Before and After Morning Musume Interview

JaME was able to sit down with Anime Expo’s Musical Guests of Honor, pop-idol group Morning Musume, for a quick interview before their concert. It was easy to see that these nine girls were very excited to perform overseas. As we walked into the hotel room used for the interview, the girls stood up in unison. They were very poised and proper, with some members looking overly excited, some looking curious and some even looking slightly nervous.

After basic introductions were made, we sat down to start the interview. However, as we looked at the nine very stylish and eager girls sitting in front of us, we got a bit overwhelmed - so we decided a basic introduction was in order.


Please introduce the person next to you and tell us something interesting about them!

With this statement, the girls excitedly looked around to see who was sitting where, wondering where to start.

Morning Musume: Where! Where do we begin?

We gestured to our right and began with Lin Lin, who introduced Jun Jun.

Lin Lin: (in English) This is Jun Jun. She’s from China. And really likes bananas.

Jun Jun: This is Michishige Sayumi. She’s lovely. And she’ll be twenty soon.

Michishige Sayumi: This girl sitting next to me is Kamei Eri. She’s twenty, but doesn’t always act her age. Sometimes she can be childish, but sometimes she can be really really great and reliable.

Kame Eri: This is girl is Morning Musume’s leader Takahashi Ai! She hates eggplant but likes corn. She is the number one flubber of lines in Morning Musume.

Takahashi Ai: This is Tanaka Reina. She loves cats. (everyone laughs) She is very nimble with her fingers, she does her own nails!

(Reina holds up her hands to show her perfectly done black and white nails to everyone in the room.)

Tanaka Reina: This is Niigaki Risa and everyone calls her "bean" or "childish" just because she has a small face. I can tell she has a love for Morning Musume because she often brings surprise presents for everyone. She really observes and looks at all of us and isn’t afraid to give constructive criticism.

Niigaki Risa: This girl here is Kusumi Koharu. She is sixteen years old, but she is very liberated and has a free will of her own. She speaks her mind without regard to the atmosphere. Usually, this tends to improve the atmosphere around us. Often when a new member joins, the older members find the new junior member needs to become more grown up and mature, but this hasn't been said of Koharu.

Koharu Kusumi: This is Mitsui Aika. Aika and I are the same age - sixteen years old! She was born on January 2. She is blood type O. She likes strawberries. She’s from the Shiga prefecture and speaks Kansai-dialect fluently. Her charm point is her exposed forehead.

Mitsui Aika: This is Lin Lin and she’s from the same generation as me: the eighth generation! She’s from China. Right now she’s getting into the rock kind of style. She use to have long hair, but now she’s cut it into a bob. She loves anime.

If you could tell someone overseas something about Morning Musume, what would it be?

(The girls gesture to Takahashi Ai to answer for the group.)

Ai: We’re here for Anime Expo, and there’s going to be tens of thousands of people attending it. But I’m sure there’s going to be people who don’t know Morning Musume. I really hope that they will get to know us. I know that we have a lot of fans overseas, and we usually don’t have the chance to meet them. But this will be a good opportunity for us to meet and be able to see our fans.

What songs do you have planned for your upcoming concert, and why did you choose them?

Niigaki Risa: We have a medley planned, and the rest of it is being kept secret to build up anticipation. We did rehearse and practice our songs, so I hope that everyone comes and enjoys our show.


With this statement our brief interview with Morning Musume before Anime Expo finished. The day after the live, we sat down with Morning Musume again for a special themed interview, with questions based off of some of the girls' most popular songs.


3,2,1 Breakin’ Out

How was your break out performance yesterday?

Takahashi Ai: We didn’t know how it would go, but we’re really happy about it!
Morning Musume: (laugh and nod)
Niigaki Risa: We didn’t imagine there would be so many people, it was a little overwhelming.

How did you break into the music business? Was Morning Musume your first audition?

Michishige Sayumi: I really wanted to be a Morning Musume member.
Tanaka Reina: I was really desperate to be in Morning Musume! I love Goto Maki and admire her so much, I used to collect all her pictures and wear her clothes like her costumes…Morning Musume is part of my identity.

How have your lives changed since breaking out with Morning Musume?

Kusumi Koharu: I used to live in a small town, and after I joined Morning Musume I had to move to a big city.
Lin Lin: I changed a country!
Mitsui Aika: Life in small cities is very different from life in big cities!
Tanaka Reina: I can go to Korean BBQ restaurants! Before joining Morning Musume, Korean BBQ was considered fancy food, something I only ate once a month, but now I can get it easily.

Are there any pre-show rituals you have before breaking out on stage?

Michishige Sayumi: I look in a mirror and say, “Hello, are you cute today? Ready? Here we go!”

Yowamushi (Coward)

What are you absolutely afraid of?

Morning Musume: Insects!
Lin Lin: Ghosts!
Jun Jun: Things without legs, or with too many legs.
Niigaki Risa: Small spaces.

Shouganai yume oibito (People can’t help chasing dreams)

What are some of your childhood dreams?

Mitsui Aika: I wanted to be a nice bride.
Jun Jun: I used to want to be a policewoman, or a doctor, or a teacher. Then I started watching TV and wanted to be an actress. I also loved anime, and it made me want to be on TV!
Tanaka Reina: Sailor Moon!
(all laugh)
Kusumi Koharu: I loved cookies, so I wanted to own a cookie shop!
Kamei Eri: I wanted be a professional motorcycle racer, I admire them.
Lin Lin: When I saw clouds in the sky that looked like cotton candy, I’d want to eat them.
(all laugh)

Can you tell us a dream you’ve had recently while sleeping?

Niigaki Risa: I dreamt about Koharu laughing happily.
Jun Jun: I had a scary dream where I killed someone!
Kusumi Koharu: I had a dream about scary ghosts. It was really scary! The ghosts wore nurse uniforms and had legs!

Watashi no miryoku ni kizukanai donkan na hito (The insensitive person who didn’t notice my charm)

Who has the most charm?

Michishige Sayumi: (raises hand)
Kamei Eri: She’s a real character, so okay! We agree!

As you gain more experience in the music industry, what are some things that used to affect you, but you’ve now grown insensitive to?

Niigaki Risa: When I first started, during work, everyone would say “good morning” even at night! But now I’m used to it.
Tanaka Reina: I can change clothes in front of people now. I used to be shy about it, but not anymore.
Jun Jun: In China, there isn’t a difference between speaking to older people and younger people. In Japan though, it’s very strict, and you have to use formal language with older people.

Aruiteru (Walking)

Now that you’ve performed in Los Angeles, what are some other overseas places you’d like to perform at?

Mitsui Aika: Mexico!
Jun Jun: I’d like to perform in China.
Takahashi Ai: The United Kingdom.
Kamei Eri: Australia…
Kusumi Koharu: New York! (laughs)
Lin Lin: Um…(claps hands together) Thailand!

Ambitious! Yashinteki de ii jan (Ambitious! It’s good to be ambitious)

Do you have any advice for a young girl who wants to be a Morning Musume member?

Jun Jun: Believe in yourself.
(all nod)
Mitsui Aika: Have self-confidence.

Do you have any hidden talents besides singing and dancing?

Niigaki Risa: I can move my nose, like close my nostrils, and make it pointy. (demonstrates with her hand)
Morning Musume: Ehhh? (attempt to copy)
Jun Jun: I have confidence I can do it without my hands! (in English) Yes I can!
(all laugh)

Resonant Blue

Which Morning Musume song do you think people will remember for years to come?

Morning Musume: Love Machine.
Kamei Eri: Shouganai yume.
(all nod)
Morning Musume: Resonant Blue.

Koko ni iruzee (I’m Here)

What places would you like to visit in Los Angeles?

Lin Lin: I want to see the Hollywood sign and Universal Studios.
Niigaki Risa: Driving around, all the scenery looks great, and we took a lot of pictures.

Furusato (Hometown)

What do you always do when you visit your hometown?

Mitsui Aika: When I go back to Shiga, there are three great restaurants I always visit.
Jun Jun: I see my friends and family. Even if they are busy, they’ll gather to see me. I have friends who are in college, but they will sneak out to visit with me.
Kusumi Koharu: I check out all the restaurants and plan ahead for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I WISH

Is there a special wish you often make?

Mitsui Aika: I always wish that I can be with my sister.
Jun Jun: I wish that everyone I love and who loves me will be happy.
Lin Lin: When it comes to making a wish before blowing out birthday cake candles, I always wish to quickly cut and eat the cake!

Finally, please give a message for the fans that attended your concert in Los Angeles.

Takahashi Ai: It was our first time in Los Angeles, and it was a little overwhelming to know people came to see us from so many different cities and countries. We’re really happy about that. We want to thank them for all their support, and we hope they’ll continue to support us in the future too!


JaME would like to thank Morning Musume for their time and Yaz Noya for translating and making this interview happen.