魔法少女48: Matsui Rena's SKE Mail 12\01\13
Cat Cat Nukko. I want to keep a cat.
Hey. (・ω・)ノ
Good morning.
When I checked Gugutasu in the morning I found a post that made my heart beat fast.
I so want to hug her soon!!
As an excuse for the fact that I feel like “haa haa-ing” over her, I’d just say I’m too much into anime…
Anyway I like little and cute (even personality-wise) kids.
What’s wrong about it!?!??!
The world is made of cute things and of kids carrying on the future, after all!
A world without kids is like a tea-cake without rice!
Well, it’s not like there’s the character for rice in the word “tea-cake”…
BUT STILL!!!
Okay, I’m off for now.
—-
That cat! (= ”°^°=)
Interesting how just yesterday 2ch was buzzing about “S stage legendary young girl”. Seems like during S 2nd performance, a little girl was seating 1st row and Rena totally spaze at her for the whole show! She wasn’t the only one as Kuu and other members have been said to lock their eyes on her and smile at her on purpose several times.
Plus it seems that little girl had good cheering skills as she used several penlights with different colors depending on the song and followed the rhythm perfectly. Of course we can’t see her face, but there are captions of Rena being her creepy enthusiast self, looking at Legendary Little Wota’girl :
KD Kumin in the place too~
You know what’s left for you to do if you ever go to Sakae. Bring your little sis’! ( */°^°)/
(Get・ω・Strong)
Rena speaking (・ω・)
There are many choices that need to be made in life.
Depending on the person crossroads differ, length of the roads they stride along varies too.
Because that’s the truth I believe in, I can accept the graduation announcements which where made today by the concerned members.
It might be an awkward way to put it, but for everyone comes a point where those words have to be spoken, a path we will all walk.
When the time for those 9 members to graduate comes, will start for them a new battle to reach their own dreams, but I believe it will also be a time where we will have to show our tenacity.
No matter what, we have to become strong.
(Re・ω・Na)
Matsui Rena x Kitahara Rie interview 「The True SKE48」, from Bubka 2013/01 (out 2012/11/30)
Given how the interview is over 10k characters long and how relatively uninteresting most parts were, I simply went for a broad summarize this time around. Sorry.
——-
Their Unexpected Good Relation
- This shooting for a magazine was Rena and Rie 1st together
- They sometimes (though not so often) talk together during MV shootings, like in Team Surprise 「Suteki na Sankaku Kankei」they talked about Tokyu Hands because Rena has never been in any of their stores (tln : it’s a huge surprise for the interviewer because everybody goes there in Tokyo for anything related to outdoor or furniture or repairs etc etc They also sell penlights :p ). Catch is, even if there is a Tokyu Hands in Nagoya, there is none in Rena’s hometown.
- Rena and Rie first met for 「10 Nen Sakura」shooting but Rena first heard of Rie on July 30th 2008, the day she auditioned for SKE48, which was also the day Rie was promoted to Team A.
- 「10 Nen Sakura」was shot during Christmas : December 24th and 25th 2008 (released on March 4th 2009). But there Rena only talked to Takamina. Though Rie knew Rena liked Tojima Hana just like her.
- They probably talked together for the 1st time thanks to Sasshi, who is the type who won’t let anyone alone. Sasshi was the first to talk to Rena and Rie talked to Rena because Sasshi was her friend, so she joined in.
- Rie - Sashihara goes toward everyone but I’m not like her. But thanks to her we came to talk together. I thought back then it was fun to talk with her.
- Rena - It’s good to know, I’m glad to hear that. I’m glad to be alive (laugh).
- Both want to be actress so they talked about movies and such during MJSK.
People from Aichi-ken
- Interviewer insist people from Aichi are “special” in a way but both deny it. The only thing Kitahara points at is that they seem to like strong flavors.
- Personality wise :
- Rena - It’s said that once they fall in love, their love continue for a long time.
- Rie - I heard that when guys from Aichi go on a date, they carry the girl bag.
- Rena - Ah, true true. In Sakae for example I often see boys carrying shopping bags for girls who seem to be their girl-friends.
- Q - Anything else?
- Rie - They say that there aren’t many good-looking girls in Aichi.
- Rena - But I heard a rumor according to which this biased had been overthrown thanks to SKE.
- Rie - Really.
- Rena - Before people thought there were only fugly girls in Aichi.
- Rie - This this! I’ve heard that so many times.
- Q - It’s a fact that since old times Aichi is among the top 3 regions rumored having the ugliest girls.
- Rie - I knew it.
- Rena says people there like what is flashy/gaudy and even buildings are eccentric (Spiral Towers, the ferris wheel on Sakae, Nana-chan…)
-Food is quite eccentric too, like the famous ShiroNoir (ice on cake) from Komeda Cafe and ogura toasts.
- Taking the example of the golden Shachihoko on top of Nagoya Castle, Rena says people like to show off in Aichi. Rie adds that they don’t speak too well either…
- Interviewer ask them if they aren’t braggarts too (we learn further that Kitarie was actually upset during that discussion) :
- Q - I’m sorry to only point at minuses but don’t you think (people from Aichi) are braggarts too? (tln : “braggarts” in the sense they bark a lot but don’t bite)
- Rena - We are.
- Kitarie - But actually everyone no matter where they are from are like that no?
- Rena - No, if you look at TV show for example NMB is very assertive and takes the lead while SKE in comparison is more quiet. I think that’s because we are scared to step forward.
- Kitarie - True that’s one of the group weaknesses…
- Q - Putting side to side AKB, SKE and NMB each of their regional traits come to light right?
- Rena - That’s why, looking at the members, I think we are probably braggarts.
- Q - You don’t share this opinion Kitahara-san?
- Kitarie - I do somehow. I’m myself a dressing room entertainer. (tln : 楽屋芸人 -> artists who entertain people backstage more than they do on stage)
- Q - So you agree after all (laugh). Do you think that’s because of your origins?
- Kitarie - No, I don’t! That’s not something I want to blame my region for!
- Rena - Anyway that’s not something you had concerned yourself with until now, right?
- Seems like despite all those bad points, there are many celebrities coming from Aichi-ken and who are doing good in Tokyo. Rena adds there are also many great sportifs.
- Q - Are you really attached to your hometown?
- Kitarie - I really love my hometown. I’ve a strong attachment to it. I adore it even.
- Q - And Aichi-ken?
- Kitarie - Hmm, my hometown rather.
- Rena - Same.
- Q - So it’s more about your hometown…
- Kitarie - But I also quite like Aichi-ken. I obviously find it irritating to hear Aichi-ken being bad-mouthed.
- Q - […] I had already the occasion to feel how much natives from Aichi-ken liked their home area. In the past I asked another member where she would rather live and she answered me without hesitation 「Aichi!」.
- Kitarie - No way! I pick Tokyo (laugh).
- Rena - But it’s nice to come back to Aichi, right?
- Kitarie - Hm, it’s nice to know you can return in Aichi.
- Rena - Right now my work in Tokyo is increasing so… I want to return to Aichi to spend my old days there.
- Q - You don’t have to bother thinking so far in the future (laugh).
Foreseen Concurrent Position
- Rie says she likes SKE “normally” but that they do have great performances.
- From Rena’s PoV, Rie looks like a kind person it would be easy to talk to. But since she rarely goes to others of her own will, Rie has to make the contact between them. They agree their relation will be easier after some time.
- Rie suspected she would be sent to SKE and Yui to NMB when Milky and Jurina joined B and K in March. She talked with Nakanishi one week before Tokyo Dome and she thought the same. She also expected to be sent to K. So now she has been to A, K, B and SKE.
- Regarding fans’ reactions to her concurrent position : Rie says SKE teams are complete and some fans must feel uncomfortable with having her join. Probably because they’re attached to the “local” aspect of SKE and that’s where their love for the group comes from. But since she is from Aichi too, she gets their feelings and hope to be accepted too.
(tln : the hell are you babbling Rie? Like if SKE had only members from Aichi and as if all SKE fans were from Aichi themselves… Mind open your eyes a bit, lady? >_>)
- Rie continues saying she will gives her best and hopes to provides the best performances. And there, Rena, (engaging in an unusual display of optimism) ensures her that fan’s will abandon all reticence and welcome her with open arms after her first stage.
(tln : I wouldn’t be so sure Rena… Or at least I wouldn’t take the risk to say that yet)
Members who caught your attention
- Asked which team she would like to join, Rie says she doesn’t have any preference since she can adapt easily anywhere (having been in 3 different teams already). She even says she would be ok without a fixed team.
However, it would be easier to get closer to other members if she had a fixed team.
- Members she is interested in : Yagami Kumi (sorry she graduates) ; Manatsu = her oshimer but never talked to her ; Yukko, because she is cute and has a great style, slender legs, even told her she thought she was cute. Rena assures her she will be able to get close to Yukko easily since she is such an open person.
Rena also explains she is totally different from the open-type of persons like Yukko, she can’t throw herself at people and start a conversation out of the blue, she needs to find the good “timing” for that.
- Rena - It’s hard to find the good timing no? Because there is like, the good timing to talk with someone and the wrong one.
- Q - You’re worrying over unnecessary things (laugh).
- Rena - I know, but I can’t help it (laugh). Everybody is different and have their own circumstances, so can’t stop thinking this way. I always worry as to know if it’s the right moment for me to intervene or not.
- Q - It sounds to me like you’re restricting yourself with those self-made rules though (laugh).
The 2nd Chapter of SKE48
- Interviewer says all the 48 group has entered it’s 2nd chapter and that SKE too by the way (tln : I totally disagree, but whatever…)
- For Rena and Rie Rikako’s graduation is one major event which will change SKE (as well as Kumi’s graduation and the new theater).
- Interviewer has this idea that after celebrating their 4th year and finally getting their own theater, SKE is at its turning point and that Rie will be the trigger or at least the stimulus for SKE to achieve this renewal. (tln : the frack am I reading? Damn interviewer, easy on the Rie fanboyisme please >_>)
- Rie in the other hand wonder if there is any meaning for her in joining the group. She isn’t sure what to do to answer people’s expectations.
- Again (tln : damn!) interviewer comforting her by saying roles will change when the new theater opens and she will bring a good stimulus to the group.
- Rena however points out that in every single senbatsu, there are only 2 or 3 girls entering every time and that with Rie joining one of those spot is taken by default. Resulting in Aka gumi or Shiro gumi girls, who were expecting to enter senbatsu next, to be left out which will probably be very frustrating.
- Interviewer brushes if off as “stimulus” and part of Aki-P’s “calendar”. (tln : *throwing computer by the window at this point*)
- Talking of 「Tsuyogari Dokei」, Rena says it looks different with Rie. Though herself thinks she fits perfectly in the group and that she has the typical “Aichi” face… Even though her parents are from Gifu. (tln : and she is Katsuo’s clone who is from Shikoku, but if she wants to thinks so, suuuuure~)
- Regarding SKE’s 2nd chapter, Rena says she wants to take the opportunity of all those events occurring lately, notable the 6th gen joining, to change SKE internally with a *bang*.
- Even without going as far as a shuffle, since all teams are complete and S stage has been going on for long, she thinks it would be good to shake things. She was actually thinking there would be a shuffle during 4th year anniversary stage.
- Changes, if they happen, will probably be announced Sunday 9th, during the new theater opening and Rena hopes it will mark a new step forward for the group.
- She hower feels sorry for KII members who had their stage last year. It’s has already been one year but they still hate when whenever someone outside KII has to perform their units. If there are unit shuffles for concert or handshake events they’ll protest and get angry 「Why does it have to be performed by another team? Ain’t that weird? It’s our stage after all!」. Which rubs Rena the wrong way.
What SKE needs
- Rena doesn’t like the idea of a shuffle since it would basically be re-doing what AKB did in 2009 and if it worked for them, it doesn’t mean it would be the case for SKE. She would like to opt for something “different”.
- Rie says SKE needs to be more oriented toward the whole nation as they’re still quite a local phenomenon. For example her friends know several AKB members when they only know Rena and Jurina from SKE.
- KitaRie : I’ve a friend who told me (s)he likes you.
- Rena : Oh, that’s so nice! Thank you very much.
- KitaRie : 「Because she got boobs」(s)he said (laugh).
- Rena : No I don’t! (laugh)
- She hopes her joining the group will bring more light to SKE and its members, increasing the degree of familiarity of the group among the public and lead them to the next step.
——-
tl;dr : Better brace yourself for the Sunday peeps.
「Our Matsui Rena」by Nakanishi Yuka and Furukawa Airi from Bubka 2013/01 (out 2012/10/30)
Where : Airin comes out as a uke-est uke of the galaxy ; unexpected ship happens ; psychos are loved and wanted! ; SKE feels everywhere on the part of bean sprout ; shinkansen otak’ are scary ; Rena suddenly become a fashion critic (o_O”) and much more~
Enjoy
——
As one half of WMatsui, she carries the responsibility of being SKE48 figurehead and as such, Matsui Rena can claim today a popularity of national level. If she is generally recognized as an introverted young lady and even among members, only very few know her true colors.
But those two are different.
Crossing over the border of 2D, they’ll engage in an exchange to help us unveil the mystery surrounding Rena. Discussion, start!
Our Relation with Rena
Nakanishi - Semi-regular Nakanishi speaking! Yosh! I supplanted WMatsui!
Q - When I interviewed Hirata (Rikako)-san last week, I asked her who would be the most appropriate member to tell us about Rena. Without a second of hesitation, she said Nakanishi-san’s name.
Nakanishi - Eh—-?! I would have imagined someone else.
Furukawa - Unexpected really.
Q - Is it that odd? (laugh) Furukawa-san, your fondness for Rena-san is well known among fans, was there a particular reason which brought you to like her?
Furukawa - To start, her face features are my type. Before joining SKE, Rena-san was my sole oshi. Speaking of looks, I thought she was the cutest…. Nakanishi-san, sorry.
Nakanishi - No please, thank you for your kind consideration……..(laugh)
The first impression she gave me was that she fit her outward appearance. She was as quiet and well-behaving. But she changed when she would stand on stage. She seemed introverted.
Q - Seen from outside, Rena-san gives a strong image of someone reserved and who pulls away from others. Was it the same when she entered SKE as a 1st generation member?
Nakanishi - It was especially true at first. She never seemed to make a fuss or draw much attention. Since I’m also shy toward people I don’t know, there was an uncrossable gap between us. It lasted for a year I think. Then I heard someone say that Rena liked anime, so I seized this chance and started talking about it with her and that’s basically how we became friendly toward each other.
Q - She shows a real ardor when it comes to anime right? (laugh)
Furukawa - She is extremely serious about it! Going deep into matters. She has knowledge on some subjects normal otaku don’t have.
Nakanishi - She knows even about studios and manufacturing companies. Like 「This company is really good when it come to this and that, don’t you think?」「Well, yeah sure but, sorry! I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.」.
Furukawa - When she starts on the subject she likes, she won’t stop talking. She gets excited and the conversation inevitably reaches a point where she is the only one left talking. Finally I’m there listening, at a loss for words and all I can think of is 「Waaaa!」(laugh).
Nakanishi - It’s cute to witness when that happens. It’s as if the flow of her words continues without ever drying up. I like watching their never ending conversations, or rather monologues.
Q - Pro-league player Rena-san! (laugh) I can’t help but think she is an eccentric person, do you agree?
Furukawa - There is no denying she is curious in some aspects. The other day when we were riding the shinkansen, she draw the 700 kei’s head on an egg and said she wanted to roll over it. Adding that the regular 700 kei wasn’t the best and that she would prefer some special type or something.
Q - W—What?
Nakanishi - I was the same 「Eeeh—-?」.(laugh) Saying things like wanting to roll on a shinkansens’ head or wanting to scrutinize them. That was too much for me to get……
Q - When she says those things in front of the members, is there anyone who comes out saying 「I totally get what you mean!」?
Furukawa - I don’t think anyone would! Because Rena-san is also an expert when it comes to trains. I even heard from her that when she returns home she grinning from ear to ear while looking at shinkansen photo books (laugh).
Nakanishi - That’s what makes her so special isn’t it? She is so cute and at the same time she is an extreme otaku.
Furukawa - That’s why we are on the same plane when it comes to our hobbies. Like when we went together to the JR Central Museum or watched the Sound Horizon concert movie at the theater.
Q - Furukawa-san, when did you become friends with Rena-san?
Furukawa - She was originally my oshimen, so when I entered SKE I always felt nervous around her and could never bring myself to talk to her. But since I kept saying how she was my oshimen all the time, Nakanishi-san and (Hiramatsu) Kanako-san teased me about it.
Nakanishi - And then, seeing Airi blush and getting shy, Rena would say 「Airin, so cuuute」. That’s roughly how it happened.
Furukawa - When it comes to Rena-san, I’m a total 「uke」～. I’ve never been the offensive one. I’ve never even tried. (tln : uke = submissive)
Nakanishi - 「uke」…(laugh). But it’s true you’re totally being toyed with.
Furukawa - Actually, I want to be toyed with. That’s A-ok!
Nakanishi - Rena likes cute and feminine girls. And if you want my opinion, I thinks she probably likes Airi more than any other girl.
Q - Maybe she does look at Furukawa-san slightly like a man would, who knows? From your point of view Furukawa-san, what kind of relation do Rena-san and Nakanishi-san have?
Furukawa - They talk about things they like, about SKE… I don’t feel any awkwardness from one or the other when they talk together. It’s as if Rena was addressing a male friend. They have a great relationship.
Nakanishi - Thank you! But, did you really had to emphasis on the 「male」thing….? Female friend wasn’t a valid option?
An Unshakeable Will
Q - I’m getting a better idea of your relations with Rena… I think (laugh). Now I’d like to ask you about 「SKE48’s Matsui Rena」. From a certain point, it appeared to me she started taking responsibility for SKE and speak in its name. Could you enlighten us on when and why this happened?
Nakanishi - It was certainly around the time 「Seifuku no Me」started. I think she made up her mind on carrying the group on her shoulders. She looks a great deal after her juniors and after the group as a whole. Rena might be a peculiar person, but when a junior is feeling down, she will definitely check on her. What’s more, she does it very casually.
Q - It would be great if more people knew about this.
Nakanishi - She’s a caring person, really. Even when she updates her blog that much, if for example I have an important job to carry out that day, she sends me a mail in the morning 「Yuka-chan, good luck for today.」. That always makes me so happy.
Q - There is no way to resist this kindness! What about you Furukawa-san?
Furukawa - Yes, she contacts me too.
Q - When you’re having a hard time for example?
Nakanishi - But Airi doesn’t show it when it’s hard for her, right?
Furukawa - Even when people around me show their concern, I can barely answer them (laugh). But once, when I had fell from senbatsu, Rena-san sent me a single mail 「I’ll be waiting for you」. It really, really, warmed my heart. It’s possible that she has this image which makes her hard to approach, but I think that contrary to what most people think she is easy to approach. Because see, she is a nice person. ( random tln : 「I’ll be waiting for you」, reminded me of that ( *°^°) )
Nakanishi - Like the 5th generation members for example, they might think she is totally out of reach, but with such a gentle personality it should actually be very easy to start talking with her.
Q - It’s getting clear that the impression she is giving inside and outside the group are totally different.
Nakanishi - That’s because of her character.
Furukawa - Because she is seen as a 「loner」. (tln : “loner” = ぼっち/bocchi in the text)
Nakanishi - Which doesn’t make our statements any less true though (laugh).
Q - You make me relieved to hear that (laugh). But then, when left on her own, don’t you think she tends to put too much on her plate?
Nakanishi - Rather than burdening herself too much, I think the real problem is that she tends to blame/torment herself too easily. Do you remember this video where she collapses during 「Pinocchio Gun」lesson?
Q - The one where Anna sensei was yelling at her? Yes, I see what episode you’re referring to.
Nakanishi - Back then, Rena’s back had really reached its limit. In 「Seifuku no Me」there are a lot of songs which are straining for our backs and hips and after repeating them so many times Rena’s body gave in. But when she collapsed, none of us went to give her a hand, because Rena herself wouldn’t want anyone to. Because if the lesson was interrupted because of her, she would feel responsible and blame it on herself and we didn’t want, neither her or us, to make that happen.
Q - That’s beyond resolute…
Nakanishi - That’s the kind of girl she is. She says things like「I hate myself」. Or even things as strange as 「Why did I have to be born with this face?」. Even though she is so cute she sees herself as someone ugly!
Furukawa - How can she even think that?!
Nakanishi - You want to tell her 「If Rena is anything close to ugly, how am I supposed to live in this world?!」(laugh).
Furukawa - And even though she didn’t gain weight, she starts saying things like 「I got fat」.
Nakanishi - Apologize to Airi!
Furukawa - Yes, because I… Oi! Hold on you!
Q - Well, to each their standards after all (laugh). But in the case of Rena-san, isn’t this self-criticizing tendency the result of her sense of responsibility as SKE’s face?
Nakanishi - I don’t think that’s exactly how it is…
Furukawa - It’s probably more punctual than that.
Nakanishi - Like if she has to skip a stage performance because of her health, she will say 「Why do I have to be this weak?」. But again, at times like these we won’t go out of our ways to comfort her. Because she doesn’t seek this kind of compassion.
Q - So in a sense, she is stoic?
Nakanishi - That’s it. When we sometimes shared the same hotel room, she would make sit-ups. But her waist wasn’t strong enough to pull her body so she would only raise her head (laugh). But we haven’t been assigned to the same room together for a long time now, so I don’t know if she keeps doing it or not.
Furukawa - I bet she keeps training diligently every night.
Nakanishi - You’re probably right. She is way more toned than she use to be.
Q - Based on what I’ve seen from her gravures, I’m fairly certain too she keeps up with her training. Now it may not be directly linked to her self-tormenting habit but Rena-san has a thing for spicy food right?
Nakanishi - This girl, her tongue is numb (laugh).
Furukawa - Apparently, she doesn’t feel the spice in food. But it seems she perceives the taste at least.
Nakanishi - Last time, she was having a pizza on top of which she added tons of Habanero.The routine for her.
The True Face of “Gekikara”
Q - This, among many others of her traits which are by no means common, make her such a fascinating person. It reflected particularly well in her character Gekikara in the drama 「Majisuka Gakuen」too, don’t you think?
Nakanishi - Does she really share traits with Gekikara though….?
Furukawa - I wonder… Well, she does laugh this way a lot.
Nakanishi - Ahah. True they share the same laughing voice (laugh).
Q - Furukawa-san, some time ago, the manga you drew in Cyzo’s 2D enthusiasts association series featured a Rena-san who was heavily inspired by Gekikara right?
Furukawa - Ahah (laugh). I let my imagination run wild with that work but it’s true that in my mind Rena-san is close from this character, or rather… It would be nice if that was actually the case.
Q - Seeking such an unstable personality, aren’t you afraid to see blood flying all around? (laugh)
Furukawa - Ain’t she cool, Gekikara?!
Nakanishi - How can she pull that character off…? She is scared by the smallest little thing and yet she pretends not to be. Like see, she can hardly bear roller coasters but she will force herself to ride them. Every time she even insists 「I want to sit in the head wagon!」.
Furukawa - She likes challenges doesn’t she? A bit as if she lets both extreme feelings, fear and this will to tackle obstacles, out at the same time.
Q - That’s somehow… really impressive! (laugh) I imagine she is the kind to volunteer 「I’ll do it!」when everyone backs up or is getting cold feet.
Nakanishi - That happens. When we have to eat insects during punishment games, everybody squeals and simply wants to run away right? Well then you have Rena going「I want to try iiiiiit!」.
Furukawa - And she gets very excited , saying things such as「Ahhhhhhh! So coooool!」. There she somehow reminds me of Gekikara. Ah, I love Gekikara so much…
Q - I actually find this idea seducing, that Gekikara’s character wasn’t all an act but that some parts of her personality actually exist inside Rena-san.
Furukawa - As if by playing Gekikara she had the chance to let out aspects of herself she usually needs to conceal, right? Who knows, maybe we just uncovered something (laugh).
Q - One sure thing is that she has many facets. Her stubbornness for example.
Nakanishi - I think that’s one of her facets too indeed. But rather than calling it stubbornness, I’d say that she has a strong determination. She may look humble, but she will never let herself be influenced by others and if she has something to say, she will let it out with a “bang!”. Like when people start to slacken in the group, she’ll give them a wake-up call
Furukawa - She does that, she does. Also Rena-san has a lot of solo work so she gained a lot of experience in many fields and what she learnt thanks to it, she makes sure to transmit to us by giving us a lot of advice.
Nakanishi - When we have to complete a new job she guides us 「That’s better to do this like this.」or「If you do it this way it will end up being reflected like this so be careful」. Doing this I think it really shows how much she cares about SKE. I already had the opportunity to talk about it here, but when Jurina is in bad shape, it’s striking how Rena pushes herself and gives everything she has for the sake of the group.
Rena’s 「Universe」
Q - I’ve heard rumors saying that Rena and Jurina have been closer than ever lately. (tln : “closer” as in “on good terms”)
Nakanishi - Eh? Is that so?
Furukawa - I see her trying to support Jurina-san thanks to their difference in age.
Nakanishi - Things like「Jurina, be more careful with what you’re doing.」or「Wake up, Jurina」.
Furukawa - That’s a married couple you’re describing here!
Q - Sounds like a perfect wife (laugh). If so, does that make Furukawa-san Rena-san’s wife?
Furukawa - No no no, I merely enjoy being toyed with (laugh). Oh, but the other day I went shopping with (Takayanagi) Akane and Rena-san. I’m not so much into fashion and all those stuff, so she gave me a lot of advices 「I think that would look good with that.」.Rena-san knows a lot about dressing smartly.
Nakanishi - I think so too. She wears clothes of all kinds.
Q - Otaku give this image of not caring much about the way they dress but it’s actually a misconception right?
Furukawa - Well—, as far as we’re concerned (pointing at them with her index), it’s not really a big deal (laugh).
Nakanishi - When it comes to fashion sense….
Furukawa - But you know lately, I’ve started to change.
Nakanishi - Really? I’ve been betrayed!
Furukawa - I’ve come to terms with spending money to buy clothes.
Nakanishi - You don’t say!
Q - Do you make that much from your illustration jobs?
Furukawa - No no, that’s absolutely not related!! (frantic denial) But since Rena-san easily points out faults I make in the way I dress, I ended up knowing how to pick the right colour and this kind of things.
Nakanishi - In my case, if I’m not sure how to do my hair for example, I’ll ask Rena. Unexpectedly, she shares the same views as men, so it’s convenient (laugh).
Q - Oh my! Making Nakanishi-san into someone more feminine?
Nakanishi - I’m a girl too mind you! (laugh)
Q - Thanks to your cooperation I’ve learnt a lot about Rena-san and her many facets today! But I guess there are still many aspects of her personalities we couldn’t dig out, right?
Furukawa - Indeed. Like for example, lately she has been obsessed by space. She went to the planetarium by herself, she also collects clothes with galaxy patterns and checks posters in relation with it. I also like space but mostly for what concerns UFO so it’s a bit different.
Q - Rena-san, she looks like the type of person who could be abducted by aliens no?
Furukawa - She probably wouldn’t mind making things work out somehow (laugh).
Nakanishi - Relying on her great faculty of adaptation (laugh).
Q - We will investigate Rena-san’s space stories another time if you don’t mind (laugh). Well, now that we have done 「Our Matsui Rena」episode, who should I focus on for the next release?
Nakanishi - Let’s continue with Yuasa-san! Rena-san will definitely frankly say what she thinks about him. She makes a point of speaking everyone’s mind when nobody else dares to.
Q - The unexpected 「Our Yuasa Hiroshi」corner!
Nakanishi - With this project, I’m certain Rena will have all the leisure to display her strong sense of responsibility and attachment for SKE!
Furukawa - It will be fun! (laugh) Rena-san and who else then?
Nakanishi - Kuwabara Mizuki of course!
Furukawa - It’s going to be epic! But I’ve the feeling most of it is going to be censored (laugh).
Q - Anyway, we should try asking Yuasa-san first (laugh). Thank you for giving us some of your time today!
(Interview conducted in Nagoya on November 2nd)
Thanks to @rehikari for the proofread and a certain Henko for getting me the magazine. Cookies for you two!
Of Matsui Rena and Yoshiki Risa
When two idols develop a peculiar interest for each other~
Yesterday night Rena went back from Tokyo to Nagoya after the Best Artist show and even though she only had 4 or 5 hours left to sleep, she spent a good share of it watching a program on TV with Yoshiki Risa (吉木りさ).
For those who don’t know yet, Rena is a big fan of this 25yo idol who works mostly as a gravure idol but has different projects on-going, such as the formation of One Color, an idol group with herself for sole member… don’t ask me more ( ”^^). She is also releasing a new single on December 5 : 「世界は教室だかじゃない/Sekai wa Kyoushitsu Dake Janai/ The World isn’t limited to this Classroom」
More interesting (for me at least and probably for Rena too), Risa is a huge otaku. She loves manga and anime and with her training (experience?) as an enka singer, she has polished her voice enough to be picked to sing Gosick opening 「Destin Histoire」and took part in the last Animax Music Festival (Yokohama Super Arena, 11/23), where she performed Discotheque (originally sung by Nana Mizuki), with Nagareda Project.
So here we have Rena being a fan of Risa.
She mentioned her a lot on her blog, in her mails and on G+ over the past 6 months. Two examples out of dozen of others. (note : Rena usually writes about how she finds Risa beautiful and loves her gravures, but those two posts are surprisingly innocent.)
Masana and Airin appear on TV
with Yoshiki-sannnnnn
So jealous I can’t sleep
Starting the day by listening to “that certain someone” song.
If Vocal is our rival, does that mean people who like Vocal are my enemies? lol
mfu~mfu~
And of course, Vocal ga Rival is a song by Risa :p. (ps: Vocal is a short name for Vocaloid).
And Risa in turn is a fan of Rena.
It started when Risa posted this on September 11th (and the following day Rena posted on G+ about Vocal…) on her twitter account :
I’ll end up with telling you this… Night after night I look at Matsui Rena-chan photobook Kingyo and I drift off to sleep embracing it… It appeases me like picture books did in my childhood… Ah… I just had a flash, if by some kind of twisted fate Rena-chan was to see this tweet she would probably find me disgusting/repulsive( ﾟ∀ ﾟ)… There is no way she will ever see it!! Excuse me 2sec while I go find a schoolyard to sprint around!!
And tonight again, when fans reported to her that Rena was staying up to watch her on TV :
@fan : I watched Nakai no Mado! Rena-chan too even though she was going to bed, it seems that when she saw you on TV she firmly stayed up! Woo! Such display of love!
@risayoshiki in response : Is that for real? I’m tearing uuuuuuup (´；ω；`)
To wrap things up regarding Risa’s TV apparition yesterday night, here comes Rena’s morning blog post :D
(Mor・ω・ning)
Rena speaking (・ω・)
Mornin’
Last night Yoshiki Risa-san was on TV, even though I knew I had to wake up early and against all reasonable judgement I watch the program.
And right now I’m already at work. (she posted on G+ while she was already moving to her shooting place at 5 am)
It’s not good to stay late at night.
But she was cute, so it’s ok♪
By the way, G Television goes on sales today and it features a conversation between Yoshiki-san and myself.
I need to find it fast!
(Re・ω・na)
——
What do you think? Amusing? Sweet? Creepy? Or maybe you smell something commercial? Well, they are not in the same agency and I couldn’t find any link business-wise between the two, but who knows…
Anyway, better get used to see interactions between them because this it’s far from over. Those two ladies having given an interview in G Television magazine (out today), I’m going to translate the hell out of it (*｀･ω･)ゞ.
Random : The second track of Risa’s new single is called 「Over the rainbow！」. And yes, that made me smile~
魔法少女48: Matsui Rena's Official Blog 26\11\2012 - 2
(Kouhaku・ω・Utagassen！)
It’s Rena(・ω・)
I have an important announcement to make.
Us, SKE48, will independently take part in the 63th Kouhaku Utagassen.
Today we had to shoot the bonus footage for the single…or so we thought!
But suddenly Akimoto-sensei entered the dressing room and surprisingly announced “Your independent appearance in the Kouhaku Utagassen has been decided”!
And after that…everything was just like a dream!
We appeared in NHK’s press conference, surrounded by lots of cameras.
Right after hearing the announcement I wanted to tell you as soon as possible so I’m really sorry it got this late.
Being able to appear is, more than anything else, all thanks to your support!
Thank you so much!
It’s because of you support us, that we can feel hope and do our best.
Even so, until now we ended up disappointing you in various shows.
I felt so sorry and frustrated because of that.
There were times where SKE couldn’t get on stage.
Times where we didn’t appear on screen, and others where we didn’t have the chance to hold a mic.
But this time will be different.
This time we’ll throw out our chest and stand on the stage.
And, moreover, we’ll do it as [SKE48].
I love SKE48, and even more than that I love everyone who say they love my beloved SKE48.
No matter how much I express my gratitude, it won’t be enough.
So I’ll just shine together with the others in the Kouhaku and I’ll do my best so that next year you’ll all be proud to say “I love SKE”.
It won’t be just a memorable Kouhaku, we’ll make it a Kouhaku that will lead to our next step.
If you believe in your dreams and do you best chasing after them, they’ll become true.
That’s why, believing in SKE’s future, I’ll do my best.
(Re・ω・na)
Like if I was gonna cry ove— ｡ﾟ(｡ﾉωヽ｡)ﾟ｡ Dang!
Rena x Jurina
okay there was definitely contact
I’M NOT BLIND I TELL YA
There were reports of fans swearing they had seen them kiss but given how huge is TD it’s hard to believe they could actually see it properly (unless they were in the arena, close from stage and quite center)… Now, given how they’re concealing the kiss with this angle, I’m tempted to say that Jurina indeed gave in (dat kiss monsta!) and Rena, for once, didn’t oppose much resistance making it all the more possible, so… ( *///) Well done girls!
if it’s jurina then rena is lucky to leave the stage with her virginity intact tbh
(;◉∀◉)
AKB48 Tokyo Dome D1 - 抱きしめられたら - Matsui Rena focus
Rumor has it…
…that Rena-chan is currently filming a drama! (((o°^°o)))
Things have been suspicious since yesterday night when she was shooting until 4.30am and today she didn’t update her official blog (when she usually does several times a day, up to 5 or 6 times). And then Encra reported that 2ch users found that Akitoshi Saito thanked Rena and Shinwa Kataoka for their participation (?) in a certain drama, which details have yet to be unveiled.
Well, still a rumor since there was no official announcement and Rena herself didn’t let any information filter, but sounds legit. She has been very busy lately and did recently wrote that she would soon have an “happy announcement” to make… Could be that~
SKE48 - Matsui Rena Earnest Interview from Bubka July 2012 (out May 31st).
Sorry it took me so long to translate. I got the magazine in early July and somehow kept delaying the moment I’d start working on this interview ( ”o>_<o).
Where we learn : - What happened when she collapsed during Pinocchio Gun rehearsal ; how she feels toward Anna-sensei ; how she sees the elections and her own role among 48 group ; how much she loves SKE and how she has a bit of a twisted personality ( *°w°)…and so much more!
Enjoy~
——
SKE48’s Matsui Rena, whose popularity nowadays has crossed the limits of the group headquarter, Nagoya to expand nationwide. Thanks to the multiplication of her activities especially this past year and the coverage this magazine regularly made of them, there should be no need for further introduction.
Our editorial department has been collecting inestimable information from Matsui-san’s blog in order to conduct this interview.
Anna-sensei’s coaching
Q - Nice to meet you. I’ll be conducting this interview for「Bubka」.
Rena - Understood. I’m in your care.
Q - Are you familiar with our magazine?
Rena - Of course. I often spot in in town. Even once….*fufufufu*
Q - What is it? Sounds like you remembered something funny (laugh)?
Rena - At the time of 「Pareo wa Emerald」I made the cover of your magazine but there my face was simply too funny. I couldn’t help but laugh when that picture flashed in my mind.
Q - My— My apologizes.
Rena - And Yuasa-san (SKE48 theater manager) often appears too, right?
Q - Indeed, I’ve had the pleasure to interview him countless times. And we also produced this article … (pulling out the edition with dance coach Makino Anna-sensei and showing it to Matsui-san).
Rena - Anna-sensei!
Q - In this interview Anna-sensei talked about how under her strict training you collapsed when practicing for 「Pinocchio Gun」. Do you mind if I dig further in this topic?
Rena - No no… Please go on.
Q - It became quite topical when the article was published and voices became even louder when the bonus video for 「Pareo wa Emerald」, 「Rena no Kiseki」, was released. (tln : start at 9.00 for the actual scene)
Rena - You know, I love Anna-sensei.
Q - Though this scene as a stand alone conveyed a piercing sensation of nervosity.
Rena - It’s true that the day of the premiere was closing near and we had been practicing over and over again already.
Q - And then your back made a grisly noise…
Rena - Yes. After that for a certain time I couldn’t take part in the last songs of the stages. I guess that seeing this footage some fans must have thought 「Anna-sensei is a monster!」but truth is usually she is a very nice and witty person and surprisingly funny. In 「Koi wo Kataru Shijin ni Narenakute」, the move where we strike down with our fist twice is from Oshima Yoshio-san’s 「Sonnano Kankeinee」. In 「Antenna」, the way we form a single line before to scatter is inspired by Kaneda-san’s「Zukudan Zunbungun Game 」in Hannya. Anna-sensei is actually pretty facetious, taking inspiration for her choreographies in famous sketches.
Q - In 「Flying Get」too there is a gag from Akashiya Sanma-san , right?
Rena - There is, there is. The thing is, if you’re diligent she will show herself kind to you. See, I was the only one to collapse when everyone was giving its best. It’s possible that watching this scene alone you get the feeling she is an unsparing teacher, but all the members love her. She makes her moves easy to remember.
Q - Even though they look so complicated?!
Rena - Actually it’s really easy. Choreographies are complex but as soon as you start dancing they come at once.
Q - Which one is it? (laugh)
Rena - Lyrics match the moves perfectly so even without thinking too much, they come naturally. It makes dancing really pleasant, I love that.
Q - In that scene when you crawled on the floor, it didn’t look pleasant to the slightest (laugh).
Rena - Hahahaha! At the time, honestly it was rough but even though dancing is fun.
Q - Do you remember when you collapsed?
Rena - I remember. It hurt so badly I thought I was going to die. I doubted I would ever be able to stand again. But I hated the idea of not being able to be there for the opening day.
Q - Was it too much for someone with no experience in dance?
Rena - It was hard (laugh). I was constantly on the verge to break in tears around the time we started our 2nd stage. To make things worse, work for AKB48-san’s single was overlapping.
Q - You first entered AKB48’s senbatsu for「10nen Sakura」, right?
Rena - I couldn’t remember the dances and yet I had to join AKB-san. When I returned I had the sensation I was looked at with accusing eyes 「Why is she not dancing too?」(laugh). And so the day before the premiere I stayed overtime to practice with 3 other members and we kept rehearsing until very late. I remember that time vividly.
Q - I there a word or a remark Anna-sensei told you during practice which stucked in your mind?
Rena - When we were rehearsing for 「Party ga Hajimaruyo」stage, she got angry and scold us 「You may be moving but you don’t convey anything. You need to reflect on the meaning of the lyrics」. So we all formed a circle and examined the lyrics word by word「What does that part mean?」. Thus we decided all together of the expressions we should adopt in our 1st stage.
I guess every and each member has its own memory of this period. But I think that’s because even those without experience in dance went through such an unsparing coaching that SKE is as we know it today. I’m really grateful to Anna-sensei.
Q - If S4 comes someday, do you want Anna-sensei to be in charge of the choreographies?
Rena - I hope she will. Because you know, she makes dancing fun.
Future of the 48 Group
Q - About the concert that took place at Gaishi Hall on April 14th～15th, where you satisfied with how it turn out.
Rena - Very. Fans were also really enthusiast in their comments.
Q - Overall reactions have been extremely positive from what I read myself.
Rena - I thought afterward that it would be great if we could come with even more entertaining ideas. This time there was a certain distance between the principal stage and the arena, if we could decrease that distance it would be more fun for everyone I think. I want to manage a live where we make one with the audience.
Q - There was already a very strong sense of unity this time around though.
Rena - 2nd floor seats were unexpectedly close from the stage so I think it made the experience very exciting for fans there. But arena seats seemed really distant at times, I think we need to take this in consideration for the next time, if we have the opportunity to perform in this kind of venue again.
Q - Members as a whole were satisfied too, right?
Rena - Personally I was nervous to perform 「Glory Days」and「Ookami to Pride」. Especially「Ookami to Pride」, I wasn’t sure it was alright for us to perform it given our age (laugh). (tln : Shawako was 23 and Rena 20).
Q - Did you feel you had given it your best when the concert ended?
Rena - I did. It was really a lot of fun.
Q - It will without any doubt mark a new start for SKE, no?
Rena - Yes. But I also feel some pressure because for the sake of our fans “we need to override what we managed in Gaishi!” next time.
Q - Regarding AKB’s concert at Saitama Super Arena, was there an episode which left a strong impression on you?
Rena - The most memorable one has to be when I realized my dream to perform 「Heart Gata Virus」. I never thought I would someday have the chance to center this unit so I was extremely happy.
Q - What about the interlude「 Anta no koto ga suki dakara!」(tln : Because I’m infatuated with you!) ?
Rena - …. It was embarrassing (laugh).
Q - Those three days turn out to be full of surprises, but among them the announcement of (Matsui) Jurina concurrent position was the one which astonished me the most.
Rena - It has only been some weeks since then but it already feels like it happened a long long time ago. I don’t think things will change much anyway. Jurina has always been working a lot with AKB-san. I feel like her work in the theater will simply come as an addition.
Q - How did you react when Acchan (Maeda Atsuko) announced her graduation?
Rena - Well… I actually never had the occasion to properly talk with her.
Q - Even though you’ve known her for such a long time? (laugh)
Rena - It has “only” been 3 years since we work together (laugh). I was originally a fan of AKB so I can’t help but being nervous around them. Recently I’ve confessed to Takamina-san (Takahashi Minami) 「I was one of your fan. I’ve always supported you, I bought all your CDs until 「Oogoe Diamond」」, and that made her laugh. 「I see why you’re nervous around us then.」she told me.
Q - Are you still nervous?
Rena - It gets better slowly… I want to try and talk more with Maeda-san before her graduation.
Q - What outcome do you expect regarding Jurina and Milk (Watanabe Miyuki) concurrent positions?
Rena - The way I see it, each groups have their own fans, so if members of those groups enter AKB it will be the chance for fans whose oshi is concerned to meet new fellow fans. My pick is that having Jurina and Milky join AKB-san is intended to strengthen bonds between the various groups.
Q - In 「Manatsu no Sounds Good」a lot of new senbatsu members make their apparition. They’re clearly representing the next generation…
Rena - Yes. I think the point of this single is to have people realize 「Oh, there are all those new girls girls in AKB」. And shining as they are, I’m sure those girls will draw their attention. It’s not like if things were dramatically changing, rather I think it’s part of a progressive and natural evolution.
Q - What explanation can you give us on the story in 「Manatsu no Sounds Good」? I get there is a protecting group (tln : 守る側 / mamorugawa) and an attacking one (攻める側 / semerugawa), and then…
Rena - There is a setting behind this MV. Members of the “protecting group” arrive to this place to change their own past but they end up in very bad shape. Girls of the “attaching group” come to rescue us but the world we’re in is a dreadful one…
Q - When you speak of a dreadful world, you mean AKB itself right?
Rena - … To tell the truth, I didn’t thought so far. I simply thought it was a fun concept.
Q - Fun?
Rena - Mixing the present senbatsu members with a group of new senbatsu in the same MV. It sounds interesting no? There is one girl in particular I was charmed by. Thanks to this experience I’m looking forward to see the extend of her potential. But even then I didn’t particularly feel like things were about to change (laugh).
Matsui Rena’s role
Q - I see what you meant now (laugh). To continue, I’d like to hear about the role you want to play in 48 group from now on.
Rena - I haven’t really thought about it. Churi (Takayanagi Akane), Yuria (Kizaki Yuria) and Kanon (Kimoto Kanon) for example just made their entry in AKB singles so I’m concerned about if they will fit in and get used to this or not. It’s only natural for girls who join to feel uneasy at first. But it’s a shame to be impeded by your own nervosity when you’re finally granted such an opportunity…I’ve myself been through this before. So I want to bring them my support and who knows, maybe the impact they’ll left and which could have been of 0 will actually be of 100. With this in mind, I also want SKE itself, as a whole, to reach the next level. But I’m not the kind of person who can push the group so far by myself. Something tells me it’s not my role to fulfill.
Q - But, you’ve acted as SKE representative on several occasions already.
Rena - I haven’t.
Q - There was this one time where you spoke up when SKE members from the acting club didn’t had the chance to take part in auditions for a play, and so did you when you witnessed other girls being hurt during handshake events. It looks to me as if you had conscience of the role you’re meant to play.
Rena - Rather than acting according to a role, if nobody say anything when girls are hurt during handshake events, things won’t change, right? Even sometimes fans without intending to have words which can hurt members, so the point is worth raising. Regarding the auditions, all the girls from the drama club except for SKE’s ones had pass them so I grew uneasy wondering「What about us?」. But after investigation it turn out SKE was planned to pass the audition somewhere in between the rehearsal for the concert.
Q - So it’s not like you told the members 「I’ll bring that topic up」?
Rena - No. I don’t really do this kind of things. I speak up it’s simply because I feel like it’s the right thing to do.
Q - You’re not afraid of the consequences?
Rena - I don’t give a flying fig about being attacked. I believe that conveying what you need too is more important, and then if you were wrong obediently apologizing afterward is the best thing to do.
Q - What about when you wrote in your blog 「Could you write down in 2000 characters why you want to marry me? 」? (laugh)
Rena - That was a joke (laugh).
Q - It didn’t looked like a joke (laugh).
Rena - Somehow, when I try to make a joke it always ends up being taken seriously. I guess I’m inept at putting them into words.
Q - I remember it startled me「She is serious about it!?」.
Rena - I hear that a lot :「Rena launched another serious topic」. It’s doesn’t mean that I’m angry or anything. But I like to see how everyone reacts, wondering if some people will reply seriously.
Q - Was there people who answered in 2000 characters this time?
Rena - Seems like nobody did. Actually when I wrote that I was inspired by those widespread fantasist inquiries 「Write in XX words why you think that —-」.
Q - I think I understand where you were coming from now, but back then it did take me off guard.
Rena - *fufufufu* I hope you’ll forgive me (laugh).
Resolve toward the general elections
Q - General elections will take place in a few days. Can you tell us about your current state of mind?
Rena - In the end, elections are the occasion for all the fans to evaluate and reward our work for the past year. Lately I’ve been thinking the ranking we’re bestowed is the embodiment of fans’ feelings toward us. So no matter the outcome we should be prepared to properly receive and welcome this result as we stand on the stage because it would be very rude of us not to. And that’s also why I don’t really mind the position I’ll be granted.
Q - Going deeper into the subject…
Rena - This year I’ve been told on many occasions 「Let’s aim higher!」, but truth is it doesn’t strike me as an evidence. I’ve had the chance to release my own photobook a few months ago, I’d be happy if thanks to it people knowing about me or having some interest for me had increased, even slightly. With that in mind, I’m willing to enjoy the elections as much as possible.
Q - Many people have high expectations in your regard, even I can feel it. In handshake events too, lately your popularity has been tremendous.
Rena - From the bottom of my heart, I’m grateful to all the people who always come to meet me at handshake events. But that’s not the only thing, stage performances are also very important for me. There must be a lot of fans who give us their support because we work in the theater. Even if I’m said to have good interactions during handshake events, it’s not like I was doing anything special for that. I greet fans like I do because I’m grateful they came to see me. Deep inside me I want to hear 「I’m glad I came today」from fans I got to met.
Q - Is there anything in particular you try to keep in mind or aim to during handshake events?
Rena - I always have for goal to make handshake events the most enjoyable time possible. I do my best to remember fans. I get to meet with so many people in one day that there are obviously things that end up buried in my memory but if someone tells me 「The other day I talked about this and that with Rena-chan」it definitely comes back to me. My own experience of those events are probably quite different from what everyone imagine it to be (laugh).
Q - You’re said to have a firm grip.
Rena - I’ve been taught by my parents that an handshake should be done with strength, so from start that’s how I did it. When I see politicians on TV, they shake hands firmly too. Maybe that’s the secret to make a strong impact on someone (laugh).
Q - Have you thought about how gaining if only a single rank in the elections would make a good publicity for SKE?
Rena - Yes. If I join AKB-san’s senbatsu, I hope it will further enhanced SKE’s appeal.
Q - Listening to you, the “love for SKE” you hold is striking.
Rena - Is it really perceptible? I’m sorry if I make things difficult again by saying that but SKE is SKE. And I’m also myself. If I stand alone, putting aside the me who is part of SKE then I wonder, how do people around perceive me? (tln : I wracked my brain for several minutes trying to get Rena’s point and finally got it : she wonders, but can’t expressly phrase it, how fans see her when she works with AKB even though she is a SKE member. Obviously a bit worried of a possible negative reception by some people. She doesn’t want to be seen as a “traitor” but this kind of concern more than anything else, shows how she considered AKB relatively to SKE : a competitor. Rena, dear, I like you a bit more with every word from you I read.)
Q - I believe they had the opportunity to witness your strong feelings toward SKE on numerous occasions.
Rena - Thank you. I can’t really picture it myself. But I truly love SKE.
Q - If I had to pick one I’d say you seem to be more on the responsible and well-behaving side but sometime you appear more impertinent. Has it always been the case?
Rena - As far as I can remember, yes. Even if I prefer when that doesn’t surface. Maybe that’s because I don’t argue and I’m the kind of person who keeps everything for herself. But as a result there are times everything goes out at once with a crash.
Q - In my opinion this aspect of your personality is also part of your charm.
Rena - There are times when I can’t stop my words. I’m not one to complain or impose my views, but it doesn’t change the fact that there are things I want to say. When I was a kid I tended to trip a lot. And so my friends kept mocking me 「You really can’t stand on your feet」but came a day when I run out of patience and snapped at them 「Why do you have to say that?!」, while crying out loud. That’s the kind of troublesome girl I was (laugh). And even though I’m an adult now, as you’d figure I’m not quite there yet (laugh).
Q - An episode only Rena-san could come up with. Allow me to say it again, but you’re really an interesting person (laugh).
Rena - I’m not interesting to the slightest!
Q - I will refrain from making prognostics for this year general elections, but I’m simply going to say I expect a very positive outcome.
Rena - When someone put too much faith in me I’m getting unable to say anything. I prefer not being minded at all, pure and simple. There is no way I could exceed expectations people have for me. And I prefer when people around me are satisfied or even impressed by what I manage to achieve, times when I hear 「Woua, Matsui Rena is really something」.
Q - Given the circumstances, can’t you let it pass just for once?
Rena - When I start thinking of what I should say now, I‘m at a loss for words. But please don’t have immoderate hopes in my regard (laugh).
Q - Well then, I’ll look forward for the results without saying out loud I actually have high expectations for you (laugh). Thank you very much for your time today!
「なんてったって、栄ドル」byれなひょん♡ A frog with no recollection of the 1st time it saw SKE perform live in early 2011... Making up for it now? Maybe.
