Riho Sayashi Natalie interview Part 2

 For part 1, go here.

In part 2 of this interview, Ongaku Natalie asked Riho about 5 topics, how she approaches them, and what she is trying to express in 2021: dancing, singing, lyrics, acting, and live performances.

Chapter 1: Dance

I began dancing when I was 5.  I fell in love with Morning Musume after watching "Go Girl (Koi no Victory)" (released in 2003) on tv.  Then I saw a commercial about ASH recruiting students, and I told my mother "I want to do it too!"  The school was far from home, but I would go there twice a week for 7 years, until I joined Morning Musume, and driving me there was a lot of work for my parents.  I learned a lot of different dance genres there, and I was able to do everything, as long as it didn't require acrobatics.  But I enjoyed hip hop the most.  My mother liked western music from the 2000s, artists such as Beyonce, Destiny's Child, TLC, and rapper Sean Paul, so I ended up listening to a lot of music like that.

From the beginning, I liked Morning Musume, and wanted to join them.  I didn't have any rivalries with my classmates (at ASH), thinking "I have to beat her", I just danced because it was fun.  I was actually more interested in impressing the teachers.  At the time, it was all just fun.  It wasn't until I joined Morning Musume that my approach to dancing changed.  I thought that if I kept the "dancing is fun!  sensei look!  I can do it!" attitude, I would never become a professional dancer.  That's when I first lost the confidence I had.  I realized for the first time that singing is the key to a good performance, and dancing well wasn't enough.  I learned that I was judged not only for my dancing, but also my singing, how expressive I was, my personality, and many other variables, and I began to develop an inferiority complex for things other than dancing.  Figuring this out made things a little easier.

After my studies in New York, and upon returning to Japan, I spent more time with my family than practicing dancing, although I did go to workshops every now and then.  After I decided to resume my career, I began taking various lessons at schools that interest me.  Sometimes it's hip hop lessons, which I'm already good at, other times it's jazz lessons, where I have been learning to use my entire body, and I have also been taking house lessons.  I also like Koharu Sugawara's dancing, and I have been trying to learn her choreographies.

I'm really happy that dancing has become more popular in recent years.  I watch a lot of dance performances from various countries (k-pop included) every day, and I've noticed there aren't many female performers that sing and dance.  I would like to make that my strength.  For DAYBREAK, I asked MARU, from MIKIKO's dance troupe Elevenplay to choreograph "Find me out" and "Puzzle", and Bo Park, who was my dance instructor in New York, to choreograph "BUTAI" and "Simply me".  I did the choreography for "LAZER", and it was the first time that I did a choreography from scratch, and I tried different things with the help of MARU-san.

Chapter 2: Singing

I think my voice is somewhat unique, but I used to feel I was always criticized for my singing, and to be honest, I became afraid to sing.  I think my voice was affected by my mental state.  My voice also changed while I was in the group, and I began to think I wasn't a good singer at all.  I would take voice training lessons, but I would perform right after my lessons, and never had the chance to absorb what I learned.  After graduating I had more time to think "What have I learned so far?"  I rented a studio to practice, and while living with my parents, I would go to karaoke everyday.  It may have seemed like training, but it didn't feel that way to me at all.  I am the type of person that can only work hard on things if I don't think they are hard to do (laughs).

 Singing is fun, right?  I think that's why I was able to continue practicing.  It's hard to explain, but I loved singing, even when I was struggling.  At the time, Tsunku would tell me "You try too hard" (laughs), but I felt that he trusted me, so it was worth it (laughs).  But the fact that my singing skills didn't match the fun I had while singing, made it hard.  But I have always loved singing, so when I had time to experiment, I would tell myself "Let's see what I've learned so far, and make use of it".

Dance and singing are very much related.  When I dance I try to match the choreography to the music, and I think I do something similar when I sing.  But in "DAYBREAK" I was careful not to focus only on the rhythm.  If I did that, my voice wouldn't come out right, and I had that in mind throughout the recording process.  I've always sung well at live performances, but not so much at recordings.  That's because I, unconsciously, only sang to the microphone.  But what I discovered during this recording was that I should be focusing on myself, not the microphone while singing.

We used different studios for each song in "DAYBREAK" because the composers were different.  So each time, it took me a while to get used to the studio booth.  But once I got a feel for it, there was a "I can sing now!" moment.  Such feelings of confidence are as important as the singing technique.  I am still afraid of singing to an audience, and worried about whether I will be able to show what I have learned, but I have become more confident.

Chapter 3: Lyrics

"Ano hi yakusoku shita kara" (=I made a promise that day - the song that was first unveiled in January 2021) was my first attempt at writing lyrics.  The lyrics can apply to parents or friends, but they were mostly about the fans.  I had difficulties such as "I want this line, but it doesn't fit the melody well", so it took me about a month to finish it.  Writing a song is different than writing an essay, and I also wanted to use my own words.  There was a lot of trial and error.  For "DAYBREAK", I had the opportunity to both write lyrics first, and to write lyrics after listening to the music.  So far, I find it easier to write lyrics first.  I am very grateful I had this opportunity and to make choices such as "maybe this should be the chorus".

For "Find me out" I wrote the lyrics first.  Gento Miyano gave a lot of thought to how we should separate the lyrics to create a beat.  He did a great job.  When I was writing, I knew where I wanted the chorus to be, and when I looked back at my notes during the production process, I noticed I had even left a comment about that.  I write lyrics at home, at cafes, or on my phone while walking.  When working on "Find me out", I found myself writing at night, on my computer, and it took me only a couple of hours to write the song.

I'm not good at writing.  But in this case it was all about expressing my feelings, and I have a lot of things in my heart, that I want to say.  I have always had people who spoke for me, so I took this opportunity, not only to express myself, but also to train myself in doing it properly.  I have also been given the opportunity to write my own column ("Rihokora(mu) - WANI BOOKS News Crunch), but I always wait until the deadline thinking "what should I write?" (laughs).  I try to use it as a training exercise instead of just writing casually.  I feel the desire to overcome a weakness is similar to the desire to clean a messy room.  You just have to do it.  Lately, thanks to my training, I have been able to use a richer vocabulary without feeling embarrassed when I do so.  In the past the vocabulary I used was simpler, similar to that of a child, but I now feel more confident to use more words, as long as they convey what I have in mind.

When I told my manager I wanted to use my own words, she said "Why don't you try writing in the Hiroshima dialect?" (laughs).  I might do it one day, you know.  After I began writing my own lyrics, I realized that Tsunku's songs, which I sang while in the group, can be interpreted in different ways, depending on who the listener is.  He did a really good job writing lyrics from a young girl's perspective.  It's a skill that I really admire.

The songs in "DAYBREAK" have some English lyrics too, although it wasn't a conscious choice to include them.  It just happened.  When I received the demos, I sometimes thought of English sentences, depending on the mood or rhythm of the song.  For example, in the intro to "Puzzle", I could only imagine English lyrics, because that was not something I could say in Japanese.  Also, it's less embarrassing to write in English, and I actually thought at some point of writing in English and then translating to Japanese.  I may try it if I feel it will broaden my range, or add more depth to the lyrics.

Chapter 4: Acting

I have been doing theater since I was in the group, but it wasn't something I felt as confident in doing as I did with dancing.  I often did rehearsals while being busy with other activities, such as live performances, and I felt that I wasn't living up to my full potential.  I received a lot of praise for "Lilium" (a 2014 musical), which I did when I was 15, but I think that was because I was at an age where I didn't see it as work.  I think that's what the director was aiming for as well, but if I did it again now, I would have given it a lot more thought, I believe.

I'm not good at reading the meaning behind words.  I wanted to develop my imagination more, and I thought I could do that with acting.  I thought it would help me with writing lyrics, and I believe how I perceive words now has indeed changed.  Often, when reading a script, I feel I can't relate to the story, if I haven't had similar experiences.  So what I have been doing is write down in detail what I would do if I was in that situation.  I'm not sure what techniques other actors use, but that's what helps me relate to the stories.

My voice changes depending on my emotions, and acting experience can be useful in that regard.  In the past, songs to me were mostly melodies, not lyrics.  However, as I gained acting experience, I began to think more about "how to express words with a certain kind of voice", and my perception of songs changed.  In the past, I had a more emotional approach to songs, while now I can also have a more rational approach, and I would like to combine both from now on.

I am fond of all the projects I have worked on so far, but the one I enjoyed the most was "Anonymous" (TV Tokyo - Jan. to Mar. 2021).  I think it was my best performance up to this point.  Usually the atmosphere at drama sets is hectic, but in this case, the director gave us the chance to rehearse and discuss the script.  I was given the freedom to make pauses shorter than they were in the script, or to use my own words, so I was able to put a bit of myself in the performance.  I couldn't sleep at all on the day before shooting my first drama after resuming my activites, "Ano ko no yume..." (=I had a dream of that girl - TV Tokyo - Oct. to Dec. 2020).  But I was happy that the character was based on me, and they took good care of me so that I wouldn't get injured, so I did my best to make my falls look real (laughs).  I was so nervous that it took a tremendous amount of energy to say one line.

When I started acting I was so nervous that I was honestly thinking "I want to quit!"  But I am more positive now, and I want to continue acting in the future.  I would like to play characters very different than myself.  Like a "gyaru", or some weird criminal. 

Chapter 5: Live

When I perform live, I have a different personality, the "Live me".  Live performances are very special to me.  As I sing in "LAZER", the stage is where I feel alive, and can do my best, and the audience can receive it in different ways, depending on their sensibilities.  I am glad I was able to perform live for "DAYBREAK", which happened with the help of a lot of people.

I look forward to singing and dancing again at my solo concert (the interview took place before August 9th).  I always wanted to be involved in production, and I was able to do it by incorporating my own ideas.  During the production of "DAYBREAK" I participated in the mastering of all songs.  I decided the order of the songs in the album, and the length of the intervals between each song.  Since I was so "hands-on" in the production of the album, I wanted to do the same for the live concert.  Right now, I'm still learning about production, but it's something I would like to do more in the future.

There's so much we can do in a live performance, and I would like to challenge myself more in the future, but I don't think I should overdo it for this show.  I want to express my feelings through the songs, and I hope the performance will highlight that.  The set for this reason will be simple.  Nowadays, due to covid, the audience can't shout or scream during live shows, but I would still like to see everyone enjoy it.  I have been thinking of changing the choreography so that everyone can raise their hands with me, or so that I can face the audience more.

After the live concert

I woke up earlier than usual the day of the performance.  After the show, I watched the MV for "LAZER" and then fell asleep!  The live band was a surprise for those who saw the show.  The album was made using software, but I think we were able to perform the songs well with a live band at the concert.  I felt that I had the support of the band members during the live.  There were times I felt overwhelmed while preparing the concert, but Shige Murata, the band leader, told me "Feel free to let me know if you need anything", and I genuinely felt that I wasn't alone during the performance.  I also talked with the two dancers, but what I appreciated the most was that we could communicate through dance.  There was never any concert or anxiety while dancing with them.

I vividly remember the view from the stage.  The audience was sitting quietly, which is something you can only see under the current circumstances.  I was dancing, but I had the chance to look at the audience too, and I used the fact that everyone was watching me, to make myself deliver a sharp performance.  I realized that I feel "alive" when on stage, and that feeling comes from the realization that I am delivering a performance to an audience.  I have had a lot of concerns about returning to the stage, and when it finally happened, I had a sense of accomplishment.

I still have moments where I feel I need to exceed my limits, but I have been dealing with such feelings, little by little.  But with this concert, I felt I broke a certain glass ceiling.  While practicing recently, I was thinking I will be able to do something even better the next time.  I feel very different now when I sing.  The tour has been scheduled for January of next year, and I want to do something even better, so I hope you can join us.  While the current situation makes things difficult, I will do my best to go to different places, and larger venues, so that more people can come to the shows.

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/sayashiriho02

Riho Sayashi Netorabo (Netlab) interview - Aug 16, 2021

Another Riho interview that I had missed with some interesting comments

Former absolute ace of Morning Musume, Riho Sayashi, explains why it took her 5 and a half years to make her solo debut

Riho Sayashi released her first solo ep "DAY BREAK" on August 4.  It has been 5 and a half years since she graduated from the group at the age of 17.  She was considered the driving force behind the group's resurrection in the '10s.

Sayashi-san joined Morning Musume as a member of the group's 9th generation in 2011.  She came from Actors School Hiroshima, which also produced Perfume, and although she was only 12, she stood out for her dancing skills.  She became the main vocalist in her 2nd single "Only you", but she surprised her fans when she graduated at the age of 17 in 2015.  After that she left the entertainment industry to study abroad.  She opened an instagram account in 2020, and re-started her career, 5 years after her graduation.  Her solo debut came a year later.  We asked her why she had such a long "blank" period.

The interviewer (Naho Konishi) mentioned that she was impressed by how Riho would look her in the eye during the interview and answer her questions

"Such a waste!"

Sayashi says that when she was in a group there was pressure to lead, while now the pressure she faces is different.  She is also excited to make her debut for the second time

- You have finally started your solo career.  Why did it take 5 and a half years after graduation, and 2 years after returning to Japan?

- I was 17, and I wanted to "reset" myself.  I was thinking about becoming an adult, and thinking about the future, made me realize I had to change some things about myself.  It took me a year or two to make a proper break in my mind.  I needed some time to look at things clearly.  You may not understand this until you have experienced it, but it can take up to 5-6 years to realize what you want to do with your future.

- Some people had said that it was such a waste to graduate at 17, after only 5 years in the group.

- I heard that a lot, and I sympathize with such opinions.  It was a blessed environment, and I was able to do what I liked.  But it's not something that can last forever.  I thought it was the right time to change my environment.

- It was a bold decision.

- I don't know if I should say this myself, but I feel my path has been unconventional (laughs).  When I look back I feel that I didn't always fit into a mold, or follow the path that was created for me.  So I thought, why not just do my own thing?  So I made this choice.

- After returning from your studies abroad, you worked as an actress, and gained more experience.  How did you apply these new experiences to your work?

- While I had chosen what I wanted to do, I did not have the opportunity to put these thoughts and intentions into words (laughs).  By writing lyrics I was able to express these choices, and how I am now.  And it was also an opportunity to get to know myself a little better.

Sayashi turned 23 in May.

A project that is clearly hers

In "DAYBREAK" Sayashi took on the challenge to write lyrics for all songs.  This was her first time being involved in the songwriting process, and while holding the cd in her hands, she said with a smile: "I loved working on this!... I am really grateful."

She says that the love and support she has received for her solo debut is amazing

- Many of the younger Hello! Project members consider you an inspiration, and to a lot of fans you are a legend.  You must be under a lot of pressure, but what do you want to show in this new project?

- I have always wanted to deliver something, but I didn't want it to be disappointing (laughs), and since I am a cautious person, I wanted to do something I would feel good about.  My "style" has changed since the time I was in Hello! Project, so it's a bit different.  It sounds like I am contradicting myself, but it feels like this is a product of both my bold and my cautious side.

- There has also been talk about how both your voice and your singing style have changed.

- I have always listened to different genres of music and trained myself to sing in different ways.  In this LP (note: I think this was a typo, and it was supposed to say EP) I was able to try different singing genres, so I think that experience proved useful.

I used to think that my voice sounded completely different in recordings and at live performances, and by studying what led to those differences, I was able to make them sound more similar.  I feel this is more of an improvement than a change.

- This was a project that felt nostalgic, mostly due to the city pop touches, a genre that has been drawing a lot of attention overseas as well.

- To be honest, that wasn't a conscious choice.  In some cases I asked my composers to choose music that would fit the lyrics, in others I picked a song that drew my interest, or that matched my taste in music.  I think it is good to have a specific genre in mind, but in my case, I was more interested in expressing myself or sending a message (laughs).  It's just how things worked out.

60% music, 40% acting, if possible

Looking back, it seems that the decision to hold a concert came first, and that led to the production of the album.  The interview was held right before the live on August 9, and rehearsals were about to begin the day after the interview.

- The concert is in one week.  How prepared are you?

- About 70%.  Rehearsals start tomorrow!  There have been meetings, but there's still a lot we need to figure out with the band, the dancers, and the videos that we will show.  I think I will begin feeling overwhelmed tomorrow (laughs).  I have decided what I will say during the MC parts, and what the song order will be, so we are ready in some ways.

- After returning, you have done a lot of acting work in tv dramas and on stage.  How are you planning to balance the 2 activities in the future?

- That's true.  It depends on the timing, but if possible, I would like to do about 60% music, and 40% acting.

- ...Will you continue appearing in movies and dramas?

- I would like that very much!  I think there is a lot I can learn from acting that can help me in music too.  There are times when I put my heart and soul in a performance, but my facial expressions may not convey that, and I think "maybe I should have raised by eyebrows there" for example.  There are a lot of little things I have learned.

On the other hand, what I have learned in my music career can also be useful in my acting career.  I hope I can improve as a performer by doing both.

- Are you the type that watches her own performances?

- I am (laughs)!  I still have the mentality of someone who is now starting, and I try to keep a distance when I am watching my own performances on tv so that I can ask myself "Was that ok?"

Role models? No!

Sayashi clearly expressed her intentions for the new album with the following strong statement: "If I don't present who I am now with my work, there's no point in resuming my activities".  What are the goals of the current Riho Sayashi?

- You have been posting English messages on instagram.  Are you considering expanding your activities overseas in the future?

- It is something I would like.  I am always happy when I get responses or comments in English.  It makes me feel closer to the fans.  While the distance from Japan is big, and there are travel restrictions due to covid, it doesn't feel that way.  Thanks to the internet.

However, I do prefer meeting the fans in person.  When I was a member of Morning Musume and we had a concert overseas, my English wasn't good, and even though I had prepared a speech, I was so nervous that I forgot what I wrote, and it was frustrating.  I haven't had the chance to perform overseas since I studied abroad and learned English, so I would like to get my "revenge" (note: Riho uses the English word).

- Do you have any role models?

- No!  It's not that I don't have respect for other artists (laughs), but I meet many people at work, and I respect all of them.  It may sound selfish, but I would like to absorb as much as possible from everyone I meet (laughs).  Now that I have the chance!

https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/nl/articles/2108/03/news130.html

Rihokora #30 - August 21, 2021 - an anthurium plant too

 Welcoming a new member of the family

I thought I had gotten used to my current restrictive lifestyle.  It has become a routine.

But I can't make dinner plans with my friends.  I can't go out for a quick meal after work.  I can't cheer when I go to a concert.

I am getting more and more tired of this situation.  Until a while ago, I thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and thought if we were patient, it would be over.  Now, I can't see that light anymore.  Regardless, we will have to continue being careful.

But since there isn't much hope in the world today, I am trying to spend my days, finding hope myself.  That's the least I can do.

Now that the live concert is over, someone new has come to provide comfort to the Sayashi household.

My everfresh plant Ebappi has been in the house for almost half a year now, and it has been growing faster since the weather became warmer.  It's so lovely to be able to watch it grow.

It's no secret that I am not good at growing plants, so my plan at first was to focus growing my everfresh, but when Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was a guest on my radio show, we talked about our plants, and I began to think I would like to have more.  So when Ebappi began to grow well without problems, I thought I had enough time for more, and I got 2 new ones.

Those who read all my columns should know what my place looks like by now!

So what did I get?  That's what you want to know, right?  I got an anthurium, and a grape ivy.

I chose the store based on what I learned from KPP's instagram.  They were very helpful and I appreciate it.

My place has already become more beautiful.  I feel that the calming effect the flowers have are helping me finish my Rihokora columns too.  I don't know how, but isn't that cute?

The staff at the store talked about the pots, and how they would look together.  It ended up being very fun choosing the right combination.

There are apparently many plants that are surprisingly easy to care for.  Both of these plants only need to be watered once a week.  I guess they're strong plants.

By the way, the anthurium doesn't have a blooming season, as it seems to bloom randomly.  I look forward to when the one in my house will bloom for the first time.

As I'm writing, I realize that I write a lot, in Rihokora, about what I do to make my place nicer, so if you have read them all, you must be able to imagine what it's like, right? lol

I will continue sharing such information so that all Rihokora(mu) readers can become "masters" (experts) on the life of Riho Sayashi. fufu (hehe)

Thank you again for reading my column.  I hope you can spend your days with peace and health.  And that my writing can bring some comfort.

https://wanibooks-newscrunch.com/articles/-/2303

DAYBREAK concert reviews summary

There were a lot of interesting articles about the DAYBREAK concert, and I wanted to do a brief summary, by focusing on reports of what we couldn't see on tv, and what Riho talked about during the concert.

Before the performance started Toyosu PIT had a long line of fans waiting to get in, and the venue was full of people wearing red t-shirts with the live concert logo.  The capacity of the venue was limited to 50% due to the measures.  Nevertheless, there was an audience of about 1500. 

After singing the first song "BUTAI", Riho said "tadaima!" (=I'm home, I'm here).  She then added "I'm really, really happy to be here this day.  I am grateful to be able to share this moment with all of you in this difficult situation".  She then talked about the decision to postpone the concert in May, and recalled the support she received from the fans when that decision was made, saying "I will keep you all in my heart".

After "Find me out", and "Simply me", the band improvised for a bit, and Riho said "I want to listen to that at dawn.  It's very relaxing".  She then talked about all the songs.  "BUTAI" is a song that expresses her support for herself on stage.  "Simply me" is a song where everyone can get together and dance.  "Find me out" is a song with a sound that is fresh and new for her, but also very much her own.  "Puzzle" is written for a close friend, and "LAZER" a message that she is sending.

In the VTR that followed "Ano hi yakusoku shita kara" (the song she first performed in January), she said "I tried choreographing for the first time in "LAZER", and it was very difficult because dancing and doing choreography are very different things."  Also, "I have waited for this moment.  I want to make this live a time where I can express my feelings and deliver them to everyone".  At this time, the 2022 tour was announced, and Riho added "I am happy.  I would like to play more songs at the tour."

After "LAZER", and as the fans held little signs saying "okaeri" (=welcome back), Riho's first reaction was "I don't know what to say... I'm so happy".   Riho then mentioned that "If I had gotten the timing a bit wrong, I was going to quit singing, but you, the fans encouraged me to go on, and I'm now back on the stage.  This moment is special.  I'm fortunate to be in such a warm place.  I hope I can pay you back in the future."  She ended the concert saying "see you again!"

https://kakko3.tokyo/2021/08/10/riho-sayashi-1st-live-2021-daybreak/

https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/102826/2

https://natalie.mu/music/news/440403

https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/sayashi-riho/92662

Riho Sayashi - The Television (ザテレビジョン) interview, Aug. 11, 2021

A very interesting interview about the album, the live, and what she wants to do in the future

 I suddenly realized "I'm really not good at doing that"

Can you tell us your thoughts about this ep, for which you wrote the lyrics, and how it felt to be involved in the song production?

- First, the title, DAYBREAK, means dawn.  It's a new dawn/morning for me as I am re-starting my music career after my hiatus, and also a sign of respect for my old group, Morning Musume.

When I decided to make new songs, I thought it would be meaningless if I didn't sing and perform the way I am now that I am older.  Otherwise people could just watch old videos.  That principle applies both to the music production itself, and the music genre I would choose.  As for lyrics, I have been very careful to communicate in my own words.

- Reading the lyrics, I thought they were very personal.  If you have some favorite lyrics in the ep, please tell us how you felt when you wrote them.

- Usually, in my columns, I try to make my points clear, but also not to hurt others with my comments.  While I am honest, I re-write them many times to avoid any misunderstandings.  However, since the lyrics are an expression of myself, I didn't have as much of a filter.  I wrote down what came to mind, but then I began to feel anxious and thought "is it a good idea to publish this?"  That's what I thought about all the songs.

It is difficult to write lyrics due to all the limitations that come with matching them to the music, so I was wondering if I should be so honest.  One of my favorites is the b melody of "Find me out" where I sing about how "I want you to know me better, but I'm afraid of you finding out what's inside me".  This is a sentence that represents my personality very well.  When I was writing the lyrics for this song, I wanted to bring out what's inside me, but I realized that I'm really not good at doing that, and that's how I came up with that line.

- This is the first time you have been so involved in the music making process, right?

- It is, yes.  The first time.

- You worked with hit-makers such as Akira Sunset-san, and TAKAROT-san.  How did you work with them?  Did you ask them to write music and lyrics?

- The approach differed depending on the song.  For example, in "LAZER", I talked to TAKAROT (music), and Kami Kaoru (lyrics) about both the lyrics and the music from the start, until we agreed on what I wanted to convey and what music would fit the song.  In "Find me out", the lyrics came first.  I wrote the lyrics first, and then asked Gento Miyano-san to write the music.  

On the other hand, for "Simply me" and "Butai" the music was written first by Akira Sunset and APAZZI.  I talked to them about my feelings for dancing and the stage, and the lyrics were added afterwards.  "Puzzle" came from a competition, and I chose it as I thought "Ah, this is good...".  It really was a completely different process for each song.

DAYBREAK: It starts before dawn, and ends when the sun rises

- DAYBREAK starts with "Find me out", which is about finding you, and continues with BUTAI, which is about standing on the stage.  It seems that the tracks form a story, and the songs become brighter, and the emotions "bigger".  Was this a conscious decision on your part?

- You are right, the album starts before dawn, and the last song is about the sun rising.  That was the image I had in mind.  The order however was decided after listening to them again, and it wasn't a factor when writing lyrics.  I think subconsciously I was thinking about what words to use or how they matched with each other, but when I was writing, I was only thinking about the song itself, not how it worked with the other songs.

We didn't really pick a genre.  I just told my co-creators what I wanted to sing and how, and they took that into consideration and wrote the music, and when we re-arranged them, the album turned out great (laughs).

- You gave it a lot of thought (laughs).

- But I'm glad that we did.  It's true that the songs form a story, and listeners get that.  By having the concept of the "dawn" in mind, the songs become progressively more positive, right?

After 5 and a half years, her way of singing has changed in her solo debut

- You sing very differently here than you did before.  Was that a conscious change?

- I've always listened to different genres of music, so I've always trained myself to sing different types of songs.  I think I was able to do that in this album, and also to make the studio versions of the songs sound like live versions.

I'm the type of person whose singing is affected by my emotions, and I used to be frustrated when my live singing sounded very different than my singing in the studio versions of songs.  I gave this a lot of thought during this project, and I ended up working it out through trial and error.  I think the difference this time was that I was able to make the recorded version sound more like my usual voice.

- I think what you learned at Hello! Project helped you in this trial and error process, and in making music.  What are some of the things you learned from that period that you can apply to your work now?

- That it's all about the rhythm and the groove.  BUTAI, and "Simply me" have great rhythm, and I am glad people have noticed that.

- I think it's been a while since you last recorded music.  How was it?

- It's been about 6 years, and at first I had a hard time finding the right distance from the microphone.  Ah... I had a hard time with that in the past too, so it was fun to remember that.  It was a lot of work, but the difference with the Morning Musume period was that I had more of a voice on the process, and could express my opinions more firmly.

I used to have to wait for director-san to give the OK, but this time I was able to re-record until I was satisfied.  And when I was feeling good I would just say "Let's record now!"  Being more proactive also made me realize how big my role in the project was.

- You wrote lyrics for all the songs.  Are you interested in writing music too, in the future?

- I wouldn't say that I am, but I never studied music theory, and I regret that.  That's why I am trying to learn music now on my own.  I don't know if I will eventually be able to write music, but I think I can definitely benefit from having a better understanding of music.  I wonder if I ever will be able to write music (laughs).

- You probably don't want to compromise in terms of quality, but I think fans would be interested in listening to your own songs.  I've heard that when you can compose your own music, the ways in which you can express yourself, expand dramatically.

- Is that so?  I think it's great to be able to do everything yourself, and say this is 100% my creation.  On the other hand, I like how artistic expression can be expanded by working with other artists, and by discovering new ways in which my words can be expressed in worlds that are not my own.  I will take a step by step approach, and maybe one day I will try music composition.  Maybe when I feel like making something of my own (laughs).

- By the way, has Mizuki Fukumura told you what she thinks of the album (her generation mate at Morning Musume)?

- My generation mates messaged me saying "Congratulations!"  I wonder if they're listening to it?  I would like to hear their thoughts!

I wanted to be my real self* at the return live concert    

*Riho uses the expression kokoro o suppin, which would translate to heart with no make up

- About the live on August 9:  can you tell us how you were involved and what your input was?

- The order of the songs, the choreography, and the idea to have a band were my suggestions.  Since this was my first live performance after my comeback, I wanted to do it with "my heart not wearing make up", so I thought it would be good to have a simple band.  Flashy productions are fun, but maybe another time.  This time, I wanted to be myself, and to keep it as simple as possible.

A band is more flexible than an orchestra, and even a few days before the performance, we could make some adjustments, such as extending the intro or an interlude.  This also made it possible to direct, by doing things such as adding more dance parts, or a band solo.  It was a good experience for me to have the opportunity to come up with such ideas.  I also had to plan when to do the MC parts.

- So you also had to think about the MC parts.

- It's been a while since I stood on a stage and talked to the audience, and if I don't think about it in advance, I will be overwhelmed and never stop you know.  I accomplished so much with Morning Musume, and to be able to re-start is such a privilege.

- Finally, after the release of DAYBREAK and your live performance, please tell us, how do you feel you have grown?  And what would you like to do in the future?

- In the past, I used to look at songs from the outside.  Now, I am more aware of how much I can be a part of a song.  I think that's a good change for me, and another thing is that now I have my own opinions on how to present a song, and what elements to incorporate in it, and I can give my opinions more firmly.

I used to be a good kid who would say "Yes, I understood!"  I think that was because I was a member of a group, and also because I didn't want to cause disruptions.  This has changed a lot, and while I do listen to others' opinions, I am now able to make suggestions and say "but I would like to do this myself".  Being able to express my opinions instead of keeping them to myself, is a big step for me.

- What about what you would like to work on?

- I would like to work with various artists.  At the moment, the people around me have been figuring that out, and introducing me to creators I can work with, but in the future I would like to do that myself and find artists to work with.  I would also like to do some unexpected collaborations, and by doing that, expand my range as an artist even more.  

https://thetv.jp/news/detail/1044908/

Riho Sayashi - Natalie interview, August 4, 2021

 A very long interview, but with a lot of interesting information

In 2011, at the age of 12, Riho Sayashi joined Morning Musume, as a member of the group's 9th generation, and led the group with her outstanding performance skills.  She graduated from the group in December 2015, and after a few years away from the industry, she resumed her activities in 2020.  On August 4th of 2021, the 3rd year of the Reiwa era (384 or Sayashi day) she released her 1st ep "Daybreak", which has 5 songs, on her own label Savo-r.  She is re-starting her career as a music artist 5 and a half years after her graduation from Morning Musume '15.

To celebrate the release of "Daybreak", Ongaku (Music) Natalie is running a feature in 2 parts.  Part 1 includes a long interview with Sayashi where she talks about her journey, from her graduation from Morning Musume to the present, and how she reveals herself in this album.

Finding myself away from the stage

- First of all, I would like to say, from the bottom of my heart: Welcome back.

- Thank you.  I really appreciate it.

- You must have experienced a lot in the 5 and a half years after graduating from Morning Musume at the age of 17.  Can you tell us again why you graduated?

- What made me graduate was a strong desire to "start from scratch".  I was in a bit of a crisis, thinking that if I didn't change my environment before turning 20, I wouldn't be able to figure out what I wanted to do in my life.

- You have said that you wanted to do a reset after debuting at the age of 12.  At the time, it was a shock to the fans because you graduated only 2 months after you made the announcement (Note: Riho Sayashi graduated from Morning Musume '15 at the end of that year)

- I thought about it a lot, and also consulted with the office before making the decision.  At the time, Morning Musume was going through a transition, after Sayumi Michishige graduated, and we, the 9th generation, had to lead the group.  Due to this situation, I knew that some people would think my decision was not the right one, but I still felt strongly that I had to change my environment.  Because I had that sense of responsibility about the group, I wasn't in the mood to have a long celebration period.  I think 2 months was an appropriate amount of time for me to express my gratitude, and for both me and the fans to accept that this was going to be the end.  I'm sure my decision caused a lot of problems to a lot of people, but it was something I had to do.

- That sounds very much like what I would expect Sayashi-san to say.  When you graduated you said in many interviews that you would continue performing after graduating.  Did you have a concrete plan of what you wanted to do?

- I had an idea of where and when I would study abroad.  I left Japan 3 months after graduating.

- That's really fast.

- Is it? (laughs)  At the time, I rarely had 3 days off, so I was actually wondering "Is it ok to take a break for 3 months?"

- You wanted to study abroad as soon as possible?

- No, I just felt this strange internal pressure.  I felt that, since I had said I was going to study abroad, I had to do it as soon as possible, otherwise I would look bad.  I still had the Morning Musume Riho Sayashi mentality.

- You were thinking "This is what Riho Sayashi of Morning Musume would do".

- Yes.  I was aware of the fact that people would be following what I am doing.  So it was a little difficult for me, but at some point I realized "What's the point of leaving if I keep thinking about that!"  After that, I began thinking about who I wanted Riho Sayashi to be as a person.  Before graduating, I barely had any time for my family, and it felt at times that everything in my life was about Morning Musume, so I'm glad I was able to change my way of thinking.

- You studied abroad for 2 years, right?

- After studying English, I began studying dance.  At first, I couldn't speak any English at all, but by the time I began my dance lessons, I was able to communicate in English without any problems.  I remember talking to this old guy for about an hour at the park in New York (laughs).  People there talk a lot, so I was talking a lot too, I guess.

- In New York, you spent most of your time at the dance school, right?

- Yep.  I was taking street jazz classes, and went to school every day.  Every instructor had their own style, and I had made my own schedule, studying at 4 different "schools" (note: it is not clear if Riho means 4 different locations or 4 different styles, but she uses the English word school).

- So you learned various styles.  On your radio show, "Sayashi Riho to marumaru to", when Ryo Asai was your guest, you said "I used to like Japanese dance, which is very organized, but after studying abroad, I realized the appeal of other styles as well".  What did you mean by this?

- Honestly, before going abroad, I used to think that foreign dancers would be cooler if they were a bit more disciplined.  But when I went abroad and saw the dancers' originality and passion, I was impressed because they radiated something different.  I learned a lot by being there in person.  When I thought about what style of dance would suit me the most, I didn't simply say "I will dance passionately".  On one hand I thought about the precise dancing I had been taught in Japan, and I thought perfecting that would suit me, on the other hand, I had the chance to reconsider a lot of what I believed before I went abroad.

So by expanding your horizons, you were able to develop your own personality too.  By the way, did you know how long you were going to stay abroad?  You had the option of staying in the U.S. too...

- I thought about it.  It had been years since I graduated, and I thought people in Japan would have forgotten me, and if I didn't have a clear vision of what I wanted to do, it would have been meaningless to return.  It's not easy to work in the entertainment industry, and I was being realistic, thinking I should pursue different kind of jobs too.

- So what made you return to Japan and resume your career?

 - While thinking about the various possibilities I had, I realized that I felt most alive when singing and dancing.  So I wasn't sure if I should quit.  Then, while I was staying with my parents after returning from the U.S., I was asked to participate in the 20th anniversary of Hello! Project.

- Hina Fes 2019, which was held in March of that year (which also included Tsuji Nozomi, Kago Ai, Nigaki Risa, and Michishige Sayumi as guests).

- I was worried, thinking "eh... what should I do?".  If I had been asked a few months earlier, I would have said "I can't do it, I'm sorry" without hesitation, as I felt uncertain about performing.  I thought "I can't go out there while the current members are doing their best.  I should probably refuse".  But my generation mate, Mizuki Fukumura (leader of Morning Musume '21) told me "I want to perform with you".  When I think about it now, I really feel like saying "Thank you Fuku-chan".

- So you appeared at Hina Fes, which was a big hit, right?  It is said among Hello! Project fans, that the moment you appeared, the venue was shaking from the cheers.  What do you remember?

- I could tell there was excitement, and I could hear the cheers, but not very well because I was wearing IEMs (in-ear monitors).  Because of that I was able to remain calm during my performance.

- (laughs)

- I was really nervous, so if I could hear the cheers, I think I would have panicked (laughs).  But it was fun.  I was able to meet old friends, and see new faces too.  The atmosphere in the crowd was different from when I was a member, and I felt that the current members had become accepted by the fans over the years through their hard work.

- Did the experience of Hina Fes solidify your desire to continue your career as a performer?

- I would say so.  Hina Fes made me more optimistic about resuming my performing career.  It took a lot of courage for me to return because I had been away from the industry up to that point.  In my heart, I knew I wanted to do it, but didn't know how, but after Hina Fes, more opportunities arose.

What it means to be on the stage

- Then, you opened an instagram account in May 2020, and in July it was announced you would appear in the musical "Kuro Sekai".  Then in September your affiliation with JME was announced.  Did you make all these decisions at the same time?

- No, when I opened my instagram account, or when my appearance in the musical was announced, I was a free agent, and had no contact with my current office.

- So you started instagram only to interact with fans?

- Yes, we were in the middle of the covid lockdown, I was living alone, and felt lonely.  I was wondering what could I do, and began thinking I should form connections.  It was a time when a lot of people were worried, and I thought we could all help each other.  It helped me a lot, personally.

- I thought so.  Then, in "Kuro Sekai", you played the character of Lily, who you also played in Lilium (2014).  Did Kenichi Suemitsu directly offer you the role? (interviewer's note: the play is written by Suemitsu and 6 other writers, and Riho Sayashi plays a girl that travels through a "black world" in an "eternal journey")

- Yes, it was a very important role for me, and I had no reason to decline.  I couldn't let anyone else play her.

- The office you joined is JME.  They have many actors such as Ryoko Shinohara, Yudai Chiba, and Kyoko Yoshine, so I think many fans wondered if you would be mainly active as an actress.

- I knew I wanted to act, so I told my agency that, but I also told them I want to be a singer, and they gave me the ok.  I was certain that I wanted to do both.

- Sayashi-san is a great actress, but I think a lot of people were waiting for you to sing and dance.  You are going to announce the start of your music career and the release of your first cd later today (note: the interview was conducted on July 13th)

- I'm already really excited (doki doki).  I have barely slept the last few days.  Let's continue the interview because this is the only thing that keeps me from being too nervous (laughs).

- (laughs) Resuming your music career can mean a lot of things, and there were endless possibilities as a new artist.  You could be an idol, a singer-songwriter playing instruments, or someone who focuses on dancing.  How do you imagine yourself as an artist?

- When it's all said and done, I want to sing and dance.  This is something I have wanted to do for a long time.  And I wanted to give it my own meaning.

- What do you mean by that?

- I think that I try to perform by showing what is in my heart.  If my heart's not in it, I don't see the point in dancing.  I also knew there were people waiting for me, and I wanted to deliver my own words to them.

- And that led you to writing lyrics.  I think artists, on one hand, want to please their fans, and on the other hand, want to express themselves.  Which desire is stronger for you at the moment?

- Hmm... I want to be honest, and show something new, I think.  I don't think I've ever pretended to be someone while performing, so I won't force myself to fit into what someone else may want to see.  I believe that if I can show my own vision as an artist, the fans will accept it, even if it is different than what I used to do.

- You trust your fans, don't you?

- Some will probably think "That's not the Sayashi I knew", but I want to express myself, and communicate exactly what I'm feeling.

Let your intuition guide you

- What was the initial idea behind your first mini-album "Daybreak"?

- First, I was going to have a live concert in May, and we began writing songs for the concert.  The concert was postponed, but we were not planning to perform many new songs at the time anyway.  We had planned it mostly as a dance performance, plus there was going to be a surprise to celebrate my birthday.  I didn't have that many songs, or any plans to record original songs.  But since the schedule changed, we decided to prepare songs and release them.

- So the postponement of the live led to the songs being recorded.  So you didn't have a stock of songs?  All of them were new?

- Yes, we made it all from scratch for the recording.  There were songs where the lyrics came first, and songs where I received the music and wrote the lyrics afterwards, but in all cases, I worked with the composers closely.

- Let's talk about each song please.  In "Find me out", which was released in July, you worked with composer/arranger Gento Miyano, who is known for his work with Philosophy no Dance.  (Note:  Riho Sayashi resumed her music career with her label Savo-r, and the songs written with Gento Miyano are now available)

- I wrote the lyrics first, and then we added the music.  I think it falls under the genre of city pop.  At first, Miyano-san didn't want to do it like that, but after reading the lyrics, he thought that would be the best genre for the song.

- So the lyrics determined the genre.

- Yes.  And I think that's great.  There was something that I wanted to convey, and I am impressed by what a great song it turned out to be.  It's nostalgic, but fresh, and when I first heard it, I thought it was really cool.

- In the lyrics, you sing about your feelings of conflict in the city.  You wrote "I am now lost in the big city of Tokyo".  That's when I realized you are now an adult.

- hahaha!  I am an adult (laughs).  I didn't have a theme for this song, and didn't think about it too much.  My lyrics were then adjusted to fit the music, and we finished the song together.

- This is true for the other 4 songs as well, but I got the impression you were expressing your feelings very frankly in the lyrics.  To what extent do you actually project yourself in the lyrics?

- It's all about my feelings.  Each song tells a different story, and I want to tell the listeners that each song expressed different feelings (laughs).

- It's natural to feel different things.  Was there a moment where Sayashi-san thought I should let the city take over?

- I think the lyrics are about my life so far.  I think about stuff from various perspectives.  I want to do something but think "what will that person think?  Or my parents?  Or the fans?"  And so on.  But I don't think that's what I should be doing.  I wrote about my feelings when I was in the mode of "Let your intuition guide you" and compared it to the crowds of Tokyo.

- The sound of a car engine in the interlude is also impressive.  It emphasizes that urban feeling.

- Miyano-san added it because it was the image he got from the lyrics.  An image of driving on the highway at night.

Is it ok to be this honest?

- The 2nd and 3rd song are dance songs composed by Akira Sunset and APAZZI, and they immediately made me think of Sayashi dancing.  As the title suggests, "BUTAI", which was released after "Find me out", is about the determination and thrill of being on the stage (butai).  (Note:  BUTAI, in which Riho Sayashi sings about the struggles she goes through due to her love for the stage can be found in the mini-album)

- BUTAI is a song I had been thinking about early on, and was planning to play it at the concert in May.  I wanted to make a song about restarting and standing on the stage.  When I received the music, I was asked to add lyrics, and then with my co-writers' help, we worked on them to turn them into something meaningful for me.

- Since Sayashi-san has such a star aura, I was surprised you would be so nervous you would say "I hate me" or that you would want to run away as you say in the lyrics.

- When I was in the group I hated myself for being nervous when we performed on tv or at Budokan.  But when we went on tours, I was more excited than nervous.

- The bridge sounds like a dance break.

- Yes, I already have the choreography.  It was prepared by my dance instructor in New York.  She sent it to me by email, and I added my own ideas to it.  I'm still trying to balance singing and dancing live, but in the end, my plan is to create a dance I will feel comfortable with, and I am sure I will show everyone something good.

- The 3rd song, "Simply me", is a dance song with horns, percussion, and a tribal feeling.

- First, I wanted this to be a song I would dance to, but the crowd could also join, and that's the kind of music I asked for.

- It's a song that seems to bring together the stage and the audience.  Your voice was deep and powerful, and the part where you sang "Keep on, on and on, and on..." was cool.

- That phrase was only temporarily in the first version of the song, but I felt it fit well, and I kept it.  It's good, right?  I wanted the dance to be something simple that anyone could do, but it turned out more intense than I expected.  It's also by my New York teacher, and it's quite different than what you would imagine for this type of song.

- I look forward to seeing it live.  By the way, even this song has a line such as "that me, is still incomplete".

- There are a lot of lines like that.  I noticed it myself after writing them.  I tend to ask myself questions (laughs).  I guess I want to challenge and understand myself better.

- Sayashi-san has the image of a positive person on SNS who never says anything negative.  I found the contrast with the world of your lyrics interesting.

- Indeed.  At first I thought, is it ok to be this honest?  I was afraid to show the lyrics to my manager.  I was embarrassed thinking of what was in my head.  I canceled sending emails many times (laughs).

- (laughs) You were revealing what's in your heart.  How does it feel to express your inner self by singing your own lyrics?

- I haven't completely grasped it yet, but I'm not good at revealing my inner self, and it feels like I'm gradually learning to do so.

The moment I overcame my insecurities

- The 4th song, "Puzzle", gives the impression of a "shiraSayashi" (white, bright Sayashi).  It's a refreshing pop song.

- I chose this song out of the many that were sent to me.  I was attracted to the fact that it had a cute and nostalgic feel, with a danceable beat, and I thought it would be nice to feel the story, just by listening to it.  I began writing lyrics based on the image I got from the music, but at first, I lost my mind and wrote romantic lyrics...

- You lost your mind (laughs).

- I wrote the lyrics, and we even began recording, but after I was done singing, everyone said "... this is different" (laughs).  So I had to re-write the whole thing.

- But even in the final version, I thought the lyrics could be depicting a romantic relationship.

- I was thinking of a friendship, but I left it open-ended, so you can easily think it's about a romantic relationship.  It's about a relationship with another person, rather than with people in general.  Its original title was "Missing", but the day before the recording I changed it to "Puzzle".  I added the word puzzle at the beginning of the chorus, and it just clicked, so I kept changing the lyrics.  I kept re-writing until the day of the recording.

- By the way, what is that English phrase you sing at the beginning of the song that is not in the lyrics booklet?

- "I just realized that I can't imagine my life without you.  You are so special to myself".  I didn't include it in the lyrics booklet because I wanted listeners to feel the nuance of the phrase, and I worked with a sound engineer from England to make the sentence sound more natural.

- And then, there's LAZER, the last song with its bright lyrics and music and a futuristic tone.

- In this song, I sing about the feelings I want to directly convey to the fans.  Kami Kaoru, who wrote the lyrics, Takarot, who wrote the music, and myself, talked about it thoroughly to create the song.  I first wanted them to know what I wanted to convey, and the kind of person I am, so I spoke to them about my past, and how I feel about my fans (note: I think Riho may have been describing this process in Rihokora #21 where she mentioned a conversation she had with someone and realized that she needs to talk more calmly).

- You made it with great care.  What does the title LAZER mean?

- When I perform on stage, I have always felt really powerful, as if a laser beam is coming out of my fingers.  We came up with that word during the conversation with Kami Kaoru and Takarot.

- The line "a ray of light, dancing, LAZER" describes Sayashi-san on stage.

- Yes.  I've always been afraid of loneliness, but the more I tried to get close to people, the more I struggled to fit in.  But when I was myself, I thought how great it would be to create something with the people I met, and that's what I told Kami-san.  The lyrics at the song's bridge, "we can't mix, but the moment we get together..." came from that conversation.  I do my best when performing, and every fan receives it in a different way, depending on their sensibilities.  During the performance, my life force is released in the air, and intersects with that of the audience, like a laser beam.  Kami-san helped me a lot with the lyrics of this song.  She wrote lines that I couldn't have written myself.  "I've always wanted to meet you" is something that I have thought, but would be too embarrassed to write myself.  I feel grateful to her for bringing that out.

- In terms of singing, this song is at a higher key than the other ones, right?

- Yes.  In fact, it's a key I have had trouble with in the past, and therefore avoided.  When I first got the song, I thought it was quite dangerous to do.  I may love singing, but I can be insecure about it too.  I have been doing this since I was little, and I have been told a lot about singing, but one thing that I remember is "you can't sing high notes".  I have always been scared of doing it, because I didn't know if it would come out right.  But this time, while recording, the staff gave me time to prepare.  It took a while, but came out with a BANG!  Only then did I feel I could sing high notes in public without fear.  I felt like entering new singing territory.  After that, I thought "I can sing high notes!  I'm not that bad", and I felt like I had won a battle (laughs).

- The moment you broke out of your shell was left in the recording, wasn't it?  It was very pleasant and relaxing to listen to.

We discussed changing the melody, but I didn't want to do that.  I wasn't very good at singing, but even after graduating from the group, I have practiced more than just dancing.  I have thought a lot about singing, and I have found some methods to produce high notes.  It feels that I tried it a lot while recording LAZER.

- This is an episode that shows the stoicism of Riho Sayashi.  When you look at the 5 songs from a distance, what do you feel?

- I am not a very confident person, but I feel I can deliver these 5 songs with confidence, and I mean that.  I gave a lot of thought to the words and melodies and how they convey my intentions, and I feel I am there, in the songs.  I only made 5 songs, but they are songs I will be able to sing for a long time, since they can represent different emotions at different times.

Welcome to a new morning

- DAYBREAK means dawn.  Did you come up with the title after all the songs were recorded?

- No, before.  I was in Morning Musume, and I wanted to pay tribute to the group, while also expressing the feeling that I am starting a new morning.  I also thought that the word dawn can describe a fresh start.  I didn't want something too complicated.

- I see.  It's a wonderful title that expresses your determination, as well as your gratitude for the past.

- I still struggle with self-acceptance, but through this album, I feel more positive about myself.  That's why I think these 5 songs reflect who I am now, and I couldn't have made them a year from now.

- The postponed live performance will finally be held on August 9th.  Now that you have a record, it will probably be different than what you initially planned, right?

- Yes, the plan is to perform the songs.  We are still working on the details of the performance, but I hope you will be looking forward to it.

- Of course.  Finally, I was curious about what kind of artist you want to be in the future.  Do you want to reach an overseas audience?

- Right now, I don't want to plan too far ahead, or to think of my abilities, such as speaking English, as weapons I can use.  After making this album, I realized I want to express myself through the songs, as I am this moment.  To do that, I need to broaden my range of expression.  I want to continue writing songs about who I am now.

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/sayashiriho 

Rihokora #29 - Aug 7, 2021 - Cooling down

 Memories of summer

What are everyone's memories of this summer?

In case you haven't noticed, we're in the middle of the summer.  When it comes to work, I feel I made a lot of memories this summer.  But I haven't been able to make any memories in my personal life yet...

Are there any summer festivals being held this year?  One of the most memorable summer festivals I've been to is "yu-suzumi-kai" (evening cooling party), which was held at my school, when I was in elementary school.

My school had a very large playground, and the moms' volleyball team, as well as the youth baseball teams would set up stalls there, and a lot of people from the community, children and adults would gather.  There's something special about a summer festival where you know everyone, and you can feel their love for the community.  It's quite different than festivals in a big city.  We would go there every day, and it was a short walk from home.  We were usually not allowed to stay up until late (being children), but on that day I was allowed to stay out with my friends until it was dark outside, and that made it a very happy memory for me.

Thinking of my hometown...

The festival itself may have been fun, but I think what I was most looking forward to was wearing a yukata.  Nowadays, it's fashionable to wear yukata that emphasize your silhouette, but back then there were a lot of fluffy ones that looked like stage costumes.  I was wearing one that was rather flashy, with a pink pattern on a black background.  I wish I could show a photo but I would have to search really hard to find one.

I couldn't wait for the summer so that I could wear that frilly yukata, and I would search in my mother's closet where she kept it, and try it on without telling her.  It was one of those yukata that was easy to put on by myself, you know.  

My mother is the kind of person that keeps old stuff, so maybe she still has it.  Perhaps I should ask her...

We may have 4 seasons in Japan, but I feel that a lot of us (myself included), especially as we get older, lose touch of some of the things that make each season special and fun.

It would be fun, for example, to buy a yukata you like on the internet, and try it on.  If I got to wear a yukata, I would like to do it while playing with senko hanabi (traditional Japanese fireworks).  But doing it by myself wouldn't be fun.  I would like to do it with my friends.

https://wanibooks-newscrunch.com/articles/-/2257

Daybreak ep: Handwritten note, and comments by the co-creators

Former Morning Musume "absolute ace" Riho Sayashi resumes her music career after 5 and a half years, and receives a storm of praise from the album's co-creators

Establishing the independent label Savo-r, and producing her first ep, Daybreak

Riho Sayashi was the "absolute ace" of the idol group Morning Musume.  After graduating, she took a break to study dance and English.  Her first solo ep "Daybreak" is released on day 384 (August 4th of the 3rd year of the Reiwa era).  384 also happens to be her nickname.  Her co-creators have spoken about the release.

  

Her first ep is a work of self-reflection, and for this reason, she established her own label Savo-r.  She says "The day of the release has come really fast.  I have really been looking forward to this day so that everyone can hear the songs".

She added: "These 5 songs are the product of various challenges, and an attempt to present myself the way I am now.  The result is something I am proud of.  The artists that worked on the songs with me have provided their own comments, and reading them will give you a better understanding of the album.  The rest is up to the listener.  I look forward to hearing what everyone's thoughts are." (see the handwritten note below)

Kami Kaoru: "Riho-chan is an artist that can make her co-creators cry"

Gento Miyano

Congratulations on your first ep.  I'm sure it's a work worth listening to all the way through.  "Find me out" is about the past that Sayashi-san has been carrying, and the future she is looking forward to.  I wanted it to be a bridge between the past that becomes a part of us, and the challenges that the future presents.  I hope you follow Sayashi as she makes a new start, going through her own struggles, and finding her own identity.  I can't wait to see where it leads.

Akira Sunset

My first impression of Sayashi when I met her was that of a cute, and quiet girl, but when we began recording and exchanging ideas, I realized she's a person with a very strong character.  Although she was quiet, she had clear ideas, an uncompromising attitude, and was a true professional.  As for the songs, I knew they had to be dance songs, so I wanted "BUTAI" to be a song that couldn't be easily categorized in a genre.  When her serious vocals were added, I felt we accomplished that.  "Simply me" is also a dance song, but we tried to make the lyrics more approachable.  I would like you to continue reaching new heights as an artist.

APAZZI

Her careful and calm judgements during the production process were always on point, and working with her, it became clear that she is a trained performer who knows what she is doing.  We were drawn to her by her passion for the work, and her appeal as a person throughout the entire production!  For "BUTAI" we wanted to create a track that would drive home the coolness of the song and dance performance, and for "Simply me" we wanted a simple sound without any unnecessary elements that would resemble the Neptunes of the early 2000s.  We wanted to create something danceable by using quantization*.  I can't wait to see them on stage!

Note: In digital music processing technology, quantization is the studio-software process of transforming performed musical note, which may have some imprecision due to expressive performance, to an underlying musical representation that eliminates the imprecision. The process results in notes being set on beats and on exact fractions of beats.

orange spotting

Congratulations on the release of your 1st ep!  I wrote "Puzzle" hoping it would become a nostalgic melody and arrangement.  I was touched when I received the wonderful lyrics from Sayashi-san and heard her vocals.  I feel honored to have been involved in this wonderful project.

TAKAROT

We decided on the direction of this song (LAZER) after many discussions with Sayashi-san, and I feel it symbolizes a new beginning.  I hope this song, which contains the wonderful dancing, singing, and expressiveness of Sayashi-san will touch the hearts of listeners like a laser, a light that keeps moving forward.

Kami Kaoru

There are not enough words to describe certain artists, that are creative, and full of ideas.  Riho-chan is one of those artists that can make her co-creators cry.  She is the kind of person that always looks forward without being distracted.  But that doesn't mean she doesn't have her own insecurities or fears of losing her identity as a person.  But it's these fears and internal conflicts that make her suitable for the stage.  I trust such artists and I am glad my path met that of Riho-chan.  Handling a big project such as this one is a hard task for just 1 person, and I want to support her in order to fulfill her destiny.  I'm sure the same is true for the fans.  "LAZER", like a ray of light, is the very essence of her thoughts, her gaze, and life itself.  I hope that, not only Sayashi, but everyone who wants to move forward, determined, like a laser, will be able to unite in a unique moment as Sayashi is performing on stage.  And I hope we can all enjoy it.

https://encount.press/archives/203805/