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masssterchief · 6 years

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STU48 natalie.mu Interview Translation

STU48 that debuted with their 1st single “Kurayami” has expanded their activities with performances on 「TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL」「Coca Cola SUMMER STATION Music LIVE」「@JAM EXPO」and starred on tv shows such as「STU48 no Setobingo！」「STU48 Imousu TV」「AKB48 SHOW!」. They’re continuing to improve every day, so in order to cover their current state, we’ve come to the recording site of AKB48 SHOW! That airs on NHK BS Premium every Sunday from 23:00. We’ll bring to you their serious faces during their performance or their normal facial expressions during the break.

In addition, we’ve interviewed 6 people, Ishida Chiho, Iwata Hina, Takino Yumiko, Tanaka Kouko, Torobu Yuri and Yabushita Fuu between recordings. We asked them about their past activities, the charity project “Ganbarou! Setouchi!” to help the areas that were affected by the heavy rain in July of this year and their thoughts about the boat theater that is scheduled to open in the near future.

The waterfall training was the hardest thing so far

── AKBG’s youngest group, STU48, it’s been around 1 year and 3 months since their unveiling. It’s been around 7 months since their major debut. Of all the activities that they experienced so far, what was the most memorable of them all?

Ishida Chiho: Pesonally, last year’s “Tokyo Idol Festival” is very memorable. It’s our first live performance in the Kanto area, and I thought to myself that outdoor performance is this fun.

Iwata Hina: During that time, Sashihara Rino-san was a concurrent member of HKT48 and STU48. Because it was our first time standing on a stage together with Sashihara-san, everyone was really nervous. Of course, her performance is great, but she’s also great at hyping up the fans and creating a sense of unity. I was looking at her with a great sense of respect

── That was really exciting. STU48 has an image that looks good with outdoor performances.

Yabushita Fuu: The handshake event that commemorate our debut single “Kurayami” “Setouchimeguri” were mostly done outdoors. We also performed during the event, even though it was during winter, we danced our hearts out and tore the house down together with the fans. There’re also fun things to be had performing indoors, but I think the members loves performing outdoors.

Takino Yumiko: For me, our first live performance in Okayama last June really left a mark. We didn’t know much of anything because we performed not long after the group was formed, I was so happy to be standing on that stage together with Okada Nana-san and all of the first-generation members. It was the first time that I got to see the fans directly, it finally dawned on me that I’m an Idol now.

Tanaka Kouko: At that time, all the members desperate to not make any mistakes, but now we can show off a lot of different facial expressions, we’re now able to give out fanservices to all the fans. And also, I was part of the senbatsu for “Omoidasete Yokatta” (The coupling song of AKB48’s single “11gatsu no Anklet”), I was happy that I got to participate in a music video shoot for the first time. And after that I was also chosen to be part of the senbatsu for “Kurayami”, those two songs really left an impression on me.

── Other than live performances, STU48 appeared on a lot of tv shows like “STU48 no Setobingo!”, “STU48 Imousu TV”, and “AKB48SHOW!”

Torobu Yuri: The most memorable tv show appearance is we went and had a waterfall training on ”STU48 Imousu TV“. It was really cold because it was the end of January, we also sat straight and recite a Sutra from 3 in the morning, it was really painful for me to fast. After that experience I don’t think that something is harsh ever again (lol). I also have an experience in bungee jumping, but the waterfall training is more painful.

Everyone has improved

── Compared to the early days, is there a member whose impression has changed?

Yabushita: Kouko looks like an adult, at first, I thought that she’s very grown up. But, that’s not the case at all, she’s good friends with the youngest member who is in middle school. She likes to take care of them, so she’s like a mother to the young members. She’s really good at taking care of others, she often plays around with the young members in the dressing room. My impression of her has changed in a good way.

Tanaka: I’m glad (lol). I think I have the same mental age as the middle school members.

── Did you girls immediately get along with each other after the formation of the group?

Tanaka: We got along without realizing it. I’m good friends with Torobu Yuri-chan since the audition.

Yabushita: She’s really reserved (lol)

Tanaka: (lol). At first, I was under the impression that she’s a chill person, but now she’s someone who comments on other member’s dancing, she’s a reliable and dependable person.

Torobu: I didn’t intend to be a dependable person, but STU48 has a lot of young members, I give advices to the young members as part of the older members.

── As the center of the group, has anything changed for you, Takino-san?

Takino: I have gotten lots of jobs that I’m grateful for, but the amount of lessons that I had to miss is also rises. Even though I’m not good at dancing, it’s really hard for me to miss practicing together with everyone, but now I have thought about a way to compensate for that time. I don’t want to risk my physical condition by cutting my sleeping time, so I’m properly protecting my physical condition, and actively thinking about making good use of the time when I’m awake.

Torobu: Looking at Yumiko, she’s gotten faster at remembering the dance moves.

Takino: I’m happy.

Torobu: Since the Business Trip Shows started in July (A live tour at all AKB48G theater and others across Japan) the amount of songs under our belts has increased, there are lots of time where we don’t practice together. Even as someone who participates in the practices, it’s still difficult for me to remember all the dance moves, I think that Yumiko is awesome to be able to immediately match our moves as someone who only joined us from the very first show.

Takino: Thank you. But, that means that everyone is great at teaching. When there are things that I don’t know and I was in a bind, Torobu Yuri-chan started helping me, and the other members followed. It’s not just me, I think that everyone has improved.

A group where dialects intermingle

── On the AKB48 53rd Single Sekai Senbatsu Sousenkyo ~Who is the world’s center?~ that took place this June, Ishida-san took 99th place, while Takino-san took 74th place. Once again, please share your thoughts about it.

Takino: On top of being the center, there was also the pressure that I had to rank so I was really relieved. I performed on the Ranked-in Concert (An event where only the ranked members got to participate) the other day, once again I’m feeling really thankful. If there’s also a Sousenkyo next year, I hope that more STU48 members get to rank-in and I also want to go even higher and lead STU48.

Ishida: Because I ranked in the top 100, the number of times where I’m standing with other AKB48G members has increased, I have learned lots of things. I want to make good use of that experience during STU48 activities, and if there’s another Sousenkyo next year, I absolutely want to rank in again. During the ranked-in concert, the ranked-in members of HKT48-san or SKE48-san performed a medley of their songs. I hope that someday STU48 becomes a group that can also performs medley like them.

── Other than Takino-san and Ishida-san, I think that the number of times that the other members working together with the other AKB48G members has also increased, what is the thing that is unique to STU48 that no other group has?

Torobu: Because we have members from the 7 Setouchi Prefectures, we’re overflowing with personalities. I’m from Hiroshima, thanks to STU48 I’ve learned about the other prefectures. Also, a lot of different dialects intermingle within our group, even though Fuu is from Osaka, it’s funny to hear her say “Jakee” (Okayama dialect, something that you say at the end of a sentence)

── Do you absorb the dialect of other members?

Yabushita: Because I’m not really surrounded with people from Kansai, I don’t speak with Kansai dialect anymore. I sometimes speak with a Hiroshima dialect, but most of the time I speak the standard language. I now say things that I’ve never said before like “Isn’t that wrong?” or “Seriously”, I thought to myself “Who am I?” (lol).

Iwata: And also, there’s a lot of people who saw STU48 for the first time during the business trip shows, during the send-off, a lot of people said to me “I feel the freshness from you girls”. Because it’s been only one and a half year since our debut, I think we still have that freshness feel to us. There are parts of us that we need to improve, I want everyone to look over us because we’re going to do our best.

A Business Trip shows where we felt the amazingness of our Senpais

── What are your thoughts about the Business Trip shows?

Takino: During the Business Trip shows, we usually performed twice a day. There was a time where we performed twice a day for 4 straight days, it was really tough, but because we can immediately improve on the things that needed improvement for the next show, I think that because of that our sense of unity is now stronger and we have improved for the better. And also, standing on different theaters, once again I felt the amazingness of the Senpais and our inexperience, I’ve learned a lot.

Iwata: I’m thankful because I got to perform on that stage where a lot of amazing Senpais also stood on, but I also feel some pressure because we will be compared to those that have come before us. Our performance and MC are still not good enough, we sent each other LINE messages about the things needs improving, we’ll do our best to catch up with the other Senpais. I think that the bond between the members is also deeper now.

Torobu: I’ve properly studied the various theaters, the view from each stage is very different, the feeling of quickly wanting our own theater is stronger now.

── What is the most memorable theater for you?

Torobu: For me it’s definitely the AKB48 Theater. I’ve always admired AKB48, so to be able to see the same view as my oshimens was deeply moving. And also, I was really excited to find a spot where the other members wrote their signatures (lol).

Tanaka: I’ve come to the AKB48 Theater before as an audience, so I thought about where I sat at that time on stage.

Torobu: It was really shocking that we’re able to properly see the audience from the stage. When I went to the theater as a fan, I thought to myself that there’s no way that they’re able to see uchiwa that I’m holding, but when I actually stand on that stage, I’m happy that I’m able to see the faces of the fans.

Yabushita: The close distance between us and the fans is the charm of the theater.

I want to do a show where you cut up fish on the Boat Theater

── STU48 will be opening a Boat Theater in the Setouchi Sea, what kind of theater do you want it to be?

Torobu: I want to have a restaurant on the boat that serves fresh seafood. Imagining things is really exciting (lol). And I want to hold a performance on the deck of the boat.

Yabushita: For sure! I want to hold an outdoor performance.

Torobu: I also want to fish or snorkeling with the fans. Is that way too fun? (lol)

Ishida: Sugahara Saki-chan is really good at fishing, so she seems like she could handle the fish. I want to eat a fresh seafood that she fished for lunch.

Torobu: Also do a show where she cuts the fish up (lol).

Iwata: For me, I want there to be a shop that sells the local specialties of the 7 prefectures of Setouchi. It’s great if the fans can learn the delicious dishes that Setouchi has to offer.

── If there’s a STU48 Official Shop, what kind of thing that you want it to have?

Iwata: Kawara Soba!

Yabushita: Udon!

Torobu: I want it to have delicious noodles from each prefecture

Yabushita: There is also Onomichi ramen in Hiroshima. I want to create a collaboration item between STU48 and each prefecture’s specialties that you can only buy at the theater.

Torobu: If you bought a collaboration item, you’ll learn more about Setouchi and STU48 both at the same time, it’s like killing two birds with one stone.

── Do you have an ideal image of what the interior of the theater should look like?

Tanaka: I want the interior of the theater to be refreshing. If the design of the ticket is cute, wouldn’t more people want to come to the theater?

Torobu: The interior of the NGT48 Theater is school themed, so I want ours to be modeled after pirates or sailors.

Someday we will hold a charity concert in the disaster area

── STU48 launched a charity project called “Ganbarou! Setouchi!” to help the areas that were affected by the heavy rain in July of this year, you girls held a fund raiser during the handshake events and the Business Trips shows didn’t you. Have you ever wanted to do something like a fundraiser?

Yabushita: I’m really happy to have the corporation of older people or kids that passed by us

Iwata: The fans of other groups also gave their money and said “Do your best okay, I’m right behind you”. Once again, I felt that the fans of AKB48G are nothing but a bunch of kind people.

── In addition, from September to October, a charity concert tour will be held in Osaka, Fukuoka and Tokyo, donating part of the proceeds to the disaster area as donation.

Torobu: I want to hold a charity concert someplace where the damage is really severe. Personally, I would like to do some volunteer work in the disaster area.

While blowing the Setouchi wind, I want STU48 to be a hot group

──Do you feel like the popularity of STU48 is spreading in the Setouchi area?

Takino: In January during our major debut period, we gave out tissues in the 7 prefectures of Setouchi, there were a lot of people that received the tissues and said to me “I’ve heard about STU48 before”, I think that the name of STU48 has penetrated a little bit. Because I think that it was the reason that a lot of people learned about us, I would like to do this activity once again for the next single.

Torobu: The fans have the handshake event to go and talk to us, but there wasn’t a lot of chances to talk to non-fans of STU48. I would like to continue to give out tissues. I would like for the people of Seouchi to support us.

──To everyone outside of the 7 prefectures of Setouchi, just what kind of place is Setouchi?

Torobu: There’s a lot of kind people. If you lost something, you will get it back most of the time, there are lots of time where I said hello to the Grandpa and Grandma that passed by me.

Tanaka: The animals of Setouchi is also very friendly.

──Animals？

Tanaka: There are cats in Hiroshima, and deers in Miyajima, the animals of Setouchi is also very kind.

Yabushita: Somehow, it’s like something out of a fairy tale (lol)

Tanaka: And I think that it’s amazing that the boat is able to move between prefectures.

Yabushita: That’s right! I was surprised when I learned that when we’re on the boat, we’re going to visit a number of prefectures in one day. Both the sky and sea of Setouchi are very pretty, there’s a lot of spots to take photos. I was brought up in the city of Osaka, it feels like I’m sightseeing everywhere I go in Setouchi, even though it’s not my hometown, it’s very relaxing.

Torobu: I think that one of the charms of Setouchi is that we can enjoy both the sea and the mountains. It takes roughly 1 to 2 hours to go skiing or to swimming in the sea.

──Is that so. Lastly, please tell us what kind of group do you want STU48 to be or your goals

Takino: A while back, a staff-san told us after a live performance “The Setouchi wind is blowing”

Yabushita: During last year’s TIF, the air was cool only when it was our turn to perform.

Takino: That’s right (lol). I want us to be a refreshing and passionate group. Blowing the wind of Setouchi, we’ll do our best to deliver an exciting performance.

#stu48 #iwata hina #yabushita fuu #tanaka kouko #ishida chiho #takino yumiko #torobu yuri

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