Why Japan’s Unluckiest Idol Isn’t Sad About Their March Disbandment — Usaki Speaks Out

Just before the final live!

The idol group #Babababambi announced that they will conclude about six years of activities with their final live on March 28. Usaki, the youngest member, made her first appearance in the currently released issue of FRIDAY, showing off an adult, sexy gravure.

With the group’s disbandment approaching, we asked Usaki how she’s feeling amid the busy live schedule.

―The final live is approaching. How do you feel?
“I thought I might get into a sad mood after the disbandment announcement but actually, I feel upbeat! Among the members, we talk about enjoying the moment and doing our best now. Maybe that energy reaches the fans too, because every live has been super exciting and intense.”

―How was the decision to disband made?
“It was decided through discussions among management and the members. Each of us had things we wanted to pursue, and after honestly sharing our thoughts, it turned out that everyone felt the same way.”

―You joined the group a year later than the others. How did you feel at the time?
“When I joined the agency, I was offered the chance to join Babamba, but at first, I didn’t want to. I worried whether the existing members and fans would accept me.

But after hesitating and finally deciding to join, everyone turned out to be incredibly kind. Before I knew it, five years had passed. Now, Babamba feels like a family, and it’s truly a precious place for me.”

More memorable than Budokan!

―There were times when your lives were postponed due to the pandemic, or events and stages were canceled because of bad weather, and you were even called “Japan’s unluckiest idol,” right?

“Seriously, our luck was awful! When TIF (TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL) was canceled because of a typhoon, we all cried together. We kept wondering, ‘Why are we this unlucky?’ There were also several times when a live was canceled right before it started due to thunderstorms. We even went together to do a kind of purification ritual, and I think after that, our luck gradually started to improve.”

―Going through all those misfortunes, your bond as members must have deepened. Can you share a special memory of your closeness?

“During a trip to Hokkaido, it happened to be Rui Takanashi’s birthday. I planned a surprise: decorating the hotel room with cute balloons, buying a cake, and surprising her after the live. Even though we had a curfew during the trip, I rushed to a nearby convenience store, bought a roll cake, and stacked it into a tower That still remains a really good memory.”

―Is there a particular live that left the biggest impression on you?

“Of course, being able to perform at Budokan, which had been my long-term goal, was wonderful. But personally, the live at Tokyo Dome City Hall left the strongest impression. In the previous live, the stage set was huge, but my mind was so full of ‘Move here next, go there next’ that I couldn’t purely enjoy the show.

This time, we decided not to rely too much on production and focus on enjoying the live ourselves. At Tokyo Dome City Hall, we were able to approach the performance with a fresh mindset.”

―Finally, your message for the last live?

“I want to express my gratitude to everyone supporting us until the very end and convey through our performance how much we love everyone. #Babababambi’s concept is, ‘Let’s be stupidly happy in this moment.’ Even though we’ve decided to disband, we have to make the most of the little time left and enjoy it to the fullest.

I can feel that the fans share the same excitement—it really comes through!”

Usa

From Kanagawa Prefecture. She joined #Babababambi in 2021 and is active as the pink member. She is also active as an actress, including playing the role of Milim in the stage adaptation of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. For the latest updates, check her official X and Instagram (both @usa_usa0427).