Ogawa: Basically I went to school every weekday to study English. After classes, I'd take dance lessons. That was how I spent most of my time. There were a lot of English courses there, and I was working towards the TOEIC. As I mentioned earlier, I took courses for teaching English to children and got my qualifications for that. I also tried working as a barista, making coffee.
Q: It's been a while since you've seen each other. Tell us how you feel and things have changed.
Ogawa: Even in New Zealand, we'd sometimes email each other. In the time I was away, the new members from China joined Morning Musume, Ai-chan became the leader and Gaki-san became the subleader. So a lot has changed. But I think they've been doing a really good job. But when we're just hanging out like this, they don't seem any different. But when I've seen their work and their concerts, I can tell they're doing really well. What about you guys?
Takahashi: When she came in here speaking English, I thought she's been working hard, just like I expected. I know it wasn't all fun for her, and it was hard at times, but I know she did her best. That's what I want to tell her.
Niigaki: This Makocchin - the Mako-chan that you see here - the way she can make everybody laugh, that heart of hers hasn't changed at all. It's been a while since I've seen her, but she's still just like I remember her. She still has her personality and her charm. Knowing she worked so hard and succeeded in New Zealand is another reason I respect her.
Q: Were you completely unable to speak English?
Ogawa: Not at all! I was completely useless at it. I went there with absolutely no knowledge of English. I was pretty naive back then, and before I went, I thought it would take about three months to become fluent. But the day I got there, I was in tears. I couldn't talk to people or make myself understood. I was crying almost every day for the first month or two. But I worked hard at my English so that I would be able to communicate with them, and at some point I became glad I was there.
Q: Your skill in English really doesn't fit with your "dummy character" from before, does it?
Ogawa: Actually, I was like that over there. My teacher told me, "Before you start to learn English, you'd better learn Japanese first." When there was some English I didn't understand, she'd put it into Japanese. But sometimes it was Japanese that I didn't understand either! That's how it was at first. Japanese can be pretty difficult. So I had to study Japanese as well as English while I was there.
Q: Are you planning to use your English skills in your future work?
Ogawa: If you don't use English, you can forget it. So I need to keep on training so that I remember how to use it. I was really nervous about today. Really nervous.
Q: How do you feel about how Morning Musume has changed while you were away?
Ogawa: Well... There have been three new members that I don't know. When I met them, I didn't really know what to talk about. But they were really friendly talking to me. It seems like the whole group is more friendly now. There's not much age difference now. When I joined, there were a lot of older members, and that made me nervous. But now it's more like being at school. It's nice and relaxed.
Q: Takahashi-san, Niigaki-san, would you like to get English lessons from Ogawa-san?
Niigaki: Definitely. We have to go overseas for work a lot, and I'd like to be able to ask for Makocchin's help.
Ogawa: Then please take me with you!
Niigaki: All right.
Takahashi: She's qualified to teach children now, so she can teach us.
Ogawa: Just little kids. Like "This is a pen."
Takahashi: I'm only at children's level.
Niigaki: Ai-chan is studying English a lot these days.
Ogawa: That's great.
Takahashi: I'm doing my best. Please teach me more.
Who is your favourite 15th gen. Momusu member? 
37.4%
