Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk 16: Sudo Maasa x Kumai Yurina

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.

Sudo Maasa X Kumai Yurina

🐻🐻🐻

It's very well known that the two of you are close, to the point that you have a pairing name, 'Kumaazu'. Were things always like this from 10 years back?

Sudo: It started roughly from our second year in Berryz Kobo. Things got rolling when I found out that Kumai-chan liked Mickey, which led me to send her a message mentioning that I like Minnie.

Kumai: Since then, we'd have matching Mickey and Minnie items, right? Whenever we go around here and there, we'll make sure to buy matching things.

What did you think of one another before you became close?

Sudo: At the 'Hello! Project Kids Audition', Kumai-chan sang in really high spirits, so I thought that she was an energetic girl.

Kumai: At the auditions, I kept on singing the same song, even up to the 4th stage of auditions. There were lots of girls who switched songs throughout the auditions, but since I was going through with one song, I thought about how I could switch things up. And so, my tactic was to sing energetically along with the rhythm (laughs). So I definitely did emphasise on rhythm and smiling. At first, Maa-san had dyed hair, so I thought that she was such a grown-up.

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk 28: Kumai Yurina 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. In the process of reading this book, I'll be putting up some highlights as I read through the interviews.

Kumai Yurina X Suzuki Airi

When Kumai was tasked to play a lead role in a film, the person she turned to for advice was Suzuki, who was also playing a lead role. What are the common points between the two of them?

Kumai-chan, I heard that when you had any problems, you would frequently go and get some advice from Airi-chan.

Kumai: We were doing the movie 'Ousama Game' together, and I was very reliant on Airi. Since she was the closest to me.

Suzuki: I was by myself as well, and our positions were similar, so we had the same problems. Come to think of it, 'Ousama Game' was what led to us talking a lot, right?

Kumai: That's right. There wasn't anything I particularly needed advice on, but our normal conversations would lead to me asking for advice.

Suzuki: The both of us just talked about what was on our minds at the moment. But we were nervous, and there were lots of things that we were worried about, so we ended up talking about nothing besides that. We asked one another what we should do. Kumai-chan had lots of scenes in 'Ousama Game', so we didn't have much time together, but still, the person I was together with the most was Kumai-chan, so whenever there was something I felt uneasy about, just having a little chat would bring me relief. While it might not have been in the form of advice, on my end, there were a lot of things that I relied on Kumai-chan for.

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

┘┘┘

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.

┘┘┘

[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.

┘┘┘

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

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk 40: Yajima Maimi x Kumai Yurina

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 Kumai Yurina

ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ

When I think about Maimi-chan and Kumai-chan, the only word that comes to mind is 'airhead'...... (laughs). Do the both of you think that you're of similar types?

Yajima: I've thought that recently. Kumai-chan is a cool beauty, so it feels like she's kind of difficult to approach. Even when the only thing she's doing is standing up, she looks so cool, so it's like she's a prickly girl. But she's actually laid-back (laughs). We had lots of BeriKyuu activities last year, and from then on, I thought of her as a girl with this airy feel to her.

That's quite recent, isn't it? What made you think that?

Yajima: At the BeriKyuu tour ('Berryz Kobo & ℃-ute Collab Concert Tour 2011 Autumn ~BeriKyuu Island~'), Kumai-chan often taught me the choreography, and her way of teaching was really airy (laughs). 

ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ

Kumai: I heard that Maimi was a real big airhead, so I thought that she would have an extraordinarily high level of airheadedness. 

Yajima: And that's coming from Kumai-chan (laughs).

Kumai: Like she doesn't realise when she makes mistakes, and she'll still go on doing the wrong thing at full throttle. Like even if you were to point out to her that she might be a bit off the mark, she'd ask back, 'What is it that I'm doing wrong?' while continuing to do it at full power (laughs). But that's also a good thing about Maimi. She does everything at max power, and I've never seen her cut corners.

Yajima: Skilful people might good at glossing over their mistakes, but since I make mistakes while rushing with all my strength, I can't gloss over them (laughs).

Maimi-chan is the types that rushes through, while Kumai-chan is calm and moves at her own pace. While you're airheads, there are slight differences.

Kumai: I'm told that I'm somehow inattentive. Even at MCs, while I'm just listening normally, I'll be asked if I'm listening, or they'd ask me if I could pay a bit more attention.

Yajima: I feel like that's something I've got in similar to Kumai-chan, which relieves me a little.

Kumai: Ah, I kind of understand.

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk 33: Tsugunaga Momoko x Kumai Yurina

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.

Tsugunaga Momoko X Kumai Yurina

♥♥♥

Momochi, from your eyes, do you think that Kumai-chan has changed recently?

Tsugunaga: She's changed. Specifically, she got good at singing all of a sudden. How good she's become at singing has even become a topic of discussion among the members.

Kumai: No way- I'm getting really self-conscious. I was aware that singing wasn't my strong point, but I wonder how it ended up that way? Personally, I don't think that I've changed in any particular way.

Tsugunaga: That's great. If possible, we wouldn't really like to raise the topic, and if we were to say 'Kumaicho, you've changed in this way!', you'd be conscious of it, which might make you veer off the course and fall short of everyone's expectations. 

♥♥♥

By the way, Momochi, how did your way of referring to her as 'Kumaicho' come around?

Kumai: When we were still small, the name of the Imperial Household Agency, 'Kunaicho', happened to come up, and I was like 'Kunaicho? If you're looking for Kumaicho, I'm here', and all the members started calling me that.

Tsugunaga: So for a period of time, all of us were calling her 'Kumaicho'. Then at some point it reverted back to Kumai-chan, but I was the only one who missed the boat.

Kumai: The other day, by some chance, Momo called me Kumai-chan after so long, but it felt really out of place, like 'Who is she calling out to?' I won't turn to her if I'm not being called Kumaicho (laughs).

As for Momochi, you haven't changed in that sense (laughs).

Tsugunaga: That's right. It's also often said about my face and my voice as well. But last year, Kumaicho actually became the centre of a Berryz Kobo single ('Shining Power'. To be exact, it was released on the 10th of November, 2010), and she also became the lead role for a movie ('Ousama Game'), she was placed in a lot of high-pressure situations.

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk 45: Kumai Yurina x Hagiwara Mai

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 Hagiwara Mai

---

Hagiwara: Kumai-chan has this cute atmosphere to her, and when Kumai-chan comes out to speak at MCs, the atmosphere turns into a Kumai-chan mood. As we watched you from the wings of the stage, the members of ℃-ute were like 'OMG, how adorable!' Since we don't have a girl with a similar type of character in ℃-ute...

What impression did you have [of one another] when you first met?

Kumai: Mai was around 6 years old at the time of the H!P Kids. The impression I had was that she was tiny and cute. But I think she's now turned into a beauty.

Hagiwara: No, no, that's not the case (laughs). I can say this now, though it's a bit embarrassing...... In the midst of the many people at the 'H!P Kids audition', I saw Kumai-chan among them, and thought 'This girl is cute'.

Kumai: Eh, really?

Hagiwara: Even when we became the H!P Kids, I thought 'Ah, that cute girl's here as well'. Kumai-chan's face is in the genre that I favour.

Dance teacher SHE-sensei comments on the Berryz members - CDJournal Mar 2015

――We would like to ask sensei about the impressions you had while you were watching each and every member。

I guess we'll go by order of age.

Captain (Shimizu Saki) is serious.
Even from our first meeting, she'd ask for review sessions after we finished with rehearsals,
And despite being small, we had discussions about the things she was unclear on,
While we had conflicts at times, she's always been serious since back then.

I think that she's a good girl, be it at work or in her private life,
But roughly when she was a senior high student......
She became unexpectedly funny (laughs).
Doing funny faces and using a weird way of speaking, she liked funny things.
She discovered that aspect at the end of her teenage years though.
Since then, I've often messed around with Captain (laughs).
It's just that, her comicality doesn't really show on-stage, does it?
I think that it's not that she doesn't want to bring it out,
But it doesn't appear because she's in charge of all sorts of things.

Momo (Tsugunaga Momoko) is as she is.
That's probably everyone's impression of her.
She's got a high level of professionalism.
While I thought she was just a 'burikko' when she was small,
I think that she probably understands what the guests want the most,
And she studied up in order to understand them.

Recently, the girls have been proposing parts of their setlists at concerts and events,
But it's mostly led by Momo.
Like, how they'd like the stage direction to go.
She's not just making a fuss and having fun, she properly thinks it through.
But while it doesn't mean that the way she presents herself is just 'for business',
It normally does seem that way (laughs).

Also, I like Momo's butt. It's like pudding.
Let me talk about an amusing memory I have concerning her butt:
There was a time when her body was still expanding and growing a little.
As she was sitting down in a lady-like manner,
The back of her sweats ripped with a great sound. (laughs)
Her face went completely red. We had a great big laugh at that.

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Kumai Yurina 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 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 Sugaya Risako

ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ

Compared to the past, have you become more able to control your feelings?

Sugaya: When we were small, I didn't understand anything at all, so I thought that everything I was told was correct. So maybe I was more stable in the past. But as age caught up to me, perhaps in the way of a grown-up (laughs), I learned what was good and what was bad, and would straight-up point out when something was wrong. I don't really put much thought into how people will see me. On those occasions, I don't know what I shouldn't say, and if I pay too much heed to myself, nothing would get across, so I end up butting heads. And so, from the eyes of those around me, perhaps it might seem like I have less control over my feelings now (laughs).

Kumai: I envy that Risako. Risako is really brimming with confidence, wherever we go, you're always dignified, you have an axis that doesn't waver. The basis for that axis is that you're clear about what you enjoy and what you don't. Perhaps due to that, you might appear to have turbulent emotions, but I really envy Risako, who can say things like that. Whatever happens, I'd be saying nothing but 'What should I do?' or 'OMG OMG'.

So, what if the outfits that had been prepared for you were in a colour that you don't look good in? What would you do?

Sugaya: I'd probably hate it.

Kumai: I'm the type of person who'd wear it, thinking that it can't be helped.

Sugaya: In the past, Kumai-chan didn't seem like she was full of confidence. But at times I'd catch a glimpse of your dancing or acting and think that you were brimming with confidence. That's been happening in these past one or two years. Compared to the past, I'd say that you were dignified, or perhaps, there were countless times when I thought you were really good. Something else that changed is that what you're thinking about shows in your face.

Kumai: Eh, really?

Sugaya: Yup. All the members have said so.

Kumai: I see. It surfaces without me noticing, perhaps. Those are waves of emotion as well, aren't they? I should fix that.

Sugaya: But for those around you, it's better to let it out just a bit. Because if you don't, it gets difficult to make an approach. Kumai-chan, ever since you really started letting your feelings show more, compared to the past, we can tell whether it seems like a good time to talk to you, or whether it's a good time to get close to you because you seem to be enjoying yourself. I prefer that. It's easier to get along with someone who's open.

Once you'd let out your emotions, it seems like you had confidence in singing and acting. What was the trigger?

Kumai: Last year we got to star in a movie (Ousama Game). The shooting was about a year ago, but at first I had no confidence with acting. But I thought about it as a chance that had been given to me, and I should seize it, which led to quite a big change. It was a high hurdle for me, but I guess I changed a bit. I started to enjoy acting, and there was the sense of accomplishment after working hard, so I guess I took a step forward.

Sugaya: That's right. Speaking of the film, I've appeared together in films with Kumai-chan in the past!

Kumai: In 'Hotaru no Hoshi' with Risako and myself and Okai-chan, the 3 of us appeared in the next movies, 'Koinu Dan no Monogatari' and 'Mini moni。jya Movie Okashi na Daibouken!' We fought a lot back then (laughs).

Sugaya: Over really silly things.

Kumai: We were in primary school, but they were low-level fights, as if we were preschoolers. But while Risako is close to me in age, you've always been a girl who's had a mature way of thinking, so there are times when that's helped me out. You can answer clearly, so you can state your opinion, saying things like 'Wouldn't this be better?' Because I've always been the type of person who hesitates easily.

ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ

The two of you are close in age, but after 10 years, how do you hope the other person will be like?

Sugaya: The 2 of us will be 29. I'd like to see Kumai-chan get married. Because I think that you're unexpectedly prudent, you'd look at things realistically rather than just looking at the ideals, and while the requirements may be strict (laughs), once that's been cleared, I'd like to see you get married and have children.

Kumai: I'd like to see Risako as a mother as well. I'd like you to go down your own path even as a married woman. 

Sugaya: Just as Kumai-chan says, I'd always like to be myself. I hate the thinking that I should be prim and proper just because I've turned 30, and even when I've become a mother, I'd like to be fashionable as I always am. I'd like to appear how I want to no matter how old I am.

Kumai: I think that suits Risako. If you weren't an idol, I feel that you'd work at Harajuku. Doing hair or make-up, you'd change to match the day's fashion, and I think you'd completely suit the cosplay-ish Harajuku  as well..

Sugaya: Kumai-chan, you'll definitely be modelling. You've got a great figure, and you look so stylish even if the only thing you're doing is standing up, so I think it's completely the line of work for you. I think you'll gain currency in the world!

Kumai: No way, that's impossible (laughs).

Sugaya: So, Kumai-chan, in 10 years time, how would you like to be?

Kumai: Instead, I'd like to aim to become an unornamented woman. Because with my personality, it's impossible for me to be like Risako (laughs), I don't really dress up, and I'd like to become a person who can draw attention even without being stylish.

ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ

More interview excerpts from this book

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Tokunaga Chinami x Kumai Yurina

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.

Tokunaga Chinami X Kumai Yurina

I don't feel it's the case right now, but were you said to be similar in the past?

Kumai: People did say that. Then we were put into the 'Toku-san Kumai-san' pairing,  where the two of us sang and read out poems.

Tokunaga: At the start, we were always together at tours. At the concerts we did with W-san ('2004 Summer First Concert Tour "W Standby! W & Berryz Kobo!"', '2005 Summer W & Berryz Kobo Concert Tour "High Score!"'), we sang 'Aa Ii na' and 'Robokiss'.

Kumai: We were called something like 'Dekkai W' (Huge W) (laughs).

Tokunaga: However, we didn't really know that we resembled one another. But one day, when I went to McDonalds, I didn't notice that I was being reflected on a mirror, and I said, 'Ah, Kumai-chan, good morning~', and was like 'Eh?' (laughs).

Kumai: It's been a while since I heard that story (laughs).

It's quite the humorous incident (laughs).

Tokunaga: That was the first time that I thought we resembled one another.  My mother who was behind me had a good laugh watching it. 'Why are you waving at the mirror?' (laughs).

ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ

Tokunaga: Indeed, it's amusing to say that we're similar, but it also meant that we lacked individuality. After we had done it to death, the 2 of us gradually stopped being paired once I cut my hair short.

Now, the 2 of you are different types.

Kumai: That's right, we're different in height as well (laughs).

The important feelings of leaving behind her beloved H!P that she'd like to convey to her beloved Kumai-san - Top Yell November 2015

Amongst the readers. there may be people who have no idea why Kumai-san is here. Please give an explanation, even a brief one would be fine, of the extent that Kumai-san has an essential place within Fukuda-san's life as an idol.

Fukuda: That's right...... The first thing that made me like Berryz Kobo-san is their ages, that played a big part. Up to then, idols had been like older oneesans, but [Berryz Kobo-san] were in my generation, people who I might have been friends with had we gone to the same school, they were shining. Seeing that, it gave me a push, like 'I should do my best too'...... They gave me courage. Among them was Kumai-san...... Before I knew it, my eyes just kept following Kumai-san. It's always been that way, ever since the times of 'Anata Nashi de ha Ikite Yukenai'. I'm fickle when it comes to idols, immediately oshihen-ing. However, why is it that Kumai-san's the only the only one I've continued to oshi? I thought about it a week ago, while I was on the Shinkansen. What I noticed is that, idols change and develop, in looks, expression, and singing, right? But for Kumai-san, despite going through those sorts of external changes, within her, since the days of her début, her core of being Kumai Yurina-san has never wavered. I think that it's because of that that my support for her has never changed. If it were an anime, it would be fine to remain unchanged, but part of the attraction of idols is that they change. But, as a fan, there's that delicate line of not wanting them to change as well. On that point, Kumai-san always treads exactly on it, keeping to that line.

Although I said that you could be brief (bitter laugh). However, Fukuda-san, you're very knowledgeable about idols in general. What was it that made Kumai-san special?

Fukuda: Even though she's such a wonderful person, she doesn't put on airs! Even though she has a cool look on her face in photos, when you talk with her, she's airy and adorable. Being the pioneer for that gap got me excited!

Kumai: It's kind of embarrassing. It's like Kanon knows me from head to toe. Even when I think about myself, I'm unable to put it that well in words, so instead, this is a good reference for me (laughs).

It's been 11 years in the past since Fukuda-san entered in the 1st generation of the H!P Eggs. Kumai-san, surely you didn't have an impression of Fukuda-san at the time?

Kumai: Ah, but I remember that in the middle of the Yokohama Arena rehearsals, Kanon talked with Maasa, who's good in the field of stage-acting.

Fukuda: I joined in primary 4th, and the system was that those in primary 3rd and below couldn't appear at concerts, so I was the smallest. There, everyone talked to me. As Eggs, there's virtually no opportunities to interact, so it made me really happy when a senpai would talk to me. Like, 'The people I've watched on TV are talking to me!'

You weren't scared of Berryz Kobo at the time?

Fukuda: I wasn't scared at the time (laughs).

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

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.

Shimizu Saki X Kumai Yurina

Saki-chan, from your point of view, in these many years, do you think Kumai-chan has changed?

Shimizu: She has!

Kumai: Eh, is that so?

Shimizu: When three of us, Kumai-chan, Maa, and myself, performed in the 'Real Etude Minna no Ie' stage-plays, I had a talk with Kumai-chan, who found performing in the play 'really distressful'. I think that everyone had their own worries, but I think that Kumai-chan had never said something like that by herself. But, becoming able to talk about something like that, I think it was a change. Kumai-chan, recently, you're like, 'I'm Kumai Yurina! I'm here!' You're able to be insistent, in a good way. It felt really good to see that.

Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Natsuyaki Miyabi x Kumai Yurina

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.

Natsuyaki Miyabi X Kumai Yurina

 ↓↓↓

What was the first impression you had of one another when you first met?

Kumai: Miya was blonde, so it was like 'Ah, she's a city kid'.

Natsuyaki: For Kumai-chan, I thought that her eyebrows were neatly arranged (laughs). 

Kumai: Ahahahaha. Is that so?

Natsuyaki: Really, that was the strongest impression. 

Kumai: The greatest, huh~. I think so too. Looking at photos of myself from way back,  I'm like 'What was up with those eyebrows!?' (laughs)

Natsuyaki: I don't intend this as a follow-up, but I thought that you were a pretty girl~.

--- Have your impressions of one another changed?

Kumai: There's been quite a change over these many years. When the younger team got to do a radio show together (STAR digio 'Tsuukai Berryz Oukoku'), Miya became the oneesan. If I had to say, before, she had this image of being all noisy, and enjoying the fun things, but she also had this aspect to her, where she properly thought about things, so it was like she was an oneesan!

Natsuyaki: That's probably because it was work (laughs). It was the first time for us younger ones to do a radio show, and there, I was the eldest, so I thought I had to be level-headed, and take control. As I had to let the 2 of you talk as well, at the very beginning, I acted like an oneesan.

--- So you didn't become an oneesan, you just acted as one (laughs).

Natsuyaki: Honestly, I don't really want to be like the oneesan or the senpai. But I thought that I had to take the lead.

Kumai: You led in quite a big way.

Natsuyaki: My impression of Kumai-chan hasn't changed. Airheaded, head in the clouds. But I think that you've calmed down recently. Like I could say that Kumai-chan's the calmest in Berryz Kobo. You used to be noisy in the past, the same type as how Chii (Tokunaga Chinami) is now (laughs), but I feel like you've turned out to be really oneesan-ish.

Kumai: Ah, but I might have calmed down. On the topic of calming down, it might be because I grew older (laughs). I envy the always spirited primary school kids. I think that the types of people like Chinami who are born that way are a different case (laughs), but I think it's amazing to spend a whole day with that much energy.

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