Momoclo's Big Spring 2018 in Higashiomi City

*Originally posted on OneHallyu on April 19th, 2018.

Momoclo's upcoming concerts on the 21st and 22nd are taking place in Higashiomi City in Shiga Prefecture. The City has been taking steps to revitalize the region and has attracted group business trips. However, they're concerned over the influx of fans attending Momoclo's concerts. Omi Railway's Daigaku Station is the closest to the Concert Venue and it's usually unmanned. They expect about 30,000 Fans over the 2 days so there could be a bottleneck. The article also says there's limits to the "Special Diamond" which, if I understand correctly, refers to the diagram of the Train Lines that criss cross and form a Diamond shape. They must mean that there are limitations because of the Schedule that's in place.

Daigaku Station

MCZ held Last year's Spring Concerts in Fujimi City in Saitama Prefecture and about 42,000 Fans attended over 2 days. Aiming to increase it's name recognition as a place to hold concerts, Higashiomi put in a bid and was chosen at the end of last year. The Concerts are titled "Momoclo's Big Spring 2018 in Higashiomi City". They're being held in Nunobiki Sports Park, which is an Athletic Track. However, the parking lot can't be used, so Fans have to take public Transportation.

The Venue

Since it's 30 minute's both ways by Shuttle Bus, Fans are expected to use the afforementioned Daigaku Station which is only 1km from the Venue. The Station is next to a College, but most students travel by car which is why it's unmanned most of the time. The Station is single sided and doesn't even have a Station Building. A 2 Car Train runs on weekdays with a total of 50 Cars going up and down the line. The average number of passengers is about 160 per day. There's no automatic Ticket Gate, and IC Cards like ICOCA and Suica can't be used.

Around Oct. of last year, when the City began it's policy of attracting more concerts, they began discussing counter measures to address the transportation issue. They quickly came to the conclusion that Omi Railway couldn't be used. Even if they increase the intervals to 1 Train every 30 min., the maximum capacity for one Train is 260 passengers. The Concert Promoter/Organizer posted on the homepage not to use Omi Railway, but they estimate about 1,000 people will still use it. They're even going through Twitter posts to try and estimate the number of Fans who are considering using the Railway. The spokesman doesn't seem to have any solution.

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20180419/ddf/007/200/010000c

Back on Feb. 20th, Arin and Reni visited Higashiomi City Hall and met with Mayor Ogura Masakiyo. I remember this. They surveyed the venue as well.

Sounds like a total mess and the City got way in over their heads. Hopefully fans don't miss out on the concert because of this.

(*Everything turned out fine in the end)

Last Idol - Natalie 4th Single Interview Part 1

What is Cool? LaLuce's current lineup discusses 5 themes

There's an introduction that briefly mentions the Last Idol Audition Show on TV Asahi, and the release date for "Everything will be all right" on 10.24. It goes on to talk about the Producer Battle on Abema TV and how LaLuce, who sang the 1st Single "Bandwagon", was victorious in the 2nd Producer Battle. They also mention Goto as the Producer. The highlight of the song is supposed to be LaLuce's powerful dance. In the interview, the members will be asked about the theme of the song "Being Cool", the members opinions on 5 themes, and the setbacks and glory they experienced throughout the Battle.

Theme 1 - What is "Cool"?

The core of the theme for this single "Everything will be alright" is "Coolness". When LaLuce approached this song, what was your definition of "Cool"?

--Even if I say "Cool" matter of factly, I think the definition will differ depending on the person. For example, some people will say "people who lie are bad". However, there is also the idea of "gentle lies" (*White lies).

Airi: I see. If people think that you are cool, then you will be respected by everyone. Perhaps you could say that being cool is earning the respect of other people. There are many people who respect Actors and Artists. Also, since I became an Idol myself, I've noticed things I didn't before, like how wonderful the choreography of Idols can be. AKB48, Nogizaka48...the respect I have for those groups has increased. They've had an influence on me and you can see it come out in my performances. Someday, I want to become an Idol that others can look up to.

Midori: Yes, my way of thinking is close to Airi-chan's. In other words, people admire people who are cool. Of course, what's inside is also important, but that's not something people will be interested in if your appearance or visual doesn't create a good first impression. So, if you think "that girl is cute", it may be the first step to becoming cool.

Haruka: "Cute" can also be "Cool"...

Midori: That's right. If you're an Idol, appealing to fans with cuteness is your job.

Natsumi: Well, there are various pattern when thinking about what's cool. I think that people who don't give up are cool.

Airi: Someone who doesn't give up?

(*Natsumi used the word "Megenai Hito". It's kind of hard to translate. I means something like "someone who won't give up and tries their best through hardship". There's another meaning that might mean something like "Having a crush on someone" from the perspective of a girl. Airi seems a little confused, so I don't know how common Megenai is)

Natsumi: Even if a person's feelings drop, they will never give up. I wonder what I should say...specifically, someone like Airi-chan.

Airi: What!? That's so sudden (laughs).

Natusmi: This is the truth. During the 2nd Last Idol Producer Battle on Abema TV, Airi-chan became depressed.

--Because some people may not have watched the broadcast, could you explain the situation at the time?

Airi: At that time, I was dealing with some private things, and my mental state had dropped. It was something that had nothing to do with LaLuche or the Battle on the program, but I brought those feelings with me onto the broadcast. I tried to change my feelings, but because I was upset, I knocked over the mic stand...I was impatient and it died in the middle (laughs). We were defeated in the Battle because of me and I was very depressed.

(*A little context for what Airi said in the 2nd to last sentence. When she says "It died in the middle" , the word she uses is "Kokechatta (コケちゃった)". This is an abreviation of "Kokechaimashita (こけちゃいました)". This phrase was said by Japanese long distance runner Taniguchi Hiromi (谷口浩美). He was a favorite at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. However, he fell halfway through and managed to lose a shoe in the process. This cost him 30 secs. He managed to catch up, but finished in 8th place. After the race, he commented that "It died in the middle" and "I was lucky. I did it with allot of precision". I'm guessing he was making a joke. I'm not familiar enough with this to know how relevant it is in Japanese Pop Culture, but since Airi used the quote, it must be well known.

If you want to delve deeper into it, here's a clip. At 1:25 you can see Hiromi fall and lose one of his shoes.

Part of LaLuche's choreography for "Everything will be alright" during the Producer Battle had Abe and Airi using mic stands. They would sing into the mic and dip the stand forward. It's been a while since I watched it, but there must have been an early perf where Airi dropped her mic stand)

Natsumi: Oh, no. We were already laughing about it next week. I thought that switching up the feeling was really good.

Airi: Really! I'm so happy you said that. At the time I was only able to recover because all the members supported me. I'm not cool, I just got help from everyone.

--Having a humble attitude is also cool (laughs). What about you Haruka?

Haruka: I think that people who don't show weakness are cool. No matter what happens, they'll give 100% up on the stage. Before I became an Idol, I watched a live performance of Yumemiru Adolescence (*an Idol group) and was deeply moved. I thought "They're really the best!". However, at the time, Shida Yumi had a high fever of 39 degrees (*This would be 102.2 degrees Farenheit). I learned later on that she received an injection so she could stand on stage, so I was really surprised. I didn't get the feeling that anything was wrong. I was in awe that "This is the world of professionals".

--Shida-san always gives the impression of someone who isn't serious, so it's even more surprising, isn't it?

(*Shida Yumi has become a model and actress, so she must be well known enough for the interviewer to make this point)

Haruka: That's right! I think that kind of gap is cool, so that might be a good point, right?

(*When Haruka says "gap", she either means the difference between someone who wouldn't perform while being sick and someone who would perform no matter what, or how someone who isn't very serious can surprise you by pushing through a high fever and perform well)

Abe: Everyone has their own idea...For me, I think "Cool" is when someone does something that I can't do. Also, I think that someone who does something for the first time is cool (*She might mean a trendsetter or someone who is innovative). I'm working as an Idol now because I wanted to be just like my favorite Idols. However, these Idols aren't imitating anyone. They have there own individual personality. That's why I want to create "the one and only Abe Natsumi". Recently, I started to think I can really do that.

Theme 2 "Performance Discussion/Evaluation"

"Last Idol" is different from other Idol groups. You have to Battle on a weekly program and receive a clear Judgment of victory or defeat. For LaLuce, what is your "ideal flow for an Idol performance"?

--First off, I think there's a problem of "where do you put the merit (quality/superiority) within an Idol performance?" (*Where are the best qualities within an Idol performance?). I think the members will be divided on this assessment.

Midori: That's a difficult question!

Haruka: I think the ideal form of an Idol is that "in a group, the individual personality of each member can be seen well".

Everyone: (applause)

Airi: Althought no one objects to Haruka-chan's opinion, if I would add something, I'd say that we'd like to "draw feelings from everyday life". It's not just about competing in a stage performance. For example, the expression when the members eyes meet on stage, I don't know how our everyday relationships come across. It's supposed to convey to the audience a feeling of friendship through the act of smiling. The ordinary relationships that we have in the dressing room, what we do in our private time, all these things come out during the performance.

--Airi-san is very flashy to look at, but her remarks are like the morals in a textbook (laughs).

Airi: Definitely. I think I'm really serious even when I'm by myself (laughs).

Natsumi: I think each person evaluates the performance aspect differently. For me, when I'm watching an Idol, I'm impressed by the gap. "While it's cool during the performance, when it comes to the MC, it's becomes more amusing/funny". It's that kind of contrast, right? I adore you so much...(looks longingly at Airi).

Midori: I've seen this all before (laughs). There is that kind of gap for Idols. Who's a good example of this?

Natsumi: Yasuda Airi-chan from the group called LaLuce (laughs). This is embarrassing. All I'm talking about today is Airi-chan...

Midori: I think the kind of performance required for Idols is different from that of other Artists. Of course, singing skill is important, but in the case of an Idol, there's a quality like "the charm of being okay to make mistakes". It's more important to convey the overall message of the song than to have perfect pitch. Thinking carefully about the meaning of the lyrics and how to present that. Depending on the song, it can be difficult to express our emotions. Even so, it's still important to convey the emotions well to the audience. It's said this kind of Idol performance is top notch, isn't it?

Abe: That's right. I feel the same way as Midori-chan. As much as you want someone who can sing and dance well, an Idol isn't good unless they can convey something else. People who watch you feel better or gain courage. If you don't have that kind of influence, you can say there isn't much significance to it. That's why, as Midori-chan put it, it makes sense to add meaning to the performance.

Midori: I speak very passionately, don't I?

Abe: Also, the transition from song to song, the chang of formations inside the song...that's part of the performance too. When I'm watching other Idols, I pay close attention to this. Singing and dancing are only good if you do them firmly and tell a story. When I'm on stage, I can't escape this feeling.

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/lastidol03

Last Idol - Natalie 1st Single Interview Part 3

*This was originally posted on OneHallyu on Jan. 8th, 2018. Like the other 2 parts, this translation is a bit rough.

"Winning through Battle is your own victory"

-- You all won tough Battles. Why do you think you were chosen?

Yako: How is it...I feel. I'm not very good at singing or dancing. I think that may have been the reason.

Midori: In the case of Yako-chan, you don't need singing or dancing techniques!

Aya: I want to help the mood. The Judges said "I'm attracted to a troubling atmosphere".

-- Haruka's victory as an inexperienced Idol? (*not sure about this).

Airi: Her eyes are sparkling. There is a sparkle like an Idol.

Midori: I personally think it's the farthest from being an Idol. I won't hide it, I will tell you everything (laughs) (*not sure about this).

Yako: However, I'm good at showing myself. I think twitter is amazing. I want to learn by observing.

Midori: Is that true? Thank you!

-- Isn't Airi an Initial Member?

Abe: Her character is intense!

Airi: Eh?! (laughs)

Midori: First of all, look at the eyes. Doesn't she look like Miranda Kerr? She lives in San Francisco.

Yako: Even so, when you say "I don't know" or get confused...

-- Is that a girl's system?

Midori: It's a woman's wording. However, the usage is wrong (laughs).

Aya: But it's a point that comes up.

"Center Abe's Gap"

-- Next is the youngest, Natsumi.

Aya: I think this girl understands her own charm. She says so herself (laughs).

Natsumi: Eh!? I don't know.

Aya: The Judge said "she's 13?".

Natsumi: Eh? what!?

Abe: I can't remember?

Natsumi: Oh, I remember! I was told that "I'm a 13 yr. old mature adult!" Kurata Mayumi said "Oka-san" (laughs)

Yako: Isn't it because the songs chosen were for an older person?

-- On the show you sang "Furimukanaide (Don't turn around)" by the Peanuts, right? Why did you choose that song?

Natsumi: Because I am learning Japanese Dance, I am surrounded by older people. That's why I liked it. Also, the songs from the Showa era are written straight forward and I can feel the message. I like it.

-- Is Aya the oldest?

Yako: Aya has the power of a "Big Sister" that brought everyone together. When she says something, it gives everyone peace of mind.

Midori: There is no leader in Last Idol, but Aya is the one who is most concerned about everyone. Aya gives us all peace of mind, so she is the most essential member of Last Idol.

Aya: So Cute! I want to hug you!

Midori: Eh? Please, restrain yourself (laughs).

-- Last is the Center, Abe.

Natsumi: Her performance is amazing!

Yako: She's been an Idol since 3 yrs. old. Even though she's usually quite, the switch happens when it comes to performance. Even watching it on the monitor, it's overwhelming how amazing it is.

Aya: She won against the Center Member Majima Wakana (now in Someday Somewhere). It's difficult to change the Center. Usually, the image will change drastically (*not sure about the last sentence, so I'll work on it some more before posting it).

Airi: There is also a big gap (*Airi says something strange about 3 cup fulls of wine).

Yako: I love beef jerky, and I have an image that I'm always eating. I also love Cola!

Abe: You've become aware that you have a gluttonous character (laughs).

"I want to listen to someone who has a dream"

-- The long awaited Debut Single "Bandwagon" has been released, and the activities of Last Idol will start from here.

Aya: I can say with confidence that the Debut Single is a really nice production. The lyrics can only be sung by us, and allot of people can relate to them. I think it's a song that can appeal to people who watched the program, as well as those who didn't.

Airi: That's right. If you have a dream, I want you to listen to this song and watch the video too! Allot of people devoted themselves to this song. The MV's Director is Tsutsumi Yukihiko and the Jacket photo was taken by Ninagawa Mika. The Staff and Members made this work without compromise. It is our first important step, so thank you for your continued support!

-- The interview is over. However, it's surprising that the group just formed, but everyone is so close to each other.

Abe: We feel it ourselves. I think we've become equals (*I couldn't quite figure this out).

Midori: Fans often tell us as handshake meetings that "you laugh more than I expected". That program had a serious feeling, didn't it? So, we often had serious facial expressions, but actually the members are cheerful. I think you can understand that (laughs).

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/lastidol/page/3

And that does it. I'm glad I took the time to translate this as best I could. Quite a few things I didn't know about the members, so it was well worth it. I'm going to keep working on the parts that were confusing.

Last Idol - Natalie 1st Single Interview Part 2

*This was originally posted on OneHallyu on Dec. 31st, 2017. Since it was one of my earliest translations, it's a bit rough. I may go back and fix some things.

"The members from Rural Areas. How is their dialect?"

-- Koga-san (Yako) and Yoshizaki-san (Aya) are both from Fukuoka.

Aya: That's right. Actually, we have the same seniors nearby (*I guess they have the same senpai?).

Yako: In the beginning, when we had our first dance lesson together, I got excited when I heard that. You're lying! Do you know them?! (laughs)

Aya: At one time, I aimed to be a model and was enrolled at a local office. The result was't good at all. It was so surprising that we had a connection.

-- Do you two speak with Hakata-dialect often?

Yako: Aya normally uses a standard dialect, but when speaking to me, the Kyushu style returns.

Aya: I'm relieved. Ah, that dear fragrance of Fukuoka (laughs).

Midori: When the two to them are talking, the words of Kyushu transfer to us.

Aya: Really? It comes out?

Yako: I didn't notice at all. I use it unconsciously.

Midori: Because I am from Ehime, it  feels somewhat familiar. I will say "get out" if you notice (laughs).

-- Can I also challenge Midori-san about her local dialect?

Midori: (*She's basically talking about pronunciation)

(*Not sure about this) (Airi)

-- I think there many difficulties until the debut. How do you feel about it now?

Midori: Well, I've exhausted the word "incredible".

-- Because Nagatsuki-san lost once, the return was dramatic, wasn't it?

Midori: In the lyrics of the debut song "I will not be swayed by the Bandwagon", but in fact I keep being swayed (laughs).

Aya: The thing that I feel most strongly about is that it's been so long. About 4 months after the show began, I felt like I wanted to run away, but I could finally debut. Until then, it was really painful. So I tried to share my excitement by saying "we can finally debut!", but except for me, the response was weak (laughs). I was surprised at the response "What do you mean?".

Natsumi: Aya's the only one that cried (laughs).

Airi: That's not right! It didn't feel real. Is still doesn't!

Midori: "It's nice to be here. Is it really over? It feels suspicious" (laughs), so the reaction got weak.

Airi: That program is serious and harsh. My heart died. When the Interim members came down to only Aya and I, I saw our hopes leaving and I cried. Every time there is something happy, my spirit will collapse.

-- Even though you had a hard time, the joy is greater than if the group had debuted normally.

Haruka: I might feel that way.

Airi: I can't say I'd do it all over again (laughs).

"Every time we compete, the light in our eyes shines brighter" (Aya)

​-- In the program, the system allowed the Challenger to nominate their opponent. How does it feel to be nominated in that way?

Natsumi: The first time was scary! Since the girl who nominated me was an Idol and her singing was good, I thought it was dangerous. At the same time, I had a nice feeling. It's strange though. (*Not sure about the last sentence, so I'm leaving it out for now).

Haruka: I also understand. I was relieved because I was nominated at the time "3 Challengers Remain" and was not selected as an opponent at that time (*I thought Haruka did get challenged at the end so there might be an issue with this translation). About a month and a half after becoming a member, I had not been nominated for a long time. I only had one performance and wanted to be nominated early. Even though it's a show about survival, if you cannot confront it, there is no meaning (*I think she means that she wanted to confront it head on and survive another Battle to prove herself).

-- There is a strategy, there was a pattern that some names escape quietly without being nominated, right?

Haruka: At first, I thought so, but when you actually stand there, you wouldn't be able to say that.

Aya: I also wasn't nominated in the beginning. Some of the members that started together had already been nominated 3 times, so I was getting impatient. Because, every time we compete, the light in our eyes shines brighter. After all, it builds confidence. I felt I couldn't debut without being nominated.

Midori: Everyone is preparing so the match up can be decided (*Not sure about the last sentence. Something about being marked if you don't get chosen?).

-- What do you do specifically to prepare?

Midori: Of course, we practice singing and dancing, but comments are also important. Comment preparation...(*She might mean that you don't want to sound similar to other people's comments).

Everyone: (Laughs!)

Midori: Not only the comments, but the expressions when walking down the stairs. We try to give off a sense of intimidation, like "What?". This is a Battle, and when it's over (*the last phrase is confusing).

-- Midori-san is Militant (Laughs).

Airi: Conversely, I was only thinking about comments if I lost (Laughs). My loser comment was perfect. I didn't feel like winning.

-- It's different for everyone, isn't it? On the other hand, when nominating as a Challenger, what criteria did you use to choose your opponent?

Haruka: The difficult thing is that, even if the Interim member has talent, there might not be good compatibility. So when I came out as a Challenger, I chose someone who was similar to me. I chose Yamada Mahiro-chan (now in Someday Somewhere). She's good at dancing so I thought we were similar.

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

Momoiro Clover Z "Crayon Shin-chan Movie" Solo Interview - Part 2

*This was originally posted on OneHallyu on April 23rd, 2018.

"There's a sense of peace/contentment working with the members"

--How was the dubbing?

Kanako: Voice work is usually done alone, but when we received this story, I was glad because all 4 of us could do it. After all, it's a relief to have the other members with you.

Shiori: At the beginning, I was confused and wondered what I was supposed to do, but when the 4 of us are standing side by side, there's no sense of nervousness or tension.

Reni: I was very worried when we got to the recording studio that the Voice Director would be scary like a Devil, and it would be very difficult. However, once I met them, they were very kind and good humored, so it was fun.

Sasaki: Because the role was meant for an Idol, I didn't feel uncomfortable, and just acted like myself. Normally, we watch Shin-chan on TV, but now he's watching us, so it was a magical feeling.

--The chemical reaction watching the team work when Shin-chan joins Momoclo is quite a spectacle.

Kanako: Usually, when we the 4 of us are talking together, the people around us often watch with mysterious eyes like "What are these girls saying?", but I'm sure Shin-chan understands us because he has the same mind set. He has the same smell (laughs).

(*I've read "the same smell" used in Interviews with various groups. I don't know if this a joke in Japan or what the origin is)

Takagi: When we first met Shin-chan, he brought us handmade underpants as a present. I was really surprised (laughs).

(*The Underpants, lol)

Sasaki: Shin-chan likes beautiful older Sisters, so I'll do my best to be chosen! But who will he choose?

Everyone: We're very curious! What's his type?

(*The Title of this Section has something to do with either working as an Idol or playing the role of an Idol)

--The fun comes when the Theme Song and the additional song are played.

Kanako: There an additional song in the Drama, and at first I was told it would be recorded individually, so I thought "this is serious!". But we ended up recording together so I was glad. It's fun because once again I felt the strength of the 4 of us.

(*The first part was a little confusing. I think Kanako means that they recorded the song individually at first sort of like a demo, but then recorded the final version together)

Sasaki: I heard that it was the first time that an Idol has been asked to perform the Theme Song, an additional Song, and provide Voice Acting in the Crayon shin-chan Movie Series. I think that we can work hard at any job in our own unique way.

(*I think I missed the meaning of part of the 1st sentence, so this is the best I could do)

Shiori: Of course, when I'm by myself, I feel nervous, but when the members are together, I feel their power and I can relax.

Takagi: Like Shiori says, a part of us is diminished when we're alone. When doing the dubbing for Crayon Shin-chan, if I was told to "act more exaggerated" or "be more over the top" and I was alone, then I would be too shy to do it. When I'm with another members, I don't feel embarrassed. Of course we've been together for 10 yrs. so we're very comfortable with each other.

"2018 is the 10th Anniversary of Momoclo!"

--This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the group's formation. How do you feel about functioning under the new system?

Kanako: There's allot of things that I have to do, and I can't relax, because I think we'll be swept aside if I do, and there's a danger of things being unfinished. We're reworking songs 1 by 1, because I don't have that much time and have to prepare for other commitments.

Shiori: There's the 10th Anniversary Live at the Tokyo Dome, but I am focusing on each Live on the Tour one at a time and I feel in my heart I want to say "Please have fun everyone".

Takagi: At 10 yrs. we've begun a new system, but the Members, Staff, and also Fans have a positive outlook and think we have a chance to create something new.

Sasaki: I think we'll do many things as 4 members, but for now, I want allot of people to see us perform as 4 so they can understand it. I want to make 4 member versions of the Choreography immediately so it will soak into my body. There's a 10th Anniversary Live, but since each show on the Tour is important, I want the members and fans to have allot fun with Momoclo at every performance.

-------

The first project as the Reborn Momoiro Clover Z is the Crayon Shin-chan movie. Kanako praised Shin-chan as a "Big Idol", but in a sense, the combination of "National Idols" is highly anticipated. As "Big Idols", both Shin-chan and Momoclo elicit deep feelings. They spoke about how the 4 member system was difficult, but the outpouring of feelings gave them strength. The power to cheer people up is likely to increase their momentum.

(*I translated the second to last sentence as best I could, but it's probably not 100% correct)

Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Bakumori! Kung-Fu Boys Ramen Rebellion will be released nationwide on 4/13.

https://www.cinematoday.jp/interview/A0005971

Momoiro Clover Z "Crayon Shin-chan Movie" Solo Interview - Part 1

*This was originally posted on OneHallyu on April 17th, 2018.

The 4 members of Momoiro Clover Z recorded the Theme Song for the "Crayon Shin-Chan" Movie, as well as another song featured in the Drama, and also provide Voice Acting. This is their first project under the new System, so they wanted to move forward and show a bright and positive song in the Drama "Kuro Guro Clover Z" that will appeal to everyone. Momoclo members Momota Kanako, Tamai Shiori, Sasaki Ayaka, and Takagi Reni talk about their collaboration with the "Crayon Shin-chan" Movie and their future under the new system.

"The collaboration with Crayon Shin-chan was fate!"

--Momoiro Clover Z's first job under the new 4 member system is the Theme Song and Drama Song for the "Crayon Shin-chan" movie, in addition to providing Voice Acting.

Ayaka: Work began on Crayon Shin-chan the day after the Live with 4 members was announced, and we were depressed after losing 1 member, so Shin-chan cheered us up. It felt like he rescued us.

Kanako: I also felt encouraged that our first job as 4 members was working on Crayon Shin-chan. Also, I think it was great that the first Single as 4 members "XyX" became the theme song for Crayon Shin-chan. In the movie, Shin-chan and his friends have to work together to progress the story. We also felt that we need to support each other so we can move forward.

Shiori: Yes, we did, but we thought our fans would worry about the new 4 member system. There was anxiety like "what will it be like now?", so it was great to be able to collaborate with Crayon Shin-chan. In the theme song, we want to share the message "Even if I feel a bit uneasy or depressed, if everyone is laughing, it will be okay", so we think that's the perfect song for us now. I feel like it was fate that we met Shin-chan, and he gave us courage.

Reni: When I suddenly heard that we were going to become 4 members, it felt like I had a gaping hole in my heart. When we received this job, it felt like the hole was filled in. Many people love Crayon Shin-chan, and I think we also want to be loved by many people, so we want to convey this through the theme of the new song which is "The bond of smiling".

--The Love for "Shin-chan" really is amazing.

Kanako: Since he's loved by everyone, I think if we were to tagged together with Shin-chan we would be invincible, and he would be a strong ally for us. In other words, "Shin-chan" is our Senior Idol, so it's amazing to work together with someone like this. On top of that, "Shin-chan" is 5 yrs. old (laughs).

Reni: When I watched it on TV, the image after working together hasn't changed at all. No matter how long you are standing, Shin-chan's existence will be unrivaled.

(*I'm not sure what Reni means by this. Maybe that Shin-chan's popularity will endure no matter the competition)

Shiori: I was encouraged by the Movies and TV Anime of "Crayon Shin-chan" from an early age, but being able to appear in a production like this feels like a dream. On top of that, being able to perform the Theme Song and provide Voice Acting is an experience that will stay with me for a long time. It really is amazing.

Ayaka: When Shin-chan calls out to Momoclo-chan, and I watch him dance together with us, I have a deep feeling that we've been recognized. It feels normal to become friends with a big star (laughs).

https://www.cinematoday.jp/interview/A0005971

Stardust Planet "Yellow Summit"

*This is something brief that I posted on OneHallyu in April, 2018. I was backtracking to find more interviews to backup here, and I thought this was worth re-posting. It's a blog entry by Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku's Kobayashi Kaho. Around this time, I had started a series called "Starpla Mondays" where I would translate 1 or 2 entries from the official Stardust Planet blog every Monday. I think Kaho's might have been the first. Now that I know more about Stardust Planet, the "Yellow Summit" most likely took place at one of the Girl's Factory events they've been holding since 2015.

"My first appearance on Stardust Planet's Blog!

Hello Stardust Planet fans, this is Kobayashi Kaho.

First, let me introduce myself.

I'm Ebichu's Attendance Number 11, Kobayashi Kaho.

I was born on June 12th, 2000!

I'm a Gemini who's now 17 yrs. old, lol!

I'm in the 3rd year of High School.

Everyone calls me Po-chan, Po, or Popo (laughs).

My Image Color is Yellow.

At the time of the Yellow Summit, I appeared with Shiorin and Chiyu-chan!

(*She says something like "It's probably indoors", but I don't quite understand. The following comments clear things up)

Huh?! What's this?

I like it indoors.

I stay home even on Holidays.

Even when I go out, I do many things inside like Karaoke.

I go places like Shopping Malls, but return home shortly.

Ebichu's Spring Tour starts on April 21st.

If you are intersted in Ebichu, please come to the live

Oh, I'm doing Instagram now!

If you think you have free time, I would be great if you could take a look!

 https://www.instagram.com/kobayashi_kaho_official/

A little while ago, the Cherry Blossoms in the neighborhood park were in full bloom,

and it was beautiful.

Later on, I went to see the Cherry Blossoms and they were scattering (laughs).

With that, bye, bye."

https://ameblo.jp/shirituebichu/entry-12058790081.html

They've done the Yellow Summit in the past, but I couldn't find anything this year. Maybe Kaho was referring to previous meetings. The first one was in 2015. Here's a pic:

From L to R:

Kaho, Chiyuri (Team Syachihoko), Shiori (Momoiro Clover Z), and Saki (Takoyaki Rainbow)

Some more pics:

Shiori just can't keep her lips off the other girls!

Last Idol - Natalie 1st Single Interview Part 1

*This Interview was originally posted on OneHallyu on Dec. 27th, 2017. It's one of the first interviews I attempted to translate, so I got help from User telecasterstripes with some parts I had trouble with.

"The tears and sympathy of 7 people who survived a fierce battle"

Part 1

"At the age of 3, I thought I wanted to become an Idol" (Abe)

-- Please introduce yourself (to all the members), tell me how you felt about auditioning for the program (Last Idol), and about an Idol you admire.

Abe: I first wanted to be an Idol when I was 3 yrs. old because of Morning Musume. I saw live footage and thought "I want to do this!". I particularly liked Tanaka Reina. Soon after that, I got an audition and joined the group mlmi. Eventually, mlmi was renamed to Pax Puella.

-- You are also concurrent with Pax Puella.

Abe: Yes, but everything is different between Pax Puella and Last Idol. The number of the staff and the size of the event we appear at. Even the bento boxes and the way we move is different (laughs). (*When Abe says "the way we move" she means how they travel). But I don't want to quit Pax Puella. Some members have been together for 6 yrs. I feel that I can be in both groups at the same time. Up until now, Pax Puella wanted be come popular but couldn't. With my appearance on Last Idol, I'm hoping for Pax Puella to also gain popularity.

-- I see. So the Idol you admire is named Tanaka Reina?

Abe: Yes, Tanaka was also in Morning Musume. There is member currently in Morning Musume '17 named Ishida Ayumi. When I was in Sendai, we took lesson together. From that time, I really respected her dancing ability.

Aya: In my case, it was Solo Artists like Koizumi Kyoko and Matsuda Seiko. I watched them on a video site and began to admire them very much. I felt that they had strength inside their cuteness, and they're not only active in singing and dancing but in different areas as well... So I wish I can be like that"

Natsumi: I was doing Musicals and I liked singing and dancing. Since anyone could audition on Last Idol, I applied with the courage. I don't know if can say they're an Idol, but I respect Kanda Sayaka. She used to do musicals, so I can't help but pay attention to her. I think she's very cute.

-- If Aya is the Mother, Natsumi is part of the Daughter group?

Aya: Definitely. I've suffered a bit (laughs).

"I want to rise above the ground" (Midori)

​Airi: The reason I applied was because I love Kara. I especially like Nichole and Jiyoung. Nichole is a hard worker. When I went to their concert, Nicole came close to me with the trolley and I saw her feet, I saw marks of her painful practices... When I saw that, I was very touched. That was the first time I realized that idols aren't just shining bright all the time. I thought that it's a difficult job where each person works hard behind the scenes to make everyone smile.

-- Nichole was struggling to learn Japanese as well.

Airi: That's right! And now her Japanese is the best among the members. Her work ethic is really cool. I want to learn from her example.

Midori: The reason I lost weight is because of something that happened when I was part of a different group... One day my fan brought their friends to see me. That person was an avid fan of Nogizaka46. When I found out about that, I suddenly became embarrassed.... My fan was like "This is my bias" and was confident. But when I compared myself with Nogizaka46, no matter how you see it, I'm inferior. Because back then, I was 13kg heavier than now.

-- It's amazing how you were able to lose so much weight.

Midori: I was ashamed. To someone who is familiar with cute Idols, they must have thought "this girl is also an Idol?". At the time, I was a typical underground Idol. I felt like I didn't want to stay in the underground forever. I said that I could not have pride (*Not sure about this) and wanted to rise above the ground.

-- Who is your favorite Idol?

Midori: Nogizaka46's Fukagawa Mai. I am attracted to that gentle atmosphere.

"I ran away" (Yako)

Haruka: I originally liked Idols and I often went to Handshake Meetings and lives. I also collected goods. Then I started to feel like I wanted to shine on my own, but I didn't have the courage to go on an Audition. Last Idol is the first Audition I went on.

-- Whose lines did you go to at the Handshake Meetings?

Haruka: Former AKB48 Oshima Yuko. She always puts in full effort right? Even during performances, you can't see a limit which is amazing, and without realizing it, I'm always chasing after her with my eyes.

Yako: I was born in Fukuoka Prefecture and did a little modeling in High School. But the modeling world is too strict. I can't go to an Audition unless I'm 165 cm. I'm 159 cm so that was my limit (*She might have said, "my legs weren't long enough to reach). There was talk about giving up being a Model and going to a Tokyo Office to become an Actress, but in the end I gave up. I wanted some stability so I joined a Dental Hygienist's School locally.

-- Your legs were long enough to reach after all (*not sure about this)

Yako: No, I ran away. But, I couldn't give up on my dream of working in Entertainment. Since I wanted to be a model in the beginning, I wasn't committed to being an Idol. However, after becoming an Interim Member after winning against Ruka (now in Good Tears), I have to take over her feelings. Besides, when we are holding a Handshake Meeting as an Interim Member (*she says something about a "regular person"). I began to learn how fun it can be to work as an Idol.

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/lastidol

"Lasu Ai, Yoroshiku!" Ep 5 Breakdown

#1 Baka Final Battle!

11/17

First we get a breakdown of the strengths and weaknesses of the 3 Finalists.

Scoring Graph Categories:

- 国語 (National Language)
- 数学 (Math)
- 理科 (Science)
- 社会 (Society - I think this refers to People and Places)
- 英語 (English Language)

These graphs aren't very helpful since they don't show the numbers to measure the highlighted sections. You have to estimate.

Abe Natsumi ranked the lowest in LaLuce with a score of 27/70.

Kiyohara Rio ranked the lowest in A Block with a score of 23/70.

Yamamoto Airi ranked the lowest in B Block with a score of 19/70 and had the lowest score overall.

MC's Ogiyahagi are here with Guest Ito Asako. 7 other members from Last Idol Family are present for the finals:

- All the members of LaLuce
- Nishimura Honoka (Love Cocchi)
- Ozawa Aimi (Chou Cream Rockets)
- Machida Honoka and Hashimoto Momoko (2nd Gen's Main Group)

Rules:

- This will be a "Quick Answer Quiz".

- All 3 members have a buzzer in front of them. Whoever pushes it first gets to answer the question. If they answer incorrectly, someone else can try.

- Whoever answers 5 questions first wins the round (There are 2 rounds).

- The last one remaining will receive the title of #1 Baka. For all of 2019, this person must announce themselves as the #1 Baka during their self-introduction at live events and it will appear as a title card on television programs. Because of the nature of the quiz, there are allot of questions, so I'll skip over the quick cuts they show.

1st Question (as always, the correct answer is in parenthesis next to the question)

Q. What is the Capitol of China? (Beijing)
A. Airi - Korea
A. Abe - Yellow River
A. Rio - Won Shun

Since no one answered correctly, they got another chance.

A. Rio - Shun Tson
A. Abe - Choukou

Choukou means the Yangtze River. No idea what Rio is referring to. LaLuce's Airi spoke up and said she new the answer.

A. Yasuda Airi - Beijing Duck

Close enough, lol.

Q. What is the name of this structure? (Arc de Triomphe - Gaisenmon - 凱旋門)

A. Rio - French Tower
A. Airi - France Tower
A. Abe - Paris Tower

Eventually they decided it was more of a Gate instead of a Tower, and just gave the same answers, but inserted Gate at the end.

A. Airi - French Gate
A. Abe - Paris Gate
A. Rio - Dragon Gate

Rio said Toryumon, which is actually a wrestling Promotion in Japan. That might be why it elicited some laughter. They changed to the English meaning, Dragon Gate, a long time ago. Rio asked for a hint, so MC Yahagi said "Ga" which is the first Kanji "凱" for Gaisenmon, the Japanese name for the Arc de Triomphe. This prompted more LIF members to give their answers.

A. Aimi - Gaien Gate
A. Honoka - Gairyu Gate

Everyone is clueless about this one, so MC Yahagi gave them the answer.

Q. How do you read this four character idiom?
"四面楚歌" (Shimen Soka - Surrounded by enemies on all sides)

Rio got super excited when she answered.

A. Rio - Shimen Souka

I guess this wasn't good enough because Rio kept answering. It sounded correct to me, but to Japanese ears, they must have heard the "u" sound.

A. Rio - Yonmen Souka
A. Rio -Yontsura Souka

Yamamoto Airi and Abe gave it a try.

A. Airi - Shimen Sokka
A. Abe - Shitsura Sokka

The host commented that Abe copied Airi's "Sokka". This quiz is going nowhere fast, lol.

Q. Fill in the missing part of this Haiku.

"Natsuguchi ya tsuwamono domo ga ___" (Yume no Ato - "Soldier's dream about summer grass" or something to that effect)

A. Airi - Inaho Kana

A. Abe - Yaketei Iku

A fan commented that this was a difficult question. The girls are probably too young to have heard this Haiku. They also said that Abe's reading was strange. Yaketei iku means "burning". They continued answering.

A. Rio - Sen kana

A. Airi - Wakai kana

Now they're using Abe's "Kana". After hearing the correct answer, they said they'd never heard it before. As seen below, MC Yahagi thought their reaction was weak after hearing the correct answer and not worth the build up. Their reaction to seeing their reaction was much better.

Okay, things are not going well. They must have took pity on the girls, and started giving them some easier questions. Otherwise, they'd be there all day, lol.

Q. What is this called in English? (Cow)

Abe was quick with her answer.

A. Abe - COW

This is the first correct answer of the quiz by the members actually participating. Abe would answer 2 more correctly after this and earned 3 points total. Airi and Rio still have 0 points.

Q. What letter comes after "F" in the Alphabet?

This time, Rio was quick to answer.

A. Rio - G

These questions definitely seem more their speed.

Q. What is this Prefecture? (Kagoshima-ken)

A. Airi - Kagoshima

They're on a role now! When asked how she knew, Airi said something to the effect of "It's shaped somewhat like Kagoshima" or "It has a Kagoshima-like shape". Airi would answer 2 questions correctly after this for a total of 3 points.

The current score is Airi - 3 points, Abe - 3 points, and Rio - 1 point.

Rio says "Gekokujou" which means to "overthrow or surpass your superiors". It also translates to "The low overcoming the high". She's basically saying she'll come from behind and win.

Q. What is the title of this painting? (Mona Lisa)

A. Rio - Mother Teresa

A fan brought up when LaLuce's Natsumi saw the same picture during their Academic Test episode and thought it looked like Ghandi.

A. Airi - Citrus

A. Rio - Olanza

I don't know what they're referring to, but they kept trying.

A. Rio - Elanza

A. Airi - Maranza

Suddenly, Abe remembered the answer and blurted out Mona Lisa. Apparently there was some doubt about her remembering the correct answer. Ito Asako thought Abe heard it through an In Ear Monitor, which is why she checked her ears. They made a comment that she was cunning.

Abe pulls ahead with 4 points. There's a caption above her name which just means "Reach (リーチ)". I guess because she only needs 1 more point to win the round and is reaching for the finish line.

Q. What is the name of this country? (America)
A. Rio - Egypt
A. Abe - Brazil
A. Rio - Genghis Khan

Really, Rio?

A. Abe - Mongolia

A. Airi - Eurasia

MC Yahagi gave them a hint: "It's the most famous country".

A. Airi - Korea
A. Abe - America

Airi almost seemed to apologize after her answer. Maybe because of the tensions between North Korea and Japan. After hearing that Abe's answer is correct, the other 2 commented.

Rio: "What? It's small".

Airi: "That's different".

With this answer, Abe clears and escapes the title of "Baka Center". The Battle continues with Airi at 3 points, and Rio at 1 point. Rio again insists that she will come from behind by giving another "Gekokujou!".

Q. What is this person's name? (Tokugawa Ieyasu)

(*Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan. This was the last military government of the Feudal period, before Japan moved into more modern times)

A. Airi - Oda Nobunaga

More answers followed.

A. Rio - Murasaki Shikibu
A. Airi - Ono Imoko

Yasuda Airi said "I think it's that generation". I take that to mean they're picking names from their frame of reference.

To help them out, they showed a famous quote attributed to this person. I'm not 100% sure about the translation, but this is as close as I can get "If you can't cry, you can't sing".

A. Airi: Hoto Togisu

Hoto Togisu is a Lesser Cuckoo bird. When I did a search for the quote, Hoto Togisu was included, but I don't know the significance of the connection. It must be connected to some trend in Japan I'm unaware of with no relation to the bird, but I couldn't find any other information.

The caption "バカ２人で問題作り始めた" reads: "2 stupid people have started making problems".

Yeah, what Airi said must be well known in Japan. The pointing Airi and Rio did is very specific and is probably some kind of joke.

And they kept going.

A. Rio - Tokunaga Hidetaka

There is a Tokunaga Hideaki who's a singer songwriter, so she was close, lol.

A. Tokugawa Kiyoshi

At this point, they give the girls a clear hint by showing the Family Name of Tokugawa.

A. Airi - Tokugawa Yasushi

Fans commented that Yasushi is, of course, Aki-P's Family Name.

A. Rio - Tokugawa Yasushige

In the end, no one could get it right, so they moved on.

Q. Fill in the blank the space in this proverb.

"Crane is a Thousand years, Turtle is a Million years - Tsuru wa Chitose Kame wa ___ (鶴は千年　亀は＿＿)" (Man Nen - 万年)

Some background:

(*Cranes and Turtles are long lived. Throughout Asia, Cranes are viewed as symbols of happiness and eternal youth. Cranes are believed to be he oldest living species of bird. There are fossils dating back 60 million yrs. Turtles are commonly known to live for a very long time, especially sea turtles. In Japan, both are used for "Gajyu", which celebrates longevity. The life expectancy of a Crane is 20 - 30 yrs. while a Turtles is 100 - 200 yrs.

The proverb is taken from the Chinese Philosophical text "Huainanzi". You can wish someone a long life by hoping they have "the crane’s one thousand years or the turtle’s ten thousand")

A. Rio - Unwilling to give in or 100 steps - Hyappo Yuzuru (百歩譲って)

A. Airi - Suppon (Squirrel)

They continued.

A. Airi - Arukeru (Walk)

A. Airi - 1001 yrs.

After that mess, Rio answered two questions correctly, and Airi answered 1. This puts Airi in the lead with 4 points to Rio's 3. Just like Abe in the previous round, the caption "Reach (リーチ)" is placed above Airi's name since she's only 1 point away from winning the round.

Q. What kind of meat is used to make Tonkatsu (Breaded Deep Fried Pork Cutlet)

This prompted Yahaghi to say: "Consider this question carefully". Rio didn't take his advice.

A. Rio - America.

Rio clearly says America, but for some reason, they displayed Iberiko instead. A fan pointed out that they can sound similar to a Japanese, so whoever was typing it up must have misheard it. Iberiko is a breed of pig.

A. Rio - Mexico

A. Airi - America

MCs Ogiyahagi and Asako were losing it by this point. Airi hadn't been paying attention, because someone told her: "it (America) was said a while ago". I believe MC Ogi said: "I want to do this quiz every month". They point out again how each girl's answer is a variation on the previous one.

A. Airi - Sausage

A. Airi - Tonkatsu Bowl

A. Airi - Beef

A. Rio - Gyu

A. Airi - Horse

I did a search, and nothing came up for Gyu, so I have no idea what Rio was thinking of. Gyunyu means Milk, but I don't know what that has to do with it.

MC Ogi spoke up: "You really know it". Maybe he was insinuating they were joking around.

A. Airi - Pork

Finally, the correct answer. At long last, the nightmare is over. Airi earns her final point for a total of 5 and wins the round. This means that Kiyohara Rio gets the title of "Standing Position #1 Baka (立ち位置バカ1番)".

The episode ends with a preview of the MV for the upcoming 5th single.

About the #1 Baka title, a fan commented that this sort of thing doesn't work that well with talented members like Abe and Airi. It's better suited for someone who's good at Variety, so Rio's the best option.

There were comments that the viewers for the Variety Show are decreasing on the night it airs, and the number of real time tweets are getting less and less. They wonder if it's because they're not Battling this season. I don't think Last Idol can win. If they do a Battle, fans will complain because they've seen it before. If it's a Variety Show, they complain that it's not a Battle.

One fan commented that everyone should have wanted a Variety. I think the problem is that they're not playing any games yet. They dragged out the Academic Test too long. It's usually 1 or 2 episodes on a 48/46G show. It took 4 episodes for Last Idol. That's too slow of a start.

Rio's tweet after getting the title. She basically says that she's become the first #1 Baka. She's worried about the future, but will do her best to make friends with this catchphrase over the next year.

この度ラストアイドル立ち位置バカ1番になりました、清原梨央です。。

今後が不安で仕方ないですが1年間このキャッチフレーズと仲良くできるように頑張ります見守っててください😭#ラスアイよろしく #清原梨央 pic.twitter.com/m25NRjKar7

— 清原梨央（Someday Somewhere） (@SomeSome_rio) November 18, 2018

There were a few comments about the 5th Single MV which was released this week. A common complaint is that the there were too many shadows, so it was hare to make out the member's faces. I agree. It was too dark, and the black costumes only made it worse.