#bubka | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

laundrycolour · 2 months ago

Text

The Prologue of the Beginning (Nogizaka46 6th Generation, BUBKA; 31.03.2025)

Nogizaka46 6th generation's 'Beginning' Reportage

The Prologue of the Beginning

The audition, moving to Tokyo, meetings and partings -

The story of the chosen girls' journey to change the world.

"Human beings are the only living creatures capable of dreaming." This is the story of the 11 girls who looked up to idols and were dreaming of joining Nogizaka46, before they go on to change the world.

Why did these girls take that first step, and why were they chosen? This documentary traces their footsteps. First of all, let's start with the story of these girls when they were nobodies.

31.03.2025

The beginning of spring.

"The world can change with just one step." This was the sentence written on the web homepage for Nogizaka46's 6th generation audition. Two promotional videos were made, one version featuring Inoue Nagi and one featuring Yamashita Mizuki, with each version depicting a scene where they take 'you' by the hand and lead you into the outside world.

And so the recruitment for the 6th generation began.

The key feature of this time's auditions was that recruitment was split into spring and summer groups. For the spring group, applications were accepted from the 2nd of February until the 5th of March, while for the summer group, applications were accepted from the 28th of June until the 22nd of July, with each group undergoing a first examination - the screening of the WEB application documents. Those who progress through the 2nd, 3rd and 4th round will undergo the final trainee screening and only when they pass the last examination will they be officially unveiled as 6th generation members.

Yada Moeka from the spring group was unsure about applying.

Yada: I'm from Akita prefecture, just like Ikoma Rina-san. Ikoma-san sometimes participates in events in Akita, and I'd go see them every time. Ikoma-san is a superstar born in Akita. Ikoma-san is what drew me in to Nogizaka46. What made me decide to audition was dancing to a Nogizaka46 song during my school's cultural festival. As I memorized the dance, I really started to feel how wonderful it'd be to have a job where you could bring smiles to people's faces. It was then that I found out that auditions would be held. I was really anxious and worried about whether it'd be feasible or not to balance this with my schoolwork, but when I learned that Ikeda Teresa-san took the audition while she was a ronin* [= high school graduate waiting for another chance to enter university after having failed the yearly entrance examination], and that she put in lots of effort and still got into the university she wanted to attend, it gave me the [necessary] courage and I was able to take the leap. I submitted my application ten minutes before the deadline.

Kawabata Hina's family was the one that gave her a push.

Kawabata: When I was five years old, I saw 'Sayonara no Imi' on a music programme and thought it was SUCH a great song. That's what made me like Nogizaka46. I also went to Hashimoto Nanami-san's graduation live at Saitama Super Arena, and the members were all really beautiful, which left quite the impression on me. Even so, I never imagined that I'd become an idol myself. However, my father told me "Just give it a shot, don't worry about whether you'll get in or not", so I took the plunge and applied.

Kaibe Akari even remembers the date when she applied.

Kaibe: It seems like I've loved singing and dancing for as long as I can remember, and apparently I used to dance by myself at the supermarket, treating the fruit as my audience. I came to know Nogizaka46 around the time of 'Itsuka Dekiru kara Kyou Dekiru'. I thought they were cute and beautiful, so I started following them. Afterwards, when I saw Endo Sakura-san shining SO brightly, my feelings changed from those of liking [her] as a fan to admiration and wanting to become like her. I submitted my audition documents on the 26th of February. It's not like I had any particular idea of what I wanted to do in the future. When the audition for the 6th generation was announced, for an instant I was worried, but then I decided right away to give it a go.

Nagashima Rio had secretly decided that the 6th generation audition would be her last.

Nagashima: I had always dreamed of being part of the entertainment industry, but I devoted myself to my studies in middle school and high school. But after entering high school, I happened to see an advertisement for the 6th generation recruitment. At the time, I was in high school and while I'd started thinking about my future path, I was troubled because I couldn't find something I wanted to do. Since I liked Inoue Nagi-san, I decided to apply right away. In high school I was part of the kyudo* [= Japanese archery] club, and before tournaments I'd watch Nagi-san's kyudo videos to calm myself down, thinking "Alright, time to do my best!"

Setoguchi Mitsuki's life was changed by Nogizaka46.

Setoguchi: Ever since I started liking Nogizaka46, I've received lots of courage and energy. Especially Inoue Nagi-san! I thought she was cute ever since her debut, but during 'Ohitorisama Tengoku' I fell for her completely. The application period was right around the time I'd be graduating from high school, and I applied because I'd always wanted to do something that would move others.

After passing the initial document screening, you'll advance to the second and third rounds.

Nagashima: The third round of the audition involved us singing the chorus of a song we liked a capella, so I sang Mori Nana-san's 'Smile'. My expression wasn't that of a smiling one in the slightest LOL. For the fourth screening, I sang the song 'Ohitorisama Tengoku'.

Kawabata: Since this was my first audition, I had no idea what kind of things they'd ask, so I was quite anxious. On my way to the venue, I was listening to BOØWY-san's songs in an attempt to calm myself down. I grew to like them thanks to the influence of my dad. I thought if I could lift my spirits, I could keep the groove of the song going.

The fourth and last round of screening took place in Tokyo.

Nagashima: I bought a cute pale blue dress and wore it for my trip to Tokyo! I was just trying to lift my spirits a bit LOL. Once the fourth screening came to an end and the ones who had been accepted were settled on, there was a bit of a stand-by period. At the time Setoguchi was next to me, and because she was petite and REALLY cute, I was CONVINCED that she was my junior, so I casually asked her "[And you're] how old?", only to then find out that she's older than me... I realized just how rude I'd been right from the get-go....

Setoguchi: That, I do remember (laughs). When I asked everyone for their age, they were all younger than me. That being said, I was surprised by how grown-up-ish everyone was. Moreover, from the third screening onwards, the examinations were in-person, so I met all the applicants face-to-face, and seeing how fired-up and cute everyone was really made me feel that I had to step up my own game, and I got more and more motivated. With that in mind, I bought some clothes that were a little nicer for the audition. I got some nice pants at Yamakataya, Kagoshima's famous department store LOL.

Nagashima: I had my eye make-up done for the audition, but up until then I'd never had the experience of having my make-up done by a professional. When I saw the make-up tools spread out on the desk, I just went like "Waaaa~!!" and got super excited.

Kaibe: I was together in the same group with Yada during the final screening, and she REALLY stood out, so she left quite the impression on me.

"Because I'm an only child, my mom quietly murmured "I wish I could've spent just a little longer raising my child......." But, I went ahead and applied despite knowing that I'd have to leave my parents' home, that's how badly I wanted to pursue my dream."

They were informed of the final result on the same day.

Kawabata: Now that I'd come this far, I REALLY wanted to pass. My assigned number was #1, so I was really worried about what I'd do if [the number] wouldn't get called. But when they called out "#1", I felt really relieved.

Setoguchi: When they called out, "#2, Setoguchi Mitsuki!", I managed to reply "Yes!", but as I walked up onto the stage, a lot of questions popped up into my head, like "What's going on? Is this a dream? Did I truly pass?".

Nagashima: I was #5. I thought that I'd for sure fail, so much so that I was just staring at the wall, picturing my life after having failed, thinking "Now I'll get a part-time job... Maybe I'll dye my hair too...." And then, they called out "#5", and I was like "Huh? Did they call out [my number]........" I had no time to cry tears of happiness, I only was astonished. I ran to my mother, who had been waiting for me near the venue, and informed her "I passed!", and the both of us cried our eyes out. Once I got back to Hokkaido, my family and I went out for yakiniku to celebrate. I was told "Eat as much as you'd like" (laughs).

Yada: I headed towards my mother, who had been waiting for me at a café nearby. All while giving off an air of having failed. LOL. I wanted to record my mother's reaction, so I had my camera rolling when going into the café, and told her in a low voice, "I passed", and she yelled out "WHAAAT!!" way louder than you're supposed to in a café (laughs).

Kaibe: I sent my mother a message on LINE going "It's over", and deliberately waited a few minutes before sending her another LINE, saying "I passed". And then, I got a phone call, with my mother going "Really!?!!", she was that shocked.

Lessons for the spring group began. During the weekends, they had to go to Tokyo for lessons, while during the weekdays, they took lessons remotely also.

Nagashima: When it comes to dancing, I'm just SUPER stiff. Looking back on it now, I was so bad that it's a wonder that the instructor was able to keep a straight face.

Yada: Even now, I still have a long way to go, but at the beginning I was just. Awful. I couldn't do anything, be it ups, downs, or doing isolations. As time went on, each one of us started to notice our strengths and weaknesses, so we started teaching one another.

As a matter of fact, they had not yet passed the examination at that time. Only after finishing this training period and passing the final evaluation, will they at last earn the right to be called members of the 6th generation of Nogizaka46.

During the training period, the spring group had a harmonious atmosphere. Rather than focusing on the harsh reality that someone could be dropped, instead they decided on a collaborative system where they'd teach one another the parts of the choreography that they didn't understand. In the end, these five people were officially chosen as part of the spring group. Happiness, apprehension, astonishment - a whirlwind of emotions churned within the girls as they found themselves waiting for the summer group that had yet to join.

Summer resolution.

Recruitment for the summer group began in late June.

Atago Kokone was pondering applying for the spring group.

Atago: While my school friends were figuring out their future paths one by one, I was getting anxious as I was the only one who hadn't decided on mine. It was then that I found out about the sixth generation auditions and it suddenly came to me: "This is it!". I filled out everything on the last day, trying to apply for the spring group. However, I couldn't muster up the courage to do so. I kept thinking "What do I do, what do I do....." and hesitated right until 16:59, the minute before the deadline and after all that, I ended up just deleting the data. I spent my time regretting why I couldn't just send it in that day. I realized that the reason why I regretted it this much meant that that was what I truly wanted to do, so I applied for the summer group.

Okoshi Hinano was crazy about idols.

Okoshi: I was the type of person that didn't have lots of friends at school. I've been a huge fan of idols ever since I was little, so when I got home I'd just watch videos of their live performances non-stop. I admired Nogizaka46 and thought they were super cute, but they had such a 'prim & proper young lady' image so I just felt like "We're total opposites..." Even so, I still dreamed of becoming an idol. I've always had an inferiority complex about my height, but when I went to a concert and saw Umezawa Minami-san and Kaki Haruka-san, I was struck by how CUTE and tall they both were. It made me think, "There are people this amazing out there".

Ozu Reina took in the Nogizaka46 experience as part of the audience at Meiji Jingu Stadium.

Ozu: I think I started liking Nogizaka46 when I was in the upper grades of primary school. The first live concert I ever went to was during the Manatsu no Zenkoku Tour two years ago. So when I saw the faces of the members and the faces of the audience alike, both of them were absolutely beaming. I thought, "How wonderful it is to be [part of] such group that can make so many people SO happy". I applied on the very last day of the summer group recruitment, during the extension period.

Suzuki Yuuna was drawn in by certain words.

Suzuki: I've been a fan of Nogizaka46 since I was in primary school. However, I couldn't figure out just what I wanted to do in the future. Right at that time, the audition's tagline, "The world can change with just one step." really hit home. This summer could very well be my last chance. If I let this [chance] slip away, I wouldn't know when the next one would come, so I decided to take on the challenge.

Masuda Mirine was a third year middle school student.

Masuda: I'd always thought - for some reason - that I'd work at city hall in the future. I thought that if I could live an ordinary life, that'd be more than enough. It was right around that time that the announcement video for the audition came out. I had a gut feeling that if I didn't apply now, I'd absolutely regret it when I grew up. Even so, I couldn't muster up the courage, but then the tagline "The world can change with just one step." jumped out at me. Those words gave me the push I needed.

It was a friend who changed Morihira Urumi's fate.

Morihira: Back in springtime, I wasn't even thinking about applying. However, when I enrolled in highschool, a friend I met there suggested "Why not audition for Nogizaka46?", and that encouragement was my motive. I was a fan, but I thought it unthinkable that I'd ever take part.

Suzuki - in particular - was a huge fan of Nogizaka46.

Suzuki: Meet & greets, concerts, namajashin* [= real photographs (printed on photo stock)]... Listening to their songs every day was the norm. For Meguri, [I met] Umezawa Minami-san. I also wanted to go to handshake events, but my parents told me that I wasn't allowed to go by myself - and right when I'd gotten permission, the COVID pandemic began. I remember feeling really down about it.

The summer group's screening began.

Atago: I did ikebana* [floral art/arrangements] back in highschool, so I showed them some photos of it. That's about the only special skill I have..... So I stuck with the same photos all the way through to the final round.

Okoshi: For my minute-long self-promo, I said "My special skill is having long arms". Once I said it, I felt like something was off and I couldn't speak anymore....... There were about 30 seconds of silence, so I figured I'd failed already.

Suzuki: For the fourth screening, I pasted photos that I'd taken on my usual strolling course into a sketchbook and showed it to them. You could spot Mount Fuji - it [= the mountain] was beautiful.

Morihira: I attended the second screening online from a friend's house. I borrowed some clothes from my friend and asked her to help me brainstorm a draft for my minute-long self-promo.

"During the lessons with only the summer group, somebody was always crying - but once we started lessons with the spring group, the summer group's smiles gradually started to appear more and more; It really felt like 'spring has come'."

The final screening took place the day after the fourth round.

Atago: On the way to the venue, I felt more nervous than I ever had in my life. I couldn't even get food down my throat, my stomach hurt and I felt sick. I did think about just going home, but were I to do that, I'd have to keep living with that for the rest of my life. Remembering my state of mind as I applied, I headed to the venue nearly in tears. There was this singing screening, but the thing is, I've never actually sung in front of others - even when going to karaoke with my friends, I'm always the one just listening. Therefore, I completely missed the pitch....... I was so ashamed that I couldn't keep singing halfway through.

Okoshi: Since I figured I wouldn't pass the final screening anyway, I was actually rather at ease. During the fourth round, I arrived two hours before the starting time and ended up hiding in the station toilets, but on the final day, I got there right on time. I was surrounded by nothing but cute girls, and I had no confidence in myself, so I think I just sort of developed a 'whatever' attitude.

Ozu: Before the final screening began, I was reading from my English vocabulary notebook. I just feel restless if I'm not doing something. Of course, it went in one ear and out the other. In the midst of the screening, I dropped my smartphone while I was speaking, and I panicked, so much so that I completely blanked on the lyrics during the singing screening that followed. I thought "It's over.....", and I just cried and cried in the bathroom.

Masuda: When I arrived at the venue, everyone was just SO cute that I felt like I was sticking out like a sore thumb and thought about just going home. However, I was worried that me not being there would be a bother, so I stayed put. I was already crying while waiting in my seat, but once I entered the venue, I was overwhelmed by the sheer strength of it all, so much so that my tears actually stopped. When my turn came, I thought that just reading what I'd prepared would be no fun, so I decided to go off the cuff and just say things off the top of my head. The words flowed out easily, but I don't remember what I actually said at all. I only remember that my hands were shaking.

Morihira: I was astonished by the sheer number of staff and cameras, so much so that I ended up crying the whole time I was singing. During my self-introduction, I said "Please don't look at my face, body, eyes or anything at all", quickly mentioned just a little bit about how I was feeling at the moment and then just went back to my seat.

When Masuda told her parents that she had passed, she got an unexpected reaction.

Masuda: When I was taking the last bullet train home, I was together with my parents. They were really happy that I had passed, but it seems that there were also mixed feelings, and there were some long moments of silence. My mother wistfully murmured "I wish I could've spent just a little longer raising my child......." I'm an only child. But, I went ahead and applied despite knowing that I'd have to leave my parents' home. That's how badly I wanted to pursue my dream.

It wasn't only their family who was happy for them.

Yada: A senior got in touch with me, telling me "To think that the idol from our highschool is gonna become a national star T_T". That same senior suggested that I'd dance to a Nogizaka46 song with her for our school's cultural festival back in the day.

And so, the training period for the summer group begins. The final result had yet to be decided. They were bound to be rivals, but everyone was kind.

Masuda: Everyone was so kind and helpful to one another that I thought it was a miracle that such people had all come together. "There's nothing to talk about apart from lessons!" - I thought that such would be the atmosphere. The manager was SO kind too, which was a real lifesaver. Every time I got home, I'd say "Everybody was so kind today too! Humans are amazing!" (laughs). I'm not very good at opening up to others. Even so, it seemed like these people would be good. That's how overflowing with love it was. It really hit me how amazing people are, and how we've managed to survive by helping each other.

At the end of the training period, they all danced to 'Synchronicity'. It took Atago four hours to memorize just tens of seconds from the chorus. And so, these six people were accepted into the spring group.

A blending of seasons.

The spring group was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the summer group. Suddenly, the faithful day came.

Setoguchi: The summer group came in just as the spring group's lessons ended. We had no idea of how many people there were.

Yada: After the introductions, we had some recreational activities to help break the ice. On the first day, the summer group was REALLY quiet. We established a dynamic where the spring group would talk proactively, while the summer group would be the one responding.

On the other hand, the summer group saw the spring group in this manner.

Ozu: Everyone in the spring group greeted us and bowed, going "Nice to meet you. We're the spring group from Nogizaka46's 6th Generation!" and the way they bowed was just perfectly synchronized. The summer group was just completely blown away. We were at a loss for words, so we could only awkwardly greet in disjointed voices.

Atago: The spring group had been together for a long time, so they had already formed a bond. We - the summer group - were overwhelmed by the bright atmosphere of the spring group. I couldn't keep up with the pace of the conversation, so I only found myself nodding along.....

Suzuki: During the lessons with only the summer group, somebody was always crying. But once we started lessons with the spring group, the summer group's smiles gradually started to appear more and more, y'know. It really felt like 'spring has come'.

There was a certain memorable day for the 6th generation.

Yada: We all decided to go out for a meal together in an effort to become closer friends. Because we're a large group, we were seated at separate tables, but we still had a great time chatting away.

Okoshi: We alternated between spring and summer for each seat. I was sitting right at the end of the table, so I didn't get to talk all that much. But when I saw the kids from the spring group writing down the summer group's birthdays on their phones, I thought they were all SO sweet.

The spring and summer group have contrasting personalities, but that day marked a turning point: instead of being groups of five and six people, they became a group of eleven.

Nagashima: At the beginning we were split into spring and summer in the waiting room, but nowadays that's no longer the case, and I feel like we've really become one as the "6th generation".

The 6th generation girls have already had the chance to meet the seniors they look up to.

Atago: They were SO cute that my whole body was shaking. Also, I thought it'd be a shame not to look at them, so I couldn't help but take their faces in one at a time.

Ozu: The pressure when the seniors lined up was IMMENSE. Umezawa Minami-san was standing in the middle, wearing bright red clothes and looking really cool.

Okoshi: I couldn't look my seniors in the eye, so I just kept staring right at the floor......

Suzuki: When I heard that we'd be meeting them, my heart was in my throat and my stomach hurt, but when I heard Sugawara Satsuki-san say "Thank you for coming to Nogizaka46", I was so happy that I cried.

Nagashima: Once we finished our self-introductions, we were getting ready to take the group photo, and as I got closer, I could sense a really nice fragrance from Umezawa-san. It was the scent of a beautiful woman.

The 6th generation members attended Yoda Yuuki's graduation concert that was held in February. Some members were met with the realization that they too could come to stand on the same stage in the near future.

Atago: I keenly realized that things couldn't go on like this. Yoda-san herself said that dancing wasn't her strong suit, yet during her graduation concert she took up the challenge of a difficult dance, didn't she. It's not my strong suit either, but I know I can't just keep saying that - I need to push my own limits and catch up quickly.

Starting February 6th, the profiles were released one by one. There was no turning back now. The moment when these girls would be recognized by the world as part of Nogizaka46 had come - at long last.

Ozu: I was at school on the day of the unveiling, and my friends who noticed called out to me, going "Congratulations!" and "Do your best, yeah?". Right before that, some friends of mine who had no clue about it were looking at some of the other 6th generation members right next to me. I overheard them saying stuff like "That sure is a rare last name. How do you even read it?", but I had to play dumb to safely get through it LOL.

Namida no osekihan* [ = Red bean rice (sekihan) cooked to celebrate a happy occasion, but eaten with tears of sadness or bittersweet emotion because of the circumstances].

It was only recently that the country-bred members moved to Tokyo. Coming to the capital meant having to say goodbye.

Yada: When I'm working I can devote myself to it without having my thoughts wander off, but when I'm eating at home - sure enough - that's when loneliness sets in. I- I loved the dining table back home. I've been feeling lonely, so my family and I have been sending videos to each other. However, seeing them having so much fun in said videos just gets me lonely all over again. I think, "Over here it's so quiet".

Masuda: For the fourth and final rounds I got on the bullet train with my mother, but on the day I moved to Tokyo for good, I realized I had NO idea how to get on by myself. I'd booked a reserved seat, but I ended up getting on in the non-reserved seating area. And what's more, I ended up just standing up the whole time when I could've just sat down. lol

Kaibe: We keep in touch every day. Nevertheless - y'know - I'm still getting homesick. At home there always was someone there, with a dog too - that's the kind of life I've been leading. At night it's quiet, and I still can't seem to fall asleep.

Setoguchi: On the day of my farewell, my family came to the airport to see me off. I thought I'd feel lonely after coming to Tokyo, but because everyone's there, it's fun! I still ring my family every day though. When I came to Tokyo, I brought along a plushie of the flying squirrel Chiikawa, and a message board that's full of photos. Right before I left for Tokyo, a number of friends came all the way to my home and brought [it] to me.

Nagashima: I got lots of farewell letters from my friends. In Tokyo, I read them every night before going to bed.

Suzuki: On the day of my farewell, I ate cooked red rice* [= osekihan] - made by my grandma - together with my family. My father cried, while saying "Now that I'm in my fifties, it makes me so happy that my children are bringing me joy....." It was my first time ever seeing my father cry, so we all ended up crying too. On parting at the train station, my family gave me a big wave goodbye.

[And then,] the 6th generation song came to be. The title is "Time Limit Kataomoi". The one standing in the centre was Yada.

Yada: The moment I was told I'd be the center, I felt both bewildered and happy. When we lined up in that formation right then and there, I was suddenly overcome by a sense of responsibility and anxiety....... When I looked around, though, I saw everyone smiling and watching over me, which rather moved me. Morihira and Setoguchi came up to me and told me "That's awesome! Let's do our best together!". I've always held on to the belief of giving it your utmost in order to put on a great performance.

"If somebody is crying, we all go give them a hug. And when we overcome something really tough, that feeling of having achieved it together is so overwhelming that we just break down smiling through tears. That's the 6th generation."

Then came the memorable first MV filming for the 6th generation.

Yada: It was fun to dance, but the waiting time in-between was terribly windy! Even for me - and I'm from Akita - it was cold.

Setoguchi: I was THE happiest just to get the song. The lyrics are heart-wrenching, but the tune is bright and fresh. It's a song that gives you an odd feeling.

On April 6th, the 'Nogizaka46 First Unveiling Event: "Nice to meet you, we're the 6th generation."' will be held. What kind of performance will the 6th generation show us?

Atago: I'm determined to give it my utmost in order to achieve what I've always wanted to do.

Kaibe: I still haven't reached a point where I can envision the ideal image of the kind of idol I want to be. However, above all I want my motto to be "Never give up".

Setoguchi: The younger members of the 6th generation really have their act together. The youngest, Kawabata, even gives [us] pep talks. Ozu is quick when it comes to picking up choreo. Masuda's clumsy and absent-minded though (laughs). I can't take my eyes off her because you never know what she'll do next.

Kaibe: The 6th generation's ethos is made up of mutual aid. We're companions who help each other out when we don't understand something during our lessons. I think our appeal is that we all move forward [together] in a horizontal line.

Yada: If somebody is crying, we all go give them a hug. And when we overcome something really tough in a lesson, that feeling of having achieved it together is so overwhelming that we just break down, smiling through tears. That's the 6th generation. Oh and also, everyone loves to eat! Whenever we hit a wall, we keep our spirits up and encourage each other by going "Hey guys, once we finish this we can go grab some food!" lol

Nagashima: The 6th generation's a considerate group. I reckon that what's great about it is the warm atmosphere that flows within. When you look at each individual, each person has a distinct personality, almost like a mixture of colours.

On the 6th of April, they'll take to the stage at Pia Arena MM, ready to dye Yokohama in the colours of the 6th generation. And just like that, the world that these 11 people have stepped into will begin to change, little by little.

TL: laundrycolour

QC: otsukareii_

#nogizaka46 #6ki #bubka #interviews.

6 notes · View notes

laundrycolour · 5 months ago

Text

The buzz-attracting girl of the Reiwa Era spreads her wings (Ayase Kotori, BUBKA; 31.01.2024)

The buzz-attracting girl of the Reiwa Era spreads her wings.

The story of her rise from school non-attendance. Ayase Kotori (Rain Tree).

Ayase Kotori from Rain Tree, a new girl group made up of seven [promoted] members [out of 17 total], finalists of the 'IDOL 3.0 PROJECT AUDITION', appears in an interview for BUBKA! Standing in the center position for their debut single, she's been creating buzz after buzz on SNS [re: social networking sites]. We'll be taking a closer look at her as she's making a big splash!

31.01.2024

PROFILE

Ayase Kotori

Born on the 12th of June, 2006, in Aichi Prefecture. In addition to her deep knowledge of anime, she's a creative girl who generates buzz (and is constantly doing research) on social media, day after day. During the self-promotion stage of the selection announcement, she wowed the audience with a video making full use of cat memes. Her nickname is 'Kotori'.

From school non-attendance to unparalleled-ness

Q: What made you audition for the IDOL 3.0 PROJECT that led to the formation of Rain Tree?

A: Initially, I aimed to become an illustrator or an animator, so I went to a high school where one could study illustration. However, there were times when I looked at the children around me who were great at drawing and felt depressed, wondering if I even had any talent at all. It was at that time that I watched Nogizaka46-san's 'Band-aid Hagasu You na Wakarekata' music video and was saved by it.

Q: Up until now, have you auditioned for any other idol groups?

A: This was my first time auditioning for an idol group. Up until junior high, I spent a lot of time at home, so if myself of the past would come to see myself of today, I think she'd be very surprised.

Q: Have you always been an indoor person?

A: I've lived my life not stepping a foot out of the house, and there even was a time where I didn't go to school at all.

Q: Was there any reason why you stopped going to school?

A: During a school trip in sixth grade, I witnessed a case of bullying in my class. That was a tough time for me, and from there on I began to feel lonely myself. Something similar happened when I began attending junior high, and it was such a big trauma that no longer could I go to school. I tried attending a couple times after that but, sure enough, once you start skipping school, it's really hard to go back. That's why, when it came time to go to high school, I decided to go to a different one, away from home - somewhere where I didn't know anyone.

Q: Did the change in environment from middle school work out for you?

A: Since it was a vocational school, there were a lot of people who loved art, just like me. The new place allowed me to turn over a new leaf, so now, I was able to attend.

Q: In another interview, Ayase-san, you declared that your hobby is watching anime, so did you spend your time at home watching anime?

A: I spent the whole time watching it. I really like a work called 'Mob Psycho 100', and in it there's a line from a character called Arataka Reigen that goes 'It's okay to run away [from something] if you hate it', and it really left a great impression on me, especially given the circumstances.

Q: Your anime-related posts on SNS have been attracting a lot of buzz, and it seems like you're drawing attention for your serious geekiness.

A: I believe that I am the person I am today because of that period when I didn't go to school. When I'm streaming, I can talk - about anime - to the fans directly thanks to the comment section, and when people see me posting about anime on SNS, it gives them - people with the same hobbies - an opportunity to learn about me. It was thanks to anime that I've been saved, y'know.

Q: In the hobbies section [of your profile], in addition to liking anime, it says that you're into [playing the] bass.

A: About when I was in my first year of high school, a friend suddenly started playing the guitar and asked me to also pick up an instrument. At that time, I was watching the anime 'Bocchi the Rock!' and I thought that the character that was the bassist, Yamada Ryo, was cute! So I immediately rushed over to Second Street [re: second-hand store with all sorts of goods] and got all the necessary equipment (laughs).

Q: Were you able to put together a band?

A: I did form a band with my friends and we tried to cover [songs from] Number Girl [re: Japanese rock band] but, I was too untalented and just couldn't do it. Not in the slightest. It felt like my guitarist friend could do a better job at playing the bass than I did (laughs).

Q: From when you were a child [onwards], have you always been the type to be interested in everything?

A: I think so. When I was but a wee child, I already loved dinosaurs and sharks, and I also loved horror movies where big snakes and such would swallow people whole.

Q: Your sensibility has been packed to the brim since your early childhood!

A: My elder sister liked these sorts of things, so that might have played a part in it as well.

Q: Are your parents the type to support you in terms of the things you like?

A: They basically gave me lots of freedom. They were of the opinion that, if I like something, I can buy it myself, so I collected a whole bunch of stuff from Second Street.

Q: Second Street sure was a great ally in your student days (laughs).

A: I draw on an iPad, but I saved up the money to buy it from Second Street myself. I couldn't get a part-time job during junior high, so I'd save up money [to buy things] from the commissions I took on SNS.

Q: It sure is amazing that a junior high student was able to draw well enough to save up money for an iPad.

A: Drawing is one thing, but since I've always loved handmaking things, I used to make capsule-toy vending machines by hand. Now, I can't make it anymore, but I feel like I used to try out all sorts of things back in those days.

During this interview, I requested a drawing from Ayase-san, and she drew me this 'Angry Cat'.

The awakening of a sleeping idol

Q: How did you feel when you weren't selected as a member of WHITE SCORPION during the audition?

A: I'm a really competitive person so I felt really frustrated, but given that my mother was there - at the venue during the final selection - I didn't want her to see me cry, so I tried to smile instead. However, I'm sure that my mother noticed how I was trying to grin and bear it, and I felt so frustrated, wondering what I had even been doing. Moreover, I had been treating the audition as a job hunt while putting my life on the line, so I felt like I was done for. I was really sorry and felt like there was a gaping hole in my heart, because I thought that I wouldn't see my fellow members ever again, nor the fans who had supported me.

Q: Afterwards, how did you feel when you found out that the members who regrettably hadn't been selected in the final round would be able to continue their activities as 'FINALIST'?

A: At first, I wasn't sure if the situation would allow us to make our debut, therefore I wasn't sure about continuing here. But then, my fellow member, Kurosawa Karen, called out to me, saying 'You'll do it, yeah!', and then and there I decided that I had no choice but to do it.

Q: During the lessons you had as FINALIST, did you encounter any hardships?

A: I had no prior experience in neither singing nor dancing, so I knew that I had to work hard. Nevertheless, since I was from the countryside, at first I took online lessons and I didn't improve much, so the gap between me and everyone else kept growing and growing. I was really anxious when the instructor told me that I had to try harder. However, nowadays I think that that period was a good thing, since it allowed me to work hard and focus wholeheartedly on dancing - which I wasn't good at.

Q: In the end, it turned out to be a good 'training phase', didn't it.

A: I reckon that the time as FINALIST was good, because we have been able to be active on SNS [during that time], and the same goes for both singing and dancing, and I think that's the reason why the fans are now following us. Nevertheless, in those days it still was painful.

Q: Seeing how you have mastered singing, dancing and SNS, as well as other factors that are indispensable to idols nowadays, I reckon you have quite a high ability to adapt.

A: I'm not sure if that's true..... But, I can sleep anywhere, so I guess I'm pretty adaptable in that sense. So much so, that if someone were to tell me to sleep right here and right now, I'd be able to do it (laughs).

Q: That just goes to show that you have a strong mentality, doesn't it (laughs).

A: I've become more cheeky. I was someone who used to spend most of the time at home, and I was so weak-willed that I'd cry in the bathroom or bath almost every day. There wasn't any particular motive, but around summer last year was when I changed my attitude.

Q: I wonder if your activities were the ones that helped you become more determined.

A: That's right, isn't it. Even so, whenever I'm being interviewed like this, I always start shaking and being all nervous (laughs).

Q: Right, then in October of last year it was decided that you'd be debuting as Rain Tree. What did you think when you first heard your debut single, 'I L U'?

A: From the moment I heard the 'Shushushu's in the intro, I was surprised and thought, 'What a cute song!'. The song we were given as FINALIST, 'Inochi shika sasageru mono ga nai' [loosely translated as 'I have nothing but my life to offer'] was a powerful song that really expressed our feelings, so I never imagined that we'd be given a song with such a cute impression, [but] I was happy [regardless].

Q: Together with this song, what goals do you have in mind going forward?

A: We often have meetings [together as the whole group], and among them one that we're all set on is winning the Rookie of the Year award at the Japan Record Awards. I hope that we will be known by many and someday become a group that can participate in the Kouhaku Uta Gassen. I'm too embarrassed to say this to the other members, but with these members, I absolutely have faith that we can become [such a group] one day.

#raintree #ayase kotori #bubka #interviews.

1 note · View note