Linked♡Hearts

Get set to hear from Laura (and Rowlet!)

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Introduce yourself! Who are you and where are you from?

hello!! (。･ω･)ﾉﾞ my name is laura and i'm from colorado! 

When and how did you discover idols? How long have you been a fan, and why?

i've been a fan of idols for... 10 or 11 years now... i saw mikan once and my life changed forever.

What is your favorite group? Your oshimen? Why?

my favorite groups are morning musume, hkt48, and jo1; my oshis in those groups are morito chisaki, tashima meru and kawanishi takumi! chii is my kamioshi though, because she itooshikute gomen ne'd at me and my heart exploded.

What made you want to be a net idol?

i wanted to be a net idol because i'd be good at it. i wanna make other people happy - that's why i'm the cash register girl where i work - and spread smiles, generally... also, doesn't every group need someone who only kind of knows what's going on at any given time?

What are your goals in Linked♡Hearts?

i'm definitely gonna make everyone really happy even if i have to be a clown so watch out for that!

What about Linked♡Hearts are you excited to try?

i can't wait to brush up on my dance skillz and destroy the world with... cool idol-ness. or cute idol-ness? idol-ness regardless.

What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?

one thing i like doing during the summer and also all the time is napping! i nap at least once a day and i'm really good at it. in general i'm not super sporty so while most people would swim or barbecue or something, i be napping 💤

What’s your favorite video game series?

my favorite video game series is the style savvy series and HEAR ME OUT FOR A SEC. these are not just regular old fashion games, these are BUSINESS SIMULATORS. you need to think about what you have in stock and about your customers and THE FOURTH ONE LITERALLY IS AN IDOL GAME WITH KILLER MUSIC. there should be a style savvy smash rep. there should be a style savvy rep in smash. just saying. (i also really like animal crossing, pokemon, and tokimeki memorial!)

What are your three most used emoji?

my three most used emojis are 👀🥺 😑which is fitting; i am frequently looking at things, cute, and being resigned!

How do you take your coffee?

not to be a coffee snob but i am. my ideal cup of coffee would be a 16 ounce light roast (more caffeine and less taste) with a little bit of oat milk (once you go oat milk you cannot go back, but half and half is also acceptable) and one packet of raw sugar (because it tastes better damn it). i also really like the cold brew from a amante coffee and i drink that black; starbucks iced coffee is really good as well! and i love spicy sherpa chai with a little bit of vanilla 💕

What are some of your favorite YouTube channels?

some of my favorite youtubers are scott the woz, the game grumps, siivagunner, kurtis conner, natewantstobattle, malinda kathleen reese, tom scott, brian david gilbert, and especially todd in the shadows!

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Just because the summer's been locked inside doesn't mean we shouldn't have some sunny fun! Check out the audio for Purin's cover of Matsuura Aya's "Tropica~l Koishite~ru," a song off of our first seasonal compilation, "The Sun-Kissed Album." 

"Hontou ni?"

Let’s hear from our high-energy leader, Jetta!

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Introduce yourself! Who are you and where are you from?

Hello! I’m Jetta and I’m from the Northeastern part of the United States.

When and how did you discover idols? How long have you been a fan, and why?

My childhood obsession was Dance Dance Revolution. As a young child I spent my summer days rhythmically stomping on a plastic pad to mostly Eurobeat music I couldn’t get enough of. Some songs featured in the game, though, were sung by J-pop acts; researching them eventually led me down a YouTube rabbit hole where I stumbled upon the first idol song I had ever heard: Berryz Koubou’s Koi no Jubaku. Being a nine-year-old at the time, my interest was immediately piqued. Here were girls my age (unlike the older teenage stars popular at the time like Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers) singing about the problems I was facing--the longing of young love and frustration of it being unrequited during a time when childhood crushes shaped identity. I felt myself represented in a way that other media hadn’t; the catchy tune and dramatic dance were kick-ass, too. Twelve years later, I’m still a fan: although my perspective has changed from a child looking up to idols as inspirations to being an older fan appreciating the girls’ artistry and playing more of a cheering-on role. 

What is your favorite group? Your oshimen? Why?

It seems that every five years, the group that captures my heart shifts. From 2008-2013, it was Berryz Koubou: a group of powerful girls that represented the whimsy of youth and gave me the confidence to be myself as I discovered my identity as a young person. As I got older and turned fifteen, I was entranced more by the same-aged members Colorful Era Morning Musume (2013-2018), who gave me the motivation and strength to navigate my high school years as a stressed teen pushed into academic and musical competitions, tournaments, and performances that left me overworked and exhausted. Now, as a college student with more agency and less of an emotional reliance on idols, I’m more in the position of an observer with support to give; BEYOOOOONDS (2018-), a creative group that defines the notion of what it means to be a Hello! Project idol in the Reiwa era, is a little bit less relatable age-wise but ever-so-entertaining to watch.

What made you want to be a net idol? 

I love singing and dancing, but I hate being judged for my singing and dancing. I wouldn’t call myself a perfectionist, but performing in the US, something I have partaken in while growing up, is very anxiety-provoking which outweighs the enjoyment of using my voice. Standing up on a stage or behind a camera to sing for a competition, exhibition, or just friends to see is considered as a representation of your skills. The audience prepares to enjoy your act with the prerequisite that you are singing to show off your talent rather than solely to enjoying yourself and others while in the spotlight. I grew up singing solo in musicals, in choirs, and at town sports games, but eventually developed feelings of inadequacy that became a detriment to myself and made me hate singing for fear of putting myself out there.

On the contrary, idols in Japan are appreciated more for their effort and continuous growth- underdogs whose performances are meant to entertain regardless of how their voice sounds or how their body perfectly moves to the dance. Of course, good voices are a plus and are part of each idol’s toolbox of unique qualities- but being a skilled singer is not the requirement traded in to deserve to stand on a stage or receive views in a music video. As Tsunku once said to describe the magic of Hello! Project idols, in Linked♡Hearts I get to experience being appreciated as a constant production rather than a finished product as close as I can in the States.

What are your goals in Linked♡Hearts?

I’m the leader of the group, so I have a larger amount of responsibilities. This is fine, and I’m okay with more tasks to do because I love trying new things! My goals have been to better my leadership skills, to learn audio mixing, to better my video production, and to become conversational in Japanese. So far, I’ve been hopeful about three of these (Kazumi, our mixer, has saved my butt with the audio mixing… thank you)!

What about Linked♡Hearts are you excited to try?

In addition to what I shared in the last paragraph, I’m excited about the chance to interact with people through social media and get the opportunity to be creative and turn my MV ideas into action!

What are some of your favorite YouTube channels?

Scott the Woz, bill wurtz, The Right Opinion, Swell Entertainment, きまぐれクックKimagure Cook, Safiya Nygaard, ImAllexx, ASMRSurge, Poofesure, Danny Gonzalez, PPOMODORI

How do you take your coffee?

Hot coffee: Venti blonde americano with no cream and 3 sugars

Iced coffee: Venti cold brew with no cream and 3 sugars

What did you eat for breakfast today?

A can of Monster Tea+Lemonade

How do you like your eggs?

Scrambled! With a splash of water instead of a splash of milk.

Which planet in the solar system would you visit? (if scientifically possible, of course)

On a student’s budget? Earth!

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It’s Bee’s time to shine! Here’s an interview with our hot pink queen.

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Introduce yourself! Who are you and where are you from?

I’m Bee! Im a hello project fan from Ohio, USA.

When and how did you discover idols? How long have you been a fan, and why?

I discovered idols around 2008 when I saw a C-ute video. I was excited because the girls were my age and started looking at everything they ever made. Eventually, I got into every group in Hello Project.

What is your favorite group? Your oshimen? Why?

My favorite group is Morning Musume! There’s something about the long history and variation of song genres that I love. My favorite is Oda Sakura! I really admire her talent with singing and one day hope to have perfect pitch like that!

What made you want to be a net idol?

I have wanted to be an idol since I first discovered Hello Project! I absolutely love singing and would practice singing and dancing skills while I waited for my chance! 

What are your goals in Linked♡Hearts?

I want to be the girl who can sing all types of songs!

What about Linked♡Hearts are you excited to try?

I’m excited to be singing the songs I love and shining with others <3

Are you an early bird or night owl?

NIGHT OWLS RISE UP!! I have a really hard time waking up early, even if I sleep early. I even went to a sleep doctor about it

What are some of your favorite YouTube channels?

I like watching people play video games, so CallMeKevin, John Wolfe, GrayStillPlays. For other channels, I like Try Guys, and The watcher 

Do you have any pets? What are their names?

I adopted my cat Stevie (full name Stevie Wonder) about 2 years ago and he is cuddly and needy and full of farts. He is also a hair tie and glasses thief! I love him so much~~ 

What’s your pet peeve?

I like for people to be direct with me, so I hate when people try to hint to me for important things. Just tell me or I won’t get it!

Are you fluent in any other languages?

Fluent? No. But I’m conversational in Japanese. I really love learning languages.

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For our fourth interview, it’s everyone’s lovable big sis, Vi!

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Introduce yourself! Who are you and where are you from?

My name is Vi!! I am from The East Coast.

When and how did you discover idols? How long have you been a fan, and why?

I discovered idols when I was about 15, I found idols through anime! Which I’m sure most here have discovered it the same way lol It's been about 11 years.

What is your favorite group? Your oshimen?

My favorite group is Angerme! I stan Kiyono Momohime and Nakanishi Kana.

What made you want to be a net idol?

It seemed like fun. The whole concept about making others smile not only during this time but just in general made me happy.

What are your goals in Linked♡Hearts?

To have a good time, have some laughs, make some smiles and make friends!

What about Linked♡Hearts are you excited to try?

Singing and trying different songs if I’m being honest.

Are you an early bird or night owl?

Night Owl as I stay up until 2 am 

What are some of your favorite YouTube channels?

Markiplier and Friends is usually what I watch. 

How do you take your coffee?

Can’t drink it. 

Do you believe in astrology? Why/why not?

Not really. It seems a little silly. 

What’s the last thing you do at night?

Watch food channel or read lol 

What is your favorite way to relax?

Listening to music or again, watching the food channel 

What did you eat for breakfast today?

Ummmmmm…… Cold Pizza

What are your three most used emoji?

🐳, 🙃, 😭

What is your favorite local food your region is known for?

Ummm we have a chili festival everywhere, which seems random but all the businesses around town and the surrounding towns make chili and you vote which one is best!

How do you like your eggs?

Recently it’s been somewhere between over medium and over hard!

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

I have no one to party with so I don’t karaoke

What’s the last picture you took?

My big puppo, Elliot

Do you have any pets? What are their names?

This is a lot so hold on to your horses. 3 dogs; Lola, Roscoe and Elliot. 2 Guinea pigs; Cinnamon and Sugar. 1 Cat; Arwen but she honestly just responds to Cat and we have no idea why

What is your favorite zoo animal?

Hmmm…. Giraffes or Sharks at the aquarium

Who’s your favorite fictional character?

Lucas from Who Made Me A Princess, Anyways?

What’s your pet peeve?

When others don’t tell me the truth

Which planet in the solar system would you visit? (if scientifically possible, of course)?

Neptune or Uranus for weeb reasons

Which dessert best describes your personality?

Hmm. Dark chocolate or ice cream cake only because it’s my favorite and only type of cake I will eat

Do you consider yourself unlucky?

I am the most unluckiest, luckiest person you will ever meet.

What’s your favorite video game series?

Pokémon!!

What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?

Go to the beach and throw the dogs into the kiddy pool.

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Time for our third interview- today, we’re focusing on our sweet n’ sour Candy!

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Introduce yourself! Who are you and where are you from?

Hello! My name is Candy, and I’m from New York, USA.

When and how did you discover idols? How long have you been a fan, and why?

I officially discovered idols back in 2011 thanks to the unhealthy obsession I had with anime back then, and the first idols I initially discovered were Buono! from their Shugo Chara theme songs. Discovering Buono! lead me to discovering Hello! Project as a whole, which furthered my interest in the Japanese idol industry.

What is your favorite group? Your oshimen? Why?

As of right now, my favorite idol group is HKT48 as they have a lot of members that appeal to my current taste in idols, which happens to be strong visuals with loads of personality. My oshimen is HKT48’s Akiyoshi Yuka because when I first started watching HKT48 stages this past year, her shining aura immediately struck out to me and the more content I saw of her, the more I began to love her as an idol.

What made you want to be a net idol?

When I discovered Japanese idols, being an idol secretly became a dream of mine. I wanted to go to Japan and audition for real idol groups, but I also stayed realistic with myself and knew that I could never afford to do that on my own and there’s much more behind the scenes to an idol besides pretty costumes, cute faces and catchy music. However, once I started becoming more familiar with the underground idol scene and became familiar with the concept of net idols, it became something I was really interested in because it would essentially allow me to chase my dream and gain more experience as a performer and entertainer, whilst staying in my own comfort zone.

What are your goals in Linked♡Hearts?

In Linked Hearts, my goal is not only to be as successful as a net idol as I can be, but to also become an inspiration to young black girls and women such as myself who are interested in the idol industry and would become an idol at any moment if the opportunity presented itself to them. I also want to work on strengthening my performance talents, while also learning how to present myself in a way that is interesting to potential fans.

What about Linked♡Hearts are you excited to try?

In Linked Hearts, the thing I’m most excited for is communicating with any fans that we gain, while also working on performing with other people. I have about 3 years of advanced choir experience so I’m somewhat used to working with people, but working with a group of net idols with different appeals and approaches will definitely be a new challenge for me that I am ready to face head on.

Do you consider yourself unlucky?

Luck is such a tough concept, so I don’t consider myself lucky or unlucky. How I see it is the energy that you put out into the world, will always come back to you more aggressively. When I do good, great things happen to me. When I do bad, horrible things happen to me. In my eyes, it’s an even playing field that is completely determined on my actions and my actions alone.

Which planet in the solar system would you visit?

Ever since I was in elementary school, I’ve always been fascinated with Saturn, so that’d definitely be the first planet I’d visit if it were possible. Not just because Saturn is the most aesthetically appealing planet to me, but because it’s atmosphere is completely different from the Earth’s, so being able to visit it would be a surreal experience.

What’s the last thing you do at night?

Thanks to quarantine, my sleeping schedule is completely flipped to where I stay up all night and sleep during the day. So my new night time routine has become: eating dinner, watching TV shows (usually on Netflix or Disney+), and using social media (usually Twitter or Tumblr) until I get tired. Once I’m tired, the final thing I do before bed is go on YouTube and search “r/niceguys” or “r/nicegirls” videos to listen to as I fall sleep.

Do you believe in astrology? Why/why not?

I practically eat, sleep, and repeat to astrology. Just kidding, but I do hold a lot of faith in astrology. As seen in the Mikan video, I am currently practicing tarot reading and working my best to master it. From the readings that I have done, I do feel like tarot cards are majorly accurate in predicting future events, addressing conflict that hasn’t been addressed before, and gives amazing insight on what are the right steps to take to have the fulfilling future that you want to have.

How do you take your coffee?

My friends like to call my coffee order a “milkshake”. I only order coffee from Dunkin Donuts, so my order is typically: Caramel Swirl Iced Coffee, with 5 shots of creamer and 5 sugar packets. Yes, I do realize this is a problem. No, I do not want help.

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Next up to be interviewed is our smiley sunshine member, Itze!

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Introduce yourself! Who are you and where are you from?

Hello there! I’m Itze, nice to meet y’all! I’m from Mexico but it hasn’t always been like that.

When and how did you discover idols? How long have you been a fan, and why?

I have liked idols since I was fifteen, around ten years ago, since the day when I found someone had linked a Youtube upload of the Elder Club 2009 Winter concert, and I became instantly hooked on the first two songs: Morning Musume’s I WISH and Matsuura Aya’s I KNOW. I’ve loved idols since then, because I admire the idols so much, but also because I love the diversity of music and idol lyrics.

What is your favorite group? Your oshimen? Why?

For the last ten years I’ve been a Morning Musume fan, and I couldn’t imagine myself oshiing another group. Currently, my favorite member is not from Momusu, tho, my favorite current idol is Miyamoto Karin from Juice=Juice, but my all time oshi is Michishige Sayumi.

What made you want to be a net idol?

Because I’ve spent the last years singing along and trying to dance (because I’m a terribad dancer) to every idol song I love, that made me feel like.. Well, why not becoming a net idol? I love performing in real life, and while I believe I am more reserved and awkward online, I really want to give this a try!

What are your goals in Linked♡Hearts?

My main goal as a member of Linked♡Hearts is to become a brighter person! But also I wanna improve my singing and dancing! I am very excited to do different kinds of songs along with the rest of the members, because everyone likes different groups, it’s gonna be great to expand my idol-horizons!

What are some of your favorite YouTube channels?

Actually I’m really bad at watching stuff but lately I’ve been watching Buzzfeed Unsolved a lot! The two hosts are super funny, and it’s the only horror-adjacent thing I can stomach!!

What’s the last thing you do at night?

Before really going to sleep, I like to give all my social media a final browse, and when I am done, then, and only then, I can sleep peacefully.

Do you have any pets?

I have the cutest chihuahua/schnauzer mix, named Nicky! She’s two years old, my sister brought her home when she was eight months without any of us knowing, but the whole family loves her now.

What’s your favorite video game series?

I’m a big fan of the Professor Layton game series! They’re six (well, seven) puzzle games that follow Professor Hershel Layton as he tries to solve different mysteries, and for reasons that get less reasonable in each game, the world is full of puzzles. I love the story a lot even if I am terrible at actually solving the puzzles!

What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?

I don’t really like summer a lot (My favorite season is winter!) but do you know what you can do in summer? GOING TO THE POOL! I love pools, I love swimming, give me a pool or give me death!!!!

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Starting off our eleven-day Linked♡Hearts interview series, we have a get-to-know-you conversation with Purin, the baby princess (wait, no, PURINcess!) of the group.

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Introduce yourself! Who are you and where are you from?

Hello! My stage name is Purin, I'm 18 and I'm from Nova Scotia!

When and how did you discover idols? How long have you been a fan, and why?

I've known about idols since 2012 after hearing AKB48's Sugar Rush on the Wreck-it Ralph soundtrack and Momoiro Clover Z's Mite Mite Kocchichi in Pokemon Best Wishes, but it was around 2015 that I really decided to get into them after seeing Angerme cover Mahoutsukai Sally (cus they appealed to my love of old magical girl shows).

What is your favorite group? Your oshimen? Why?

Recently my favorite group is Beyooooonds, but I think that as a whole my heart belongs to Morning Musume, since they were the first group I got really curious about digging into the history of, and I still follow them the most. My kamioshi is Michishige Sayumi for a plethora of reasons, but mainly because she inspires me to be confident in myself!

What made you want to be a net idol?

Part of me getting into idols in itself was my desire to BE one! I would watch clips and episodes of AKBingo and Hello Morning on YouTube and fantasize about how much I wanted to be in a girl group. Obviously being a net idol is the next best (and more accessible) thing! Though it might be better since I don't have to follow any contracts lol.

What are your goals in Linked♡Hearts?

It probably sounds cheesy, but I really want to make people happy the way idols make me happy! As long as we get even a few fans, the true goal I have in the group will be met <3

What about Linked♡Hearts are you excited to try?

The thing I'm most excited to try is covering all sorts of songs! I've recently been trying to step out of my comfort zone, and I'm excited to try and do solos and subunit songs!

Do you believe in astrology? Why/why not?

I know it isn't for everyone, but I think astrology is real for me. The only proof I needed was my chart reading me to filth. I'm also a virgo sun AND virgo moon, so I'm definitely that bitch.

What is your favorite local food your region is known for?

My favorite local food my region is known for is garlic fingers!!! I couldn't live without em. Other Atlantic Canada treasures include donairs and moon mist ice cream!

What’s your favorite video game series?

I love basically every Nintendo series, but Pokemon holds a special spot in my heart. I even chose my stage name after the japanese name of my favorite Pokemon, Jigglypuff!

Who’s your favorite fictional character?

Choosing a favorite fictional character is hard, but I think possibly the most influential character for me is probably Nico Yazawa from Love Live! She may just seem like the Nico Nico Nii girl, but she's surprisingly deep, I swear. Plus I owe a lot to the series (but mostly her) for getting me into idols.

What are some of your favorite YouTube channels?

I watch a lot of video essays (often about topics I don't even care about) and lots of other assorted content, but I think in the end the gaming YouTubers I've watched for years are still my favorites. I specifically really like Chuggaaconroy and Vinny Vinesauce, they make for great entertainment and background noise while I'm drawing.

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