Twitter Tidbits: Country Girls on tour

22nd April Momochi-ism tour in Nagoya [x][x][x][x]

Yamaki: Mai-chan, Yanamin, you've become senior high students. How are you finding it?

Ozeki: I'm cute, right!

Momo: Well, it'll take some time if we go in that direction, so let's just put it aside for the time being...

Ozeki: As senior high students, we have new teachers as well. So at our first lessons with the new teachers, we have to introduce ourselves. Since I'm cute, I've get told that I'm cute dozens of times a day.

Momo: Hmm? Okay.

Ozeki: Like my friends tell me that I'm cute. But it'd be awkward to start off with a, 'Yeah, I know'. For me to suddenly come out to say it, the people around might wonder, 'What's up with this girl?'

Momo: I can relate to that, obviously (laughs)

Ozeki:  So I modestly tell the speaker that they're cute too. But humility just doesn't fit with me! I can't lie, can I? We started off with science classes, and we had to introduce ourselves with something that made us happy recently. So I was like 'I'm Ozeki Mai, and my cuteness makes me happy every day!'. The mood of the class was like, 'What's up with this kid?' But what I've learnt from Country Girls is that persistence through difficulty makes one stronger. Regardless of how down class' reaction made me feel!

Audience: Ohhhh~!

Ozeki: Next class was English. When I had to mention what I like, I went 'Hello, my name is Mai Ozeki, I like looking my face.' While the mood at the previous class was underwhelming, it was somehow well received at this class!

Momo: It went well!?

Ozeki: Our teacher was a native speaker, and even they were excited, going 'Oh, wonderful, beautiful'. My friends and teacher understood that that's the kind of person I am. And that's how I started my life as a senior high student.

🍑🍑🍑

22nd March Happy Dinner Time ~Momochi ni Sachi Are~ Dinner Show in Cotton Club [x][x]

Momo: I discussed the setlist with Yamaki Risa-chan. I wasn't sure if I should put in my favourite non-Hello! songs. And then she was like 'Momochi-senpai, what are you saying! The fans have come to watch their oshi have fun, as she enjoys singing the songs she likes!' I'm sure that she must have said that with Misshige-san in mind!

🍑🍑🍑

22nd April Momochi-ism tour in Nagoya  [x]

Yamaki: If I may say so myself, I think that we've grown compared to how we were in the past. And I've got a proper basis for making that statement. Do you remember the opening day of our second tour?

Morito: At the opening day of our second live tour, the first song was Kakumeichikku Kiss. We couldn't even get to our positions in time while the introductory song was playing. We completely missed the timing. We had to dash to get to our positions in Kakumeichikku Kiss. In a sense, it was legendary. It was just a week before when Momochi-senpai had to go on a break because of vocal cord polyps. Out of the blue, the four of us had to practise for the opening day, and we were nervous wrecks.

Momo: So it's because of my scheduling?

Yamaki: Momochi-senpai, without you, we were like mere children, completely clueless!

Momo: I was in the ward, worrying about you guys. Then I got a call. I was told, 'Momochi-senpai, it went perfectly!' That gave me some relief. Later that night, I got a video from the show. It only took 30 seconds of watching for me to see the first mistake.

Yamaki: On Hello! Sute, Hello! Project's YouTube programme, I hosted the show for my first time with Momochi-senpai. I was fully dressed up, putting in everything I had in my own way. To bring up my luck, I wore pink. And obviously, Momochi-senpai was also completely decked out in pink. As we were hosting, we were happily commenting about how we were both in pink. By the time I rewatched that Hello! Sute a couple of years later, I'd realised that I should make sure that my clothing doesn't overlap with the senpai.

Momo: I'm fine if that happens. But if it was some senpai who wasn't me, there might have been trouble. I won't name any names though.

Country Girls feat. Maimi Yajima (℃-ute) Original Photo Book (UTB+ vol 36 Mar 2017)

Yanagawa Nanami

I'd like to go to the gym and build up my muscles

My lifestyle took a huge turn once I joined Country Girls. Up until then, going to school was my routine. But with the addition of work, I got to go all around the country for events, I got to eat all sorts of things for the first time, I got to feast my eyes on many sights, it's all added to myself. And hiking up Mount Fuji undoubtedly left a huge impression on me. As hard as it was to deal with such a huge goal, it left me with a great sense of achievement. Last year, I got to play the sax in 'Namida no Request' and appear on Pokemon shows. This year, I'd like to leverage even more of my interests and skills in my work. I'd like to go to the gym and build up my muscles so that it'll have a good influence on my performances. When I'd first joined, I was immediately paired with Momochi-senpai for the filming of the MV for 'Boogie Woogie Love'. It made me happy when she asked me 'Are you having fun, being in Country?' As she was giving me her attention, I felt comfortable talking to Momochi-senpai. I get so nervous with Yajima-san that I haven't really talked with her. She's awe-inspiring, she's a beauty, she exudes this brilliant aura. I'd like to become like her. There's still the 'HinaFes' in March, so I hope to talk with her a little there.

Funaki Musubu

I'll work hard at my studies even after Momochi-senpai has graduated!

Last year, I got closer to the members, and have been going out increasingly more with them during our private time. I met up with Ozeki-san at eight in the morning to go and watch a horror movie. That was fun, the two of us watched it through the gaps in our fingers. (laughs) I think I've improved at talking on-stage. At first, even coming up with a topic was already hard enough, but I've gotten more and more used to it. Now I'm able to talk in detail about trivial things. I enjoy doing the talk segments while letting my inner self show. And I'll be taking exams this year, so even after Momochi-senpai graduates, I'll like to keep firm and properly study. When I was doing my first recording after having joined, I was a nervous wreck. But Momochi-senpai wished me luck. At the time, I couldn't believe that she had talked to me, I was so happy. What I remember about Yajima-san is when ℃-ute-san did a Christmas event. In that event, they discussed a survey filled by the Kenshuusei. After mulling over how to answer the question, 'What is scary about ℃-ute?', I wrote and sent in 'Yajima-san's smile is so beautiful that it's scary'. And it wasn't taken in a positive light. I got found out since I put my name down as FM-san. (laughs) I'd like to tell her that it was a misunderstanding. I meant it in the best of ways!

Country Girls (CD Journal Feb 2017)

Tsugunaga-san, this might be the last time you'll be appearing in this magazine.

Yanagawa: Huh~

Tsugunaga: Oh my! So, about that front cover......

Everyone: Ahahaha!

And with that, I think it would be nice if things moved along as usual.

♥♥♥

So when you go out for meals, it's normally Tsugunaga-san who extends the invitation? Is it difficult to ask her out without some sort of underlying reason?

Yamaki: Actually, there isn't a problem with inviting her out without any reasons. But I find it difficult. I can't just ask a great-senpai out for a meal without a reason. The other day, the two of us went for mushroom nabe. I felt like having some, but it turned out that the others weren't big fans of mushrooms when I asked them. I didn't want to drag along people who weren't really fond of mushrooms, so I asked Momochi-senpai whether she'd like to have mushroom nabe. She was okay with that, and she was fine with me asking her out. I was actually really shocked by the fact that there weren't any problems with me asking her out for a meal on a private basis. And though we happily headed to the store, (looks at Tsugunaga) she turned peevish.

Tsugunaga: I was really happy that Risa-chan extended an invitation to me. It's not uncommon for me to have a meal with the kouhai, but the invitation would generally come from me. That was the first time that Risa-chan had asked me out, so I was on cloud nine as we headed to the store, with a spring to my step. I was even having fun picking things out from the menu. But then I got embarrassed at how excited I was. Could it be that perhaps Risa-chan had something to discuss with me? Now that my graduation's set in stone, she'll become the oldest in the group, so I wondered if there was some sort of problem concerning the group.

Like she may have wanted to ask you something.

Tsugunaga: That's right. I was wondering if there was something she wanted to bring up. To find out if she wanted to talk with about something, I asked her why she'd invited me out. And so it turned out that it was because none of the other members liked mushrooms that much. I was like 'Huh?' (laughs) I'd been chosen via the process of elimination. And what's more, she added that nabe isn't something she could order without at least 2 people.

Yamaki: I couldn't go alone. (laughs)

Tsugunaga: Isn't that horrible!

I'd have thought that Tsugunaga-san would have been the first person to ask. (laughs)

Yamaki: And that's where we differ. I didn't think that it would be all right to ask Momochi-senpai out without a reason. If I'd told her that I just invited her for some vague reason or the other, it'd be awkward.

Tsugunaga: You could've just said that you wanted to have a meal with me.

All: That's right!

Tsugunaga: You just happened to want mushroom nabe, and I happened to be the only person who was convenient, right?

Yamaki: ...Well, that's true, you happened to fit the bill. That is a fact. (laughs) The big takeaway I got from this huge incident was that it's fine to invite Momochi-senpai out just because I want to have a meal with her. So I'd like to ask her out for more meals until her graduation.

Country Girls - To Shout Out Their Secret (BLT March 2017)

Their last single before Tsugunaga Momoko's graduation will be going on sale!

With all of the members around, each member makes a big confession ♥

While we await the sale of their last single before Tsugunaga Momoko's graduation, the members confess some previously unknown stories ♥

I'd like this to be a single where I use up my whole 15 years (Tsugunaga)

You've finally announced your last single before the graduation of Momochi (Tsugunaga)-san.

Tsugunaga: As we draw closer to my graduation, more and more things are becoming 'lasts', which reminds me how close my graduation is. I'd like this to be a single where I use up my whole 15 years.

Ozeki: In 'Peanut Butter Jelly Love', you can hear Momochi-senpai's wonderful, lovely voice!

Tsugunaga: You're raising the bar too high. (laughs) I get to feature in this last one, so it's a difficult song that requires a broad singing register, but I'd like to sing it properly.

Funaki: The beginning is particularly difficult, you can tell from the look on Momochi-senpai's face. (laughs)

Morito: It's a cute song that's very Country Girls, and I hope that you keep an eye on the intricacies of the dance moves as well.

Yanagawa: The music video is cute and fairytale-like, and I hope that we can express the world of the song.

Yamaki: We were under the cold weather for the tea party scene, but we acted as if it was warm, so please watch that as well. (laughs)

How about 'Good Boy Bad Girl'?

Morito: The lyrics are split between a guy and a girl, and there's part of the choreography that looks like we're kissing. And it was fresh to have (Ozeki) Mai-chan take on the girl role.

Ozeki: I've been established as a guy character, so being put in the girl role was something that I found to be difficult, despite being a girl myself. (laughs)

Yamaki: The dance moves put a lot of pressure on me. 'Cause if I make a mistake, I might end up kicking Momochi-senpai in the head......

Tsugunaga: We have to hold hands after that, and yours get really sweaty. (laughs)

Funaki: The two songs are completely different, so you can enjoy various sides of Country Girls through this one single.

Yanagawa: In terms of dancing and singing, it's our hardest single yet, but we'll work hard with everything we've got in order to reach a high level!

Hoshibe Sho's Liner Notes on Good Boy Bad Girl

After about a year since 'Boogie Woogie Love', I got to write a song for Country Girls.
The A-melody has a back-and-forth melody accompanied by rock 'n roll guitar riffs.
The B-melody approaches the chorus with bluesy 7th chords.
And that develops into a minor key chorus, in the style of 70s and 80s rock ballads.
Using this old-fashioned melody, Kodama Ameko-san showed her skills and gave it the theme of a comical, immature lover's quarrel.
The phrase 'While he knows his guitar chords, he can't come up with lyrics' in the second chorus, it really struck a deep nerve in the heart of this former guitar-playing youth. (laughs)

Speaking of 'cool', I actually have experienced it watching Country Girls perform live.
Even though they have cute songs like 'Itooshikutte Gomen ne'!? They present themselves cutely, yet I feel that as professionals, they are cool.
I learnt a lesson: When you get down to it, cuteness can turn into coolness.
Country Girls is an exceedingly interesting group, a synthesis of 'cute' and 'cool'.

I hope that this song will become a spice that will support Country Girls' cuteness.

Hoshibe Sho

Source: http://www.hoshibe.com/linernotes/m19.html

Inaba Manaka's 'Member I'd like to have as a boyfriend if they were a guy' ranking

More from this ranking series:

Tsugunaga Momoko: Member that I'd like to help with studies

Funaki Musubu: Member I'd like to go with an on-location shoot with

Yanagawa Nanami: Member I'd like to turn to for advice when I have problems

Morito Chisaki: 'Member I'd like to stay over with'

――Please go ahead! What order should we go in?

Inaba　Well, let's set aside the person at sixth... 'If this member was a guy, I'd want them as a boyfriend'. From 5th place! Yanagawa Nanami-chan.

――Yanagawa-san is fifth.

Inaba　Yes. It's not that there's anything wrong with Yanagawa-chan. I just don't know her that well since she's a new member... Also, she's got a very courteous way of expressing herself, which makes her seem girly. Because of that, I can't imagine how she'd be like if she were a guy... So it's more that I can't imagine her being a guy, rather than not thinking of her as boyfriend material.

――She is so girly, isn't she? Well then, let's go on to fourth place.

Inaba　 Funaki Musubu-chan. Funaki-chan's younger than me as well, right? Just like Yanagawa-chan, I'm still not that familiar with the new members. However, in Funaki-chan's case, she's got her husky voice and candid personality. With those, it's easy for me to imagine her as a guy. So she's 4th!

――By the way, the two that you just picked are younger than you, but what would you like to do if one of those two were your boyfriend?

Inaba　Umm, let's see... But since they're younger, I'd have to take the lead, right? Most of the other members are younger than me, but the two of them in particular have the largest age difference with me, so I'd have to teach them what they don't know. So I kind of think that I'll have to be the one who'll bring them along if we wanted to go somewhere.

Morito Chisaki's 'Member I'd like to stay over with' ranking

More from this ranking series:

Tsugunaga Momoko: Member that I'd like to help with studies

Funaki Musubu: Member I'd like to go with an on-location shoot with

Yanagawa Nanami: Member I'd like to turn to for advice when I have problems

——This is a 'Top 6' ranking, but let's set aside your announcement of who's first and sixth until the very end. And with that, let's start from fifth place!

Morito  Fifth would be Funaki Musubu-chan. She's a new member, and we've only worked together for just four months, so I don't know how her home situation is like. Staying over would suggest a close relationship, wouldn't it? I feel like we're still at the point where things are still a bit awkward... And so, she's fifth. But she's not at rock bottom! Funaki-chan's from Osaka, and I really like Osaka. I like how, when we're talking backstage, Funaki-chan will slip into Osaka-ben. Imagining how she's like when she's in off mode at home makes my heart skip a beat. I'd look forward to hearing Osaka-ben if I were to stay over with her!

——It would be nice if you could stay over at her place someday! Well then, fourth?

Morito　Fourth is Momochi-senpai!

Yamaki・Inaba・Ozeki 　Ehhhーー (with looks of surprise on all their faces)

Morito　I seriously put some thought into where I should place Momochi-senpai, but to start with, since she's a dai-senpai, I don't think I could stay over at her place! But then I continued with my thoughts! Since this was hypothetical, I'd be able to see everything, like how her home environment is like, or what she does before going to sleep. I can't even begin to imagine Momochi-senpai being in off mode, she's a mystery to me (laughs).

——By the way, how do you think Tsugunaga-san would be like before she goes to bed?

Morito　Well, she's constantly an idol, so I think even her pyjamas would be cute ♥ That's for sure!

Country Girls discourse: Are manju sweets?

As you may or may not know, Country Girls enforces a no sweets rule - no sweets, no ice cream after nine, no carbonated drinks. After much discussion, an exception was made earlier this year for days that had a four in them. This allowed a certain PM to celebrate a special day with cake, as she does every year.

Anyway, at a release event, Yamaki proposed that they add an exception to their banlist: manju, a type of Japanese confectionary. The following is based on reports by Twitter user @asami_konno (No relation to the idol Konno Asami).

Sweet-lover Maimi with momiji manju, a maple-leaf shaped manju normally associated with Canada Hiroshima

Yamaki: There's something that I'd like to ask your opinions about!!!
On the 24th of September, Ozeki Mai-chan had an event at Hiroshima, and she bought some momiji manju 🍁 since they were delicious. But she bought so many that she couldn't finish eating them up within the 24th itself. [1]

Yamaki: Country Girls has this rule that bans sweets, so we can only eat sweets on days that have a '4' in them. So when I met Mai-chan on the 25th, she asked me if momiji manju were sweets. I was like, 'Obviously', so she got moody [2]

Yamaki: But when I went back and looked it up, they're made using koshian. And koshian is made from adzuki, and you know what adzuki are? They're beans. And beans aren't sweets, right? There's just a smidgen of sugar added, but they're more than 90% beans! [3]

Yamaki: What's more, adzuki are rich in vitamin C, so they're good for health. And they contain minerals as well, so they're good for swelling. And what more! They have good anti-aging effects!

Tsugunaga: Wait a minute, why are you looking at Momochi with that gleam in your eyes? [4]

Country Girls' Eh, are you really going to surmount Mount Fuji? #3 (UTB+ March 2016)

Here's the 3rd part of Country Girls' UTB+ serialisation, 'Eh, are you really going to surmount Mount Fuji?'. Did the translation directly on the image since it's easier to read that way. Enjoy.

The original:

What sort of occupation they'd like to try once - Country Girls & Suzuki Airi (Big One Girls NO.032 April 2016)

Q. What line of work would you like to try once?

Tsugunaga Momoko
Kindergarten teacher. I've always loved children, so I've always found it to be a really appealing line of work. So in middle school, when we were allowed to pick workplace experiences, I chose to go to a kindergarten, and I got kindergarten teaching qualifications at university. If I wasn't an idol, I think that I'd be a kindergarten teacher. However, if that were the case, all the boys' first love would be Momochi (laughs). I think that it would be the general state of things. Taking that into consideration, I chose the idol profession, where being in loved by everyone wouldn't be a hindrance (laughs).

Yamaki Risa
A mangaka assistant. I love drawing, and that's the sole hobby I've continued on with since I was small, but I'm completely self-taught, so I've got lots of simple questions that have built up ever since I was small. And so, I'd like to be taught from scratch by a pro mangaka.

Inaba Manaka
I love dancing, so much that I can't go through a day without dancing at least once. I want to dance so much that it sometimes wakes me up in the middle of the night. So I think it would be nice if I became a dance instructor, as I'd always be engaged in dancing.

Morito Chisaki
I'd like to work at a cake store, and invent all sorts of cakes. I'm skilful, so I think I'd probably be able to do it.

Ozeki Mai
I love ice cream, so I'd work at an ice cream store, and I'd buy ice creams every day on my way back.

Yanagawa Nanami
A nurse. I'm interested in the medical profession, so I'd like to try it, to experience it.

Funaki Musubu
I love learning about makeup and cosmetics, so I'd like to try being a makeup artist, and make entertainers look beautiful.

Suzuki Airi
I'd like to try being a planner for commercials. I've got tons of ideas. Currently, I'm on the acting side, but instead, I'd like to try the other side once, having someone do what I've thought up. That, or something that I've always wanted to try: handling a cash register at a supermarket.

A direct assault on Yanagawa Nanami and Funaki Musubu! - Top Yell March 2016

Country Girls New Members

A direct assault on Yanagawa Nanami and Funaki Musubu!

We hear about the particulars of Country Girls from the start, when they joined the group, until recently!

We would never have expected the appearance of such debaters on the idol scene. You wouldn't think that they actually were newbies, watching them shrewdly explaining their vision without a hint of fear. And in the midst of the discussion, Momochi-senpai's ability to draw out their innate talents comes to light. This confirms things. We can see nothing but a bright future for Country Girls!

Entering their 2nd year of middle school

Truly did make them slightly impatient

Congratulations on joining the group! Have you gotten a little used to it?

Funaki: Yeah! Compared to when we first joined.

Yanagawa: At the Hello! Project New Year's concert (Hello!Con), we had lots of opportunities to talk with the other members. That was huge.

It was announced to the fans on the event held on the 5th of November, but had the 2 of you actually heard about your success before that?

Yanagawa: That's right, we were told about it two days beforehand. Musubu and I were called by a staff-san, and what we were told at first was that we'd be making a surprise appearance at a Country Girls event. 'We'll keep it a secret from the members that the 2 of you will be turning up, and you'll be acting as background dancers or assistants'. And then, the moment we knocked on the door to the lesson room and opened it, we were greeted by the words 'Congratulations on joining us~', along with the sound of crackers being popped.

Funaki: It was a pretty strange situation. We'd been caught unawares, unable to grasp the situation, and I felt that the senpais were curious about us as well. That said, while the senpai did know that new members would be joining in, they didn't know who the new members would be.

Yanagawa: Until the door opened, the senpais didn't know who'd be coming in. Once the huge din of the crackers had settled, they confirmed it with a 'Ah, it's Yanagawa-chan' (laughs).

I see. However, with the announcement being made in such a way, you probably didn't feel that burst of joy.

Yanagawa: Yes, it took some time for that upwelling of happiness to arrive. I couldn't grasp things, like 'Eh? What's happening?', and I could only make an expression of bewilderment (laughs). But once I grasped the situation, I realised that I'd be making my debut in Country Girls.

Did you cry?

Yanagawa: Just a little bit... But I thought that it wouldn't be a good idea to cry.

Why is that?

Yanagawa: If I cried, my face would get all squished up, so it would have been unappealing from an aesthetic sense (laughs). And so, I kind of endured it. But on the other hand, I'm worried about being unable to stop smiling in the future.

Country Girls and the New Members

Courtesy of Barks, we have coverage of what happened over at Country Girls' formation 1st anniversary event. I'll be focusing on the 2 new members in this translation.

If you're more of a video person, I've put up a subtitled version of the Jijipress coverage on the event. It includes a clip of the existing Country Girls members being informed of and welcoming the new additions, but not the closing comments from the members. I've been told that the video may not be available to US viewers though, so your mileage may vary.

This'll be out of chronological order, but I think it flows better given that we know the final outcome.
Quick note: from what I understand, the years are counted from when they start rather than when they end. So the day after your first anniversary, you enter your second year rather than starting on your first year. I guess the natural numbers start with 1 in Japan.

Letter from Country Girls Supervisor Satoda Mai

Everyone, a very good evening to you!
This is Country Girls Supervisor Satoda Mai.

Celebrating a whole year today, on the 5th of November,
Country Girls will be making a new start.

As the original goal was to be a group that's growing to face the world stage,
And thinking about how to power it up further,
I had exchanges with people from the office,
Including Playing Manager Momochi.
A proposal to add new members was made,
And I approved of that proposal.

Taking into account their habitual training, the outcome of their lessons, and their future prospects,
We chose 2 names for the new members, Yanagawa Nanami and Funaki Musubu, from the H!P Kenshuusei.

To the fans who have been cheering us on, we beg for your continued kind and warm cheers of support.

And to the 2 new members, please blow a new wind into Country Girls with your energy and freshness.

From now on, I'll be watching over the 7 of you!

November 2015, Satoda Mai

Momochi, welcome back! Also, let's get to know the new Country Girls!

On Thursday, Country Girls celebrated the anniversary of their formation, where we received some huge news concerning Country Girls:

Momochi has officially recovered!!!

That's right, she's been given the okay from the doctors to continue with her singing activities!

For those not in the know, everyone's idol was diagnosed with vocal cord polyps. She took a break for a while, but slowly recovered to the point where she could appear at events in as a MC. She even joined in a Halloween Parade. But as of Thursday, she's officially made her singing comeback.

Of course, I'm sure that all of us will gladly welcome back the presence of the Playing Manager, a paragon of stability in these turbulent times.

Also, another related and similarly momentous announcement was made on that day as well: Momochi would be growing the ranks of her loli minions Country Girls would be welcoming two new members from the H!P Kenshuusei - Yanagawa Nanami and Funaki Musubu. Just as a yardstick, both girls are slightly older than Momochi's idol career. While Funakki is a familiar face, Yanagawa Nanami's fairly new. In a bid to get to know them better, I'll be translating a little Q&A done by them, from the Kenshuusei portion of November 2015's Top Yell coverage of the September Nama Tamago Show!

Momochi's come back!? 「Country Girls」 Special Interview Before and After their Live！――T-SPOOK

「Mezamashi TV PRESENTS T-SPOOK」 was held over 2 days, on the 24th and 25th of October.

We got to talk with Country Girls who appeared at the 2nd day's parade and live performance！

On that day, Momochi（Tsugunaga Momoko）-san, who had taken a break in order to treat her vocal polyps, also appeared♪  We got to hear her voice, which was adorable as usual！
 

――Momochi-san、 are you doing well？

Honestly, I've gradually been recovering. I apologise for causing worry and concern！


―― I believe that it's been a while since you last stood on-stage, so how do you feel right now？ 

That's right。 Thinking about getting to experience the joy of standing on-stage once again、I was looking forward to today ♡ My voice is better now、 but it hasn't recovered to the point where I can sing、 so I think it would be great if you would enjoy today's performance by my 4 reliable kouhai ♡

Country Girls: We're a unique group even within Hello！ Project、 so I want to make that our forte

{Interview published on the 18th of March 2015, after Tsugunaga Momoko had properly joined the group post-Berryz Kobo's hiatus, but before Country Girls' major début}

We are familiar with the 'Country Musume。' that Satoda Mai was attached to, which was formed in 1999. However, the group has been reborn as 'Country Girls'. They'll make their major début on the 25th of March with their single 『Itooshikutte Gomen ne／Koidorobo』！ With “Momochi” Tsugunaga Momoko as their Playing Manager、 Country was reborn with 5 fresh girls. Let's get introduced to the characters of these members and find out what led them to aiming to become idols.

Tsugunaga Momoko

You fully joined the group as Playing Manager Momochi after Berryz Kobo ended with your last Budokan performance on the 3rd of March. Have you gotten used to the new environment？

Tsugunaga「It's been a smooth transition into Country Girls. I don't feel like I've had a change of heart in particular...... We're on the heels of our major début. so there's no time to be confused. I feel like I'll use up everything I've got to deal with the work I've got ahead of me」

Before Momochi had fully joined in, the one who played the role of leader and led events was the oldest among the 5 of you, Yamaki-san。

Yamaki「Right. I passed the baton to Momochi-senpai、 and when she led our events, I learnt a truckload of things by watching her from the sides, like different ways of doing things！」

Inaba「Speaking about Momochi-senpai, when it comes to talking, there's a lot to respect about her! We'll be getting even more opportunities to work together、 and I look forward to what I'll learn beyond this！」

Tsugunaga「Wait up、 you're making this hard on me~.（laughs） You haven't really flattered me much before this、 so I've got no idea what to do. Such overwhelming words of praise actually make me think, 『Are they making veiled threats？』（laughs） I'm happy that you respect me in your hearts, but right now, I'm seriously thinking that you don't need to mention it here. （laughs）」

For the 3 of you in the younger group, your impression of Tsugunaga-san might only be “the Momochi that appears on television”.

Ozeki「Yes。 When I watched her on TV、 I thought “Momochi's so funny”. （laughs） Who knew that we would be holding activities together in the same group！」

Tsugunaga「Yup、 that's about right. Ozeki's the best！」

Shimamura「When I watched TV、 Momochi-senpai brightened up the atmosphere with her talking、 I always thought “That's Momochi for you！” （laughs）」

All「Laugh」

Tsugunaga「That's good、 because you're talking times before you joined the world of entertainment」

Inaba「I watched her on television before I became a Kenshuusei、 and her ability to talk was wonderful。 She was completely like an entertainer！」

Tsugunaga「You guys say quite a lot once you've been allowed to let loose, huh （laughs）」

Hello! Shop Event - Country Hiroba (20th & 21st September 2015)

With the long Silver Week holidays happening in Japan, the Akihabara Hello! Shop held a series of solo talk events by the 'Fresh Team' of Country Girls. The 'Country Hiroba' (Country Plaza) would be the first time for these girls to do a solo talk event by themselves. Adding to the challenge, unlike the 1001 Nights series of Hello! Shop talk events, the girls were left completely to their own devices, responsible for advancing the event, with no member of staff supporting them by chairing the event.

As is usual with these Hello! Shop events, these are based on fan reports, mainly on Twitter. No hashtag specific to these events, so it was mainly whatever could be culled from the #country_girls hashtag from around that time. Normal disclaimer that these are based on fan reports mainly on Twitter, and what with the translation process, and putting reports together into a cohesive whole, please bear in mind that there are bound to be mistakes and/or inaccuracies.

Here's the order in which the girls held the events:

1. Morito Chisaki (20th September)
2. Yamaki Risa (20th September)
3. Inaba Manaka (21st September)
4. Ozeki Mai (21st September)

Without further ado, let's start with the easy-to-blush Morito Chisaki!

Morito Chisaki

カントリー・ガールズフレッシュ組 初ソロイベント『カントリー広場』、間もなく【森戸会】スタート！ 緊張でニヤニヤが止まらない森戸さん… テンション上げて頑張りまーす！by森戸 #country_girls pic.twitter.com/T37EDw7wBU

— カントリー・ガールズ (@countrygirls_uf) 2015, 9月 20

For Country Girls' Fresh Team First Solo Event 'Country Hiroba', the 'Morito gathering' is starting soon!
Morito-san can't stop grinning because of nerves......

I'll get hyped up and do my best! by Morito

☼☼☼

Greeting everyone immediately upon appearing on-stage
Morito: 'Today, for ma, ma, ma, making your way here... '

The event had just started, and Chiitan was already flubbing her lines [1]

The event starts with Chiitan going through her profile.

Skills: Dancing, swimming, making face go red
Morito: 'I did swimming for quite a while. From about the age of 5 to my 6th year of primary school. I haven't swum for about 3 years though'
Morito: 'I didn't write [making my face turn red]! There's no reason for me to write that!' [2]

Favourite food: Karaage
Morito: 'I like the taste of chicken meat'

Disliked food: Sakura Mochi
Morito: 'I can't stand the smell, the smell of the leaf and the sakura. I like mochi though'

Favourite subject: Science
Morito: 'I liked it in primary school'

Weak subject: English
Morito: 'I'm bad at it for some reason. I can't really get good marks'

Personality: Competitve, Shy, Positive
Morito: 'Competitive, is that so?'
Morito: 'I am shy. I can't imagine starting a conversation with someone I don't know'
Morito: 'Positive, well, I actually am positive. I don't get in a slump'

Motto: Hark work will definitely be rewarded

緊張？天然？ とにかく噛み倒してる森戸さんです。 #country_girls pic.twitter.com/1sC9QQEzCX

— カントリー・ガールズ (@countrygirls_uf) 2015, 9月 20

Nerves? Naturally?

At any rate, Morito-san's been defeated by her fumbling of words

Momochi、 active as an idol for over 10 years 「There were times when it was tough」

[...]

――You were formed in November last year、 and you made your major début March this year。 Have there been any changes in the relationship between Momochi-senpai ＋ the 4 juniors？
Tsugunaga　Everyone's gotten better （laughs）。 They were hesitant to talk to me at first、 and they'd get red in the face、 but recently that doesn't happen at all。 The other day、 we were holding a live performance at Osaka、 and the １st performance ended early。 And then Risa-chan indirectly pestered me、 「How about going for a meal now、 can't you ask our manager？」。 She's pushing around the PM（Playing Manager） （laughs）。
Yamaki　I thought that if we didn't have the PM's permission、 we wouldn't be able to go for a meal～ （laughs）！

――How do the 4 of you juniors view Momochi-senpai？
Inaba　She's always been like that from the very start、 but it was moving to see her truly act as an idol every day。 It's amazing how her pinky's raised even in the dressing room （laughs）。
Yamaki　But、 when you see her taking a nap、 we get a sense of the activities that we've never seen up to now, which makes me happy。
Morito　On-stage、 I make sure to learn from her example as she's really good at MC-ing and singing。 I respect her ability to deal with things even when there are unexpected changes。 While all of us are frantically writing on paper、 Momochi-senpai can cope immediately。
Ozeki　What I respect about Momochi-senpai is that she can pro-actively talk even with me、 who's 10 years younger than her。 Even though a 13 year old like me would seem like a child in the eyes of a 23 year old…。 But when we chat、 the things that were popular when we were small were unexpectedly the same。
Tsugunaga　Wait a minute、 what do you mean 'unexpectedly'（laughs）！ 

――Tsugunaga-san, as an idol who's been active for over 10 years、 you've survived through the unsparing age known as the Idol Warring States Period、 but what do you think about the current idol scene?
Tsugunaga　It makes me happy that a lot of idols appeared and roused up the idol world。 When we do events in together with them、 there are girls that say 「Watching Momochi-san made us want to become idols」、 which made me remember the time I auditioned after watching Morning Musume。-san。 Continuing that connection、 I wish that Japan will always have an eye on idols。 There are few countries in the world with an idol culture、 so we're welcomed overseas even more passionately than how we're received in Japan。

――Having been active for so long、 there must have been adversities and ups and downs…。
Tsugunaga　However、 I don't think that there's an occupation as great as being an idol。 For singers and actresses、 it's hard to do really well if you lack absolute ability、 but idols have the ability to bring together people、 like we receive support by showing that we're doing our best。 I'm no good at doing repetitive things、 so I love being an idol who can challenge all sorts of things。 To the extent that I'd like to be an idol my whole life！　……If those around me will permit it（laughs）。

――For the 4 juniors、what advice would you give for them to survive as idols？
Tsugunaga　If anything, I want them to fully enjoy being idols。 While your close friends are hanging out、 we can't even hang out at a festival。 But on the other hand、 I think that we get to do things that normal students wouldn't be able to do。
Yamaki　　That was a bit of a shock。 I'm so moved that I could cry…。
Inaba　It's because she's been doing this for over 10 years that her words carry such weight。But for us now、 we may want to hang out、 but this work is enjoyable、 so there often are times when I can't wait to get on-stage。
Tsugunaga　That's amazing！　Thought I had a quite a lot of tough times though……（laughs）。

――Coexisting with other idols、 what do you think is Country Girls' forte？
Ozeki　Hello！ Project has recently had a lot of cool, stylish songs、 but Country Girls has a lot of songs with a cute concept。
Morito　And so、 it makes us happy that people think that we're all cute、 perhaps because of our cute songs。
Yamaki　Despite there being great-senpai groups、 our forte might be that we're close and in a good way, we don't have a hierarchy。
Inaba　We're a new type of group。 We've got Momochi-senpai、 and Satoda Mai-san as supervisor。
Tsugunaga　For the longest time、 thanks to Satoda-san continuing on as the group “Country Musume。” by herself、 we now sing songs from the Country Musume。 era、 so I'm thankful that we've got plenty of songs。 As our supervisor now、 she sends photos from New York、 so it weighs on our mind。 There are a lot of things that can't be conveyed through messages、 so if we could get cook up some sort of reason from now on、 I'd like to go and meet up in New York！ （laughs）

[...]

―― Is there anything that you'd like to try doing in the future？
Yamaki　　In order to become a group that can gain currency in the world, we changed our name to “Country Girls”、 so we'd like to have a live performance overseas someday！
Inaba　Firstly, I'd like to complete a nationwide concert tour on our own。 We're currently doing a live concert tour、 but Tsubaki Factory is also going around together with us。
Morito　I've got no overwhelming goals、but I'd like to be able to hold our own hall tour！
Ozeki　For my personal ambition、 I'd like to inherit Country Musume。's concept of “Part-time farming part-time entertaining”。 Doing agriculture in the countryside、 and returning to Tokyo for activities。
Tsugunaga　No matter what sort of activities we have to do as a group、 I'd like us to do each and every thing with all we've got。 Even when the 5 of us are riding a train nowadays、 there aren't any people murmuring things like  「It's Country Girls！」 around us、 so firstly… I know、 we'll do our best so that about ６0 percent of people would murmur！（laughs）

Source: Oricon