Press Conference with SCANDAL at Anime Friends 2023

A few weeks before they were recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's longest-running all-female rock band with the same members, SCANDAL met with the Brazilian press ahead of their performance at the convention Anime Friends 2023, answering questions about their career and their experiences in the country.

How do you feel about being an influence and inspiration to girls all over the world, as you are the most famous female J-rock band at present?

HARUNA: I believe that staying together for 17 years is very important and gives us that influence.

You started the band when you were still students, and as yourself, the band kept growing. What is it like to experience this growth together with the band?

RINA: We're always doing new things every year, so we're constantly learning and growing as a band. I believe it's very important to always learn new things.

What are your preparations before going on stage?

TOMOMI: One of the rituals we always do before going on stage is to encourage each other by patting each other on the back.

You've created themes for animes that are very popular here in Brazil. How does it feel to see the audience's reaction to that?

MAMI: I'm very happy that people know us. I'm also very delighted to come to Brazil and see that Japanese culture is being spread by the band.


Could you mention some of your influences?

RINA: It's difficult to name just one artist who influences all of us; we have various influences. We blend everything together to find inspiration for the band's work.

Of all anime openings you've sung, which one is your favorite?

HARUNA: I think Shunkan Sentimental and Harukaze. Doing the openings for "Fullmetal Alchemist" and "Bleach" was quite significant.

Are you in the habit of watching anime? Which is your favorite?

TOMOMI: I'm not in the habit of watching anime, but the flight to Brazil took 30 hours, and I watched "Oshi no Ko". I liked the character Arima Kana.

How do you create music? Where does your inspiration come from?

MAMI: We create music based on inspirations that arise from our performances, and since COVID, we've also tried to find inspiration in our everyday lives.

How was it to compose the song Anata ga Mawaru?

TOMOMI: Why Anata ga Mawaru? (laughs) At the time, we thought that repeating an expression was something different and invested in that idea.


Rock is a style predominantly dominated by men. How is it for you, as women, to achieve success for so many years?

HARUNA: I believe there is no secret; we just love making music and being part of the band.

Which song affects you most when you perform it?

TOMOMI: Our new song, Line of Sight, is challenging, so I get nervous before performing it. (laughs)

How does it feel you hear the songs you recorded on television, like the openings of "Fullmetal Alchemist" and "Bleach"?

RINA: Since we composed the songs ourselves, when we see that the animation and the music match, it's very satisfying. We get really excited, thinking that it will bring us more fans.

And how is it for you when the song chosen for the anime series was not originally made for it?

TOMOMI: What we look forward to the most is whether our music will match the image the anime portrays. When we made the song for the "Pokémon" movie, for example, seeing the image along with our voices was very impactful.

How has it been for you, being a guest for the 20th anniversary edition of Anime Friends?

HARUNA: I'm very happy to be a guest at such a significant celebration and to meet fans who have been with us from the beginning and who have been asking us to come to Brazil.

Brazilians are known for eating a lot of Japanese food; have you tried any Brazilian food? What have you liked so far?

MAMI: We had "pão de queijo" (cheese bread) today in the dressing room, and we tried Brazilian barbecue in Japan. We really want to try it here in Brazil too.

RINA, about your MAKE A WISH DAISY project, can you tell us a bit about the responses and reactions of the people who are helped by your initiative?

RINA: This project aims to help women and children. The idea for it came from my own experience, being the oldest of five children and seeing my mother as a single mother. So, I did it with the intention of helping women who need support. At the height of COVID, I realized that there were many people who needed financial help, needed to stay home, or were going through some type of violence. I hope to convey the message that this situation can be better. I am very touched that you know about my activities beyond music. Thank you.

Many groups start and end quickly. What is your secret to staying together for all these years?

HARUNA: What makes us want to continue our career is the desire to always evolve even after achieving results; it's this constant pressure that we can do something better.

In March, you released Line of Sight for the "Gundam" franchise. Can you tell us more about the concept of this single?

MAMI: Since it's a song used in a game, we thought about how to make something for the climax. So, we thought the song should have a faster pace to match the scene.


HARUNA, which album would you recommend to someone who is just getting to know you?

HARUNA: Hmm, we have several releases, but I think it's always good to recommend our most recent work, so it would be the album Mirror.

You have a very interesting style and have even worn superhero costumes in videos. Where does the inspiration for your clothes come from?

TOMOMI: We decide based on what the theme of the album represents and what we want to convey.

MAMI, which guitar pedal have you enjoyed using the most throughout your career?

MAMI: Guitar pedal?? Hmm... I've used several, but the Little Big Muff, which I used on our first single, is the one that has a more special feeling because it could produce a louder sound at the time.

JaME would like to thank SCANDAL and Maru Division for making this article possible.

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On July 16th, SCANDAL played their first concert in Brazil following years of fan requests. With a set full of hits from anime series like "BLEACH" and "Fullmetal Alchemist", the band left the crowd enchanted and dreaming of a future one-man concert. Scroll down to check out some photos from the show.

Set list

01. Line of sight
02. Love Survive
03. Saishuheiki Kimi
04. Shojo S
05. Departure
06. Harukaze
07. Yoake No Ryuuseigun
08. one more time
09. Shunkan Sentimental
10. A.M.D.K.J.
11. Take me out
12. Masterpiece
13. Scandal Baby

The music video for SCANDAL's latest single Highlight no naka de bokura zutto can be viewed below. Links to download and stream the single on various music platforms are available here.