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#9 “I just can’t live without Urbangarde”: S/mileage’s Kanon Fukuda Goes One-on-One with her Idol, Yoko Hamasaki（2/3）
What did Hamasaki think of S/mileage’s performance at the Budokan?
Hamasaki “I was really moved. It brought tears to my eyes. You could see that the girls were so happy to be performing at the Budokan and you could tell that they were there to give it their all and have no regrets. Watching them I thought, ‘What is this solidarity?’’ Their ability to bring it all together as one is incredible and nothing short of impressive.”
Hamasaki “I was really moved. It brought tears to my eyes. You could see that the girls were so happy to be performing at the Budokan and you could tell that they were there to give it their all and have no regrets. Watching them I thought, ‘What is this solidarity?’’ Their ability to bring it all together as one is incredible and nothing short of impressive.”
Fukuda “I’m just happy that I got to perform in front of the band I love.
I think one of S/mileage’s selling points is our go-all-out high-energy performance. We often say to each other that we’re like a toy box, the way we each have our own personalities and individualities.
Hamasaki “Even though it was my first time seeing you at the Budokan, I thought the way each of your individual characters shone through was really impressive. I don’t think it would be possible to express your individuality in such a way if you each didn’t have exceptional on-stage performance abilities to match.”
▲S/mileage
I think one of S/mileage’s selling points is our go-all-out high-energy performance. We often say to each other that we’re like a toy box, the way we each have our own personalities and individualities.
Hamasaki “Even though it was my first time seeing you at the Budokan, I thought the way each of your individual characters shone through was really impressive. I don’t think it would be possible to express your individuality in such a way if you each didn’t have exceptional on-stage performance abilities to match.”
It’s been 10 years since Fukuda joined Hello! Pro Egg and she’s now in her fifth year as a member of S/mileage, but I’ve noticed quite a big change in her the past couple of years.
Fukuda “I use to pretend like I was Cinderella reincarnate. I don’t think I portrayed in my physical appearance any aspects that were actually the real me. The turning point was when I lightened my hair color. From there I started doing more things they way I wanted. But changing my hair color was a significant step. It was also around this time that I fell in love with Urbangarde.”
Fukuda “I use to pretend like I was Cinderella reincarnate. I don’t think I portrayed in my physical appearance any aspects that were actually the real me. The turning point was when I lightened my hair color. From there I started doing more things they way I wanted. But changing my hair color was a significant step. It was also around this time that I fell in love with Urbangarde.”
Hamasaki “So in this time that you were searching for yourself, you found us?”
Fukuda “You could say that, yes.”
Hamasaki “It’s so nice to hear that people discover us that way.”
Fukuda “By telling people that I like Urbangarde, I thought that other people might watch Urbangarde’s music videos or check out their lyrics and learn what kind of person Kanon Fukuda is as well.”
Hamasaki “After you started saying that you were a fan of ours, I too started reading your blog on a regular basis.”
S/mileage are currently in the middle of a live house tour and are performing shows at live houses all over Japan.
Fukuda “The live house environment took a lot of getting used to at first. But then I look around and see signed posters of bands that I like and I think, ‘So they performed here, too,’ and that makes me happy.”
Hamasaki “We started out in a tiny live house ourselves. The thing about live houses is that they’re full of musicians’ passions and their determination that, ‘This is our starting point; it all begins here,’ and whether you’re a band or an idol group, that doesn’t change. I can completely relate to how Kanon feels about live houses. The modest live house is a place where you can reset and be transported back to an earlier self.”
Is there something that the two of you would like to ask each other?
Hamasaki “Do you ever struggle with the way you think Kanon Fukuda of S/mileage should be and the way you want her to be?”
Fukuda “In the past, I used to be quite conscious when picking out clothes to wear, about what would suit the S/mileage image, and I would often pick out very neat and tidy one-piece dresses. But then I started to think, so what if people think it doesn’t suit the S/mileage image. We’re the S/mileage members, so we’re the ones who can change that image and create a new one if we want, too. After the 2nd generation members joined and the six of us started to settle into our new group, the 2nd generation members started to move about on their own and that gave me a chance to think more about myself, and I think that was also a factor. And ever since, S/mileage’s Kanon Fukuda has done her hair how she wants and worn what she wants without hesitation. So, this is me, as I am.”
Fukuda “You could say that, yes.”
Hamasaki “It’s so nice to hear that people discover us that way.”
Fukuda “By telling people that I like Urbangarde, I thought that other people might watch Urbangarde’s music videos or check out their lyrics and learn what kind of person Kanon Fukuda is as well.”
Hamasaki “After you started saying that you were a fan of ours, I too started reading your blog on a regular basis.”
S/mileage are currently in the middle of a live house tour and are performing shows at live houses all over Japan.
Fukuda “The live house environment took a lot of getting used to at first. But then I look around and see signed posters of bands that I like and I think, ‘So they performed here, too,’ and that makes me happy.”
Hamasaki “We started out in a tiny live house ourselves. The thing about live houses is that they’re full of musicians’ passions and their determination that, ‘This is our starting point; it all begins here,’ and whether you’re a band or an idol group, that doesn’t change. I can completely relate to how Kanon feels about live houses. The modest live house is a place where you can reset and be transported back to an earlier self.”
Is there something that the two of you would like to ask each other?
Hamasaki “Do you ever struggle with the way you think Kanon Fukuda of S/mileage should be and the way you want her to be?”
Fukuda “In the past, I used to be quite conscious when picking out clothes to wear, about what would suit the S/mileage image, and I would often pick out very neat and tidy one-piece dresses. But then I started to think, so what if people think it doesn’t suit the S/mileage image. We’re the S/mileage members, so we’re the ones who can change that image and create a new one if we want, too. After the 2nd generation members joined and the six of us started to settle into our new group, the 2nd generation members started to move about on their own and that gave me a chance to think more about myself, and I think that was also a factor. And ever since, S/mileage’s Kanon Fukuda has done her hair how she wants and worn what she wants without hesitation. So, this is me, as I am.”
Hamasaki “Kanon, I think you’re really helping S/mileage win over a lot of female fans. The way you keep all the minute details like your clothes and your nails in check is really something only a girl would understand, and you have that sensibility about you that appeals to other girls. And it’s not just fashion; I thought the same thing when I saw you on stage at the Budokan.”
Fukuda “That makes me so happy to hear.
Hamasaki-san, when did you first start to develop that kind of dark outlook that you have of the world?”
Hamasaki “I guess it’s just something that’s always been a part of me. From when I was in my 5th year of elementary, everyday when I was alone in my room I decided that I would write a poem, and I continued to do that up until I finished high school. I would draw pictures and write fantastical stories. Who am I? Why am I alive? What is it I want to do with my life? They’re the kind of things I would think about day-in day-out.”
Fukuda “That makes me so happy to hear.
Hamasaki-san, when did you first start to develop that kind of dark outlook that you have of the world?”
Hamasaki “I guess it’s just something that’s always been a part of me. From when I was in my 5th year of elementary, everyday when I was alone in my room I decided that I would write a poem, and I continued to do that up until I finished high school. I would draw pictures and write fantastical stories. Who am I? Why am I alive? What is it I want to do with my life? They’re the kind of things I would think about day-in day-out.”
Fukuda “When I was in elementary school, I used to love playing all the grotesque games that the boys would play. I was more into the scary than the sweet.”
Hamasaki “That’s the kind of child who would fit right in over here on our side (lol).”
Hamasaki “That’s the kind of child who would fit right in over here on our side (lol).”
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