Momoiro Clover Z's Epic Stage Sets

Momoiro Clover Z is known for putting on great live shows. After seeing what their management company, Stardust Promotion, came up for their Summer concert this year, I thought I'd take a look back at some of the epic sets that have graced Momoclo's stages the years.

Tohjin-sai

Starting in 2014, they raised the bar for their annual summer concerts by adding themes. They incorporated elements from traditional Japanese culture and mythology and were subtitled "Tohjin-sai (桃神祭)". This is a stage mix from all 3 concerts.

The theme of 2014's concert was a "Japanese Festival". A 20 meter (65 foot) Shinto Shrine was erected in the center of the stage. It was estimated to have cost 500 Million Yen (about 4.5 Million dollars). 630 people from festival organizations all over the country gathered to help create the best Summer Festival in Japan.

They also included a bridge on both sides.

The stage lit up at night.

Tojinsai 2016 ~ Onigashima ~

Onigashima is the mythical land of Ogres that was visited by the folk character Momotaro. The real life location is the island of Megijima. Here's some background from Wikipeidia:

"Momotarō was born from a giant peach, which was found floating down a river by an old, childless woman who was washing clothes there. The woman and her husband discovered the child when they tried to open the peach to eat it. The child explained that he had been bestowed by the Gods to be their son. The couple named him Momotarō, from momo (peach) and tarō (eldest son in the family).

When he matured into adolescence, Momotarō left his parents to fight a band of Oni (demons or ogres) who marauded over their land, by seeking them out in the distant island where they dwelled (a place called Onigashima or "Demon Island"). En route, Momotarō met and befriended a talking dog, monkey and pheasant, who agreed to help him in his quest in exchange for a portion of his rations (kibi dango or "millet dumplings"). At the island, Momotarō and his animal friends penetrated the demons' fort and beat the band of demons into surrendering. Momotarō and his new friends returned home with the demons' plundered treasure and the demon chief as a captive. "

You can just make out some Oni drummers in the background.

The members entered the stage through the door underneath the giant Oni.

There was also a water show using fountains.

And they rode a Dragon.

Performance of "We Are Born"

MomocloMania

Starting in 2018, MomocloMania took over as the title for their summer concerts. The inspiration for the name came from the WWE's annual WrestleMania event that started back in 1985. Officially titled "MomocloMania 2018 - Road to 2020-", they based the theme for the concert around Extreme Sports and featured events like Skateboarding, BMX, and 3x3 Basketball.

(*The theme of Momoclomania is specifically "the integration of Idol and Sports")

(**In 2017, Momoiro Clover Z started adding "Road to 2020" to their concerts in anticipation of the 2020 Olympics and began incorporated athletic themes into their live shows and MVs)

The centerpiece of the stage set was a replica of Mount Rushmore featuring the heads of the 4 members.

In addition to the athletic events, Momoiro Clover Z also collaborated with Samurai Rock Orchestra. Tamai Shiori starred in Samurai Rock Orchestra's "Muscle Musical" which was an acrobatic stage production of the Wizard of Oz that actually wasn't a musical. Because of her experience with the troupe, she stepped in to participate.

This is a digest video from the concert.

For the second year under the MomocloMania banner, MCZ raised the bar yet again. Titled "MomocloMania 2019 - ROAD TO 2020 - Shijou Saidai Pure Kaikai Shiki (The biggest pre-opening ceremony ever)", the stage set resembled a Roman Colosseum, complete with 4 giant Gladiator Helmets at the top.

The helmets were designed with a unique lighting rig so the eyes flicker in time to the music. They opened up to reveal each member as they were introduced, and they road down to the stage from inside them.

The concert also featured 217 cheerleaders, a 38 member marching band, and 47 Japanese dancers. Special guests included Former Takarazuka Revue performer Hinami Fu and Pro Wrestler the Great Muta.

Hinami played the Goddess of Victory in the story that unfolds during the concert.

Unfortunately, only one official video has been uploaded from the concert so far and it doesn't showcase the stage very well, so I'll end the retrospective with this.

JPop Videos to Enjoy on Halloween

I didn't do this last year, so I thought it would be fun to put together a list of Halloween themed JPop MVs. I added some additional clips for flavor.

Playlist

*Halloween Horror Nights CM (Universal Studios Japan)

1. AKB48 - Halloween Night

2. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Fashion Monster

3. SEKAI NO OWARI - ANTI - HERO

4. Reol - Yu-rezumi-/Phanto(me)

5. Wenra - Yokai Disco

6. TOKYO GEGEGAY - Gegegay no Kitaro

*Zombie de Dance

(J Soul Brothers collaboration with Universal Studio Japan Horror Night)

7. Momoiro Clover Z - Saraba, Itoshiki Kanashimitachi yo (Farewell, My Dear Sorrows)

8. Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku - Kindan no Karuma (Forbidden Karma)

9. Black Gene for the Next Scene - ~ This is monster world ~

10. MAX - Dracula

11. BiSH - Tsuini Shi (Finally Death)

12. GACKT - GHOST

I didn't include this in the playlist because it's not an MV, but I thought I'd post it as a bonus. It's some background mood music used for Universal Studios Horror Night along with J Soul Brothers "Rat-tat-tat" which is the theme for the event. It's the perfect thing to kick off your Halloween dance party.

Understanding Stardust Planet's New Variety Show

Stardust Planet started a new Variety Show this month. Titled "Momokuro to Iku! (Go With Momoclo!)", the show is being advertised as an "emotionally connecting road movie". Every week, 1 member from Momoclo and 1-3 other Stardust Idols will travel to a specific region of Japan and showcase things unique to the area. Sounds like they'll be visiting all 47 prefectures.

In addition to discovering new things, I think it's also meant to bring the Stardust groups closer together. In an article I read, Honoka (Team Shachi) says how all the groups only get together about once or twice a year, so it's great to travel in a random combination like this and talk about various things. Shiori (Momoclo) also mentions it's a rare opportunity for the three of them to get together like this and share their interests. I believe there is an additional purpose to the show. Stardust is holding another huge concert next year similar to Summer S with all the Stardust Planet groups. Momoiku is probably intended to bring attention to all the newer groups that fans aren't that familiar with in anticipation of the event. Something like this is a long time coming, so I'm glad they're finally giving more exposure to the division.

I originally intended to just give a brief summary of the 1st episode to help people understand the show better, but once I started translating, I couldn't resist digging deeper and I decided to make a full blog post on it. I won't be able to do something like this for every episode, but I'll probably pick one from each team up and do a write up for it. Without further ado, on with the show!

All 4 members of Momoclo are gathered around a table with a giant map of Japan. The Cheif Producer of BS Nippon Television (BS日テレ) enters the room. He thanks them for coming. Reni asks if the map has any significance, and the producer proceeds to tell them why they're here. Led by Momoiro Clover Z, this new program travels all over Japan with Stardust Idols! He also explains the "Road Movie" concept for the show. They will share with viewers notable products from the places they visit throughout Japan!

The members think about where they want to go. I don't know how it was decided, but they end up going to Kanagawa. Kanagawa is a coastal prefecture just south of Tokyo, and part of the Greater Tokyo Area. Yokohama is the capitol of the prefecture.

Shiori arrives at Koshigoe Station (腰越駅前) at 7:30 am. Even though map later points to the coast line of Kanagawa, the sign at the station indicates she's on Enoshima Island (江ノ島方面) which is off the Shonan coast. After introductions to the crew, Shiori comments: "Is is starting today? I'm a bit nervous. I don't know what to do."

Shiori is joined by Team Shachi's Akimoto Honoka and Batten Showjo Tai's Kiyama Ai. She comments on how they traveled from Nagoya and Fukuoka respectively. Shiori asks if Honoka or Ai have been to Kanagawa before. It's the first time for both of them.

A staff member gives them their mission:

"Report on the best items you found at the place you went to.

You can't return until you clear everything!"

The penalty comes as a shock to the members.

They're then given a card with a clue about what they need to find:

"Give a good reporting on a Koshigoe Specialty

Get that small thing!"

This will be the first of 5 episodes reporting from Kanagawa.

We then see the Momoiku! Rule Table, reiterating what's already been said:

1. To clear the theme, you must GET the product.

2. You can't go home until you clear all the themes.

3. The members must personally investigate.

4. ????????

The theme must be the item they have to get each episode which is hinted at with wording like "small thing".

(*Edit: After receiving some feedback, I thought I should clarify what it means to "GET" something. In Japanese culture "GET" simply means acquiring an item, but it also has a great feeling of success)

After exploring the area for a bit, the group finds a bakery. Ai goes inside to ask if they can enter. Once they receive permission, Shiori reads the card to the employee who informs them that a small specialty is "Shirasu (しらす)" which translates to Whitebait. Shiori is shook.

(*Whitebait is a collective term for the immature fry of fish, typically between 1 and 2 inches long. Such young fish often travel together in schools along the coast, and move into estuaries and sometimes up rivers where they can be easily caught with fine meshed fishing nets. Some countries use up to 23 species of immature fish, including the fry of eel, plaice, whiting, herring sprat and bass, along with shrimp, crab, octopus and even jellyfish)

They've received a heavy hint!! After getting the hint, there is a short profile on the bakery. They seem to use allot of lemon in their baking. After receiving a money purse, the 4th rule is revealed. This free pocket money is 5000 yen. It will most likely have to last them over the course of their stay in Kanagawa.

They present a program sticker present for the store before going outside. After enjoying their purchases, the team is still on stage 1.

After following the instructions of the bakery employee, they turn the corner and get a surprise when they see how close the ocean is.

Honoka: "Is that the sea already?"
Shiori: "I can see the sea!"

They approach an older man and look for more info on the item then need to get:

Shiori: "Do you know where we can get Shirasu around here?"
Older Man: "It's probably still too early."

After coming up short at an empty store front, Honoka spies a sign for the fishing port, so they decide to go straight to the source. They approach a fisherman and ask about Shirasu. This part is a little confusing. He says they fish for Octopus, but I think I'm still missing something. Judging by their reactions, it seems like they weren't expecting him to say that.

I think the members aren't entirely sure what's considered Shirasu, so they don't know if this will count. It's a small item, so the group decides to ask the staff if this is considered Shirasu.

The staff member asks: "Are you sure you want this as your final answer?"

Shiori responds: "But our final answer is our first answer", lol.

It's acceptable! Octopus is one of many creatures that are served as whitebait, but doesn't seem particularly common in Japan, so I'm still a little confused. I may have to translate this section again.

Fisherman: "The boat is leaving to fish the Shirasu right now"
Honoka speaks up: "Why don't we ride on it!"

This triggers the following title:

"A bold request from Honoka!!"

The fisherman approves their request. But before we get to the boat trip, random product placement time! Kanako, Arin, and Reni ate too much gyoza and are lamenting that they have stomach aches. Shiori doesn't seem to be feeling well either and reaches inside her backpack. She has something that will do the trick, "Ohta Isan" Ohta brand stomach medicine. It must be expensive because she doesn't seem to want to share, lol.

Back in Kanagawa, Shiori, Honoka, and Ai have suited up for their fishing expedition. 

The boat goes to check some traps that they already set. The girls help pull up the traps and Honoka is a natural. Ai takes her turn and pulls up a big octopus in her trap. The Fisherman comments that it's #1 for the day.

The girls comment that they've caught some Gonzui (ゴンズイ), which is "Striped Eel Catfish". The title card comments that Honoka must only be able to speak to Gonzui since that's mostly what they

find in the traps she pulls up. Honoka is the only left who hasn't gotten an octopus. She tries yet again, but instead gets a "Gomodoki (ゴモドキ)" which is an armored catfish. In total, they caught 20 octopus.

(*Edit: Going back to the "GET" criteria, I don't know if the team achieved a goal or not in this episode. Their answer was acceptable, but it's not clear if they advanced to the next stage. As the above picture shows, they "GET" octopus, but I don't know if this really counts towards obtaining Shirasu. Since octopus is only an ingredient in Shirasu, I suspect they won't achieve their goal until they have the final product in their hands. I'm sure everything will become clear over the following episodes)

And that concludes this episode. The adventure continues in episode 2:

"The long cherished fishing of Shirasu.

The girls finally get to taste the item of their quest."

The first episode can be watched in it's entirety here:

I hope this helps anyone interested in watching the show to understand it a little better. I haven't settled on a format for these write ups yet, so it's a bit rough. The next one should be a little more polished. Until next time!

Lil' Fang shares her thoughts on turning 25

25's View #8 Lil' Fang

"Neither an Adult nor a Child. Who are we?"

It's said that age 25 is a turning point in life. What do you feel at this milestone?
For the 8th edition, the Artist this time is Lil' Fang.

(*This series is interviewing 25 people about their experiences turning 25 yrs. old and documenting it with photos)

--Please introduce yourself.

I'm Lil' Fang from the Girl's Group "FAKY". I'm 25 and from Tokyo. I'm a singer.

--What do you feel now that you're 25 yrs. old?

25 was a turning point for me. One of the original members of FAKY left the group, and new members joined. I also developed vocal chord polyps for the first time. I'd been singing for 10 yrs. and had never gotten sick. I was also worried because of the change to the line up. I was thinking about how to live my life as a singer, and because of the situation, it became hard to sing.

At that time, I had to face myself. It would be better to say I was conflicted. In my condition, I could only speak faintly, so the other members and I were concerned. I said that "For people who live to sing, it's no good to stop the life of a song just for such a moment. I will stop activities and focus on treatment."

It seemed like the best thing was for me to get back to 100% as soon as possible. After the surgery, I could take my mental recovery slowly, but would be able to sing again quickly.

More than anything, I was shocked at how quickly everything changed. Things had been the same for so long, and now everything was different. To be honest, the impact of the situation made me feel even more serious about singing. Because I was able to overcome it with the help of the staff and group members, I feel like my connection with the songs and the members is stronger than ever before.

I've resolved to "Not retire until we sell". This resolution was greatly affected by past experiences. When I was 18, I received a call from Avex, but at the same time, I was meeting with an an Indies company, and I asked "will an album be released through the office?"

There were allot of people and a bunch of songs. They said "Even though we're a small company, I have all these people and we'll make something cool, so why don't you come here?"

I was lost. For me, I think that Art, Music, and the world of expression is a big part of my self satisfaction. I think the number of people who can empathize with your music is important. I wondered if I could achieve enough satisfaction on the Indies, so when I spoke with the Avex representative, I thought there was an opportunity to increase the amount of empathy and reach more people with Avex.

(*Empathize might sound like a weird way to put it, but I got some help and this is what Lil's Fang is saying)

When I spoke honestly about it with the Indies rep, they said "Of course you'd be happy if you came here, but I think you may not have allot of opportunities to grow. Keep going." So I signed with Avex and became a member of FAKY. Because I had this experience, I vowed "I can't quite until I sell".

I came to this company to sell, and to "continue music" in these surroundings. Although many people have changed their purpose, I don't want to waver. That's too scary.

I don't think it makes sense to release something without asking many people to listen. And even if I have a job that I don't like in the future, I will do it if it sells. I will prepare for the challenge.

(*This sentence was a bit tricky. I'm not completely sure, but it sounds like she'll do whatever it takes for FAKY to be successful, even it means doing things that she doesn't necessarily enjoy)

--What's your favorite motto?

The phrase "It takes great effort to surpass a genius". I'm a genius who has to work hard. I was strongly influenced by my Father's teachings.

--Is there anything you'd like to say to yourself 5 yrs. from now?

Well, I don't have expectations for the future in the first place. I don't have any specific dreams. It's like, I wanted to wear this today, but I might want to wear different clothes tomorrow. It's similar to that.

I don't want to sound too lame with my own words. They say you can't change your station in life without speaking. Sometimes I get tongue tied when something is imposed on me...Questions like "Which Artists do you like?" Because it changes from time to time, I try to answer with "I'm listening to 'so and so' right now."

I want to be able to do things in the moment! I want to live without too many distractions as much as possible. In regards to singing, I keep myself as open minded as possible. After that, no matter what I lose, whether it's friends, lovers, or parents, as long as I have my voice, I'll continue singing. It doesn't need to be re-affirmed however many years later.

Lil' Fang

25 yr. old Artist.

(*This isn't really necessary, but I translated the bio they wrote for Lil' because they include some things I didn't know about her)

Lil' Fang, who prefers bleached short haircuts and fashion with a twist, her biggest weapon is her overwhelming singing ability. She's also received great acclaim from BACK-ON members who collaborated on the Opening Theme for the Anime "Gundam Build Fighters" and "Wimp ft. Lil' Fang (From FAKY)". Before joining FAKY, she became a hot topic by performing covers of Western songs in Shibuya clubs, and boasts a surprisingly wide range of genres from HIPHOP and Anime to Western Rock. The name "Lil' Fang" was given to her by her music teacher. As the name suggests, her singing voice has a sharp edge that pierces the hearts of those who listen to it, drawing them into the warm embrace of FAKYWORLD. She is currently appearing on the Internet Radio Show "Gojirepu" that specializes in HIPHOP with Akina serving as the MC.

FAKY

"Next Generation Girls Union FAKY" realistically pretending to be fake. The strongest 5 people with different roots and styles gather (=Union). "CANDY", released in 2016, was ranked 3rd on iTunes's overall top albums after Ariana Grande and Radiohead. "Surrender", announced in 2017, entered into US and Japan Top 10 and was included in the "Spotify Viral Top 50 chart". In July 2019, they announced the release of a dance single trilogy based around the themes of girl power. The MV for The first entry, "Girls Gotta Live", was released on August 23rd. With successful performances in Brazil and Canada, they've been drawing the attention of top creatives from various countries.

https://qetic.jp/music/25sview-8-feature/329953/

Aya EightPrince (Former BiS) - First Solo Interview

*This Interview was originally published by Billboard Japan on 2019.8.16

Aya EightPrince Acting Debut Interview "So Close, Yet So Far Away"

"I had nothing, but I wanted to give people hope"

Aya Eight Prince has been focusing on her new direction ever since the 2nd Generation of BiS disbanded on May 11th. This Summer, she made her acting debut in the Twitter Drama "So Close, Yet So Far Away", and taken a step in a direction no one expected. I spoke with Aya about her story and vision for the future. Days after the disbandment, Aya couldn't walk on her own, and suspended activities due to her poor condition. She was touched by the support she received, and had her first experience as an actress. In her first solo interview, she talks about her feelings on music and singing.

"I think the next thing I do will have a huge impact on my life"

--How did you spend your days over the 3 months after BiS disbanded?

In the first month, I took voice training lessons at Gamushara, and I was able to work with the same Teacher at almost all of the lessons...I just didn't want to have any free time. When I made my debut, I was always busy, so if I suddenly had time to myself, I didn't know what to do. I get scared during the time when there's nothing to do.

(*I believe Aya's referring to her debut in BiS, not her acting debut. Her fear of having nothing to do must have continued after she left WACK)

--How did you feel right after disbanding?

At first, I didn't really feel like we had disbanded. A new BiS was beginning, former members joined new groups, and my new activities were gradually starting. But now I've made my debut as an actress in the Twitter Drama "So Close, Yet So Far Away", and I'm moving in a new direction, so I think I can move forward.

--However, there was an interval until the release of this Twitter Drama. It would have been nice to get another job offer...

Thankfully, I received allot of job offers, but I thought the next thing I do would have a huge impact on my life, so I considered each one carefully. I wanted to be able to meet with fans quickly, but I didn't want to jump into something that wasn't a good fit...and the issue was that my health was in poor condition.

"I couldn't walk, so I had to use a wheelchair and was just miserable"

--Can you talk more about that?

I was in the worst physical condition of my life, and it really effected me. I started suffering from a disease called Ulcerative Colitis early in the Summer. I was also suffering from Gastroenteritus (Stomach Flu), and there were various theories about the cause. One is that it was caused by something I ate. Another is that it was caused by fatigue that had accumulated. I showed signs of hair loss, which is one of the symptoms of alopecia areata, but these symptoms appeared later on, so they might not have been connected. I think that's why I felt so sore. Pour-chan (Pour Lui) told me, "are you possessed by something?" (laughs).

--How bad were the symptoms?

I slept so much, that it felt like my brain was melting. Recently, I've been doing calculation drills to help improve my memory.

--If it really melted, you wouldn't be talking now, so those calculation drills are amazing.

Also, when I was only suffering from colitis, my fever wouldn't go down, and my stomach made it too painful to walk. I didn't even talk a bath for about 5 days, so I was really shabby...Even when I went to the Hospital for intravenous fluids, I couldn't walk and needed a wheelchair. That's why my Mother came with me...it was just no good, and I cried. Normally, it's the reverse. If my parents got sick, I'd have to take care of them. I'm an adult...I was in such a miserable state, but my Mother was kind.

In my despair, I thought "what am I going to do?" and cried allot. When I was active in the group, it was troubling, and I worried allot. I quarreled without listening to what was said, and had to leave the house and live on my own. However, after getting sick, for the first time I thought "I'm glad I chose to be the way I am now". Because I couldn't go to the Hospital without my Mother.

(*This paragraph was a bit tough to translate, so I don't know if I made it clear enough. It sounds like Aya had been living at home with her Parents when she was part of WACK. The stress she was under must have caused problems between them, so she moved out. Her illness must have brought her and her Mother back together)

"Pour-chan's connection to the Drama 'So Close, Yet So Far Away'"

--With the help of your family, you were able to make your debut with the Drama "So Close, Yet So Far Away", but how did you decide to appear in this project?

Pour-chan connected me. An acquaintance of hers was working on the Twitter Drama, and the new Director of the Drama contacted Pour-chan and said "I'd like Aya to play a role". So that's how I ended up appearing in it, even though I'd never acted up to that point. My memories bad (laughs). When the Director asked me "can you act" and I responded "I don't know". However, I applied for some monthly fortune telling from Getters Iida-san and he wrote "taking on many challenges this year is better". I've always had a fondness for watching musicals and plays, so when I received this opportunity, I decided to accept the challenge.

(*Getters Iida started out in a Comedy Duo in 1999. They broke up in 2005, and he focused on various entertainment activities appearing regularly on television as a Fortune Teller. He started holding Fortune Telling parties and Fortune Telling Masquerades which became popular among Married couples. He's in charge of several Fortune Telling columns and even has an official mobile site)

--What about performing in a Play?

The leads, Tano Yuuka and Fujita Tom, have been acting for a long time, but I'm an amatuer, so I felt like I was coming from a place of "what is acting?". The Director and Crew have been very patient with me. They'd told me things like "You don't have to put so much effort into it/you don't have to try so hard. It's okay if it feels rough". As a first time performer, I'm grateful they created such a relaxed environment. It was fun doing my own research. I should be signing up for more Workshops in the future, and I want like to study acting more and more.

"I love the image of Airi Suzuki ~ For me, singing is my life"

--I'm looking forward to see your future as an Actress, but what do you want to do as a Singer and an Artist from this point on?

I want to sing. I'm definitely doing it! Of course I'd like to do my best with Acting and Modeling, but deep down, at my core, I'm a Singer. An easy image to use as an example is my favorite, Airi Suzuki-san. I'm taking on many challenges, but isn't singing the main one? Also, since the 2nd BiS disbanded, I began wondering what singing really means to me. At first, I heard the voices of fans saying "I want to hear you sing", and I have no reason to retire as a singer, so that's why I thought it was natural to continue singing. Since then, I've been doing allot of other things, and I started thinking "is singing what I really want to do?". I came to the realization that, for me, continuing to sing is "my reason for living".

--Being life itself.

If there were no songs in this world, I might be dead. I can't think of life without music, and I can't imagine not singing, so of course I want to sing. I'm just a normal person. I can't do much more than ordinary people. But if I sing, maybe I can make someone happy and they might believe "the world can change ". I want to be someone who can give people hope by singing more and more in the future.  I had nothing, but by singing this way, I've become the person I am. You can do it too. I want to show that to people.

http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/79010/2

Momoiro Clover Z, Natalie 5th Album Interview - Part 2

"Seeing yourself at 30"

--In March, Momoclo made a surprise appearance at "S ★ Spicy Last Live", an event for Stardust's Older Sister Unit. At the event, Kanako told Kurita Moe "It's cool to be an Idol at 30 yrs. old" (*There's a link to the article covering this event). This year, the oldest member, Reni, will be 26, so Momoclo could realistically reach that age.

(*S ★ Spicy is a stardust Idol Group representing the "Charm of Older Women" and treated as the Older Sister Unit for all Stardust Idols. They've never been part of 3Bjunior or Stardust Planet, but were active as a general Section 3 music artist. The group debuted in 2009 and there have been 4 Generations in total which they call Phases. The event was S ★ Spicy's 10th Anniversary and final performance before disbanding. Kurita Moe was one of two remaining members in the group and 30 at the time)

Shiori: I'm starting to see myself at 30 yrs. old.

Reni: Because 2 out of 4 of us are "around 30".

Kanako: Iya! I'm still 25 this year.

Shiori: Isn't "Around 30" after 26? I still have 6 yrs left until I'm 30.

(*I put "around 30" in quotation because Reni uses the abbreviation "Arasa (アラサー)" which means around 30. It's become a popular way to convey a general age without being specific. There are versions for all other milestone ages like "around 40", "around 50", etc. The model Gisele popularized it mid last decade)

Reni: That's so convenient for everyone. They won't admit it, but we're all essentially "around 30".

Arin: That's not it! (laughs)

--I think your sense of time will become faster from now on. In all honesty, are you worried about getting older?

Kanako: My 20's turned out differently than I imagined, but I'm looking forward to growing older.

--Did you think your 20's would be more adult?

Arin: I heard the rumors. "Even when I'm in my 20's, things don't change much". When I was a child, I thought "I want my 20's to come as soon as possible". But once I got there, I thought "Nothing really did change".

Reni: That rumor is true.

--I don't think you'll change that much at 30. This goes especially for the 4 of you.

Arin: I want 40 to come as soon as possible.

--Why is that?

Arin: 30 is too real (laughs). I want to be like a Mother who has overcome their obstacles.

(*I'm not exactly sure what Arin means here. She uses the term "ひと波越えた". I got confirmation that it means “to overcome or go through ones problem/obstacle”, but I'm still unsure of the context. Maybe because 40 is a milestone and by that point you've overcome allot of obstacles. If you had children young, they'd almost be adults by then)

Kanako: I recently asked a friend who's the same age as me "why isn't it completely different?"

Reni: I want to hear this one.

Kanako: "Why don't I feel like an adult at all?", "Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing?". My friend said it's because the image of the old Momoclo is strong in people's minds. I'm not aware that I haven't changed, but together we can stay this way. I'm scared it will continue like this into my 30's and 40's.

Reni: It would be really scary if I was still like this at 40 (laughs).

Shiori: I think Reni-chan will be.

Reni: Iya, I don't think any of us will change (laughs).

Arin: I think if we were living separately, the 3 of us would be more like adults, but Reni-chan would still be like this.

Reni: What an image! (laughs) I might be like a madam!

(*I think Reni's saying she would be like a refined lady)

"The Diamond Four" had the same impact as "Kaitou Shojo"

--Please tell us about the songs included on the 5th album "Momoiro Clover Z". "The Diamond Four" was used in the title for the performance at the Tokyo Dome. Now, it's also being used for the lead single which was composed around rap as it's core and finished as a pop tune. When I watched the video, I expected a more aggressive song, but it's very bright.

(*The MV for "The Diamond Four" is embedded here)

Reni: Did it defy your expectations in a good way? I thought we were going to do a much more mature song. It was a different melody than I imagined, but it's a really good song.

Kanako: Some of us have the feeling that the lead single from an album is a song that runs ahead (*I think Kanako just means that the lead single gives an impression of the upcoming album and sets the tone). I think I've been able to enjoy making this song as the lead single because of all the various experiences I've had growing into adulthood. Up till now, it was like a strong call to "Follow Me!", but "The Diamond Four" has a more relaxed atmosphere, so now it's more like "Let's get allot of people involved and dance together happily". That's our new color, so I want to get our fans involved at the lives.

Shiori: When I first heard it, I though it was similar to when we released "Ikuzze! Kaitou Shojo". When we made our major debut with Ikuzze!, I hadn't listened to it much. However, gradually it became a song I couldn't get out of my head. The Diamond Four had a similar impact. Through practicing, recording, and shooting the Music Video, it has a melody that can't be forgotten.

--I see.

Shiori: Also, with "Kaitou Shojo", the history of Momoclo has been shaped by the lyrics little by little almost like a pun, and "Mononofu" has casually been added to the lyrics. Various aspects of ourselves are included in the Rap because it's something that's rare for us to do, so I think it's fun to listen to while looking for something that feels like a Hidden Mickey.

(*A Hidden Mickey is a representation of Mickey Mouse that has been inserted subtly into the design of a ride, attraction, or other location in a Disney theme park,  Disney properties, animated film, feature-length movie, TV series, or other Disney product)

--There have been several Momoclo Rap songs. How was it recording this one?

Reni: I struggled a bit. The first recording just wouldn't end. Because of my personal struggle, it deepened my love for this song. If we had recorded this song 5 yrs after we formed, I don't think we could have finished it. With the exception of The Diamond Four, we can sing all our other songs because we've been preforming them for 10 yrs. We can firmly send out our new color in this song.

"The joy of working with the same generation"

In addition to "The Diamond Four" you recorded a variety of song for the album. Do you have any favorites or ones that impressed you?

Reni: Yes, there's allot of good songs. However, I'd especialy like you to listen to the 13th song, "The Show". It's the first time I've tried to cover an Enlgish song translated into Japanese. It changes the way we sing, and I think it's a song that shows the unique flavor of Momoclo.

Shirori: For me it's 2 songs, "Revival" and "More We Do". Both songs were composed by people from our generation. It makes me realize that we're getting older.

--"More We Do" is a number that was composed by CHAI, right?

Shiori: Up to this point, most of the people who've written songs for us were older, so it feels fresh. Being close to our age, there's allot of things that come through in that song. The staff and co-stars around us, the people we work with have gotten closer to our age, and I have the pleasure of creating things with people from the same generation.

(*When Shiori says co-stars, I believe she means other talent that they work with, like on Variety Shows. It's also possible she means people who appear as extras in MVs and other projects)

--There used to be some conflict between the members who were children and the staff who were adults. Your Producer, Kawakami Akira, shook things up in many ways. But all 4 children have disappeared. From now on, I think there will be more opportunities to work with younger people.

Reni: It's scary.

Arin: It's surprising that, starting this Spring, people the same age as me will become new members of society.

(*I assume Arin's referring to College Graduates)

Reni: When I hear Arin talk about people who are younger, I wonder "Is she okay not having gone to school?".

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/momoclo21/page/2

This band recorded and epic tribute to Beethoven's 9th Symphony

The YouTube rabbit hole runs deep. You never know where it will take you. One thing led to another and I ended up in 1997.

I'm somewhat of a fan of the Manga "Hell Teacher Nube". I have several volumes of the newer "NEO" series, and have been wanting to find more information about it. The original Manga started in 1993 and ran until 1999, with a couple more series following afterwards, including the aforementioned NEO.

The basic premise revolves around Nueno Meisuke (nicknamed "Nube"), an Elementary School teacher, who has a powerful demon sealed in his left hand. When strange supernatural events happen around the school, usually the result of meddling by Youkai, Nube uses his Demon's Hand to exorcise them.

It was adapted into a 49 episode Anime series by Toei Animation that aired for one year from 1996 - 1997 on TV Asahi. This led to 3 movies, 3 OVA episodes, and a live action Drama starring Kanjani 8's Maruyama Ryuhei.

They even released a game for PlayStation.

This might seem like I'm just espousing on my appreciation for Nube, but bear with me, I'm about to get to the real topic. While searching for info, I found a video for a new Pachinko machine. I liked the music that they used so I tried to find it. I didn't have any luck, but I came across the ending theme for either the Anime or one of the Movies/OVAs. One more search...

And that led me to this. I had no idea what to expect, but the over 2 million views at least gave me the impression it was popular. Nothing could have prepared me for the 5:25 of epicness that would follow.

"Bari Bari Saikyou No. 1" was the 7th single from Progressive/Groove Metal band Feel So Bad. It was used as the Opening Theme for the Hell Teacher Nube Anime and was their biggest hit, reaching #35 on Oricon. The intro was inspired by Beethoven's 9th Symphony "The Song of Joy", and the melody is used liberally throughout the song. It's one of those songs that you can't describe. Words don't do it justice. You just have to listen it and experience it for yourself.

I love these kinds of moments. When I started out looking for things related to Nube, I never expected I would end up discovering this amazing song by a band I was unfamiliar with. And they're still active! It made my day.