Berryz Kobo x ℃-ute Cross Talk: Kumai Yurina x Okai Chisato

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 of them. Here are some excerpts from the interviews.

Kumai Yurina X Okai Chisato

The two of them discuss about issues that have worried them, like height...

Kumai:  There was a time when I had worries about all sorts of things. Firstly, I had a hang-up over my own height. I was worried about it since I was in the public eye, but on the other hand, perhaps it's because of that position that my hang-up got resolved.'

And weight...

Okai: I had issues over my figure. Since the members of ℃-ute are all slender. When I'm with them, I think we eat the same things, and we eat the same amount at the same time, but it's easier for me to put on weight. Also, I'm short in stature, so I stick out even more when I put on weight. I think it looks different when I put on 2 kilos, compared to when Maimi-chan puts on 2 kilos. But maybe I'm over-thinking it.

And whether it still bothers them now.

---The 2 of you don't worry about it now?

Kumai: That's right. It's just that, I lack confidence, so I've still got a bit of a hang-up over it....

Okai: Don't worry. Can't you just put confidence aside? For me, rather than people who've really got confidence, I prefer people who work hard, with an image of how they would like to be in their mind.

σσσ

Okai: I feel like Kumai-chan's got this grown-up atmosphere to her (laughs). It's like every time I see you, you've gotten even more feminine. Even in the past, it never felt like you'd lose your cool, you're really calm and composed, I think you've become a wonderful 18 year old.

Kumai: Eh, seriously?

Okai: I've got this image of how my ideal 18 year old woman would be like, and Kumai-chan has that 18 year old feel to her. You have your own opinions, you don't get influenced by others. In my case, I'm easily influenced by others. If someone tells me that I've put on weight, I'll immediately set out on a diet. I'm really susceptible. I'll be on my guard, and I can't say what I want to say if it's unexpected. Kumai-chan's my ideal 18 year old. Calm, yet able to have fun when it's time to play

σσσ

Going even more into growing-up, how do you think you'll be like 10 years in the future?

Kumai: I feel like Chissa will have a big family.

Okai: Everyone says that~ There isn't a single person who can say anything beyond that though (laughs).

Kumai: Now, there are quite a number of TV programmes about large families, right? I feel like you'd appear on those. Like you'd have 5 kids (laughs).

Okai: Hey (laughs)! Well, Papa has to do his best at his job!!

Kumai: I think it'd be a really lively family. It's kind of amazing to think about it.

Okai: If I haven't gotten married 10 years down the road, I'd be like 'Sorry for betraying everyone's expectations!' (laughs)

σσσ

Click here for more interview excerpts from this book.

New Faces: Member as Boyfriend (H!P Maruwakari Winter 2015)

The HaroPuro MaruWakari Books are released in conjunction with the twice-yearly Hello! Con tours. The contents usually take the form of questionnaires to the members, asking about other members.
This one, which came out for the 2015 Winter Hello! Cons, would be Berryz' last as well as Country Girls' first. It also pre-dates Kobushi Factory, who were announced at that Hello! Con itself. Thus, the usual questionnaires are supplemented with a Berryz Kobo special as well as a new faces special (MM 12ki, S/mileage 3ki, the 5 new Country Girls).

This part of the questionnaire comes from the 'new faces' segment, where we get to know more about the new girls and what they think about other H!P members and senpai. Remember that this book pre-dates Kobushi Factory and Tsubaki Factory, but don't worry, they get their turn in the 2015 Summer Maruwakari Book.

Q9. If this member was a guy, I'd like to have this member as my boyfriend

Ogata Haruna: Kudo Haruka-san. She was really cool when she wore a gakuran!

Nonaka Miki: Kudo Haruka-san. It feels like she'll always coolly take the lead, it's really wonderful.

Makino Maria: Okai Chisato-san, Ikuta Erina-san. They've really got this trustworthiness to them, so it feels like I'd be protected. If the two of them were to confess to me, I wouldn't be able to choose!

Haga Akane: Kudo Haruka-san. Because she's cool, like a hot guy.

Murota Mizuki: Kudo Haruka-san. Her voice is cool, and when she does male roles in plays, she's so cool that it makes my heart skip a beat!

Aikawa Maho: Ishida Ayumi-san. Because it feels like she'd be frank, and blue really suits her.

Sasaki Rikako: Kudo Haruka-san, Takeuchi Akari-san, Okai Chisato-san. They're cool and handsome.

Yamaki Risa: Kumai Yurina-san. During the Hello! Cons, she looked really cool, sitting in front of the mirror backstage! All the more, at the time, she was wearing the male outfit for 'Rock Erotic'....... (laughs). She's really cool!

Inaba Manaka: Kudo Haruka-san. I love her because she's really cool, even though she's extremely cute. It's also superb how she can follow-up in all sorts of ways, and each and every one of her tiny little habits makes my heart skip a beat♥

Morito Chisaki: Takeuchi Akari-san. Because she's really cool despite her cute voice.

Shimamura Uta: Ozeki Mai-chan. Her personality is the exact opposite of mine, she pushes forward aggressively. I like how she's bold and doesn't mind the small things ♥♥♥

Ozeki Mai: Kudo Haruka-san! She's cool even when she's a girl, so if she became a guy, wouldn't she become increasingly cooler!?

Notes and observations:

• Duu basically wins this in a landslide with 7 votes. No surprises there. Only other members to be mentioned more than once were Chisato and Take-chan.

Other questions from this book

Fukumura, Kudo, and Ogata in Shounen Sunday

Fuku-chan, Duu, and Haachin appear in the pages of Shounen Sunday. This appearance also marks Haachin's first photo shoot in a swimsuit.

--- This time, let's ask your fellow members gathered here the questions you wouldn't normally ask.

Kudo + Ogata: Eh!? What sorts of questions?

Fukumura: Right, then we'll start from me. Firstly, to Ogata-chan. How was your first swimsuit (mizugi) photo shoot?

Ogata: My first Mizuki?

Fukumura: That's not it (laughs). Swimsuit!

New Faces: Senpai as Older Sister (H!P Maruwakari Winter 2015)

The HaroPuro MaruWakari Books are released in conjunction with the twice-yearly Hello! Con tours. The contents usually take the form of questionnaires to the members, asking about other members.
This one, which came out for the 2015 Winter Hello! Cons, would be Berryz' last as well as Country Girls' first. It also pre-dates Kobushi Factory, who were announced at that Hello! Con itself. Thus, the usual questionnaires are supplemented with a Berryz Kobo special as well as a new faces special (MM 12ki, S/mileage 3ki, the 5 new Country Girls).

This part of the questionnaire comes from the 'new faces' segment, where we get to know more about the new girls and what they think about other H!P members and senpai. Remember that this book pre-dates Kobushi Factory and Tsubaki Factory, but don't worry, they get their turn in the 2015 Summer Maruwakari Book.

Q3. Senpai you'd be happy to have as your oneesan

Ogata Haruna: Fukumura Mizuki-san. She's really kind, she's like the ideal oneesan type.

Nonaka Miki: Wada Ayaka-san. I think she's really like a kind oneesan. I'd like to try going shopping together.

Makino Maria: Hagiwara Mai-san. Because I love Hagiwara-san.

Haga Akane: Takagi Sayuki-san. Because she seems really kind ♥

Murota Mizuki: Yajima Maimi-san. Because she's kind and it feels like she'd look after me.

Aikawa Maho: Hagiwara Mai-san. She'd be a stylish and cute oneesan that I'd boast about!! Nakanishi Kana-san has previously said that I'm like a little sister to her, which made me happy. Because then I could ask her for cordial consultations.

Sasaki Rikako: Yajima Maimi-san, Shimizu Saki-san. Since they're really reliable, and it feels like you could hang out together with them.

Yamaki Risa: Okai Chisato-san. It feels like every day would be fun. Like I'd never stop laughing. If Okai-san were my older sister, I'd go home quickly (laughs).

Inaba Manaka: Kudo Haruka-san!! Even though I'm older, age-wise...... I really like Kudo-san,, she often appears in my dreams, but oneesan = family, so we'd be together every day, right!? Waah-----!!! There'd be no greater joy ♥

Morito Chisaki: Iikubo Haruna-san. Because it feels like she;d be a stylish oneesan. She seems like she'd be kind, so she'd be an oneesan I could boast about.

Shimamura Uta: Satoda Mai-san. A level-headed beauty, more than an oneesan, she's the No.1 senpai 'I'd like to have as my bride'

Ozeki Mai: Michishige Sayumi-san! When Michishige-san was Morning Musume。´14 leader, she'd steadily rein in her kouhai, I think that she'd definitely be kind if she was my oneesan, right?

Notes and observations:

• Desired older sister: Maimi and MaiMai got picked two times each.
• Each group had at least a member being mentioned (if you count Satoda Mai as part of CG), with more than one for the following groups:
  ℃-ute members: 5 mentions
  Morning Musume。 members: 4 mentions
  ANGERME members: 2 mentions

Other questions from this book

Yamaki Risa's Chronology and Q&A

Yamaki Risa's self-reported chronology

1997 Born on the 14th of October

Around 2000 Started learning the piano at the age of 3 due to brother's influence

2005 2nd year of primary school. Got into drawing. Dreamed of being a mangaka in the future.

2009 6th year of primary school. Got 4th place at a competition at the borough level! By the way, the event was the 50 metre breaststroke.

2010 1st year of middle school. Joined the dance club. Danced at the night festivities for the cultural festival. There, encountered Morning Musume。's 'Kimagure Princess', became a H!P fan.

2013 1st year of senior high. Applied for the 1st round of Morning Musume。-san's 12th gen auditions. Made it to the final judging, but there were no qualified candidates. Became a Kenshuusei after worrying over it.

2014 2nd year of senior high. Selected for Country Girls.

Yamaki Risa's one question one answer

1. Favourite food?
Manju, corn soup, tapioca, udon (cold)

2. Food you hate?
Celery, horned turbans, sea urchin

3. When was the time when you got the worst scolding so far?
When we were in primary school and secretly brought sweets, but the teacher found out

4. When was the time when you got the best praise so far?
When I took responsibility on something that everyone else felt was a burden and accomplished it

5. The only thing I can boast to people about is?
Hair-tending implements!

6. Something you've gotten into recently is?
Blogging

7. Favourite H!P song?
'Kimagure Princess'. Since it was the song that made me start thinking about wanting to join H!P.

8. Who is the H!P senpai you look up to?
Michishige Sayumi-san. Since she was a really lovely goddess. I truly admire the sight of her sacrificing her life for the sake of the group with a sense of responsibility that goes beyond others.

Morning Musume。´15 August 2015 Nationwide Handshake Events: Sato Masaki

The Musume are at it again, going around the country to promote their latest single. This time, they're promoting their 59th single 'Oh my wish! / Sukatto My Heart / Imasugu Tobikomu Yuuki'.

What's also the norm for this promotion campaign is that the members hijack the official Musume Twitter account, and we get to follow the girls along as they go around the country.

Not a lot of tweets from Maachan, but just like her time last year in Tokyo, I suspect that the manager accompanying her had their hands full. Maachan was also in Hokkaido for the handshake events earlier this year. 

【滋賀／佐藤】 家から着て来ました！ まだ頭ボサボサ、すみません… #morningmusume15 pic.twitter.com/Eqa72pQckC

— モーニング娘。'15マネージャー (@MorningMusumeMg) 2015, 8月 19

【Shiga／Sato】
I've arrived from home！

My hair's still a mess、 sorry…

【滋賀／佐藤】 おはようござぃます まーちゃんだょ❤️ 京都で八つ橋かぃました~ 今日まーちゃんは… 大津PARCO 11時からなのですっっ⁉︎ 握手会なのですっっ⁉︎ まっててくださぃましぃ~ #morningmusume15 pic.twitter.com/5st7s9L4Df

— モーニング娘。'15マネージャー (@MorningMusumeMg) 2015, 8月 20

【Shiga／Sato】
Good morning
This is Maachan
I bought yatsuhashi from Kyoto~

For Maachan, today…
Otsu PARCO
From 11 in the morning⁉︎
There's a handshake event⁉︎
I'll be waiting~

【滋賀／佐藤】 滋賀での握手会終了しました！ 琵琶湖にて。 写真、左奥に水鳥が⁉︎⁉︎ 「こっちおいでぇーーー」と必死の呼び掛け。 #morningmusume15 pic.twitter.com/VyQDz9VzCY

— モーニング娘。'15マネージャー (@MorningMusumeMg) 2015, 8月 20

【Shiga／Sato】
Done with the handshake events in Shiga！

At Lake Biwa。
In the left side of the photo、 there's a waterfowl⁉︎⁉︎
I frantically called out 「Come hereーーー」。

【兵庫／佐藤】 お客さんからたくさんオススメのお土産を聞いたのに、聞き間違えたくさんですみませんm(_ _)m さぁ、果たして佐藤は大阪に何を持っていくのか⁉︎ 野中、神戸でも見つけたよ！ #morningumusume15 pic.twitter.com/JyDe6x5BRr

— モーニング娘。'15マネージャー (@MorningMusumeMg) 2015, 8月 20

【Hyogo／Sato】
I asked the attendees about all sorts of souvenirs、but I apologise for mishearing a lot of them m(_ _)m
So、 what will Sato get from Osaka in the end⁉︎

Nonaka、 I found one in Kobe as well！

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