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Known for such things as singing the theme songs for series including Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal and Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’, “Momoiro Clover Z” (hereafter referred to as Momoclo) is popular in Japan. Aside from appearing with KISS in their 13th single, “Yume no Ukiyo ni Saitemina,” they were also chosen for the huge opportunity of performing as Lady Gaga’s opening act in Japan. They are grabbing the attention of artists both inside and outside Japan. We asked the girls, facing the challenge of their first American performance at Anime Expo, about things including their excitement before the show and anime.
--How are you feeling right now, facing the excitement of your very first performance in America?
Momota Kanako (Momota): This performance in America is our fourth, coming after our performances in Germany, Paris, and Malaysia. I want to treat this precious opportunity with care. There really aren’t many Momoclo performances abroad, so I want this to introduce and lead into more performances.
Reni Takagi (Takagi): Up until now our performances have been as just a single part of an event, and not as main acts. So now, because we’re allowed to really give it our all in a live performance, I’m very excited.
--At these three performances abroad, have you experienced any differences between the mononofu (meaning Momoclo’s huge fans) in Japan and the mononofu abroad?
Shiori Tamai (Tamai): They might not really be different. A while back at AX’s assembly hall we were handing out flyers, and that was the first time we came into contact with fans abroad. Our fans always wear colorful happi coats and wear goods, but I was surprised to see that they were all wearing the same things here. As I thought “where did they get these?” and about how strange it was, I was truly moved by the unity of our fans around the world.
--How were the Live Calls and interludes abroad? Will you be mixing in English?
Takagi: They aren’t really different. But there are fans who come all the way from Japan, too, so those people lead and then the rest of the crowd gets pulled in.
--After your concert in Los Angeles, are there any places or countries where you’d like to perform?
Ayaka Sasaki (Sasaki): It’s still the United States, but of course I’d like to try going to New York! We went to Las Vegas for the PV with Kiss, and now we’re in Los Angeles. Next I’d really like to have a performance in New York.
Momota: When the New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka takes the plate they play a Momoclo song, so it’d make me happy if I could hear a Yankees fan say, “I’ve heard this!”
--You’re also taking on the challenge of singing English lyrics during the Los Angeles performance. Was the practice difficult?
Tamai: Well… I can’t remember the lyrics. There are a lot of places where even the first and second are different, and I get really confused at places where the grammar and vocabulary are similar.
Takagi: Even the cards for remembering the lyrics are all written in katakana, and it was completely exhausting and difficult.
Sasaki: I practiced really hard to remember the English lyrics for the Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ theme song again for this performance.
--At TOM we produce a lot of news and goods related to Japanese anime, music, and manga everyday. Who, among your members, is the most familiar in anime?
Sasaki: Reni-chan is the most familiar, right?
Tamai: She watches the most!
Takagi: I watch a lot with no regard for genre, so I think I watch the most. I like slice of life anime like Tora Dora, Minami-ke, K-On!, and Squid Girl.
--This question is for all of you. Who is your favorite character in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’, which you’re singing the theme song for today?
Tamai: I like Cyborg 18, she’s cute. I used to play the card game with my older brother when I was a kid. The first character card I got was 18. As for guy characters, I like Vegeta. Even in the music video, the setup was that we were each assigned a character, and for me it was Vegeta, so he’s special to me.
Ariyasu Momoka (Ariyasu): I was Chaozu, so for me, it’s Chaozu. To be honest, I didn’t know that much about it then, but as I’m learning about it, I think he’s adorable. I want to try using Chaozu’s psychic powers. Instead of seeing him as doing ordinary things in an anime full of nothing but really strong characters, I see him as wonderful.
Takagi: I like Majin Buu. I started calling him “Buu-san” after the Japanese comedian Boo Takagi. That “Buu” connection was special to me, so he’s my favorite.
Sasaki: It’s the easy choice, but in any anime my favorite kind of character is basically the protagonist, so I like Goku. I end up liking the person put right in the middle, so in Momoclo, it’s Kanako.
Momota: Kya-ah, thank you. I like him, too! Ayaka-chan, you become the heroine right away.
Sasaki: I think so, too. I feel like I’m always been watching the hero from the heroine’s perspective.
Momota: I want to marry Freeza. There’s that charm of a man who’s not agitated by anything. That “I can take down these pathetic enemies one-handed!” adult composure is captivating. He’s a bad guy, but if I was the one person he’d show his smile to, my heart might skip a beat.
Sasaki: It’d be funny if he said, “Kanako, I love you!”
Momota: Hmm… I can’t see that happening, haha.
A female idol group representing Japan. Who knows what kind of performance they’ll show us at this American concert. There are only a few tickets left (as of 7/1). If you’re interested, please click here!
Photo by Kumo Takeda
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.
