Kyun Kyun Scans

Afternoon Session

Momo: Everyone, thanks for waiting! I'm Momo-chan!

Yuki: I'm Yuki!

Momo: Together we are...

Both: Re:vale!!

Momo: Everyone! Thank you for coming all the way to Makuhari in this heat! Our 16-member tour has finally begun! Together with our adorable juniors, we're going to make this show even hotter than summer itself! So let’s keep that energy going until the very end!

Yuki: Welcome to the VISIBLIVE TOUR 4WARD JOURNEY! Our happy tour starts right here at Makuhari. Immerse yourself in our music to your heart's content today. Let's have a great day!

Momo: Yeah! Hahaha, everyone's full of energy! What do you think of the vibe in Makuhari, Yuki?

Yuki: There's just one thing I’d like to say...

Momo: Oh, what’s that??

Yuki: It was too cold last time, and this time it's too hot.

Momo: Yuki, you can't really function properly unless the temperature is around 20°C [68°F], right? But even when he’s being a downer, Yuki is still handsome!

Yuki: I asked Yamato to tell an icebreaker [TN1] to cool us down, but he refused. He's so shy, you know.

Momo: Hahaha, maybe since you’d just laugh at anything, he thought it wouldn't help! But Yuki is such a beautiful name, with its cool elegance and the beauty of a winter scene of snow softly piling up that it’s like you’re a winter fairy! So just looking at Yuki makes everyone feel like it's winter, doesn't it?

Yuki: Really? Well, shall we give that a try?

Momo: Hm?

Yuki: Alright everyone, would you like to play with a winter fairy?

Momo: I do! I want to play!!!! I wonder what's going to happen next, everyone!

Yuki: Hehehe, let's see. Well then, let's create a wonderful sight together with everyone in this venue. Those of you with penlights, please hold them up, and those of you without, please raise your hands. I'd like you to create a wave in the direction I'm moving.

Momo: Yeah!

Yuki: Alright, let's move over here. Is everyone ready?

Momo: Yes!

Yuki: Here we go!

Momo: Hehehe, hahaha!

Yuki: Hahaha.

Momo: Wow, it's beautiful! Is this the power of a winter fairy!? I feel like this isn’t really about cooling down anymore, but my darling is so handsome!

Yuki: Thanks for your cooperation, everyone. Now, next, I'd like to ask Momo, the spring fairy, to do a wave in the opposite direction. Is that alright, Momo?

Momo: Huh!? I'm going to be a spring fairy!?

Yuki: You're warm like sunshine, and being with you is so comforting, you know?

Momo: Aaah~!

Yuki: So a spring fairy is a perfect fit.

Momo: Yuki~! Everyone! I'm going to be the spring fairy! Are you ready for the wave? Thanks! Alright, I'll move this way! Ready, set, go!

Yuki: Hehehe.

Momo: Waaaaaa!!

Yuki: Wow... how beautiful! Momo the spring fairy is quite the magician.

Momo: Ehehe! Thank you everyone for getting excited with us! Re:vale will be just as hot as this in the middle of summer, so please stick with us!

Yuki: You can enjoy us in the air-conditioned indoors. Alright, let's move on to the next song, Momo!

Momo: Yeah, let's get more and more excited!

Both: Period Color!

Translator Note 1 - Yuki asks Yamato to tell a 寒い駄じゃれ, which means a corny joke, but translates literally as a "cold joke." So I went with "icebreaker" to try to keep that pun.

----

Evening Session

Momo: Everyone, thanks for waiting! I'm Momo-chan!

Yuki: I'm Yuki!

Momo: Together we are...

Both: Re:vale!!

Momo: Everyone! Thank you for coming all the way to Makuhari in this heat! Our 16-member tour has finally begun! Together with our adorable juniors, we're going to make this show even hotter than summer itself! So let’s keep that energy going until the very end!

Yuki: Welcome to the VISIBLIVE TOUR 4WARD JOURNEY! Our happy tour starts right here at Makuhari. Immerse yourself in our music to your heart's content today. Let's have a great day!

Momo: Yeah! Haha. We've performed live in Makuhari several times now, but seeing everyone's smiles always makes me happy, Yuki!

Yuki: That's right. I'm sure even when I’m an old man, I’lll keep making music for everyone and for you.

Momo: Kyaaaa! I'll follow you forever! Even if I become hard of hearing, I want to keep hearing your singing voice next to me!

Yuki: Really? Will you stay by my side and keep calling me "handsome!" the whole time?

Momo: Of course! Even if you go, "Huh? What did you say?", I'll say it again and again!

Yuki: Ahahaha. That's reassuring.

Momo: Ehehehe! Our future selves will also continue to work while never forgetting our pure feelings!

Yuki: Pure, huh...

Momo: Yeah!

Yuki: I understand using it to describe you, but that word doesn’t really fit me at all, does it?

Momo: Huh?! Of course it does! Yuki certainly has the triple threat qualities of 'dignity', 'sex appeal', and 'beauty'...

Yuki: Yeah.

Momo: But you’ve always been super duper pure!

Yuki: Like when?

Momo: Like when I brought home some rice I got on sale at a great price, you were so thrilled, your eyes sparkling with excitement! Or before payday when you were also incredibly happy that I managed to squeeze out the last bit of toothpaste from the tube!

Yuki: Rather than “pure,”... isn't that just "poor"?

Momo: Whoa!! Well played! You deserve an extra cushion!! [TN2]

Yuki: That’s all, folks!

Momo: Ahahaha! We, Re:vale, are still in top form this summer!

Yuki: Thanks for joining us! But seriously, I do wish someone would bring me a cushion. Is there anyone over there?

Momo: Don’t say that, Yuki! Riku might actually bring you one!

Yuki: I thought it might be nice to sit down while we MC. I mean, we’re the absolute champions, after all.

Momo: Ugh! We just talked about wanting to stay pure a moment ago!

Yuki: You’re right. Well then, I'll be a pure, absolute champion.

Momo: Yeah! So, even though you've been in the industry for a long time, you always feel like a newcomer! Like being the first one to arrive at the set!

Yuki: Huh... what did you say?

Momo: Don’t start going deaf so soon!?

Yuki: Ahahaha, sorry, sorry. If you’ll wake me up, I'll do my best.

Momo: Of course! I'll always be the one to wake Yuki up!

Yuki: Thank you. Now let's wake up even more with the next song!

Momo: Yeah. Let's paint the venue in our colors!

Both: SILVER SKY!

Translator Note 2 - This joke is based on the long-running variety show called Shoten, where the host gives out cushions for funny or interesting answers and the one with the most wins.

And thankfully, they were using the loanwords for "pure" and "poor" so it translated exactly. Even in English they still sound pretty similar.

----

Riku: Everyone, thank you for coming to Visiblive HiGH TENSiON FUSiON! We are - 

All: IDOLiSH7!

Riku: Today, IDOLiSH7 has ended up at Yokohama Mirai Port’s Pia Arena. Is everyone having fun?

Iori: How are you liking it?

Yamato: How’s it been?

Riku: Thanks! Then I think it’s time we introduce the members one by one. Starting with Iori…just playing! With Nagi!

Nagi: Oh! Okay! In a loud voice all together, let’s say hello! Ready, go! Hello~! Thank you very much! I'm very happy to receive everyone's cheerful greeting! Let's make today another wonderful day together! Next, Sogo!

Sogo: Right. Welcome to Visiblive HiGH TENSiON FUSiON everyone! If you don't mind, please show us your penlight and your fans by waving your hands. Thank you very much. I'm very happy to see such a wonderful view. Please continue to wave them a lot. Next is Tamaki-kun. 

Tamaki: Yeah! Guys, are you doin’ good? 

Mitsuki: How’re you?

*cheers*

Tamaki: Thanks! I’m SO GOOD! After the concert, let's all eat some Chinese steamed buns, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and gyoza (pot stickers) and go home feeling even better, ‘kay? By the way, I really chowed down earlier! Yay! Okay, next is Mikki!

Mitsuki: Right. Everyone, thanks so much for coming out to Pia Arena today! Are you enjoying Yokohama? 

Riku: Yay!

Mitsuki: Thank you! We, the 16 members of IDOLiSH7, TRIGGER, Re:vale, and ZOOL, will make this venue as exciting as possible, so please have a lot of fun! Yeah! Now it’s Yamato-san!

Yamato: Roger! Thanks for coming all the way out to Yokohama to see us today! Of course, TRIGGER, Re:vale, and ZOOL are all pretty cool, but we, IDOLiSH7, are the coolest, right? Thanks. You guys are the coolest, too! Okay, next, Ichi! 

Iori: Everyone, thank you for attending Visiblive HiGH TENSiON FUSiON. We will sing to our utmost to ensure IDOLiSH7 puts on the best concert, so please prepare yourselves. Thank you. Let’s all have a good time together. Lastly, Nanase-san please. 

Riku: Thanks again for coming to Yokohama, everyone! Now, I want to do my usual thing. Here we go. Ready? Arena!

*cheers*

Riku: In the stands!

*cheers*

Riku: Lastly, everyone overseas, streaming, and live-viewing!

*cheers*

Riku: Thanks!

Mitsuki: I’m thrilled this year is off to such a great start.

Nagi: Yes.

Iori: Now then, everyone. What comes to mind when you think of Yokohama?

Tamaki: Me! Shumai (steamed pork dumplings)! I haven’t had any yet! 

Nagi: It has been the setting for many anime!

Sogo: It’s also a city that has produced many famous artists!

Yamato: Right, right.

Iori: Everyone, that’s not what I meant. 

Nagi: Oh?

Iori: We did a collaboration here, with Yokohama Cosmo World, don’t you remember?

Riku: You’re right! Of course you’d remember!

Yamato: Have you guys checked out Cosmo World yet? 

Iori: How was it?

*cheers*

Mitsuki: Thanks. The collab period has already ended, but we’d love for you to visit as often as you like.

Tamaki: I struggled to resist munching on the churros and crepes I had for the photo shoot.

Sogo: I was nervous when I saw that too.

Nagi: Yamato looked like a father figure as he guided us around the amusement park while looking at the map.

Yamato: Shut up, I know that amusement parks aren’t really my scene.

Riku: That's not true, Yamato-san! I was happy to ride the ferris wheel with you.

Yamato: Ah yeah?

Iori: That reminds me, we split into groups of Nikaido-san, Rokuya-san, and Nanase-san, and then my brother, Yotsuba-san, Osaka-san, and me for the ride. 

Sogo: Weren’t you afraid of how high it was?

Tamaki: Not at all! I mean, I had fun just ‘cause everyone was there. Right, Mikki? 

Mitsuki: The view of Minato Mirai was beautiful, and Iori was there too, so that was reassuring.

Iori: Nii-san…

Nagi: Being able to walk around with the other members made everything fun! It felt like a family outing.

Yamato: Let's all go together again, to Cosmo World.

Riku: Let's ride a lot of rides again.

Sogo: I hope you all make lots of wonderful memories in Yokohama.

Tamaki: But your first memory is this concert, right?

Tenn: Everyone, welcome to Visiblive HiGH TENSiON FUSiON. We are - 

All: TRIGGER!

Tenn: We’ve missed you. 

*cheers*

Tenn: Thanks. Let’s have a wonderful time together today. First, we’d like to introduce ourselves, starting with Gaku. 

Gaku: Got it. First, let me hear you - are you all excited?

*cheers*

Gaku: Louder! Are you excited?

*cheers*

Gaku: Heh, thank you! Sounds like you guys are ready! We’ll be singing with all we’ve got, so stick with us! Next is Ryuu.

Ryuu: Right! Thank you all for coming all the way to Yokohama today! I'm so happy to see such happy faces! Okay, then I think I'll do the "everyone" thing like these two! Everyone! I love you.

*cheers*

Ryuu: Thanks! Now let’s all fall in love with TRIGGER together! Last, Tenn!

Tenn: Everyone, once again, thank you all for coming to Pia Arena today. Ryuu just gave a great intro, but I feel like I can't let him beat me. Mind if I say something too?

*cheers*

Tenn: Thanks. Here I go… Everyone. I love you deeply. Keep your eyes on only us. *laughs* Let’s have some fun together today, okay?

Gaku: Hey, hey, what’s with you two? You look like you’re enjoying yourselves. 

Tenn: Stop talking about my and Ryuu's fan service with all the enthusiasm of going to a festival.

Ryuu: You should give it a shot, too, Gaku! I bet everyone wants to see some cool fan service from you as well. 

Gaku: Fine then, I will! Guys, I love ya. 

*cheers*

Tenn: Wasn’t that nice, Gaku? Maybe you should try talking with that kind of fan service enthusiasm all the time. You're always so hot-tempered.

Gaku: What the hell’s that? It’s winter now, so it’s better to be hot. 

Tenn: Depends on the temperature. 

Ryuu: Hey now, just yesterday the three of us rode the merry-go-round together so happily…

Gaku: Yeah, it felt like we were kids again. It was fun, right?

Ryuu: Right? We even had a contest for who looked best on the merry-go-round.

Tenn: Everyone. Naturally, I won. 

Gaku: Well, it was unanimous. But if it had been a roller coaster, I would’ve won. 

Tenn: Is that worth being happy about winning?

Gaku: Of course! It’s powerful. 

Tenn: You would focus on that. That’s cute. For Ryuu, I think he’d suit the ferris wheel best. 

Ryuu: Really? I’m glad to hear that. Y’know, I was looking back at the photos we took at the amusement park yesterday and it made me feel really happy I had more memories of the three of us.

Gaku: Ryuu…

Tenn: I’m happy, too. 

Ryuu: You two… the closeness of our MC section kinda feels like Re:vale-san. That makes me happy. 

Tenn: Well, Re:vale-san's MC style is... how should I put it? To put it gently, it's really pretty intense, right?

Gaku: Nothing wrong with that, right? We're great when we nail it, but sometimes it's nice to just have an MC where we all have fun together with every single fan here. Right, guys?

Ryuu: Thanks everyone! The three of us will keep working hard this year so stick around! 

Tenn: Thank you very much. Hearing your voices call out to us is truly encouraging.

Masaki Erika-san's relationship with IDOLiSH7 began with the group's song "MONSTER GENERATiON." This song was also the debut song for i7 as a whole.

"When I saw the materials they gave me at the time, my first impression was, ‘Wow, these dazzling kids are going to sing this!’ That was over seven years ago."

Masaki also decided on the song's title. A notable feature is the lowercase "i." Since this song, many of IDOLiSH7's songs have included a lowercase "i."

"At first, I wanted to leave a hook, so I chose the title to match the "i" in IDOLiSH7. I hoped the title would leave a lasting impression.

The songs in "IDOLiSH7" are written with the premise that they are actually released by the idols in the show. In particular, songs with an "i" in them give the impression of being released when IDOLiSH7 was making a move or facing a turning point.

"Since each song has meaning in the drama, I carefully read through Tsushimi Bunta's script before writing. Even when I have to finish writing before the script is complete due to schedule constraints, I write after reading the plot outline. When the finished script and song align perfectly, I feel happy, thinking, ‘Maybe I understood it correctly after all.’”

Although she has written lyrics for other groups, by far she writes for IDOLiSH7 the most. Having watched the seven members for over seven years, Masaki shared her impressions of them as follows:

"They move forward hand in hand, saying ‘Let's help each other and work hard together,’ but fundamentally, I get the impression they're all standing on their own two feet. They're all different individuals, so they'll probably never fully understand each other. Even so, they're determined to coexist with these ‘others they can never fully understand.’ Especially reading recent scenarios, I feel their resolve to ‘walk this path together as seven, through our own volition.’"

Masaki-san describes herself as “the type who thinks things through logically.” When writing lyrics, she does it all at once, sometimes finishing in just 2-3 hours.

“I decide on the song title first, then concentrate and write it all out. The one that took the longest was probably ‘Sakura Message.’ I think it took about a whole day. That song required hiding a code in the first chorus.”

“Sakura Message” is the song that made Kensho Ono say in an interview that it “gave him goosebumps.” Someone bribed the lyricist to sneak “a certain message” for Nagi Rokuya into this song's lyrics.

“The request was, ‘We want to use this as a threatening letter, so we want you to include a code.’ Of course, I was surprised, but I thought it was incredibly interesting. Bunta-sensei, who came up with the idea, is a genius after all. I doubt we'll ever have to hide a threatening letter in lyrics again, so I threw myself into the work and had a lot of fun.”

The key to deciphering the code lies at the beginning of the song:

"I think just two letters will do just fine, though I struggled to find just the right words.

One week later, we just need to piece these notes back together"

"One week later" means the seventh letter, then add the following sounds to be the "two letters." By looking at the lyrics sheet and stringing together two letters from each line, a certain phrase emerges. Seeing that phrase, it makes sense why Ono-san got goosebumps. [1]

"At first, I thought it was fine if people didn't notice the code until it was revealed in the story. Maybe it's a happy thing for the beautiful melody to remain just that. But after releasing it, more people started noticing it over time. That brought me joy too."

 Knowing the code is hidden makes it seem terrifying, yet both the lyrics and melody of this song are incredibly beautiful.

“The fundamental premise is that this is a song for IDOLiSH7, celebrating their first anniversary in the story, to convey ‘thank you’ to all the fans. I wrote it hoping to express heartfelt gratitude and kindness that truly seeps from the soul, making sure not to break that core essence.”

At the time, some users said that they found the song difficult to listen to after learning of the code. What does an idol's song mean to their fans?

"Songs serve as business cards for idols. New songs are their freshest business cards at that moment. For fans, receiving them is a happy thing, and I think there's also a desire for them to always have wonderful business cards. So I can understand why it becomes painful.

While creators wish for the characters' happiness, they also tend to enjoy giving them a weapon that serves as a hook. Part 4 depicts the story after IDOLiSH7 discovers the code. I felt this song was saved by that bittersweet yet warm story, so I would definitely recommend reading the story."

Words set to song that evolve with time

Every time you listen to a song, it brings back memories. Masaki cites "Nanatsuiro REALiZE" as a particularly moving song.

"I have memories for all of the songs, but if I had to choose, this one made the strongest impression. It's a song that sums up Parts 1 and 2, and the music producer who was in charge of me at the time praised it, saying, 'The lyrics are perfect for IDOLiSH7.' It felt like I'd finally achieved what I was aiming for. It was also striking that the color was a little different from IDOLiSH7's previous songs. At the time, IDOLiSH7 sang a lot of up-tempo songs, but this song is medium-tempo. I felt like it marked a moment where they'd evolved a step further."

"I made changes to the lyrics to match that," says Masaki-san. The lyrics, “Hey, what if instead of looking to the future, We just lose ourselves in the today?” is one example of those changes.

"I wrote about a change in their perspective, from running forward with hope for the future to becoming absorbed in the irreplaceable 'now' they have as idols. Since this song, I've also changed the words I choose. I avoid saying “I like you” or “thank you” directly. Of course, ‘I like you’ and ‘thank you’ are wonderful words as they are, but it's like the resolution of their words has increased, and they are now able to express their feelings in different ways."

IDOLiSH7's latest song, “WONDER LiGHT,” was written with the theme of a nighttime amusement park. This song, also notable for being composed by Ayase, is currently the opening theme song for the airing anime.

"I inherited the ‘night’ theme from the second season's opening theme song ‘DISCOVER THE FUTURE’, written by Yuki Aira, and was then asked to write ‘THE POLiCY’ for the first cour of the third season, and now ‘WONDER LiGHT’.”

Season 3 has many dark and heavy developments. But I wrote the lyrics hoping to convey the hope found in the darkest of nights, along with the idols' desire to remain idols."

The script guides the lyrics

Within the fixed number of syllables, Masaki-san has woven the idols' dramas and growth into lyrics. The book she brought today, as “a book that shaped Masaki-san,” was Osamu Dazai's Tsugaru.

"Dazai is one of my favorite authors. When I was younger, I thought he was a strange guy (laughs). But as I've gotten older and grown up, I've come to appreciate the beauty and intrigue of Dazai's words. Tsugaru is like Dazai's travelogue, and it teaches me the kind of person Dazai was, the creator of so many masterpieces. The process of learning about the background is somewhat similar to content production, isn’t it."

She also likes mystery novels by authors such as Higashino Keigo, Nukui Tokuro, and Arisugawa Arisu, and reads them often. She says she enjoys the IDOLiSH7 screenplay, which also has a mystery element, not only as a professional but also as a reader.

"I was a singer for a while, and I thought, 'This kind of entertainment world could really exist.' Bunta-sensei writes about the people and events in this world in a way that cuts deep. Reading it, I feel cut too, and it hurts. But that pain is also kind of comforting. That's why I keep reading it over and over again."

Masaki cites Momo’s lines from Part 3, saying, "I saw the true essence of 'IDOLiSH7'."

"We're not stars... We're doing our best to stick foil all over our bodies and pretend we're stars. Because there are people who look up to us. We want to smile at least in front of those people, so even though we can't fly, we desperately pretend we're floating in the air."

"Momo's words brought tears to my eyes. They're human beings just like us, and they’re desperately trying to fulfill their roles. That's what being an idol is. Through their stories, Bunta-sensei teaches me about idols, about groups, and about each individual. That's why I don't have any trouble writing lyrics."

---

"The first scene, where Riku and the seven of them gather for the audition, felt so real, like, 'This kind of thing really happens.'"

Ono Kensho, who voices Nanase Riku, recalls his first impression upon reading the script:

“At first, I thought all seven members would debut together. But then I was told four would be cut to form a trio, and I was shocked. I'm no expert on the idol industry, but I thought, ‘that's just how the entertainment world works, isn’t it.’ It even made me wonder, ‘What is the ideal number for an idol group?’ (laughs). As the voice of Riku, I still think seven members is best.”

His impression of Riku is that he's "genuine, hardworking, and has a very strong passion for being an idol."

"But at first, he was like, 'I'll make up for my physical weakness with sheer guts.' But after experiencing a lot of things, he’s come to the point where he thinks, ‘I should rely on others when I can.'"

The biggest catalyst for Riku's change of attitude was his poor health and the resulting change in center position.

“During the concert, Riku's condition deteriorates, preventing him from performing the encore. At that time, IDOLiSH7 was gradually gaining recognition, and Riku also wanted to catch up to Kujo Tenn. Breathless and struggling, Riku apologizes for failing to fulfill his role as center. Acting that scene was truly painful... Later, when it was decided that the center position would be passed to Iori, he said, ‘Honestly, I felt relieved.’ Even though he kept saying things like ‘I can do it’ and ‘I'm fine,’ he didn't really know if he could, and he was pushing himself beyond his limits in so many small ways. I understand that feeling well, so it made me feel miserable too."

Things didn't always go as planned. But by joining hands with his friends and continuing as an idol, his dream of “becoming an idol” gradually transformed into “reaching the pinnacle of idols.” From Riku now, you can sense a dependable presence.

That change is also reflected in the tone of his voice. Ono-san, too, has been updating the way he plays Riku.

"Through the dubbing for the anime, the image of Riku as a character became clearer to me. Not just for this project, but for all games, recording is generally done alone. However, for anime, the cast gathers in a dubbing studio to exchange lines. When you're alone, you can only imagine the other person's reactions, but this way, I can intuitively grasp, "So Riku would react like this." Since I've been recording the story and in-game voices from Part 4 onwards with the image of the character I got from the anime, some people may find that their impression of Riku is different from before. If you think of this change as an update, and feel that Riku is progressing in a better direction as he has grown mentally, I'll be very happy."

At the closing remarks of the 7th anniversary event for IDOLiSH7 held this past August, Ono-san stated, “It's truly amazing that they can keep releasing new content without any breaks.” Upon asking once more about the reasons the work is so beloved…

“Everything, right? The idols themselves, their dramas, their music, the anime's quality,everything. Personally, what draws me in the most is the exceptionally interesting story. While reading, I find myself thinking, “People like this must exist in real life,” and above all, I'm constantly surprised by the plot twists. For example, there's this wonderful song called ‘Sakura Message’. Hidden within its lyrics is a code... and the content is terrifying! Just thinking about it now gives me goosebumps. Tsushimi Bunta-sensei’s scenarios are truly full of surprises. You think, ‘Suddenly something outrageous happened!’, but actually, the foreshadowing has been scattered throughout the story for ages. Looking back, I realize, ‘Oh, that was foreshadowing too?’ or ‘When did they plan to pull this off?’ and I end up rereading the script again. I'm completely at the mercy of Tsushimi-sensei’s calculated schemes (laughs)."

Once he gets hooked, he can't stop! 

Things that make Ono-san's eyes light up

Riku has spent much of his childhood reading books in his room, and reading is his hobby. Ono also loves to read. There were so many books he introduced us to that it's difficult to list them all. "When I find something great, I want to share it with everyone," he says with sparkling eyes.

“There are many to choose from, but for novels, it's Morimi Tomihiko's The Night is Short, Walk On, Girl. Ever since discovering this book, I've made it a point to visit Kyoto every year. You know how they say ‘love is blind’, and I just can't get enough of the senior's reckless, headlong rush. It makes me think wistfully, ‘I wish I could have spent my student days like that too.’”

"Recently, it's become a daily routine for me to read manga before going to bed," says Ono-san. He mainly reads e-books, and a wide variety of genres.

“From grotesque seinen manga to bittersweet romance shoujo manga, I read everything. Books contain worlds I don't know and people with perspectives I don't have. I feel like encountering them broadens my horizons.”

Of the manga he's read recently, Ono-san recommends This Communication. "Once I started reading this, I couldn’t put it down," he says.

"It's a story set in a world where most of humanity has been wiped out. The relationship between Commander Deluha and the six incredibly strong, physically-modified girls known as Huntresses is fascinating. If they die,The Huntresses can revert to their state one hour prior to death. This creates a one-hour memory gap. Deluha exploits this, killing Huntresses when it suits him and doing as he pleases. But eventually, Deluha's weaknesses start to show…”

Once he gets absorbed in a book, he can't stop. He says that he often reads before bed, but before he realizes it, it's already morning. He laughed, saying, "I'm always sleep-deprived."

The next one he takes out is Sanctuary, a manga that began serialization when Ono-san was a baby.

"This might be my favorite manga I've ever read. It's about two classmates, one of whom becomes a politician and the other a gangster, who decide to change the corrupt Japan. It's an older manga, so it might seem unappealing to women, but the way these two reform Japan from both the inside and the outside is incredibly cool. The ending is also great, so I definitely recommend it!"

The recommendations keep coming with  Skip and Loafer, Nagi's Time Off, Blood Tracks, Nostalgia Taro, and more. He talks with such joy that it’s infectious.

Ono-san shows us a different, more fun-loving side of himself at IDOLiSH7 live shows. His performance was so impressive that Tsushimi-san commented, "The cast has changed the impression of ZOOL," and director Bessho was inspired to "reimport the live performance into the anime." It's as if you're inside the show, but what is Ono thinking about when he takes to the stage?

"I'm not conscious of trying to become Riku or anything like that. I just approach it as I am. But just like the idols in the show, we cast members truly enjoy the live performance. It's this commonality that makes it seem as though the live venue and the world of the show are connected."

Every IDOLiSH7 concert incorporates a visual link to the music video and anime. At their first concert, they recreated the music video for RESTART POiNTER, the song in which Riku returns to the center. 

"Actually, I didn't know they were linking to the video until the concert was over. Maybe I just missed it... But thinking back, during lessons, my dance teacher would be so particular about my standing position and hand angle, and I always wondered why. I never imagined we were doing the same movements... I was so engrossed during the performance that I didn't have time to pay attention to what was playing on the screen, so when I saw the video later, I was moved."

"I want to continue doing live concerts," Ono-san said passionately.

"Many of the other cast members also love live performances. Even at the 7th anniversary event, they were saying things like, 'Since we're all here together, ideally, we'd love to do a live performance too.'"

The enthusiasm for live shows stems from “the joy of getting direct reactions.” Receiving the passionate feelings of the project's fans naturally makes them want to give something back.

"When I first heard about this project, I wondered if I could direct a glittering idol story."

So says Bessho Makoto, who has been the director since the first season of the TV anime (January 2018). Director Bessho has previously worked on many projects that seem far removed from "idol anime," such as directing and storyboarding "Attack on Titan" and "Space Battleship Yamato 2199."

"But then Bandai Namco Online told me, 'It's an idol story, but it's also about their fighting spirit.' And it's true. When I read the first part of the original manga, it was more sweaty than sparkly, and it really emphasized the human qualities of the idols. That's when I thought, ‘I can do this,’ and decided to take it on.”

Anime is generally structured as 12-13 episodes per season. However, the IDOLiSH7 anime doesn't fit into that framework, with the first season following the story of the first part of the original work, and the second season depicting the second part. The third season was even split into two cours due to the sheer volume of Part 3's story.

“It is a bit of an irregularity, isn't it? (laughs). But I believe the biggest reason this work has been loved for so long is the drama's compelling storytelling. It doesn't just show the glittering, glamorous side of idols; it also mercilessly and realistically depicts the messy, gritty human aspects that make you think, “Wow, that's tough.” To condense it into 30-minute episodes, there are parts we have to reluctantly cut. But this realism is something we absolutely refuse to compromise on. When adapting source material, I always keep in mind that we must faithfully translate the essence of the original story into the visuals."

While preserving the worldview of the original work, there are several things the director is particular about in order to make the story more three-dimensional. One of these is the changes in facial expressions. The story of the original game basically progresses using only character portraits and stills. However, for the characters to come to life in the anime, more facial expressions are needed. Director Bessho worked with the original author to create expressions for the idols that weren't depicted in the script, including how people who wouldn't normally appear on screen would look.

"In the anime, we try to include scenes that show the listener rather than the narrator of the dialogue. For example, in episode 13 of season 1, Osaka Sogo reveals his past to the other members. You can imagine what his expression will be, but by depicting the expressions of those around him at that moment, we can show the feelings and personalities of those around him. I take care to ensure those expressions feel genuine. Because the moment viewers who've immersed themselves in the story think, ‘Would they really make that face in this situation?’ it completely kills the immersion."

Because the characters' expressions are so diverse, even a single smile can have meaning, which is unique to the anime. There are also many shots where expressions are deliberately not shown to avoid giving away spoilers about the story.

"Until the end of the second season, it's not revealed that before their debut, Re:vale was a duo consisting of Yuki and another member, or that the original member was Ogami Banri. That's why, in episode 1, when Banri tells IDOLiSH7 that they'll be performing with Re:vale, we deliberately included a shot showing only the lower half of Banri's face. It becomes clear later on that, in fact, Banri looked happy as he talked about Re:vale. I hope that by sprinkling these kinds of meaningful shots where the expressions are unclear as foreshadowing, it will be fun to check the answers later."

Another area they paid particular attention to was linking the characters to real-world locations and events.

"What kind of place do the idols live in? What is the town like? We've set out as much detail as possible, even for non-visual elements. Streetscapes and buildings are often modeled after real places. We also incorporate elements from live performances where the cast has appeared on stage. I was blown away by the cast's performance when I saw their first live performance. By recreating that intensity in the anime, I wanted to create a sense of connection between the anime and the real world, blurring the line between two-dimensional and three-dimensional reality."

Expanding the story through meticulous direction

When asked about a memorable scene during production, he shared the metaphor used in episode 5 of season 3.

Nikaido Yamato agonized alone over his origins as the illegitimate child of a veteran actor's mistress, fearing that if it became scandalous, it might tarnish the name of IDOLiSH7. In Episode 5, there's a scene at the movie set where Yamato sits under an umbrella and talks with Yuki, the only one who knows his secret. Normally, the umbrella would be held upright, but here it's angled sideways. Seen from the side, the handle appears to be piercing Yamato. After hearing Yuki's words, Yamato makes up his mind and steps out from under the umbrella. The metaphor here is that the handle, a wedge of anguish that had been piercing and immobilizing him, is being removed."

Playing with the visuals to make the imagery more compelling. Professionals in the visual arts, who have been exposed to many different works, often incorporate what they have received from the works into their images.

“For the umbrella scene, I wanted it to feel distinctly like Japanese cinema, so I consciously framed the shots with Ozu Yasujiro's films in mind. I watch all kinds of movies myself, and sometimes I catch myself grinning when I realize, ‘Ah, this person must have watched that kind of work. If anyone noticed that in this scene, I hope they felt that “Japanese film vibe” even more and got a little smile out of it.

As he expands his imagination, he adds depth to the screen, thinking, 'I'll try adding this expression,' or 'It might be interesting to incorporate that.' Idea man Director Bessho often incorporates novels he reads into his storyboards. Today, he brought along Kajii Motojiro's Lemon as "a book that made Director Bessho."

“I picked up this book after learning that Sada Masashi-san's ‘Lemon’ was inspired by it. I first read it in my first year of high school. I didn't understand much back then. But as I reread it every few years, I gradually began to grasp the meaning behind the protagonist's actions, the nature of the ‘unknown ominous mass’ he carries, and the significance of the lemon. It's a short story, yet profoundly deep. I feel like this story taught me what ‘quiet madness’ truly is. I dreamed of how great it would be to be able to visualize the protagonist's rising and falling moods, and his daydreaming about the lemon he left behind exploding, but then I gave up, thinking, "I can't do that!" (laughs). It's still a book I pick up whenever I remember it."

It's been just under five years since the first season aired. Including the production period, I've been with IDOLiSH7 for a long time. The reason why it is still an interesting work even if you already know how it will unfold is probably because it has many of the details that are unique to anime. Finally, we asked Director Bessho about the highlights of the second season of the third season, which is currently airing and receiving rave reviews.