Ebichu History Interview part 1 - Fujii and Zaki (1)
A translation from Marquee magazine vol.94 published in 2012, the magazine has a whopping 30 pages of nice pics and lengthy interview from members, staffs and of course hyadain. It's like a bigger version of quick japan lol, it's a must grab for Ebichu fans, they have Babymetal in the front cover and main content too, so it's a double fun. Anyway here's the translation.
tl;dr: Hoshina and Hirota are the boss.
Manager (Headmaster) Yuichi Fujii and A&R Hiroshi Ishizaki
Text / Interview: Tsuchiya Keisuke
Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku continues to advance with their powerful, heated yet fun performances. Their key figure is Mr. Yuichi Fujii, a manager from Stardust Promotion Entertainment Section 3 who has been known by the moniker “Headmaster”. He was appointed to become the headmaster in February 2010 and has been involved in all of their activities since then. The girls have made their way here thanks to this competent manager. There’s also Hiroshi Ishizaki, known as “Substitute Teacher”, from Stardust Music Publishing A&R. This is the story of how Ebichu got here, told from management’s viewpoint.
-- So you weren’t their headmaster when Ebichu was formed in August 2009?
Headmaster: That’s right. I’m the second generation headmaster. The first headmaster is a woman manager named Eri Sato. I was in another agency before went to the marketing in Stardust Section 3 and I was sent out in busy days or weekends. Around that time, before the conception of Momoiro Clover, the children of 3Bjr (department for juniors, school students in Stardust Entertainment Section 3) were doing street performances in Yoyogi Park. I just entered this office when Kawakami manager said to me while preparing the tarpaulin, “You will sleep here” (laugh)
-- How did you become headmaster then?
Headmaster: First generation headmaster was called into Osaka for another job for one year and then I received a call from the Chairman, “Fujii, you will do it”. It’s around February 2010 I think.
-- And then Hirota-san was transferred (joined) in April.
Headmaster: Yep around that time. I’m in the same year as aiai (laugh)
-- I heard Ebichu’s direction has began to change since Hirota-san joined.
Headmaster: Ebichu was originally started as a talent lesson program. Initial members like Mizuki, Rika Mayama, Natsu Anno, Ayaka Yasumoto and Narumi Uno didn’t think to become idols back then. Aika then entered and I thought how unexpected talent she has. So when this gem has joined, I wonder if Aika Hirota can change the shape of Stardust. I got the right timing, Momoiro Clover was also climbing up their way, I would do the same to Ebichu…. oh, nope, that wasn't their time yet (laugh). So we started from one live concert in two or three months, we went to once or twice performance every two weeks, or about one performance a month.
-- How did you come with “King of School play” and “Subculture Idol” concepts that time?
Headmaster: Chairman wasn’t really care about it in the first place. After Hirota joined, I and Chairman began to messing around and things has become fun. Those stupid things are interesting. When I mentioned about subculture, Rijicho instantly suggested “subdol” (laugh). Ebichu was originally aimed to be a neat group like Sakura Gakuin-san and then four new members were coming one by one. I didn’t know there was a “first rule” in Ebichu. They were only allowed to wear black-colored hair rubber band until one day Mirei (Hoshina) came up with pink rubber band, the initial members said to me “Mirei’s rubber band…” and I was like “Eh, there is such rule? I think that’s alright?” (laugh)
-- So that’s how the rule has changed (laugh)
Headmaster: Yes. I wasn’t even aware the school concept in the first place (laugh). I thought it’s a junior high because of the uniform costume (laugh). After all there was no clear rule, Chairman is also not the kind of person who care about that. About King of School Play, Chairman said to me that it is borrowed from Michael Jackson.
-- So it’s from King of Pop.
Headmaster: Yeah something like that (laugh), the idea was almost came up fast (laugh).
-- What do you think the turning point in Ebichu?
Headmaster: Chairman asked Maeyamada to work on the song “Ebizori Diamond!!”. It was debuted in TOKYO IDOL FES in August 2010. There were idols everywhere watching us, “Ebizori Diamond!!” got great positive feedback. I wanted to work on it properly then. We were releasing CD every about four months. We were steadily making song, and continuing songs like a story.
-- November in the same year, the original center Narumi Uno moved schools (left) and then Hinata Kashiwagi was transferred (joined). That was a big change in the group.
Headmaster: Yeah. Uno quit, Hinata joined. Even though she is the youngest, she topped the others in the recording of “Chime! / Doshaburi Regret”. But back in the days, because of company circumstances, we only had six microphones in live concerts and it would be difficult if everyone got solo parts. The new girl Kashiwagi suddenly got two solo parts and reducing the senior’s part in "Doshaburi", that was a bad thing.
-- I see. That’s totally unplanned (lol)
Headmaster: Unplanned indeed, it's before Zaki-san (Ishizaki) came along with us and the plan about making an annual schedule...
