TingTing

Playing the role of Murano Sayaka, I’m Nonaka Kokona.

[Footage playing - The video of cast first meeting, 2022 February] (Looking back at Uichan’s introduction)Nassu: Wow, I remember this. Her hair was so short. She’s an older sister. (Looking back at Konachi’s introduction) Nassu: LOL. Actually, I wasn't wearing my contact lenses back then, so during that meeting I couldn't really see Konachi's face properly. (Looking back at Kotoko’s introduction) Nassu: Ah, I remember this. (Looking back at her own introduction)Nassu: LOL! She was putting on a more mature image. My hair was so short lol. I just realized... I never even said my character's name. I only said my own name. You did well. (Looking back at Chuke’s introduction) Nassu: Whoaaa! Non-chan! I remember this. These days you like omurice too. (Looking back at Kankan’s introduction) Nassu: Kyaaaa! Cute. She was such a lively person.

―― How was your experience meeting the cast for the first time? 

As for that first meeting itself... it was actually the first cast face-to-face meeting I'd ever experienced since entering this industry. I was so overwhelmed just trying to get through my own self-introduction that I honestly don't remember much about that day.

It was my first time being the youngest member of a group, I wasn't used to having so many big-sister figures around me.

The main thing I remember is just how incredibly nervous I was. It was also my first time being involved in a long-running content project as a voice actress.

I remember looking at Ui-san's outfit and thinking, "She was exactly how I'd imagined a female voice actress would be."

Then seeing Kan-chan being so energetic made me think, "If someone older than me can be this lively and carefree, maybe this is going to be a really comfortable place to be.", It gave me confidence that everything would be okay.

[Footage playing - Nonaka Kokona interview about accepting the role of Murano Sayaka, 2022 February] 

When I found out I'd been chosen as one of the cast members… Honestly, I'd never believed I would actually pass the audition.

I was at home when my mother told me the news, and I was completely shocked. I thought, "I'll probably never get another opportunity to be involved in a project this big."

The moment I heard it, I even thought, "This will probably become the defining work of my career."

I was nervous. I was anxious. But more than anything, I was excited.

I wanted to do everything I could to bring out the best in Murano Sayaka, I wanted to give it my all, and I was genuinely looking forward to it. 

―― Looking back on my younger self... 

Uwaaa. Looking back now...I was only sixteen. I'd literally just had my birthday a month earlier. I was still so immature, a complete kid.

Watching myself back then, I had short hair and no bangs, and I was saying things like, "I'd be happy if we could all do our best together." I can't believe how politely I spoke.

There was a little maturity there… But at the same time, you can really feel how inexperienced I still was.

Looking back at my younger self, it's strangely endearing. Since then, my hair has grown out. I have bangs now too. Appearance-wise, I think I've probably changed the most out of all the cast members.

―― How I felt the first time I listened to Dream Believers

Kyaa. Ah… I remember this. That's me glancing down at the lyrics under the table.

I remember seeing Ui-san and Non-chan crying. They were really crying. 

Kan-chan had her eyes closed, completely absorbed in the music, probably imagining herself singing it.

When I first received this song, I honestly had no idea it would be this wonderful.

I'd done singing and dancing as part of idol groups before...But it was my first time ever gathering together with everyone to listen to a demo recording of a song. It was also really refreshing to watch everyone else's reactions.

Most of all...Dream Believers is, simply put, the signature song of Hasunosora. Its representative song. Every lyric felt so bright and uplifting.

I'm sure every group has their own representative song… But to me, Dream Believers has always felt truly special. This song has given me strength over and over again.

At the same time, after doing so many activities over the years...there were times when the song's message felt almost too bright, and listening to it became painful.

It perfectly reflects our Activity Records.

As we've continued to grow, both as performers and as people, the weight and meaning of this song have only grown deeper.

Even now, it's still one of my favorite songs.

―― What I was thinking at the beginning.

Up until then, most of the groups I'd been part of were temporary projects where you graduated once you reached a certain age. So when I heard this project also had a fixed time limit, I thought, "So I'm going to have to go through another goodbye." That was probably why I started this project with a slightly different mindset than everyone else.

Kan-chan and Non-chan joke about it a lot these days, but when we first started, I was really trying to act cool, or maybe more like, putting on an act as a responsible person. I'm naturally pretty shy, so it actually took me about a year before I truly opened up to everyone.

The reason was simple. I already knew I was going to grow attached to them. I knew I was going to end up liking everyone. So, in a way, I didn't want us to become too close. Because of that, I tended to keep my distance. I wouldn't really join the group conversations, and even after lessons, when everyone went out to eat together, I'd be the only one who headed home early.

Since I already knew how painful goodbyes could be, I built a lot of walls around myself at first. I already knew how these kinds of stories ended.

Yeah... I guess that's how things started.

――  Photoshoot for the 103rd term profile photo (2022 December) 

One thing I remember really clearly is that, although I thought I already understood each unit's identity, it wasn't until we started taking promotional photos together that the picture became much clearer for me.

Mira-Cra Park was squeezed together. Cerise Bouquet faced inward toward each other, taking elegant, refined photos. But when it came to DOLLCHESTRA, we were told, "Stand back-to-back. Don't smile."

I remember thinking, "So this is what makes DOLLCHESTRA unique."

We took plenty of unit photos that were never officially released, but every single one had that same cool atmosphere. Our expressions were sharp and intense.

Ironically, the two of us usually smiled all the time in real life, so trying not to smile was actually really difficult. We both struggled to keep those serious expressions.

[Footage playing - Interview of the photoshoot, 2022 December] 

Nassu : This was also the first photoshoot with all six of us together. At the time, we still didn't really know what the group dynamic would be like. But the atmosphere was incredibly warm and fun. Rurino-chan especially kept everyone laughing and helped lift the mood. I’m having a really great time.

――  Member & Cast Reveal Livestream (2023 February)

Back then, Non-chan still wasn't used to leading or keeping everyone organized. For about the first six months, I actually ended up taking charge quite often instead.

At the time, I wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to show off their own personality, so I tried all sorts of things to help bring that out during those early days.

Before our debut day, I got to take photos with my own character standee for the first time. She was so incredibly cute. She had twin tails and a graceful pose with both hands held neatly in front of her. When I saw that standee in person, I was so amazed by how adorable she was, I’m pretty sure I snapped more photos of this standee than actual selfies.

More than anything, I was just so happy to see the cast and the character together in the same image.

――  103rd Term FesxLIVE, Freshmen Welcome Party! (2023 April)

Fes×LIVE itself was such an incredible technological challenge. It was something that no other content had really tried before. 

Being able to respond to comments in real time really bridged the distance. Even behind a screen, it felt like we were enjoying the same stage together. The energy was incredible.

I especially remember the four of us encouraging each other before we started, saying, "It's okay. Just stay calm and we'll be fine."

――  Debut Mini Album “Dream Believers” Release Memorial Event (2023 April) 

Personally, I never viewed tears on stage as something moving or beautiful. I was strictly of the mindset that performers should remain professional.

But the reason I cried that time... even though some of the things I talked about might have sounded a little negative, but the tears came because I knew how much Love Live! meant to Ui-san, Non-chan, and Konachi. For the first time, I was able to witness someone achieving their dream right in front of me.

It was truly the first time I had experienced something like that, and I found myself tearing up because I wanted the people who had achieved their dreams to be happy. I think that was the first time I cried because I felt that kind of emotion.

But because I cried, the other cast members were surprised, and the fans who had supported me until then were surprised as well, because they had never really seen me cry on stage before.

My own personal rule as a performer was never to cry. But at that moment, I don't know... 

Perhaps because I’ve been part of DOLLCHESTRA for so long, that old belief "a professional shouldn't cry" came back like a curse and hit me all over again.

After the show, a lot of people said it was really moving... but honestly, that moment just made me really scared of crying and letting my emotions show.

―― 1st Live Tour ~RUN! CAN! FUN!~, Tokyo (2023 October) 

It was my first time experiencing a tour.

And to put it simply, I learned for the first time that even if it's the same song, its meaning can change completely when you perform it throughout a tour.

After Fukuoka, we had another Fes×LIVE, and the setlist expanded again with the addition of the songs we performed there.

It was during the FIRST Live Tour that I realized, "Ah, this is what makes Hasunosora special."

At the time, I had a test the day before the Fukuoka performance. It was a test that I absolutely had to take, so as soon as it finished, I got on a plane and headed to Fukuoka. Kotoko-chan was already there doing the stage rehearsal on her own, checking things like camera angles, confirming her positions, and running through the songs on stage. I joined halfway through.

So, for my first live tour, I wasn't able to do all the preparations together with everyone from the beginning. Maybe because of that, the first and second days left a really strong impression on me.

It was also my first time performing on an extended stage. Being able to walk toward the center stage while dancing was something I had always dreamed of. During this 1st Live Tour, I was able to experience so many things that I had never done before, or never had the chance to do before. It was honestly so much fun.

By that point, the six of us cast members had a feeling that this 1st Live Tour might be the last time all six of us would perform together as the full group. So even though it was our first time, there was also this feeling of, "This might be the last time the six of us get to do everything together." It was a live tour filled with a lot of different emotions.

―― 1st Live Tour ~RUN! CAN! FUN!~,  Aichi (2023 November) 

The Rindou Festival was a true turning point for both Sayaka and me. It was the stage that truly changed everything for us. I believe we managed to create a performance that would remain in everyone’s memories. From then on, through the 104th and 105th terms, the Rindou Festival became a truly special place for Sayaka and for me

I think everyone was probably shocked too. A first-year student doing what was almost like a solo stage right at the beginning of the performance. I remember it got a big reaction.

―― 103 Term, December FexLive (2023 December)

It was the moment when I truly witnessed how amazing Hasunosora was.

The curtain closed, then the vcr of everything that had happened until that point were shown. We changed into different costumes and returned to the stage. The songs showed the strengths of each unit, but at the same time, the stage also carried the traditions and connections of the Hasunosora School Idol Club itself.

Even now, I feel like, in a good way, there hasn't really been a performance that surpassed the six of us performing  Link To The Future at that time.

I remember a lot of people became interested in Hasunosora because of that performance.

―― Photoshoot for the 104rd term profile photo (2024 February) 

Fuu is very reliable, but, as she herself says, she’s also the type of person who struggles when it comes to starting conversations with new people. Since she wanted to become closer with Kotoko-chan and me, she would actually prepare possible conversation topics before approaching us.

But when it came to me, she hardly needed any preparation at all! The same was true with Kotoko-chan. With her, Fuu was basically trying to carry the entire conversation with just one line: "You like dagashi, right?"

But we shared similar interests, especially when it came to the kinds of content and entertainment we enjoyed, so she would come talk to me like, "Oh, you like that too, right?"

I remember she wasn't used to having photos taken either, so while watching everyone's artist photo shoots from backstage, she was constantly studying things like how to smile and what she should do.

―― 103 Term, March FexLIVE (2024 March)

I think I was probably the only one among the Hasunosora cast in the same exact position as Sachi. In real life, I was a third-year student. So while I obviously understood Sayaka-chan's feelings, I also had my own sadness of leaving a place I loved, just like Sachi did.

When we performed Dakishimeru Hanabira at Fes×LIVE, and later performed it at our concert, it almost felt like the song was speaking to me as well. The lyrics resonated with me so deeply.

Balancing school with work during my entire third year was tough. So seeing Sachi graduate with a smile and hearing everyone say "Congratulations on your graduation" felt like a gift to me. It felt like I was being rewarded, like those words were meant for me as well. It was a time of endless emotional turbulence for me, both as a performer and as an individual.

―― 2nd Live Tour ~Blooming with ○○○~ (2024 April-May)

The 2nd Live Tour happened within a month after I graduated high school. A lot of things in my life changed during that time.

Moving to Tokyo, transferring schools, and leaving my parents’ home were all decisions I made because of Hasunosora. To take on this journey with Hasunosora, I had to leave my beloved Nagasaki and start a new life in Tokyo. 

After living away from my parents for a year or two, I finally graduated, and it was around that time that Runway performance at the 2nd Live Tour happened.

At that time, I was really struggling. It felt like no matter what I did, things weren't going well.

I'm the type of person who has trouble practicing in front of others, so I would always practice alone where no one could see. But even after practicing so much, there were moments when I felt, "I don't think I'm talented enough. Is this really all I’m capable of giving Sayaka-chan?"

For more than a month leading up to the next tour, I entered a period where I couldn't really believe any words of encouragement, no matter how kind they were. Yeah. It was really difficult. I even felt nervous during the group songs when we performed on the center stage.

Also, between the Chiba tour and the Hyogo tour, the setlist for Hyogo was changed. After my Runway solo stage, I received many comments saying, "I want to see Sayaka do this next time too."

So, while we were rehearsing for the Hyogo performance, Runway, which wasn’t part of the original setlist, was added back in.

Experiencing that made me realize, "People have so much expectation for Sayaka-chan and me." That expectation actually became my strength.

The following year, Sayaka-chan's problem was that she was relying too much on other people's expectations to keep moving forward. But at that time, I was someone who was able to move forward because of the expectations people had for me.

So the 2nd Live Tour was truly a place where I grew and matured a lot as a person.

[Behind-the-scenes footage from the 2nd Live Tour ~Blooming with ○○○~, Chuke watching Nassu’s runway performance, May 2024] Chuke: The comeback was a huge success.

[Behind-the-scenes footage from the 2nd Live Tour ~Blooming with ○○○~, May 2024] Nassu: I’m so glad. I really felt bad for Sayaka-chan, so I’m happy it turned out well.

―― 3rd Live Tour TRY TRI UNITY!!! with DOLLCHESTRA (2024 November) 

We were able to perform at the Orix Theater in Osaka, which was really special. For Fuu, it was like going back home. For Kotoko-chan, it meant being able to enjoy lots of delicious food. We actually had dinner together the day before the performance. We were able to recharge ourselves with good food and go into the stage feeling completely energized.

Theater stage is such an important part of DOLLCHESTRA’s identity, so being able to perform in a venue like that made me really happy. Because we were so motivated, I went into rehearsals determined to include whatever the other two wanted to try. I kept thinking, "I really hope they can perform freely, enjoy themselves, and truly be themselves on stage."

But the truth is, Non-chan, Kan-chan, and I had also been holding back quite a lot at that time. Because we really wanted to connect the seniors and juniors together, we stood on stage while carrying many different worries and thoughts with us.

But in the end, the ones who helped clear all of that away were my fellow unit members, Sayaka-chan and the rest of the group too. That made this moment so special, too. Well, it was a live tour filled with so many meaningful moments. 

I really loved that feeling when all of us finally gathered together in Yokohama. 

―― 3rd Live Tour TRY TRI UNITY!!! at Yokohama Arena (2025 January)

After that performance ended, Non-chan, Kan-chan, and I talked together and said, "Wow, this live show was really fun."

Also, before the Yokohama performance, we had the chance to perform Bloom the Smile, Bloom the Dream, a song the three members of the 103rd class created together. The three of us were saying, "This time, let’s make sure Sayaka-chan and the others have as much fun as possible." I feel like that feeling really came through in the performance.

I think this live tour really showed so many different sides of our relationships: our roles within the unit, our school-year dynamics, and also our relationships as cast members and as a group. It was an incredibly fun tour.

―― 4th Live Dream ~Bloom, The Dream Believers~ at K-Arena (2025 June) 

I think the 4th Live Tour Dream was probably a performance where each cast member had their own different feelings and perspectives. For me, as I often say, I’m used to saying goodbye. But because I’m used to it, I also have my own way of handling those moments. Things like not talking too much, not looking at people too much, and strictly sticking to business mode. During the graduation performances, I tried to keep things as normal as possible.

But at the same time, I wanted to take photos with everyone and spend more time talking together. We even made a photo album during the summer. In the end, things didn't stay as usual at all, and I remember thinking, "This is exactly what makes Hasunosora what it is."

And then I ended up crying during the performances and during the MC segments. I hadn’t cried in front of people like that for a long time, probably not since around 2023, so I had forgotten how to stop myself. I was just there crying, sniffling the whole time. It made me realize just how deeply I was able to be moved by something.

―― Photoshoot for the 105th term profile photo (2025 February) 

After that, when we became the oldest members and started the 105th term, I could really see how much the graduation had affected Kan-chan and Non-chan. Whenever they did anything, they'd naturally picture how Kaho-chan would be if Kozue-senpai were still there. Kan-chan also seemed to have deeply ingrained habits in how she expressed Ruri-chan from back when Megu-chan and Konachi were around. I knew they had struggled a lot with figuring out how to carry themselves as the new oldest members. 

Sayaka-chan also changed her hairstyle, and that was a bigger adjustment than people might realize. Wearing her hair down completely changed the way she moved and how her hair flowed, so I had to rework her performance from scratch.

―― 5th Live Dream ~4Pair Power Spread!!!!~, Mira-Cra Park! presents Heart Stage (2025 October) 

But then, we gained a new element, Edel Note. And honestly, those kids were so loud and energetic, even during rehearsals. But when they make a mistake, they genuinely look disappointed and sad about it. And seeing that makes you want to teach them and help them improve. They were such a fun and comedic group.

Having them around is what allowed the three of us and the 104th members, as the senior members, to truly enjoy the year while giving it everything we had.

Whether it was the eight of us or all sixteen of us together, 2025 felt like a year where everyone came together so well. It wasn’t just about balance, there was a real sense of unity among us.

Of course, that showed during Fes×LIVE, but even during rehearsals, there was this feeling of, "We’re definitely going to make our mark as the 105th term. We’re going to leave an impression.", I think the 105th term had the strongest drive to do that.

―― 105th Term Episode 7 “A Proof of My Existence, My Own Selfish Color” (2025 October) 

How should I put it... there were a lot of lines in the script that I personally didn't want to say. I can't speak for Kaho or Ruri-chan, but for me, rather than having a similar personality to Sayaka-chan, I think our way of thinking and approaching things were similar.

So the October Activity Record was one that forced me to face the parts of myself I had been avoiding. It made me confront myself as a person.

In the dance battle, Sayaka-chan won in terms of technical ability, but she lost when it came to the overall evaluation. That scene was really moving, and I think it was a wonderful turning point for DOLLCHESTRA. But for me personally, that reality was painful because I ended up seeing myself reflected in Sayaka-chan.

Sayaka-chan has always been the type of girl who ends up with the bronze medal or in second place, so I always wanted to see a moment where she actually came out on top. 

It made me reflect on my own life outside of Hasunosora. In my past work, when it came to technical skill, I felt like I had always been able to do things better than anyone else. But then I would see someone who wasn’t as technically polished, whose movements weren’t as precise, yet danced with more passion than anyone else, receiving more praise. I remember thinking, "Why?" Like, "I’m working so hard too."

That month brought back those feelings for me.

I entered this industry because I felt like it was something I was suited for. Of course, I’m still here because I love it, but when I first stepped into this world, it was because I believed I had what it took.

But Sayaka-chan was different. She never ran away. She always carried the full weight of responsibility herself, and there was this clumsy side of her where she couldn’t escape from that responsibility. But she didn’t continue because she was naturally suited for it, she continued because it was what she wanted to do, and she kept challenging herself.

When I realized that, I thought, "She’s doing the things I couldn’t do."She was someone who faced everything she needed to face as a school idol. We may be similar in some ways, but she’s an amazing person, someone even greater than me.

That October episode, Sayaka-chan’s culmination story, was about how it’s not enough to only do the things you’re good at; you have to pursue what you truly want to do, and that will eventually lead somewhere.

Every single line felt impossible to ignore, it was a feeling I had never experienced before. And the song Hajimari no Haneoto that came from that story became like an encouragement song for me as well.

October was a month where Sayaka-chan forced me to face the parts of myself I had been looking away from. I’m sure Kan-chan and Non-chan had lines they didn't want to hear either, and moments where they realized, "Ah, I really have to face this." But I think experiencing those feelings was also part of what makes Hasunosora special.

When I see it described as a culmination episode, it hits me all over again, "Ah, right, this was their final chapter of growth."

―― Sehasu 105th Term, Kanazawa & Noto Location Shoot (2025 October)

For me, the Kanazawa trip and the Sanrenka trip are memories that really stayed with me. 

I especially love the moments when Non-chan lets go of being the one in charge. Normally, Non-chan is always in that leader position where she feels like she has to move things forward with the script in hand, making sure everything goes smoothly. But during the Sanrenka trip, we got to see a different side of her, the Non-chan who is simply our classmate, someone who loves reading, loves rabbits, and just loves having fun with other people. Those moments were really special to me. I think Kan-chan probably understands what I mean too.

I think we created so many memories during those location shoots.

Also, through With×Meets, the three of us as cast members also had this desire to hear and see our characters talk more about their time in Kanazawa. So during the Kanazawa trip, we were using it almost as a way to gather information. Thinking things like, "Would this character probably go here?" or sharing thoughts like, "Ruri-chan would definitely love this restaurant."

In that sense, we were able to use the official Hasunosora Kanazawa trip as a way to gather little details and inspiration for the characters.

―― Preview Screening of Love Live! Hasunosora School Idol Club ~Bloom Garden Party Movie~ (2026 March)

I feel like I’ve started to develop a stronger sense of resolve. 

I also got to see the movie preview, and watching the 103rd term members in the film dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to supporting others gave me so much strength to keep moving forward.

It made me realize that even if you aren’t always the person standing in the spotlight, continuing to work sincerely and wholeheartedly will eventually be rewarded. That’s how I’ve been living my life lately.

Of course, all of that is thanks to Hasunosora and Sayaka-chan.

[Footage playing - Nonaka Kokona Interview about graduation, from 2022 February] 

As for what I want to become by the time I graduate, I want to be someone who has at least one thing I can truly call my own strength. And since I’ll probably have graduated high school by then, I also want to become a wonderful, mature adult.

―― What kind of existence does Murano Sayaka mean to you? 

In one word, we’re actually very similar lol.

Our personalities are completely opposite, though. When I want to have fun, I’m the type who wants to be loud and silly. But when I want to be a proper, responsible student, I can become quiet and composed. Sayaka-chan, on the other hand, is truly the definition of a responsible person. She’s someone who is incredibly organized and plans everything carefully.

Even though our personalities are different, the way we think and the way our emotions move are very similar. 

When Sayaka-chan gets praised, I feel happy too. But because what Sayaka-chan does is so extraordinary, when people try to relate to her, I think many of them end up feeling, "Sayaka-chan is just too incredible." And when I hear those kinds of reactions toward her, somehow I feel them myself too. 

Sayaka-chan and I have always been together, and I feel like our hearts have always been connected. I think many people see Sayaka-chan as a difficult person to understand, someone whose thoughts are still hard to grasp. But to me, she’s actually so easy to understand. Seeing someone this precious working so hard makes me think, "I need to work harder too."

She’s someone who kept walking down the path I once avoided, without running away from it. She really is an amazing person.

―― Is there anything you’d like to say to the people who’ve been cheering you on? 

Even as Hasunosora continued to change in many ways, I’m truly grateful that I was able to walk side-by-side with Sayaka-chan without ever losing our bond. And that was only possible because of everyone’s voices, support, and encouragement, especially because everyone continued playing and staying connected through Linkura.

I believe Hasunosora is a project where, no matter when you join or when you encounter it, you’ll always find a school idol you can truly connect with. Whether among the graduates or among the girls who are yet to come, I believe there will always be a school idol who shares something with you, someone who has the same feelings or has gone through a similar situation.

So I hope everyone will continue to look forward not only to Sayaka-chan and us, but also to the future of Hasunosora. I’m sure your destined school idol is waiting for you somewhere.

I’d be so happy if you continue to support Hasunosora and spend those 365 days under the same sky with us, sharing those wonderful moments together.

Even after Sayaka-chan and I graduate, I think we will continue to watch over the 106th term's growth as alumni. So for the things we can no longer say ourselves, I hope all of you will stand by their side and watch over the 106th term as the future of Hasunosora.

I'm counting on you. Thank you so much.

―― If you had to sum up what Hasunosora School Idol Club is to you, how would you put it? 

For the first time,

I found a place where I could be my true self!!

feel free to edit them if you need