Legendary Idol Maki Goto Releases New Song After 13 Years and Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Exclusive Interview

I was standing where the staff told me to stand, and that was the jacket photo from …………. I wasn’t conscious of being in the center at all. I wasn’t conscious of being the center at all.”

In 1999, a 13-year-old junior high school student happened to see an audition notice on “ASAYAN” (TV Tokyo), a variety show he was watching, and his life took a sudden turn when he decided to give it a try. Tsunku♂ (55) praised her as “a once-in-a-decade talent,” and she became a member of “Morning Musume。 Maki Goto (38) was suddenly chosen as the center of the group’s first million-seller, “LOVE Machine. Suddenly, Maki Goto (38) was on her way to becoming a top idol.

Goto, who was a junior high school student in downtown Tokyo’s Edogawa Ward, recalls those days, ” I was working all the time for about six months after my debut.

I thought entertainers only worked when they were on TV, but in reality, they worked relentlessly even when they were not on TV. I was astonished by the devilish schedule after joining the group. Not only did I work on “Maude,” but I also worked on “Puccimo. I was surprised to see how much work I had to do even when I wasn’t on TV. In a short period of time, we had to learn many songs, choreography, and formations. It was a really intense time for me.

Rather than being happy with the popularity of the group, Goto says, “I was more preoccupied with what was in front of me. However, when asked about his “most painful experience,” he gave a surprising answer.

Because I was really a child, it was hard for me not to take time to eat …… properly, and I wanted to throw it all away (laughs). The older members had already perfected the choreography and were eating slowly, but I still couldn’t keep up with them. But I couldn’t stand it if I didn’t eat anything, so I would eat in five minutes and then practice again right away, and I was really pressed for time every day.

In 2002, he graduated from the group. He graduated from the group in 2002 and has been active as a solo artist since then, but in 2011, he decided to leave the group,

I want to go back to my normal self, Maki Goto, who is not Gomaki.

I want to return to my normal self, which is not Gomaki,” and announced a hiatus from performing.

I didn’t listen to any music for a while after I went on leave. Music was becoming like an obligation, so I wanted to make time to not listen to or think about anything. This allowed me to rethink my singing and what I wanted to do. When I was working, the only trip I could take was a one-day trip to Korea, but after the graduation concert, I was able to go on a trip to New York right away. It was a nice refreshment for me to get away from my days of working all the time.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of their shocking debut, with the release of their first new song in 13 years, “CLAP CLAP,” on July 31, followed by the release of their mini-album “prAyer” on September 4. A mini album “prAyer” will be released on September 4, and live performances are also scheduled. Goto had one thought in mind for the new song.

I have always liked to play catch with fans at live performances. When I make a mistake in a dance, it is surprisingly visible from the audience. It was fun to hear fans teasing me, saying, ‘You just made a mistake. On the other hand, when I got it perfectly right, I would do it with a big smug look on my face (laughs).

The introduction of the new song is good, and I thought, “The part up to the A melody is going to be a lot of fun when we play this song live. There were many candidates, but when we restarted the band, I decided, “This song is definitely the first one! I decided to start with this song. You can listen to the song anywhere, but you can only experience it live. I try to create a live show where people can feel the power of the same song in a different way.

Compared to 13 years ago, there are many more opportunities to hear our songs now. For example, on TikTok and YouTube, various people are uploading videos of people covering and dancing to the songs. I also danced to “BON” by “Number_i” the other day. I would be happy if many people could see it in a new way, not only between myself and my fans.”

The theme of the music video for the new song is “Reincarnated Maki Goto. The theme of the music video for the new song is “Maki Goto reborn”. The “new Gomaki” is on the move with her powerful voice and intense dance moves.

Tour Information
Maki Goto 25th anniversary live tour 2024 – prAyer
Tour dates and venues
September 16, 2024 (Mon.) [Hyogo] Amashin Archaic Hall Oct.
September 21, 2024 (Sat) [Tokyo] Yamano Hall