Tanaka Reina:Earnestness (Idol and Read 004)

Coming from the same issue of Idol and Read as Karin-chan's epic interview, we have a special interview with former Morning Musume。 Tanaka Reina. While Karin-chan's interview documented the struggles of a young girl making her way in the idol world, Reina is as candid as an (ex-)idol can get, despite having faced hardships herself. What can I say? It's Reina being Reina. Let's get on with the show!

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[On starting a band]

In my mind, people who started bands were people with all sorts of dark pasts. Like people in bands had some sort of shadows lingering behind them. The delusions swelled up in my mind, like 'With such dark pasts, they might have started their band in order to drive away the darkness, so might there be lots of crazy people?'! Besides, battle-of-the-bands are scary (laughs). But LoVendoЯ don't just do covers, we've got increasingly more original songs, and now we've got a major début song. Ever since we performed it at concerts, I'm finally like 'This is really fun!'

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[On no longer receiving Tsunku♂ compositions]

When I was in Morning Musume。, it was a given that we'd be singing songs by Tsunku♂-san, and since I'd spent over 10 years in that environment, it didn't hit me just how amazing that was. It was just 'This time around, it's this kind of song huh'. However, once we'd been separated, I kept thinking 'I'd like to sing Tsunku♂-san's songs again', and this time I got to come into contact with Tsunku♂-san's lyrics [through 'Futsuu no Watashi Ganbare!']. I was blessed back then.

Quitting and graduating

Reina put up a brief announcement on her blog:
http://ameblo.jp/tanakareina-blog/entry-11810873314.html　

I'm quitting ＬｏＶｅｎｄｏЯ。

With that mere sentence, she brings us this weighty news. 

Very much like Reina - no frills, no explanations, no room for misunderstanding - just a single sentence.

Also of note: A blog post by Takagi Sayuki, posted earlier on the same day

http://ameblo.jp/juicejuice-official/entry-11810504175.html

Today I、 Takagi Sayuki have something important to say。
I love Tanaka Reina-san、 and I thought I'd work hard in order to become a person like Tanaka-san。
However、as of today, I will be graduating from being a Tanaka-san oshi。
And Tanaka-san、 thank you very much for everything up to now。
There were a lot of times、 when I was able to do my best thanks to Tanaka-san。
From now on、 as I'm a senpai, I'll work hard in order to become a presence that will be admired。

Could this be related to Reina's cryptic announcement? Only time will tell.

*cough*probablyAprilFool's*cough*

EDIT: Also, see this post from Sato Masaki

http://ameblo.jp/morningmusume-10ki/entry-11810982314.html

Translation of relevant bits:

And please listen


Masaki
Actually


Tanasa-tann？ Tanaka-san


I despiーーーse her


Sato Masaki





（please read the portion which follows after once it's past midnight）

Asahi's karaoke song selection

{At the ending of each episode of UF Licks, they pick a question from the questionably-named Licks Box (I think for Christmas, they had a Licks Sock, which sounded even dodgier) and they answer the question in the box}

[~36:20]
Reina: Oh! ManoEri!
Asahi: Eh! Amazing!
Reina: A question from Mano Erina-san: When you go for karaoke, what's the song you definitely have to sing? Mine is Mi-san's  "Mirai no Chizu.".
Reina: Which one is Mirai no Chizu? "♪ Suki da yo~...." ?
Reina: And, I get no response. It was something like that.
Reina (pointing to Asahi): Do you go for karaoke? In the first place?
Asahi: Karaoke... I don't really go that often.
Reina: So you don't really do it. So when you do go, is there a song you like to sing?
Asahi: A song I like to sing... Hmm, ah, but when I went with my friends, I sang the national anthem.
Reina: (stunned silence, followed by a smirk)
Asahi (looking around): What's up? What's up?
Reina: Give me sec...
Reina: The national anthem? You put that in for karaoke?
Asahi: Yup, I put it in.
(looks at surroundings)
Asahi: What is it! What's up!?
Reina: Currently there are 1,2,3,4,5,6 staff-sans with huge grins on their faces.
Reina: That's rare.
Asahi: Really?
Reina: It's interesting.
Asahi: Really?
Asahi: Ah, but, I sing enka.
Reina: Wait a sec, give me an example.
Asahi: Of course, I sing Matsubara Takeshi-san.
Reina: Seriously?
Asahi: I sing his songs.
Reina: Try singing a song.
Asahi: No way.
Reina: Just a bit.
Reina: One, two... (claps)
Asahi: "♪ Kono machi ni umare"-
Reina + Asahi: Asahi! {Note: It's not too clear, but I think it's possible that Asahi might be saying 'Tasaki' rather than 'Asahi'}
Asahi: (laughs) Thank you very much. Apologies to Matsubara-san.
Reina: Seriously? That's amazing. So that's how it is. For Reina, what I make sure to sing, I'll definitely sing Morning Musume, and for a change I'll sing Golden Bomber. Recently there's also E-Girls' "♪ Gomenasai no~", or AAA's "♪ Suki da yo to tsutaereba". My genres are gradually getting broader.