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[translation] Sayashi Riho and Nakazawa Yuko Top Yell Interview
Posted by kurikaesu.haru,
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interview
18 July 2012
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sayashi riho nakazawa yuko morning musume translation magazine interview top yell
Here's a translation of the Top Yell interview with Nakazawa Yuko and Sayashi Riho. As always, corrections are welcome 
Enjoy~
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ceremony to Pass Down the Morning Musume Spirit
From Nakazawa Yuko to Sayashi Riho
"I want Sayashi to surpass Abe Natsumi and Goto Maki. If she doesn't, Morning Musume's new era won't come" (Nakazawa Yuko)
The members who aren't timid even in a dance showdown were promising!
Sayashi: First of all, Nakazawa-san, congratulations on your marriage!
Nakazawa: Thank you. It makes me happy to hear that from a member (laughs). I've gotten some emails, but this might be the first time that I was told personally.
Sayashi: How's married life?
Nakazawa: Well...When I was Sayashi-chan's age, I was quite devious, and I didn't even think about marriage, but...it's not bad, you know, marriage (laughs).
--Well then, the other day the two of you appeared on "Nakai Masahiro's Black Variety." What was it like to see the current Morning Musume again?
Nakazawa: How was it for Sayashi-chan? Was it fun? It was probably the first time that the 9th and 10th gen appeared on their own without the senior members, right?
Sayashi: Yeah. It's a show that I often watch, so I was simply happy.
Nakazawa: It's an amazing thing to appear on a show that's that famous, you know. Even just being invited as a guest is something to be truly grateful for. I was extremely happy just to be able to appear together with everyone, but I'm curious about what everyone was thinking.
Sayashi: "Black Variety" was written on our schedule, and just at that, I felt like, "Alright!" (laughs)
Nakazawa: The 9th and 10th gen were really working so hard on that show. I've seen the current members perform live, but it was my first time to experience seeing them appear on a show and sing right in front of me. When they were performing, my heart was pounding like crazy......
--The members who had a showdown with Fairies weren't the ones that were nervous, it was Nakazawa-san, who was watching over them (laughs).
Nakazawa: Eeh (laughs). In my heart, I hated being told, "Nakazawa-san is watching over the current members like a mother." It's because I thought of Morning Musume as a big group of friends. But at the time, I was wondering, "Will my girls be alright?" When Fairies came out, I was worried, like, "Will they lose to those girls?" (laughs)
--It's because that dance showdown got a lot of attention, right?
Nakazawa: When I first heard about it, I thought, "What are you making my girls do!" (laughs). Of course, I knew that Fairies are good at dancing, so if they're made to have a showdown with those girls, there's gonna be a lot of pressure on them, right? But during the show, they danced in such a cool way that I thought, "Amazing!" Back in my day, we didn't have any foundation and we were all just beginners.
--It seems that the show actually had a huge impact.
Nakazawa: Yeah. Morning Musume's coolness really came out in that show! They were working so hard! That day, I was really happy that everyone just went for it without any reservations. Up to now, there have been times when the members were reserved in some ways and couldn't present themselves well. That's why I went home all happy, thinking, "I'm so glad!"
--Sayashi-san, how's that? Nakazawa-san is also highly praising you.
Sayashi: During the recording, at any rate, I was frantic. I was thinking that this is a big chance. We were with Nakazawa-san, so I was also very conscious of that.....
--Does having Nakazawa-san on your mind mean there's so much pressure that you're not able to do things well? Or do you feel a sense of security because she's watching over you?
Sayashi: I didn't want to make her feel uneasy. I wanted us to give her peace of mind by doing things right.
Nakazawa: As for me, I was thinking, "No matter what happens, I'll cover for you as best as I can, so just say whatever you like." I mean, that's what I was seated there for. That's why I was like, "The only thing I don't want you to do is not answer at all." It's not really a problem if you can't sense the mood. But each and every one of them was talking, there wasn't a girl who couldn't talk. Not only that, the host also picked up on that. I found such hardworking juniors to be promising.
Sayashi: Thank you.
--In Nakazawa-san's time, TV was your main battleground, right?
Nakazawa: After a show ended, we would have a meeting for about an hour to review it. Then, we would get scolded, "Why don't you talk!? Don't slack off at talking!" Because of that, we'd do our best to talk so that we wouldn't get scolded, and gradually, we'd get told that Morning Musume is interesting. The idea of "Go forward, go forward!" was ingrained in us. I want the current members to do that too.
Sayashi: ......When I hear that, I think, "I guess we are aware of so very little."
Before worrying about other groups, I want the members to fight amongst themselves
--I think the MM when Nakazawa-san was active and the one now have differing dance skills and other things......
Nakazawa: When (Takahashi) Ai-chan was the leader, the quality just shot up, right? Of course, when the members change, the group's direction also changes. I feel like the types who gave importance to the music and dancing increased.
--Yes, it seems that way.
Nakazawa: Regarding dancing, I was Natsu (Mayumi)-sensei's student. Natsu-sensei was always saying, "It's not about choreography. It's also not about dancing. The song and dance come together, and there's meaning to the moves that I attach to it. Why do you extend your hand here? That's because that's what you're singing about in the lyrics. So don't think about the dance separately." Last year, we also had Natsu-sensei for Dream Morning Musume. She said the exact same things that she said when we debuted.
Sayashi: Do you mean thinking about the meaning that's in the choreography?
Nakazawa: ......Well, the current Morning Musume has a different instructor, right? And the music's also different, right? Even if you sing "LOVE Machine" or "Ren'ai Revolution 21," the choreography that Natsu-sensei came up with aren't being taught to you by Natsu-sensei, right? You don't know the meaning of the choreography that Natsu-sensei came up with, right? But I think it's fine even if you don't know it. If you understand that there's a meaning to what you're doing, there's absolutely no need to imitate her at all. The current members are many times more skillful than us [OGs], but if they tackle all the songs with that feeling, I'd be happy.
--You're also saying that they don't have to adhere to Natsu-sensei's supreme rule, huh?
Nakazawa: What Natsu-sensei said is that I'm not a professional dancer, so it's no use to compete in that. Of course, I've never been better than just skillful, though. When singing a song, it's not just about keeping up with the music, but also about putting in emotion, right? It's the same with dance. I'm told, "Think about why you dance at this part. Why do you extend your arm at this part? Why is there a step at this part? Everything has meaning."
Sayashi: Aah, I feel like I get it, somehow.
--What makes me think that it's hard for the current Morning Musume is that there are more rivals around them than there were during Nakazawa-san's time.
Nakazawa: Aren't they super lucky? I think having opponents is something to be happy about. But to add to that, I think the members should first compete against each other, rather than with other idol groups. If they're all buddy-buddy, the members won't develop. Other groups are also competent and learn from each other through friendly competition, and as a result, they're popular, right? So in the end, it's not about your surroundings. If Sayashi-chan is expected to be the ace, you yourself have to be distinctly aware of that. Shige-chan is also the leader, but you have to be aware that you're pulling everyone along. That is something that the previous Morning Musume also thought about.
--Do Sayashi-san and the others compete amongst themselves? You look like you get along pretty well, though.
Sayashi: Ummm......the times of 9th and 10th gen's entry are pretty close, and there are girls in 10th gen who are older than 9th gen, so there's a part of the relationship that's all mixed up. The seniority-based hierarchy has also started to be upset, and I think we have to have proper distinction there.
Nakazawa: An older girl might enter 11th gen. But it's not decided on age. It's not that you act superior just because you're the senior, but Morning Musume are not friends. A girl who admired a member, a girl who longed to be in show business, a girl who entered because she likes singing and dancing.....I think everyone has her own reason. But once you enter Morning Musume, you're partners. You're not friends. Rather than having a seniority-based relationship, I think it's important to be aware that each and every one of you is a member of Morning Musume.
--Nakazawa-san had experience as a working adult, so as a leader you warned the other members about greeting others and such, right?
Nakazawa: At the time, our manager was very Spartan, very self-disciplined. I can say this with certainty, if we didn't have that manager, the current Morning Musume would definitely not exist. That person was very, very strict, but (s)he raised us. At the time, I was 24 years old, so I got scolded a lot.
--It appears that what troubles the 9th gen about the 10th gen are trivial things. Things like not backing down in any way if there's a scramble for the fruits in the dressing room, or not going ahead of a senior when opening a door......
Nakazawa: But that's also important.
Sayashi: It's because if there's ambiguity there or if we're cozy with each other, it'll show up in other places.
Nakazawa: It's ok for it to change with the 9th and 10th gen, isn't it? Feelings toward your seniors are important. This is the only thing that I don't want you to forget, though. When exiting with influential people in show business, if Morning Musume leaves ahead of them, they'll get mad at you, right? Everyone's watching your manners very carefully, so it's scary. If someone says, "Morning Musume is unacceptable!" I, too, will be very sad.
Sang at a sports assembly in kindergarten and became determined to join Morning Musume
--Sayashi-san danced to Morning Musume in kindergarten, and that prompted you to begin attending the school in Hiroshima.
Sayashi: Yes, it was in my senior year of kindergarten. [Note: kindergarten in Japan is 1-2 years.] In terms of songs, it was the time of "Go Girl~Koi no Victory~."
--So you don't remember the time when Nakazawa-san was in it?
Sayashi: I think I did watch her in real-time, but I have no memory of it......
Nakazawa: Senior year of kindergarten!? Huh, wait.....you watched "Go Girl" in your senior year of kindergarten? I wouldn't know that (laughs). That makes me laugh, really. Is there any other group like this?
Sayashi: But I wanted to join Morning Musume and I started dancing, so from there I went back and came to know Nakazawa-san and the others.
Nakazawa: But why was it Morning Musume?
Sayashi: At the time, Morning Musume was very popular, so a Morning Musume song was chosen for our kindergarten sports assembly. Then, "Appare Appare".......
Nakazawa: If I think of it, I think of "Go Girl" as a recent song (laughs).
--Does Sayashi-san have the impression that Nakazawa-san is a legendary person?
Sayashi: It feels like that. Even around me, there are a lot of people who know Morning Musume, right? I really feel like she's a legend.
Nakazawa: Once again, I can really feel those 15 years. We had Tsuji and Kago, so even if I hear about members who are middle school students, I'm not surprised, but time has certainly passed, and I myself am aging.
--You're 14 years old, which means that you were born after "Morning Coffee."
Sayashi: I was born the day after "Summer Night Town" came out.
Nakazawa: Ha--ha--ha......(roar of laughter).
Sayashi: But when I got to stand on the same stage at Budokan, I was overwhelmed by Dream Morning Musume! I also go to live shows of other groups for the sake of study, but this was the first time that I watched seriously. Since then, I've come to listen a lot to my seniors' songs that we don't sing.
Nakazawa: There must have been a lot of songs that you don't know, right?
Sayashi: When I listen to them, I again think that they're amazing, after all. There's such a thing as the trend of the times, right? It could just be what was popular at the time, or it was just following what was trendy. But it's not like that. I feel that they themselves really were amazing, after all......
--The music and performances themselves were genuinely amazing.
Sayashi: Morning Musume wasn't just some trend. In itself, it was great. After all, even listening to them now, that greatness doesn't change.
Nakazawa: Precisely because the current Morning Musume is working hard, we [OGs], too, can continue to sing. If Morning Musume disappears, surely, we will also become just people of nostalgia. Dream Morning Musume is not something that's made only by the OGs. I'm truly grateful to the fans and to the people in the agency, but the one I want to say thank you to the most is the current Morning Musume. It's because we're definitely tied together. We're one and the same.
--Come to think of it..., it seems that Sayashi-san misses her hometown of Hiroshima.
Sayashi: I've now gotten quite used to it, but when I'm just relaxing by myself, I get lonely......
Nakazawa: Why don't you come to my house?
--At the time, you were also one of the ones that came to Tokyo from the countryside, right? Nakazawa-san was an adult, so it was better for you, but what about caring for Iida-san and Abe-san?
Nakazawa: Those two were the same age and were rivals. And that was stirred up by "ASAYAN"......Oh, do you not know "ASAYAN"?
Sayashi: I have a general idea of it.
Nakazawa: We originated from that show. The camera was constantly rolling. From "Good morning" in the morning to "Good work today," cameras were always following us around. Those two lived together, so they were always together for 365 days in a year, at work and even in private. They probably didn't have time to themselves.
Sayashi: That must be hard......
Nakazawa: There have been days when they would say, "I don't wanna go to work!" and refused to come out of the hotel room. They couldn't control themselves anymore. It's because up until that time period, they had been living in their hometown with their families. I mean, they would study for tests on top of a cardboard box, you know? They'd fall asleep slumped over on that cardboard box. When I saw that, I almost cried. Really. I think at the time, they didn't have anyone to consult about things. Those two have gone through that, so if you consult them, I think they'll be really warm and cordial. They'll be like, "Are you eating properly?" Precisely because they're seniors who are not the same age as you, they'll also give you advice, right? If you consult a senior that you're working with, work and private things will get all mixed up.
Sayashi: I also miss my friends in Hiroshima, but more than that, I miss my siblings. Since a while back, I've been a girl who's kinda like, "Family, family!"
Nakazawa: Sayashi-chan, are you having fun now?
Sayashi: I am having fun, at any rate! As a matter of fact, we also got called for a "Black Variety" recording today, too! We had a sports day. Just like what Nakazawa-san was talking about earlier, the theme was kinda like, "Let's learn Morning Musume's spirit of going forward!"
Nakazawa: Amazing! If there's a show or staff that treat Morning Musume like that, you better work hard. 11th gen will join, but you better not lose! It's ok to fight!
--Lastly, if there's a message from Nakazawa-san, please go ahead.
Nakazawa: Well, I also don't know what it feels like to be the ace, though (laughs). However, if I may speak as a former leader, if there are expectations of you as the ace, that might put a lot of pressure on you, but isn't that better than not having expectations of you? I really want you to pull Morning Musume forward. There might be a lot of painful things, but that's the destiny that's been given to you. Because it's something that only you can do. I want you to have confidence in yourself and do it. Of course, you have to surpass Nacchi and Gocchin. If you don't surpass those two, I don't think the next Morning Musume era will come. Both of them put in great effort. They were amazing, but I still want you to surpass them. I have high hopes for you!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy~ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ceremony to Pass Down the Morning Musume Spirit
From Nakazawa Yuko to Sayashi Riho
"I want Sayashi to surpass Abe Natsumi and Goto Maki. If she doesn't, Morning Musume's new era won't come" (Nakazawa Yuko)
The members who aren't timid even in a dance showdown were promising!
Sayashi: First of all, Nakazawa-san, congratulations on your marriage!
Nakazawa: Thank you. It makes me happy to hear that from a member (laughs). I've gotten some emails, but this might be the first time that I was told personally.
Sayashi: How's married life?
Nakazawa: Well...When I was Sayashi-chan's age, I was quite devious, and I didn't even think about marriage, but...it's not bad, you know, marriage (laughs).
--Well then, the other day the two of you appeared on "Nakai Masahiro's Black Variety." What was it like to see the current Morning Musume again?
Nakazawa: How was it for Sayashi-chan? Was it fun? It was probably the first time that the 9th and 10th gen appeared on their own without the senior members, right?
Sayashi: Yeah. It's a show that I often watch, so I was simply happy.
Nakazawa: It's an amazing thing to appear on a show that's that famous, you know. Even just being invited as a guest is something to be truly grateful for. I was extremely happy just to be able to appear together with everyone, but I'm curious about what everyone was thinking.
Sayashi: "Black Variety" was written on our schedule, and just at that, I felt like, "Alright!" (laughs)
Nakazawa: The 9th and 10th gen were really working so hard on that show. I've seen the current members perform live, but it was my first time to experience seeing them appear on a show and sing right in front of me. When they were performing, my heart was pounding like crazy......
--The members who had a showdown with Fairies weren't the ones that were nervous, it was Nakazawa-san, who was watching over them (laughs).
Nakazawa: Eeh (laughs). In my heart, I hated being told, "Nakazawa-san is watching over the current members like a mother." It's because I thought of Morning Musume as a big group of friends. But at the time, I was wondering, "Will my girls be alright?" When Fairies came out, I was worried, like, "Will they lose to those girls?" (laughs)
--It's because that dance showdown got a lot of attention, right?
Nakazawa: When I first heard about it, I thought, "What are you making my girls do!" (laughs). Of course, I knew that Fairies are good at dancing, so if they're made to have a showdown with those girls, there's gonna be a lot of pressure on them, right? But during the show, they danced in such a cool way that I thought, "Amazing!" Back in my day, we didn't have any foundation and we were all just beginners.
--It seems that the show actually had a huge impact.
Nakazawa: Yeah. Morning Musume's coolness really came out in that show! They were working so hard! That day, I was really happy that everyone just went for it without any reservations. Up to now, there have been times when the members were reserved in some ways and couldn't present themselves well. That's why I went home all happy, thinking, "I'm so glad!"
--Sayashi-san, how's that? Nakazawa-san is also highly praising you.
Sayashi: During the recording, at any rate, I was frantic. I was thinking that this is a big chance. We were with Nakazawa-san, so I was also very conscious of that.....
--Does having Nakazawa-san on your mind mean there's so much pressure that you're not able to do things well? Or do you feel a sense of security because she's watching over you?
Sayashi: I didn't want to make her feel uneasy. I wanted us to give her peace of mind by doing things right.
Nakazawa: As for me, I was thinking, "No matter what happens, I'll cover for you as best as I can, so just say whatever you like." I mean, that's what I was seated there for. That's why I was like, "The only thing I don't want you to do is not answer at all." It's not really a problem if you can't sense the mood. But each and every one of them was talking, there wasn't a girl who couldn't talk. Not only that, the host also picked up on that. I found such hardworking juniors to be promising.
Sayashi: Thank you.
--In Nakazawa-san's time, TV was your main battleground, right?
Nakazawa: After a show ended, we would have a meeting for about an hour to review it. Then, we would get scolded, "Why don't you talk!? Don't slack off at talking!" Because of that, we'd do our best to talk so that we wouldn't get scolded, and gradually, we'd get told that Morning Musume is interesting. The idea of "Go forward, go forward!" was ingrained in us. I want the current members to do that too.
Sayashi: ......When I hear that, I think, "I guess we are aware of so very little."
Before worrying about other groups, I want the members to fight amongst themselves
--I think the MM when Nakazawa-san was active and the one now have differing dance skills and other things......
Nakazawa: When (Takahashi) Ai-chan was the leader, the quality just shot up, right? Of course, when the members change, the group's direction also changes. I feel like the types who gave importance to the music and dancing increased.
--Yes, it seems that way.
Nakazawa: Regarding dancing, I was Natsu (Mayumi)-sensei's student. Natsu-sensei was always saying, "It's not about choreography. It's also not about dancing. The song and dance come together, and there's meaning to the moves that I attach to it. Why do you extend your hand here? That's because that's what you're singing about in the lyrics. So don't think about the dance separately." Last year, we also had Natsu-sensei for Dream Morning Musume. She said the exact same things that she said when we debuted.
Sayashi: Do you mean thinking about the meaning that's in the choreography?
Nakazawa: ......Well, the current Morning Musume has a different instructor, right? And the music's also different, right? Even if you sing "LOVE Machine" or "Ren'ai Revolution 21," the choreography that Natsu-sensei came up with aren't being taught to you by Natsu-sensei, right? You don't know the meaning of the choreography that Natsu-sensei came up with, right? But I think it's fine even if you don't know it. If you understand that there's a meaning to what you're doing, there's absolutely no need to imitate her at all. The current members are many times more skillful than us [OGs], but if they tackle all the songs with that feeling, I'd be happy.
--You're also saying that they don't have to adhere to Natsu-sensei's supreme rule, huh?
Nakazawa: What Natsu-sensei said is that I'm not a professional dancer, so it's no use to compete in that. Of course, I've never been better than just skillful, though. When singing a song, it's not just about keeping up with the music, but also about putting in emotion, right? It's the same with dance. I'm told, "Think about why you dance at this part. Why do you extend your arm at this part? Why is there a step at this part? Everything has meaning."
Sayashi: Aah, I feel like I get it, somehow.
--What makes me think that it's hard for the current Morning Musume is that there are more rivals around them than there were during Nakazawa-san's time.
Nakazawa: Aren't they super lucky? I think having opponents is something to be happy about. But to add to that, I think the members should first compete against each other, rather than with other idol groups. If they're all buddy-buddy, the members won't develop. Other groups are also competent and learn from each other through friendly competition, and as a result, they're popular, right? So in the end, it's not about your surroundings. If Sayashi-chan is expected to be the ace, you yourself have to be distinctly aware of that. Shige-chan is also the leader, but you have to be aware that you're pulling everyone along. That is something that the previous Morning Musume also thought about.
--Do Sayashi-san and the others compete amongst themselves? You look like you get along pretty well, though.
Sayashi: Ummm......the times of 9th and 10th gen's entry are pretty close, and there are girls in 10th gen who are older than 9th gen, so there's a part of the relationship that's all mixed up. The seniority-based hierarchy has also started to be upset, and I think we have to have proper distinction there.
Nakazawa: An older girl might enter 11th gen. But it's not decided on age. It's not that you act superior just because you're the senior, but Morning Musume are not friends. A girl who admired a member, a girl who longed to be in show business, a girl who entered because she likes singing and dancing.....I think everyone has her own reason. But once you enter Morning Musume, you're partners. You're not friends. Rather than having a seniority-based relationship, I think it's important to be aware that each and every one of you is a member of Morning Musume.
--Nakazawa-san had experience as a working adult, so as a leader you warned the other members about greeting others and such, right?
Nakazawa: At the time, our manager was very Spartan, very self-disciplined. I can say this with certainty, if we didn't have that manager, the current Morning Musume would definitely not exist. That person was very, very strict, but (s)he raised us. At the time, I was 24 years old, so I got scolded a lot.
--It appears that what troubles the 9th gen about the 10th gen are trivial things. Things like not backing down in any way if there's a scramble for the fruits in the dressing room, or not going ahead of a senior when opening a door......
Nakazawa: But that's also important.
Sayashi: It's because if there's ambiguity there or if we're cozy with each other, it'll show up in other places.
Nakazawa: It's ok for it to change with the 9th and 10th gen, isn't it? Feelings toward your seniors are important. This is the only thing that I don't want you to forget, though. When exiting with influential people in show business, if Morning Musume leaves ahead of them, they'll get mad at you, right? Everyone's watching your manners very carefully, so it's scary. If someone says, "Morning Musume is unacceptable!" I, too, will be very sad.
Sang at a sports assembly in kindergarten and became determined to join Morning Musume
--Sayashi-san danced to Morning Musume in kindergarten, and that prompted you to begin attending the school in Hiroshima.
Sayashi: Yes, it was in my senior year of kindergarten. [Note: kindergarten in Japan is 1-2 years.] In terms of songs, it was the time of "Go Girl~Koi no Victory~."
--So you don't remember the time when Nakazawa-san was in it?
Sayashi: I think I did watch her in real-time, but I have no memory of it......
Nakazawa: Senior year of kindergarten!? Huh, wait.....you watched "Go Girl" in your senior year of kindergarten? I wouldn't know that (laughs). That makes me laugh, really. Is there any other group like this?
Sayashi: But I wanted to join Morning Musume and I started dancing, so from there I went back and came to know Nakazawa-san and the others.
Nakazawa: But why was it Morning Musume?
Sayashi: At the time, Morning Musume was very popular, so a Morning Musume song was chosen for our kindergarten sports assembly. Then, "Appare Appare".......
Nakazawa: If I think of it, I think of "Go Girl" as a recent song (laughs).
--Does Sayashi-san have the impression that Nakazawa-san is a legendary person?
Sayashi: It feels like that. Even around me, there are a lot of people who know Morning Musume, right? I really feel like she's a legend.
Nakazawa: Once again, I can really feel those 15 years. We had Tsuji and Kago, so even if I hear about members who are middle school students, I'm not surprised, but time has certainly passed, and I myself am aging.
--You're 14 years old, which means that you were born after "Morning Coffee."
Sayashi: I was born the day after "Summer Night Town" came out.
Nakazawa: Ha--ha--ha......(roar of laughter).
Sayashi: But when I got to stand on the same stage at Budokan, I was overwhelmed by Dream Morning Musume! I also go to live shows of other groups for the sake of study, but this was the first time that I watched seriously. Since then, I've come to listen a lot to my seniors' songs that we don't sing.
Nakazawa: There must have been a lot of songs that you don't know, right?
Sayashi: When I listen to them, I again think that they're amazing, after all. There's such a thing as the trend of the times, right? It could just be what was popular at the time, or it was just following what was trendy. But it's not like that. I feel that they themselves really were amazing, after all......
--The music and performances themselves were genuinely amazing.
Sayashi: Morning Musume wasn't just some trend. In itself, it was great. After all, even listening to them now, that greatness doesn't change.
Nakazawa: Precisely because the current Morning Musume is working hard, we [OGs], too, can continue to sing. If Morning Musume disappears, surely, we will also become just people of nostalgia. Dream Morning Musume is not something that's made only by the OGs. I'm truly grateful to the fans and to the people in the agency, but the one I want to say thank you to the most is the current Morning Musume. It's because we're definitely tied together. We're one and the same.
--Come to think of it..., it seems that Sayashi-san misses her hometown of Hiroshima.
Sayashi: I've now gotten quite used to it, but when I'm just relaxing by myself, I get lonely......
Nakazawa: Why don't you come to my house?
--At the time, you were also one of the ones that came to Tokyo from the countryside, right? Nakazawa-san was an adult, so it was better for you, but what about caring for Iida-san and Abe-san?
Nakazawa: Those two were the same age and were rivals. And that was stirred up by "ASAYAN"......Oh, do you not know "ASAYAN"?
Sayashi: I have a general idea of it.
Nakazawa: We originated from that show. The camera was constantly rolling. From "Good morning" in the morning to "Good work today," cameras were always following us around. Those two lived together, so they were always together for 365 days in a year, at work and even in private. They probably didn't have time to themselves.
Sayashi: That must be hard......
Nakazawa: There have been days when they would say, "I don't wanna go to work!" and refused to come out of the hotel room. They couldn't control themselves anymore. It's because up until that time period, they had been living in their hometown with their families. I mean, they would study for tests on top of a cardboard box, you know? They'd fall asleep slumped over on that cardboard box. When I saw that, I almost cried. Really. I think at the time, they didn't have anyone to consult about things. Those two have gone through that, so if you consult them, I think they'll be really warm and cordial. They'll be like, "Are you eating properly?" Precisely because they're seniors who are not the same age as you, they'll also give you advice, right? If you consult a senior that you're working with, work and private things will get all mixed up.
Sayashi: I also miss my friends in Hiroshima, but more than that, I miss my siblings. Since a while back, I've been a girl who's kinda like, "Family, family!"
Nakazawa: Sayashi-chan, are you having fun now?
Sayashi: I am having fun, at any rate! As a matter of fact, we also got called for a "Black Variety" recording today, too! We had a sports day. Just like what Nakazawa-san was talking about earlier, the theme was kinda like, "Let's learn Morning Musume's spirit of going forward!"
Nakazawa: Amazing! If there's a show or staff that treat Morning Musume like that, you better work hard. 11th gen will join, but you better not lose! It's ok to fight!
--Lastly, if there's a message from Nakazawa-san, please go ahead.
Nakazawa: Well, I also don't know what it feels like to be the ace, though (laughs). However, if I may speak as a former leader, if there are expectations of you as the ace, that might put a lot of pressure on you, but isn't that better than not having expectations of you? I really want you to pull Morning Musume forward. There might be a lot of painful things, but that's the destiny that's been given to you. Because it's something that only you can do. I want you to have confidence in yourself and do it. Of course, you have to surpass Nacchi and Gocchin. If you don't surpass those two, I don't think the next Morning Musume era will come. Both of them put in great effort. They were amazing, but I still want you to surpass them. I have high hopes for you!
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