#zip-fm

250921 ZIP-FM SUNDAY EVENING SPECIAL

Perfume’s Nocchi on Growth, Challenges, and Staying True to Herself

When asked about how she switches “on” and “off,” Nocchi from Perfume admitted with a smile that there is no true “off” for her. Even in private moments, she is always aware of herself as “Perfume’s Nocchi.” In her younger years, she tried to separate her stage persona from her personal self, but now she sees them as one and the same. “My daily life feeds into my work with Perfume, and Perfume is just me,” she explained.

From Shy Beginnings to Open Expression

Looking back, Nocchi reflects on how much she has changed. Once painfully shy—so much so that fellow member A~chan would make phone calls to the hair salon for her—she gradually became more comfortable communicating. “I could never have imagined sitting alone for an hour-long interview like this back then,” she said. Her growth came step by step: first making her own appointments, then speaking confidently on big stages. While she once wrote out every word of what she needed to say, she now feels free to speak spontaneously.

Taking Perfume Global

After their landmark Tokyo Dome performance in 2010, Perfume released the album JPN (2011), signaling their ambition to step onto the world stage. For Nocchi and the group, this new challenge was both thrilling and daunting. Though industry voices suggested adapting their image and sound for overseas audiences—such as shooting new visuals or recording entirely in English—Perfume insisted on staying true to their Japanese identity. “We wanted to take the coolness of Japanese creators as it is and bring it to the world,” Nocchi emphasized.

Perfume: From Dorm Room Dreams to Dome Stages

In the early days of Perfume, the trio had only a handful of original songs but an endless supply of creativity and determination. Living together in a dorm, they spent nights brainstorming ways to make their performances engaging—teaching fans their choreography, handing out stickers for participation, and designing their own flyers filled with purikura photos, self-introductions, and lyrics. What drove them was a simple but unshakable motivation: to let people discover how fun Perfume could be.

The turning point came in 2007 with the release of “Polyrhythm,” their first commercial tie-in song. Initially, the group didn’t expect it to succeed, and even their label worried it was too experimental. But producer Yasutaka Nakata fought to keep the song unchanged. His conviction paid off—the song’s unusual structure became its hook, propelling Perfume into the spotlight. Watching chart numbers climb felt like a dream come true, affirming their belief that Perfume was indeed “cool.”

Success, however, came at a dizzying speed. Within a year, they had their first No.1 album, a national tour, and a performance at Nippon Budokan. The pace was relentless, leaving little time to process experiences. Still, they never lost their motivation. Over time, they learned to ask for balance, choosing to live “more humanly” while staying committed to their music.

Perfume’s Nebular Romance: A Story Album Two Decades in the Making

In Nocchi’s two recent radio appearances, Nocchi pulled back the curtain on Nebular Romance—their first true concept album, and perhaps their most ambitious project to date. Scheduled for release on September 17, the record stitches together a sci-fi narrative that connects years of seemingly separate tie-ins, from Sumikko Gurashi to Gundam Card Game collaborations.

Instagram Story Solo Radio Appearance Lottery (2025.08.13)

Live radio appearances confirmed for Wednesday, August 20th!! 📻

🐙 Kashiyuka in Osaka 11:00 AM - FM802 "UPBEAT!" (1 PM appearance) 4:00 PM - FM Osaka "intense!" (5 PM appearance)

🍤 Nocchi in Aichi 11:00 AM - TOKAI RADIO "LIFE HACKERS!" (12 PM appearance) 3:00 PM - ZIP-FM "palette" (5 PM appearance)