Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Sudo Maasa 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 pairs of girls, covering all 66 possible combinations of them. I'm currently in the middle of reading this book, and would like to share some highlights from some of the interviews.

Sudo Maasa X Sugaya Risako

While you're in the same group, I think that the two of you specialise in different fields. Firstly, from Maasa-chan's point of view, what do you think of Risako-chan's singing?

Sudo: I've always thought that Risako was amazing, even from when we were in primary school. Her singing is so intense that it makes you see visions, your eyes get drawn to her, like 'That's a great expression she has on her face.'  I particularly like her facial expression when she sings 'Makenaiwa' in 'Baka ni Shinaide'. It's great how she looks straight at the camera (laughs). It's like you're really acting out the world of the song, and your voice draws us into that world view.

Sugaya: I had no idea about that. There's so many other things I'm thinking about, like what's the next line, or how do I do this move, so I can't even think about the world of the song....... (laughs).

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Well then, from Risako-chan's point of view, what do you think of Maasa-chan's acting?

Sugaya: Maa gets lots of cool roles. You were really cool in the play 'Thank You Very Berry', where you came out wearing a sarashi wrap and a gakuran. It was a role that only Maa could do. You can't do cute roles, huh?

Sudo: Yup, I can't (laughs).

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Sugaya: I was together with Maa for 'Mini Moni The Movie Okashi na Daibouken!', and we became close. We were quiet at first and didn't talk at all, so I have no idea how we linked up (laughs). But she was the oldest among the members that were in the movie, so she was like our mother, bringing us together. We've always been together, and I think Maa's the only one I haven't quarrelled with. We've maintained our good relationship, and 10 years have passed in the blink of an eye. For me, Maa is Berryz Kobo's vice leader (laughs)*. [...] Miya was like an oneechan too, but there were times when we were forsaken by Miya (laughs). We often got told off. That made me happy though (laughs).

*Natsuyaki Miyabi was nominated sub-captain of Berryz Kobo in 2013, a year after this book was published

[...]

Sudo: For me, [Risako] is a really soothing presence. It was that way even during 'MiniMoni......', but everything you do is so cute, it's like I'd forgive whatever pranks you'd pull. It made me happy that you came to me with a 'Mama, mama', in order to be spoiled. Now you've grown-up, that little devilishness has increased (laughs).

Sugaya: Little devil? Not a devil (laughs)?

Sudo~:  A little devil (laughs)! Don't change that part of you that always soothes me, okay?

☻☻☻

More interview excerpts from this book.