White Scorpion: Part 7 ACE: “Beyond Skill: The Art of Delivery”

“WHITE SCORPION,” an idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto, was formed through auditions known as “IDOL 3.0 PROJECT,” which took place for approximately six months starting in April ’23.

 

They debuted on December 7th, ’23, with their digital single “Gaze Sniper.” Releasing a new song every month, they unveiled their 4th digital single, “Loneliness in the Crowd,” on March 7th.

 

Their 5th digital single, “Satisfaction graffiti,” is set to be released on April 7th.

 

A special serial exploring their personal lives begins, offering insights into the members.

 

In Episode 7, we present a long interview with ACE!

Idol is what I have been aiming for since I was in elementary school.

── You became a member of WHITE SCORPION after going through about six months of auditions.

“The sense of relief and accomplishment when my name was called as one of the final qualifiers was immense, given the lengthy audition period. I had actually been eliminated twice during the audition process, but thanks to the ‘White Knight System’ (a system applied in this audition where eliminated contestants can be revived through fan voting), I was able to make a comeback. It was grueling, but it strengthened my once weak heart and deepened my bond with the fans. I used to be really fragile, crying at the drop of a hat (laughs). But facing myself through the audition process made me incredibly strong. Looking back now, I can say that I’m glad I went through that audition period. It was a valuable experience.”

── What were your thoughts and feelings as you approached the auditions?

“Throughout the auditions, I’ve always wanted to create a version of myself that I wouldn’t be ashamed of as an idol. Ultimately, I think I achieved that.”

── Could you share what inspired you to become an idol?

“When I was five years old, I saw AKB48 on TV. Atsuko Maeda, the center, was sparkling and had a cute smile. Since seeing her, becoming an idol became my dream, and that dream never wavered. From the fifth grade, I attended a training school in my hometown of Fukuoka, where I received lessons in acting, singing, and dancing. In junior high, I auditioned for various idol groups, but I kept getting rejected.”

─ What kind of idols were you auditioning for?

“I auditioned for Hello! Project twice. I was also interested in Sakamichi groups, but I felt like I wasn’t quite their type (laughs). Sakamichi groups have this image of being beautiful and elegant, like unattainable flowers. But I felt that I wasn’t like that. I thought I would suit more as an idol who sweats and works hard while singing and dancing.”

 

── So you were doing self-analysis as well.

 

“About two years ago, I also auditioned for ≒JOY, the sister group of =LOVE and ≠ME, which I loved. I made it to the final audition, which was an experience I hadn’t had before, and I also participated in the SHOWROOM audition, which I admired by watching other idol auditions. But it didn’t work out. That’s when I felt defeated, or thought maybe I wasn’t cut out for being an idol… I had put a lot of hope into this audition, so I was quite depressed.”

 

── But you couldn’t give up?

 

“I still had the desire to become an idol, but for the next year and a half, I decided to focus on my studies and part-time work. I worked as a wedding staff member and at a hot pot restaurant. It was during that time that I saw the announcement for this audition on social media. I was drawn to the concept of ‘updating to meet the needs of the times’.”

“I like both cute and cool songs, so when I saw that the concept was to update according to the needs of the times, I felt like I could challenge myself in various styles, which was attractive to me. I thought that by changing with the times, we could become a group that would be loved for a long time. So, I decided to apply for this audition, considering it would be my last chance. I had suppressed my feelings for being an idol, but seeing the activities of Nearjoy (≒JOY), who made it to the final audition but still fell short, I felt frustrated. I realized that I still couldn’t give up on my dream of becoming an idol.”

── Is there anything you feel you wouldn’t be the same without during your journey to debut?

 

“Definitely, the training camp audition. It was refreshing for me to become friends with girls from different places and ages who shared the same dream and engage in group activities. I experienced a lot of frustration there and found aspects of myself that were lacking, and I also learned a lot.”

 

── What aspects of yourself did you find lacking?

 

“My true abilities in singing and dancing. I had taken dance lessons and practiced singing, so I was confident in myself. Honestly, I thought I was better than others. But I was far from being good enough. I realize now that I haven’t been able to objectively assess myself.”

“I learned through this audition that singing and dancing require ‘expressiveness’ in addition to skills, and that’s actually extremely important. I used to think that just honing my skills would be enough, but I realized that it’s not enough to deliver something to others, let alone to reach them. That’s why I failed before. Recognizing this, I believe I was able to start fresh and make efforts from scratch during the training camp.”