Hello! As I’ve promised, I translated the article from B.L.T with Tokunaga Chinami. This interview is pretty interesting, though it really doesn’t offer anything especially new – just some more bits and pieces of information about Chinami-chan. And so without further hesitation – dozo.
Let’s hear about your impressions of today’s gravure photoshoot!
Probably this is my first time doing such a thing on my own. That’s why I have this feeling of loneliness, but since I didn’t see all the rest of members, I may say that I’ve managed to make some extra face expressions that I didn’t usually do. (Laughs).
And now let’s give some pinpoint questions to Tokunaga-san!
First, in one word tell us about your personality.
Usually I’m in a high tension, so it’s really easy to understand when I feel myself down. Probably even a person whom I meet first time can tell when I’m not in the mood. When something troubles me, I’m really lost in thoughts.
Imagine that one night you go to sleep and forget everything.
If one day falls out of my life, I think it’s an opportunity to feel down and get lost in thoughts, right? (Laughs).
What can make you feel down?
It’s anything actually. Recently, I bought some clothes, and previous clothes I bought don’t match with these at all! So I was like “Why did I buy these clothes.” Since those clothes didn’t really go well with my others. And, when I open my wardrobe I get disappointed.
Aw, ain’t that a cute problem there~ (Laughs). Next, what can you say about surprisingly serious Chinami-chan?
Look here, I, am serious here!
Now you’re being rough here~ (Laughs). So for example, in what way is your seriousness shows itself?
U~mm… I’m not good in explaining where I’m serious right away.
Introducing yourself is your real weakness~ (Laughs).
That’s right, though I can introduce myself pretty fast at school or something like this! Before this I thought “How about coming late”, I thought about this up to a point, when I’ve decided that ‘I won’t do it this time’ and so I came here on time. Though there are times, when I come late. (Laughs).
But in Berryz Koubou, you’re really working hard, overcoming lots of difficulties, which can be evidence of your seriousness, right?
Well since this work is extremely fun, whichever hardship comes in my way, it doesn’t really matter. Though I have really weak will to do something I don’t like. (Laughs). Since I don’t have enough strength, I thought I wanted to do sit-ups or something. Well at least I started to do it…….
But it didn’t last.
“At first, when my muscles started to ache I lost my spirits. I had a feeling that ‘I’m working this hard’ (laughs). But as my muscles stopped aching and I lost this feeling, then bam I stopped doing it. I thought my stomach would explode…
That’s why this year’s autumn is, so to say, sports autumn, like I-want-to-do-sit-ups-autumn.
Sounds good~ (Laughs). Though you said that this job is inevitably fun, can you tell us when you’re working to the max?
It’s of course live events or concerts! When I sing cheerful and bright songs, I can say that this is real original me there at these times, at such times, I, so to say, am in my utmost myselfness there. Live events, are really places, where I can reaffirm my own objective point of growth.
Tell us about a song which brings memories that you can’t forget.
There is such a song. We had, so to say, most troubles with ‘Sabori’. When we were recording it, the sound didn’t record, director-san even used piano, but everything he did was useless. At this time reeeeally heavy atmosphere fell upon the studio, I can’t forget it. I thought ‘I can’t take it no more, I want to go away’ and when this all ended, it was really painful and I burst into tears.
So to say, it was painful for you that you couldn’t escape this feeling, right? And so, is there anything that you can’t understand in someone from Berryz Koubou members?
Yes, it’s Momo(Tsugunaga Momoko)’s pinky.(Laughs). I see how it gradually goes up, and I always think, how far will it go. When she holds a mike, this, pinky, I’m almost ready to say ‘why won’t it turn 180 degrees!?’ At times when it goes up. (Laughs).
It certainly does. (Laughs). Is there a ‘one word’ which you definitely want to say to any member?
To (Sudou) Maasa~! From time to time we go to amusement park, and I want to say to her that we should stop going to the haunted house! When were all together there, we usually scream, like ‘kya~ kya~’, and it’s still okay this way, but somehow, Maasa likes to put on earphones and go there all by herself to taste the fear, and it seems that she enjoys it. So I want to pass this part.
And roller coaster is okay with you?
When we go to amusement park with (Yajima) Maimi, we usually get on rollercoaster ride. And though I don’t have a feeling that it’s that very interesting, when at last we get to go to an amusement park, we always have this, so to say, sense of duty, to get in it at least once.(Laughs).
Teenage girls really love amusement parks, right? Is there any other amusement spot you like?
At one of the photoshoots, we went to an aquarium. It was already closed for audience, there was no one there in this huge space and the water tanks only were really beautiful and while they brought a smile to your face, they still had this mysterious feeling to them. And then, at my summer holidays I went there with my family, of course it wasn’t as interesting as it was before – since there were so many people there. (Laughs).
So your interest cooled down?
But after all, a bit later I had an inevitable feeling that I want to go to an aquarium again! It’s like I realize that when I only look at seals or dolphins or something like this, I can say that I calm down, and that all my worries go away.
Reeeally?~ This is probably a proper aquarium fetish there. (Laughs). Like you found a place that you really long to be able to go to.
Yes, that’s right, that’s right. And before this, I bought yet another book that looks like an aquarium guide. (Laughs).
And that’s all the interview. You are welcome to comment it, edit it and use it however you like(though let me know if you do). And there is one more thing – there’s some more scans of B.L.T magazine, where Chinami is featured. I’ll post them here too.
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