This interview was originally published in Japanese on thefirsttimes.jp. Translated by VK Chronicle.

＝LOVE Interview: “ナツマトペ” — Celebrating Summer with Onomatopoeia

The idol group ＝LOVE, produced by Sashihara Rino, has released their new single “ナツマトペ.” Coming five months after their previous release “この空がトリガー,” the title track of their 14th single features double centers Sasaki Maika and Noguchi Iori and is a straightforward summer song. We spoke candidly with five members—Oba Hanana, Saito Kiae, Sasaki Maika, Takiwaki Shogo, and Yamamoto Anna—about the themes in the lyrics like “girls’ trips” and “sounds of summer,” as well as their memories from shooting the MV on a southern island.

“It’s a song packed with summer. Onomatopoeia like ‘キラキラ,’ ‘プカプカ,’ and ‘ソワソワ’ are woven throughout”

Q: Let’s start with your first impressions when you received the new song “ナツマトペ.”

Saito Kiae: Since it was releasing in summer, I was hoping for a bright, straightforward summer song—and that’s exactly what we got. The lyrics are full of summery feeling. At first I wondered what the title meant, but looking at the lyrics, I saw various onomatopoeia like “キラキラ,” “プカプカ,” and “ソワソワ.” Combining all of those into the new word “ナツマトペ”—I thought Sashihara-san was amazing for that. I was excited to sing a summer song that felt so ＝LOVE-like.

Takiwaki Shogo: Before we got this song, I heard we’d be shooting the MV in Cebu. Since “南の島” was in the lyrics, I was imagining Cebu and wondering what kind of MV it would be. Also, there’s a part in the lyrics where “イチニーサンシ！” is written in various languages. I thought it was similar to the “Want you! Want you!” part with “サランヘヨ Ti amo 我愛你 je t’aime.” It’s such a bright song, so I was really happy.

Oba Hanana: I love bright, fun, cute idol songs like this, so I was thrilled. I think this song has everything fans want—like, “I wish idols would sing songs like this!” “Right?!” There’s also spoken sections, so we were all guessing who would say them while listening.

Sasaki Maika: When I first heard it, I thought, “This is such a bright song!” But since there were ad-libs and spoken parts from the start, I was honestly a little nervous about recording.

Q: Why were you nervous?

Sasaki: I’m not great with ad-libs and group chants—they make me embarrassed. But this time, there are them in almost every verse. During pre-production, we didn’t know exactly which parts we’d be singing yet, so we recorded everything. The dialogue parts especially made me so embarrassed. I kept thinking, “Am I really okay with this?”—but I love the song itself. It’s so bright and such a beautiful song about friendship.

Yamamoto Anna: I’m the opposite—I actually like the ad-lib parts. They’re fun. I was a little embarrassed too, so during recording I kind of entered my own world, made hand motions, and gave it my all with lots of “(Yeah!)” and “(Yes!).” I felt I could express my voice better through the ad-libs than in regular verses, so I went all out. I really hope fans will do the same—embrace the ad-libs without embarrassment and give it their all.

Q: So you’re not all recording the ad-libs together?

Sasaki: In the early days with songs like “＝LOVE” and “スタート!,” we recorded together with about five of us.

Oba: Now each of us records separately, individually.

Yamamoto: We keep saying we want to do it all together though.

Sasaki: I really miss those days! (Laughs)

Q: You mentioned earlier that it’s a song about friendship. Did you relate to the lyrics?

Sasaki: Yeah, I did. I think girls especially can relate to it easily. There are definitely things girls hide from guys.

“Girls-only trips and outings are part of everyday life, yet they’re also special”

Q: Definitely?

Sasaki: Yes. You act differently around guys than you do around other girls. That’s why girls-only trips and outings are part of everyday life, yet they’re also special. You don’t have to dress up or put on airs. You can enjoy the moment just being yourself—that’s what I find beautiful. I was reading the lyrics with the members in mind, and every line feels like it fits us perfectly.

Oba: Right. The second verse bridge has this part: “恋人じゃなくたってこの言葉は伝えていいのかなあまりにも特別でみんなが好き！受け取って！” It’s like expressing love directly to the members, without hesitation—I think that’s really beautiful and it’s one of my favorite parts.

Yamamoto: For me, it’s the end of the second verse: “「変わらずに一緒にいたいな」ってみんなもきっと…” Even if we don’t say it out loud usually, I think everyone feels the same way. And that moment in the MV is really special to me. ＝LOVE has had members graduate, but I hung out with Nagisa (Saito) recently, and it feels like we’re still together. The members I met through ＝LOVE are a miracle. We’d never have met these girls otherwise, so now I’m really aware of how precious they are. Just like the lyrics say, I want to stay with my members forever and keep that relationship unchanged. I love these lyrics.

Takiwaki: I also love the part “「変わらずに一緒にいたいな」って.” The first verse is just excitement when you read the lyrics, but the second verse has the members’ feelings in it. The more you dig into it, the more you love it.

Saito: It’s the part where I sing “「いつもより派手なワンピース着て今年の夏！始まるよ」.” Girls especially like wearing clothes that look good in photos when we go out. And the spoken part “夜更かしして話そう「絶対寝ちゃダメ！はい、約束。」” really brings out that fun girls-trip feeling. I love how it adds more of an ＝LOVE flavor too. Honestly, I think Sashihara-san is brilliant at writing heartbreak lyrics, but I was impressed by how she packed so many feelings into a friendship song as well.

Q: Do you have any girls-trip memories?

Sasaki: I haven’t really traveled much, honestly.

Yamamoto: I do! I went to Osaka and Kyoto with five friends for my high school graduation trip. In summer, we all piled into two cars—just girls—and went to the beach, did a BBQ, and played with water balloons. I have some real youth memories like that.

Saito: I went to Kyoto and Nara on my junior high school trip, and we stayed up late talking all night with everyone. Staying up was my dream, so I was happy.

Oba: Your dream?

Saito: Yeah, I really wanted to do it. We were already doing ＝LOVE activities back then, so I got to make memories with my school friends too.

Takiwaki: I had promised to go to Ishikawa with friends right after high school, but then COVID happened. We’d planned everything, but we couldn’t go. Still, I remember being so excited and nervous just planning the whole thing.

Oba: I… don’t have any (Laughs).

Sasaki: We’ve gone on trips with ＝LOVE members, but Hanana couldn’t go that time. We should all go again.

Oba: I want to! Last year at “イコノイジョイ大運動会 2022,” winning first place gave us a trip prize where we could pick our destination. Everyone else went to Universal Studios Japan and Kyoto, but I got sick and couldn’t go. So sad.

Sasaki: Let’s go again.

Yamamoto: Let’s do a girls-trip. Let’s do one on our own time.

Q: How was Universal Studios Japan and Kyoto with just the members?

Sasaki: It was so fun. I’d never been to USJ before, and I’m really glad my first time was with everyone. We walked a lot in Kyoto and ate a ton too. I’d been to Kyoto on a school trip in elementary school, but it felt completely different. Experiencing it now was so much more enjoyable.

“I want to enjoy summer this year looking forward to ‘ガリガリ’ and ‘ふわふわ’”

Q: Speaking of sounds of summer, what comes to mind for each of you?

Oba: Festival sounds. “ピーヒャラピーヒャラ.”

Yamamoto: “パッパパラリラ?”

Sasaki: That’s Chibi Maruko-chan! (Laughs)

Oba: When I see people carrying portable shrines at festivals, I think, “Summer’s here again!” Last year the pandemic had eased up a bit and festivals started happening again, so I was happy to see the shrines after so long.

Takiwaki: For me, it’s “ミーンミーン” and “ジージー”—cicada sounds. They kind of put me in an unpleasant mood.

Sasaki: They make you feel bad?!

Takiwaki: I mean, it does feel like summer arrived, but they’re constantly chirping. It gets a little noisy.

Yamamoto: Mine is “ガリガリ.” I love shaved ice, and I often go with Lisa (Otoshima). We’ve gone with Maika too, haven’t we?

Sasaki: Yeah, we went to a shaved ice place.

Yamamoto: Lately the prices are crazy. It’s gotten more “ふわふわ” than “ガリガリ.” My parents ask, “Why are you spending that much on shaved ice?” But I think shaved ice has so much appeal. I want to enjoy “ガリガリ” and “ふわふわ” this summer too.

Sasaki: Mine is “カランカラン.”

Takiwaki: Did you go to a coffee shop?

Oba: Did you visit a shrine?

Sasaki: It’s ice! (Laughs) I love drinking tea with ice after a bath. I fill the cup with way more ice than necessary, then spin it around and listen to the sound while I drink. Or sometimes I just leave it, and the ice breaks on its own and makes a “カラン” sound. I just love anything with ice in it.

Saito: Mine is “ドーンドーン”—fireworks. Fireworks only happen in summer, so they feel really special. The last fireworks I saw were probably at “イコノイジョイ 2022” last year. I hope we can all see them this year too.

Takiwaki: We already saw them—in the MV.

Saito: Well, yeah, we did see them in the MV, but there was a big sound. I got startled and couldn’t really appreciate the fireworks, so I want to see a beautiful fireworks display, and I want us all to set off fireworks together too.

“We held hands so we wouldn’t get separated at the night market”

Q: Tell us about the MV shoot.

Sasaki: It’s in the end credits, but it was Iori’s (Noguchi) birthday, and Anna surprised her with a cake. Nobody knew about it.

Oba: We didn’t know either.

Yamamoto: Really? I’m usually the one bringing the cake, but the staff told me, “When we’re filming Anna’s scene next, come grab the cake,” and I was waiting for my cue. There was this awkward silence wondering where I’d gone, and then suddenly I appeared going “Happy Birthday!” (Laughs)

Oba: We were so shocked.

Yamamoto: I brought the cake to Iori during filming. It’s rare to celebrate a birthday in Cebu in your lifetime, so I hope it became a good memory for her.

Sasaki: When Iori turned the actual age, Kiae and she were in the same room, and Anna and I suddenly burst in. Iori was already getting ready for bed (Laughs), so we just said “Happy Birthday” and left.

Saito: Right. I told her, “It’s your birthday, ten more seconds!” but she was just lying in bed like, “Yeah~,” so I jumped instead.

Oba: That’s so cute (Laughs).

Q: So you gave her the cake at a glamping site?

Sasaki: They built a set for us.

Yamamoto: So even if fans went to the Philippines to find it, it won’t be there.

Oba: There’s nowhere to visit for a pilgrimage (Laughs). But there were lots of other scenes. I want to watch it again—there was so much. We went to a night market holding hands so we wouldn’t get separated. Since we were filming, we stood out a bit, and people around us were wondering, “Who are these people?” Apparently they looked us up, maybe because we stood out with our blonde hair. Then when I glanced back at a table, the person sitting there was watching a video of me solo dancing from “この空がトリガー.” That shocked me. We didn’t talk to them, but they were definitely watching us secretly.

Q: Did you have anything delicious from the food stalls?

Oba: A shake.

Saito: Mango shake!

Oba: It was so good.

Sasaki: There were lots of things. Grilled skewers too. So many foods we’d never seen before.

Oba: They were delicious. I was eating tortillas.

Saito: There were these grilled skewers like yakitori. But it wasn’t chicken. I ate it but never figured out what it was (Laughs). It was a flavor I’d never tasted, but it was addictive. Really delicious though.

Q: What stands out most in your memories?

Saito: It’s not much in the MV, but we all went into a pool for the first time. Some of us just got our feet wet, but I was lying on a big rainbow floatie while everyone was splashing each other. Anna really went all in, right?

Yamamoto: Yeah, me, Shogo, and Sashaka (Morohashi) got totally soaked since our clothes were okay to get wet. Kiae got pretty wet too.

Oba: More like, I was getting her wet (Laughs).

Saito: Right. I was getting splashed by everyone. I was like, “You don’t have to splash that much!” It even got in my face.

Oba: I splashed! (Laughs)

Saito: Yeah, you were grinning the whole time (Laughs). But I was so happy we could all have fun together like that.

Takiwaki: The diving scene was memorable too, but what stuck with me watching the finished MV was—I, Anna, found birds while driving together, and with Maika I found sharks in the sea. We found so many things! (Laughs) When we were filming, it was just like, “Around here, probably,” so there was something fun about seeing how it turned out in the finished product.

Sasaki: There was also a dancing scene on the beach. The tide was out in the morning, so there was lots of sand, but as time went on, the sandy area kept shrinking. A lot of people were wearing sandals, so I remember thinking it must be tough while we danced. We found hermit crabs too.

Oba: We found one! It was pretty big, wasn’t it?

Sasaki: Yeah. We found a big hermit crab and got down to its eye level with it. It really felt like we were at the ocean.

Oba: It was

Read the original Japanese interview on thefirsttimes.jp