Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk 07: Kumai Yurina x Nakajima Saki

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.

Kumai Yurina X Nakajima Saki

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When you first got into the H!P Kids, were both of you aware that you were in the same academic year?

Nakajima: Not at first. But when we were together for 'Guardians 4', we did talk about being the same age.

Kumai: That's right. We'd grown up by then, so we'd ask one another things like 'How was school?'

What impression did you have of one another at the time?

Nakajima: I'd heard rumours that Kumai-chan was an airhead. But it didn't feel that way at all in the beginning, I thought that she was mature, her dancing was cool, and her figure was great (laughs). But when we did the play 'Sengoku Jieitai together' together, she really was an airhead, and I found out that she really moves at a relaxed pace. I realised that that's just the sort of girl she was (laughs).

Kumai: Ahaha. I can't deny that~.

Nakajima: We only had about 15 minutes for our midday break during 'Sengoku Jieitai', but even at times when we had to eat our meals hurriedly, Kumai-chan would moan that it was impossible~ (laughs).

Kumai: I really couldn't eat. The more I was rushed to finish, the longer I'd take (laughs). My impression of Nacky was that, just as she herself often says, I felt that there was a real wall...

Nakajima: Ugh, is that so (laughs). In the past, I really didn't talk, I was shy.

Kumai: So when Nacky had torn her walls down, I was surprised! Also, she's very decisive. I'm the type that wavers, so I envy how Nacky can make decisions in a snap.

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[Is it better to be on the older or younger end of your group?]

Nakajima: I like my position. I can talk with [both the younger and older members], so it's fun. Though it's not like our Leader Maimi-chan doesn't speak to the younger ones. Well, there are times when it's like there's this generation gap that she alone is on the wrong side of. Maybe it's because our Leader is pretty behind the times (laughs).

Kumai: There's quite an age difference.

Nakajima: Yup. There's a 4-year difference between our oldest and youngest.

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Nakajima: I'm right in the middle of three sisters.

So even at home, you're in the middle position?

Nakajima: Yup (laughs). I'm really comfy at home as well. If I'm partnered with my older sister, we'll go shopping together, and if I'm with my younger sister, we talk about dramas. It's fun to be part of three sisters.

I'd like to ask you if you remember any impactful memories about the other over these past 10 years?

Nakajima: I feel like there was an incident with Kumai-chan. Ah, sweat! When we were doing a shooting as part of 'Guardians 4', Kumai-chan couldn't stop sweating. You know, where we had the red capes at first!

Kumai: Ah, we were shooting the PV (Omakase ♪ Guardian), right (laughs)?

Nakajima: We were shooting the PV at a gym hall, and the gym itself was hot, plus it was even hotter since we had a cape that seemed to be made for winter, so I remember Kumai-chan constantly being at the blowdryer (laughs).

More interview excerpts from this book