by Sohee » Tue Jul 16, 2013 4:52 am
Was an interesting read.
Uh. Summary.
- He says he's looking for "star quality" in 12ki auditions but this definitely doesn't have to do with just singing, but could be talking, dancing, looks, etc anything. It also has a lot to do with timing - various people in showbiz today have tried out for MM before but the timing wasn't right and some simply were better off doing solo stuff.
- In the current MM, while he's not telling them what to do, he does remind them of that Ishikawa Ryou, Asada Mao for example, even on their days off surely spend their day thinking of the golf court or the skate rink. That the first AKB members were surely thinking 24/7 on how to improve their performance at the theater in Akihabara back then. He says this while meaning that, even if they have a day off, they shouldn't stop trying to improve but keep watching TV to see what they could say to make various people poke fun at them, they should rehearse the dances at home, etc. He's not saying that anyone IS being lazy not doing any of this, this is just what he tells them every now and then as a reminder.
- In 1998 (after Daite HOLD ON ME) got #1 and they were scheduled for Kouhaku, he had in mind to announce their disbandment and just do a last tour in 1999.
- Actually he wishes he could push the girls to be a bit more sharper in their dancing. However because they have concerts and recordings and handshake events and whatnot there is some "offness" to some of them when they dance and this makes them come off as "real people" which in itself is good. But he wishes he could get them a bit more sharper.
- Aside from Morning Musume, C-ute as well are rising lately. He wishes C-ute would be able to take one step closer to being mature and grown up. As it is they're stuck in the "Hello! Project figure"-curse. When asked about if Momochi has broken free from that curse, he says that Momochi is on the contrary completely in the middle of it. Momochi, almost by habit, looks at the camera with a smile even when it's not needed and even if the song isn't like that at all. This because she has grown up within Hello! Project though of course. When asked which members he thinks would be able to break out of this pattern he says: Okai, Michishige, Iikubo and Natsuyaki if she'd try to.
In all I think those were the most interesting points.