WHITE SCORPION Serialization [Part 4] NATSU: “I want to be someone who shocks people”

After undergoing the “IDOL3.0 PROJECT” audition for about six months starting in April 2023, the idol group “WHITE SCORPION” was formed under the comprehensive production of Yasushi Akimoto.

 

They debuted on December 7, 2023, with their digital single “Gaze Sniper.” Releasing new songs every month, their 4th digital single “Loneliness in the Crowd” is set to be released on March 7.

 

A special series delving into their personal lives begins, aiming to uncover their true selves.

 

In the fourth installment, we bring you an in-depth interview with Natsu!

Auditioning in Despair Twice

── It’s been about three months since your debut in December last year. How do you feel now?

“To be honest, I didn’t feel the reality of my debut when it was decided. It wasn’t until I performed in front of fans for the first time at the pre-release event for our debut single ‘Gaze Sniper’ that I finally felt it. Finally, I realized that I’m standing on stage as an idol.”

── What inspired you, Natsu, to become an idol?

“When I was in the first year of junior high school, I skipped club activities to attend the ‘Summer Sonic’ festival. I was there to see amazarashi, but that day, Keyakizaka46 (now Sakurazaka46) was also performing. I listened to Keyakizaka46’s ‘Futari Saison’ and was deeply moved by how beautifully they played music. I realized that idols are the ones who can create such beautiful music, and that’s when I decided to become an idol.”

── And then, you auditioned for WACK, your previous agency, and passed, joining the training group WAgg. Your idol activities aimed to promote to the ranks of senior groups like BiSH, BiS, and GANG PARADE began.

“That was when I was in the second year of junior high school. Before that, I had auditioned for other agencies and even submitted documents for Keyakizaka46’s audition around the same time as WACK’s audition. Among those, when I passed the audition for WACK, I thought that if I was chosen, it must be fate, so I decided to join WAgg. But unfortunately, WAgg’s activities ended in October 2022.”

─ But I couldn’t give up on my idol career there.

“When you’re alive, there are various choices you can make. In my case, when I stopped being an idol, it was during my third year of high school, so I could have chosen to find a job or go to college. But around that time, I went to see a festival at the Kyocera Dome called ‘KCON,’ where Korean idols performed. I also saw various other idol groups, and I felt a sense of regret and dissatisfaction that I wanted to be on stage more. That’s when I started aiming to become an idol again. That’s when I found out about the audition for WHITE SCORPION. I think I saw it through an advertisement on Instagram.”

── Did you apply right away?

“Yes. Without hesitation, I applied immediately.”

─ ─ Looking back on the audition, what was the most memorable moment?

“What stands out to me is experiencing two eliminations during the audition process (I didn’t pass the evaluations in both the 1st and 2nd stages of the camp where 114 participants took part). I felt despair after the first elimination, and even more so after the second. However, I was given a chance to challenge again through the ‘White Knight System’ (a system applied in this audition where eliminated contestants can be revived by fan votes), and here I am now. Since I was eliminated twice, I felt a bit guilty that fans had to support me again to revive me, even though they had already supported me once through the White Knight System.”

── It seems like those experiences might have fostered a strong determination within you.

“Being revived twice through the White Knight System changed my perception of what an idol is for me. Previously, I thought an idol was someone who existed independently, almost like an already perfect and unreachable entity. However, after experiencing revival through the White Knight System, I began to think that it’s also good to be an idol who creates together with fans, with everyone lending a hand.”

─ ─ I think you have grown in some areas through the auditions.

“I think I’ve grown quite a bit in terms of switching my mindset. Whatever has happened cannot be changed, so it’s all about moving forward. I try to focus on what’s to come. Achieving my dream of standing on stage again as an idol and making my debut has allowed me to accept bitter memories from the past.”

── On the other hand, did you find any challenges through the audition process?

“After the audition, what I often hear from choreographers and others is that ‘Natsu doesn’t acknowledge her own strengths.’ I often receive compliments about my singing, but when I compare myself to even more amazing artists like aimyon or Da-iCE, I still feel like I have a long way to go. But I’m told to ‘stop comparing yourself to others and acknowledge your strengths.’ So, that’s a challenge for me. However, I do feel like I’m gradually learning to acknowledge myself without comparing to others.”