Chisato Okai (℃-ute) Interview Part 1 Supported by Tokyo Idol Project!

| Hello! Project | Posted by zoomie on Jul.29.2015

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Tokyo Idol Hyakkei is a series to have famous idols introduce their special place in Tokyo. Today’s article is an interview with Chiato Okai(℃-ute). She is currently appearing on “Afro no Hen” and she talked to us about the “Yomoyama” story of it along with the speaking skills she learned from it and what she learned from Sayumi Michishige as an idol.

What is Culture?

-We have been able to see you more and more on TV. Please tell us about “Afro no Hen”.

“Afro no Hen” is a TV show with Nobuhiko Ootani (Dainoji) and Rekishi that introduces “cultures of Japan that aren’t very famous”. I didn’t have any knowledge about culture so I wasn’t very confident when I started appearing, but the staff told me, “It’s ok, just give us the public view”, so I have been on the show just learning new things and it’s very fun.

-When you first heard about “Introduction of Culture”, what did you think?

In elementary school, there was a “Culture Club”, that’s what first came to mind. As I have been listening what Mr. Ootani, I’ve started to understand what culture is. Culture Club was a place to study cultures of many countries, so I guess it’s a bit similar.

-Did any other people who appeared on the show leave an impression to you?

ANI of Suchadaraper had a lot of knowledge about Rap and he taught me very nicely. When I fist met him, I just thought he was just a guy that knew a bit about Rap, but when I found out that he was the one singing “Konya wa Boogie-Back”, I thought “Oh my god! He’s a famous person!”. My parents say the show on TV and told me to be more careful, I wish I had realized earlier. He taught us the history, as I am involved with music, it was really nice to know this stuff. Our new song “Gamusha LIFE” has rap in it, but I kind of felt it was different from the Rap ANI taught me so I couldn’t remember his advice.

-Anybody else you remember?

Music producer Kouichi Tsutaya who knows a lot of birds left an impression too. I gave my dad a really good camera for his birthday, and Kouichi said it was perfect for taking pictures of birds. But I’ve only seen him carrying around the camera only 4 times and each time, he was showing off that it was a really good camera.

How did I speak Japanese!?

-“Afro no Hen” seems like it’s been stimulating you a lot.

Having a lot of knowledge is an incredible thing. I first met Mr. Ooya on a radio show. I had the image that he was famous in the “radio world”, but I also respect him for having many stories of many music genres, and so many words of courage to give to people. He just has so much knowledge and he just has everything in order to live in this world. I only have knowledge on Kyosuke Himuro, and I thought I should have more knowledge on things. The other day, there was a part of the program for me to introduce Kyosuke Himuro. I haven’t been able to talk much on the program, so it was very exciting.

-You have a 30 second free talk corner, “Chisato Okai’s Let’s make contents more fun!”. Is this difficult?

I always panic a little and even think “How did I even speak Japanese?”. I looked back at how I’ve been explaining things to people and realize how bad at it I was. This bummed me a bit.

-Watching your live MC and talking, it seems you’ve improved your skills though.

We have been preforming as ℃-ute for over 10 years, but we have only been on TV probably like 10 times. I haven’t been on talk shows and variety shows much so I wasn’t very confident in talking. If I talk strangely in our live MCs, our fans help me by telling me they don’t understand what I’m trying to say. The staff of the show have been telling me often now to think for my self when I’m about to start talking. On TV, comedians and announcers tell me if I am talking weirdly, but if it’s just us, we have to be able to carry things by ourselves. I hope we can improve our talking skills more so we can be perfect no matter what we perform in.

-Is there anything you have been doing to improve your talking skills?

The best thing is to do is experience things. I’ve been able to be on TV more and more lately, but when it was my first time on TV, I was so nervous I couldn’t talk at all. I’m not very good with Japanese, and I’m not a fast thinker, so I often regret saying things after I’ve said it. When I reflect back at the TV shows I’ve been on, I couldn’t even notice it when comedians were trying to give me a chance to talk. But at the same time, when I am able to introduce the contents in my corner, within the 30 seconds, I feel proud.