“I want to help Morning Musume｡’15 become more global”
Has anything changed since you became members of Morning Musume｡’15?

Ogata “I started using a toner on my skin at night before bed. I never really cared about makeup before I joined Morning Musume｡and I used to be the kind of high school girl to just apply a layer of sunscreen before going off to take part in club activities, but now I’m a little more interested in skin care.”

Nonaka “My attitude towards English has changed. I want to work on my English abilities more. I’ve become more active in my approach to studying English and I try and soak up as much information from the US and other countries overseas as I can. I want to help Morning Musume｡become more global.”

Haga “I started to hate the way my hair grows and I became really conscious about hair. Before I just used to be the Akane Haga who had wavy hair, but now I’m the Akane Haga who hates her wavy hair.”

Makino “I go to baseball games a lot less (Makino is a diehard baseball fan who is crazy about the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters). In the past, I used to go to 30-40 games a year and even went along to the training camps, but this year I’ve only seen 3 or 4 games so far. That’s been a big change for me.”

Last day of tour for the 12th generation at the Budokan.
Just like the group’s senior members, when these girls come off stage, they’re just your regular teenage girls. What kind of adults are you all aspiring to become?

Ogata “As Morning Musume｡’s first member to hail from Osaka, I want to stay true to my roots and maintain the Osaka dialect for my entire life. The Osaka people are really good people. I can’t wait to become a fine old Osaka woman.”

Nonaka “I want to keep using English as much as I can. I want to master the English language. I want to make the most of my abilities in everything I do.”

Haga “I’m still in middle school, so for the moment I just want to focus on study. I want to be good in both studies and in sports.”

Makino “I want to know more about the Fighters. I’m a Fighters fan, so I completely understand how all of my fans feel about me. I have friends all over the country who are Fighters fans, too. And I want to devote my life to Morning Musume｡, just like Michishige-san.