Team Syachihoko x Radio Fish - Natalie Interview Part 3

*I finally remembered to translate the title of the Interview.

"Team Syachihoko and Radio Fish will overthrow Da Pump!

Heating up with a killer tune for the mid-summer."

"Please Remember to Sing Along"

--A Blu-ray of the MV and Making of are included on the limited edition of Burning Festival. Based on everyone's reactions, it felt like you had fun doing it.

Nakata: The lighting was so hot when shooting the video, it was like being in the desert. The set was also a bit difficult. Syachi thought they were making the video on a budget.

Nao: No, no! That's not it!

Fishboy: Yes, that's exactly how it was (laughs).

--How long did you prepare before shooting?

Nakata: We danced together about once or twice, didn't we?

Fishboy: Prior to shooting the MV, we ran through the choreo for the Sabi section 1 time. Syachi learned it properly on the day of the shoot. They're more skilled than the Radiofish members, so we had to practice allot during the breaks (laughs).

Honoka: It's a fun dance, so we had no trouble mastering it.

--You do the performance with such a pleasant feeling, that fans of both groups couldn't  help but join in.

Nakata: Syachi saw the video at their Release Event for Burning Festival, and they were really excited to see it. I wanted to do a live performance for Syachi's fans as soon as possible. To be honest, I really wanted to do a live together as well as a release event. However, in the Summer, various events overlapped.

--At the Jump Music Festival at Yokahama Arena in July, the two groups performed Burning Festival together.

Nakata: It got a good response despite being the first live performance. I enjoyed it allot myself. Ikoma Rina (formerly Nogizaka46) watched the stage and said I had a look on my face she'd never seen before (laughs). I guess I was having so much fun, it must have shown on my face.

Fishboy: The song has tension right from the start, and it's a composition that rises steadily. By the time the 2nd chorus comes in, we reach a perfect trance state. I hope everyone listening dances along. It's quite transcendent.

Nakata: I think everyone who hears it is surprised the Rap comes in so early, but I added parts that you can clap along with. "oh, yes!" or "get down!". If you say those words while dancing, you can enter the trance along with us. Because the song has these parts inserted, by all means, remember to sing along with us.

"We wont give up the second half of the year"

--Speaking of songs that are gaining momentum with this kind of fan participation, Da Pump's "USA" is a good example.

Nakata: Yes. We won't lose. I also said "Perfect Human" wouldn't lose to Piko Taro. It's a wonderful feeling and is absolutely important. The first half of the year belonged to USA, but I want it to be said that the second half belongs to Burning Festival. We will get it. From this point on, Da Pump will be out rivals. We're good friends with Da Pump, so we were happy when USA became a hit, but this is a different story. My feeling is like this "We won't give up the second half of the year. Don't screw with us, Da Pump!".

(*In the last sentence, Nakata uses "Fuzakenna" (don't screw with me). It's a phrase that originated in the Kansai region, and is heard often in Anime, so Nakata's just joking around)

Nao: ...

(*I'm not sure exactly how to phrase it, but Nao says something like "We're going to ride". I take it that she means Syachi is ready to join with Radio Fish to take on Da Pump)

Nakata: It's going to cost me saying that, isn't it?

--The Coupling Song "Taiyo Kami/Shin" (Sun God), follows the worship system, right?

Nakata: Koma2Kaz (Komatsu Kazuya - who also writes under the pseudonym KAZ) and JUVENILE composed the music, and SHINGO and SHiN wrote the lyrics. Komatsu did the arrangement for "USA". After heating things up with Burning Festival, you can cool down with Taiyo Kami. They complement each other really well, so please listen to them together.

(*Komatsu is a legend. He's written for just about everyone)

--The 2 songs make a set. That's so great.

Nao: This collaboration was really allot of fun. I want to do it again.

Nakata: I think we've already become friends. If the schedule is okay, and you offer the invitation, then I will jump at the chance. I want to do allot of lives together, but that's a dream. For now, we will join with Syachi and battle with Da Pump over the second half of the year with all our power.

--Are you aiming to participate in NHK's Kouhaku Uta Gassen?

Nakata: Of course. I want to cause an explosion and make it a reality.

Nao & Haruna: Yes!

Honoka: We'll all do our best!

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/syachihoko-radiofish/page/3

"Lasu Ai, Yoroshiku!" Ep. 2 Breakdown

*I wrote a breakdown for the first Episode of Last Idol Family's new Variety Show, but the two segments are pretty self explanatory, so I'm going to skip to Ep. 2 for archiving up purposes. This was originally posted on OneHallyu on Nov. 16th.

"The of position of LaLuce's #1 Baka will be decided tonight!!"
10/20

LaLuce's Academic Test was carried out in this episode. Comedian Ito Asako joined MC's Ogiyahagi as the guest. When the members were asked who the #1 Baka in LaLuce is, everyone quickly pointed to Abe. When asked who is the smartest in the group, Midori was confident it was her. Well, she was right. Midori answered 48 out of 70 questions correct.

As is typical for these kinds of episodes on a Variety Show, questions are selected where the member's answers were either humorous or way off. Midori is up first.

(*The correct answers are in parenthesis next to the question. The members answers are right below)

Q. Please answer how to read the following Kanji.

"The neighborhood's grove of trees is gone". (Zouki bayashi)

A. Zatsu mo kurin

These are the Kanji Midori needed to write in Hiragana: "雑木林". The correct reading is "Zouki bayashi" (ぞうきばやし). It's means "a grove of trees/forest". Midori's answer was "Zatsu mo kurin" (ざつもくりん). There's a similar word "Zakkirin" (ざっきりん) which also means a type of forest, so Midori was close, but it's not the correct reading for the characters.

I did some research and her answer is technically correct, but the reading that's taught in school is "Zouki bayashi". I think her answer is supposed to be strange because it's something younger people get confused with.

Q. What is the Statue of Liberty holding in her right hand? (Taimatsu - Torch)

A. Taimatsu

Even though Midori wrote Taimatsu, she used different Kanji (大麻つ). This kind of Taimatsu means Shinto paper offerings, but can also be read as hemp. Some fans commented that they heard Marijuana is dangerous, lol.

Next up is Haruka.

Q. The S on clothing labels represents "small". What does the L represent? (Large)

A. Long

Q. What is the Capital City of America? (Washington D.C.)

A. Argentina

Q. What's the Capital City of England? (London)

A. Paris

Geography is clearly not Haruka's strong suite, lol. Airi asked where the Capitol City of Paris is. She said "Isn't it somewhere like Bangladesh?". I'm pretty sure I translated that correctly. Does she seriously not know that Paris is in France?

Now it was Airi's turn.

Q. What period came before the Showa period? (Taishou)

A. Edo

A quick History lesson:

- Showa period: 1926 - 1989

- Taishou period: 1912 - 1926

- Meiji period: 1868 - 1912

- Edo period: 1603 - 1868

Airi was way off, lol. She also had trouble with her Capital Cities.

Q. What is the Capitol City of London?

A. Argentina.

Did Haruka copy off of her or was it the other way around?! It was very suspicious so their answers were shown side by side. Possible cheating?

Next is Natsumi.

Q. In Seasoning (Sa-shi-su-se-so), if "Sa" is sugar, and "Shi" is salt, what is "So"? (Miso)

A. Sauce

This is supposed to be a common mistake. Here's some background. It's a bit long, but I think it helps put this into context.

Sa-Shi-Su-Se-So is a pun on the seasonings that are used in Japanese cooking. It's what you would call a Mnemonic phrase. Each character represents a seasoning, and the order in which it's used so it's easier to remember (A classic English Mnemonic is "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge". The first letter of each word refers to musical notes and the order you would read them). It's also happens to be written in the same order as the 5 Japanese vowels.

They go in this order:

- a, i, u, e, o.

All Hiragana and Katakana follow this order so you'll see:

- ka, ki, ku, ke, ko

- ta, chi, tsu, te, to

So "sa, shi, su, se, so" is written the same way. Anyway, here's what they all refer to:

- Sa - Satou (Sugar)

- Shi - Shio (Salt)

- Su - Su (Vinegar)

- Se - Seuyu (Soy Sauce. It's written as "Shoyu" in English)

- So - Miso (Fermented Bean Paste)

I think this enough of an explanation, so I'll stop here, lol.

When the MCs asked if anyone knew what "Se" was, Airi confidently answered "Sebura" which is "Lard/Animal Fat". That's actually what's used for Ramen. Airi is really on a role!

Natsumi's next question:

Q. Name the historical figure in the photograph. (Ghandi)

A. Mother Teresa

The guest, Asako-san, agreed with this answer. Haruka also had an interesting answer. She wrote "Claude Monet". Okay seriously, are they even trying? At least Natsumi was in the same ballpark.

They came to Abe last.

Q. What is the name of the Prefecture in the red area? (Tokyo)

A. Tsu

She doesn't even know where the Capital of Japan is. According to fans, I believe what she meant to write is "Tsushi", which just means City. I guess she gave up and just wrote that.

Q. What is the full name of the President of the America?

A. Trump Human

Her reason for choosing Human was because it had "Man" in it. Midori took issue with this and asked "Then what the fuck are women?!".

Q. What is the name of this building? (Eifel Tower)
A. Everest

Okay, I thought Japanse girls loved France. How do they keep getting these answers wrong? Both use the "E" character, so I guess she was close.

Q. What is the Statue of Liberty holding in her right hand? (Torch)

A. Stick (Abe wrote this in Katakana. She might be referring to a walking stick)

Q. Make a simple sentence using the following phrase "Tsuki (Moon) to Suppon (Soft Shelled Turtle)".

A. The Sun and Vinegar are as different as the Moon and the Turtle.

Tsuki to Suppon is an old Japanese phrase that essentially means "as different as Day and Night". The moon is supposed to be a symbol of beauty, while the turtle lives in the mud and has an ugly face. It represents two things that are extremely different from each other. Abe had the right idea, but the Sun and Vinegar don't really make sense as extremes.

This last question was answered incorrectly by all 5 members of LaLuce.

Q. What is the full name of this personality? (Yahagi Ken)

Abe: Yahagi Shinichi

Natsumi: Hayagi Shinichirou

Haruka: Yahagi Shinsaku (*used correct Kanji for last name)

Midori: Yahagi Kouhei (*used correct Kanji for last name)

Airi: Hagiryu Utarou

Who the hell is Airi thinking of?! She has to be trolling. The final result was announced, and the #1 Baka in LaLuce is Abe. She only answered 27 out of 70 questions correctly. On top of being a giant, and a confirmed Legend, now we can add Baka Center to her list of accomplishments!

Final scores:

1. Midori - 48/70
2. Natsumi - 46/70
3. Airi - 40/70
4. Haruka - 34/70

5. Abe - 27/70

After reading comments from fans, they thought Airi stood out the most because of her ridiculous answers, like thinking Paris was in Bangladesh. This was also the first real episode of the Variety Show and some fans haven't made up their mind yet. The Academic Test is a standard part of many Variety Shows, famously used by 48/46Gs. Fans enjoyed the episode, but they weren't wowed by it. It's still early, so we'll have to wait and see how it develops.

At the end, we get a short preview of the next episode, as well as a very short clip of Midori in the second episode of the Drama, "Kasouken no Onna" (Woman of Science) which airs on All-Nippon News Network. It's a suspense show that seems to have CSI elements using sophisticated technology. It's been on the air since 1999 and has run for 17 seasons to date.

I had no idea Midori was doing more acting outside of the School-Live! movie. This might be something she's doing on her own using the concurrent stipulation in the 1st Gen's contracts.

And that's the end. Will anyone score lower than Abe, or is her title of #1 Baka secure? Find out next time!

Team Syachihoko x Radio Fish - Natalie Interview Part 2

"The longest is [Oh Yeah!]"

--"Burning Festival" is an energetic, up-beat tune. Why did you use a song like this for the collaboration?

Nakata: It's being released as a Summer Single. Since we're collaborating with Syachi, who have high temperature fans, then it needs to have a fast tempo, so I thought this song would be a good choice. Our songs are based on EDM, but EDM has a cold feeling. This time, I wanted to deliver a hot feeling, so I incorporated wind instruments to convey the hot weather. I asked Fishboy and his friend, Miyata "Lefty" Ryo-kun, to compose the song. Miyata-kun also composed Radio Fish's "Golden Age" and "Make Ya Groove".

(*Miyata must be a big deal. He's got 43k followers on Twitter)

Fishboy: For this collaboration, 5 people will be added to the stage, so I hope that everyone's dancing will be good. From the phrase "Everyone dances" I thought of Rockabilly, so I decided to mix Electro and Rockabilly. Originally, scratching was included (*On the recording, I assume) so it had a street feeling. However, Nakata didn't think it felt hot enough, so we added wind instruments and incorporated Jazz elements.

Nakata: We also changed the content of the lyrics. They were originally in the same vein as "Perfect Human" which everyone says is the "Nakata worship system".

(*It might be better to use "System of Worship". I think this is just a fancy way of referring to Nakata's philosophy towards composing)

Nao: Worship system!? That's a bit strange, isn't it (laughs). By the way, what other systems are there besides that?

Nakata: In my opinion, you either "worship the system" or "don't worship the system". Fish wrote lyrics that worshiped the system, so the content reflected his reverance of his older brother, and didn't have many surprises. He's a really nice little Brother (laughs). I didn't want a song with those kind of lyrics, so I proposed that we make it more like "Dancing naked in the middle of the desert". At that time, "Burning Festival" became the title of the song, and I requested the rap sections from Fish.

Haruna: These brotherly interactions are really amazing (laughs).

Nakata: Sure, but this time it's a collaboration with Team Syachihoko, so I want to convey a different feeling. I had high expectations for this collab, and I wanted to make something really good. The first attempt wasn't bad, but I wanted something that had more of a feeling of an "Explosion of Summer". I requested lyrics from Fish that fit better with the title of "Burning Festival", and he immediately came up with the rap sections. Shingo has a serious male character, so his rhyming style is straight forward. It's similar to boxing. He delivers a 1, 2, 3 Punch when he writes lyrics. But since Fish likes English music, he uses two different traits when writing lyrics. His raps will be stylish and cool, but the sung vocals will be serious.

Haruna: That's difficult, isn't it? It was hard for me even though I'm usually in charge of the Rap parts in Syachi songs.

Nao: We don't sing much in English. Only "Yeah" or things like that, so it was difficult.

Honoka: (laughs). Of course, the English parts of Syachi's songs are written in Katakana, like "Enjoy Life".

Nakata: Don't you sing many long English words?

Haruna: "Oh Yeah!" is about the longest (laughs).

Nakata: Really? (laughs). Even so, all of you learned quickly and sang properly. The foundation of our group is built on Shingo's style of rapping and singing. However, Syachi sing together as 5 people, which I don't think is well balanced. I usually just let the members in Skill Master handle the rap. So, I decided to mix Shingo and Honoka together and put them in charge of the Sabi (*low vocal tones). I was in charge of the line division, so I was worried the member's voices might not fit together.

Haruna: It was perfect! During the recording, Nakata was really kind while giving us direction on how to add intonation. Nakata produced everything but his own part. I thought he was amazing.

Nakata: I guess I'll just make the appropriate Producer face (laughs). But I really didn't know during recording how it would turn out. When we finished, everyone listened to it and thought it had a fun and lively feeling like Orange Range's "Locolotion". The dynamic of alternating male and female vocals is really wonderful. All my Producer's luck was used up on this.

Nao: I sang very frantically, so I was worried about whether it would be okay.

Nakata: I was very satisfied. I think it turned out as a really nice song thanks to everyone.

"Even Elementary School Students can do Nakata's dance"

--The choreography of Burning Festival is very unique.

Fishboy: Show-hey handled the choreography for the Sabi part. However, for the Bridge at the end of the Sabi, I thought it needed something grand, so I entrusted that to Nakata. That's where that pose came from (laughs).

Nakata: The members of Radio Fish and Syachi watched me dancing on my own for about 1 hr. I never studied dance, so I think even Elementary School students can do my movements. It's the same approach I took when making Oriental Radio's "Martial Story" routine. In the middle of a performance, a reaction usually comes out like "is this really dancing?". When I collaborated with w-inds, I did the same thing for them, but that feeling didn't come out at all, and I was getting impatient. When I danced for Syachi, that feeling came out easily and I thought "I'm saved this time...".

(*This paragraph was a little difficult to understand. This sounds almost like performance art. Nakata must do his dance routine in front of everyone and wait until they finally start laughing because it's so ridiculous. I guess w-inds missed the point entirely. Nakata's a really eccentric guy, lol)

Nao: Nakata was really funny that time (laughs).

Haruna: Nakata is usually funny, but that whole display was really hilarious. Radio Fish weren't laughing because they're used to it, but all the Syachi members were laughing uncontrollably.

Fishboy: Even though I entrusted it to him, it's a bit irritating to have so many people standing around watching like that. I don't even care to watch professional dancers sweat for that long (laughs).

Nakata: Wow, you've suffered (laughs).

--How was it for the Syachi members to dance to Radio Fish's choreography?

Honoka: Radio Fish came up with allot of movements that were easy for us to understand. It was a really fresh and cool dance. Haruna's really good at dancing, so we felt like cool dancers.

(*I'm not sure if Honoka meant that the other members felt as cool as Haruna because they were performing that kind of choreo)

Haruna: Originally, it had a Hip Hop and Jazz vibe. I've done allot of dances, but this is one of the most fun. There's allot of steps, particularly in the A Melody. I really wanted to do something like this, and after 7 yrs. of activities in Syachi, I finally did.

Nakata: Shingo and I don't dance that part, so it was impressive to see the Syachi members learned it so quickly.

Nao: With the exception of Haruna, it was difficult for us!

Fishboy: Even so, I thought you really did understand it quickly.

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/syachihoko-radiofish/page/2

A few additional notes. It's interesting to hear Fishboy make some jokes at Nakata's expense. Since Nakata is his older brother and senior, it's interesting that they can joke around like they do. I'm not an expert on the social dynamics of Japan, but maybe family members are more informal with each other in social settings than, say, co-workers.

It doesn't come across in the Translation, but I picked on how the Syachi members drop the honorifics when referring to each other. For example, they refer to Haruna as "Haru" instead of Haru-chan. Not using honorifics is a sign you are really close with someone. I guess it's natural for members who've known each other for so long, but this isn't common in every group. Some people get around this by using their nickname instead.

I've noticed the Syachi members kind of contradict themselves throughout Interview. One member will say how easy something was for them, but then another one will talk about how difficult it was. I almost wonder if it's a battle between politeness. Like they're trying to praise Radio Fish by saying they kept the movements simple to make it easier for the Syachi members to learn, but at the same time, it's also really difficult because it's such a great dance. Double the praise, I guess, lol.

Team Syachihoko x Radio Fish - Natalie Interview Part 1

"The common feature is the catchy choreography"

--It seems that this collaboration was realized with an offer from Team Syachihoko. The offer came after Syachi and Radio Fish collaborated for the "#Sotsu Ome! 2018" Live at Zepp Diver City Tokyo in March.

(*Sotsu Ome was the free event held in the Spring for High School Students who were about to graduate. Turning 18 was also a theme)

Honoka: That's right. I had allot of fun singing Radio Fish songs at that time, and thought we could work on something together and made the offer. Thank you for accepting our offer, and for writing the songs. We're really glad.

Nakata (Radio Fish): Not at all. We're the ones who are thankful. We originally started as an Owarai Combination called Oriental Radio. Later, we invited Skill-Master to join, so the number of dancers increased by 4, and it started to feel like a real group. We've collaborated with various Artists, but they feel more like Family members. I'm glad that Syachi has become part of our Family. 

 
(*Owarai Combination refers to the Comedy Duos, sometimes Trios, that Japan is well known for, especially in Osaka. Skill-Master was a dance group that consisted of FISHBOY, Show-hey, SHiN, and RIHITO who all joined and formed Radio Fish. Fishboy is also NAKATA's younger brother. I believe both groups are still active separately even while promoting as Radio Fish)

Nao: Thank you for bringing us into the Family!

Nakata: Ho-chan (Honoka) is on a TV Show in Tokyo, and another Syachi member is starting a TV Show in Nagoya, so we got to know each other a little, and of course the "#Sotsu Ome!" Live event was allot of fun. We've done various collaborations, but Syachi is the first time with a Female Idol group. However, I think there might be some antipathy from fans for doing it.

Nao: There was nothing like that at all.

Fishboy: I thought that Syachi and Radio Fish shared the same kind of catchy choreography. I'm sure this collaboration went well.

Honoka: We thought the same thing. The catchy choreography is easy for our fans to dance along with, so I wonder if fans of both groups with be able to dance together in unity.

Nakata: Yes, I thought the simplicity would fit well with the aesthetic.

Haruna: Thank you very much. After that collaboration (*Sotsu Ome!), I had the chance to interact with fans, and everyone said they enjoyed it. On top of that, I'm proud of the photos I took with Nakata (laughs). I was glad that everyone was happy, so I think it's good that we were able to release a Single together.

"Musical Juniors"

--Fishboy, did you know about Syachi before this?

Fishboy: As a matter of fact, a friend of mine is their Choreographer, so I've seen it often.

--Oh, of course. What was your impression of the girls?

Fishboy: It looked like they were doing whatever idols do (laughs). However, their balance was marvelous, and I thought they were proper Idols.

Honoka: Really? There are times when we can't believe we're still Idols.

Nakata: Of course. The character of each Syachi member stood out, and they showed a cheerful image of an Idol. Also, everyone in the group can sing well. I guess it's because they have various types of songs...As a matter of fact, I myself have provided songs for Kawatami Enon (A member of several bands including "indigo la End", "Gesu no Kiwami Otome", and "Ichikori"). My personal favorite of his is Shampoo Heart (*Shampoo Heart is the title track from an early Single by Syachi that was composed by Kawatami).

(*This paragraph was a little confusing. I wasn't sure if Nakata was saying that he's written songs for Kawatami. He specifically used the word "Provided" which is a little vague. It was kind of a round about way of giving an example of a song he liked. I may have to get some help with this)

Nao: What! Really? I'm so glad!

Nakata: In terms of music genre, we (Radio Fish) are Juniors. We have allot of respect for Syachi and are using this collaboration to study various things. We started our musical activities from the Comedy scene, and have learned through trial and error. They can sing and dance properly, and have an amusing way of speaking. They're really professional.

Nao: No, no...Radio Fish is a really popular group. They've been on Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

Honoka: Yes, yes. When Syachi and Radio Fish decided to collaborate, all our College friends were envious, as well as the Dancers we know.

Haruna: I had a corner at my High School's Sports Festival for dancing, and I had students dancing to "Perfect Human" by Radio Fish. I had one of our Teachers play the role of Nakata (laughs). When this collaboration was decided, I thought "This is amazing! I'm going to brag to all my friends".

Nakata: That's great to hear.

Fishboy: That makes me happy.

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/syachihoko-radiofish

Cent Chihiro Chicchi and Aini the End - Solo Debut Interview Part 3

"I had to face what I made on my own" - Aina

--Please tell me how you feel listening to each other's songs.

Aina: My Father really likes Ging Nang Boyz "Yoru Ouji to Tsuki no Hime", so it's really exciting to hear how it turned out. After listening to it, I told Chicchi that the beautiful part of the song has become even more beautiful. Only Chicchi can create this kind of atmosphere. Does the color change so much from the original song in the cover? I think so.

--For sure, there is the feeling of a unique atmosphere with Chicchi-san.

Aina: Lately, Chicchi isn't just cool. She isn't beautiful or ethereal either. She just feels like "Chicchi" (laughs). While collaborating with Legal Lilly, I felt like they were on the same wavelength. It was like Chicchi was no longer 1 person. I've listened to the song over and over imagining various things.

--Chicchi-san, what did you think after listening to Aina-san's "Kienaide"?

Chicchi: I knew the original song. However, I think it's different with this sound source. This kind of instrumentation changes it so much. But more than anything, I see a side of Aina I've never seen before in BiSH. It was thrilling to feel Ainia as she truly is, like she's naked.

Aina: I've seen it many times when I'm in the bath (laughs).

Chicchi: I haven't seen it for a while (laughs).

Aina: That's right. It's been about 3 yrs. since I was completely naked.

(*When Chicchi is talking about Aina in the earlier sentence, the literal translation is "naked". I thought "bare her soul" would sound better, but then Aina makes the joke and I decided it made sense to go with the literal version, lol)

--In that sense, Chicchi has also become naked with this release, and revealing the most important part of herself. Did you resist that urge?

Chicchi: I had no hesitation. I decided to put all of my love into it. It would have been useless to be cautious. For people who like Ging Nang Boyz, they're very special to them, so I would die if I did it half way. I put so much emotion into this.

--Aina-san, you also mentioned you had no hesitation when you began this project.

Aina: None at all. From the time I started this, I felt I wanted to do it from the bottom of my heart.

I had to face what I made all on my own. I listened to everyone's opinion, and decided I had to do it myself. Because it was the first time, it was really fun.

(*The second sentence was a bit difficult. The word Aina uses is "Mukiau" which means "Face, confront, approach" I'm still not sure the best way to phrase it, so I went with this. Maybe because she had the help of a producer, but the entire paragraph keeps talking about her doing it on her own)

"The balance between these 2 people is miraculous" - Chicchi

--In conclusion, regarding the activities in BiSH, I would like to ask your opinion of each others roles.

Chicchi: I think I see Aina as someone who isn't affected by her surroundings. She follows her own path, and feels like she doesn things naturally without forcing it.

Aina: When you put it that way, I think I can be Aina the End because Chicchi is there. Of course, since Chicchi is the Axis of BiSH's songs, every member can do whatever they like. However, even thought Chicchi is the axis of BiSH, I think that she has changed allot.

--What do you mean?

Aina: Early on, the image of a clear, transparent voice was strong. Then there was an astonishing change. Now, she has a cool voice that comes from her core. She works very hard towards whatever goal is in front of her.

(*The world Aina uses to describe Chicchi's voice in the first sentence is "Tomei". It means transparent, clear, etc. Something that isn't hidden. I couldn't really think of a better option, so I just when with both clear and transparent. In addition, Aina uses "Gamushyara" in the second sentence. It refers to somewhat of a single minded approach to pursuing ones goals, but I wasn't sure the best way to phrase it since saying Chicchi is single minded could have a negative connotation)

Chicchi: I'd say I think I've definitely changed.

Aina: It depends on the day as well. The tone and feeling of her voice changes based on the tension of the day.

Chicchi: That's right. Sato-san from the Live Production said something like "If you're not feeling well, BiSH's morale falls" and "When your tone is good, everyone else's gets better" (laughs).

--Is it a burden for Chicchi-san to bear the responsibility of being the axis of the group?

Chicchi: I haven't felt any pressure at all. I just want to sing, so when I'm singing, I always enjoy it.

--How do you see each other as Vocalists? I think you have different personalities.

Chicchi: Ever since I met Aina, I've thought her voice is wonderful. I don't have a unique voice, so I think Aina's is great. Was it strong from birth?

--I think Chicchi-san's singing voice is also very strong.

Aina: I think so too. It feels really good when I sing after Chicchi. I absorb her singing into my body, and I feel like I can capture her flow when I follow her. That's why it's impossible without her (laughs). There was a time when Chicchi was away from BiSH, and I cried everyday. I can't even think of losing her. She's the most important person.

--You have a good influence on each other.

Chicchi: I can't imagine Aina not being here. I hear "The contrast of these 2 voices is good" said allot, so I think there's a miraculous balance between us. I'm scared to think about not having this (laughs).

--I think we've seen new charms from the two of you with these solo releases. Do you have plans for your next work?

Chicchi: It hasn't been decided at the moment. You can listen to the songs by Aina and myself, but there are 6 members in BiSH, and I think each one is different from the other. This was allot of fun, so if there's an opportunity to do it again, I think I'll take it!

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/bish07/page/3

Cent Chihiro Chicchi and Aina the End - Solo Debut Interview Part 2

"It feels like 1 Band" - Chicchi

--Members of Legal Lilly participated in Chicchi's recording of "Yoru Ouji to Tsuki no Hime".

Did you have a chance to talk with them?

Chicchi: Yes. I'm good friends with the Vocalist, Honoka-chan. I'm a fan of Legal Lilly, and like them allot, so when I decided to record "Yoru Ouji to Tsuki no Hime", I met with Honoka-chan and asked for her help. She said it would be her pleasure to help with the recording.

--Are Legal Lilly also fans of Ging Nang Boyz?

Chicchi: Not at all. No one in Legal Lilly follows Ging Nang Boyz. However, I thought I really wanted to work on the song with those people. I thought it would be better to record it through Legal's point of view, rather than imitating the style of the original song. We got together during pre-production, and talked about what to do with the Key (*As in what key the song should be in). We recorded it with the feeling that we were 1 band. I shared all the things I liked, and the members of Legal expressed how they wanted to approach the recording.

--So you feel like you made it together instead of a vocalist with a backing band?

Chicchi: It was amazing! We spent over 10 hrs. on pre-production alone, and then I worked on the arrangement for the entire song, which was a first for me. It was thrilling.

"My dream has come true that allot of instruments have entered" - Aina

--Aina-san, "Kienai de" was produced by Kameda Seiji. When did you meet him?

Aina: I've always really like Ringo Shiina, and I've seen videos of Kameda performing with her. I had the chance to meet him at the Viva La Rock in May. I admired the way the music and his live performance come together in a cool way. Now that we're both on Avex, I asked him "how would you feel about doing the arrangement?". He immediately replied, "Am I dreaming?" and accepted my request.

--Kameda-san's sound has allot of depth.

Aina: I wrote this song when I was 18, so I didn't know anything about Songwriting, the A melody, the B melody, or how to utilize Sabi (*Low Japanese vocals). I don't understand the meaning in this messy song (laughs). I only considered whether "the bass should enter here" or "is it better if the drums come in here". Because of that, this is a dream come, and I'm glad to have Kameda-san add bass and drums to the song (laughs).

--So did the final version turn out the way you imagined?

Aina: While staying true to the original composition, it was given the "Kameda treatment", and now the bass sounds amazing. It's actually become a cool song (laughs). After I received the instrumental, I danced the whole time while listening to it at home. That's why I want everyone to listen to it. It's filled with the sound of so many instruments.

--What was your impression during the recording?

Aina: I wrote "Kienai de" on a piece of paper after every Chu.

(*I wrote "Chu" since it's an onomatopoeia. I don't think I need to explain it since it's well known, but I don't understand the context for it. There's no kissing or mouse-like sound in the song, unless Aina means the "La, La, La" part. I don't know if there's a new context for it)

--Why did you do that?

Aina: Because it was a song I couldn't attempt without doing so. At the beginning, since I was singing each part separately, I thought it was something different, so I had to remind myself I was singing 1 song.

(*There is another meaning for "Chu". It can refer to spaces for Street Parking. Because the parts were divided up in the song, maybe that's why she used Chu)

"There was no shouting in the original song, so I wanted to shout." - Chicchi

--Both songs are different from BiSH is releasng these days. Were there any pionts in the song that you careful about singing?

Chicchi: In BiSH, I do my best to listen to the advice of Matuskuma (Kenta)-san, and I think that makes the best use of my essence. However, this time, I sang just for myself. I listened to Honoka-san's opinon, but I tried not to think about it too much.

--Your straight forward singing voice is impressive.

Chicchi: Yes. I only focused on the Sabi and singing straight. I didn't think too deeply when I approached the song. More than singing well, I wanted to put all of myself into it.

(*I'm never quite sure how to translate "Massugu" when it's used in this context. It means "straight", "not bending", etc. In this context, they probably just mean singing simply)

--I see what you mean. Chicchi-san is said to be "very skilled at singing", but with this song, there's a feeling of simplicity with the way you sang it.

Chicchi: Especially during the first acapella part. I wanted to sing with the feeling like I was just walking around. I thought it would be good if it sounded natural. However, when the lyrics "Kimi ga hoshi koso kanashikere" come in, that's the saddest part to me. There's no shouting in the original song, but I wanted to shout those lyrics. So, in the end, the feeling of BiSH's Cent Chihiro Chicchi makes an appearance.

--Has Mineta-san already heard it?

Chicchi: It seems he has listened to it, but I haven't talked with Mineta-san himself about it.

However, the Engineer who recorded it was also in charge of Going Steady and Ging Nang Boyz. They said "This is the 3rd time I've recorded 'Yoru Ouji to Tsuki no Hime'". They went on to say "You have a good head voice. I think it's really suited for 'Yoru Ouji to Tsuki no Hime'", so I was really glad. Now I feel like I'm part of some sort of history (laughs).

--Aina-san's singing also feels like it has more of a private atmosphere than usual.

Aina: I agree. I don't know if I sang well. I didn't care much about pitch, and focused more on giving an impression of my private life. I wonder if that's good.

--The 2 of you are always singing to your fullest in BiSH, but it's interesting in your solos that you're thinking "I shouldn't sing too well".

Aina: I said earlier that I sang this song for my best friend. However, even though I'm singing with such strong feelings to one person, I believe they will reach anyone who listens to it. I think it's a song that will have a deep impact on absolutely everyone who hears it.

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/bish07/page/2

Cent Chihiro Chicchi and Aina the End - Solo Debut Interview Part 1

BiSH's Ania the End and Cent Chihiro Chicchi released their solo debut Single with the Double A Side "Yoru Ouji to Tsuki no Hime/Kienai de" on 9/19. Chicchi's is a cover of the famous Ging Nang Boyz song "Yoru Ouji to Tsuki no Hime". Aina sings an original song "Kienai de" that was composed before joining BiSH. It's Produced by Kameda Seiji.

Music Natalie interviewed the two of them about their Solo debuts, the production of the songs, and their standing positions and activities in BiSH.

"I wanted to sing a song that was close to someone's life" - Chicchi

--Aina-san, the solo song you're releasing this time is one you wrote yourself.

Aina: Yes, when I decided to make a solo release, I wanted it to be a song I'd written myself.

--You had the opportunity to sing as a Featuring Vocal with other Artists. How does this differ from that?

Aina: Whenever I sang as a Featuring Vocal, BiSH was always added to it. BiSH was something I always carried with me. It was my identity. However, this time, I wanted to forget BiSH, forget Aina the End, and tried to sing as one woman.

(*Aina doesn't exactly say Identity, but that sounded better than the literal translation of "Everything went back to BiSH")

--And Chicchi is covering the Ging Nang Boys song "Yoru Ouji to Tsuki no Hime".

Chicchi: I don't have any songs that I've written myself, so I wanted to record something that was filled with everything I like.

--Were there any other songs that you thought of?

Cicchi: No, that was one I wanted to do the most. When I said, "what song do I want to sing?", Mineta-san's (Kazunobu Mineta/Ging Nang Boyz) was the only one that came to mind.

--Out of all the Ging Nang Boyz songs, why did you choose this one?

Chicchi: When I was a Senior in High School, I was getting into Punk and became addicted to Going Steady. The song that meant the most to me at that time was "Yoru Ouji to Tsuki no Hime".

--But Chicchi-san is a generation later than Going Steady, right?

Chicchi: Yes. When I became familiar with them, they had become Ging Nang Boyz, but Going Steady name was still lingering. Even so, that was the one song that saved me from loneliness back then. The song itself became like a "Night Price" to me, so covering it at this time, maybe other people will feel the same way I did back then. I felt like I wanted to sing that kind of song on my own.

"I decided to sing this song for my best friend" - Aina

--"Kienai de" is a song that Aina-san wrote when she was 18, right?

Aina: That's right. It's the first song I wrote in my life.

--Were you active as a Singer at the time you wrote it?

Aina: I was singing on the street back then. However, I thought it would be nice to have an original song (laughs). So I decided to try and write one.

--Do you remember when you wrote this song?

Aina: I remember everything. I thought about the lyrics while lying in bed. I asked a fried to help me, and we made sort of a demo tape.

However, I didn't have proper equipment, so I plugged my Ear Phone into my Computer and sang into it (laughs). I recorded it properly at another friend's studio later.

--Why did you decide to release such an early song?

Aina: I have a very close female friend, and about 3 years ago her Mother died. She called me in the evening, and in a rather carefree way said "My Mother has died. Isn't that worrisome?". Even though she was talking casually, she was crying terribly. I began to tremble and didn't know what to say. Then, after being silent for a while, my friend said "sing Keinai de".

--So did you sing it over the phone?

Aina: No. I was trembling. My face turned white and I couldn't sing. Later, I really regretted not being able to sing for her over the phone, so when we discussed what I was going to sing for this solo, I chose "Kienai de" without hesitation. I want to sing for that girl. Now I have the confidence in myself that I can sing at any time.

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/bish07