Morning Musume。'17 interview Kaga Kaede and Yokoyama Reina about "BRAND NEW MORNING/Jealousy Jealousy"
— This is the first interview we give to the 13th generation members, three months after the announcement at Nippon Budokan. Do you now feel part of the group?
Kaga Kaede : Rehearsals for the spring tour started so I realized the real difficulties and that they were stacking up. I can easily remember the choreographies but since there are a lot of members I find it difficult to remember the positions. I say to myself "Ah! This member is going over there, I have to go to the other side". It's really difficult.
Yokoyama Reina : There are a lot of members in Morning Musume。'17 and I have no remarkable ability, neither in song nor in dance. How do I stand out? I wonder... I've started to realize that personalities are as important as these abilities, so I'm going to bet on them and hope I have a unique one.
— During the first presentation to the public, all the members are bound to be moved to become a member of Morning Musume。, but Kaga Kaede she, downright started to cry.
Kaga : (laughs)
— What were your feelings at that time?
Kaga : I'm someone who's generally not stressed before going on stage. But there, I admit that all my emotions got mixed up and just before going on stage I was almost losing my footing (laughs). I had been to this stage at Nippon Budokan before as a Kenshuusei, but this time around I was standing there as a member of Morning Musume。. I was surprised by the number of spectators, of cries which congratulated me... Even if of course I had already come, it was not at all the same thing this time.
— And just before that, Yokoyama also came to introduce herself by showing us her pretty smile.
Yokoyama : When it came time to take the stage, I realized what was really going on. I was so happy that my smile came naturally. On the one hand, I was nervous by the size of the Nippon Budokan audience, I didn't know where to look...
— For those who do not know the group, Morning Musume。have a real story. But before talking about it, let's talk about the path of Kaga Kaede who trained with the Kenshuusei for a very... long time.
Kaga : I had tried the 11th generation audition but I was not selected and I was offered a place with the Kenshuusei. Since that, I only thought of joining the group, I told myself all the time "I want to be in Morning Musume。!". I could be offered unit and group projects in Hello! Project, I would have accepted them, but I would never have forgotten my goal of joining Morning Musume。.
— But you were Kenshuusei for four years. Wasn't there a time when you thought about giving up?
Kaga : Of course. I had a very big drop in motivation when the new members of the 12th generation were announced. I wondered if I hadn't taken the wrong path, if I just needed to focus on my student life. Last June, I went to see my manager telling him that I wanted to stop and leave. He replied that the fact that I still haven't started didn't mean that I was bad, but that he respected my choice and that we could wait until December to see what was going on. would be by then. Later, in conjunction with the Hello! Pro Kenshuusei 2016, he announced to me that I was selected for the 13th generation.
— So if you had given up in June you wouldn't be there?
Kaga : Exactly. At that time, principals had spoken to me, teachers, I had even talked about it with my parents... And indeed, I finally told myself that I could not give up all that like that.
— When you wanted to give up you would also see your own kohai starting on all sides. How did you experience it?
Kaga : I wondered, I regretted certain things. I was able to realize beautiful projects as Kenshuusei, we traveled through our plays, our concert tours... But I felt bad to see my kohai standing with their heads held high on stage, with a microphone, pretty costumes. I cried a few times when I saw that, I was frustrated. People around me asked me why I was reacting like this, I had no answer. Today that frustration is gone so I could answer them (laughs).
— But thanks to your determination, you were able to realize your dream of joining Morning Musume。. How did you feel when it was announced to you?
Kaga : It was announced to me during a filming of Hello! Station. I turned pale, tears started to flow, the first thing I said was "I'm so upset". I don't remember what I said after I was so unstable, but I was so happy.
— Beside, your generation teammate Yokoyama-san who had been in the Kenshuusei for four months has been chosen to start with you. Did you find that unfair compared to your four years?
Kaga : So much (laughs) ! I thought so hard (laughs) !
— Yokoyama-san, did you expect to debut so quickly?
Yokoyama : I didn't think so at all. But, when I entered the Kenshuusei, I was already in my first year of high school, and some of my senpai had barely entered middle school. I wondered if I hadn't started too late, I was very worried. So when it was announced to me I said to myself "Why me?". I was so happy. But I kept wondering why I was chosen...
— Still don't have the answer?
Yokoyama : Well no... My pretty smile maybe?
— That's what I think too (laughs)
Kaga : Me too (laughs) !
— What made you love Morning Musume。?
Kaga : My mother has always loved Morning Musume。so I have always listened to them, but I have been following them especially since the 9th generation. When I watched the music video for "One · Two · Three", I wondered how girls my young age could dance like this, be so talented. I then watched "Maji Desu ka Ska!" and "Only you" and I thought the concepts were so different from other idols showing their kawaii side. It was innovative, so cool... When I realized that, I wanted to be a part of it.
— At that time, were there any members that you admired?
Kaga : I admired, I admire and I will always admire Sayashi Riho. She can sing and dance at the same time perfectly, she's a girl who embodies the spirit of Morning Musume。. She was one of the ace of the group, a role passed down by her senpai very soon after her debut and even this way of getting her sotsugyo prematurely, I think it's cool. It opens up lots of doors, new worlds. She remains one of my greatest models.
— How did you feel when Sayashi-san announced her sotsugyo?
Kaga : ...Despair? (laughs)
Yokoyama : I think we've all been desperate (laughs).
— Because you're fans (laughs).
Kaga : The announcement was posted on his blog, right? The member I was following suddenly posted... on October 29 "I will graduate on December 31". There were only two months left. I was desperate.
— Were you able to speak with her?
Kaga : During COUNTDOWN 2015, Kenshuusei were also allowed to take one last photo with Sayashi-san. I jumped at this opportunity.
— And you Yokoyama-san, how did you knowing Morning Musume。?
Yokoyama : When I was 10 years old, I listened to "Souda! We're ALIVE". But I wanted to join the group a bit later, when I saw the Morning Musume。'14 wake-up call prank on TV. When I saw it, I thought it was so cool that even when they woke up, the members remembered the lyrics and the choreography and performed them perfectly.
— Did you want to join just to experience it? (laughs)
Yokoyama : Noooo (laughs) ! But I found this faculty too cool, it meant that they worked hard and that the work paid off (laughs).
— Do you have a senpai that you admire?
Yokoyama : I admire 11th generation Oda Sakura-san. I want to be good at singing, like Oda-san is. Very young already, she was talented. I would like to achieve the perfection that she has innately.
— So unlike Kaga-san, you're fortunate to be able to work with one of the senpai you admire.
Yokoyama : I find this incredible luck.
— Are you confident in your singing abilities?
Yokoyama : On some songs, yes. No in fact on none.
All : (laughs)
Yokoyama : I don't really have any. That's why I admire Oda-san, she inspires me so much. I want to do my best on this point.
— What kind of girl were you before you started being an idol?
Kaga : When I was little, I liked to go out and play. I didn't like staying inside my house so I went out to run and play. When I was in elementary school, I stayed more with boys than with girls. I wasn't interested in dolls and stuffed animals, I didn't find them especially cute. I never had the same interests as the girls so I didn't prefer to stay with boys.
— I guess you feel better in Morning Musume。now ?
Kaga : Yes, members are all different. I hope I can sing some cool songs.
— What kind of girl was Yokoyama-san?
Yokoyama : I enjoyed studying very much. Today, I don't like it at all anymore (laughs) but I love history. I was always inside, reading stories and manga in the libraries. But I don't like to be alone, so I often brought friends with me.
— Yokoyama-san fans are more and more interested in the story thanks to her, it's true. But who are your favorite character?
Yokoyama : Azai Nagamasa.
All : .........
Yokoyama : Fufufufu!
— Few girls generally answer Azai Nagamasa (laughs). Why him in particular?
Yokoyama : Originally, I did not know him because he is not in the school curriculum. But when I studied Nobunaga Oda more deeply, I started to hear about Azai Nagamasa. I was asking myself lots of questions: "Who is he?", "He's so cool!", "I want to know him even more!". The final reasons that made me love him remain personal but I find that his history linked to the Oda clan is just incredible and mysterious...
— The 13th generation debut single has been released. Entitled "BRAND NEW MORNING/Jealousy Jealousy", it presents the Morning Musume。members in a strong and cool way. What do you think of this debut single?
Kaga : "BRAND NEW MORNING" comes out in the band's twentieth year, I think it's a huge symbol. Still, is it fitting that we, the 13th generation, sing in this song when we've only just joined the group? This is a question I really ask to myself. In the second part of the song, I have a solo line. I tried singing it with my guts to show how determined I - but also we - are.
Yokoyama : When I saw the lyrics to our first song, I thought it was lyrics written for the 13th generation. I told myself that we had to interpret them with our open hearts.
— The song's MV begins with a shot of the two of you. What did you think when you saw it finished?
Kaga : I realized that I was really a Morning Musume。member. When filming I didn't feel much, I was just doing my job. Once the shoot was over and we were told that the MV was also over, we watched it together. I realized that's it, I was finally a member of the group.
Yokoyama : I was impressed. I thought I looked happy in the MV. I asked that we keep a certain version for the 13th generation and started telling myself that we were going to do our best hand in hand.
— "Jealousy Jealousy" is the first song written and composed by Tsunku♂ that the 13th generation sings. What kind of feelings does that wake up in you?
Kaga : Tsunku♂-san sometimes came to see the Kenshuusei members and once he complimented me on my dance, it made me very happy. I'm happy to be able to sing a song written and composed by Tsunku♂-san, I want him to see me in it and be proud of what I've become.
Yokoyama : I have never met Tsunku♂-san, but I realize that he's an incredible and special man in the history of Hello! Project, I'm aware of the greatness and the pride that we can have to interpret one of his songs for our debut.
— I have a question about "Jealousy Jealousy". Is there a member that makes you jealous?
Kaga : Yokoyama-san.
Yokoyama : Eh? Why?
Kaga : I have more experience in singing and dancing than she does, but I find Yokoyama-san to be much more natural than me and handle her MCs better. I'm someone who doesn't know how to speak, I wander to the right, to the left. I'm glad she's there to help me with MCs concerts or interviews.
— What does it do to you?
Yokoyama : I'm flattered! I will continue to do my best for the MCs.
— Yokoyama-san, are you jealous of a member?
Yokoyama : Yes, from 10th generation Kudo Haruka-san. She is popular, everyone likes her very easily.
— Would you like to become like her?
Yokoyama : Mh, not exactly (laughs). Kudo-san takes care of her naturally. I find it unbelievable. Every time she speaks, I find her natural and benevolent. She's cute and strong in every way. But there are a lot of Hello! Project like this. I want to do my best to be a part of it!
Kaga : When we're all together and one of our water bottles is empty, it's Kudo-san who will directly throw it away without us noticing it to maintain an organization. I think it's this kind of gesture that makes Yokoyama's heart beat faster.
Yokoyama : That's exactly the stuff I'm talking about (laughs).
— Kaga-san spoke about her impression of Yokoyama-san. Your turn Yokoyama-san.
Yokoyama : She's a reliable generation mate. If I have any gaps in the choreography, she will come by herself to advise me, help me, have me rehearse again and again to get there. She's very honest and always tells me when I do or say something wrong. I can be serene with her by my side.
— Kaga-san and Yokoyama-san are totally opposites. How did you react when you found out that you were in the same generation?
Kaga : I told myself that we had to start by finding common points. However, when I was Kenshuusei, I didn't open up to others at all; I was really not social. So Yokoyama, who usually gets along very well with everyone, was intimidating me somewhere. But now that we're teammates in the same generation, we're going to work a lot together so I feel like I opened up a bit easier.
Yokoyama : When I knew we were going to be together I said to myself "Hey ?!". She was one of the oldest members of the Kenshuusei and I was one of the most recent. When I was with the Kenshuusei, she had a great presence, everyone admired her. So I thought to myself that I had to address it and that it was just normal. When it was announced to us that we would be together in the 13th generation, the members of the staff started to tell me that I shouldn't do that anymore, it was now my teammate and not my senpai anymore. They told me to remove the formalities and politeness, that's what started to relax me little by little.
— What do you call her now?
Yokoyama : Kaga-san.
— Even after you've been told to take the formalities off?
Yokoyama : Yes (laughs). It stays Kaga-san and it will be for a long time.
Kaga : I often told her to just call me "Kaedee" but she still calls me "Kaga-san" (laughs).
Yokoyama : It's difficult for me!
— How members are calling you?
Kaga : Kaede or Kaedee.
Yokoyama : Simply by my first name (laughs).
— How close are you?
Kaga : At first, I had trouble getting closer to Yokoyama, we had trouble communicating. I had the opportunity to talk to Kudo-san about it once and she told me that maybe we had a different relationship than other members of the same generation had with each other. Haga-san also advised me by telling me that I would have to take the first step because maybe Yokoyama was intimidated. A sentence from her marked me "Otherwise, you will end up rivals". That's when I understood, it was better to break the ice and say what we had to say to each other rather than continue like this and have a cold relationship. I like the relationship I currently have with Yokoyama, I think we are on the right track towards complicity.
— What about you Yokoyama-san?
Yokoyama : Well I'm relieved for what Kaga-san just said ... Until then I didn't really know the nature of my relationship with her and in any of the scenarios I saw myself asking, I was just waiting to see how it was going to become. Thank you, I'm really relieved at this moment.
— Each generation has its own personality. What kind of personality would you like the 13th generation to have?
— I have a lot of mixed feelings about Yokoyama-san. She looks so mature when she expresses herself, while next door I find that she has very childish moments.
Kaga : I agree (laughs). Everyone is very surprised at her. Especially during the MCs from the current Hello! Project winter tour, Yokoyama played the clown every time, it made everyone laugh. I sometimes wondered if I was useful for something but I had a good laugh too.
Yokoyama : When the MCs started I was like "Come on let's go!" (laughs).
Kaga : This strength of mind fascinates me.
— I thought it was great that you can join group activities so quickly. I said to myself "Already? They must be very strong".
Yokoyama : (laughs)
Kaga : Yokoyama has her smile which gives her all her charm. As soon as I joined the Kenshuusei, I was told to smile more because I never did. The staff members, my teachers, they were all fed up with my face which never looked happy. Yet on this tour I smiled so much, even during my performances. It's really incredible, it had never happened to me so much. And sometimes when I see Yokoyama smile, it makes me want to do it too. She has that power.
Yokoyama : I love to smile, I do it naturally so I'm happy if it makes others smile!
— Kaga-san has a strong will to want to lead the choreography like Ishida-san does. Being a fan of Sayashi-san too, what do you think of the rivalry between the latter two?
Kaga : This combination is perfect, Sayashi-san has drawn attention to her dancing since her debut but Ishida-san has spectacular dance skills. I respect both for that. Every time I watched Sayashi-san's dance I found it so cool. They are some of the best dancers the group has had.
— Sayashi-san got her sotsugyo in 2015 but Ishida-san is still there. Are you aiming for this position in the group? A dance leader?
Kaga : Of course. But even if I know how to dance, I do not yet have the soul of a leader. I want to learn even more from Ishida-san and all my senpai to preserve a correct dance and maybe become a real leader one day in the future. I will do my best!
— So you want to position yourself in the middle ground instead?
Kaga : Yes, keep up the pace and that's it. The dance of "BRAND NEW MORNING" is described as difficult even on the part of the senpai. I have complicated positions between the chaining of the cross then the training on the opposite side... while being in rhythm! Besides that, the lines are worse than easy (laughs) !
— This is where you give all you can.
Kaga : I've watched some of our performances and when I'm doing this choreography there are a lot of times my head is down. This observation bothers me, because my face shows my determination (laughs). During the spring tour rehearsals, for "BRAND NEW MORNING", I forced myself to do the performance with my head held high, especially for my 0.1 seat.
— What are these numbers?
Kaga : They correspond to the positions of such and such a member in the choreography. The 0 is for the center, after that it is generally 1, 2, 3, ... But Morning Musume。use other measures in 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, I never understood why.
— It fascinates me. This choreography is already incredible, but there are a lot of you doing it in such a small space.
Kaga : When we do it in concert, I'm out of breath... It's incredible because I still have four years of background where I trained and I didn't only halfway. I have the impression of starting over from scratch, of having to re-learn everything. This isn't negative, but a simple observation.
— What do you think Yokoyama?
Yokoyama : In this dance, I can't really smile ... My position also changes very often and I had a hard time remembering all of my positions because of that. I succeeded, after a while, because I must have succeeded anyway, but it was very hard. Even though I don't have the same experience as Kaga-san, I too have been Kenshuusei and I understand what she means about it. It's not at all the same training, the same expectations, the same difficulties, it's completely new.
— Please let us know what dreams you want to achieve as a member of Morning Musume。.
Kaga : I want to give an outdoor concert. We do a lot of indoor concerts but I think the outdoor concerts are better, the sound resonates more, whether it is our songs or the screams of the fans... I wish during this concert there were fireworks, water jets... Something innovative, which has never been done.
Yokoyama : I want to do a worldwide tour with Morning Musume。! The group is famous, I want to discover new countries in particular those of Europe and Italy!
Kaga : You name Italy just because you would like to visit it, right?
Yokoyama : (laughs) Noooo but I really want to go!
— Finally, please leave a message for all fans who want to find out about you.
Kaga : I will do my best as a member of the 13th generation of Morning Musume。so that I can improve myself further. I want to show everything I can do so that people don't regret choosing me.
Yokoyama : I will do my best to make it possible to say "Yokoyama Reina embodies the spirit of Morning Musume。" to you, to the members, to myself. I will give everything so that everyone knows us!
Interview / Hiraga Tetsuo
Photos / Jumpei Yamada
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