BUBKA 2021.08 - Murayama Yuiri (Interview Translation)
The Raging 48-song Medley
- The "AKB48 Concert ~Suki Naraba Sukida to Iou~ " held on May 23rd was very popular.
Yuiri: It was so much fun! We wore masks during the rehearsal, but we felt a sense of freedom during the performance, and everyone looked so alive.
- How did you feel about it?
Yuiri: This was AKB48's first attempt to do 48 song non-stop concert, so I think the fans were watching over us and think “what it would be like?”, It was fun to be a part of it. The previous day's graduation concert for Miichan (Minegishi Minami) was fun, but it was a different kind of fun. The concert made me realize that we need to take the initiative in our own activities.
- How was your stamina after 48 songs non-stop?
Yuiri: It was still quite good.
Yuiri: I think the adrenaline was pumping high lol. We had to do a lot of changing backstage, but that was fun too.
- During the concert, when did you get emotional?
Yuiri: It was performed at the end of the main performance. I guess in 『Fan Letter』. I felt like crying during the intro. In the interlude, I’m crying when Mion (Mukaichi Mion) said “Finally I meet all of you”, “I’m glad the concert was held”. Naachan's (Okada Nana) and Kashiwagi-san (Kashiwagi Yuki) words also touched my heart, and many of the members shed tears while singing.
- What was the mood of the members after the concert?
Yuiri: The tension was really high. I felt a sense of accomplishment after doing non-stop. After the performance, everyone was in a high spirits and took group photos. The juniors from the other teams also ask me by saying “Let’s take a picture together!”. I was also happy to see that everyone had fun together.
- I can't help but wonder how AKB48 will evolve in the future.
Yuiri: It was a concert that gave me a sense of the AKB48 of today and the AKB48 of tomorrow. There was a live broadcast this time, I think there are many people who have seen the current AKB48 because of the live. So, in order to reach people who don't know much about AKB48, I realized once again how important it is to communicate with them. Because of it, I recently started tweeting about my abs. It’s connected lol
- Did you aim for 1000 sit-ups?
Yuiri: I started this by thinking that it would be interesting to people other than idol fans, but it's harder than ever......
- You've always been ripped, haven't you?
Yuiri: But, I don’t have abs, it's just that I have the shape to look like that. Thankfully, when I do a few sit-ups, people say, "You look having abs”. There were vertical lines.
- 「 Tarzan」 is going to offer you an interview!
Yuiri: But I'm not looking to get ripped. I'm not restricting my diet, although I do take protein. If I went that far, I'd be really tense lol. I'd like to keep it at the level of "aesthetically pleasing.”
- There were some surprise announcements at the solo concert. One of it is a new TV program that will start airing in July.
Yuiri: It’s called「 Nogizaka ni Kosaremashita ~Gakeppuchi AKB48 Dai Gyakushuu~ 」
- AKB48's self-deprecating title!
Yuiri: It is lol. You can't do it without AKB48. I had my first recording the other day, but I had no idea how the show was going to go at this point. But in terms of content, it's like, " That's aggressive...” lol.
- Will the members be asked to do something crazy?
Yuiri: There are still a lot of things I can't talk about, but I can tell that there is no peace lol
Yuiri: However, I think the fans will enjoy the show because they will be able to see the true expressions of the members. The staff of the program also said that they want to put each member in the spotlight. I think it will be a program that shows the personalities of the members.
- Another surprise is the single to be released in September. This is the first time in 10 years since "Chance no Junban” that’s released only-AKB single
Yuiri: I was honestly happy that the staff was willing to take on the challenge, since the members had expressed their desire to do something without relying on the sister groups. It's a lot of responsibility, but I think we can all work hard in the same direction with the same sense of unity we had at the solo concert.
- If all AKB48 member become the senbatsu, what will happen?
Yuiri: From my personal point of view, I've built relationships with the members through the theater performances, so I'm happy to be able to perform on a music show with the girls I've made friends with there. If I went to music show without being able to communicate, I get nervous even when I make eye contact.
- If it's a sister group that unfamiliar with you, you may not be able to build that kind of relationship with them.
Yuiri: Of course, I can talk to my seniors there, but I don't have much time to talk to them. Also, since I get nervous doing something I'm not used to do in a music show, I feel safer when there are other members I can rely on, even if it's just for a while, and I feel like I can express myself better.
- In the first place, I wonder how much importance Murayama-san places on being senbatsu for the single
Yuiri: Haha. It probably won't change whether I'm a senbatsu or not lol. In the end, I love the theater. Lately, I've been thinking that my world revolves around the theater.
- What do you do If you have a senbatsu job and it’s going overlap with the theater performance?
Yuiri: I feel like a big star by saying this, but if I could be selfish, I would ask them to adjust the time and say, "I'll be in the theater too" lol
- This year is the 10th anniversary of Murayama-san joining AKB48, isn't it?
Yuiri: You can't see it, right?
- What do you mean, "you can’t see it"?
Yuiri: When I am with Mion and Naachan, I feel like the senior. Being compared with them, I wonder what it is... this. I feel like I'm in the middle.
Yuiri: I don't know if it's my aura or my face, but I'm a middle-ranking person. I've always been in the middle.
- But don't you want to look too much like a veteran?
Yuiri: Taguchi Manaka, who is still in her sixteenth year, has a certain charm about her, which I like. In a way, I can't be that person who makes you think, "This is a little scary," or that person who makes you tighten up and say, "I have to do my best when I go out with you.
- I've been here 10 years and I feel like a senior.....
Yuiri: My kouhai waved her hand and said, "Oh, it's Yuiri-san~. Waaa~”. I'm glad that it's easy to talk to them.
- If you suddenly become a scary senior one day, people will be like, "What's wrong with you?”
Yuiri: Especially when I work as a senbatsu, we lose all the seniority and I feel completely like juniors. Straighten up and say, "Yes!” Like that.
- It’s like a first-year student in the club. However, Murayama-san is a musician, or an idol who is respected by your colleague.
Yuiri: Thank you very much. Recently, one of the members of Up Up Girls (Kakko Kari) became my fan and made a sub-website for me to tweet about me. I also like idols, so I think it's great to be an idol who is liked by idols, and I think it's cool to have more fans in the same industry.
- The professionals have a high opinion of your abilities, don't they. In other fields of work, who would you can sympthize with?
Yuiri: I had a great time when doing radio show with Kazlaser-san, I said, "This is how I do it.” And he said “You think like young comedian.”
Yuiri: "It's like a young comedian who does more than 100 shows a year, who thinks, 'We don't need a primetime show, we just need a stadium.”. Well, but it's definitely close to that.
- But if you make it to M-1, you'll be like a super strong talent, right?
- Because Murayama-san has performed in over 1,000 theaters.
Yuiri: But I think that's why I don't dare to enter M-1.
- It's the same as not participating in the general election. But if you haven't been work it out at the theater since the old days, you won't make it to the M-1 finals.
Yuiri: Yes, that's right. After all, I get nervous the moment I step on a big stage. On the other hand, it would be a shame if the solo concert was so good, but they can't show off their abilities at theater.
- It's a wonderful aesthetic, and I think you're a real pro, but at the same time, I think it's hard for people to understand.
Yuiri: That's right. There is no one who understands 100%. There are times when I feel like There are times when I feel like I’m suffering, but there are staff members who watch and support us from close by, and Miichan and I are the only ones who have made it to 1,000 times. I want to break the record and open up a bigger and bigger gap.
- How did you come to be so passionate about theater performances?
Yuiri: In 「Boku no Taiyou」theater performance, I meet Chiichan (Nakata Chisato) and her existences make a big impact. Chiichan also cherished theater performances, but she injured her back. I was so sad to hear her say, "I wanted to show the younger members how wonderful the theater is, but they didn't really see it”. I was thinking “From now on, I will definitely support Chiichan!” when she graduated. So, I declared that I would do my best for Chiichan sake! That's where it starts.
- So you are the inheritor of Nakata-ism.
Yuiri: I'm going to carry the ghost of Chiichan on my back.
- Is the theater a place of passion?
Yuiri: It's fun. I think it's very deep.
- Do you think it will still be fun after 1000 times?
Yuiri: Yes, it is. Recently, the director who founded the AKB48 theater came to see the Team 4 performance. I really wanted to ask him to teach us, but I was beaten to a pulp from the rehearsal. Because I've seen a lot of artists, they tell us straight out how naive we are, and the things they point out make sense to me. I've learned that there are a lot of things I can do to improve myself, and I'm still pursuing them.
- It's like a tax collector who works hard with an insatiable spirit of inquiry.
Yuiri: I’m really stubborn. I've noticed it too. Stubborn.
- It's like a noodle shop that won't open until the soup is made to your satisfaction.
Yuiri: If I really can't be in the theater, no matter how big the job or how much attention I get, I'll say, "I don't know! I won't do it!” That's how I feel. I think it is more refreshing to have a clear mind. It took me a while, but now that I've come this far, I think I'm going to keep it up!
