the entertainment industry, and she told me that if I didn’t go to Tokyo, I
definitely wouldn’t succeed, so I started thinking seriously about it after that.
And the group that caught your eye was AKB48?
Honestly, I didn’t really know about the group. It wasn’t really a time when the
Tokyo group AKB48 was very popular in Kyoto… I should say, while RIVER
had just been released in Tokyo, in Kyoto, they still had the image of
Aitakatta. AKB48 really wasn’t that popular [laughs]. But I got really interested
hearing about the concept of girls with dreams who would perform in a theatre
and spread their wings from there… I realised, “This is it!”
First, you took the audition for the SKE48 2nd generation, but you failed
the audition at the dance stage. You regretted that you didn’t have a
chance to let them hear you singing, so you immediately took the
AKB48 8th generation audition.
On that day, I had a cold… so I think even if I took it now, I would’ve failed
[laughs]. I was already a second year high school student at that time, so I
thought that the 9th generation auditions would be my last chance. I finally
passed. Taking so many auditions for other groups at first sight seems like it
was a waste of time, but it wasn’t at all. It wasn’t like they all turned me down,
more like I learned a lot from all of them. For me, taking auditions was a bit
like looking for work. The result of searching for work like that was that I was
hired by AKB48.
But after joining AKB48, you found it hard, and hit a wall pretty quickly.
Before becoming a trainee, I was just considered a ‘candidate' for about a
month, so I had to commute to lessons from Kyoto. I’d go to Tokyo on the
night bus, and stay in a really cheap hotel… Compared to everyone else, I
didn’t really have a lot of time to practice, so I was thinking really hard about
what I could do. I did things like cutting down on sleeping time to practice, and
doing image training on the bus. I was really bad at dancing, so I ended up
being one of the worst in my trainee group. At Request Hour, the trainees
performed Tanpopo no Kesshin, but only Mariyagi and I weren’t allowed to
perform. Amongst the people in my trainee group, there were also girls who
appeared on Ariyoshi AKB and who were in commercials. I’d intended to work
really hard, but it felt like it was all for nothing. My first experiences really left
me with a lot of regret.
4 These days, it seems like you really don’t like to lose, and you
overcome that with straightforward hard work.
In any case, it seemed like there was nothing for it but to practice, so every
day I’d watch DVDs and do performances just by myself. After doing that
three times, I’d go back home and perform by myself. I think continuity is
really important, so I’d do it even when other members came to stay with me.
I’d use the window to see my reflection in the middle of the night. It became
like a mirror.
Because you believed in yourself and worked so hard, you got some
chances. The wind really started to blow in your favour about half a year
after that.
Moving to Tokyo and getting a bit more free time was a really big help. Using
my lessons with Team B, I’d remember the positions, and I was eventually
allowed to appear in Undergirls performances. Because I had a more flexible
schedule, I also started being called on to appear on Ariyoshi AKB. Being
given so many opportunities to experience many things, when the new Team
A lessons started, taking on Shinoda Mariko’s position was a really important
opportunity for me. Because Shinoda was so busy with all her other work, she
couldn’t come to lessons, so I ended up teaching her the dance moves.
That was the time that the early generation members like Takamina and
Kojiharu started to acknowledge your existence. They noticed what a
hard-working traniee you were. Of course, you also caught the eye of
the producer Yasushi Akimoto. The once failing trainee was promoted
to a full member ahead of the rest of her generation.
I was so surprised. At that time, the number of members in a team was fixed,
and there had been no new trainee promotions for over a year, so I was so
happy. Maybe it was the happiest moment in my life so far. Originally, I was
never allowed to participate in Team K performances, so I was sure it wouldn’t
be me.
Before your promotion, it was Team A rather than team K that you were
used to, but thinking about it now, it was lucky.
It was the most suitable team for me to grow out of my weaknesses. Akimoto,
Yuko, Itano, Sae… there were a lot of members with a sense of
professionalism, and in a good way, they were all strict, so all the members
worked hard and improved every day. It’s not like it would happen often, but
my seniors would sometimes unexpectedly tell me I was doing well. That kind
of thing really stayed with me [laughs]. It was a really good team to be in.
Perhaps more important than your promotion was the big event in
January of next year. A new unit, “Not Yet” was formed, with you
alongside Oshima Yuko, Sashihara Rino and Kitahara Rie.
Actually, I didn’t understand at the time what a big deal it was to be in a
subunit. So I didn’t really feel any pressure. The first time I became aware of
my responsibility was when it was announced at Request Hour. Yuko pulled
us all backstage and apologised to us. She said that she didn’t like the fact
5 that she would debut in a unit without Matsubara Natsumi, and that her
feelings had affected all of us. She cried and said that from now on, she’d do
her best standing on stage with all of us. I was moved by how someone so
senior to me, who had spent so many years here, could be so serious about
it, and I also felt really serious about my position in Not Yet.
Not Yet also appeared on a lot of music programmes. Your dream was
to become a singer, but how far do you think you’ve achieved this?
At that time, I was really focusing on my activities with AKB48, so I didn’t have
so much resolve there. I didn’t have strong feelings about becoming a singer.
I was thinking more strongly about how I’d express myself as a part of Not
Yet. When I listened to Shuumi Not Yet, I thought they were such bright
songs. That was the world of Not Yet, and I tried to express myself in the
context of four people, and eventually understood how to do it.
In spring “Majisuka Gakuen 2” was broadcast, and post Maeda Atsuko,
you were given the important role of “Otabe”
At that time, it felt like I was really giving my all to everything that came to me.
Singing, acting and variety really aren’t related to each other. If there are lines,
you have to remember them. If there are cameras, you have to say
something. It was my first time doing acting, but it was really fun. Otabe had a
lot of difficult lines, so it was hard to get through, but being there on the set
was so fun, so I really want to do something like that again.
It’s been more than five years since AKB48 was formed, and having
entered a transitional period, the urgent business now is bringing up
the next generation. You were chosen from amongst so many members.
You’re the type of person to grow from tackling problems, and even
when given too much, you’ll consider it a great chance, and take it on
without complaint, but you were unknowingly driven against a wall.
I didn’t notice, but there was so much pressure. I was so stressed that I
started to eat a lot at night, and I got fat… [laughs]. Whether it’s happy things
or sad things, I’ll always keep it bottled up inside. Whenever I was given a
chance, it’d always make someone else feel sad, so I started to let my own
work slip away, and although I felt sad, it’d become a chance for someone
else to prove themselves. I kept a lot of my own feelings about that inside.
The obvious time that came out was right before the election. During the
shooting of the appeal comments, I wasn’t sure what I should say, and I
started crying… I just felt so much pressure. I’d been given so many chances,
and I had nothing to show for it. People were changing their oshimen, and if
you weren’t looking at the Internet then, you wouldn’t understand, but the
results were definitely going to come out in my number of votes at the
election. If I was pushed out of the senbatsu, everything I’d done until then
would’ve been for nothing. Thinking about that, it was just so painful. Back
then, Takamina asked me, “Are you okay?” I was really sad, and she came to
talk things over with me… I was really crying pretty hard. I thought that
nobody would understand how I was feeling, but that wasn’t the case at all.
From then, I started feeling better, I ranked 19th in the elections, and I could
6 enter the senbatsu. At that time, I really felt the weight of how much I’d done.
So, I don’t hate the election. However much my rank might fall from now, I
was given hope by the election, so I can be positive whatever my position is.
In Summer 2012, the group achieved their goal of performing at Tokyo
Dome, and Maeda Atsuko graduated. That was a turning point in
AKB48’s history.
I rode the boat called “AKB48” from the end of its voyage, so it felt more like
Tokyo Dome was my seniors' dream. When did AKB48 become everything to
me… It’s a little frustrating for me that people say I’m similar to Takamina.
Although we’re similar in age, I’m a 9th generation member, and my hopes
and my character are very different from Takamina’s. But there was a turning
point… the one who calls out the changes when we’re stretching was always
the captain Akimoto, or if she wasn’t there it was Minegishi, or an early
generation member, but one time Kikuchi Ayaka said, “Yui, you do it”. I was
pleased to have been recognised by a senior member. I know she did it for
my sake, but even so, I was glad to have been recognised by someone like
that.
Kikuchi Ayaka probably recognised how you were behaving in the
Theatre. Always faster than anyone else to start clean up, and always
the fastest to finish changing clothes before the encore.
I definitely wasn’t number one. There were so many girls who were better at
singing, better at dancing and better looking. When I was thinking about what
I was best at, the answer that came out was that I was fastest at changing
clothes and the earliest to begin cleaning up. So however bad my condition
was, I’d definitely be the first to start cleaning the toilets. There were people
who noticed that. Similarly, when we had an encore, there were people who
talked about how fast I got changed. I’m not really the type to look back on
things, but there’s definitely a connection between what I did back then and
my position now.
Tokyo Dome was definitely a turning point for you. You were moved to
Team A, and given a concurrent position in NMB48.
I’ve been surprised so many times [laughs]. But I think that was a chance for
me. Through my experiences until now, I’ve noticed that no matter how tough
the ordeal, if I overcome it, I'll definitely get something new. So I thought that
I’d definitely give it my all. Of all the people who had concurrencies, I wanted
to be the first to appear in a performance, so I gathered together all the
materials for the songs in the performances I’d be doing… in that way, if I do
something proactively, the world responds to me. Thanks to understanding
that, I’ve been able to take responsibility for a lot.
Since joining NMB48, the sleeping Kansai Area local in you finally woke
up and began to make some noise.
Until then, I’d mostly been keeping a lid on it – you could say she was hiding
in a shell until she had her chance to break out. So seeing the greedy NMB48
members, who always wanted to be at the front, that was a stimulus for me. In
7 AKB48, there’s a strong sense of seniors and juniors, but in NMB48 there are
only three generations, so it feels like everyone is an ‘original member’, and
hearing the opinions of people like Sayanee and Milky who have emerged at
the front of the group was really valuable for me. Also, I learned something
about my own limits. I had a hard time with my health, and there were times
when I got angry [laughs]. My schedule was crazy, there were times when I
couldn’t attend rehearsals, and I had no time for individual practice. But I also
had to appear in concerts. I went to see Takamina, and I was crying and
saying, “It’s impossible!” and she fixed some things for me. But at last, I
reached the limits of what my body could do and collapsed. I’d wanted to try
my best, but my body was crying out in agony [laughs].
In the end, your concurrency ended after nine months, but it must have
been an unexpectedly worthwhile experience for you. On the other
hand, you only had a moment’s relief before Shinoda’s graduation, and
you were made Team A captain.
Full of ups and downs, right? [laughs] Takamina, Akimoto, Shinoda,
Sayanee… I’ve seen so many strong captains, but thinking about what kind of
captain I’d become, I wasn’t the type to lead people and pull them along with
me like the others. On the contrary, I have confidence that I can get close to
other people quickly. With the same line of sight, we’d move forward together
in a line. I think that’s the type of captain I am. That hasn’t changed since I
was moved to Team K.
As the front runner of the next generation members, you’re always
breaking new ground. After overcoming problem after problem, and the
days of ups and downs are over, your position as a captain in AKB48 is
secure. Now, you’re releasing your first photobook.
More than anything, I’m so glad that it was shot in Kyoto. I don’t really have
much in the way of individuality, but it’s being from Kyoto that marks me out
[laughs]. There were also Japanese paintings done for me, and the whole
photoshoot has a sense of peace about it, so I’m really happy that I can bring
people in and show them my world.
After we’d finished the reporting for this article, we received huge news.
Takamina announced her graduation, and Yokoyama Yui was named as
the second General Director! We had to hear her reaction to this, so we
invited her back for a second time.
You asked me two years ago, “What do you think of Takamina as General
Director?” but now there’s a completely different atmosphere. Just the fact
that Takamina is graduating is huge news, so there are changes in my own
feelings about this. Junior members who up until now have behaved like
spoiled little sisters are starting to think seriously about AKB48’s future…
AKB48 will definitely continue for the sake of those members. Honestly,
Takamina’s graduation is huge, and we won’t be able to continue as we did
before. So I think now it’s time for us to pull our weight, so when I accepted, I
did so completely seriously.
8 Before we noticed, AKB48 changed completely. For you, who said that it
would be great if AKB48 continued on even after the end of your life,
what kind of General Director are you hoping to be?
I think that AKB48 has become as big as it has thanks to the power of our
seniors, so I want to learn from them while they’re still around, and pass that
learning on to my juniors. In reverse, I think that seniors should learn from the
juniors about the feelings they themselves had when they first entered the
group, and form a bridge in that way. It’s been ten years since AKB48 was
formed, and I intend to try my very best to create a new AKB48 in the next ten
years. It’s a hard thing to do, but there are my comrades all around me.
Together with those comrades, once more, I want to work from the start
towards our dream all together.
9 Messages from Members to
Yokoyama Yui
10 What kind of person is Yokohama Yui? We wanted to know the things
that she hadn’t said in her interview! We gave the members and on-thespot interview. We really learned how much they all love her!
Takahashi Minami
The first time I learned about Yui was when she became Shinoda’s
understudy. I hadn’t known that there was such a hard-working understudy.
That serious, earnest streak in her hasn’t changed at all. Her basic personality
is a bit like mine, but Yuihan is even clumsier than me! I’ve seen her think too
seriously about so many things, she has a stubborn side that sometimes
comes out, and a tendency to put too much effort into things that aren’t all that
important. But I think that will change with time, so without saying anything
strange, I want to watch over her. I go out to eat with Yui a lot, so I can tell you
that she really eats a lot [laughs]. We talk about lots of stupid things. But we
also talk about work, of course. We’re both captains, so we talk about the
teams… things like how we should progress from here, and we talk about
each others’ worries. Yui treats everyone the same way, whether they’re
juniors, colleagues or friends. Yui will definitely inherit the dreams that I want
pass on, so there’s no need to tell her to do that. I want to continue to be
friends with her in the future.
Miyazawa Sae
Probably the first time I met her was the shooting of the final part of “Majisuka
Gakuen”. I thought she was just a normal extra [laughs]. The first time I knew
anything about her was when she was promoted to Team K. She was childish
to look at, but she noticed things around her. Even now, she has an image of
a good girl, and I think she’s become a wonderful senior member. She’s a
really earnest person, and she takes care of those around her before herself.
She respects her seniors and shows gratitude properly, and she’s so
wonderful at dealing with the juniors. I think she does try to take on too much
by herself, and it would be better to rely on others a little more. From now, Yui
is going to become more and more the heart of the 48 Group. I have lots of
memories with Yui, but the one that even now I can’t forget was the last show
of Akimoto Team K, when it was decided that I’d go off to SNH48. Yui was
crying like a child for such a long time, and it made me feel happy. After that,
her MC went on and on, and it just proved how much she cared about Team
K [laughs]. It really brings up a lot of feelings when I think about how
wonderful she’s become. Yui’s so passionate about everything, and I love her!
I want to MC on stage together again someday~!!
Kojima Haruna
I first met her when she was a trainee during filming of Ariyoshi AKB at an
onsen, but at that time, Yui was slim, and a really beautiful girl. I thought that I
couldn’t believe such a Japanese-style beauty was in AKB48. That was my
first impression of her. Even now, she’s a really good girl, and I feel relaxed
when I’m with her. Like she’s healing me. Her laugh is also cute, and I like her
singing. Once, when we were doing a demo recording together, I thought it
was so good. I even go around telling other members how cute I think Yui is,
11 so I really love her. Even though I’ve never said it directly to her. And I guess I
don’t really have any interest in looking at her photo book [laughs]. But I really
like the atmosphere when we’re together, photos not so much… And she
seems like she’s not so good at gravure [laughs]. Long ago, she never talked,
but since she joined Not Yet and had her concurrency with NMB48, she’s
really changed so much. And she’s even stood in for me on Ariyoshi AKB
She’s grown so much that she seems like a different person, and when she
was on Ariyoshi AKB it made me feel reassured. Probably, Ariyoshi himself
felt the same way. Event though I don’t think there’ll be just one number one
in the next generation [laughs].
Minegishi Minami
The first time I met Yui was at a handshake event when she was still a
trainee. Ooya and Shimada noticed that we were the same age, so we took a
photo, but my impression of her was as a beautiful girl. I was happy when she
came to Team K. I like that she has a sense of humour underneath her
seriousness. She thinks about her juniors more than anyone, but she also
behaves properly towards her seniors. But when she bottles up all of her
problems, and then suddenly explodes, that’s difficult to deal with. Also, when
she laughs, she’s so loud! [laughs] Talking of that, the first time we had a
shooting for a Team K music video, Yui and I went to a hot spring together.
Back then, she told me she wanted to become a singer. When Takamina was
making Yuko’s graduation album, Yui and Kitarie said, “When Takamina
graduates, there’ll be nobody to make one for her, so we’ll make one.” I
thought she was such a good girl. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of
AKB48 she’ll create!
Kitahara Rie
Yokoyama wasn’t someone who stood out, but I knew that she was a really
good girl, so I invited her to a local gathering, and we got on really naturally
there. I thought that maybe she wanted to stand in the spotlight, but she also
had the hard-working nature to take on thankless tasks that wouldn’t put her
in the spotlight. She never let up in rehearsals, and she always had a strong
sense of professionalism. Although she’s my junior, she’s well-suited to being
my captain, and she always takes things seriously. I’m surprised by how much
funnier she’s become since we started doing things together in Not Yet. Just
like the Kansai local she is [laughs]. But she can also get really angry about
things. When she gets that heated, she won’t give ground to anyone, so I
want her to try and fix that [laughs]. Yokoyama treats both her comrades and
her juniors like friends. We have different personalities, and we don’t like the
same things, but I think that’s a good thing. I feel relaxed when I’m with her. At
the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, I was so scared, I went to
Yokoyama’s house, and we spent the whole night together. When I’m feeling
down, it’s always Yokoyama who cheers me up. We always spend our
birthdays together. I always give her a present, but I’ve never had one back
from her. But I don’t mind – that’s also very like her! [laughs]
12 Sashihara Rino
My first impression of Yui was, “Wow, so pretty!” Now she’s cheerful, noisy
and funny. She’s always the funniest person in the dressing room. I especially
like it when she gives me massages – she’s the best at that. I think that’s
something only for Kitahara and I [laughs]. The only problem I have with Yui
are that she gets so tense and doesn’t talk about it properly. I want her to
work on that. The other day, we went to watch a comedian I like together. Yui
laughs really easily, so she was laughing all the way through. There are so
many fun times I’ve had with her, I could never talk about them all.
Congratulations on your solo photobook. Your expressions are so great. Just
as I’d expect.
Shimazaki Haruka
Yui’s from the same generation as me, and the same age as me, but at the
start we hardly spoke at all. Before her debut at the theatre, she was sick, and
the manager said that she’d better go home… she was so sad, and she burst
into tears. I talked to her then, and I think it was the first time I really noticed
her. She was commuting here from Kyoto, and it was the first time I felt how
passionate she was about AKB48. There are so many good things about her.
She’s loved by her seniors and her juniors. She does the things that other
people don’t want to do. She speaks so carefully in front of other people, and
never complains. She believes in the things she says. She has the conviction
not to overthink things. She doesn’t disturb the peace by being late. She’s
good at listening. She’s so funny if you get her alone. What I don’t like about
Yui is that she can’t wake up in the mornings. Her room is messy. She gets
angry during lessons. She borrows clothes and shoes and doesn’t give them
back. Personally, I also think she sweats too much [laughs]. I also have so
many memories of her. At New Year, she came to my family home, and we
gave her New Years Money. I was so surprised to learn four years after
meeting her that her favourite food is chikuwa. So when she had a birthday
party, I bought lots and lots of it. When I first got into the senbatsu from the
undergirls, I didn’t really feel like I belonged, and it was really hard work. Back
then, Yui was always by my side and supporting me. That was the first time I
really felt like I understood Yui’s feelings. She got into the senbatsu faster
than anyone, but she doesn’t rely on any of her fellow members, and she’s so
independent. I think that Yui is so strong, overcoming so much by herself. I
want to say as my message to Yui that whatever happens, I want you to
always be my ally. Ah, an you’ve become so much more fashionable recently.
Yamamoto Sayaka
I think the first time I met Yui was when we did recordings for AKBINGO
together in 2011. My first impression of Yui was that she was cute and
ladylike. Now, I think of her as someone really talkative! [laughs] I think it’s
amazing how passionate she is about everything. But when she laughs really
hard, her voice goes really high, and it’s a bit annoying. When we did the
NMB48 tour and performed in NHK Hall, it was after Yui’s concurrency had
finished, but when she appeared as centre for Daisai Osamu wo Yonda Ka?,
13 just like the fans, it’s such a strong memory for me. Yui, let’s go and see the
Koushien this year!
Takahashi Juri
Yui’s such a kind person, but the first time I met her, I selfishly thought that
she probably wasn’t my type. But when we were together in Team A, I noticed
that we got on so well together. She showed me a lot of different sides of
herself, and I tried to present myself honestly to her, too. We have such a
great relationship. She thinks so much about her juniors, and she’s really
good at relating to people. I also consult her about all sorts of things.
Recently, the number of juniors has increased, so I felt like although I had to
really try hard, I wasn’t doing that, but in Yokoyama Team A, I was properly
supported. Every time I cry before performances, Yokoyama comforts me,
and I feel like I want to stand on stage again [laughs]. I always go to
Yokoyama when I’m crying about things I don’t understand. I think there are
lots of juniors who rely on her in that way. Normally, she has a surprisingly
impatient streak. When we went to eat stew, I wanted to cook things slowly,
but Yokoyama would only dip the food in for a moment before taking them out
again. So all the meat disappeared immediately [laughs]. Also, when she’s
tense her voice gets really high. It’s so embarrassing when that happens
when we’re eating out [laughs]. When she graduates, I think I’ll probably leave
AKB48, too. So, don’t ever graduate!!
Nagao Mariya
Her hair was completely straight, and she was always carrying a plastic bag,
so my first impression was of someone who had come from somewhere far
away. At first, we were both the failures of the trainees, both placed at the
back, and both unable to dance well, so I kind of felt like she was my
comrade. When the trainees sang, Tanpopo no Kesshin at Request Hour,
Yokoyama and I were the only ones who weren’t allowed to perform, so when
we did it at Tokyo Dome last time, I was so moved – it felt like at last, we were
able to perform that song in front of so many fans. I wonder how Yokoyama
felt? It feels kind of strange that Yokoyama is now the captain of my team. I
don’t say much in the team, but Yokoyama always asks me, “What do you
think, Mariyagi?” I’m so grateful that she takes notice of me like that.
Yokoyama states things very clearly, so I always feel satisfied. If I’m
unsatisfied, or I have worries, I always go to Yokoyama first. Not as a captain,
but as the person I feel like I can talk to. I trust her so much. But I do feel like
she eats too fast. If you put food in front of Yokoyama, it’ll be gone in an
instant [laughs].
Kawaei Rina
My first impression of Yokoyama was, “Wow that person is dancing with such
determination.” Even now, that hasn’t changed. She’s determined about
everything. For a long time, I just thought of her as a really serious person, but
when I’m alone with her, she messes around so much, so I think she’s really
good at flipping that switch. She takes such good care of her juniors, and I
also go to her whenever I have something I want to talk about, whether it’s
14 work-related or about my private life. She really takes me seriously, and I feel
so grateful. But she does think of herself as strong, and hates to lose. I
understand, because there’s also a part of me that feels that way, but
sometimes it creates a difficult atmosphere when she refuses to give in. In the
end, whoever gives in, it’s just a fight, right? [laughs] Last year on my
birthday, my work finished at 10pm, but as soon as it had finished, Yokoyama
came to see me, riding in a taxi and carrying a cake. I was so surprised and
moved. Yokoyama doesn’t feel like a senior at all, and I love her so much.
Please celebrate my birthday this year, too!
Oshima Ryoka
I first met Yokoyama when I was allowed to perform with Team K as a trainee,
and thought that she was a really kind person. I’d heard about how much she
takes care of the juniors before, and it was exactly as people said. Now, we’re
in different teams, so I can’t meet her so much, but whenever I meet her, I call
out, “Yokoyamaaaaaa!” I think it’s amazing how she gives everything her all.
She always greets people properly, and she’s always fastest to start cleaning,
so she really sets a good example to her juniors. Oh, but she does sometimes
cause trouble when she gets really tense for no reason [laughs]. Sometimes,
she’ll suddenly get really tense, and I don’t really understand what she’s
saying. Then she’ll force a smile and gloss over what just happened [laughs].
But I even like that part of her. One time, girls junior to me were growing really
fast, and I was really troubled about what I should do, so I talked to Yui about
it. She gave me a really serious reply, and hearing what she said, I felt
cheerful again, and I felt like I gained courage. Before we were in the same
team, so we didn’t really talk about our team much, but now we’re in different
teams we talk a lot about each others’ teams. But I’ve never been to dinner
with just the two of us, so let’s do that next time!
Kojima Mako
My first impression of Yokoyama was that I thought she was a bit like a cat
[laughs]. Since we’ve been in the same team together, she’s been so kind to
me… there are so many reasons I like her. She really notices things around
her, and regardless of the person, she connects with them with the same
attitude. She’s someone who works hard and plays hard. When people are
slacking off during rehearsals on tour, she tells us off sternly. Miichan was like
a mother, but Yokoyama is more of an older sister. As a captain, she’s really
easy to relate to. The part I don’t like is that she eats too fast [laughs]. If you
go to eat grilled meat with Yokoyama and you end up in the seat opposite her,
you won’t get to eat anything. If you mention it to her, she’ll just say, “Well, I
just eat fast.” During the shooting for an MV, Paruru and I went to Yokoyama’s
house. I thought we’d have some time to chat to each other, but Yokoyama
and Paruru went to sleep so fast, it surprised me [laughs]. When she came to
my house, we were watching a DVD, and as expected, she fell asleep at the
best part [laughs]. Yokoyama’s so serious, and I think she keeps her feelings
inside, so I want her to rely on everyone more. We all want to support our
captain!
15 Tano Yuka
I had an image of Yokoyama as someone kind, and who looked after her
juniors. I thought that she was someone who maybe wasn’t so noisy, but
actually, I learned that she feels like a family member and she’s really lively
[laughs]. It’s especially bad when she gets together with Yamamoto Sayaka! It
feels like they were a born comedy duo, complete with the clever one and the
stupid one [laughs]. As a captain, she thinks about every individual member,
finding our strengths and drawing them out, supporting all of us. It’s like she’s
looking along the same line of sight as the rest of us, so everyone in the team
has a great relationship, and it’s really easy to do things. A while ago, I was
really a problem child, and caused a lot of trouble for adults, but that’s all
changed since I was in Team A with Yokoyama. She noticed when I was
troubled, and always talked to me, so I’ve been able to let go of my reserve
and express myself more freely. So I’m so grateful to Yokoyama. I want to
become a captain! I don’t really notice what’s going on around me, so to fulfill
my dream, I want to watch Yokoyama, and become someone like that. At the
moment, I only think about myself, but one day I want to be able to draw out
members strengths. Yokoyama, who changed me in the best possible way, is
the one I am most grateful to.
16 Matsuoka Natsumi Interview
17 The New Year already began, but first, looking back at last year, what
sort of a time was it for you?
There were so many things that happened this year, and it felt like time
passed so fast. Especially being able to tour without interruption was a big
deal for me. The year began with the Kyuushuu tour, then the arena tour, then
we continued with the countrywide tour, so we’ve been touring for more than a
year. I’m so happy that we’ve been able to go and meet everyone who we
couldn’t meet before, and I’ll try my best to get new fans from it!!
You were given the responsibility of performing and MCing many times
on tour.
That’s right. But it’s hard. I thought that I couldn’t lose to Natsumi-kan, and the
other members, but… … I still can’t really decide on my character – I’ve been
a bit lost on that for four years already [laughs].
Oh no! On the other hand, where do you think you’ve grown?
I think I’ve become able to do things by myself better. Recently I’ve been
going out on adventures and doing a lot of things by myself, like going
shopping, watching moves, going out to eat and getting my nails done. I can
even make appointments by myself [laughs]. That’s a big change for me. With
things like this, I feel like I could even go off to Tokyo and really broaden my
horizons. Chiyori has also introduced me to being fashionable. That’s my
most important objective for 2015.
You’ll graduate from high school in spring.
It's so fast. When I entered the group, I was still a junior high school student.
But having graduated from high school, I’ll have a lot more time for work, so
I’m looking forward to that. I especially like doing photoshoots, so I want to
increase the amount of photoshoots like today’s that I do. Fans often tell me
that I should have more confidence in myself, and I’m really the type of person
who doesn’t have a lot of self-confidence, but if I appear in magazines, and
people say things like, “She’s so youthful;” hearing that kind of praise every
day is something really concrete that would build my self-confidence.
That’s something a bit different from your image, right?
People often say that I’m a little scary, but I think that’s just because of my
serious expression. I’m actually surprisingly silly. Recently I feel like the
distance has decreased little by little between me and the other 3rd generation
members, and I want us to feel more like sisters. It’s been 4 years since I
entered HKT48, and I’ll be 19 this year, so without letting up at all, I want to
show all of HKT48 a new me!
18 Nogizaka 46 Interview
Nishino Nanase, Sakurai Reika &
Wakatsuki Yumi
19 For Nogizaka46, the year starts with your long-awaited first album,
“Toumei no Iro”!!
Nishino: The album includes our ten singles from Guruguru Curtain to
Nandome no Aozora ka?, alongside the ten most popular coupling tracks as
chosen by votes from the fans. The ten coupling tracks were announced at
our end-of-year Christmas Concert.
Sakurai: The people who know all about Nogizaka46 selected our best songs
for us. I was so happy that a song by the unit I was in was chosen in the end.
Wakatsuki: The album art is a photo of us wearing our uniforms at Nogizaka
Station. It’s the same station we used when we came for the auditions. Back
then, we came in one my one, but for the first album’s sale, we could take a
photo of everyone together, so I think the album art is also wonderful and
meaningful.
Nishino: And all the songs are really great… It’s not so interesting if all the
songs are the same genre, so we’ve also got cool songs like Sekai de Ichiban
Koudoku na Lover, so it’s really great.
Sakurai: There’s also a song that the three of us sing. Hoka no Hoshi Kara is
the first song that I was chosen for a unit to sing, so it’s got some deep
memories attached to it.
Wakatsuki: Talking of that, for me, it has to be Mukuchi na Lion. They shot the
MV just as the three of us imagined it together. If you’re reading this issue of
BOMB, please check it out!
Sakurai: There’s also an as yet unannounced song being included, so as the
culmination of three years together, so I think we can deliver Nogizaka46 both
as it was and as it is.
January 12th is Coming of Age Day in Japan. The three of you all turned
20 this year, so how do you feel with this important occasion coming
up?
Nishino: I’m grateful to my parents. I lived with them until I turned 17, and after
that I moved to Tokyo and lived away from them, but even now I rely on them
for so many things, and they give me so much, so I’m grateful to them. But I
don’t say that directly [laughs].
Wakatsuki: That’s true. When you turn twenty, you’re really an adult, so
having passed this milestone, it feels like an age where you should return the
kindness that you received from your parents and relatives when they were
bringing you up. After you turn thirty, you’re married and you have children, so
at that point you’re the one doing the teaching, but while you’re in your
twenties you have a bit of a break, so it feels like it’s the time to return some
of the kindness you received.
Sakurai: It’s hard to talk now after those two said such amazing things
[laughs]. I’m still living at home, and moreover, I’m an only child, so there’s
nothing special I can do, but I think soon it’ll be time for me to move out.
Do you really think that? [laughs]
Sakurai: I do, I do. The other day, when we were doing the cooking project on
NOGIBINGO, I really reconfirmed my feelings of frustration that if I keep going
like this, I’ll be in trouble [laughs].
20 Wakatsui: When you’re living with your parents, you don’t really get
opportunities to cook, right?
Sakurai: So I’m including moving out of my parents house in that.
Wakatsuki: But you could start by just helping your mother. Because
otherwise, even when you move out of your parents’ house, you’ll end up just
calling your mother to help out with things.
Sakurai: At those kinds of times, I’d have Manatsu come to help me.
Nishino: I also want to get better at cooking.
Sakurai: You can prepare fish, right?
Nishino: That’s right. Thanks to Nogidoko, I can cut up three fish at once, but I
still have to look up recipes and so on.
Apart from the day of the Coming of Age Ceremony, have you taken
photos in the past of yourselves in such beautiful clothes?
Wakatsuki: We’ve certainly taken photos of ourselves wearing kimonos that
we’ve chosen in the past… wearing a kimono feels so classy!
Sakurai: I love wearing kimonos. I have really sloping shoulders, so there are
a lot of dresses that don’t really suit me, but when I wear a kimono, people
always tell me that it makes my shoulders look really good [laughs].
Nishino: I also really love kimonos. I don't really get many opportunities to
wear them, so it makes me really happy, and I really enjoy looking at all the
detailed patterns.
Now that you’re all becoming adult women, what are your objectives?
Nishino: To behave more like an adult, so that people just looking at me
casually will think, “Ah, she’s an adult.” … but I’m still a long way off that
[laughs]
Sakurai: I always want to be composed. Rather than shocking people, I want
to be someone who stands tall, who other people look at and admire.
Wakatsuki: I want to become someone who enjoys everything. It would be
great if I was a person who, even in hard and painful times, could think, “Well,
those are just the feelings I have because of this situation,” think positively,
and convey that to the people around me.
21 Watanabe Miyuki Interview
22 You released your first solo single, “Yasashiku Suru Yori Kiss Shite” on
Christmas Eve. It’s a true idol song in the style of an ‘80s idol band, and
it’s become so popular.
Thank you very much. I was also so happy that I could sing it. My first solo
song Warukii was a bit of a curveball, so I really wasn’t expecting my solo
debut to be such a traditional idol song. I was surprised, and so happy. I was
able to do a wonderful song, over and above Warukii.
Looking back at the clothes you’re in, you’re the picture of an idol.
They’re so cute! [laughs] I can show them off to my heart’s content. The MV is
in the same idol chic style, and I’m playing someone like a famous manga
heroine, so there were all sorts of challenges.
What kind of men draw you in, Milky?
Ummm, what should I say… I’ve got a fetish for people who smell great. So
I’m drawn in by whoever smells best. Ah, but definitely a great smile!! When I
see a guy smiling, it makes my heart skip a beat.
“Yasashiku Suru Yori Kiss Shite” (“Instead of Being Kind, Kiss Me”) is
the title of the song, but is that really what girls like?
Sashihara said that the song sounds kind-of erotic [laughs]. It feels that way,
with lines like, “Kiss me”, but I think you’ll understand the meaning if you listen
to the lyrics carefully. The girl in this song is getting along well with the boy,
and he’s kind to her, but she’s impatient because things aren’t progressing
beyond that. They’re more innocent words than you’d think. She wants to
have a relationship. There are also times when she wants him to be kind to
her instead of kissing her.
I see, that’s kind of deep [laughs]. This time, you got the single through
the luck of winning the rock-paper-scissors tournament, but what do
you think about doing more as a solo artist?
Everyone graduates someday, and what would I do after that besides working
solo? I want to work as an idol for a really long time, so I think this was a
really great experience for me, and it was also something that I could learn
from. I’m really glad that I had this chance.
Do you want to do solo concerts?
I want to do concerts, and other events that I can enjoy together with the fans.
But the thing I’m most interested in is acting work. I haven’t had any
experience with that so far, so I want to act in a girly drama that will touch the
hearts of other girls!
Finally, let me hear your New Year’s resolutions this year.
My main one is to stay in the senbatsu at the General Election. I’ll try really
hard in whatever I do, including my solo activities, and have the results of
everything I’ve worked hard in acknowledged by the fans when I rank in the
senbatsu again. I think that’s something I really have to do.
23 And in your private life?
I want to go on a trip. I’ve honestly never been overseas before, but I’ve been
really busy recently, so I just want to relax in a hot spring.
24 Nishiyama Reina Introduction
25 I’m noisy and always cause a ruckus, I MC at performances and I always do
pointless things. I always forget what I was talking about when I’m speaking
[laughs]. I’m not careful in the dressing room, either, so when rehearsal finished
last time, I ran back there and banged through the door like a manga character. I
hurt my bottom so badly, but thanks to my good reflexes, I wasn’t injured! I’ve
been playing basketball since I was a 4th grade student in elementary school,
and I’ve carried on with it since I came to Tokyo. Thanks to that, I’ve made lots of
friends through basketball. I want to play sports in AKB48, too.
I come from Aomori. It’s a quiet place, and the people are kind. The foods there
are also really good. Even in school lunches, we get things like apples, chowder
and beef bowls made with really delicious beef. In summer, after our club
activities have finished, we’ll go into the river still wearing our jerseys and play
around [laughs]. I’m a little bit of an idiot, and it makes me feel happy when
people say things like, “Hey, what the hell are you doing!?”
The person I admire is Oshima Yuko. Her dancing is really amazing, and she can
also act. I want to become an actress. Any kind of role is okay, but I want to
perform in something!! At the moment, I’m learning how to cry on cue at home.
It’s been a year since I entered AKB48 through the draft, and maybe I’ve
improved a little? I’m still a baby, but I’m working really hard to make my dream
come true, so please support me!!
26