Idol Frontline 2015: Messages to Berryz Kobo (Minewaki Ikuo, Tower Records CEO)

Minewaki Ikuo, CEO of Tower Records, is also well known for being a Kumai-chan wota. Something he's particularly notorious for is his collection of Kumaicho photos. It's not just that he collects photos of Kumai-chan, but his collection also includes photos that don't directly have Kumai-chan in focus. For an example of what I'm talking about, take a look at the picture of lovely little Momochi below. Now note the helpful little arrow pointing out Kumai-chan in the background. Yes, his collection also spans to include pictures like these.

Another corporate head who's also notable for his support towards a H!P Kids act would be the president of Pizza-La, who supported Buono! by sponsoring their radio show, providing them appearances on commercials, and even a short concert tour.

Anyway, here's Minewaki-san, talking about Berryz:

Idol Frontline 2015: Messages to Berryz Kobo (Takagi Sayuki)

Following on from the interviews with Berryz, we have a small selection of active Hello! members giving their thoughts about Berryz. Last time we had Okai-chan, Maro, and Fuku-chan. We wrap up this part of the mook with an interview with Juice=Juice's monkey. I don't normally associate her with being a BeriWota, but Sayubee's always struck me as being a thoughtful young woman, so please enjoy what she has to say.

Juice=Juice Takagi Sayuki

• How did you feel when you found out that Berryz would be entering an indefinite hiatus?
'When I heard about their "Indefinite hiatus", I couldn't believe it, and it took some time even though I understood the words. Even though there are lots and lots more things I'd like to learn from them...... Thinking that, since then, I started to treasure the time rehearsing with Berryz Kobo-san, the time we stand on-stage together. Even though I still can't imagine a Hello! Project without Berryz Kobo-san, I'd like to burn the memories in my mind so that I don't regret it later'

• Where do you think the charms of the group Berryz Kobo lie?
'I'm sure there must have been lots of trying times, and times when they wanted to quit. There was also a change in the number of members, but the 7 members of the current Berryz Kobo-san, the 7 of them continued on this one path. I think that it's amazing to have 7 companions with whom you can talk about stories from 13 years ago. Those bonds make an appearance in their MCs and performances, they truly are a wonderful group.'

• Who is your oshimen in Berryz Kobo?
'Sugaya Risako-san. Ever since Juice=Juice and Berryz Kobo-san did a Naruchika tour, she's given me advice, we've messed around, we've become friends. Even though she's such an amazing person, unpretentiously, she was friendly to me, she's really a kind person. Her power of expression, singing, looks...... the things I've learned from Sugaya-san are endless. I love her'

• What Berryz Kobo song do you particularly like?
'"VERY BEAUTY". Firstly, I love the lyrics. Berryz Kobo-san have this image of having lots of unique songs, but singing this really simple, cute song suddenly changes that image, it really makes my heart skip a beat. I prefer listening to Berryz Kobo-san singing it over myself singing it. I wish we could have sung it together'

• Please tell us about a concert or event where Berryz Kobo left an impression on you
'Naruchika 2013 Autumn Berryz Kobo x Juice=Juice'. Going through that tour, I was able to come upon even more of Berryz Kobo's allure. We got to talk with them, watch them on-stage, stand on-stage with them, there really were lots of things that we felt and we learnt, and I'm sure that there were things that we were able to learn by following Berryz Kobo-san's example. Even while we were rehearsing, Berryz Kobo-san were always with us and we could feel how high-level they were, and when we got to do MCs together during the real performance, it was really cool how Berryz Kobo-san could converse while reading the mood, and I think that since the 7 of them have always been together, they're able to read the mood and know "Who'll speak here" in that way. They're so cool, I'd like Juice=Juice to catch up soon'

• To you, what sort of existence is Berryz Kobo?
'A presence that's close yet distant'. I think they're unreachable. I think that even after 10 years, our current selves won't reach Berryz Kobo-san's performance and power. Depending on the song, the change in the form of their power immediately hits you. They're unreachable, but I now treasure that I could learn by watching them up-close, and I'd like to make even a small part of that my own'

• Is there anything that you learnt from Berryz Kobo or that left an influence on you?
'Even though the way they dance and sing and their heights were all over the place, it's really amazing how the immediately come together where it counts, that burst of power is really something, it always moves me. I'd like it if Juice=Juice could do that too, and be able to bring out our power as a group with a bang!!! Simply said, there isn't anything I can do that is mine, but I learned from them'

• Please tell us about a memory or episode with Berryz Kobo
'This is obviously from "Naruchika", but it made me happier than anything when we kept in contact after Naruchika ended, and got to talk...... I had lots of serious discussions with Shimizu Saki-san, and as well as performance-related matters, I was also taught about a lot of important things as a person, such as how to give greetings'

• Please give a message for Berryz Kobo
'Up to then, I'd always thought on the lines of "Just like the air we breathe, Berryz Kobo will always be around". The sudden announcement gave me a shock, and it hasn't hit me yet. Honestly, I want to watch more and more of Berryz Kobo-san's performances, I'd like to rely on Berryz Kobo-san's presence. But, for that to no longer be the case...... And so, burning the performances of the 7 members of Berryz Kobo-san into our minds, we'll take up the wonderful history of Hello! Project that Berryz Kobo-san have taught us, and picking up the responsibility, we'll do our best'

Idol Frontline 2015: Messages to Berryz Kobo (Fukumura Mizuki)

Following on from the interviews with Berryz, we have a small selection of active Hello! members giving their thoughts about Berryz. Last time we had Okai-chan and Maro, and this time we'll hear from known BeriWota and Otomomochi, Morning Musume。´15 leader Fuku-chan!

Morning Musume。´15 Fukumura Mizuki

• How did you feel when you found out that Berryz would be entering an indefinite hiatus?
'They announced it in the summer of 2014, and Berryz Kobo-san's announcement occurred as we were closing in on the graduation Michishige-san whom I love, I ended up thinking "The H!P that Mizuki loves is changing..." I love Berryz Kobo, who chose to call it a hiatus with their fans in mind. Until the 3rd of March, as a fan and as one of their kouhai, I'll give Berryz Kobo-san lots of support'

• Where do you think the charms of the group Berryz Kobo lie?
'I think it's their "voices". Listening to the voices on a Morning Musume。 recording or CD, I have to search for which voice is mine. But for Berryz Kobo-san, you'll know who's who with just one listen. I think that each and every one of them have strong, unique personalities. When they're all together, their singing is powerful yet stable, it's cool!!!'

• Who is your oshimen in Berryz Kobo?
'Tsugunaga Momoko-san! I've always liked Tsugunaga-san from since I was small. I think that her 'Look at me!'-ness hits you with everything she's got! "Gag 100kai bun Aishite Kudasai" is painted in the colour of Momochi, I remember watching it hundreds of times! What I remember the most happened during a handshake event at the serial events for "Koi no Jubaku", Tsugunaga-san patted me on the head! I was really happy and she was super cute. But when I'm watching Berryz Kobo-san, I don't just look at Tsugunaga-san, I look at each and every one of them when it's all of them. The one I love is Tsugunaga-san, but I feel that I like the form of the 7 of them'

• What Berryz Kobo song do you particularly like?
'"Ohiru no Kyukei Jikan." At a concert, they played something like a PV, where the 7 of them did things like have a meal on the rooftop and cleaning up the classroom, I think it would be fun if there was a school like that. That's what the song makes me think about. I love the delightfulness of Berryz Kobo-san, how boisterous they feel.

• Please tell us about a concert or event where Berryz Kobo left an impression on you
'I went to an event at the place that had become the abandoned school for "Jiriri Kiteru", and I begged my mother to buy me uchiwas of Tsugunaga-san and Sugaya-san. I also wanted the Tsugunaga-san spectacles case, but I wasn't wearing spectacles at the time, so there was no natural reason for my mother to buy it for me, so with a meaningless reason, "In the future, I'll definitely wear spectacles!", I asked for it and she bought for me! I still treasure it, even now. I've made an idealised school speech for each of the members of Berryz Kobo-san! Playing the game of deciding who among the 7 of them would find it good and applaud, Sudo-san and Tsugunaga-san gave huge applause!'

• To you, what sort of existence is Berryz Kobo?
'Ever since I was small, the idols in my generation were Berryz Kobo-san and C-ute-san, so I mimicked their hair when I went to school, and since I loved drawing manga, and I'd have the female protagonist have names like "Tokunaga Miyabi-chan" (laughs). Even when I went to bed at night, I'd go to sleep while constantly listening to these mini-discs that my mother had made.Now they've become a group that I can learn from closely, that I can have conversations with, it's such a wonder.'

• Is there anything that you learnt from Berryz Kobo or that left an influence on you?
'Naturally being weird! Without minding about what others think, it's great how all of them want to challenge the things that fit them. Connected to those feelings of "Wanting to produce themselves", they're able to think of setlists that all the fans would enjoy. Sudo-san cut the hair she had always kept grown out, formed bangs, all sorts of changes occurred, it excites the fans! I'd like to try out all sort of challenges too!'

• Please tell us about a memory or episode with Berryz Kobo
'When I went to Berryz Kobo-san's dressing room with a birthday present for Kumai-san, after getting excited with a "Ya-y, Kumaicho, how nice", Tsugunaga-san went "Fuku-chan, thank you for liking Berryz,' it surprised me so much that I cried. I left the dressing room saying "I love you!"'

• Please give a message for Berryz Kobo
'To Berryz Kobo-san, who have always been looking forward since your début. I can't believe that you'll be entering your indefinite hiatus in a bit. Even though you've said that it's your last single, I still think that there'll be a next one. Even though it's not hitting me at all, what I think is that it was a joy to support, to watch Berryz Kobo-san for 11 years. I think that the fans feel the same way. We really look forward to what sort of setlist berryz Kobo-san will do, what sort of outfits you'll wear! Will you end it with "Bye Bye Mata ne"? Or will you pump the place up and smile until the end?? All we can do is look forward to it. Even hereafter, I'll always love you.'

Idol Frontline 2015: Messages to Berryz Kobo (Okai Chisato & Fukuda Kanon)

Following on from the interviews with Berryz, we have a small selection of active Hello! members giving their thoughts about Berryz. Let's start with their contemporary Okai-chan and known BeriWota Maro.

℃-ute Okai Chisato

• How did you feel when you found out that Berryz would be entering an indefinite hiatus?
'I was shocked, I couldn't believe it, but as their contemporaries, we thought that we should be the ones to give Berryz the most support!'

Idol Frontline 2015: Interviews with Berryz

And here's what I've been reading recently:

Just as the cover suggests, Berryz Kobo are the main feature in this year's edition of the mook.
It starts out with individual interviews of the Berryz members, where they look back on a 2-year time period in the past, starting from when they became the H!P Kids.

2002-2003: Sugaya Risako
2004-2005: Kumai Yurina
2006-2007: Natsuyaki Miyabi
2008-2009: Sudo Maasa
2010-2011: Tokunaga Chinami
2012-2013: Tsugunaga Momoko
2014-2015: Shimizu Saki

Some excerpts I'd like to share:

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Interview with Miyabi about 2006 and 2007

--- Buono! started your activities in [2007], right?

Natsuyaki: The 3 of us were suddenly called up and told 'You'll be forming a unit'. Our individual personalities were different, so I wondered what sort of group it would turn out to be. And after that, I heard that 'Buono! is going to do rock', and I got worried, wondering if those two would be all right (laughs). I've never been one to act all cutesy, so I'd be all right, but the 2 of them are cutesy, mild-mannered, and in my mind I was like 'Rock?' It was really strange, but when we did the theme song for the anime 'Shugo Chara', the 3 of us made a good combination. As our personalities didn't overlap, it made for a nice balance instead.

--- So far you had only been part of a 7 person group, so wasn't it disheartening to perform as a 3 person group?

Natsuyaki: It felt a bit lonely at rehearsals when it was the 3 of us, but when we stood on-stage, it shook my nerves that there would be a higher chance of being noticed compared to when I was in Berryz.

--- Did anything change once you started with Buono! activities?

Natsuyaki: People around me said things like my way of singing changed, or that my performances had gotten better than before. Berryz sings with the characteristic tendencies of Tsunku♂-san, or put in an easier-to-understand way, the inflection at the end of words are raised. For Buono!, we were warned about raising the inflection at the end of words, so we didn't sing in an idol-like way, we sang like we were in a band, and I think I learnt a new way of singing. Berryz activities are currently top priority, but someday we'd like to resume activities as Buono!

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Interview with Momoko about 2012 and 2013

--- Since Tsugunaga-san had experience with practical teacher training, did you make use of what you learnt at university with your solo song?

Tsugunaga: I thought that I would write about my experience with 'Momochi! Yurushite-nyan♥Taisou' in my graduation thesis, but I didn't have the courage (laughs). It's just that, now that I've learnt about child psychology, I think that Tsunku♂-san is able to grasp the mind of a child.

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