Member as girlfriend (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.

Q6. If you were a guy, who would you want as your 'girlfriend'? And how would you confess?

Yajima Maimi: Suzuki Airi-chan! I feel like we spend time the same way, so we wouldn't have to be on guard when we're together. We also fool around when we're together, and that atmosphere is fun too (laughs). I'd bring her to a store for something delicious, and while watching her face as she chomps away, I'd throw a straight-ball confession, 'How soothing! I love you! Please go out with me!' (laughs).

Nakajima Saki: Miyamoto Karin-chan. When Karin-chan is like 'There's a concert tomorrow, OMG-', I'd go 'From now on, please be pretty for only my sake'...... (laughs). Shrewd with cosmetics, Karin-chan is everyone's idol.

Suzuki Airi: Hagiwara Mai-chan. I feel like she's got faces that she only shows to herself ♥ For the confession...... We're always together, so I wouldn't know the what the situation would be, but I guess I'd say 'I'd like to see more of Mai's faces, so won't you go out with me?' (laughs).

Okai Chisato: Hagiwara Mai-chan ☆ She's cheerful, so I feel like she'll blow away Chisato's negativeness.

Hagiwara Mai: Makino Maria-chan. I'd confess while playing catch at dome baseball!!

Twitter Tidbits: Mano and Maro being BeriWota

花音がなんで早く起きれるかというとね、こーやってアラームのラベルを変えてるからだよ。Berryz工房から着信？！え？！江戸から着信？！てなって起きてますいつも🐶 pic.twitter.com/1A85SB2hb2

— 福田花音(まろ) (@kanonfukuda) 2016, 1月 16

If you're wondering how I woke up today, it's because I changed my alarm label like this. Incoming from Berryz Kobo !? Eh!? Incoming from Edo!? That's how I always wake up

Photo 1:
Repeat: Never
Label: Incoming from Berryz Kobo
Sound: Be Genki -Naseba Naru!-
Snooze: On

Photo 2:
Incoming from Berryz Kobo
Tap to snooze

花音のツイート見て Be 元気聴き始めたなう👻👻 https://t.co/8ck2plkYPH

— 真野恵里菜(Mano Erina) (@erina_mano) 2016, 1月 16

I saw Kanon's tweet
Now listening to Be Genki

からの「ライバル」が流れて 思わず手の振りをやりそうになるが 電車の中なので必死に我慢。笑

— 真野恵里菜(Mano Erina) (@erina_mano) 2016, 1月 16

And now Rival is playing
Without thinking, I did the moves
But since I'm in the train, I'm desperately holding back. lol

@erina_mano 朝のBe元気はほんと最高だよ、、、❤️窓を開けて空気がうまいだけで幸せを感じられるもん...笑

— 福田花音(まろ) (@kanonfukuda) 2016, 1月 16

Be Genki in the morning really is the best... ♥ Just listening to it at the window and breathing in the fresh air makes me feel happy... lol

@kanonfukuda 今日は1日Berryz工房の曲で過ごすことにした😎😎

— 真野恵里菜(Mano Erina) (@erina_mano) 2016, 1月 16

Spent the whole day today listening to Berryz Kobo

@erina_mano ハロプロ愛さいこーう☺️💕

— 福田花音(まろ) (@kanonfukuda) 2016, 1月 16

H!P Love is the best

@kanonfukuda 卒業してからの方が より強まるハロプロ愛💓💓 ハロヲタに戻った😂😂

— 真野恵里菜(Mano Erina) (@erina_mano) 2016, 1月 16

The love H!P Love of people who have graduated
Becomes even stronger
Going back to being a HaroWota

@erina_mano ハロメンからハロヲタに戻る感覚わりとたのしいよね😌💗

— 福田花音(まろ) (@kanonfukuda) 2016, 1月 16

The feeling of going back to being a HaroWota from being a Hello! member is relatively fun

@kanonfukuda うちらにしか味わえない特権😎💓

— 真野恵里菜(Mano Erina) (@erina_mano) 2016, 1月 16

It's a privilege that only we can savour

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Yajima Maimi x Natsuyaki Miyabi

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.

Yajima Maimi X Natsuyaki Miyabi

Looking at the two of you, you're like 'stillness and motion', you seem to have really contrasting images.

Natsuyaki: Is that so? Admittedly, Maimi and I are completely different types. While we've worked together at concerts, we've never really had deep conversations with one another.

Yajima: The thing I really remember is that there was a point when Miya cried, when we got to be backdancers at the Kouhaku (31/12/2007 broadcast of the '58th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen').

Natsuyaki: Eh, really!?

Yajima: You don't remember? I was the oldest at the time, and at the rehearsal, I cautioned you.

Natsuyaki: Eh- I don't have any recollection of being told off by Maimi. But at the time, the older girls certainly had to say a lot of things to the younger girls.

Yajima: That's right. But I was startled, as I never would have thought that Miya would cry.

Natsuyaki: I was a girl that cried when something frustrated me, so it's possible, though I don't remember it at all.

1001 Nights - The 24th Night: 50 Questions to Uemura Akari

Lost in the Sayashi's sudden graduation announcement, Aarii's 1001 Nights event kind of slipped under the radar. This marked the 24th in this series of talk events, held on 29th October 2015, a scant few hours before Riho dropped the bomb on us.

Usual disclaimer applies: these are based on fan reports, noob translator will most likely add even more confusion, translations are generally done from a first person perspective out of own habit.

🍈🍈🍈

Aarii had been hit by tonsillitis before the event, so this was her second appearance after her diagnosis. (Her first appearance was at the PB release event 3 days before, where she'd apparently just gotten off the drip before appearing).

Also, regular chairperson Nishiguchi-san wasn't around, so the event started off with an unnamed member of staff acting as the chair.

🍈🍈🍈

Q1. What's your point of appeal, something that other members of Juice=Juice don't have?

My long hair

Q2. What did you think when you were told that you would be releasing a photo book?

I was happy at first, but I asked for less swimsuits. I'd already told our manager-san that I was really against swimsuits, but it the end, the photo book ended up being 80% swimsuits.

Chair: But, the cover's lovely.

「Momochi to Iku Otomomochi Tour ~Momochi's birthday gathering 2016~」

Earlier this year, Momochi had some good news for us - she'd be holding another bus tour, this time in commemoration for her 24th birthday! Here's some quick translations of the messages concerning this bus tour from everyone's idol, cute as always, Tsugunaga Momoko.

This message was on the news page:

♥ Message from Momochi ♥

I've got good news for all you Otomomochi ♥

This is what you've been waiting for!!

It's finally taking place!

The second Momochi to Iku Otomomochi Tour!!

What's more, it's for my 24th birthday this time around!!!

Just imagining that I'll be moving up a year with all of you Otomomochi is already making Momochi's chest pound.

Of course there'll be 2-shot shootings, and a countdown concert...

We'll also be doing that illusive 'Spring something-something great gathering'!!!

Do you know what it is?

There's no doubt that it'll be a fun 2 days!!

Momochi guarantees it!!

We'll be waiting for lots of your applications ♥

*This tour is a tour that is limited to fan club members only.

♥♥♥

While here's the message that came included with the application brochure:

Momochi to Iku Otomomochi Tour ~Momochi no Otanjoubikai 2016~

To all the Otomomochi around the world!

This is what you've been waiting for ♥

The dreamed of birthday bus tour ♥

It's such a joy that we'll be able to celebrate the moment I turn 24~♥

We await your applications ♥

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Tsugunaga Momoko x Sudo Maasa

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 12 BeriKyuu girls, covering all 66 possible combinations.

Tsugunaga Momoko X Sudo Maasa

In my mind, within Berryz Kobo, Momochi does variety, while Maasa-chan does acting work. Maasa-chan, did you always aim to be an actress from before?

Sudo: About 3 years ago, I starred in the movie 'Light Novel no Tanoshii Kakigata', which was fun. That's when I started to get interested in acting, which I enjoy. While I actually do know that singing is our core business, it isn't my cup tea (laughs).

Tsugunaga: No no no, Maasa's voice is truly unforgettable, or should I say, your singing voice is unique.

♪♪♪

Tsugunaga: I like stage-plays, but perhaps performing to exact specification doesn't suit my personality, as I'm really bad at following the exact lines in the script. On that point, you can do as you please in variety, and it's fun when there's lots of people around.

Sudo: I make sure to record the programmes that Momochi appears in.

Tsugunaga: No way! Oh my, you're making me blush~.

Is that because you want to learn from her talking skills, or because you're a fan?

Tsugunaga: As a fan, obviously~!

Sudo: Well, I am a fan.

Tsugunaga: Maasa, how sweet~♥

Sudo: Actually, I watch them because there's a member making an appearance (laughs), but in front of so many entertainers, I see the grand appearance of the good points that you've had since birth, and it's amazing how you go through with it.

Tsugunaga: So instead of calling it a 'character', you call it my 'good points that I've had since birth'. How wonderful!

The face of H!P (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.

Q2. Who comes to mind if you were to speak about 'the face of H!P'?

Yajima Maimi: Momochi!? She's exceedingly well recognised around the world. When Berryz Kobo and ℃-ute went to France, Japanese tourists would notice her, going 'It's Momochi!'. That's Momochi for you!

Nakajima Saki: Yajima Maimi. She's Hello! Project's leader, and I'm not going to budge on that!

Suzuki Airi: If we're talking about the leader, then it'd be Yajima Maimi-chan. Tsugunaga Momoko-chan will probably continue helping out. I've got respect for them!

Okai Chisato: Tsugunaga Momoko ♥ Momochi!! Momo-chan really is amazing (>_<) I respect her, and she's the face of H!P... We'll do our best so that someday, ℃-ute will be who comes to mind when you mention H!P!!!

Hagiwara Mai: Maimi-chan! She's H!P's Leader, so of course the face would be Maimi-chan.

New Faces: Singing 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''.

Q4. Senpai whose voice & singing I like

Fujii Rio: Takeuchi Akari-san's voice when she's speaking is clear, like an announcer's. I like her distinct singing voice too.

Hirose Ayaka: Fukuda Kanon-san's voice is cute, I like it.

Nomura Minami: I love Wada Ayaka-san's voice! Her cute vocal quality is nice~ I like the way she talks too. I particularly love how her face and voice light up when she's talking about Buddha statues!!

Ogawa Rena: Takagi Sayuki-san. Her singing ability is at a high level. I look up to her.

Hamaura Ayano: Suzuki Airi-san, Takagi Sayuki-san, Tsugunaga Momoko-san. I like it when Sayuki-chan brings out high notes in her natural voice! Even when she's singing normally, I like Suzuki-san's attractive, gentle voice. I like Tsugunaga-san's strong voice when she's raising her pitch.

Taguchi Natsumi: Suzuki Airi-san's singing always gives my heart a squeeze, so I love it. Of course, I like her voice too! I also like her airy and gentle way of speaking. It's really adorable how you have no idea what she's saying, which makes me think that she's cute no matter what!

Wada Sakurako: I like Miyamoto Karin-san's cute and gentle singing voice.

Inoue Rei: I like Hagiwara Mai-san's unique and cute voice and her way of singing. I like Kanazawa Tomoko-san's voice, which is clear and carries well, no matter what register she's singing in.

Q4. Senpai whose voice & singing I like

Ogata Risa: Sayashi Riho-san. She performs so beautifully at concerts, but her voice is cute when you talk to her normally, I love that difference.

Yamagishi Riko: Takagi Sayuki-san and Tamura Meimi-san. Takagi-san has always been good at singing from when she was a Kenshuusei, and her ad-libs are particularly cool! I'd like to be able to perform them like Takagi-san! When I saw Tamura-san acting in a play, that difference between her powerful voice and her cute looks was wonderful.

Niinuma Kisora: Suzuki Airi-san. She's really good at singing and she can pull off all sorts of singing styles, I admire her!

Tanimoto Ami: I like how Miyamoto Karin-san's singing really resonates.

Kishimoto Yumeno: Tamura Meimi-san. The way she sings is cool and I like her voice.

Asakura Kiki: Uemura Akari-san. When I got to participate as the challenge act at Juice=Juice's concerts, I thought that her voice really had depth to it. I'd like to listen to it forever.

Notes and observations:

• With 3 nominations each, Airi and Sayuki score the most mentions.Other with more than one mention were Karin-chan and Meimi, with 2 each.
• Group-wise7 mentions: Juice=Juice
  6 mentions: ANGERME
  4 mentions: ℃-ute
  1 mention: Country Girls. Morning Musume。´15 
• Notable by her absence is the Suppin Utahime, Oda-chan herself. Given that she was a fellow Kenshuusei that came in roughly the same time as the rest, perhaps she isn't seen as as a senpai. Technically speaking, some of them like Hamachan and Tagucchi are her senpai in the Kenshuusei.

Other questions from this book

 

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Yajima Maimi x Tokunaga Chinami

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.

Yajima Maimi X Tokunaga Chinami

Do you remember the first time you met at the auditions?

Yajima: I remember it well. Don't you?

Tokunaga: Not to that extent (laughs).

Yajima: We were behind the panels, about to go on-stage, when you appeared from somewhere, spinning your arms, and saying 'This is nerve-wracking, isn't it!' (laughs). But since I was more shy than nervous, the fact that you were speaking to me was a great relief.

Tokunaga: We were together at the final auditions, but the only thing I remember was that Maimi was before me (laughs).

Yajima: For Chii, that was you operating as usual (laughs). And then we got to talking, and it turned out that we both liked Shimura Ken-san. Then we gradually became friends, while doing impersonations together (laughs).

Our first music ~ Tokyo Girls' Style talks about memorable spring songs~

Music and Tokyo Girls' Style

──What got all of you first interested in music and singing？

Shoji Mei　I've enjoyed dancing ever since I was small、 I would listen to songs until the very end in order to dance to them。 I never really paid attention to singing until I entered TGS （laughs）。 Ever since I started with TGS activities、 I've taken the initiative to listen to music、 and watch music programmes。

Nakae Yuri　Just like Mei, I enjoyed dancing since I was small as well、 I danced following the rhythm of the music、 feeling the flow of the rhythm with only my body。 I started getting interested in singing when I sang as TGS。

Arai Hitomi　It started with my grandmother （laughs）。 My grandma taught me nursery rhymes、 and we sung them together。

Konishi Ayano　Even before I was aware of things, I was dancing and singing in front of the television。 I've always yearned to be a singer。 I've been singing ever since I could stand。

Yamabe Miyu　The only one who wanted to become a singer was Ayano （laughs）。 When I joined Avex in my 5th year of primary school、 my ambitions at the time were to become a model or an actress。 I was strongly aware that I wasn't good at dancing nor singing、 and it was tough when I was just starting out with TGS、 but my interest in music gradually surged as we continued on with our activities。 It's thanks to TGS that I came to like music。

New Faces: Senpai as Oneesan (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''.

Q3. Senpai I'd be happy to have as an oneesan

Fujii Rio: Miyazaki Yuka-san. She seems really gentle. I want to dress her up.

Hirose Ayaka: Miyamoto Karin-san. She'd be a gentle oneechan, and I'd like to listen to a lot of her stories.

Nomura Minami: If Wada Ayaka-san was my oneechan, I could be together with Wada-san every day. I'd like to try playing with dolls with her.

Ogawa Rena: Okai Chisato-san is really funny and fashionable, so I feel like she'd bring me along to go shopping if she was my oneesan.

Hamaura Ayano: In my mind, Ikuta Erina-san is always kind to her juniors, so I feel that she'd look out for me if she was my oneechan.

Taguchi Natsumi: Takagi Sayuki-san. I love her since she's always been kind, ever since I was in the Kenshuusei. If she was my oneesan, I'd be with her every day. Sayuki-chan's kind to everyone, she's wonderful!

Wada Sakurako: Miyazaki Yuka-san. It feels like we'd be close sisters who wouldn't fight.

Inoue Rei: Miyamoto Karin-san. I feel that she'd be gentle and caring.

Q3. Senpai I'd be happy to have as an oneesan

Ogata Risa: Miyazaki Yuka-san. Because she seems that she'd be really kind. I feel like she'd also help me with my studies.

Yamagishi Riko: Suzuki Airi-san. In my mind, she's this level-headed oneesan, and it feels like she'd give me information about all sorts of things. Occasionally she'd calm things down by making puns, I think that we'd be a lively family!

Niinuma Kisora: Sayashi Riho-san. Because when I talked with her before, she made me feel warm inside.

Tanimoto Ami: Hagiwara Mai-san. Since she has this image of being kind, so I'd like her to spoil me if she were my oneesan.

Kishimoto Yumeno: Iikubo Haruna-san! If I had a fashionable oneechan, maybe I'd become fashionable too.

Asakura Kiki: Yamaki Risa-san. I'm bad at doing my hair, so I'd like to get it done by Yamaki-san every day, as I hear that she's skilful. I think she's definitely a gentle person.

Notes and observations:

• And the oneechan award goes to Miyazaki Yuka, with 3 nominations! Karin-chan came second with two.
• And so, despite being in the middle of the pecking order, Juice=Juice as a group have the most nominations. ℃-ute and Morning Musume。´15 tie for second with 3 nominations from each group.

Other questions from this book

 

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Sugaya Risako x Suzuki Airi

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.

Sugaya Risako X Suzuki Airi

These 2 great songstresses who are of the same age, Sugaya and Suzuki, are the aces in their own respective groups. 
Best friends? Rivals? Let's get closer to the relationship that the 2 of them have built up throughout these 10 years.

You're of different types, but there's this impression that the two of you stand at the forefront of BeriKyuu. Through this discussion, I'd like to ask you about the very first impression you had about one another.

Sugaya: Airi was a bit..... Heeheehee.

Suzuki: Wha? What (laughs)!?

Sugaya: A girl whose nostrils flared up (laughs).

Suzuki: Risako, you're such a meanie. You'd always keep telling me that my nostrils were bigger than my eyes (laughs)!

Sugaya: No, I thought it was cute. Your nose would twitch when you talked, and your nostrils would flare up when you laughed. That's the impression I had.

Suzuki: I was together with Risako at the 4th judging round of the 'Hello! Project Kids Audition', and while she had a broken limb (laughs), I thought that she was a girl who was as cute as a doll. I remember us talking about being the same age, and that we were both Aries. We had lots of things in common. Even the names of our younger brothers were similar.

Sugaya: It was quite the coincidence (laughs).

Suzuki: It only differs by a single character. And so, our brothers both became friends as well. But ever since we were split into Berryz Kobo and ℃-ute, they haven't had time to meet up. In the past, our mothers would drop us off, so they never got to hang out with just the 2 of them.

Tokyo Girls' Style on Konishi Ayano's graduation

Below are translations of the blog posts from the Tokyo Girls' Style members upon the announcement of Konishi Ayano's graduation.

♪♪♪

Yamabe Miyu blog: To everyone who has always been cheering us on

It's been officially announced
That our member Konishi Ayano
Who has been working together with us since we made our debut
Will be graduating from Tokyo Girls' Style
And retiring from the world of entertainment.

 While Ayano was taking a break,
 The members and staff continued on with activities
 Thinking that Ayano would return
 That we wanted Ayano to return.

Time and time again
She discussed it with the members and the staff
But it ended up with Ayano no longer being with us
And we truly feel that it is inexcusable
To everyone who has always been cheering us on

Even for us, who discussed it over with Ayano
We're filled with sadness
But we didn't want Tokyo Girls' Style to end just here
So us members
Would like to still work hard as Tokyo Girls' Style

All of us think
That it's truly heartbreaking
But the 4 of us will still be doing our best
And be continuing with activities
So that we'll be able to
Stand once again on the Nippon Budokan stage
And thus, we beg for your kindness from now on as well

Tokyo Girls' Style Yamabe Miyu

Having a show (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.

Q9. What if you could have a show with the members of your choice?

Yajima Maimi: I'd bring back the sports festival!! On that topic, it would be nice to have a H!P sports day special ♪

Nakajima Saki: I'd have a show together with Mitsui Aika, where I'd help out with Aika-sensei's cooking corner (laughs).

Suzuki Airi: For the time being, please give a crown programme to ℃-ute (laughs). Hmm, that'd be it. Ah, us members have decided that we'd like to do an attraction variety show like 'Tokyo Friend Park' ♥ You might not know about that programme either though...... (laughs)

Okai Chisato: Hagiwara Mai, Iikubo Haruna, Uemura Akari, Fukuda Kanon. Kobushi Factory & Tsubaki Factory would be our guests. What sort of programme should we do...... (laughs).

Hagiwara Mai: I'd like to try holding a programme with Kanazawa Tomoko-chan, who's the same age as me.