I don't know at the moment Meikochi, but as soon as I do, I'll let you know if someone else hasn't yet. It's likely it'll be in the evening in Japan, though. And I'd expect it to be about two hours long.
The radio show I mentioned is being summarized at Hello Pro Radio, whom I just confessed my love for in the news thread.
You can read it here. And part two here. But I'll go ahead and post highlights:
Tsunku likes Semi and Madayade, because he knows what's UP:
Tsunku♂’s message to Berryz Kobo
To all of Berryz Kobo, for your long tenure as Berryz Kobo, I truly would like to express my sincere gratitude.
Although Berryz Kobo’s songs were crafted by me, you could say that they’re quite human, brimming with human nature, with protagonists that you can’t dislike.
While writing your songs, I keep the faces of all 7 members in my mind, and taking aspects from all of you, I get a feel for how the protagonist would be like.
I enjoy Semi and Sabori. I also like the Berryz Kobo-ish Madayade and Asian Celebration.
You are ceasing activities, but I believe that in everyone’s hearts, Berryz Kobo will continue to always be active.
I will continue to cheer you on.
Good luck.
By the way, all of you are grown-ups according to age, but how about in your hearts?
Please come back at me with ‘
Each and every member was a child at the time, but now we’re splendid adults.‘
Berryz worked crazy hard for their debut:
"They are impressed by the fact that they released 3 singles in 3 months, with a total of six releases in a year. Chinami wonders aloud how their schedules were back then, what with school, dance lessons, shootings, and such. It was a cycle of school->lessons->sleep->school, and they often had to wake up early. This left them pretty sleepy during their classes, but the company put priority on schoolwork. They had to do their homework on the train, since there was no other time to do it. Arriving home, they’d immediately hit the sack. Captain admits that she doesn’t even remember what she studied, though she remembers being sleepy in the mornings."
Famous people who like Berryz Kobo, the biggest being HKT48's Sashihara Rino (a couple of years ago, they appeared on a show and she freaked out when Yurina remembered a letter that Sashihara had sent her YEARS ago):
"They start talking about their increasing popularity with famous personalities. The names of usual suspects Iwao-san from Football Hour and Yanagihara Kanako pop up. Jump Pocket’s Saito-san is another fan, and Kumai-chan brings up HKT48’s Sashihara Rino. Sasshi had been a fan of Kumai-chan even before she made it big, and Kumai-chan mentions that the letters that Sasshi sent to her were full of private details.
Matsuko Deluxe is another fan, but he keeps it under wraps. Matsuko Deluxe says that he likes Morning Musume。when he makes television appearances, but he divulged to Momochi that his number 1 is Berryz Kobo. The girls wish he would mention it more, but apparently it’s something he’s embarrassed about."
They still celebrate the day they joined H!P:
"They also remember gatecrashing a ℃-ute concert that was held on the 30th of June, the day that they passed the H!P Kids auditions. In fact, Momoko has cake at home every year to celebrate this day. Captain mentions that she does something similar. Yurina reveals that she still has the clothes she wore on the day she passed the auditions."
2011 and the emergence of Sexy Berryz was weird for them:
"
<b>Chinami</b>: With ‘Heroine ni Narou ka!’, ‘Ai no Dangan’, and ‘Aa, Yo ga Akeru’, these 3 singles, wasn’t it a period of time that we strayed off-course?
How did they stray from the path? Well, the outfits suddenly got all sexy. Heroine ni Narou ka! had cool, monotone, black-and-white outfits. Ai no Dangan had them in body-hugging suits, reminiscent of Lupin III’s
Fujiko-chan. And they wore camisoles in Aa, Yo ga Akeru.
<b>Chinami</b>: Personally, I’m not great with the sexy route, so I was in a panic in 2011. I felt like I would get in the way if this was the route Berryz Kobo would continue on.
Momoko found it tough as well. During this period, she would have to do countless retakes when they were shooting videos since she would let slip a smile. She didn’t mind it too much when it was solo video shoots, but when it came to dance shots, they’d go ‘
Tsugunaga was smiling too much, let’s do a retake‘. The members remember this. Momoko found it so tough that she’d cried backstage. Chinami set next to her on the sofa and comforted her."
Their message to fans, put under a spoiler just because it's one from each girl:
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Spoiler: [+]
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Momoko’s message
To all the listeners, to all the fans, thank you for the tons and tons of love you’ve showered us with throughout these 11 years.
Just as you can hear even from today’s radio broadcast, I may seem inconsiderate. Yet even someone like me gets told ‘You’re cute, you’re cute‘. I truly do receive a lot of love from you. Thank you so very much.
The memories of Berryz Kobo really warm me up from within. Of course, I believe that it’ll always remain in my heart. I wish that it would continue in the fans’ hearts as well. I’d like it if Berryz Kobo would continue to be rooted in your hearts forever. Please be prepared for it.
For these 11 years, thank you very much.
<b>Yurina’s message</b>
When I started doing radio broadcasts, I was bad at talking when we started out, and even now, I’m really bad at it. It’s like I’m not sure what I’m talking about, and I go in circles. And still, the listeners really do lend a kind ear, and listen to me. Even at events, everyone’s full of passion.
Um… I’m getting kind of emotional here (The rest try to calm her down) Now, flashbacks are coming in my head (Others: ‘Don’t cry~’)
Honestly, there were tough times, and there were times when I wondered if it was all right for me to be an idol. But now, I’ve got confidence, and I’m thankful that I’m in Berryz Kobo.
The really warm fans around us, as well as my family, the members, the staff-san. I truly am blessed with truly good people around me. I’m filled with so much gratitude that I can’t even begin to put it into words.
I’d truly like to continue to treasure the word ‘Enjoy’.
Meeting Berryz Kobo… Being part of Berryz Kobo… It’s a lifelong treasure that I won’t forget. All of you, please don’t forget this time too.
Thank you very much.
<b>Maasa’s message</b>
Thank you so very much to everyone we met through Berryz Kobo.
The first time that I was thankful to be part of Berryz Kobo… Back when I made my début, I was really bad at singing. (Brief interruption as the girls ensure that Kumai-chan’s still doing all right. <b>Maasa</b>: ‘Kumaicho, listen ok?’ Yurina: ‘I’m listening’ )
I was bad at singing, but due to your feelings of wanting to meet us because of your love towards Berryz Kobo, you dropped by to see us at concerts, and you listened to Berryz Kobo’s songs. That made me very happy, and thanks to that, I was able to experience the joy of standing on-stage and singing in front of everyone.
From now, well, I started to enjoy singing a year or two too late, but I’d like to gradually improve at singing and directly face the songs from now on.
However, these 11 years, breathing in the same air as everyone, spending time in the same place, seeing the same view, it truly is a treasure. From now on too, I’d like to treasure it and not forget it.
Everyone, for your great support these 11 years, thank you very much.
<b>Risako’s message</b>
Thank you very much for these 11 years.
Even if I say so myself, I’m the kind of person who’s up-front with what I say. I like what I like, I hate what I hate, and I really will say anything. Even when interacting with the fans, I speak frankly, as I obviously do with the members.
On the other hand, I’m sometimes too frank that it leads to misunderstandings. I’m really happy that there are people who cheer me on. I’ve even wondered why they’d support me these 11 years.
Of course, for me too, there were lots of things that were fun, but honestly, there lots of tough times. (Ah, I feel like crying)
But still, what gave me the most support was the members who were together with me. I think that if I was by myself, I’d have immediately quit. It’s due to the support of all sorts of people that I could do my best until now.
For these 11 years, thank you so very much.
<b>Chinami’s message</b>
Everyone, thank you very much.
Berryz Kobo were first announced at Nakano Sunplaza on the 14th of January, 2004. The ground floor has about 20 rows of seats, but at the time, only 5 rows were filled with people. At the time, it was free to enter, and fanclub members would come. All of us were really small, still in primary school, and it was a group where no one knew what sort of girls were in it – that was our first appearance. The number of people who came… how many were there?… well, not many.
At the time of our début, we had lessons and what not, our heads were so full, we couldn’t really feel it. And then , with no warning, we started our activities.
Thinking about it now, we’d have performances at Nakano Sunplaza, and at those times I’d think ‘At the time of our début, this was where the announcement was made, this was where Berryz Kobo started‘.
While there were only five rows of people when we were announced, now there are lots of people, even on the first floor. And we’ve been able to hold concerts at large venues like the Saitama Super Arena and Nippon Budokan.
I think that my start truly was the same as everyone’s (I said something good, didn’t I?). Whenever I experienced something for the first time, it’d always be together with everyone. At our first concert as well, I was really nervous, but all the members were also there. There were lots of fun memories.
*Phew*
Well, honestly, even now there are lots of things happening. There’s just a little time until the 3rd of March. I’d like to make lots of memories.
That’s right, all of you, in preparation for the 3rd of March, watch videos of the concerts that you went to. I’d like to show all of you a Berryz Kobo that’s in peak condition on the 3rd of March. When watching the 3rd March Budokan concert, I’d like those of you who have been cheering us on to think ‘Ah, haven’t these girls really grown up?‘ Well, there’s lots of things to think about. Everyone, I want all of you to look forward to the 3rd of March.
Thank you so very much
Miyabi’s message
That’s right, there really were all sorts of things that happened over these 11 years.
For Miya, honestly, when we did the Saitama Super Arena concert, I was still a child. Yet, it moved me deeply to see that so many people had come for the sake of Berryz Kobo. I felt really surprised. It was a moment when I thought my dreams had come true.
I’ve enjoyed singing and dancing ever since I was small, so to get to perform it for lots of people… I guess that it was my dream since birth. Well, these 11 years, I think it’s great that I continued to perform.
Also, I’m really happy that Berryz Kobo got to go overseas. It made me really happy that we were known not only in Japan, but by people overseas as well. I think that it would have been great if we had more opportunities to go overseas.
11 years is really long, but I’d like to have tried more things. At this point, well, there are a lot of things I wish I could have done, but then, with Berryz Kobo’s hiatus, not thinking negatively, but positively, the result of thinking positively, well, we don’t know what we’ll do in the future, but each and every one of us has our own paths to head on, and even if, for example, it isn’t in the world of showbiz, we’d like the support of lots of people.
To the fans who have been supporting us for these 11 long years, well, feelings?… From the bottom of your heart, I want you to wish us the best of luck.
Well, my voice’s gotten pretty sad (she’s been sobbing since about the 2nd paragraph). Honestly, Miya’s really bad when it comes to this. Well, that’s how it is.
These 11 years, there were a lot of things that made me glad that I continued. Miya’s personality is definitely difficult, and sometimes I rubbed people the wrong way. With fellow girls, there were parts that were difficult, and there were numerous times when I wanted to quit, but I’m glad that I continued.
I’d like to make the 3rd March performance the best it can be, so please look forward to it.
That’s it, thank you very much.
Saki’s message
I would like to deeply thank the fans who supported Berryz Kobo for 11 years.
Thinking back on it, ah, give me a second, OMG, aah~ (Her voice drops a notch, getting emotional) We’ve got all sorts of memories, and we got to do all sorts of corners just through Kiritsu! Rei! Chakuseki!
Kiritsu! Rei! Chakuseki! was the first radio programme that Berryz Kobo received. We learnt all sorts of things through it. For us, who had made our début while still in primary school, we were really bad at talking. And I’m sure our responses and such must have greatly troubled K-Taro-san at the time.
We received support from the staff-san. Also, we received letters from the fans. We got to interact increasingly more with the fans. The presence of this programme was really huge to me.
Going through these 11 years with these very same members, for me as Captain, it truly was my pride and joy. Definitely, getting to continue for 11 years, it’s thanks to the fans who have always been cheering us on. I’m full of gratitude.
There are still a few days until the 3rd of March, so I want you to watch us until the very end.
We still beg for your kind support towards Berryz Kobo.
And for the 11 years, thank you so very much.
Saki: …And for the 11 years, thank you so very much (sniffs) Ah, my nose is running.
