Rihomaru will end next week

"Sayashi Riho to marumaru to" aka Rihomaru, the radio show of Riho Sayashi will end on Sunday, September 26.  The show had started in December 2020.  At the end of today's show, Riho said the following:

"I would like to make an announcement.  "Sayashi Riho to marumaru to", which I have been presenting since December, will have its final episode next week on September 26th.  I know this is sudden, but because it will be the last episode, we have been collecting a lot of  emails from listeners.  I would like to talk about my memories of this program, so please listen to it.

Thank you.  I am sad that it's ending, but I will be here next week, and I hope that you join me for the end of the program!  This was Riho Sayashi.  Goodbye everyone, and see you next week!"

The producer of Rihomaru, Kei Takamoto tweeted about the end of the show saying the following:

"When considering what kind of program we wanted to do with Riho Sayashi for her new beginning, in the era of Instalive and fan club radio, we thought of creating a place to talk about connections and shared experiences.  I am really grateful that we were able to do the show for this long, and I want to thank the many guests, and their agencies for their collaboration.  Above all, I would like to thank all the listeners who have supported the program.  I would really appreciate it if you listened to the last episode as well.

But this program of course wouldn't be possible without Riho who is the most honest, hard-working, and kind person I have ever met.  Next week is the last episode of this show, but the entire staff would surely like to work with her again one day.  The words of Matsuoka-san when she appeared on the show have touched me deeply.  I truly hope that Sayashi-san (as Matsuoka said) leaves this nest to fly to something even better."

Finally, in a story published in the Fall 2021 issue of CREA magazine, "celebrities that love radio" were asked to name their favorite radio shows, and one of the 20 programs chosen was Rihomaru!  This is how Rihomaru was described in the magazine:

"Former member of Morning Musume, Riho Sayashi, presents the real face of her famous guests.  She has had lively conversations with personalities such as Kyoko Koizumi, Nocchi (Perfume), TAKAHIRO, Yudai Chiba, Ikura (YOASOBI), Nobuyuki Sakuma and many others."

Rihokora #32 - Sept. 18, 2021 - Rosutai(mu) (Lost time)

 Wanting to interact with people

I went to a specialized butcher shop the other day.  I usually buy most of my meat at supermarkets, but sometimes I go to butcher shops.

It's been a while since I had a proper conversation with a stranger, and this is what usually happens at supermarkets:

- Do you have a loyalty card?

- Yes.  Here it is.

- Do you have your own bag?

- Yes, I do.

This is where the conversation usually ends.  At the supermarket where I usually go, I even know in what order they will ask me these questions, so I show them my card and bag before they even ask, so that I don't waste any time.  Which leads to almost no conversation at all.

I was planning to make a hamburger steak that day, so I wanted to order 250 grams of beef and pork, but they didn't appear to have any meat left, and I was worried I may not be able to buy any to make hamburgers.  But the gentleman working there smiled and said "Don't worry!", and proceeded to grind the meat and prepare it in front of me, saying "It's fresh!".  His smile was enough to make me happy and think this is a good day.  I never knew that just one word can fill one's heart with joy.  It's something different than the usual, I guess.

No waste in life...

I was reminded of when I would only use self-checkout machines at convenience stores, or when I would buy things and schedule my time based on what I considered efficient, and not what I wanted, so that I wouldn't waste any time, which is something I regret.  

This doesn't mean of course that we should be wasting time.  But it's not all about "efficiency, efficiency"!  While machines have replaced human beings at many places, people still have a role to play.  While the world is becoming more convenient, we shouldn't forget this feeling (of interacting with other people).  People can find purpose and create enjoyable moments, even on occasions that appear to be a waste of time.

I often watch the fortune telling segments on morning talk shows, or in magazines, and they sometimes say things like "if you take a different road to school or work, you may have new encounters or discoveries", which is something I agree with.  I encourage everyone to try that.  I think good things will happen if you do.

I always wear black or white clothes for example, but today, I guess I will wear red.

Even if it feels like you are wasting your time doing useless things, as long as you follow your heart, you may come across new stimuli, and unexpected happy events.

Ah, by the way, the hamburger was, thankfully, delicious!

https://wanibooks-newscrunch.com/articles/-/2390

Very short Riho Sayashi Anan interview about fashion

 

- How comfortable is the dress made of semi-synthetic fibers and the knitwear made of natural materials?

- Both were so comfortable, I felt I could sleep in them! (laughs)

- Are you usually interested in sustainable fashion?

- I am not really the type of person that buys a lot of clothes but recently I've noticed that more and more people around me are making sustainable clothes.  I would like to pay more attention from now on to clothes that are environment-friendly.

- Outside of fashion, what other eco-friendly things do you do?

- I always carry an eco-bag (reusable bag) with me, I try not to use plastic bags, and I also bring my own bottle from home to drink when I'm thirsty.  There are a lot of kawaii eco-friendly items around these days, and it's fun to choose the ones you like.  I enjoy doing this, so it doesn't bother me one bit.

https://plus.ananweb.jp/eco/shoco/26372/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Riho Sayashi new drama "MomoUme"

 "MomoUme" is a new Hulu drama based on a very popular youtube anime, with more than 100 million total views.  4 episodes of approximately 9 minutes each will air every Friday at 9 pm JST.  The first episode aired on September 10th. The series has a total of 40 episodes.

"MomoUme" is about two OL (office ladies/office workers) from different generations: the 24 year old Momo-chan, and the 40 year old veteran Ume-san, who unexpectedly become good friends.

Riho Sayashi plays Yo-chan, one of the main characters in the story.  

She has the purest heart out of all the workers in Momo-chan's class.  She takes her work, romance, and relationships very seriously, and she often goes for advice to Momo-chan, and  another worker, whose real name is a mystery, but everyone calls Osha kuso nee-san (played by Chiaki Kuriyama of Kill Bill fame).

Riho's comments:  

"Last year my father recommended the original anime and I immediately became addicted to it.  I never thought I could become part of this project, so I'm really happy!

I hope I can express Yo-chan's warmth and kindness.  I was nervous on the first day of shooting because it was just me, Ito-san (Momo), and Eguchi-san (Ume), but it was a lot of fun, and we were laughing the entire time.  I hope we can deliver this same atmosphere on screen."

MomoUme can be viewed on Hulu (a free trial is available).  Riho did not appear in the first episodes, but her role is quite significant, so we should expect to see her more in the episodes that will follow.

https://www.ntv.co.jp/momoume/

Riho Sayashi Real Sound interview - Aug 27, 2021

This is the last interview about DAYBREAK that I will be translating!  It's pretty long but one of my favorites with a lot of interesting comments about how she was traumatized by negative comments as a young girl, and how living abroad and going through a lot of difficulties, changed her.

There were times when I thought "I wish I could do it all over again"

- I always enjoy listening to your radio show.

- I'm glad!  I'm surprised by how many people listen to it.

- The episodes with Kumi Koda were especially interesting.

- I've been a fan of hers since I was in kindergarten, so when I met her in the studio, I started crying.  I was worried that I was talking too much because of my excitement but I'm glad you thought it was interesting.

- Koda-san told you that she thought it was good that you were in Morning Musume when you didn't know anything about the world, and then went abroad to study as a teenager.  Also that when you look back at those experiences one day, you will realize they were all useful.  I thought that DAYBREAK reflected the experiences you had abroad.

- Yes.  If I had written lyrics while in Morning Musume, I don't think I would have been able to look at myself from a distance.  I would have been too impulsive.  But in DAYBREAK I was able to combine my impulsiveness with the ability to look at myself objectively.  I agree that taking some time off to study abroad and reflect on myself, helped me with this project.

- You went abroad when you were 17, right?

- Yes.  I had become impatient while thinking about my future, and my personality.  It's not that things weren't good.  I just felt I needed to do more things and become more mature in order to broaden my horizons.  I wanted to become more spontaneous, and take initiatives.  I wanted to make my own decisions, so I decided to graduate at 17 and go to New York to study.

- At the time, I remember thinking "This is a really good situation for Sayashi.  Why is she leaving?"

- After Sayumi Michishige graduated, I had the chance to lead the group, and we had a good atmosphere when performing, but I was dealing with my own issues at the time.  It was difficult to keep pretending that everything was ok.  It was bad for me, and bad for the group, because I was a leader in the group, and didn't want to give a bad impression of where we were headed in the future.

- What was bothering you exactly?

- It wasn't one thing.  I was 17 and a lot of things were happening.  It's a long story, but it was difficult for me.

- You studied abroad for about 2 years, right?

- I didn't speak English, so I first studied the language, and by the time I began dancing lessons, I was able to communicate in English.

- Is it true that you attended 4 schools?

- My favorite genres are hip hop and street jazz, and the dancing techniques I can learn, differ from teacher to teacher.  I thought "I want to go to this person's lessons, and to this person's lessons etc." and I ended up going to 4 schools.

- The other day, YOSHIKO-sensei, choreographer of Hello! Project appeared on the youtube channel of DJ KOO and said you were the best dancer in the history of Hello! Project.

- fufu (hehe) I see (laughs).  I didn't think she would say that.

- Your dancing was highly praised in Japan, but how was it in another country?

- There were of course dancers better than me, but I'm happy to say I received a lot of praise there too, mostly for my ability to feel the sound, and how I expressed myself.  Even if the culture and language are different, we enjoy the same things when it comes to dancing.

- In the Morning Musume 20th Anniversary Official Book, published in 2018, you had said you were thinking of becoming a dance instructor, right?

- At the time, I didn't want to be in the public eye.  When thinking about the future, teaching dance classes, or working abroad seemed more realistic options.

- I was curious, what was the most important thing you learned abroad?

- I realized how small my world was.  I'm talking about my way of thinking of course.  When in New York, an acquaintance invited me to meet a local tap dancer and a hair stylist, and they were all so proud of their work.  And their sense of fashion was completely their own.  They had pink hair, wore crop tops, had tattoos, but were honest people and dedicated to what they were doing.  Meeting such people made me realize how judgmental I used to be.  I had prejudices about other people, but also about myself.  Meeting different people in New York made me realize I was putting limits on myself, and how I interacted with others.

- And this leads to the first song of the ep, "Find me out".  The lyrics about riding the rails of unspoken rules, and hiding in the back, describe exactly what you just told me.

- That's right.  In the past I wasn't able to think about my life, so it's good that I was able to deal with these issues, one by one.  It's true that my experience abroad has influenced how I live now, as well as my music.

- After returning to Japan, in March 2019, you participated in Hinafes 2019.

- I was staying with my parents, and got a call about whether I would like to participate at the anniversary concert.  My first reaction was that I can't just show up while the other girls have been working hard all these years.  But my generation mate, Mizuki Fukumura, told me "I want us to do it together", so I did it.  Thanks to Hinafes, I had more job offers, and I became more positive about the future.

- Then, in September 2020, you announced you had joined Japan Music Entertainment.

- When the agency approached me, the first thing they asked me was "What kind of work do you want to do?"  My first thought was "I want to sing and dance".  But of course, they are mostly an acting agency.

- Right, they have actors like Ryoko Shinohara, Kyoko Yoshine, Yudai Chiba, and others.

- So I asked "If I join the agency, will I be able to do music?", and their response was "We will support you in any way possible.  If you want to do music, that's what we will do".  So I agreed to join.

- At what point did you decide on your style as a solo artist?

- At first, I wasn't sure what to do.  I like all genres of music, so it was hard to pick one.  However, as the songs were being written, I felt we were keeping a good balance; on one hand trying different things, on the other hand, having a cohesive message.  I feel what's most important is to make meaningful music.

 - You have said on the radio that work which aims only at a specific audience, won't reach anyone.  I feel you made use of these words when making this album.  It's a project that neither runs away, nor hides, and exposes the heart of Sayashi.

- That's what I had in mind, and I'm glad that's what you received from it.  I've been in this world since I was 12, and I used to think "What will people say if I write such lyrics?".  But I realized these were just fears, and I decided to do what felt right.

- In "BUTAI" I like the line about having no choice, but to follow the path you have chosen.

- There's always a fear of failure when trying something, but not doing anything at all, is worse.  When I compared the risk of failing because I tried, to failing because I didn't try, I thought I would be happier if I did the former.  I realized that the more careful and conservative I was, the more I would regret it in the future.

- How did you make that decision?

- I couldn't have done it alone.  It was thanks to the people I worked with, who encouraged me to do so.  I'm glad I had the chance to meet these people and make music.

- "BUTAI" also has lyrics about remembering the trauma of the past, and going back to a time when you were not afraid of anything.  What does that mean?

- When I was in dance school, as an elementary school student, all I knew was that I loved singing and dancing.  But when I became part of the entertainment industry, I began getting feedback that wasn't always positive.  I was a sensitive child, and those comments influenced me a lot.  If I made a mistake on stage, or was nervous during a performance, I felt that I would be blamed, not just by myself, but others too.  Because I was really traumatized by all that, I wished I could go back to a time when I didn't worry about such things, and only cared about giving my 100%.

- So you wanted to go back in time.

- There are times when I wish I could go back in time, audition again, and do it all over again.  Relationships were much simpler when all I had to say was "Mom, Dad, I love you".  But after having your first fights, or bad relationships with people, you put up defenses, and it becomes more difficult to make friends.

- Meeting people is difficult, isn't it?

- I guess that's how it is when you're an adult, but it wasn't like that when I was a kid.  That's what the lyrics are about.

- So the lyrics that follow about being here because you want to see that, is your answer to this, right?

- Right.  In the end, I was troubled, because I wasn't doing what I wanted.  Growing up we learn of different ways to operate, but what it comes down to is doing what makes you happy.  That's what I realized while writing lyrics.

In part 2, Riho talks about the biggest change after graduating from the group

A record of the "current Sayashi"

- What is the third song, "Simply me", about?

- "BUTAI" is an intense dance track, so I wanted a song where the audience could dance too.  The lyrics are based on the idea of "simple living", and simplicity, along with the groove are what the song is about.

- The lyrics about how it's all up to you, and all you can do is live is very Sayashi-like.

- I think we sometimes postpone things saying "I'm tired" or "It's late right now".  If that's the case, then it's better to change our environment.  Time flies while we're not paying attention, and not doing anything is such a waste.  That's why I wrote about how we need to make a proper use of the little time we have.

- The fourth song, "Puzzle", has a brighter sound, and changes the atmosphere completely.

- It's a song I wrote for a friend.  She's a kind and reliable person, but once I noticed she was sad, and different than usual, and I thought "I wish I had noticed earlier that you have moments when you are vulnerable", and that's what the song is about.

- That's what the first lyrics in the song are about, right?

- It's not in the lyrics booklet, but what it says is that I just realized how important/special you are to me.  When I first heard the track (before writing the lyrics), I thought there was a story behind it, or perhaps it just brought back happy memories.  Out of all the songs that were sent in the competition that we had, this is the only one I chose.

- Was the process different with the other songs?

- Yes.  For "Find me out" I wrote the lyrics first, and Gento Miyano added the music.  For "BUTAI" and "Simply me", Akira Sunset and APAZZI wrote the music first, after I told them what I wanted.  For "LAZER" I had long discussions with TAKAROT-san (composer) and Kami Kaoru-san (lyrics).

- That must be why "LAZER" has such an expansive sound and is the perfect song to end the album.

- When I perform live I really feel like there's a ray of light coming out of my fingertips!  That's where the title comes from.

- So you put your feelings regarding singing on stage in the lyrics, right?

- Yes.  There is a line about how we can't mix, but there is a moment when we do, and that moment is on the stage.  The audience will buy tickets to attend the concert, while I will prepare for it, and we meet on the stage.  I explained to TAKAROT and Kami Kaoru my feelings about how beautiful and unique live performances are when we were making this song.

- So that's all about the first EP.  How do you feel about it?

- I am satisfied of course, but I am not sure I will keep doing the same thing.  It's a record of the current Sayashi.  It was also an opportunity for the listeners to learn what I have in my mind.

- In "Simply me" you talk about how we have to live our limited time properly.  You give me the impression you are in a hurry to do things.

- Me?  In a hurry? (laughs)

- I mean, you're only 23.  You don't have to think so much about the future.

- I feel that I wasted a lot of time while being absent.  There was a time when I didn't leave my house for about a week.  It was easy to do nothing, but I didn't want to be like that.  I spent most of my time having no confidence in myself, and my life was headed in a direction I didn't like.

- For someone so young, you have given these things a lot of thought.

- There are times when I have deadlines, and I just want to give up on everything.  I feel that I'm living on the edge right now.  I like being lazy, but I also like doing things, but I think, in the long run, it's more fun if I don't waste time.

- Well there are people who want to sleep all the time and do nothing.

- I also want to sleep for the rest of my life (laughs).

- I don't think that's true...

- There is a side of me that does, and another side that wants to do things.

- Is that so?  My impression is that you are someone who wants to do everything in a proper way, and also someone who is stoic.  I think that's why you are struggling with so many things.

- Up to this point, I was putting a lot of pressure on myself.  I thought I had to be perfect in everything I did, and I pushed myself to be a person that only cared about my work, and didn't have a personal life.  But I'm not like that, and I was trying to ignore who I really was.  But now I have learned to accept myself, and do what's best for me.

- You can be honest with yourself now.

- Right.  I used to think only of my obligations, but now I also think about what I enjoy.  I may seem stoic, but I think I have changed.  I used to think "How can I reach other people's expectations of me?", but now I think "How can I reach my goals?".  Changing my priorities, changed my outlook on life too.

- During the last 5 and a half years, your mindset has changed a lot, hasn't it?

- I think part of it is that I'm older.  But I have also been influenced by advice I have received and by my experiences.

- What has been the biggest change?

- In the past, when I failed at something, I would immediately give up.  Now, I will instead comfort myself.

- So you used to not believe in yourself, but now you can be more objective about what you are capable of.

- That's right.  I am finally able to confront myself.  I feel I have finally found out who I really am.

https://realsound.jp/2021/08/post-845654.html

Riho Sayashi - BOUNCE magazine interview - Aug 25, 2021

The meaning of what she is doing now

"I love singing and dancing, but when I went on hiatus, I didn't know how my mindset would change, or where I would eventually end up.  So I took time off from work, to study, and do things for myself, and I came to realize that I feel the most alive when I am performing."

In 2011, at the young age of 12, Riho Sayashi joined Morning Musume and rose to prominence.  In 2020, she resumed her career as an actress, appearing on stage and tv dramas.  Then on August 4, 2021 (384 or Sayashi day), she released her solo debut EP "DAYBREAK", which included 5 songs, and made her comeback to the world of music.

"I didn't plan to be away for 4 or 5 years, it just happened, and before I knew it, I was thinking "Oh no!  It's been so long!" (laughs).  But that was the amount of time I needed.  After I left, I used to have dreams while sleeping about performing on stage.  It took me a year or two to look at things more clearly.  I was away for about the same amount of time I was in Morning Musume, but because my time in Morning Musume was so intense, I needed some time off before I returned to that kind of life."

For several years, she was away from the stage doing things such as studying abroad.  So it's likely that there was some hesitation before she decided to return.

"I knew that singing and dancing is what I enjoy doing the most, but there was a time when I was wondering if I should do it as a career or as a hobby, and find a different job instead.  When I opened an instagram account, I was grateful that a lot of people wanted me to sing and dance again, but I also thought "what can I do now?".  If I did the same things I was doing before, they could just watch old videos.  But with the help of many people, I have been able to sing songs in my own words."

She explains why she chose the solo career route instead of joining a group or a band.

"I did think of joining a unit, but I realized the reason I wanted to do that was because I was afraid of the responsibility (of doing it alone).  There's nothing wrong with groups of course, and different things work for different people, but in my case it would be like betraying the Sayashi from 5-6 years ago, who wanted to challenge herself.  And even though I am not very strong mentally, I do like to put pressure on myself (laughs).  I used to have an inferiority complex when it came to singing, but as a result of working on this issue, I feel I have improved a lot.  And I still haven't reached my full potential, I think."

We also asked her about what kind of solo artist she wants to be.

"I don't have any role models, but I grew up listening to artists like Destiny's Child, Beyonce, and Justin Timberlake, and while their early work is great, they keep evolving and trying new things with every new release, while maintaining their personal style.  I have this vague desire to be an artist that makes people say "I like that song", even when I am adopting different styles."

Carefully crafting each song

The title, DAYBREAK or dawn, conveys her determination to make a comeback, and welcome a new morning (also a reference to her past in Morning Musume).  She wrote or cowrote all the lyrics, which was a new challenge for her.

"We decided to do a live concert last year, in the fall.  After that, we decided to write songs, but the decision to release an EP was made quite recently.  Instead of rushing to make a specific number of songs, I was more interested in carefully crafting each song, and the people around me agreed with that.  I don't have any songs other than these 5 and the piano ballad "Ano hi yakusoku shitakara" that I first performed in January.  I actually finished LAZER about two weeks ago (note: I am not sure when the interview was conducted) because it was too complicated (laughs)."

Each carefully crafted song, beginning with "Find me out", which has the speed of a house track, and a modern city pop design, is an expression of her new side as an artist.

""Find me out" is the only song where I wrote the lyrics first, after it was suggested that I do so by composer Gento Miyano.  When we first met, Miyano-san said he didn't want to do something trendy like city pop, but when he read the lyrics, he changed his mind.  I think it's important that we did things that way.  Regardless of the genre, the music was cool, and matched the lyrics very well.  I was worried that the lyrics, which were about my feelings and doubts, were too heavy, but the music brought some balance."

The next song "BUTAI" is a fast-paced dance track that describes the tension on stage when the curtain rises.  It's a song that conveys her thoughts on her comeback and also shows her true potential as a singer and dancer.

"I'm worried I will run out of breath while dancing to this song (laughs).  I wanted a dance track, so at first my lyrics were about dancing, but I felt that if I wanted to be completely honest, the song had to be about the stage itself (note: butai=stage).  Everyone has their own "stage", whether it's work or school.  So I wrote it thinking about the stage as a metaphor for the daily struggles everyone can have."

The next song, also composed by Akira Sunset and APAZZI, "Simply me", is another dance track, but with an exotic touch, and very cool vocals.

"I really like this song.  I think it's a different dance track than "BUTAI", since this is a song where the audience can join.  I want listeners to not focus too much on the lyrics, and enjoy the music."

The 4th track, "Puzzle", by orange spotting, has a fresh sound.

"I chose "Puzzle" out of the many songs that were sent to us because it has a cute and nostalgic sound, and brought back memories.  I immediately wanted to write lyrics for it.  It inspired me to write about invaluable friends, and relationships in general.  I wrote about a friend that has always supported me when I needed help, and how I want to always support this person too.  I was rewriting the lyrics until the morning of the recording, to express my love in the best way possible.  The choreography for this song is both cute and cool (kawaii and kakkoi), and the choreographer did a great job matching it with the lower beats in the song, as I asked her."

Surprising even herself

And finally, there's "LAZER", which is about the feeling of the sun rising.  With lyrics co-written by Kami Kaoru, and music by TAKAROT, the powerful, flash-like sound, expands like a sunrise, creating that DAYBREAK feeling.

"I wanted this to be a song the fans could relate to, and I talked about that a lot with Kami-san and TAKAROT-san.  I told them what kind of person I am, my way of thinking too, we watched old performances of mine together, what music I usually listen to, and then we came up with ideas to make the song.  While the song has elements, such as the presence of synths, of songs that are currently popular, I think it has its own style too, and is very exciting."

She has always felt uncomfortable when recording, but she was able to relax and have fun this time, and the result was that her voice sounded great in this album.  While she has progressed a lot, she still hasn't reached her full potential.

"I used to think I was a person who couldn't come up with her own ideas, which made me wonder "What kind of a person am I?"  Thanks to this project, I was able to better understand myself.  When I read the lyrics, I thought "this is what I'm thinking" or "this is what I like" or "what I want to do", and I am being surprised myself (laughs).  It's fun to make new discoveries every day.  I want to continue working for a long time, so I would like to share these songs with the people who already know me, but also to expand the range of people who listen to my work.  Unfortunately, due to covid, not many people can come to live shows now, but I really believe in the value of live performances, so I hope there will be more opportunities, in the future, to perform live and meet the fans."

After a long period of darkness, the dawn has arrived, and the new Riho Sayashi is here.

https://mikiki.tokyo.jp/articles/-/29474

Rihokora #31 - September 4, 2021 - Chi(mu)purei (Team play)

An interesting story I had not heard of before

When I am at work, I have my make up done by professional make up artists, and I sometimes mistakenly think I'm as good as they are, but...

As I was taking this picture, I was thinking of how differently a professional would have done it.

I wonder why it's so different...

Recently, when I have time, I watch Paralympics.  I find it interesting that the athletes and everyone else involved have their own approach to the competition, and use their own advantages to succeed.  I was wondering about how the athletes deal with disabilities, so I decided to search for interviews and other articles.  And I found an impressive story.

The article was about Daisuke Sato, who plays blind sakka (soccer/football), a sport for athletes that are visually impaired, as a goalkeeper.  Sato (note: goalkeepers must be sighted or partially sighted) is not visually impaired, and his role, in addition to being a goalkeeper, is to guide his teammates by giving instructions during the game.  He says that there is a lot more to his role than just giving instructions on how to press their opponents.  He has been studying how to best communicate with his teammates, and practices every day.

The difficulty of communicating

When I read the article, my first reaction was "that makes sense".  And it also made me think that, regardless of the situation, we all need to think about how to communicate in a way that is easy for others to understand.

In the past, I have chosen the wrong words, which led to misunderstandings and problems.  For this reason, I always try to think about whether my words and actions are appropriate.  Especially in the day and age of SNS where our daily instagram posts or casual tweets can, literally, be read around the world.

Therefore, I believe it is important for all of us to express what we have in mind as accurately as possible, while also thinking of how our audience will perceive what we say.

When I was discussing this topic with my manager, we reached the conclusion that, the way we communicate with others, makes us who we are, and adding up these efforts at communicating is what creates relationships.  I want to give more thought to this topic.

To go back to the article, I feel it influenced my thinking a lot.  For example, during the rehearsals for my live performance, I was thinking that I should be more direct when making requests to the staff.  But instead of speaking, I could have used gestures so that we didn't have to stop the music.

This is another example of chimupurei (team play) that helps build a relationship of mutual trust.

https://wanibooks-newscrunch.com/articles/-/892

Junkyouju Takatsuki Akira no Suisatsu Ep. 5 - Riho Sayashi interview & Synopsis

- Please tell us about the role of Nanako Katsuragi.

- Nanako, who I play, is 23 years old, and really wants to be a voice actress.  She moves to Tokyo, despite her parents' objections, but every time she moves, mysterious phenomena occur.  When I read the script I thought she was a straightforward person.  She acts younger than her age sometimes (laughs), and can be a bit naive.

- What do you have in common with Nanako?

- I'm the type of person that has a hard time choosing what to have for lunch (laughs), but when I think "this is it!", I become very stubborn and nothing can change my mind.  When I was in Morning Musume, for example, I thought "I want to study abroad!", so that's one similarity we have.  Also, Nanako is from Kyushu, and I am from Hiroshima, so we both came to Tokyo from the countryside.  Thankfully my parents have always been very supportive, but if they were not, I probably would have done the same thing Nanako did.  She's very similar to me, so I played the role with a lot of enthusiasm.

- The character has some scary experiences.  What scary experiences have you had?

- This is such a coincidence (laughs), but I had a scary experience at my house while shooting this drama!  I returned home, and music began playing on my phone, which was about 10 meters away from where I was.  I thought "did I set that as my ringtone?", but no, and it wasn't a timer either.  There are of course smart appliances that respond when you speak, but my phone began playing music, without me having said anything.  I said to myself "eh?!" (laughs)

- What was it like working with Inoo-san (Inoo Kei)?

-  The image I had of Inoo-san was that of an extrovert, who shares his feelings with everyone, and that impression became stronger after meeting him.  He's a person who talks to everyone, including myself, casually, and creates a very positive atmosphere.  Today, I was shooting with Inoo-san and Okada-san (Okada Yui), and during breaks we had a lot of fun talking about curry shops.  We shared information on which ones are the best, and I can't wait to explore them (laughs)!

- What is your impression of Jinguji-san (Jinguji Yuta)?

- I hadn't met Jinguji-san before, but I've seen him dance on tv with King & Prince and I thought "amazing!"  But when I met him in person, he was very kind and polite, despite being the same age as me.  While filming, Inoo-san and Jinguji-san were concerned about their flexibility and made it their goal to improve.  They asked me if I'm flexible, and I showed them an exercise, reaching the floor with my hands.  When I told them I do a lot of stretching before I perform, both of them said they do very little stretching, and my response was "it's really impressive you can dance like that without warming up properly!"

- What about Okada-san?

- I only had the chance to meet Okada-san once.  Today was the first time we had the chance to properly talk, and we talked as if we had known each other for a long time!  She was probably worried that as a guest star, I wouldn't be as close to the regular cast, and spent a lot of time talking to me.  I think she's a couple of years younger than me, but she's a very caring and lovely person.

- Please give a message to the viewers.

- Episode 5 is a bit scary.  Mysterious events occur, but it has a feelgood ending.  I hope everyone is looking forward to how it will end!

Episode 5 Synopsis: The episode features a young woman, Nanako Katsuragi, who has come to Tokyo to chase her dreams, but ends up consulting Associate Professor Takatsuki because mysterious things keep happening, no matter how many times she changes apartments.  Professor Takatsuki (Inoo), and Ruiko (Okada) head to the real estate agency, and meet Nanako's landlord and his son.  Is Nanako cursed?  Will Takatsuki meet a real monster?  Stay tuned... 

The episode will air on Saturday, September 4th, at 23:40 (11:40 pm) on Tokai TV, and Fuji TV.

https://www.fujitv-view.jp/article/post-369044/

Riho Sayashi Entame NEXT interview - Aug. 19, 2021

 Another interview from before the DAYBREAK concert.  I think that many of these interviews took place on the same day, and some of Riho's answers were included in several publications.  Here I have translated only the answers that haven't appeared somewhere else.  It's a rather funny interview, with some original questions!

- You have introduced some of your favorite dance videos on instagram and in your columns, but do you have any favorite songs or artists when it comes to music?

- I listen to a lot, but only at a superficial level (laughs).  Hmm... right now I'm into millennium parade, and I play their music a lot at home.  It's like, the sound hits all the right spots, or maybe I just like it (laughs).  It makes me want to dance, and it makes me feel good, so I listen to it a lot.

- Other than teineina kurashi (="polite living" or a minimalist lifestyle) and comedy, what else are you interested in right now?

- I've always wanted to play an instrument, and I often start and stop playing, but I decided I wanted to play guitar, so I bought one at the beginning of the year.  I became discouraged and stopped practicing after a while, but I have been practicing hard again for about a week now, because I don't want to do all the important things I have to do right now (laughs).  So I'm doing it to pass the time, but I'm gradually getting better.  It feels a lot like studying English, and my fingertips have been hurting.

- You also played on the radio, right?

- I was terrible, but I've improved a lot since!

- Maybe you will do a concert one day?

- Maybe in 10 years (laughs)!

- I look forward to it!  You have always seemed to be a shy person, but now you are working with people you've never met before on the radio and in dramas.  How has it been for you?

- I've always been shy and reserved at first, but once I get to know someone, I talk a lot.  On the radio, I try to do my best, and to create a fun atmosphere, so that my guests will feel comfortable enough to open up to me.  Working on dramas is different.  There are people who are very cooperative, and others who are very shy.  I am grateful to those who try to help me out, but if the other person is also shy, I try to say something like "It's a little hot today, isn't it?" (laughs)

- So you talk about the weather, right? (laughs)

- That's the golden rule (laughs).  I also say things like "You're early today, aren't you?"  I try to start a conversation despite being shy myself.

- When you were in the group, you didn't seem to talk a lot about yourself, but now you have many opportunities to do that on the radio or in other media.

- I may be the host of my radio show, but I'm not an interviewer, and I don't see the point of being there if I just listen.  I've always thought that it wouldn't be my show if I didn't share my own stories, so it's a conscious choice to do so.  Especially on the radio, where you can only hear my voice, I try to convey who I am as a person.  I'm also worried that my guests will take over the show (laughs).

- You said recently that you want to be an interesting person.  Tell us of a time where you thought you were interesting lately!

- It's funny but there are times when I think "Why am I doing these things?"  For example, the other day I was drinking coffee before leaving the house, and when I was about to walk out the door, I still had the cup in my hand and went "ahh..." (laughs)

- So did you go out (with the cup)?

- Almost (laughs).  There are also times when I have forgotten something at home, but when I return home I can't remember what it was (laughs).

- It's difficult living by yourself, but it's good that you are talking to people, right?  But I think your fans are looking forward to those funny stories.

- They are?  Well, I'm glad I am giving them what they want (laughs).

https://entamenext.com/articles/detail/12780/1/1/1

Riho Sayashi: I will make it to Budokan on my own (Crank-in! Aug 8, 2021)

 Another interview from right before the DAYBREAK concert.  I wasn't planning to translate it since it was so long ago and some of the comments Riho made were very similar to what she has said in other interviews, but I liked the title!

With my songs and performances, I want to show who I am now

- You wrote lyrics for all 5 songs in your first solo EP "DAYBREAK".  What kind of thoughts did you put into your solo debut?

- The title expresses my feelings about being able to restart my music career.  It is also a sign a respect for Morning Musume, the group from which I graduated.  After graduating from the group, I stopped performing, and went abroad to study, and now that I am resuming my career after a long time, I feel that it would be meaningless if I didn't deliver song and performances about who I am now.  Otherwise you could just watch the old videos.  I did that with the help of various lyricists and composers.

- You established your own label, Savo-r, with r being the first letter of your name, Riho.  This is an indication of your desire to succeed.  Do you feel differently as a solo artist, compared to when you were in a group?

- When I was a member of Morning Musume, I had a sense of responsibility, and pressure to lead the group and protect its legacy.  It's different now that I am a solo artist.  It's up to me to decide what I want to do, and I don't carry the burden of affecting the other members of the group with my choices.

- You announced the restart of your music career in an instalive.  What was the response from the fans?

- I was very nervous when I made the announcement.  What if the response wasn't what I hoped it would be?  But thankfully it was all very positive, which made me happy.  My return was received warmly, so I thought I can do it.  While I am still the person I used to be, I have also changed in some ways, and I was worried about whether there was demand for me to make music.  I am not doing this simply because there is demand, but I appreciate all the positive responses from fans.

- I got the impression that your voice, and singing style have changed in your news songs.  Is this something you were aware of or did consciously?

- I listen to artists from various genres, and often tell myself "I wish I could sing like this".  In this record, all 5 songs were of different genres, so I tried to give more thought to how I sang.  I've always felt that my voice sounded different during live performances and in studio recordings.  While preparing the record, I researched why my voice sounds different at lives and in the studio, and I think I was able to record my voice so that it sounds more similar to what I sound live.  The voice you have in mind is from 5 or 6 years ago, so of course it has changed, and I think this is what I sound like when I feel good.

By overcoming the trauma of the past, she was able to overcome the difficulties of writing lyrics

- When I talked to you at the end of last year, you had just started writing lyrics and you had told me you were rewriting them over and over again because you felt you had difficulties conveying your true feelings.  It's been half a year since.  Do you feel more comfortable writing lyrics now?

- I am still working on it.  I can't say "this is how you do it" yet, but I don't worry about it as much anymore.  It's like exposing your heart! (laughs)  While making the album, I received advice from writing experts, something manager-san suggested that I do.  I asked a book editor if the language I used was a bit too intense, and I listened to the opinions and advice of various people to make this a good work.

- In the handwritten note you sent to the media before the album's release, you mentioned that you "ran into a big challenge" while preparing the album.  What was that challenge?

- It was that I couldn't sing in a high key in front of an audience.  I had been traumatized by a mistake I had made once on a live tv broadcast.  I can do it when I am alone, but when in front of an audience, my voice wouldn't come out.  When recording this album, the staff understood that, and waited until I was ready.  Because they believed in me, I was able to relax, and sing the high notes.  It felt like a breakthrough, like crossing a mountain in a way, a mountain of bad memories.

- I didn't realize that at all, but I look forward to hearing Sayashi-san singing the high notes at the first solo live.

- I hope I can do it (laughs).  But now that I have overcome the trauma, I have been able to do it while practicing for the live performance.  I want to sing without being nervous, even at live concerts.

Making it to Budokan on her own

- After your first EP and solo live, what are your goals as an artist?

- I would like to have more chances to meet the fans.  The live was postponed in May, and capacity has now been reduced to 50%, and I am really sorry that many people couldn't get tickets.  I hope the situation improves so that more people can see me perform.  As for where I would like to perform, I would say Budokan.  It's a place that all artists dream of.  I had the chance to perform there while in the group, and I am grateful to everyone who supported me, but now I want to go there on my own.

https://www.crank-in.net/interview/92602/1