Interview with Cheeky Parade

Cheeky Parade will perform for the second time in France, this time at Japan Expo. The members agreed to answer JaME’s questions about their recent news, expectations for the convention in Paris, their musical evolution and future projects.

Hello and thanks again for this interview. It’s your third interview with JaME, so what have you been doing since Moshi Moshi Nippon?

Asami Watanabe: Since Mariya Suzuki and Marin Yamamoto are leaving for Los Angeles to study, we’ve been busy doing a lot of live shows and events, including the last live shows with them in the group and other send-off events.

You just released your second studio album. After three years, do you feel any difference in your sound? If so, how has it evolved or changed?

Hina Nagai: That’s right! We’ve been trying many different types of songs over the past three years and our style range grown compared to three years ago! As members, we’ve started to be more involved in production and I think our motivation behind music has definitely changed too.

You're collaborating with the TV show “Japan in Motion”. Can you tell us more about it?

Yuna Sekine: This time, we were able to experience maid cafés, sword battle movement training (staged for television, etc.) and entertainment wrestling on location trips. Maid cafés and sword battle movement are unique to Japanese culture, so I’m glad we could learn more about them as we go overseas! I was able to fully understand the greatness of Japan and why foreigners want to come – and that’s something we can be proud of. Now I know many places and things that I can proudly introduce when overseas visitors ask me about Japan.

It’s your second time going to Paris. What do you want to do and which place do you want to visit this time?

Rino Shimazaki: Our time was very limited during our previous visit to Paris, so this time I would like to enjoy it more. Personally, I want to go to the Palace of Versailles. It was my dream to go to the historical site of Marie Antoinette, whom I like, so this time I want to make it come true.

You're finally performing at Japan Expo this year. Can you tell us more about it?

Momoka Kodakari: I’m very happy to go to France for the second time and also very nervous at the same time! But we’re excited and motivated because our fans in France are waiting for us! We’ll bring our hearts together and do our best so please don’t miss it!

Did you learn some new French words for Japan Expo?

Yuriya Suzuki: The last time we went to France, we were grateful that fans there tried to speak to us in Japanese, so we want to try to say something to them in French this time. We’re not taking French lessons but we are preparing by using translation sites, etc.

Mariya and Marin will move to the USA for their studies soon, so what can you say about it?

Seran Mizorogi: We’ve been together for about four-and-a-half years so we’ll miss them very much. We want to continue to do shows with them but this is their decision to study in the US. Marin and Mariya told us that they were going to Los Angeles for Chikipa, so we want to give them our full support! We wish them the best of luck in the US. We, the remaining members, have to continue to work hard!

What are your expectations for this trip to the USA?

Marin Yamamoto: I want to improve my singing, dancing and language skills but also experience the culture and vibe in Los Angeles in order to open up my possibilities and grow as a person. I want to apply what I learn in Los Angeles to Chikipa later.

Mariya Suzuki: I want to improve my singing, dancing and English skills, so I’ll work hard! I also want to experience American culture. I’m very anxious but being positive!

What is the next goal for Cheeky Parade after Japan Expo?

Yuriya Suzuki: There’ll be seven of us while the other two are in Los Angeles, so the seven of us want to grow and improve Chikipa while the other two members are in Los Angeles. It’s our goal to welcome them back on a big stage when they come back! Their studies in Los Angeles will be the bridge between Chikipa and the world. So our goal is to hold our headline world tour too! When that happens, we’ll definitely go to France too! Please continue to support us!

Any last words for our readers?

Yuna Sekine: This is our second time in France. We’re happy to see the fans in France and grateful for the opportunity to hold our live show in France! We want to perform as representatives of Japan on the Japan Expo stage. I think we can send a message with our performance even if we don’t share the same language, so we want to send Chikipa power to France! Please come and see us!

JaME would like to thank Cheeky Parade and avex for making this interview possible.