1001 Nights - The 42nd Night: 100 questions to Tsugunaga Momoko (Part 2)

On the 31st of March 2017, at long last, we finally have ‘Momochi’ Tsugunaga Momoko holding her first and likely only talk event in this 42nd instalment of the 1001 Nights series of Hello! Shop talk events. With this show, all the Berryz members have appeared at this series of events, though Momo's by herself - all the other members appeared in pairs.

Usual disclaimer that these are based on tweeted fan reports and thus should be taken to be an interpretation of the event rather than comprehensive coverage. Momochi herself answered at a rapid pace, taking a total of answering 47 minutes per part to answer 50 questions.

Theme for this event was ‘Tsugunaga Momoko’. The event was split into two parts, where Momochi would answer 50 questions from the fans during each part, for a total of 100 questions. Twitter hashtag for the event was  #ももち (#Momochi). This post covers the second part - see the first part here.

(Second part of the event starts!)

Everyone in Osaka, maido. (Another Kansai-ben version of 'thank you')

We already know how this goes, so on to the questions.

Wota: Eh~

So when? What’s normally done during the opening?

Wota: *mumble mumble*

You can’t answer, can you? It's because you only come to Momochi’s events, right~😒

Q51. Honestly, what do you think about marriage proposals at handshake events?

I think that people who do so are very fortunate people. It's completely fine.

Handshakes are a special privilege to those who have purchased our CDs. So it's fine to do anything with the time that you've acquired, as long as it's within the bounds of morality.

I don't know what I myself will think about it though.

Q52. Of incoming and outgoing H!P members, if you pick your future children?

I’m sorry, is there a problem with my reading comprehension?

I don’t understand this, I can’t figure out your Japanese.

Is my reading ability the problem? No, your Japanese is the problem!

Q53. If you could go back to the past and redo something in your idol life, when would you choose?

I'm always content, but at the first GekiHaro, I wore an Edo-era wig. I really hated that wig. That was the only thing I hated about that play.

And yet, in the posters and pamphlets, my hair was done in a half-up, not much different from what I've got going at the moment. So it would have been fine if I had appeared like that at the real performance…

If I did the hairstyle I had in the pamphlet, it would have been the best GekiHaro.

That's what I’d like to tell myself when I go back.

Suzuki Airi - True Colours (Update Girls July 2016)

℃-ute celebrated the 11th anniversary of their formation this June. Suzuki Airi has continued to be an active member of the group the whole time. She turned 22 in April.

'Compared to the past, I get the impression that the themes and atmosphere of our songs have become really mature. Actually, as the years have gone by, all of us have gone past the age of twenty. If you were to ask us to perform with the same energy we had like when we did "Meguru Koi no Kisetsu" (2007) for example, it'd be difficult. We'd try, of course. (laughs) Thinking of it that way, it's because of how we are like now that we're able to perform our latest single, "Naze Hito ha Arasoundarou? / Summer Wind / Jinsei ha Step!"

Indeed, their three songs have the allure of a mature group that has gone beyond the idol framework: The calming, soulful pop of 'Naze Hito ha~' with its gospel tinge, the impressive, cool groove of 'Summer~', the fusion of swing jazz and electro in 'Jinsei ha~'. But the girls had no intention of shifting gears from so-called idols to a mature vocal & dance group. Instead, through the mature mood of these 3 songs from their latest single, they themselves realised that lying beneath their performances and at the root of their minds was that they want to be 'idols' until the very end.

'We can't forget how ℃-ute are as idols, I can't forget how Suzuki Airi is as an idol. Even if we built up personas, the fans would acknowledge us as idols. While things are different from how they were in our teens, it's not like we're forcing ourselves to appear mature. You could say that as idols, we're acting our age. I'd prefer naturally radiating an idolness that can only be produced by the ℃-ute of the present, the Suzuki Airi of the present.'

She tells us with a smile on her face that she believes that being an idol suits her. The reason for that suitability? It's because she possesses a certain trait within her.

Momochi no Kimochi: Tokyo Tower (Essay #15/22)

Currently, the Skytree is the talk of the town.
The Skytree, which is capable of making digital broadcasts.

But honestly, I sometimes get worried about those.
Those high-definition broadcasts.
The high resolution reveals even the nooks and crannies,
So while I'm of course happy
That you get to fully enjoy Momochi's cuteness,
When my skin isn't doing that well......
I've have just a bit of a grudge towards the Skytree. (laughs)

On that point, I often go to Tokyo Tower because it's close to the office,
And I've grown used to it,
So for me
I still prefer Tokyo Tower over the Skytree.

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1001 Nights - The 42nd Night: 100 questions to Tsugunaga Momoko (Part 1)

On the 31st of March 2017, at long last, we finally have ‘Momochi’ Tsugunaga Momoko holding her first and likely only talk event in this 42nd instalment of the 1001 Nights series of Hello! Shop talk events. With this show, all the Berryz members have appeared at this series of events, though Momo's by herself - all the other members appeared in pairs.

Usual disclaimer that these are based on tweeted fan reports and thus should be taken to be an interpretation of the event rather than comprehensive coverage. Momochi herself answered at a rapid pace, taking a total of answering 47 minutes per part to answer 50 questions.

Theme for this event was ‘Tsugunaga Momoko’. The event was split into two parts, where Momochi would answer 50 questions from the fans during each part, for a total of 100 questions. Twitter hashtag for the event was  #ももち (#Momochi). This post covers the first part. The second part is in this post.

Entering to the tune of Peanut Butter Jelly Love, Momochi waved to the camera that was streaming to the Osaka Hello! Store.

Momo: Ookini! (the Kansai-ben version of ‘thank you’)
Audience in Osaka: ...
Momo: I can’t hear you! 💢 Okay, one more time! You guys in Osaka, give a round of applause! I can see you! Don’t let your mind wander!

Unlike other events in the 1001 Nights events, regular chairperson Nishiguchi-san would not be appearing at this event.

Q1. Kumaicho is flourishing as a model and a general talent. At this moment, is there anything that you would like to tell her?

Out of the blue, we're talking about Kumaicho?
While we were both at the HinaFes and Satoyama Satoumi event at Makuhari Messe, the only time we met was when we passed by one another. She was going to a Matcha-zu activity, while I was heading to Country Girls' booth. When we passed by one another, she said, 'Momo, you're so tiny~', and that was it.
There were a million more things that she could have said, right!?
Next time we meet, I hope that she has something more tasteful to say.

Q2. I'm currently studying for qualifications that will help me realise my dreams. Momochi, is there a trick to how you kept yourself motivated when you were doing both studies and work?

Is this person here? What are you doing?
Graduate school? Vocational school? You've got to work hard at it.
What difficulties are you facing? Is it because I'm graduating? Everyone's sad about that, so it's the same for everyone.

Anyway, if I visualise things going smoothly, things do go smoothly. So it'll be fine.

Wota: Ohhh...

(Surprised by the admiration shown by the audience) Eh, is it not the same for all of you? This is the kind of person I am. (smug look on her face)

Q3. Your brother has mentioned that in Country, his preference looks-wise is Chii-chan, and Yanamin personality-wise. What if, in ten to fifteen years time, your brother is going out or is married to Morito or Yanagawa?

So you're saying that he would introduce his girlfriend to me, and out of the blue it would turn out to be Morito or Yanamin?...
That would be the worst! I mean, of course I like the both of them...
Yanamin, calling me her sister? Nope nope nope nope! (laughs)
I wouldn't want to give Yanamin's children New Year's money.

But thinking about it again, I pity my brother, he must have a hard time. After all, he's been brought up with someone as cute as me in the family. Any girl will get compared to Momochi. Wouldn't that inflate his standards?

Q4. How is it like when you feel Fuku-chan's gaze on you?

It's doesn't frighten me, but if we're close, I put some distance between us. And Fuku-chan doesn't come to talk with me.
With that distance between us, it really feels like we are idol and fan.

When I watch Fuku-chan perform on-stage, I feel like cheering her on as an idol, but nothing beyond that.

She’s good friends with Yamaki Risa-chan though. This is what I suspect - Fukumura Mizuki-chan likes me, and Yamaki Risa-chan likes Michishige-san, right? I'm sure that they exchange information about Michishige-san and myself between one another.

KSS Otomomochi discussion

At the 4th September 2016 H!P Kenshuusei Happyokai evening performance, a 'KobuTalk' segment was held with Kobushi Factory members Fujii Rio and Hamaura Ayano as well as Kenshuusei Takase Kurumi and Kiyono Momohime.

The theme was 'Members that love Tsugunaga Momoko'.
Which begs the question of why notorious Yaji-oshi Fujidon was doing there.

Makoto: Their stories of their admiration of Tsugunaga-san will be balanced out by her love of Yajima-san.

Topic: What they find attractive about Tsugunaga Momoko

Takase: She's perfect.

Takase goes into further details about how Momochi leads Country Girls and keeps them in order.
She also enjoyed Momochi's expressions at the Buono! Budokan, where she got teased and babied by the other members.

Hamachan talked about how Momochi glances upwards and to the left after she's done singing a solo part, using examples from 'Mousou Rehearsal'.

Kiyono elaborated on the way Momochi pronounces her 'Koyubeam' - her 'ko' sounds close to a 'ka'.
Kiyono's attempt at a 'K(a)oyubeam!' was met with approval by the wota.

Maruwakari Summer 2016: To the Sea

Q3. Among the (current) H!P members, who would you like to go to the sea with, and what would you like to do?

℃-ute
Yajima Maimi	Wada Ayaka
Nakajima Saki	Suzuki Airi
Suzuki Airi	℃-ute members
Okai Chisato	Hagiwara Mai, Iikubo Haruna, Kudo Haruka
Hagiwara Mai	Okai Chisato and Sato Masaki
Morning Musume。´16
Fukumura Mizuki	Yajima Maimi, Inaba Manaka, Ozeki Mai, Kishimoto Yumeno
Ikuta Erina	Fukumura Mizuki
Iikubo Haruna	Yajima Maimi
Ishida Ayumi	Kanazawa Tomoko
Sato Masaki	Okai Chisato and Hagiwara Mai
Kudo Haruka	Fukumura Mizuki
Oda Sakura	Inaba Manaka
Ogata Haruna	Kudo Haruka
Nonaka Miki	Morning Musume。´16 members
Makino Maria	Takeuchi Akari
Haga Akane	Niinuma Kisora
ANGERME
Wada Ayaka	ANGERME members
Nakanishi Kana	Inaba Manaka
Takeuchi Akari	ANGERME 2ki members
Katsuta Rina	Anyone, as long as they can swim
Murota Mizuki	Kobushi Factory
Aikawa Maho	Murota Mizuki
Sasaki Rikako	Makino Maria
Kamikokuryo Moe	Funaki Musubu
Juice=Juice
Miyazaki Yuka	Uemura Akari
Kanazawa Tomoko	Asakura Kiki
Takagi Sayuki	Taguchi Natsumi
Miyamoto Karin	Kudo Haruka
Uemura Akari	Miyazaki Yuka
Country Girls
Tsugunaga Momoko	Miyamoto Karin
Yamaki Risa	Morito Chisaki
Morito Chisaki	Country Girls members
Ozeki Mai	Morito Chisaki
Yanagawa Nanami	Funaki Musubu
Funaki Musubu	Haga Akane
Kobushi Factory
Fujii Rio	Ikuta Erina, Ishida Ayumi, Kudo Haruka, Takeuchi Akari, Murota Mizuki, Kishimoto Yumeno
Hirose Ayaka	Ogata Haruna
Nomura Minami	Murota Mizuki, Aikawa Maho, Sasaki Rikako, Yamagishi Riko, Kishimoto Yumeno
Ogawa Rena	Taguchi Natsumi
Hamaura Ayano	Oda Sakura
Taguchi Natsumi	Ogawa Rena
Wada Sakurako	Inoue Rei
Inoue Rei	Sasaki Rikako
Tsubaki Factory
Yamagishi Riko	Kamikokuryo Moe
Ogata Risa	Kudo Haruka
Niinuma Kisora	Aikawa Maho
Tanimoto Ami	Takeuchi Akari, Katsuta Rina, Murota Mizuki, Kanazawa Tomoko, Inoue Rei
Kishimoto Yumeno	Nakajima Saki
Asakura Kiki	Funaki Musubu

Momochi no Kimochi: 1st April (Essay #14/22)

Caption on photo in the middle of the right page: From '2007 Sakura Mankai Berryz Kobo Live ~Sono Kandou ha Nidotonai Shunkan de aru!~' held on the 1st of April 2007

On April Fools' Day, corporations make majestic jokes, and these jokes keep on getting better and more exciting than before. But for me, I think that idols shouldn't tell lies, so the day always ends without me pulling any pranks. It's not because it would such a pain to establish an elaborate set-up that would make my lie seem realistic, no, nothing like that ♪

Maybe because I don't pull pranks, pranks don't seem to get pulled on me either. Well, I'm most interested in myself and I don't really get concerned about others, so maybe I just don't notice. (laughs) And another big thing might be that even if I noticed it, I'd just react with an 'Ah, is that so~', and that would be the end of it. (Teehee ♥) But I guess April Fools' isn't something huge for me? Instead, I get more excited on the day before that, the 31st, when I can get 31% off at a a certain ice cream store. So to me, April Fools' feels more like 'The day after 31% off' for me.

However, when it comes to the 1st of April, I do have one huge memory. In 2007, Berryz Kobo got to do a concert on our own at the Saitama Super Arena. That was on the 1st of April. You know, I was really nervous about it. I thought that it might not be true. Even when the fans at handshake events brought up the fact that our arena performance was coming up soon, I wondered if they were in on some large-scale prank. What if they raised the curtains, and there would be no one in the audience, or there'd be just a single person standing there holding a sign to tell us we had been pranked...? Up until the day itself, I constantly had my doubts. Of course that wasn't the case, so all it amounted to was pointless worrying. If that had been an April Fools' joke, that probably would have been enough for the rest of my life.

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