User blog:SeifukuGirls/Metamol interview for Natalie translation

Awhile ago for practice I did a translation of this interview METAMOL!!! did for Natalie, published back in December 2022. Even though I'm not hugely interested in the group, I really enjoy first-time interviews artists do for publications, since they talk a lot about their stories of how they came to debut. I think even if you don't care about metamol, this interview is an interesting look at how a self-produced idol group under a medium-sized agency can operate.

also I didn't write this with the intent to put it up publicly so note that things might be slightly unclear or potentially incorrect. don't take translations as gospel etc. etc. you get it

''- first of all, please tell me the whole story of your formation. how did the group begin?''

aigasa moe: it had been about three years since I left the idol group I used to belong to, and I was working a normal part-time job. at that time, when I would watch an idol concert I couldn't enjoy myself as a fan at all. For a long time I kept thinking, "I really do still want to sing on stage, why am I not doing that?" Since I was thinking that way, I talked with my current agency and said "I want to make a new idol group, and I want to try being the producer."

- so suddenly.

moe: yes. when I thought "I want to try being an idol again but I don't think I can anymore," I heard "you can!". and then the search for members began. that was around winter of 2020.

''- so from the beginning the group was started with the intent of moe-san serving as a member and producer. at that point did you have a clear vision like "let's do it this way"?''

moe: I did. rather than the usual orthodox type, I wanted it to feel like the atmosphere of the songs and costumes would change depending on the time. I wanted it to feel like every member had a completely different atmosphere from each other, so I gathered girls with that in mind. I didn't have any connections to them until then, but one by one I sent DMs saying "nice to meet you".

''- so you scouted them yourself. what kind of criteria did you choose them with?''

moe: first was face. I gathered girls who I thought had cute faces, I searched for people with faces I personally really liked on Instagram. but of course it was a no if they couldn't sing and dance, and with Minami and Hina I approached them because I knew they were idols before. but Funa hadn't done anything, I thought it was important to have a person who was a first-time idol.

hanasaki funa: at that time I deleted the DM by accident, so I didn't know what the invitation was and I gave a weak reply

moe: you turned me down the first time, you said "I can't be an idol"

funa: but this person wasn't deterred at all

moe: many times I was like, "will you meet me one time? we'll just talk"

- just from that, you felt there was something about funa-san?

moe: that's right. I had internally decided on her member color when I invited her, like "this person is red." because she had red hair. (laughs)

funa: I had originally wanted to be an idol, but at that time I was already working a regular job. I couldn't just quit my job... but I asked "is it okay if I continue my current job", and was told "it's fine", so I was like "alright, why don't I try it". I had a pretty casual mindset at first.

- so you were active as an idol while working.

funa: yes. but once I could make a living as an idol, I quit my job safely.

hina: she reached out to me at just the right time, since it had been months since I left my previous group and I was thinking "I want to do another idol activity". In my previous group I felt like the members around me had different ideas about "how far do you want to go" with motivation, so I quit because I felt like "I don't really fit here", but I thought Moe-chan was a good match so I decided "let's do our best here".

minami: same as moe-chan, I had about three years of no activity since I left my previous group. when I was reached out to the store I worked at was never busy because of corona, so I felt like I rarely went to work and I was thinking "I want a change of environment", and with the timing i was like "yeah, I'll try it".

all: (laughs)

minami: I had some regrets about my idol activities, and considering my age I thought this would be the last time

''- regarding what the four of you are like, could you please tell me about the members' characters. first of all, what kind of person is moe-san?''

funa: moe-chan is like "the performer". she's overflowing with an otsubone vibe

moe: ahahaha

hina: of course she has the longest idol history, so she remembers dances the fastest. like "what, you already memorized it?" at the end of the choreography we'll often say "now let's dance through the whole song from the beginning" and when that happens we'll all be looking at moe-chan (laughs)

funa: if moe makes a mistake everyone makes a mistake (laughs)

hina: in that way she's the kind of person who pulls everyone in with her performances, but usually she's a very moody person. when we travel we'll gather in the hotel lobby in the morning, and it'll feel like "ah, it's better not to talk to moe-chan right now" (laughs)

moe: I'm bad with mornings

minami: no, it's not because it's morning, it's been this way for a long time (bows head)

funa: she's very on-and-off. but fans also know the off side

''- I see. now, what kind of person is funa-san?''

moe: I'm the oldest and the producer, but it's like, isn't this person like a leader?

hina: she feels like a caring and reliable older sister

moe: I'm an intense type whose emotions go up and down, but she feels like the complete opposite. She maintains a constant feeling of excitement, and she's always prepared. she has style like a manager.

funa: I'm a manager

moe: ahaha. also, it was her first time doing idol activities, so at first I thought "can this person follow along?", but recently she can regularly give impressive performances

funa: that's right, they no longer have funny contents

moe: before when she would stumble onstage she would really fall on her butt, but it's not like that anymore, now when you watch her sing you really feel, "Idol!"

funa: it's boring, huh

moe: it's boring but, (laughs) it feels like amazing growth

- then next, how about hina-san?

hina: (eyes brighten) what am I like?

minami: she's The Idol in a different sense from Moe-chan. she's orthodox. moe-chan has high skill as an idol, hina is like kirariin☆

funa: like an idol out of an anime

minami: right right right

moe: just when she's walking around you understand, "this girl, she's definitely an idol"

funa: when she takes the train she'll attract attention because she's too cute, so it's better to not ride trains anymore

minami: she feels like the group's little sister, and she's the most positive

funa: that's right

moe: she always comes to ask "is Hina cute?" "am I cute again today?" (laughs). She's in charge of the cute part of performances. if it was just the other three members we would've felt like a group with a little more force, so it feels like she neutralizes it. originally I invited her because I thought "are there also cute orthodox girls like this?" with cute songs she takes the initiative and comes forward, but she can also do cool songs properly

''- that's how you can create a wide range of songs. now, lastly is Minami-san''

funa: that girl, her visuals look scary

moe: but actually, on the inside she's a cute type. but people tend to think she's scary at first

hina: it tends to look like we don't get along, but that's not true at all (laughs)

minami: yeah, not at all

funa: those two get along so well, there's a gap, isn't there?

hina: also, her style is better than anything! she has pretty legs

moe: minami does a lot of modelling activities, so we're able to learn from her during photoshoots. like how to pose and do facial expressions, it feels like she understands how to present herself.

funa: and when I first saw her, I thought she was a "dark" type. But actually she loves bright songs

minami: I don't like dark songs. they're too heavy (laughs)

moe: surprisingly she has the biggest singing voice out of the four of us. even though she looks like she would be silent

funa: she's the type to do her best even though she looks like this. she's fiery.

''- since the four of you have been active as metamol, this july your first single "resema love game!" reached #2 on the oricon daily chart, and your fanbase has steadily grown. do you have a reel feeling of "fans are following us?"''

funa: well, more than the early days

minami: we really weren't popular in the beginning. of course we're not completely satisfied with the current state of things, but compared to the times when we had fans in the single digits at multi-lives, we feel that little by little the number of people who come has grown

funa: before it felt like people who came to multi-lives were thinking "I don't know this group so it's fine if I don't watch them". but lately it's like "I didn't come to see metamol, but if they're on why don't I watch them" and I have the feeling that the layer of lights has gotten a bit bigger

moe: we're slowly making a name for ourselves in the idol scene, I think

- it seems like metamol's fanbase has many female fans

moe: that's true. compared to other groups, I think there's quite a few of them

hina: that makes me really happy! everyone is cute

- why do you think female fans support you?

moe: maybe, since the four of us are all different types, I think we all have different traits that make girls like and admire us. when I was first gathering members, that's what I was aiming for. I thought it would be good to create a group that people who've never been interested in idols before can like, of the same sex too, so I feel happy I actually did that

- in other words, did moe-san have doubts about how idol groups should be in general and wanted to present something different?

moe: ...what do you mean?

- for example, maybe you had doubts about the idea of "in the given environment with the given music, perform the choreography as you're told"

moe: ah... maybe, since I really don't like being told what to do

funa: kukukuku (laughs)

moe: it's like "I want to do this, so why do I have to be forced?" I quit my previous group because I didn't like that, and in metamol if I say I want to do something it'll get across properly, that's really fun

''- I think that sense of fulfillment is being conveyed to fans. you could say there's a strong sense of "they're not being forced"''

funa: I think that's a big thing

hina: moe-chan primarily writes the lyrics, and I've done lyrics for a few songs as well. it's fun to be able to challenge something new like that. it's something that started when I was asked "do you want to try?" and it's really fun to actually challenge that

moe: lately hina's been doing gravure. it's something you've always wanted to try, right?

hina: yes! I've always been wanting to do gravure, and when I asked the agency "can I try it?", it actually happened. when I get published in magazines please definitely check it out!

minami: in my previous group there were a lot of constrictions like "you must have black hair! no piercings!" They decided all of the contents of my tweets, and they'd be really angry if you opposed them. but since I came here it feels like, "do what you'd like" and I can do my hair and nails as I want

moe: No one wants to wear clothes that they don't want to wear. if when the costume is prepared you think "I don't want to go out in this," I think as a girl you'll have a lot of feelings, I didn't want anyone to feel bad in that way

funa: the reason I went so long without being an idol is because I didn't want to enter an agency that would bind my image like that. that's why I'm really grateful for the freedom I have now. the bad feelings the three of them experienced in the past, I never had anything like that (laughs)

''- that feeling of freedom, I'm sure it's attracting admiration and empathy from female fans. also, I think the lyrics resonate as well''

moe: that makes me happy

- I'm sure there are a lot of fans who feel like "they're saying the things I want to say but can't"

moe: that's right. there are quite a lot of people who say "I feel that". With "do your best" type songs and... for me, I really dislike "pushing your back" type songs. That's why we have a lot of "do your best" songs with a twisted perspective (laughs). so maybe that's why, I think we're able to speak for the things everyone can't say at school or work

- i'd like to talk a bit about what you want to do in the future

moe: with this topic, there's often the template question of "what stage do you want to stand on". I'm really bad with that. for example it'd fit nicely if I said "I want to perform at budoukan!", but I'm embarrassed to say I don't think about such a big dream

- well, you don't like "do your best" songs

moe: ahaha. that's why my hope for the group is just "be able to work steadily"

hina: first of all I want our tour final at shibuya club quattro on january 9th to be absolutely packed with customers! that's the first thing.

moe: that's right. this is our biggest capacity venue for a one-man so far, so I'm really nervous (laughs). until then I hope more people will become interested and think "I should go"

- then, rather than a specific goal, do you have a feeling like "I want to become like this"

moe: I want to grow our reputation. I want to become something where our name is known among idol fans, and people who aren't idol fans. I want people to notice and say "isn't that metamol?" when we're walking in the street

funa: I want various kinds of people to know us. not just idol otaku, but more widely

moe: even now we sometimes have customers where I think "where did you find out about us?" and when I ask many of them say "you came up in my instagram recommendations and I was curious", so I want to put more effort into SNS in the future

- in that sense, hina-san's gravure and minami-san's modelling will be very effective at getting the broader world to know about you

hina: that's right. it's not limited to gravure, I have a strong feeling of "I want to be in media", so I want to challenge more new things. I want to appear in CMs, and I've always thought that I want to go on TV and stuff. If that could be how people come to know metamol, and then new fans come to see us, that would be ideal

minami: minami doesn't have dreams, especially with this. I'd always lived a relaxed life before, and I've been doing all of the things I want to do. so going forward, I feel like I want to keep acting on the things I want to do

funa: I agree.... I was a regular person, back then

moe: "I used to be a regular person" (laughs)

funa: that's why it would be nice to be an approachable and popular person who feels like "even an average person can be like this." I don't have a clear dream

- even though there's a trend that "a dream is something you need to have", it feels nice that you can say "I don't have a clear dream" like that

minami: right right, I don't like that. like talking about a dream you never thought about in an interview. we don't want to be that kind of idol.

- in the future as metamol grows larger, it would be nice to live in a world where everyone can think "that's okay"

moe: that's right. fans often talk to me about life, and many of them say "I'm forced to do things I hate, it's terrible." I answer "why? isn't it okay not to do things you hate?"

funa: it's like religion

- you say religion, can't it be called counseling?

moe: that's right (laughs)

funa: of course. we're all counselers

- an idol group that does life counseling, it's quite rare

funa: it comes out that way, we never feel like orthodox idols (laughs)

moe: we're doing things in a human way