Tuesday, 3 March 2015

The Berryz Note

In Berryz Kobo's 7th anniversary photo book, there's a 'news article' on the 'Berryz Note'. To those who aren't familiar with the Berryz Note, it's a notebook that was passed among the members when Berryz Kobo first started out. They also had 'Berryz meetings', where they'd sit down and discuss about the group. Both of these are often mentioned by the members when talking about the early days of the group, and they tend to be credited for keeping the group of primary schoolers in line when they were first starting out. These days, it's in the care of Captain. This is one of the rare looks at it.

Information leak crisis
The item that supported the unity of the members
We have successfully obtained the
'Berryz Note' 


As we started with the interviews in this book, when the members talked about the initial formation of Berryz Kobo, the words that almost surely come up are 'Berryz meetings' and 'Berryz note'. Unseen by the general populace up to now, not even seen by the staff, we have successfully obtained that legendary 'Berryz note' from Captain Shimizu Saki-chan

Here are some parts of what's written in the pictured extracts of the notebook. They're actually pretty hard to read, being handwritten and in 'kiddy' language, but the internet provided (here, see 674 & 677)
19 When being cautioned、 concentrate。→ Do not raise your hands。
20 Even at rehearsals, don't cut corners. Do things seriously。
21 When talking about trivial things, do not ask 「Say that 1 more time」。
22 Act promptly。
23 Don't advise people on things you can't do。
24 When working, do not get angry even if there is something that you dislike。
25 Do not lean on others when sleeping。
26 Be firm in responding。→ Answer quickly。
27 Do not step on things like cords。
28 Do not apply make-up yourself。
29 Do not varnish with nail polish。
30 Do not put luggage on top of the sofa。
31 Gather all the luggage together。
32 Knock on doors→ If so, give a reply。
33 If you say 「I give up」, give up。
34 Do not use other people's things as you please。
35 Do not tell people who are sleeping 「Don't sleep」。
36 Do not place your feet at places like the top of desks。
55 Before concerts, be cheerful。
56 Look at the clock and take action。
57 Do not get mad even when giving advice。
58 When in the middle of changing outfits and there are people outside, stop changing outfits and quickly get inside
59 Bring writing implements。
60  As much as possible, everyone should be involved in tidying up rooms。
61 Do not do the homework of others。
62 Do dance and singing practices (reviews) seriously。(MCs too)
63 Do not think 「That's obvious」。→Do not forget how you felt when you started。
64 Do not play around with the microphones。→Even when checking the sound×。
65 If you do something bad, say 『I'm sorry』。
66 When doing a concert recording, bring along the MD・CD。
67 Go (enter) toilets by yourself
68 At interviews, try as much as possible to not say the same thing。
69 Do not turn back when on the Shinkansen。
70 Do not badmouth people。
71 When riding buses (taxis), fill them up from the front。

'What is this......' I said to what Saki-chan was holding out in front of me, fragments of a notebook that had turned hollow, its contents thinning out. Eh, this is......

'That's right. Actually, there's things like unrelated scribbles, notes taken at the time, lots of irrelevant things were written on it, those parts were torn out and disposed of''

Speaking about interesting content, it indeed would cover the 137 articles (For some reason, the 137th article is blank...... And so there are 136 substantial articles), a volume that beats even the Constitution of Japan. From entries like  'Whatever it is, do it without losing steam' 'Do things without being told the same thing over and over' 'Act promptly' (as per original), 'If you do something bad, say 『I'm sorry』。', things that grown-ups couldn't help but agree with, 'Keep quiet in buses', 'Do not tell people who are sleeping 「Don't sleep」。', 'Do not do the homework of others', 'Do not immediately sing when you receive the lyrics sheet for a concert', these regulations bring to mind how they were. If they were opposed, that would mean Berryz Kobo would be in a bad state (laughs). Sadly we are unable to show you all the pages, but with the pages you can see, I think you'll be able to experience how they were like when they freshly made their début!

The New Tsugunaga Constitution: Articles 251 - 260 (Final)


新嗣永憲法251条
  『本の帯は潔く処分する』
 まあしおりしてもいいですどね
New Tsugunaga Constitution Article 251
Dispose of a book's obi with good grace
ル ’ー’リ Well, you can use it as a bookmark too


新嗣永憲法252条
  『スマートフォンの操作は小指で行う。』
 うーん実にやりづらい。
New Tsugunaga Constitution Article 252
Use your pinky to operate your smartphone
ル ’ー’リ Yup, it's actually hard to do

Twitter Tidbits: Juice=Juice confess to Berryz Kobo

Confessions for Berryz Kobo, the final day.

Rich in personality ♥ with strong unity, I always felt that you were a wonderful group♥
I really love the Berryz Kobo-san who get serious when they're messing around ☀️ (Miyazaki)

Monday, 2 March 2015

2015 HinaFes Blog Relay - #24 Yamaki Risa

The blog relay moves from Murota Mizuki to Yamaki Risa.
Risa-chan initially made a blog post where it sounded like she'd deal with the blog relay in her update the next day, but she made a post 10 minutes later to continue the chain.

(Original blog post in Japanese)

When I reread my blog post just now、 it surprised me that it wasn’t that long lol


What’s up with that…





And、




It seems that I’ll be doing the blog relay today!!

And so, I’ll write about it。



It came from ANGERME’s Murota-san!

Murota-sanー、 Is really funny。 lol


We’ve been good friends since we were Kenshuusei、 we’d have meals together on our way home from lessons。



We became good friends through the stage-play 「Bokutachi Karen na Shoujo Gasshoudan」。


I’d just joined、 and when I was uneasy about how to talk nicely with the seniors、 we were in the same team and got along very well。


Thanks to that stage-play、 I got to befriend the seniors、 how nostalgic






And since that I’ve received consultation from her、 we’ve become really good friends!
It seems that she tells intense jokes。 lol


It’s fun being together with Murota-san (^o^) It was fun to be in the Hello! Con cheering seats!


Now we speak to one another casually。

I wish we could go for a meal again soon。





And、 the introduction’s pretty long、


Sunday, 1 March 2015

Twitter Tidbits: Juice=Juice confess to Shimizu Saki

Confessions for Berryz Kobo, day 7.

I had the good fortune of singing together with you in GREEN FIELDS
It made me happy that you always talked to me with a smile on your face!
I love you ♥ (Miyazaki)

2015 HinaFes Blog Relay - #23 Murota Mizuki

From the Sayashi Riho, she who holds the right to touch Fuku-chan's upper arms, the blog relay continues along to Murotan.

(Original blog post in Japanese)



The baton has been passed to me from Sayashi Riho-san!!!
Hyahhoーi ///

Sayashi-san is a senpai I look up to (^ー^)

Sayashi-san's reallllly good at dancing!
I've been using Sayashi-san's dancing as an example from since I was a Kenshuusei ❤️

She's really cute、 it makes me wonder why her smile is so adorable~
I'd like to become like Sayashi-san!❤

Comments from members of Kobushi Factory on their group name

・Fujii Rio (15 / Senior 1 / From Aichi prefecture)
Just like the kobushi magnolia in the language of flowers、 and our inheritance from Berryz Kobo-san、
I'd like to deepen my friendship with these companions I can trust、 and bring out our individualities!
Our unit name has an impact、 and armed with that、 I'll do my best so that lots of people will come to know of the name 『Kobushi Factory』!

・Hirose Ayaka (15 / Middle 3 / From Kanagawa Prefecture)
People hold their hands in a kobushi (fist) during happy times and in trying times、 and when clasping hands、they're connected through kobushi。
Just like that kobushi which is packed with such a special meaning、 with power、 I'd like to share all sorts of feelings、 and like the pure white of the kobushi flower、 I'd like us to be a group that always moves forward with freshness。
Moreover, with the 「Factory」 which comes from the English for Berryz Kobo-san's 「Koubou」、
we inherit Berryz Kobo-san's feelings、 and what's more, I'd like to set our sights on becoming a welcoming unit that's loved by everyone、 just like Berryz Kobo-san

・Nomura Minami (15 / Middle 3 / From Tokyo)
With a lot of things implicit in the word 「Kobushi」、 and with koubou's meaning of 「Factory」、
There are a lot of meanings packed in it。
I was surprised that the mere word 「Kobushi」 had so many meanings packed into it。
Shimizu-san was involved with the proposal of the idea、  and hearing that she would remain to give us guidance made me think 「Hoorayー!」。

・Ogawa Rena(14 / Middle 3 / From Tochigi Prefecture)
Our unit name has deep meanings、 it really had been thought out。
The kobushi has deep meanings like in the language of flowers like 「friendship」 「welcome」、 so I'd like us to create a group with strong and deep bonds。
We also received the word 「Factory」、 so I'd like to inherit the feelings of Berryz Kobo-san。

・Hamaura Ayano (14 / Middle 2 / From Saitama Prefecture)
Since 『Kobushi Factory』 really remains in the ears、 I think it's an easy-to-remember name。
I'm really happy that our unit name was decided this time、 and it makes me happy that it includes the 'koubou' meaning from my beloved Berryz Kobo-san。
Just like the beautiful kobushi flower、 I'd like us to be a wonderful group。

・Taguchi Natsumi (14 / Middle 2 / From Saitama Prefecture)
I think it's really great that the kobushi means 「friendship」「trust」「welcome」 in the language of flowers、 and just like in the language of flowers、 it would be nice if the 8 of us improved our 「friendship」、 and form a mutual relationship of 「trust」。
And、 so that we'll be able to 「welcome」 a lot of prople、 I'd like to do my best with everything I have。
「Factory」 has the meaning of 「Koubou」、 so I'd like to do my best to be a group rich in individuality like Berryz Kobo-san。

・Wada Sakurako (13 / Middle 2 / From Aichi Prefecture)
I'd like us all to do our best to become a group that's like the kobushi in the language of flowers, high in 「friendship」 with mutual 「trust」 that is 「welcoming」、 and become a group that continues for over 10 years、 just like Berryz Kobo-san。

・Inoue Rei(13 / Middle 1 / From Tokyo)
At first I wondered what a 「Factory」 was。 But、 when I found out it had the meaning of Berryz Kobo-san's 「Koubou」、 I was moved。
I'd like to take over the things that Berryz Kobo-san have carefully observed。
Finding out that kobushi、 in the language of flowers means 「friendship」 or 「welcome」、 I thought that I'd like us to become a group that's like the kobushi flower。