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The TV anime "BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA" will start airing on July 2nd, 2026, showing the new virtual band from the "BanDori!" project, Mugendai MewType (Yumemita). In preparation for the anime, they have currently been on a journey to conquer all 47 prefectures of Japan in their "Super Position" tour, walking steadily as they go through the entire country while performing and doing public appearances. (As of this translation being posted, they have completed the tour)

Here, we shall take a look into their ways of approaching music, performance, and being public figures, and see how "Words" and "Actions" are interconnected in the moment, together with the point of view of their fellow artists.

We plan to show the ∞ (infinity) from "YUME∞MITA" expanding into a large circle of connections born from conversations.

In this 4th installment, Miyanaga Nonoka-san (Gt.) and the voice behind RAISE A SUILEN's LOCK (Gt.), Kohara Riko-san, talk all things guitar. As they discuss their own paths and experiences, the affinity between them gets more and more apparent with each section.

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Memories from their first time on stage

— Is today the first time you two have chatted like this?

Kohara Riko-san (Kohara): I think so. We've greeted one another during concerts but this is the first time we actually have a conversation. I'm very glad we got the chance to talk today.

Miyanaga Nonoka-san (Miyanaga): I am also very grateful for this precious time.

— Could you tell us your impressions of each other?

Miyanaga: She looks very cool on stage and I had the impression that she was a composed person and a senior I could rely on. But, having this one-on-one talk today, I could see that she is also a very gentle person.

Kohara: Really? All according to plan! (Laugh).

Miyanaga: (Laugh). I was very shy when we took the pictures together… We had to stay fairly close and my heart was racing but she was very kind and snuggled up with me.

Kohara: I was nervous too, you know! I don't take that many pictures casually chatting like this (Laugh). I don't even get that close to my own members so this was a new experience.

— What was your impression when you saw Miyanaga-san , Kohara-san?

Kohara: I was left with a pretty big impression of her when we first greeted each other. She stood out right away from all the members. I thought she looked like a model, so stylish! We have some pretty tall members as well (Laugh), so I've always admired tall people. That's why I couldn't take my eyes off her.

Miyanaga: Ehh, I'm so happy! Thank you so much…!

Kohara: Additionally, I think "fresh" is the perfect word to describe the girls from Yumemita. I've never actually talked about this with anyone else, but, in my opinion, you can see that they're very honest about music and also pour their whole souls into it.

— Now, we'll ask a question from Kohara-san. She asked "What did you feel when you stood on stage for the first time?". This is regarding Yumemita's first performance at 1000 CLUB, "Mugendai MewType 1st LIVE "Metamorphose"", on August 24th of 2024.

Kohara: I'd love to hear your thoughts from that day.

Miyanaga: We had been hiding our real appearances and streaming as virtual characters for about 8 or 9 months at that time. So, this was the first time our audience was able to see our "real" side, and also the first time I could see them in person… You could say it was almost our first meeting. It felt a bit strange but being in front of the audience was enough to make me happy. The very first song was my own song ("✞animal Party✞Kaisaichuu✞") and when it was my turn to sing, I was overcome with emotion. My eyes were filled with tears from being on stage and I wasn't able to sing my part very well… I feel regret looking back at that mistake now.

Kohara: You were nervous, right? These kinds of mistakes are bound to happen in your first stage. In fact, mine was a complete failure.

— When was your first stage, Kohara-san?

Kohara: It was in high school! We formed a band to participate in an event at a live house in Gifu. A bunch of high school kids were in charge of the venue lighting so, right when the performance was about to start, the lights went out and everything went pitch black! I just kept playing with all my heart even though I couldn't see anything (Laugh). So, I understand you perfectly! Well, the circumstances were different, though… (Laugh).

A common experience of being worried about their band's acceptance

Kohara: I saw it on social media that you guys performed at the mall and everything, right?

Miyanaga: That's right. We're currently going around all 47 prefectures of Japan (Mugendai MewType: A Journey to Conquer 47 Prefectures "Super Position"; already complete at the time of this translation) and we were able to perform at Aeon Mall as well as other shopping malls. 

Kohara: I had the experience of performing at a shopping mall with another band and most people are probably not there to watch you, huh? I remember feeling the pressure of needing to call the attention of every passerby… How did it go for you all?

Miyanaga: I'm very grateful that we had many fans come to watch us in all sorts of places. But, in times when we hold battle of the bands, for example, it’s inevitable that many people won’t be interested in us, especially in unfamiliar places.

Kohara: Oh, I've been through that too (Laugh).

Miyanaga: I thought I'd try to reach them better so I decided to sing with all my power but the only reaction I got was a "What…?" and a step back (Laugh). I remember thinking "Is that not what I was supposed to do?".

Kohara: But, these really are normal things that an artist goes through. Indie artists usually have to take these steps to go further. I wasn't expecting to hear such rough experiences from you, though.

Miyanaga: That's right. I also believe that these experiences are important and I am glad that we get to gain them. Our members were basically all beginners as well…

— How did you feel when you were accepted as a member of Mugendai MewType, Miyanaga-san?

Miyanaga: I had played "GaRuPa" (BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!) since the start, so the "BanDori!" project was always very important to me. When I saw that they would open auditions for the general public for a new band, I jumped at the opportunity right away. I don't think there had been an open audition like that before, so, when I heard all five members were to be chosen this way, I thought "I can't miss this opportunity! I gotta run!".

Kohara: Mm-hmm.

Miyanaga: I started skipping out of happiness when I got told that I had passed the audition process (Laugh). I really was overjoyed.

— How did you feel when you learned that you would be a member of RAISE A SUILEN, Kohara-san?

Kohara: I also used to play "GaRuPa" before getting involved in the project! I joined this industry originally with the goal of becoming an artist so, I had an affinity with bands already and seeing voice actresses doing real life performances was something that I had great interest in. Guitar was my special skill and I would often wish I could join the franchise someday. I was very happy when the time came for me to join the band. I could relate perfectly with what Nonoka-san said just now.

— And from there, how did you feel when your band was brought into attention?

Kohara: I was very happy, of course. But, the franchise was still gaining momentum when RAS debuted… you could say it was still in the development stage. Honestly, being a new band in that moment, where everything was aimed towards expansion, was a lot of pressure. I was really worried whether the fans would accept us or not. I felt a lot of excitement but a deep sense of responsibility at the same time and I wondered what we'd even do if our band failed. But, of course, I didn't carry that weight alone; all the members decided that we would absolutely not let our band become a failure.

Miyanaga: I remember when RAS-san debuted. The addition of a new band at that time really gained a lot of attention.

Kohara: We felt those eyes on us very well.

Miyanaga: I can really relate to it… I was also worried whether people would accept us, since we stood as the first "virtual" band. To be honest, it's something that weighs on my mind to this day.

Kohara: I really get that!

Don't focus on what you can't do, but rather believe that you'll be able to do it someday

— Now, Miyanaga-san has a question for Kohara-san. She asked, "What methods do you usually have regarding practice of the guitar basics?".

Miyanaga: I was wondering how you take on guitar.

Kohara: I don't think I'm the most qualified person to answer that (Sarcastic laugh). Back when I was in a band, I used to practice with them every day, and obviously, practice guitar every day too. But, after I became a voice actress, I don't really work with guitar at all so, I have to "think backwards" when it comes to RAISE A SUILEN. When our shows are decided, I calculate how much practice I'll need many weeks in advance and then decide when I should start. This is important to know for new songs and whatnot… I calculate backwards how long it'll take me to perfect a song and plan everything with that day in mind.

Miyanaga: That's amazing… In your opinion, what is something that is needed to progress with the guitar?

Kohara: I think it's just to keep on playing . I was really awful at the F-chord when I started… I couldn't play it at all. I would say the F-chord was a failure to me but actually I don't think that's the case. I'd play it with the feeling of "I should press down on it anyway, even if I can't make any sound". I continued to play without focusing too much on what I couldn't do, but rather believing that I'd be able to do it one day. Even though it might sound like a given, I believe this is very important.

Miyanaga: But, even if I believe that "I'll do it someday", I still find it difficult… When I have to play a hard phrase, I always end up thinking "Can I even do this at all?" in the end.

Kohara: But, we aren't the ones who are coming up with those phrases, are we? People have a different set of skills and habits so, of course some things will be harder. I very often will hear a song and think "Isn't this impossible?". The level of difficulty changes so it's not quite the same every time, but I find that, if you manage to make the listener recognize that you're playing the right thing, then that's what matters. You should try to be able to play something you're satisfied with, rather than do a perfect recreation.

— So, simply reproducing the recording isn't the right answer for a show.

Kohara: That's right. Basically, you should put your own color into it. Naturally, we're supposed to think that anything that is different from "perfect", is simply wrong. But, once you realize that you did end up changing something in the end, you manage to produce something that feels more familiar to you.

Miyanaga: I see… I'll try very hard to believe in myself.

— What kind of practice have you been doing lately, Miyanaga-san?

Miyanaga: I keep getting frustrated because my fingers won't move how I want them to. I have to play phrases that have sixteenth notes but I'm not very good at coordinating both of my hands… Sometimes I wonder if I'll be able to do it at all. Right now, I'm putting my whole soul into practicing the basics to properly control my fingers.

Kohara: I get it… It's pretty hard, huh? In my case, I'd cut the tempo in half and then slowly raise it up. If you can do around 80 to 90%, then prioritize playing from the beginning until the end, even if you make mistakes.

Miyanaga: I see… so I should play it fully…!

Kohara: It's important to practice a difficult phrase but, if you can mostly do it, then you should play through the entire song. That's how you're able to check the flow of your performance. And if the flow is alright, it's all repetition! The more you play, the more your body will remember.

Miyanaga: I should grasp the full picture, right?

Kohara: That's right. When you see the full picture, your fingers will end up moving by themselves. Have you ever had a moment where you thought something was impossible to play but you managed to do it? Being able to play without thinking too hard is also a good thing.

Miyanaga: Amazing… I haven't had that experience yet. So, it seems like it's important to keep playing until you can reach a point where you can think "Wow, how did I even do that?!".

Kohara: Honestly, I mainly think "This is hopeless" rather than "Wow, how did I do that?" (Laugh). I tell myself "I can't play this, I can't play that" so much that I'm basically the "person who can't play anything". But, to me, idealism is something very important. Sometimes, you just need to bluff a little bit… For example, if you miss during a performance, just keep playing like nothing ever happened and you'll surprisingly not notice it. But, if you bring attention to that mistake, you'll become over-conscious of it and that'll make your entire performance become more stiff. Not having any mistakes at all is what you should be aiming for, of course, but those things are a part of a live performance.

Miyanaga: I'm very moved by your words…

Being "yourself, but not really"

— Miyanaga-san said "I'd like to know more about your flashy performance style". What do you say, Kohara-san?

Miyanaga: I was wondering if those times where you played with the guitar on your back or while lying down were your ideas, Kohara-san.

Kohara: Playing with the guitar on my back, huh… It's been a while so I don't remember it very well (Laugh). But, playing while lying down was my idea. RAS was a little strange back then… we were on stage before our characters were announced. So, I played with RAS' image and also LOCK's image in mind back then, and it was a time where I was trying all sorts of different things. Basically, I try to push my own style down and bring my character to the stage instead.

— So, you'd say that you perform with your character's point of view, correct?

Kohara: That's right. I'm fairly straightforward but LOCK is also pretty cute so I always try to be aware and bring that on stage too.

Miyanaga: You really do look adorable. There's a sense of sweetness to your performance.

Kohara: I'm glad you can see that! LOCK can be very cool but she has that sweetness and innocence to her too. I play with a serious face but I do try to smile sometimes… This nuance is important. But, your character is also yourself, right, Nonoka-san?

Miyanaga: That's right.

Kohara: So, do you end up using yourself as a point of reference instead?

Miyanaga: Me and Nonoka are two sides of the same coin but there's definitely some differences. I go on stage with the mentality of "Nonoka would probably stand in a cooler way" or "Nonoka would find this to be better". I try to move in a way that she would like, rather than myself.

Kohara: I see! It's like you're the producer of "Nonoka" as a character.

Miyanaga: That's right. This is something I really had to look for in the beginning… Her character was established simply as a cute and childlike girl.

Kohara: Was that her profile?

Miyanaga: Yes. That's how she was introduced when I went to audition.

Kohara: That's amazing, huh? It's like she's you, but not really.

Miyanaga: I felt like I put together every card I had in my hands to bring her personality to life. I would stream with her cuter side at first, but I thought it would be interesting to try out playing on stage in a more voracious way, and I've slowly reached the style I have now. I'm known for making weird faces during shows these days (Laugh). I have a lot of fun moving my face in all sorts of ways.

— It seems like you just answered one of Kohara-san's questions, "What is something you're into these days?" (Laugh).

Kohara: Oh, yeah!

— Would you say that making different facial expressions is your thing?

Miyanaga: Since our faces were meant to be hidden in the beginning, we wouldn't show up on the venue's screens, and so, I'd make all kinds of weird faces and nobody could even see it (Laugh). But, I couldn't stop doing it even after we started to get filmed…

Kohara: That's also something that you gained with the character. It's like you have a sense of freedom when it comes to her, right? Perhaps, your mind was broadened with her and you have grown together.

Miyanaga: That's true, maybe that's it.

— Furthermore, would you say you've been chasing more and more things you want to do these days?

Miyanaga: I think so. I take basic guitar lessons where I learn more about the instrument as well as music theory. I would like to develop further in the things I’m interested in, so I take on the classes by being engaged and asking many questions.

—The other members of Yumemita have said previously that you are very good at talking to people.

Miyanaga: Ah, I wouldn't say that I'm good at talking at all. Even now, I still stop halfway through and I have to recollect my thoughts…

Kohara: I think that's just your personality, though! If every member was a fast talker with a quick wit, you'd get really tired as you chat.

Miyanaga: I do think we're very chatty (Laugh). (Fuji) Miyako -chan is the one who keeps track of us and moves the conversation. Me and (Nakamachi) Arale-chan talk way too much (Laugh) so she's the one who contains us.

Kohara: It's nice that you have someone like that. It seems like you have a lot of chemistry.

Miyanaga: That's right. Our group feels somewhat balanced, all things considered.

— Now, a question from Kohara-san. "Do you have any major events that have happened in your life?"

Kohara: I would like to know something that deeply impacted your life outside of Yumemita's activities. 

Miyanaga: This is directly related to band activities, but… I want to say it was the first time I watched a live performance in my life. It was of Sambomaster-san at the "Victor Rock Matsuri" festival. I knew of them already but that was the first time I watched a concert of theirs. I feel like that performance changed my whole life. The words "love" and "peace" can be thrown around lightly sometimes, but Sambomaster-san's stage carried an earnest and raw yell, which made me realize that shouting honestly about love and peace is a very good thing. I saw that there are people in this world who carry such honesty and cried my eyes out. I feel like the whole audience started crying with me too. In just that moment, every single person in that venue could feel love for one another. Truly, all of us wished for that "love and peace". It was an experience that moved me deeply and I came to really like them.

(She's referring to their song "Sekai wa sore wo Ai to Yobunda ze" (世界はそれを愛と呼ぶんだぜ)/ lit: "The world calls this love!")

Kohara: It's wonderful that you've had such a touching experience. I was actually an extra in a MV from Sambomaster-san one time (Laugh). It was in "Kibouno Michi" (希望の道).

Miyanaga: Ehh~~?! This is too much…

Kohara: Only my legs showed up (Laugh). I was running with knee-high socks.

Miyanaga: I'll check it out!

Until their sounds can resonate on the same stage one day

— Kohara-san asked, "What challenges are you looking to try next?". What do you say, Miyanaga-san?

Miyanaga: As for guitar, I want to continue trying many things, such as playing it on my back or while lying down, just like Kohara-san…  I want to reach a point in the guitar where I’m able to do these kinds of things. I also had a dream of being a voice actress originally, so with Yumemita's anime approaching, I would also like to keep growing as a voice actress.

— Kohara-san, do you have any advice for Miyanaga-san?

Kohara: I don't think I should be giving advice but… I'd say, be as carefree as possible. You might think you have a mind of steel, but there are times where expectation becomes pressure, and if you feel too pressured, you won't be able to fully showcase your own skills. I've said to myself in the past that, if I'm having fun, then I've already won. When you have fun and work hard in your own way, the results come with. And, isn't that the purest form of happiness? Nonoka-san, the path that you, yourself, have believed in is certainly the most enjoyable. I would like to tell you to continue following your way of life, enjoying things in your own way.

Miyanaga: Thank you very much.

— Lastly, could you please leave a message for each other?

Kohara: I'm very happy that we could have a proper conversation today. We don't get to meet very often aside from quick greetings, so I'm glad I could hear more about your personal life, Nonoka-san, as well as the path that Yumemita has taken so far. I feel very encouraged. Being able to strengthen our relations as part of the "BanDori!" family is great, isn't it? I hope that RAS and Yumemita will be able to share the same stage one day.

Miyanaga: Certainly…!

Kohara: RAS has a lot of electronic sounds which I find pretty close to Yumemita's sound as well, so I think we could have a chemical reaction that would be different to any of the other collaborations we've had so far. Today's conversation really made me feel like the "future" is approaching. I'd be very happy if we could have the chance to hold a joint live someday. I hope RAS is still up by then (Laugh)! I'll work hard so that we'll be able to have a battle of the bands together.

Miyanaga: I'm glad…! I'll work hard so we can stand on the same stage as well! I'm really grateful to be able to deepen my relations with you today, seeing as I've only really talked to RAS in greetings. I hope this doesn't come as presumptuous, but I felt like I could relate a lot to your experiences as I found out more about your personal life, Kohara-san. I feel even more energized to work as hard as I can after this. I think what I'll take the most out of today is the mindset of "even if I can't do it now, I'll be able to do it someday". I want to remember your words when I think I won't be able to do something during practice. I think I'll have a Kohara-san in my head saying "You'll do it someday!" (Laugh).

Kohara: Well, I'll show up every once in a while from the bleachers (Laugh).

Miyanaga: That's reassuring!

Kohara: This was very fun, thank you so much!

RAISE A SUILEN (RAS) is a band from BanG Dream! (BanDori), a project aimed at the next generation of girl bands. 

They released their 15th single, "WHAT AN EXPLOSION", on June 10th. The title song returns to their starting point with a brand new "mode"; it features a lot more electronic parts in comparison to their usual sound, and adds many unique verses with a complex song structure that highlights the band's essence once again. Kohara Riko (Gt. LOCK) and Natsume (Dr. MASKING) talk about the single, the ways the band has developed their strong bond, and much more.

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Raychell-san's "meow"… it was a special one (Natsume)

― From what I heard, you two are quite a rare duo for interviews! So, I'd first like to ask, what were your first impressions of each other?

Natsume: I think we met for the first time when our group was formed, 9 years ago!

Kohara Riko: I'll start! Well, my impression of Natsume-san hasn't really changed a lot since then. She loves magic girls and has very feminine mannerisms so she's the most "damsel"-like member of RAS! And also… the most laid-back member as well (Laugh).

Natsume: Really? I never noticed that… Maybe it's because I'm a type B*? (*People with Type B blood are believed to be creative and passionate but can also be forgetful and selfish)

Kohara: I feel like you're very aware of everything around you at about 1 meter radius but beyond that, you don't really pay attention (Laugh). 

Natsume: That seems right, but… Wow, it's kind of scary to think about!

Kohara: Hold on, it sounds like you just had a conversation with a fortune teller~! "Oh, that's right…"

Natsume: And now I'll say "That's true but, what should I do next~?!" (Laugh).

— Well, let's give Natsume-san the chance to be a fortune teller now.

Natsume: I'll predict your future~! Hmm, to me, Riko-chan is a healthy person who is always very thorough about everything she's involved in, but I also think she has a laid-back side, just like me! She also may look serious but she loves to make jokes, so when we're joking around, she'll talk nonstop~.

Kohara: I'm the type of person who makes a lot of sarcastic remarks in my head… I usually never say them out loud but, sometimes, something slips out and I just end up using up all of the stock I had been saving up.

— It's like a dam breaking…

Kohara: Pretty much (Laugh).

Natsume: She has witty comebacks for all sorts of things but Raychell-san (Ba. & Vo. LAYER) is her favorite member to mess with.

Kohara: Well, Raychell-san loves it when I tease her! (Laugh).

Natsume: I guess it can be surprisingly fun to get teased… (Laugh).

— It seems like you're both laid-back people, so, would you say you have similar personalities?

Natsume: We have some things in common but I don't think we're that similar. Every member of RAS has a very distinct personality, in the best way possible.

— Could you please tell us what sort of activities you usually do to maintain and develop a strong bond in the band?

Natsume: We like to play UNO while waiting.

Kohara: Raychell-san always wants to play so there's really no way out (Laugh).

Natsume: It's kind of interesting to see who ends up being first or last. Riko-chan is really good, she basically never loses! Tsumugi Risa-san (DJ CHU²) ends up right in the middle, Kurachi Reo-chan (Key. PAREO) and Raychell-san are the same. I always wait to see who's gonna have the most absurd amount of cards in the end (Laugh).

— I can picture it clearly, somehow.

Natsume: We also make up rules sometimes, like "no Japanese" or "no English", and one time, we ended up with a rule to always end sentences with "meow~". Raychell-san's "meow"… it was a special one.

— Ah, I'm so jealous! Maybe you all could do a live stream some time… Well, let's talk about your new single "WHAT AN EXPLOSION" now. I was drawn to the artwork of the back jacket right away. What even is that highway-like place…?

Kohara: It looks like it's in the future but now that you mention it, I do wonder where it is.

Natsume: I think the BanG Dreamers (Fans of the project) had a field day when this artwork was revealed (Laugh). CHU² looks so cute just strolling by while the other members run, doesn't she? The RAS logo on the sign above them also looks really cool.

— I'd like to quickly mention the key visual art for your upcoming show, "Boot IGNITION", starting on June 18th in Tokyo, which looks very nice as well. The composition with the members sitting down gives it that old band feeling.

Kohara: That’s true! Well, if I'm not mistaken, we have used gold and silver outfits before for "Heaven and Earth" back in July of 2019 too. It's a nice homage to our old days if that's the case.

"Maybe RAISE A SUILEN is the best representation of this recent era" (Kohara)

— The lyrics of the title song, "WHAT AN EXPLOSION", were very striking to me, with many powerful phrases that really say "This is RAS".

Natsume: They're very cool, right? They reinforce the message we've been carrying this whole time with lines like "We really are the best of the best" and "With full firepower/Change the world". And also, LAYER's vocals are the reliable core of our songs. Even when we're just having fun and playing around in the chorus, she remains unwavering which is reassuring.

Kohara: Raychell-san has told me herself that her voice shifts and changes a lot depending on the song. For a ballad, she sounds very gentle and soft but for a song like this one, she has a fiery energy that works well for a show. She truly has a distinct voice for each and every song and I think that's amazing. To me, the vocals in "WHAT AN EXPLOSION" carry the perfect mixture of the lyrics and the sound!

— I felt like the song features a lot more electronic parts in comparison to  your usual sound, with elements of euro-beat and hardcore techno. It somewhat felt like a "return to start".

Natsume: I really get that! Hidaka Yuki-san (Elements Garden) composed and arranged this song and he's the creator of some other high energy performance songs like "V.I.P MONSTER" and "Shakunetsu Bonfire!".  His specialty sound, combined with our experience of playing against other bands and joining festivals throughout the years, have made for a brand new charm. This song showcases the new RAS "mode" that has been born out of those two factors.

Kohara: I'm very thankful for being able to perform at many festivals and meet with all sorts of artists. I feel like our staff team is also able to take inspiration from those moments as well when it comes to our music. You can definitely see the influence of Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas-san lately, right? "WHAT AN EXPLOSION" has a few changes in tempo which is something found in Vegas-san's songs as well.

Natsume: The song goes from fast to slow to fast again… It's like a rollercoaster. I even wrote down on the lyric sheet "There's a 5th verse*?!" because I was so surprised at how many different sections the song has (Laugh). (*Usually, songs have a maximum of 4 verses)

Kohara: Nowadays, people have very low attention spans, watching videos at double speed and just swiping if something doesn't catch their attention right away. So, this song has so many different parts that will definitely keep you hooked until the end — the aim of it is to be a song that you won't get tired of.

— With the popularization of TikTok, it seems like there's a trend of people not being able to fully concentrate and appreciate music and movies anymore. 

Natsume: Speaking of TikTok, Hidaka-san's songs usually have dances, huh? Maybe this one needs a dance too! It could do well online and it would be fun to see everyone dancing during shows.

Kohara: We should ask Reo-chan again, then!

— Going back to the tempo of the song, this time, the chorus has a BPM of 190 and the other parts have a BPM of 150, making it a difference of 40… It really goes up and down.

Kohara: These big tempo changes make it difficult to keep up with the rhythm. If we have a chance to play this song live, keeping the groove of the members during those parts will be very important.

— I've heard that, usually, the simplest dances have a BPM of 128…

Kohara: We usually get close to 200 for our songs (Laugh). But we also think "Is this even normal?!" every time we perform.

Natsume: We don't have a lot of ballads and even the songs with slower tempos are still pretty intense… and these songs aren't slow at all if you compare them with others (Laugh). I think "Shakunetsu Bonfire!" is just the right speed to dance, right? With those 190 BPM songs, people are usually focused on spinning their towels as hard as they can, so it could be interesting to have more dances for our next festivals. I'd like for people who are coming for the first time to be able to dance too!

Kohara: Ah, that sounds really fun! Though, with the way our songs go, everyone would probably end up dancing really fast… I guess we could be the "double speed" band after all. Maybe RAISE A SUILEN is the best representation of this recent era (Laugh).

"RUNAWAY STAR" reminded me of my student days (Kohara)

— Now, I'd like to talk about the b-side of the single, "RUNAWAY STAR". This song originally goes with the event "Radiance and Eclipse" from the game BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! (GaRuPa). Natsume-san, could you please explain the story to us?

Natsume: In the stories leading up to "Radiance and Eclipse", LAYER had a rapid growth as a vocalist and seeing that, my character MASKING, felt like she was being left behind. And so, LAYER became worried about her. The moment LAYER decided to fully face that uncertain feeling, she had a realization about something — and with that she decided that she wouldn't worry anymore and would move forward in her own path. Her feelings are very clear in both the lyrics and the sound of this song.

— The line "Goodbye, my unnecessary side, I'll See you again" caught my attention. The song has a very strong message as a whole, but the words "unnecessary side" end up carrying some negative intonation, right?

Natsume: That "unnecessary side" would be LAYER's real persona, Wakana Rei. The story has a moment where she shakes off her feelings as she realizes that the one who was always by MASKING's side was "Wakana Rei" but, she is LAYER now, RAISE A SUILEN's front-woman. So, to me, she is referring to herself on this part.

Kohara: This whole song has really wonderful lyrics. I'm glad both songs have cheering parts with the other members as well. That stood out to me when I listened to them and I'm really excited to hear our BanG Dreamers shout along during a show. I'm able to enjoy the song even more with that in mind.

— I'm sure they will! Well, it's very clear that "RUNAWAY STAR" has a big contrast with "WHAT AN EXPLOSION", with a more straight-forward rock sound.

Natsume: It has that "band" sound, right? From the perspective of the drums, when it comes to "WHAT AN EXPLOSION"'s short repetitive sounds, I hit a four-on-the-floor hi-hat rhythm repeatedly, while "RUNAWAY STAR" has 8th note beats at its core, with hardly any four-on-the-floor. But, I still think the song has a strong "rock" feel to it.

Kohara: The guitar is pretty simple with fairly easy melodies as well. I'd say this is a classic-sounding rock song.

— Regarding the guitar, you only really use distortion as an effect, right?

Kohara: That's right. The tone color changes only during the guitar solo so I find the song to be a pretty easy listen as a whole. And, on a more personal note, this song just feels really nostalgic to me.

— What do you mean?

Kohara: It just has that tone color that feels very '90s to me. I was reminded of my student days when I listened to "RUNAWAY STAR"… It felt like I had listened to it before, somehow.

— I was reminded of GLAY when I listened to it.

Kohara: Ah, maybe that's it! I used to love Visual Kei back then and I feel like this is the closest RAS has gotten to it. Our songs in minor key get pretty close to that genre, like "STRAY CERBERUS" for example. In fact, that's the coolest RAS song, in my opinion.

Natsume: I love Visual Kei too! We don't get to perform "STRAY CERBERUS" that much, though~ (Laugh).

No performance is ever the same (Natsume)

— I'd like to ask something in regard to the characteristic RAS sound. I've said before that "WHAT AN EXPLOSION" felt like a song that said "This is RAS". So, in that same vein, what would you say are the phrases or rhythms that only RAS can make?

Natsume: Well, something that makes me very happy is when people decide to start playing the drums because of me or MASKING. I often get asked what is the easiest RAS song to learn and I always say that, if you know how to do four-on-the-floor, then you can cover about half of our songs. So, to me, I'd say the four-on-the-floor rhythm is the answer.

Kohara: She says it like it's easy but it's not easy at all, huh? (Laugh). This is hard for the guitar… You often play similar phrases in the same position so it's difficult to show the difference to the listeners.

— It's very different for each part, isn't it?

Kohara: That's right. When I try to think of a simple, starting riff… it's just difficult since that can mean so many things for the guitar. Other bands usually have a starting obbligato (Note: secondary melody that assists the main melody) in octaves, but we usually don't have that.

Natsume: There's not that many RAS songs that start with only the guitar, huh? But, songs like "SOUL SOLDIER" and "Domination to world" sound really cool with that rock-n-roll guitar intro!

—  I find that your difficulty in answering only shows how extensive the band can be. Well, on another note, this single's Blu-ray includes footage of your performance in Tokyo in November of 2025 for "RUMBLEHEADZ" at TACHIKAWA STAGE GARDEN. The 2nd day is fully included and the 1st day includes four songs that were not played on the 2nd day. Would you like to point out anything from either day?

Kohara: I would love for everyone to watch "BIBIBABI BRAVER"! Not only because we debuted this song on this show but, the guitar has a very cutting sound which is pretty rare. There's also an intro with the guitar and keyboard that was made just for this show! Make sure to listen to it if you haven't already~.

Natsume:  We also debuted "'FIGHT' ADDICT" and "FIVE AS ONE" on that day. Well, "FIVE AS ONE" is an especially emotional song, which I'm sure will touch everyone when you watch it. When you're at a show, you have to deal with that feeling of calmness but also passion — you want to get excited but also pay attention to the stage, am I right? In a song like "HELL! or HELL?" for example, you might miss some small details, like some parts of the performance or the member's expressions while you headbang. So, that's where these recordings come in to help!

— That's true. I've watched recordings of shows that I've been to in person and I had the feeling I was watching them for the first time, since I was having too much fun in the show itself… I'm sure other fans can relate.

Natsume: We really value the feeling of being there, watching us on stage, the most. No performance is ever the same. And so, this is something you can only understand by listening to the songs and also watching the performances, even if just the recording.

— Lastly, I'd like to hear some words of enthusiasm for your upcoming show, "Boot IGNITION"!

Kohara: Our shows are made not only by our members, but also by every single BanG Dreamer in the audience. RAISE A SUILEN is a band where you can have fun with your body and your soul. So, I want to use everything I have to make the most fun show ever!

Natsume: We always plan a very strong setlist and this time, there's also some extra songs that'll mess with your feelings. We've prepared  an equal amount of new and older songs, and as I said before, even though we may already have performed some of them, we don't want any performance to be the same, even by a millisecond. That's the very core of a live show. If you're in Tokyo, Hyogo, or Hong Kong… please come play with us if you can!