Dekami-chan and Yaguchi Mari talk about female idols of the 2000s

In the early 2000s, Morning Musume was the only idol group that stood out. Furthermore, the nature of television programs was completely different. Morning Musume was formed through the audition program "ASAYAN." Furthermore, there were many music programs ("B") such as "HEY!HEY!HEY!" and "Utaban." They were fortunate to emerge in an era when there were few idols but many music programs.

The influence of "ASAYAN" was incredible. Why did you decide to enter the idol world in the first place?

I loved singing in front of people. And the impact of SPEED on the scene was huge. They're the same generation as you guys. When they first appeared, I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to make it in the entertainment industry if I continued like this (laughs).

In 1990, at the age of 15, she joined Morning Musume as a second-generation member. At the end of that year, she made her first appearance on the Red and White Song Battle, and she quickly became a national idol.

As expected, the influence of "ASAYAN" was incredible. Since the group was formed in 1997, documentaries covering the recording, the battle for parts, and auditions for additional members were broadcast almost every week. Thanks to that, everyone knew about us.

I'm sure there are many people who have watched the actual audition footage and felt like they could become an idol.

While "ASAYAN" made them known to many people, I think that on music shows, the members' personalities became more prominent and people got to know them. Talk was especially essential on "HEY!HEY!HEY!" and "Utaban." It was through these exchanges that the members' personalities really came out.

Yaguchi also makes a strong impression as an MC and talker.

But at the time, I wasn't able to handle things well and spent my days regretting it. I was also known as a committee chairman, a reliable character. Looking back, being entrusted with All Night Nippon [C] was a big turning point for me. I had to think up what to talk about every week in order to talk by myself for 90 minutes. I gradually got used to it, and I think talking became my weapon.

Idols tend to be more popular if they have something they're not good at. To put it in extreme terms, even if they're good at singing but not so good at dancing, they can still sell if their performance resonates with people. There's no advantage in being solid overall (laughs). In that sense, Yaguchi might be the first idol in history to be a solid character but still be a hit.

When I appear on TV, I communicate well with the program staff.

While appearing on TV, radio, and other media, you also have to attend live shows and lessons. You've always said that "health is the most important thing for an idol," but what were your days like back then?

It's all about stamina. Maybe it's because I worked so hard, but even now I rarely get sick. But I remember very well the one time I got sick from eating oysters. In that state, I went to Okinawa to participate in an event...

Since then, I've started to refrain from eating my favorite oysters the day before an important job (laughs). Aside from the physical aspect, I was shocked by the swimsuit photo shoot job. I didn't want to do it, but I guess that's what it means to be an idol.

Nowadays, it seems like saying no to work is becoming more accepted, but in the past, it wasn't so easy. Morning Musume and other Hello! Project units are also appealing. Yaguchi was also active in Tanpopo and Minimoni.

I was always active in two or three units at the same time. Lessons, live shows, more lessons... I would change my mood every time I changed costumes.

How did you stay motivated?

Living at home was the biggest emotional support for me. My laundry was done and I could eat delicious food. I commuted to work three hours round trip every day. I stayed in hotels a few times, but I didn't feel comfortable there, so I soon went back to commuting back to my parents' house.

AKB48 debuted in 2005, around the same time that Yaguchi left Morning Musume. The concept of "idols you can go and see" was fresh and different from the idols that had been idolized on TV up until then, and they actually became a national phenomenon. What did you think of them at the time?

It was something new. As an idol, I felt that they were very proactive in interacting with their fans and working very hard. Each member has great potential in singing and dancing, and they are also very strong mentally. If you're not selected as a member of the senbatsu group, your voice won't be included on the CD. I became an idol because I wanted to sing, so I think it's a very tough environment for me.

By the beginning of the 2010s, words were coined to symbolically describe the three groups: Hello! Project for their talent, AKB for their hard work, and Momoiro Clover Z for their full power.

That's an interesting way of putting it. Even though I'm aware that I'm favoring the younger generation, I think Hello! Project is the best at singing and dancing. Momoclo really gives it their all.

They opened for us at a concert towards the end of the 2000s. The first two rows were filled with their fans. That was basically all there was, but I remember being amazed by their uncompromising performance.

In terms of Morning Musume and Momoclo, Momoclo is like the sun shining down on us from above. I feel like Morning Musume is like someone who sits beside us and encourages us by saying, "Do your best!" At the time, did Tsunku♂ [D] ever talk to you about the image of the group?

I don't remember anyone telling me that directly. However, even back then I could sense that the direction of our songs had changed, especially after "LOVE Machine."

"LOVE Machine" has the slogan "Japan's future is..." and "Love Revolution 21" has the slogan "The Earth has seen it all." Japan! Humanity! The Universe! Love! These songs now contain bigger messages that transcend gender.

They may have wanted to do something different from SharanQ, but I don't know their true intentions.

Even today, there are many idols who are active with unique and attractive personalities. What would you do if you were 15 years old and wanted to become an idol?

The situation is completely different now. If you can create buzz on social media, you can instantly become a star or two ahead of the rest, but it's difficult. In my next life, I want to become a male idol.

What do you mean? (laughs)

Morning Musume has never had a dome concert. I would like to appear suspended by wires or on a lift. In this life, if that's what my son wants, I would love for him to become an idol. I would like to watch over him as his stage mom.