There was a very positive response from people all over the world for my previous article on Ai Takahashi following her departure from Morning Musume. However, it wasn’t until July 2010 when she performed live in Paris with fellow Morning Musume members that people outside of Japan really started to become aware of the artist, Ai Takahashi. It was a delight to witness this performance as it proved once more that there is great potential for Japanese idols overseas.
After the initial interview with Ai was published online I spoke with the editorial staff at Asianbeat and we decided that the story shouldn’t just end with Ai Takahashi’s departure from Morning Musume. Instead we decided it would be more interesting to begin the story there and follow her journey from that point on to see how she grows as an artist. That’s the kind of story people all over the world would want to read about too, I’m sure.

“I was amazed at how everyone was so focused on achieving the same goal. The dancers, for example, are just incredible. And they’re that good because they work that hard.”

In my previous interview with her, I asked Ai what she thought of the Korean idol boom sweeping the world right now, to which she replied:
“I can’t speak for all groups, but generally, I think that Korean idols have a stronger desire than Japanese idols to become the best group they can. Korean idols also have a stronger desire to want to succeed on an international level. With the whole group striving to achieve the same thing it makes raising the bar and improving as a group that much easier.”

Speaking with Ai, it’s as though spending all her time at the Imperial Garden Theatre has helped her realize what she wants to do and where she wants to be in life.

“Compared to countries like America, musicals still don’t maintain a very strong status in the entertainment industry in Japan. I think we need to figure out what we need to do to get more productions out there and get more people interested in them. When I spoke to another actor about this they told me, “Having someone like you from the TV industry cross over into this one is only going to expand our horizons.” Which was a delight to hear of course.”

I myself took this opportunity to get reacquainted with the Imperial Theater and see a musical for the first time in a long time. Honestly, it was a lot of fun and it’s one of those performances that I’m truly glad I went and saw.
Sitting on a bench in the lobby after the show, I overheard a nearby conversation.
“That girl was amazing.”
“I hear she used to be in Morning Musume.”
It was the chatter of a few middle aged women who looked to be regulars of the Imperial Theater.

As she develops all these skills I’m confident that Ai Takahashi will take to the world stage again one day, and that that “one day” will be an important day for Japan.

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