WHITE SCORPION Serialization [Last issue] AOI: “I’m finally at the starting line of my dream

WHITE SCORPION is an idol group produced by Akimoto Yasushi and formed through the “IDOL 3.0 PROJECT,” an audition that ran for about six months from April 2011.

The group debuted on December 7, 2011 with the single “Gaze Sniper.
They released a new song every month, and released their 4th single “Zozoku no solitude” on March 7, and their 5th single ” Satisfact ion graffiti ” on April 7.

This is a special series of articles that delves into the personal lives of these girls.

In the 11th and final part of the series, we present a long interview with AOI!

She was fascinated by the music video of “=LOVE” and aspired to become an idol.

─ What kind of girl were you when you were little?

I started taking classical ballet lessons at the age of 3, and I looked forward to every recital. I think I was a girl who loved to stand on stage and express something in front of others. My mother loved the stage, so I was often exposed to musicals when I was in elementary school. I have fond memories of going with my mother to see Takarazuka Revue and Shiki Theatre Company performances.

─ Did you have a desire to be a sparkling presence on stage as well?

I loved singing and dancing, so in the future I wanted to have a job performing in front of many people. So, in order to take the entrance exam for Takarazuka Music School, I went to a training school from the fifth grade, but my height did not grow much in the four years until I was in the second grade of junior high school. …… I was taking supplements every day that were reputed to be effective in increasing height (laughs).

─ ─ Is there a height requirement for the entrance exam?

There are no height restrictions, so petite people can also take the test, but the school’s teacher told me, ‘I think you would shine in another path. In the end, I gave up on Takarazuka. My teacher also told me that I was suited for a career in film and television, and I auditioned for TV dramas and movies, but I didn’t get any good results.

I think it was a time when I lost sight of my goal in life and was depressed. I was casually browsing YouTube when a music video by =LOVE jumped out at me. The song was called “Want you! Want you!” I was attracted by the glittering atmosphere of the thumbnail image and pressed the play button. The sight of the members singing and dancing in their cute outfits caught my attention, and I was instantly captivated.

─ Which member of =LOVE particularly caught your attention?

I was first attracted by the cuteness of Ms. Nagisa Saito, but when I watched the music video more closely, I noticed that some of the members were good dancers and had very expressive faces. Later, I looked her up and found out that her name was Koori Noguchi. I immediately looked at the other music videos and found “……?　The same person? I was so surprised to see a different Ms. Noguchi in the other music videos. I was overwhelmed by Noguchi’s ability to express herself in so many different ways that I found myself completely swamped. If I had not seen =LOVE’s music video at this point in my life, I don’t think I would have set my sights on becoming an idol.

─ Did you start auditioning for idols because of =LOVE?

I applied for many auditions, including those of the 48 Group, the Sakamichi series, Hello! Project, Hello! Project, and I even auditioned for a voice-over idol unit. Project, and voice-over idol units. However, I sometimes made it to the final round of auditions, but the results were always rejection. I often wondered what was wrong with me and what I was missing.

─ You must have experienced many setbacks.

There were times when I thought it would be better to give up on my dream of becoming an idol. I really despaired, and I couldn’t even follow the activities of =LOVE, which I love. It made me feel so sad when I saw them. So I distanced myself from idols for a while, but when I was graduating from high school, the “IDOL3.0 PROJECT” was announced and I learned that the audition for WHITE SCORPION was going to be held. And I thought, ‘I can’t go on like this. As long as there is a possibility, let’s try! and I decided to audition.

─ What did you emphasize at the audition?

I had two open auditions. At the first audition, I thought I would look back on my background and why I wanted to become an idol. But that didn’t have enough impact, so I decided to introduce myself in the style of a musical monologue. But I decided to do that just before the open audition, so I had to write the script in a hurry and memorize it (laughs).

(Laughs) ─ Perhaps it was his passionate monologue that struck a chord with the judges.

In the second open audition, I sang an alternate version of our debut song, “Gaze Sniper,” as my introduction song. It was well received, but I still get teased by the members from time to time (laughs).

─ How did you feel about your audition?

I wasn’t confident because I have often failed to reach the final step before. I was also worried that I might fail again in the final screening (……). As the names of successful applicants were being called out one after another, I was about to give up and think, ‘I am doomed to fail again at the last minute ……,’ when my name was called out as the 10th one. I was so surprised, and at the same time, I couldn’t stop crying.

─ I am glad that you did not give up and kept trying.

I am so glad that I kept trying. I have always wanted to give a performance on stage that would move the hearts of many people, ever since I was a little girl, so I was finally able to stand on the starting line of my dream. My mother has always supported me by saying, ‘I want you to do what you want to do as much as you can,’ so she was really happy for me.

What are your days like now that WHITE SCORPION has started?

I am spending my days in a more fulfilling way than I could have imagined when I was auditioning. I am nervous and anxious about all the things I am experiencing for the first time, such as recording and filming, but I am having a lot more fun than I thought I would.

─ Isn’t it a lot of work to learn the choreography and other things since a new single is released every month?

I enjoy the challenge of being able to express myself in a variety of ways with each song. I am often told that I have a lot of emotional expression and a big reaction, so I hope I can make use of that part of myself. For example, in my debut song, “Gaze Sniper,” I try to change my facial expressions throughout the song instead of just making a crisp, determined face the whole time.

─ What are your strengths and what do you feel confident in expressing?

I hope people will pay attention to the flexibility of my dancing, which is based on my experience in classical ballet, which I have studied since I was three years old. Also, during the audition period, I was often told by fans that they liked my voice and found it soothing, or that I had a pleasant speaking voice. Until then, I didn’t like my distinctive voice and had a complex about it, but the compliments I received from fans made me feel that it was okay to have confidence in myself. From now on, I hope to become WHITE SCORPION’s “healing person” (laughs).

A fan asked for a “word that makes me sleepy.” ……

─ What kind of character do you have among the 11 members?

I think I’m rather outgoing (laughs). (Laughs.) I’m really directionally challenged. Even though I’m from Tokyo, I don’t know where the subway comes and goes, so I get lost easily. I also get lost in the studio where I go to work. If I leave the studio for a moment, I can’t come back to where I left off, so the staff has to help me wander around and get me back (laughs).

─ I get the impression that you are a hard worker with serious roots.

I may try too hard, especially during the audition period. Especially during the audition period, I was very conscious that I had to do everything perfectly!　Especially during the audition period, I was very conscious that I had to do it perfectly. But I couldn’t do it perfectly, and there were times when I was so disgusted with myself that I did a live broadcast on SNS while crying on…….”

─ Did you lose sight of yourself?

I was like that during the audition period. But now I’m like, ‘This is the character I’m going to play! I don’t force myself to play an idol image that is far from my true self. Rather, I feel like I expose everything (laughs). (Laughs.) As long as I keep it natural and don’t overdo it, I’m sure my “true self” will gradually emerge during the course of my activities, and I’d be happy if you like that part of me that is true to myself.

─ Are you shy about being cheeky or acting like a brat?

Do you feel shy about being mocking or pretending to be someone you’re not? 　I’ll do my best!　I remember at a handshake session, I was asked by a fan, “Please give me a word that will make me sleepy. Apparently, my voice makes them sleepy. …… The members often say to me, “Talking with AOI makes me sleepy” (laughs).

─ Is your singing voice also soothing?

Laughs] ─ Is your singing voice also soothing? I hope I can change the expression of my voice depending on the song. If I am asked to sing a “royal idol” song in the future, I would like to do my best to make my voice sound cute! 　I hope to sing various types of songs.

─ What are your future goals as a group?

I would like to perform at summer idol festivals. I think it is a chance for fans of various idols to get to know WHITE SCORPION, so I want to give a performance that will attract the hearts of many people there and leave a strong impact!

PROFILE
AOI
Born on October 13th in Tokyo, Japan
Hobbies: Walking, watching anime and dramas, watching stage performances
Special Skills: Rolling, making eyelashes bite into double width, looking for people who look like me