sixth-gen Morning Musume member Kamei Eri (20) was recently interviewed by Hyper Hobby magazine about her voice work in the Jewel Pet anime, her collection of five-toed socks, and becoming an adult.

We’ve translated the full interview right here, so enjoy!

“New My Monologue” Special Edition:
Kamei Eri (Morning Musume) Interview

The June issue of “Hyper Hobby” featured an interview with Morning Musume’s Kamei Eri in the “New My Monologue” segment! In the article, she talked about everything from her socks, to trying voice acting, her solo album song, and the things she wants to try in the future.

Socks made Kamei-chan an adult!?

HH: First off, I understand you have a lot of socks!

Kamei: I love 5-toed socks, so I have a whole lot of them at home! I get cold pretty easily, and my toes get particulary cold. I heard that 5-toed socks are good for your blood flow, so I tried them out. I put them on to go to sleep, and I started sleeping so much better. Before I started wearing them, my cold feet would touch each other and that would wake me up!

HH: So at first, it was a practical thing.

Kamei: After that, I started to collect 5-toed socks. When I’d go to the shop, there would be so many cute ones for sale. And these days, even though some of them are probably just a gag, they come in all kinds of funny varieties! I’ll see them when I’m walking past and think “What the hell are those? (lol)”… But without realising it, I’ll bring them up to the cash register (lol). When I take my shoes off and the other members see those kind of socks, they’ll say, “What are those?” (lol). They’re funny, so I find myself collecting them!

HH: Shortly after you joined Morning Musume, you said on a TV program called “Futarigoto” that you don’t buy many socks, and most of them had holes in them!

Kamei: That’s true! After that show aired, a lot of fans sent me socks as presents! I was really grateful, but I think they got the idea I was a pitiful kid who couldn’t even buy her own socks (lol). But it wasn’t that I couldn’t buy them back then. Even if they had holes, I thought, “I can still wear them, so it doesn’t matter” (lol). But I’m 20 now, so I can’t take my shoes off and show people, “They’ve got holes in them!” I’m an adult now! Socks made me grow up!

HH: (lol). And now you’re using “Body-k Beauty Control Socks” in your lessons!

Kamei: When Tsunku♂ first gave them to me, I was surprised, “The toes are divided into three parts!” I’d worn 5-toed socks a lot, but three! Though when I tried them on, they fit so well. Not too tight, but I could feel they were really holding my ankle firmly. Having concert rehearsals every day, the soles of my feet got really sore. When the concert would start, the trainers would try to help out by taping them up. But it’s better that I take care of it myself in advance during rehearsals. So when I put these socks on, it feels so much better! I’ve been wearing them for about a year and a half now, and the other members all wear them, too. And it seems like the old members like Yoshizawa (Hitomi) and Ishikawa (Rika) wear them, too. And when I’m just going out shopping, or anytime I’m going to be walking a lot in a day, I go out with them on under my boots! Because I don’t want my feet to be sore on my days off.

HH: You’re taking care of yourself, just like a pro!

Kamei: It makes me happy that I can be called a pro who takes care of herself, just by wearing these socks (lol). Even if you’re not a pro, girls still need to look after their feet!

HH: Do you think your fans would be happy if there were a line of Kamei original socks?

Kamei: Yeah! It would be funny if they sold them along with the other concert goods. They could be my colour, orange, and they could have my own illustrations on them. Even if you can’t see them, I’d be connected to the fans’ feet! Something like that!

Trying voice acting for 2009!

HH: You started working as a voice actor for the “Jewel Pet” anime that started in April! Did you watch a lot of anime as a kid?

Kamei: I watched the usual ones. I watched “Sailor Moon” and “Marmalade Boy”, just like everyone else. But I still can’t believe I’ve done voice acting for a show like that. Even watching it on Sunday morning, I can hear it’s my voice, but it doesn’t feel real. I was always really nervous in the dubbing sessions. One time, we had a break between the first and second halves, the “A part” and “B part”, and everyone else went to go and grab snacks. But I didn’t eat anything… I just stayed in the studio, reading the script…

HH: Did Tanaka (Reina) or Kusumi (Koharu) give you any advice on voice acting?

Kamei: Before my first dubbing session, I asked for advice. “I don’t know what it’ll be like in the dubbing studio! It’s my first time, so what should I do? Am I going to be okay, Reina?” She told me, “You’ll be fine! You can do it!” That wasn’t advice at all (lol). But I felt better after that, thinking, “Oh, I’m fine. I can do it!”

HH: (lol)

Kamei: Koharu gave me the DVD of “Kirarin ☆ Revolution” to use as a reference. I said, “Koharu, you’re amazing!” When she read the script, she said in her usual dazed way, “Kamei-san, is this an anime script? Good luck!” (lol). But really, just hearing from the two of them with their voice acting experience made me feel better. They were really reassuring!

HH: I see. In the show, there are scenes where Rinko casts a spell!

Kamei: I can always do those without getting nervous! I was really happy that I got set phrases like that, and I always say them full of energy and power! I did well with them right from the start!

HH: Your regular lines always have a natural feel to them, too.

Kamei: Really!? I’m so happy! The director told me, “Just use your normal voice.” So I thought I’d just go with a Kamei Eri voice, not trying to do anything special. But at first I’d get nervous trying to be in character, and my voice would get higher… But Rinko is like me in a lot of ways, so I can just play her naturally now. She has lots of scenes with weird faces and funny faces, so I’d like to come out with different kinds of voices to go along with those. I’ll try my best!

Even at age 20, wanting to become an adult!

HH: For the “Platinum 9 Disco” concerts, you got to sing a solo song, “Kataomoi no Owari ni”! (on the album “Platinum 9 Disc”)

Kamei: I was really surprised when I first heard it, because it’s such a cute song!

HH: You were surprised!?

Kamei: Yeah! I was a little nervous, “Can I sing that cutely?” But I didn’t sing it as either a super-cutesy song, or a cool song. I just sang it naturally, like Kamei Eri. It felt so good to sing it at the concerts!

HH: Do you think Tsunku♂ wrote it with an image of you in mind?

Kamei: It seems like his image of me is like a university student. “Kataomoi no Owari ni” even starts off suddenly with “Today on campus…” So I sang it with the feeling of a university student. There’s a part of me that wanted to go to university, so that was really fun. I sang it while imagining things like the campus and the cafeteria. Actually, according to my age, I should be in university now. But it seems like I’m more university-like than Gaki-san, even though we’re the same age.

HH: Speaking of Gaki-san, you started a radio show with Niigaki (Risa) back in April.

Kamei: That’s right! It definitely confirmed my idea that Gaki-san is actually reliable. She can do it perfectly without needing a script. When she’s talking, I’m always adding things like “That’s right”, and I just go freely like that. On the show, Gaki-san is the reliable one, and I do things freely (lol).

HH: (lol)

Kamei: I really enjoy spending time with her. We make a great combo. In a way, she feels like a mother. So she’s always spoiling me!

HH: But you’re already 20 years old! Now finally, please tell me what you’d like to try now that you’re 20!

Kamei: Anything at all…? I’d like to get a credit card!

HH: A credit card? (lol)

Kamei: My mother thinks that it would still be too dangerous for me, so she told me I can’t get one! I’m 20 years old, but inside it doesn’t feel like it. So, I want to become an adult on the inside, too. I was given a solo song, and I’ve tried voice acting on my own… I want to keep working hard every day! I want to work even harder this year, become an adult, and then get my mother’s permission to get a credit card!

HH: In your mind, adult = credit card!

Kamei: Yeah! It’s not just words, but this year, my goal really is to become an adult!

She started wearing them to fight the cold, and now she has a lot of cute 5-toed socks that she won’t let out of her hands… or rather, her feet. She didn’t have them with her, but she has a lot of character socks at home, too!

With her Web Gurumi from Sega Toys. It’s small and cute, so she wants to “put it in my backpack and carry it around with me!” She’s actually carried a stuffed Ruby that she won as a prize from a game centre around with her in her backpack!

After taking the photos with her favourite socks and toy, she relaxed and really got into answering the questions. She wouldn’t stop talking, and after the 30 minutes were up, it was “Over!? Thank you very much!”

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In the newest issue of Gravure Television magazine, the members of Morning Musume are interviewed for their latest single, Nanchatte Renai. Since it’s their 40th single, the questions center around the number 40.

We’ve translated all the questions and answers, and included the scans as well. Enjoy!

The Musume are getting sexier these days, and now they’re showing off a “Sexy Little Devils Shot” in knee-high socks. Their 40th single “Nanchatte Renai” goes on sale August 12 (Wed), so we had them answer “questions about 40″!

“If you had 40 days off, what would you want to do?”

Tanaka: Well, I’d go back to my hometown to hang out for about five days, then take a trip. There’s a farm for bears in Aso that I’ve been to before, and I want to go there again!

Mitsui: I’d go with my sister to Korea and Hawaii, then come back to Saga. I’d spend about 10 days in Korea, and I hear they have cheap cosmetics there, so I’d want to buy some.

Kusumi: I don’t need 40 days. Two weeks would be enough. I’d have too much free time, I’d probably die (lol) And it’s better to be working anyway!

Tanaka: Yeah, it makes you feel like you’re alive. Oh, in that case, I’d like to try a part-time job. I want to work in a fast-food place or a clothing shop.

Mitsui: Once someone working in a shop suggested that to me. She asked, “Are you interested in working in apparel?”

Tanaka: That’s right, when Aika said, “Doesn’t this one look good?”, the lady in the shop said that (lol). Working part-time, I want to see how much it takes to be self sufficient these days.

Kusumi: It’s just the normal wage, isn’t it?

Tanaka: Around 600 yen an hour?

Kusumi: That’s enough for Niigata, or somewhere in the country! It takes more than that in Tokyo!

Tanaka: But I wouldn’t be in Tokyo, if I had 40 days off.

Kusumi: Oh, right. Then instead of a part-time job, I’ll go and learn yoga.

Mitsui: Oh, I want to learn scuba diving and go underwater!

“If the world were ending in 40 days…”

Niigaki: I’d want to go on as usual, spending time with the other members and my family and continuing to work. If I didn’t do that, I think I’d be counting, “How many days left?” (lol)

Kamei: You’d definitely be counting. I’d make sure I spent all my money!

LinLin: Oh, that’s good!

Kamei: I’m 20 now, so I’ve been really concerned with conserving and being eco-friendly. But it would be nice not having to think about things like that.

Niigaki: It really wouldn’t be the time to say things like, “Saving the Earth is something we can do today!” (lol)

Kamei: That’s right. You could just live for yourself in those final days.

LinLin: I’d become somebody who can save the Earth, like Sailor Moon, then I’d save the Earth!

Niigaki: Oh, you’d save it?

LinLin: That’s right. Hero LinLin-man! (lol)

Kamei: That didn’t occur to me. (lol)

Niigaki: In that case, you’d have to be eco-friendly. And you couldn’t spend all your money.

Kamei: I guess so. (lol) But how would you become a hero?

LinLin: Somebody would see me suddenly and say, “You are a warrior who can save the Earth!” And in a flash, I’d transform.

Kamei: That’s just in comics (lol). That couldn’t happen, LinLin (lol)!

Niigaki: LinLin really does get comics and reality mixed up sometimes. (lol)

“Try to imagine yourself at age 40!”

Takahashi: [Choreographer] Natsu Mayumi-sensei said, “A woman’s life begins at 40.” She says your 40s are really fun. If that’s the case, then I want to reach my 40s quickly. I don’t know what I’ll be like then, but I hope I’ll be someone who can express herself.

Michishige: So cool! I don’t want to be like “I’ve gotten older, so I don’t want to be seen.” I always want to be someone who wants to be seen. I definitely don’t want to shut myself out from everyone around me!

JunJun: I can’t wait to see what kind of face I have at age 40. Lately, I’ve been looking at old photos and thinking I looked so cute. I think my face has changed now. So, I think it would be best if my face doesn’t change from how it is now, even when I’m in my 40s. That way I could still be in Morning.

Takahashi: You’d still be doing it? You’d have to do a lot of dancing (lol)

Michishige: I’d definitely collapse.

JunJun: Age doesn’t matter. I think if you’re always up on stage, you’ll look young. I think I’d be able to dance okay.

Takahashi: Yeah, I guess you’d be pretty healthy if you kept on dancing like that.

Michishige: Amazing. For me, it depends on strength. That is, training myself up from where I am now depends on how hard I’m willing to try. (lol)

JunJun: I think it would be fun!

Michishige: But I think I’d rather watch my own kids dancing than be dancing myself. (lol)

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Morning Musume’s Takahashi Ai, Kamei Eri and Jun Jun were recently interviewed by online music magazine Hot Express, and we have the full translation for you here. It’s quite an in-depth interview, where they talk about topics such as the “new” Hello Project following the Elder Club Graduation, Morning Musume’s maturing sound, and their upcoming trip to America. There’s even a small acknowledgment that a new audition *might* be forthcoming. It’s a must read for all Morning Musume fans

Morning Musume is Undergoing Changes

On March 31, the Hello Project Elder Club members (Abe Natsumi, Yaguchi Mari, Matsuura Aya, etc) all graduated. It was a new beginning for the junior members. What might be called the core of Hello Project from now on, Morning Musume, under the leadership of Takahashi Ai, may be approaching an ideal time right now as the group undergoes these changes. We spoke with Takahashi Ai, Kamei Eri, and JunJun.

(via Hotexpress.co.jp)

– Of course, I’d like to talk about “Shouganai Yumeoibito” today, but first, I’d like to discuss this February’s Hello Project concert and Elder Club Graduation Special. What kind of a day was that for Morning Musume?

Takahashi Ai: It felt like a graduation ceremony, but because it was our elders graduating, it didn’t feel real. It felt sad reading the farewell speech, saying, “We may never get a chance to sing together again…” But it didn’t mean we’d never see each other again. It’s still a strange feeling today.

Kamei Eri: When I open up the mobile site “Pocket Morning”, I can still see the graduated members’ faces anytime. So it feels like they’re still Hello Project members. But when I think about it more, it’s just Morning Musume, Berryz Koubou, °C-ute, Mano (Erina)-chan, and the Hello Project Eggs.

Takahashi Ai: I’m sure there will be more Hello Project concerts, and it might feel more real then. But (former Hello Project leader) Nakazawa (Yuko)-san has handed the baton off to me, making me feel like, “I have to work hard now.”

– With the Elder Club gone, who is currently the oldest in Hello Project?

Takahashi Ai: That’s me. But ever since we started the separate Elder Club and Wonderful Hearts concerts, I was the oldest in Wonderful Hearts. So, it doesn’t really feel special now. (Looking at Kamei) There’s not much difference. The age range has narrowed. Amongst Berryz Koubou, °C-ute, and the 5th generation of Morning Musume, our histories are about the same.

– By the way, before the three of you joined Morning Musume, was there any Hello Project member you admired, or maybe one member you respected once you’d joined?

Takahashi Ai: Goto (Maki)-san really touched my heart. She graduated just after I joined. It was the first graduation ceremony that the 5th generation took part in. So, even though we didn’t work together that much, I learnt a lot from her in that short time. Even though she was so cool, she said, “I grew by watching Yagucchan (Yaguchi Mari), so you should probably watch her or something.” She didn’t talk about herself instead. That’s what really moved me.

Also, Yoshizawa (Hitomi)-san. When she became leader, I really started respecting her more and more. Before that, she was a lone wolf and a bit reckless. So it was like, “Where did that Yoshizawa-san go?” (laugh) She became leader so suddenly, so I’m sure she had a lot of worries. But she looked after us so well. It was similar to how I became leader, so I really feel like, “I want to be the kind of leader Yoshizawa-san was.”

Kamei Eri: Before I joined Morning Musume, I really liked Yagucchan. I thought, “She’s so tiny, so how can she stand out like that?” or “How can she be so energetic on TV? It’s amazing.” Also, she was a bit gal-ish. There was a time when I wanted to be a gal, too. (laugh) I really admired her cute makeup and hairstyles. But once I met her after joining Morning Musume, she taught me something important.

When I was debuting, I had a really quiet voice and that made a lot of people angry at me. (laugh) I didn’t understand why I needed to be louder. But there was a moment when that part of me changed. When we were making the dance lesson video for Sakura Gumi, we each introduced ourselves at the start. But I said, “I’m Kamei Eri,” so quietly. That’s when Yagucchan said to me, “You’re supposed to say ‘I’m Kamei Eri!’ so that everybody can understand you. You have to raise your voice and sound confident.” That’s when I thought, “I’m still a beginner and I don’t know much, so I have to try harder.”

Jun Jun: Before I joined Moning Musume, it was Goto-san. She’s really popular in China. I discovered Morning Musume because I liked Goto-san. Also when I first joined, I played futsal with Fujimoto (Miki)-san.* And at first, I was really scared. (laugh) When we were stretching together, she casually asked me, “Are you used to Japan yet?” It made me realise she was a good senpai. Also, I think Nakazawa-san has such powerful expressiveness. I really look up to her, like, “She’s a perfect senpai.” …But I love bananas, and she really hates them!

*[Note: It had been rumored that Jun Jun practiced with the Gatas Brilhantes futsal team when she first joined Hello Project, although she never actually played in a game. This seems to support that theory.]

– (laugh)

Jun Jun: So, I can’t tell her I love bananas. When I do talk about bananas, it’s always when she’s not around.

– Now that those members you look up to have graduated from Hello Project, what kind of future do you hope for Hello Project and Morning Musume?

Takahashi Ai: They’re the ones who created Morning Musume and developed Hello Project, and I’m sure we took parts of it for granted. So, from now on, I want us to treasure the parts that they all created without taking it for granted. I want to work hard so that we’ll have chances to show more people the current Morning Musume and Hello Project. We have a concert in LA in July, so I want more people to find out about us.

– I’d like to hear about that, but first, is there some image you have of Takahashi Ai’s ideal Morning Musume?

Takahashi Ai: In 2008, we had concerts in Shanghai, Taiwan, and Korea. We were aiming for an Asia tour, and when we achieved it, we started saying, “Next time, we want to aim for the world.” And this year, we’re going to LA. Music goes beyond national borders, you know? Even if they don’t understand the words, something gets across, and they can start crying. So that’s the kind of music I want to sing. And we’re always dancers, performers, and entertainers, so I want to use all of that to make ourselves known across borders. I want to be the kind of group that foreigners can listen to normally, as though it were western music. It’ll take a lot of hard work, but that’s what I’d like to do.

– So you aim to become global. What about you, Kamei-san?

Kamei Eri: This is just a short term goal, but I think that most people see Morning Musume as having a “cute, idol, slightly girlish” image. But lately, our songs, our dancing, and our makeup have all become more stylish. I think those who come to our concerts can tell, but the level of our dancing has been steadily moving up and up. Compared to when Junjun debuted, we’ve really grown. So, I want people to know that “The Morning Musume of today is this stylish” and that we’re not just cute.

– It’s obvious from your current concerts that you’re trying really hard to overcome that image.

Takahashi Ai: Compared to the songs from when we first started, we’ve tried moving on with different styles, both in singing and dancing. That’s what I really want people to know. Morning Musume’s iconic song is definitely “Love Machine”, and that bright, hyper, and cheerful image is what people think of when they think of Morning Musume. That’s important to hold onto. But, like Eri was saying, I want people to see the parts that show “We can do this too.” Not long ago, we had concerts in the hometowns of about four of us, and I invited friends that I hadn’t seen in around six years to see us. They all said things like, “You looked so cool.” That made me really happy, and I want to work hard so more people will think that way.

– I saw the current Morning Musume in concert last May, where you sang all 36 singles for “Morning Musume Concert Tour 2008 Spring ~ Single Daizenshuu! ~”, and it was really moving. I could feel that Morning Musume was a group where everybody would keep running happily towards their goals, no matter what happens.

Takahashi Ai: Thank you very much.

– But I’m sure that both at work and in private, there are things that you don’t like. It must be difficult to have to keep on smiling and give a 100% performance despite any of that.

Jun Jun: That’s right. At concert rehearsals, I get yelled at a lot. (laugh) But if you can’t work hard in rehearsal, you can’t enjoy the actual show, and then the fans won’t enjoy it.

Takahashi Ai: There are a lot of things that can help, though. There are times when you realise, “I have to smile,” and need to try harder. But also seeing the fans’ smiles is enough to completely switch your mood, and it makes us smile deep from within. You forget the bad things.

– That’s a good story. So why do you think Morning Musume is able to continue making people happy?

Takahashi Ai: We’ve come out with so many songs, this one being our 39th single. It even surprises us, like, “We’ve done so much!” This is the 12th year that the group has existed, and Tsunku♂-san has written so many songs, given us so many CD releases, allowed us to do so many concerts… It’s hard to put it into words, but because we’re needed, we can work hard. I want to keep on singing as much as possible.

Kamei Eri: There are people in the world who want to do things but can’t, and so many who want to make their debut but can’t. I was lucky enough to pass my audition, but there are a lot of people who didn’t make it. So it’s like I’m carrying all that on my shoulders in Morning Musume, and that’s what keeps me working hard. And above all else, having so many people watch me sing and dance the songs I love, it makes me truly happy to be in such a great place. When I can make the fans or my family smile, that makes me even happier. I want to really treasure those moments. It’s a little embarrassing.

– (laugh)

Takahashi Ai: But it’s true.

Kamei Eri: That’s what I like. And I think it’s really great that people will pay money to come and see us.

Jun Jun: If you think about it, most of the fans work all week, every week, Monday to Friday. That must be really hard, but when Saturday comes, they always come to our concerts and can laugh and make their tired work faces disappear. When I think of it that way, it makes me want to try harder.

– With Morning Musume chasing after their dreams no matter what like that, you’ve just released a single that embodies that philosophy. It’s called “Shouganai Yumeoibito”[hopeless dream chaser]. What kind of impressions and thoughts do you have from creating it?

Takahashi Ai: This time, the maturity level is high. Tsunku♂-san said it’s about someone roughly my age, so everybody had to act a little bit older for it. It’s a song about someone who’s close to her lover. It seemed like it would be difficult to explain the meaning of the lyrics to Junjun and Linlin, so I explained the meanings while we were in the car. That’s why it feels less like we’re singing sympathetically, and more like we’re acting the part, really getting into it.

Kamei Eri: In that way, it’s easy to get drawn into the world of this song. It’s easy to visualise it specifically.

– “How could you express such complicated feelings in your singing and in your expressions from the video?” It seems as though that was the theme here.

Takahashi Ai: That’s right. When we started recording, I was thinking, “How do I sing this?” It would be strange to sing it too intensely. That was my concern, but the music was quiet and echoed in my heart, so I just expressed that. The “shouganai yumeoibito” part sounds like something you’d hear in the Showa era (laugh) Also, I think that it depends on the person whether you would forgive the man in the song or not.

– Then let’s explore that. Do you like the kind of guy who would chase after a dream forever? Or would you want someone who has a more realistic view?

Kamei Eri: Huh!? Um… But I’m personally the indecisive type. I’m the type who’ll keep dragging something along. So, I think I’d want someone who would do the same. I’m the romantic type though, so I think I’d forgive him if I loved him. But I don’t know about the ironing though.

– You mean, “When I iron your clothes, the tears fall on my hands”? [a lyric from "Shouganai Yumeoibito"]

Kamei Eri: Yeah, I don’t know if I’d go that far. (laugh) But I think I’m the forgiving type. Well, I’m the total opposite of Ai-chan!

Takahashi Ai: Really!? But when I think about the story of this song, I think he’s going off to join a band or a theatre company. An uncertain job. It’s a fine detail (laugh) but that’s how it feels to me. So, it’s like I really want to calm him down and say, “Don’t chase after this dream.” But I want him to follow his dream. So, I don’t think I’d stop him. Because a person really shines when he chases a dream, and I admire that. So, I’d want to leave that alone. And if a person gives up on a dream, they might change completely.

– What about you, Junjun?

Jun Jun: I think it’s good to have a dream. People with dreams work hard. But if it’s someone who’s only thinking about the dream, the dream, the dream, the dream, the dream, I’d be thinking, “I’m here too, you know.” I think I’d work hard for his sake. But if he didn’t look my way at all, I think I’d be sad.

Takahashi Ai: It’s like, “It’s fine to follow your dream, but look at me, too.”

– It’s a balance.

Takahashi Ai: That balance is important.

Kamei Eri: It’s all about balance.

– It seems that this was a pretty heated topic, it got you talking more passionately than any other. Am I right?

All: (big laugh)

Kamei Eri: That’s about right.

– And as for the coupling song, you recorded a funky number called “3, 2, 1 Breakin’ Out!” What were your thoughts and impressions from that one?

Takahashi Ai: That song really feels like a Morning Musume song. It’s really easy to get into, and is the completely opposite image of “Shouganai Yumeoibito”. The rapping part was pretty funny.

Kamei Eri: It made it more interesting having Morning Musume singing something that feels like it goes to the whole world. We’ve had a lot of sad songs lately, so it was fun to have an upbeat song like this for a change.

– This song is going to be the official song of “Anime Expo 2009″ at the Los Angeles Convention Centre. With the concert being held at this event, what kind of show would you like it to be?

Takahashi Ai: Well, I’m really going to do my best! This is our chance. I’m psyched.

– Will you greet everyone in English?

Takahashi Ai: I think, in English… I’ll try my best.

Kamei Eri: Please do your best!

– What about you (laugh)!?

Takahashi Ai: Really!

– You won’t be there?

Kamei Eri: I will! It’s just that I can’t even imagine what it’ll be like. But with “3, 2, 1 Breakin’ Out!” as the theme song, I want to create the impression in America that, “This song is Morning Musume.” I want everyone humming it.

Jun Jun: I can’t really believe it. I’m too happy, so it just feels like, “Really?” And when I first heard “3, 2, 1 Breakin’ Out!”, I thought it was definitely something that foreigners would like. So, I’m sure it’ll be a good show. And the food sizes are so big in America, so I’m sure I’ll get fat. I should probably slim down before we go.

All: (big laugh)

– With your first American concert, Morning Musume is surely going through changes. What else is in store for the group this year?

Takahashi Ai: I’d like to make things new. So the new members…

Jun Jun: She said it!

Kamei Eri: Do you know something?

Takahashi Ai: I don’t. It’s just that the current lineup is the longest Morning Musume has ever gone without changing. About two years. So I think it’s about time something happened.

– Okay, we’re almost done. Each of you please give a message to the readers.

Jun Jun: With our new single “Shouganai Yumeoibito”, Morning Musume has really grown and we’re more like adult women than ever before. Even as we remember the importance of cuteness and energy, we sing with the feelings of an adult woman. Anyway, please listen to it!

Takahashi Ai: Our elders graduated on March 31, and now we in Morning Musume have to forge ahead with energy. We’re going to keep doing concerts, so even though it may take some courage for someone new to come to a Morning Musume concert, why not give it a try? Or something like that (laugh) This new song has a mature feeling, so I hope you’ll try it out once and listen to it.

Kamei Eri: Morning Musume today is really made up of different individual personalities. If you want to find out more about those personalities, we do radio shows, magazine articles, TV appearances, and lots of individual activities. I won’t say quite what Ai-chan said, “Try coming to one of our concerts.” But if you have the time, check out a radio show or something. I’ll be happy if you can get a little closer to Morning Musume like that.

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The new issue of Kindai magazine has a 4-page interview with the girls of Morning Musume, to help promote their new single “Shouganai Yumeoibito”. Five questions are asked to each member, with the theme being “dreams”. Read on to see the full translation, plus scans of the article.

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Question 1: What is a dream you’d like to come true once?
Niigaki: Just once, I’d like to be a part of the Disneyland Parade, and ride on that shining train!

Question 2: What’s a dream that you’ve had when you were asleep that left an impression?
Niigaki: I’ve had a lot of different ones, but a good one… The night before the first day of a concert, I dreamt of the concert, and it was a big success!

Question 3: What is your current dream?
Niigaki: I want to try acting. I can send a message to people through singing, but I dream of being able to send a moving message through acting!

Question 4: What are your recommended and favourite points of the new single “Shou ga nai Yume Oibito”?
Niigaki: When I was talking with the other members about it (the feelings of the person in the song), there were some who said, “I can understand,” and some who said, “I don’t get it.” So, there are a lot of different types, and I think everyone who listens to it will have a different impression.

Question 5: Give a message to everybody who is chasing after a dream!
Niigaki: Eight years ago, I had the dream, “I want to be in Morning Musume.” And because I didn’t give up, I became part of Morning Musume, and now I feel like I’m continuing on and shining with my dreams. So, everybody who’s chasing a dream, I hope you won’t give up on it.

Question 1: What is a dream you’d like to come true once?
Mitsui: I want to ride on a flying carpet! I want to fly through the sky on something other than a helicopter or a plane.

Question 2: What’s a dream that you’ve had when you were asleep that left an impression?
Mitsui: A dream of the end of the world. I was the only one on Earth, and I was in a nursery. When I woke up, I jumped out of bed and looked for my mother! (lol)

Question 3: What is your current dream?
Mitsui: I want a pet white tiger. And a lion and a regular tiger, too! And I want to live in a big house like a castle.

Question 4: What are your recommended and favourite points of the new single “Shou ga nai Yume Oibito”?
Mitsui: The final part ♪ But even still, I love you ♪ That’s the part that I recommend. When we first started recording it, we were told, “Sing it with as much feeling as you can.” I put so much effort into it and sang so hard that I ended up laughing (lol). So I hope everyone can hear how hard we worked on it.

Question 5: Give a message to everybody who is chasing after a dream!
Mitsui: Having a dream and burning with ambition is just like in the “Shou ga nai Yume Oibito” lyrics. I think it makes you ♪ Shine ♪ Everybody is going to love somebody who shines, so if there’s something you yearn for, work hard to make it happen, and please chase after your dreams with optimism.

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Question 1: What is a dream you’d like to come true once?
Tanaka: I want to be able to do magic! And I want to be someone who can read people’s minds! Like, “What is this person thinking? I’ll just look into his heart ♥” I want to read the feelings of people I’m interested in!

Question 2: What’s a dream that you’ve had when you were asleep that left an impression?
Tanaka: I’ve had this dream twice now. I’m shopping at a supermarket, and I go to the park to rest, when a girl dressed in red with short hair comes up and steals my potato chips. (lol)

Question 3: What is your current dream?
Tanaka: I want to go to Hawaii with my family!

Question 4: What are your recommended and favourite points of the new single “Shou ga nai Yume Oibito”?
Tanaka: I think there are two different feelings in this song. There’s the feeling of wanting to support a dream, and a feeling of not giving up on the reality in front of you. So, I think how people will feel about it depends on the person. That’s the key point. For me, it’s like, “Why are you giving up? Keep burning with ambition!” (lol)

Question 5: Give a message to everybody who is chasing after a dream!
Tanaka: Whether your dreams come true or not may be a matter of luck, but I think if you work hard, you can be confident and brave. And it’s fun to be chasing after a dream. So treasure that important, shining time.

Question 1: What is a dream you’d like to come true once?
Linlin: I want to buy a big house like a castle for my mom and dad.

Question 2: What’s a dream that you’ve had when you were asleep that left an impression?
Linlin: I was being chased by a ghost, and I didn’t think there was anywhere to run, when somebody’s hand protected me, and I woke up. And my mother’s hand was lying on my chest. It was just like the situation in my dream!

Question 3: What is your current dream?
Linlin: To be a super idol!

Question 4: What are your recommended and favourite points of the new single “Shou ga nai Yume Oibito”?
Linlin: I noticed something amazing. The story is a bit different, but the feeling is the same. I came to Japan chasing my dream, and mom and dad are like the girl in the song. When she was cleaning up my room, she took out my clothes, and even though she didn’t have an iron, she did start to cry. So I can understand the feeling.

Question 5: Give a message to everybody who is chasing after a dream!
Linlin: I’m chasing after a dream, too. I know that if I keep working hard, there’ll be results. And even if a dream doesn’t come true, working hard is a good life experience and a treasure. So if you have a dream, please chase after it so you have no regrets.

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Question 1: What is a dream you’d like to come true once?
Junjun: I’d be happy if I could be in a movie or a drama.

Question 2: What’s a dream that you’ve had when you were asleep that left an impression?
Junjun: I was with my friends at school, going to classes, eating lunch, playing around, when suddenly everyone disappeared. I was so scared that I started crying. I woke up and I was still crying.

Question 3: What is your current dream?
Junjun: I want to buy a new house for my parents!

Question 4: What are your recommended and favourite points of the new single “Shou ga nai Yume Oibito”?
Junjun: The last song “Naichau kamo” was a sad song, but this new one is even more sad. I love all the lyrics. ♪ When I remember your sleeping face, the tears start to flow ♪ or ♪ When I iron your clothes, the tears fall on my hands ♪ It really touches my heart. It’s like the story from a drama. That’s how I could sing with so much feeling, by thinking I was acting.

Question 5: Give a message to everybody who is chasing after a dream!
Junjun: My dream is to buy a house for my parents, but I’m embarrassed to say that after two years in Japan, I haven’t saved up any money. I spend it all… (lol) So I’m working hard for my dream, so let’s all work hard together. Let’s save our money together! (lol)

Question 1: What is a dream you’d like to come true once?
Michishige: I want perfect pitch. It’s my dream to be able to hit the right note, no matter what. That’s too cool! (lol)

Question 2: What’s a dream that you’ve had when you were asleep that left an impression?
Michishige: There was a dream I had in kindergarten. Back then I really wanted a pet. But I had a dream where there was an elephant and a giraffe in front of the house, and I couldn’t get out. After that, I didn’t want a pet so much (lol)

Question 3: What is your current dream?
Michishige: I always want to be chasing a dream. There are little goals every day, so right now my dream is to have something to aim for, so that some day I’ll have a big dream.

Question 4: What are your recommended and favourite points of the new single “Shou ga nai Yume Oibito”?
Michishige: My favourite part is the bright and shiny intro. It makes you excited, thinking, “What kind of song will this be?” And then it grabbed hold of my heart (lol)

Question 5: Give a message to everybody who is chasing after a dream!
Michishige: When you’re chasing a dream, you can be nervous and uncertain, but I think a lot of fun can come from it, too. But if you try too hard, you’ll end up spinning your wheels. So please face your dreams and chase after them at your own pace, not running too fast, one step at a time, and without withdrawing from reality.

Question 1: What is a dream you’d like to come true once?
Kusumi: I want a day-long full-body massage! I want all the kinks worked out. And after that, I want to eat lots of crab!

Question 2: What’s a dream that you’ve had when you were asleep that left an impression?
Kusumi: “Ice-man” (an original character that appears in my dreams – lol) was going to bite my thumb. He bit my sister, and her thumb froze. (lol)

Question 3: What is your current dream?
Kusumi: I want to do a Koharu project, where I can meet and talk to all the fans. There are lots of things I want to do with everybody.

Question 4: What are your recommended and favourite points of the new single “Shou ga nai Yume Oibito”?
Kusumi: For me, the words and feeling of the lyrics is very “Showa era”. So, to feel like the girl in the song, I didn’t put myself into it. Instead I sang with the feelings of a 24-year-old (lol). There are a lot of Morning Musume songs that a lot of people can empathise with, but I hope people will listen to this one and feel a brand new kind of appeal to it.

Question 5: Give a message to everybody who is chasing after a dream!
Kusumi: No matter what, don’t give up, and do everything that you can. I think that by thinking there’s nothing I can’t do, I do everything with all my might, and it gets me a little closer to my dreams.

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Question 1: What is a dream you’d like to come true once?
Takahashi: I want to fly through the sky with my own power!

Question 2: What’s a dream that you’ve had when you were asleep that left an impression?
Takahashi: After watching a certain movie, I had a dream where all the members were fighting each other. It was so scary!

Question 3: What is your current dream?
Takahashi: A star! Just kidding (lol). I’m trying my best to live a bright, shining life.

Question 4: What are your recommended and favourite points of the new single “Shou ga nai Yume Oibito”?
Takahashi: The image that comes to my mind is of a couple, where the boyfriend wants to be a musician or an actor, and he’s chasing his dream. But the girlfriend is worried about his future… That’s how it feels to me. Her feelings are in this song, and because I’m chasing a dream too, it was easy for me to put my own feelings into the recording session. The lyrics are like the lines in a story, and I think this could have been made into a drama (lol)

Question 5: Give a message to everybody who is chasing after a dream!
Takahashi: I’m chasing a dream too, but when you chase a dream, you don’t know if you’ll reach it, so there are realities and uncertainties. But I think that people shine when they’re chasing a dream, so whether it comes true or not, don’t give up, and do your best to reach your dream.

Question 1: What is a dream you’d like to come true once?
Kamei: I want to be over 170cm tall, like a model, stylish and with with long legs!

Question 2: What’s a dream that you’ve had when you were asleep that left an impression?
Kamei: I really don’t remember them… But there is one that I remember, where in my dream I was wearing the exact same clothes as Ai-chan (lol)

Question 3: What is your current dream?
Kamei: My father said, “I’ll take you to a really good restaurant that serves horse meat.” But our schedules haven’t worked out. So I want to go soon and try this delicious horse meat (lol)

Question 4: What are your recommended and favourite points of the new single “Shou ga nai Yume Oibito”?
Kamei: After the chorus, there’s a phrase ♪ A helpless dream chaser ♪ The music changes there, and it becomes more mature and sorrowful. But it also has a fresh sound, so I’d like people to listen for that.

Question 5: Give a message to everybody who is chasing after a dream!
Kamei: I was lucky to get into Morning Musume, so one of my dreams has already come true. But now I’m chasing a new dream. Dreams keep on going, and never end, so I think it’s great to chase them. Don’t rush it, and let’s all work together to make our dreams come true.

 

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In this interview published yesterday, Kago talks about her movie “Kung Fu Chefs”, her upcoming role in the next installment of the “Ju-On” franchise, and her plans to release new music soon.

 

“Kung Fu Chef” Kago Ai Exclusive Interview

Q: Please tell us your impressions from the time you found out you’d be in a Hong Kong movie, up until when you actually filmed it.
Kago: Okay. I’d only just made my show business return, and I was trying to decide what kind of work I should be doing, when I was told about “Kung Fu Chefs”. I’d never been to Hong Kong, for work or for pleasure, and it would be a month-long stay instead of just 2 or 3 days. Everything would be a new experience for me, so I couldn’t help being uncertain at first (lol).

Q: It would be your major movie debut, and your first time doing action work, right?
Kago: That’s right. Right after I arrived in Hong Kong, I had 3 days off. So I started practicing for the action scenes and taking the time to get used to the city. I went to a lot of places in those 3 days, and experienced a lot of things. I think I absorbed a lot of Hong Kong culture. If you just honk your horn once there, the people are very polite (lol)

Q: What was it like when it came time to actually film your action scenes?
Kago: Action is just like dance, since you have to learn the choreography first. Once you’ve got that down, you know how you’re supposed to move, and the most important thing is being able to act while doing the moves! But because it happens so quickly, I was always forgetting. I’m unathletic and bad with directions (lol), so it was tough for me. But I learnt a lot on the set.

Q: Because it was your comeback work, did you think of it as something you had to be enthusiastic with?
Kago: Yeah. But not just my comeback work “Kung Fu Chefs”. I’m enthusiastic about any work I do now. When I went to Hong Kong for it, I knew nobody would know me overseas, so I had to make myself a representative of Japan. Everybody there was so professional, so that was a big incentive.

Q: Did Hong Kong movie legend Sammo Hung give you any advice?
Kago: I was lucky to see his action scenes being filmed live just before my own action scenes, but because we couldn’t communicate with words, we didn’t really mix at first. So in the beginning, I just watched every take of him being filmed, and he never seemed to get tired! You can really feel his aura just by watching his movies, but he was even more amazing in person!

Q: Were there any interesting episodes with the hot young actor Vanness Wu?
Kago: While we were filming, Vanness Wu was always drawing. I don’t know if he’s any good, but his drawings have character (lol). He seemed to be working hard on his drawings every day, but depending on the day, they’d always come out differently (lol). One day I asked him about it, and he explained it was a picture of a hand coming out of a leaf. I drew a picture of an elephant beside it, but it felt like on that day, Vanness Wu expressed the way he was feeling in his picture (lol)

Q: Apart from the difficulties of doing an action movie, do you have lots of fun memories from it?
Kago: A lot of it was hard, bet there were fun times, too. In the dressing room area, we’d all get together and watch Sammo Hung’s movies. But sometimes when he left the room, we watch something else on TV instead (lol) But we’d always watch music shows when Vanness Wu’s F4 came on. Everybody had a good time! Sometimes Japanese TV shows would be on, and shows with me singing (lol)

Q: With all those memories from “Kung Fu Chefs”, what were your impressions when your first got to watch it?
Kago: It was different from the script and story I’d been given at first, and the ending was changed a little. There were some scenes that weren’t included, and it didn’t follow the script exactly, so that was a surprise. But it was a strange feeling. It was strange seeing myself in a movie, and I tried to watch objectively at first. I just watched the cooking and everyday scenes silently, and it really touched my heart! I think there’s a lot of humanity packed into the movie, and it really turned out great.

Q: How did it feel having your first work since your comeback overseas instead of in Japan?
Kago: It would sound really cool if I said it was great, but looking back now, I think it was a good thing that my first comeback job was in Hong Kong. I could keep on being myself, which maybe I couldn’t do in Japan (lol). And going overseas, nobody knows who I am. That let me live my life in a way even I didn’t know I could. It’s really strange. There’s no need for a Kago Ai overseas, so I can be coloured by each country. I want to be coloured by them. I want to absorb everything.

Q: Please tell us your dreams, hopes, and goals for your future show business work.
Kago: Right now I want to earn the title “actor”. The other day I acted a part in a horror movie coming out in summer, the new film in the “Ju-on” series! I thought at the time that I had horror acting ability. You have to be able to act scared of something that isn’t there. As it happened, when I had to make a lot of noise, the other actors and the staff all encouraged me, and I overcame it with power. It was tough, but I had a lot of fun.

Q: Do you feel like you’ve learnt something about acting from “Kung Fu Chefs” or the new “Ju-on” movie?
Kago: Before filming starts, before I start acting, I write down a detailed analysis of my personality in a notebook. Then I analyse the character I’m going to be playing. Then I compare to see which parts are like me, and which parts aren’t and write out what needs to change. I think that’s a good idea. I got more confident after “Kung Fu Chefs”, so I want to take this chance to work hard as a movie actor.

Q: You’re planning to sing songs produced by Nakanishi Keizou, so it sounds like you’ve got a lot of activity ahead of you!
Kago: Yeah. The songs will be released in June. But because I’m creating something writing these songs, I don’t think it’s enough to just be satisfied with it myself. So when the fans receive it, I want to hear all the good and bad impressions of it. It’s just like at a restaurant (lol). You want to hear all different viewpoints and impressions, from delicious to awful. I want to keep on growing as an actor, but a also want to be someone who can do anything in the future.

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