This is an interview series on the graduation of Ikuta Erina, who will be graduating from Morning Musume and Hello! Project at "Morning Musume '25 Concert Tour Haru Mighty Magic DX ~Ikuta Erina wo Miokutte~ held at Nippon Budokan on July 8th. In this second part, she talks openly about the struggles she faced after becoming the group's sub-leader at a young age, her true feelings she hasn't talked about before and her particular way of dealing with the kouhai members.
Memorable concert tours and how to treat the kouhai members
──Please tell us your memories from the first tour without any senpai, "Morning Musume '15 Concert Tour Haru ~Gradation~".
I will never forget it, but it was the first tour I had a big fight with Mizuki (Fukumura). We had "Resonant Blue" in the second half of the setlist, and we couldn't agree on whether to perform it in our Nippon Budokan concert or not. I was among the team who thought it'd be better to show our current form even if the performance wouldn't be perfect, while Mizuki was on the team who thought we shouldn't perform it if we couldn't do it perfectly. We had been working together for a long time, Mizuki had just become the leader and I was a sub-leader. But it was the first time we found ourselves in a situation we didn't agree with each other. That left a big impression on me. The tour itself felt like we were running through it recklessly as we just had started the new system. We had an image of what we wanted to do, but we were struggling to get there. But many of our fans told us they had a lot of fun, and I still look back at videos of our tour. It's one I love.
──Are there any other videos from past tours you often rewatch?
In "Morning Musume '16 Concert Tour Aki ~MY VISION~" you could tell we've grown since "GRADATION" and I think we were able to show what we wanted to show. Everyone looked like they were having fun as well so I thought that was a good one. The outfits were also really gorgeous and some of my favorite. I especially like our performance of "Tsuyoki de Ikouze!" and "Mukidashi de Mukiatte". I think it's great that this tour includes medleys and songs where you can hear each member's voice well. I think it made everyone look more lively. So, for my last tour, I made it a priority to include songs where you can enjoy each member's voice.
──When Fukumura-san became the leader, the 12th generation joined the group in earnest. Ogata Haruna-san and Haga Akane-san were seen taking dance lessons on "Hello! Station" at the same time the 13th generation joined, so fans got the impression they struggled performance-wise. How did you feel about that as a senpai?
Since I had gone through similar difficulties myself, I could really sympathize with their feelings. There are differences in experience, strengths and weaknesses between everyone. So just trying hard won't immediately solve the problem. If I were in the same situation as them, I would never want to mention it to anyone else. Even asking "Are you okay?" might feel like a burden. I think Hagachin (Haga Akane) and Ogata (Haruna) feel the same, so I just watched over them without saying anything about it at the time and just interacted with them outside of work, such as going out and all. The same goes for Nonaka (Miki) as well. But Makino (Maria) is the opposite, I think she's the type who will grow if you pay her attention. When it comes to our kouhai, not only the 12th generation, I often think about what I should say to each type of person. There are those who want to be comforted and those who want to be left alone. Since Mizuki was the leader at the time, she was in a position where she had to say what needs to be said. So instead I was conscious to think and interact with our kouhai from their sort of position.
──So it's a mentor-like role.
I remember this one time Hagachin told me "Ikuta-san has always been very open to talk to the kouhai members, but not by asking questions like "How are you doing?". Instead, you would start talking about your own problems or things that haven't been going well. That made it easier to talk to you, and easier to speak about my worries." I think it's hard especially for kouhai members to explain their feelings, so I thought that it was maybe my role to bring out their feelings by being there for them. I wasn't able to do it well in the beginning, but I feel I've become more conscious of it through my activities with Morning Musume.
──We'd like to hear some stories about how you handled interactions with kouhai members from the 12th generation onwards.
I talked about keeping an eye on the 12th generation. But for example, there were some girls like Morito (Chisaki) of the 14th generation, who have a lot of experience and wanted to understand things and could easily understand them. So we often taught her things. However, if a member is having trouble with something, I try not to touch too much on that particular thing. Even if they ask me to teach them, I often just give them an idea like "This is how I did it" without forcing it onto them. For example, when learning dances, there are members who find it easier by playing the song slowly, members who do better by doing a small part each day, and some members just concentrate hard on the dance the day before.
Also, I made sure to not get angry at the kouhai members when they were "only" doing what we told them to do. I think it's quite common for people to get angry with the kouhai because they expect them to do more. Even though they already "passed the test", they expect them to do more and try to fire them up to do so. But if you suddenly do that, they'll feel like "But I did what I was told to do...". I don't think new members will suddenly become the same as a member who has been doing all of this for 10 years. So I think there is a difference between "not being able to" and "not doing it" in that kind of sense. Of course, there are cases where you can use it as a springboard, but everyone has their own way of working hard. That's why I don't want to make assumptions about the members' efforts.
I can give advice on performances based on my own experiences like "This is how I do it", but I feel it's a bit wrong for me to say "That's not it". So I felt like watching on their mental wellbeing from a distance. I would take members who were not feeling well but trying their best out to dinner, like "Let's go eat something delicious" . And I would talk to the members who were scolded so much I felt worried they might not show up to the rehearsals the day after.
──We'd also like to know what Ikuta-san herself was conscious of in public during those times.
Although I continued to play the role of the one being constantly teased, after Harunan (Iikubo Haruna) graduated in 2018, I started taking on the role of the "straight man". Like me, Harunan was also the one who was being teased, but she's quick-witted and a great talker. So she had a reassuring presence also being able to take on the teasing role when needed. Harunan's teasing style is really elegant. Teasing and poking fun can easily make someone feel bad, and the right points to pick up on change all the time. So it's tricky. But since I started taking on that role of the "straight man", I've often received positive reactions. So I've worked hard on it in my own way. Regarding talking, I think the presence of my longtime friend and former HKT48 member Tomiyoshi Asuka-san was also significant. This one time she came to see us live, she gave me some incredibly accurate advice saying "I think you could bring Erina-chan's funny side out more during MC's. For example, doing it like this here would be a lot funnier" (laughs). Asuka-chan is such an interesting girl. When we talk, we often completely lose track of time. But she always makes sure to focus on key points. So I feel like I've learned a lot just by spending time with her.
Production skills honed through persisting commitment
──When speaking of Ikuta-san, your high-level of production skills demonstrated through events such as the "Niigaki-san wo Ouensuru Kai" in 2013, birthday events, goods etc. is often talked about. We'd like to ask you about the kind of things you're particular about with that.
After having held several birthday events, I realized when I'm happy, the fans are happy too. So I came to understand if I'm not having fun, my fans can't be having fun either. It's the same with concerts. That's why I precisely try to start with what I like and what's fun to me. Also, since I tend to get fewer singing parts when performing with the group, many fans want to hear me sing more. That's why I've been adding more songs to my birthday events. There are many fans who often come to both shows, so I've also been changing the setlist between the first and second show.
As for merchandise, I'm a big fan of idols in general so I often check out idols' goods too and get inspiration from it. For example, the goods for this tour features T-shirts with photos of the members. When I saw some of the previous goods I thought "They used to have photos on them, but now it's just text?". I realized if I feel that way, probably the fans feel the same. So I asked them to make T-shirts with our faces on it. Plus, since this is my last tour, I'm really thinking about my own fans too. My fans love goods with my face on it, whether it's a photo or an illustration. So that's why I had made uchiwa fans. I absolutely refused to compromise on having text on the back, so I really fought for that! But seeing how well they're selling, I realized that the fans of the other members were happy to have their oshimen's faces on them too (laughs). And the silver tape-style keychains, which are only available at venues, was an idea that came to me during a conversation with a friend while we were brainstorming what kind of commemorative item fans would really enjoy. Since silver tape isn't something everyone can take home, I thought "Why not sell them?". I put a lot of thought in coming up with these goods, so it makes me incredibly happy when I get good reactions now that the tour has started and see people carrying them around.
──In recent years, you've had many opportunities to produce outfits and we believe we'll see a culmination of that work in your final tour. What are your thoughts on that?
I'm always researching what type of outfit fits each member, so I speak up whenever I have an opinion. For this tour, I took into account each member's personal preferences while designing the outfits myself. I attended every fitting session and checked the balance of the accessories before finalizing it. The first outfit, which I mentioned in the first part of this interview series, pays homage to the outfits in "Onna ga Medatte Naze Ikenai". The key point I focused on was making sure the length of the dress was the same for everyone, even with different heights. The second outfit was designed to be cool, in contrast with the first cute outfits. I also suggested including everyone's names somewhere. There are many details I can't reveal until the Nippon Budokan concert, but I hope you'll look forward to it.
──We imagine you're not only particular about the outfits, but also about the hair and makeup. So we'd like to hear about that. We also feel you were among the first Hello! Project members to enjoy experimenting with hair colors.
When it comes to hair, I've always tried to push the boundaries and do what I want. I would test how light I could go with the color... and if no one opposed it, I'd go a little lighter next time. I am however a bit of a coward, so inside I always felt a bit nervous the day after a hair color change (laughs).
──Speaking of that kind of leading role in broadening horizons, it's also impressive how you sang songs from other agencies' idol groups during your birthday events.
That's definitely true (laughs). But no matter what it is, it's important to just ask and not immediately assume you'll get a no. Surprisingly, a lot of things turn out to be fine to do. Everyone has the right to ask (laughs). That said, if I ask and don't really get a proper answer, I'll try again. But if I'm told no, I don't push it - I gracefully give up!
──Now, let's go back a little further into the past. In 2015s "Oh my wish!" Suzuki Kanon was the center. The other three 9th generation members became dance members. It was a pretty revolutionary move, wasn't it?
A lot of things planned for "Oh my wish!" were suddenly changed, and they ended up splitting the members into singing and dancing groups. In fact, the original singing parts I was given included a really great solo part in the second verse. So losing it was a huge shock. I also didn't think of myself as a dance member at all, so I was surprised to find myself next to (Sayashi) Riho and (Ishida) Ayumi who are both talented dancers. Especially when we had to film the solo dance scenes in front of everyone, I felt so depressed about it, thinking "What do I do..." while filming it (laughs).
──Did you feel that you weren't good at dancing?
I've always loved dancing in front of the fans. The fans are on our side and cheer us on, right? But when it comes to having to dance alone in front of the other members, it suddenly feels really difficult. I'm also not good at dancing alone to show others how its done, so when necessary, I ask help from the other members.
──In 2017, you were selected to join the Hello! Project Dance Club. Since then, you were chosen more often for small-group dance breaks and it feels as if your image as dance member became stronger. How did you feel about that?
Yoshiko-sensei's presence was a big factor in that. During lessons, she would pick a certain part and say "Ikuta, try dancing that part by yourself". As a result I got more opportunities to dance in a small group in songs choreographed by Yoshiko-sensei. That's probably where the impression came from. But honestly, I still have a hard time with contemporary-style dances such as in "The Vision". I generally prefer the more energetic, intense dancing such as in "Oh my wish!". Also, I tend to feel more comfortable with masculine-like choreography and dances which keep the center of gravity low. When it comes to singing, unexpected things can happen when I perform. But with dancing, I know I feel at ease and can perform with confidence once I've memorized the dance.
Reflections after seeing senpai and kouhai graduate, and what she wants to pass onto her kouhai
──In 2015, Sayashi Riho graduated, followed by Suzuki Kanon in 2016. We'd like to hear about your feelings at the time.
I actually knew both of them had been considering graduation for a while, so when we heard about it, I thought "Ah so they've decided (on the timing)". Kanon-chan talked about her graduation in interviews, and her final single "Utakata Saturday Night" was a bright song that suited her perfectly. So it all felt real due to those aspects. But with Riho, the schedule was so sudden, and her final single was released right before her graduation. So I didnt really feel it in real-time. By the way, for my final tour, the setlist also includes songs that were chosen with the 9th generation members in mind. But I deliberately didn't choose "ENDLESS SKY" because its lyrics have such a strong sense of graduation and fit Riho's situation perfectly. We wanted to keep that as Riho's graduation song, so we chose different songs that fans from back then would think about "I totally understand!".
──During the spring tour in 2017, many members including Fukumura Mizuki & Oda Sakura got the flu, and you had to serve as temporary leader several times.
For the Osaka concert, Mizuki and Oda Sakura couldn't perform. But since both of them have a lot of singing parts, Ayumi-chan and (Satou) Masaki-chan stepped in last minute, which was really tough. There weren't really many changes for myself, so I personally wasn't anxious, but I thought the fans might feel nervous about the live being quite different. So I felt we had to make sure nobody felt nervous on stage. I remember telling everyone "Let's go into the concert with even more energy than usual!" as we headed onto the stage. We managed to get through the Osaka concert without issues, but for the concert the day after Duu (Kudou Haruka) also came down with the flu. That's when I stepped forward as temporary leader and made the announcement (about her absence).
──What did you feel like when acting as temporary leader? We'd also like to ask if there was any change of mindset when you actually became the leader.
Mizuki is generally very reliable, but when it comes to things outside of Morning Musume, she can suddenly go completely blank (laughs). So, as sub-leader, when we had an MC segment, I always made sure to remember things such as the locations, dates, titles and other important details together. Additionally, when Mizuki would speak as the leader, we often double-checked things together. So I think that's why I was able to step in as substitute on short notice. But then, when I officially became leader, there was so much more to do than I imagined... At first I was just desperately trying to keep up (laughs). Mizuki was the one who first started contacting the senpai when we had new releases coming up or when we had important announcements to make. I really wanted to carry on what she had valued as leader, and that helped me to push through.
──What did you feel after Fukumura-san graduated?
After Mizuki's graduation was decided, we felt like we were always together and supporting each other more than before. We each had different strengths and weaknessses, which is why we were able to complement each other. Even after work, we'd often call each other at night discussing things like "Should we change this part of the song and do it like this?". However, after Mizuki graduated, I went back to being a lone wolf (laughs). That's because becoming the leader changed my position, and I had to handle more things on my own. Plus, I'm the type of person who's actually more comfortable being alone.
──Since you'll graduate, is there anything you're passing onto your kouhai ?
Since Mizuki graduated, I've been talking more with Nonaka. That's because Nonaka is incredibly good at explaining things to others. She understands what I'm thinking, summarizes it and conveys it to the others in an easy-to-understand way. So usually I tell Nonaka first what I'm thinking about. Separately, I often tell our kouhai, Sakurai (Rio) about things I want everyone to carry into the future. Sakurai understands why I'm telling her those things, and interprets it in her own way. I think Morning Musume still has a long life ahead of it. And since she has strong communication skills and is the closest senpai to the 17th generation, I hope she can share those insights with them too.
Even though they're young, there are many new members who have a strong core. They have a clear intention behind their thoughts and actions, so I think that criticizing those actions can sometimes feel like a criticism of their character. That's why I think it's important to not just look at their actions, but to properly understand the feelings that led to those actions. With that in mind, I feel like the current era will move in a direction that's better for everyone. Allowing them to have a moderate amount of independence, rather than restricting them with "this is how it should be".
──Currently, your closest kouhai (in seniority) is Oda-san, what kind of relationship do you have with her?
Because I've been working with Oda for a long time, we do have a lot in common. On top of that, she's firmly established in her own world, so I feel like I'm just watching over her. But I do worry if she takes on a role as balancer for the group, she might lose her "uniqueness". But I think it would be really interesting, when Oda becomes the top senpai, if a kouhai would show up who doesn't hold back and who wouldn't mind pointing fingers at her. I'm curious for when that would happen.
──In the fall of 2017, Morning Musume held their 20th anniversary concert tour and Kudou Haruka graduated. So for the first time you were in the position of seeing off a kouhai member. Ikuta-san, you always seem to send positive messages to graduating members, so could you tell us more about that?
Around the time I turned 18, some of my generation mates graduated and I realized I would graduate too someday, which changed my mindset. Around 18 you graduate from high school and see everyone around you getting jobs or going to college, many changes happen. So that played a big a role. I was sad to see the members I had been working with leave Morning Musume, but after changing my mindset I stopped saying "Don't graduate" because it could be seen as denying the future they had chosen. Since they had made the decision to graduate, I felt that all I could do was see them through to the end and send them off properly. That's probably why I naturally started having more messages with the future in mind. Also, because of the concert structure and stream timekeeping, I often end up making adjustments for the ceremony even though I'm the last in line (for the messages). That's why it's important to speak concisely. To do that, I need to be mentally stable, so I try to stay as calm as possible.
──Is there anything you do to stabilize your mental health?
I don't want to show when I'm mentally unstable. That's all (laughs). People around me tend to think I'm stronger than I am, but I'm actually the complete opposite (laughs). My fans understand that much, so they worry about me whenever something happens. But at the same time, I'm very happy to be a celebrity, to be an idol. There are good and bad things about being a celebrity, but the celebrities I admire never show their negative side. They're always cheerful, smiling and having fun. That's why I strive to be like that too.
──Speaking of which, Ikuta-san's blog posts have that same vibe. As if she's right there beside you, happily telling you what happened today no matter the situation.
Is it okay to announce this now? I want to keep blogging even after graduation. I want to continue using all my social media. I don't know how many people will stick around, but I don't want to stop posting.
Insights gained from the outside world, memories of 2018
──You made your first appearance at ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL in 2018. You're known for being the one who hypes up the crowd, so it must have been an especially intense stage. Is there anything you remember fondly?
Since I'm the type who thrives on physical stamina, I felt confident about outdoor festivals. But the first year, none of us knew how to pace ourselves and we were exhausted (laughs). So the following year, we came up with a proper strategy and started practicing. When it comes to hyping up the crowd, I feel like I'm making use of what I learned from senpai like AiGaki (the name of the duo consisting of Takahashi Ai and Niigaki Risa). I often do it at points where I think it could be added, or where I sense fans might be expecting it. It all started out of admiration, so I'm really happy to hear people say I have an impressive hype. Outdoor festivals are also a chance for people who don't know Morning Musume to get to know us. So we made sure to choose flashy hairstyles and makeup that would stand out even from afar.
──Ikuta-san often draws attention for her “great looks” when appearing on TV or at events. Is there anything you consciously focus on in those situations?
I think a lot about how to present myself so that as many people as possible will notice me. During rehearsals for TV music shows, I have an absolute rule for myself that I check the camera cuts in detail. If there's a point where I get a solo close-up, I'll make sure to nail it. And even if there isn't one, I still want to know exactly how the camera moves.
──Your collaborations with other idol groups have often been a hot topic on music shows like the FNS Music Festival. Ikuta-san especially gives the impression of actively interacting with members from other groups, and taking two-shot photos together.
I love cute girls, so when I want to take a photo, I'll ask to take one together. I'm good friends with a lot of them. When we go out together, we openly talk about it on our blogs and Instagram. So I'm sure our fans know about it too. I also hope that by exposing each other to each other's groups, fans will become interested in each other's groups too. In fact, sometimes they will come to check out our Instagram, come to our shows, or even visit us individually (during fan events).
──Did you gain any insights or learn anything from interacting with members of other idol groups?
The other Morning Musume members are work colleagues, and because we're so close, it can sometimes be difficult to talk to them about things. But because my idol friends are a bit more distant, yet we share the same profession, it's actually easier to talk to them. Especially idol friends my age, as we tend to have similar positions within the group, there's a lot we can relate to. Of course we don't discuss things we shouldn't share, and we don't talk about individual members. But we often talk about our current situations and thoughts. Exchanging opinions with each other helps us calmly reflect on our own actions too.
...I don't often have opportunities to talk about myself seriously like this, so it's embarrassing when someone asks me about it. Even though I've talked about it myself now (laughs). After my graduation became concrete, I discussed a lot about my plans to go solo. My generation mate, Mizuki, is solo now as well. So I asked her for advice.
──You seem to be on good terms with Hello! Project OG, such as Melon Kinenbi's Saito Hitomi and original Morning Musume member Ishiguro Aya.
Ishiguro-san and I became close after we performed together on LINE LIVE. We even go out to eat together. Saito-san really came to like me when we did radio together, which is such an honor. Sometimes I catch myself thinking "Wait, I'm with someone from Melon Kinenbi right now! I want you to sing!" (laughs). And I'm also very grateful to Shinoda Miho-san of Taiyo to Ciscomoon, who is also my acrobatics teacher. When I told Shinoda-san on LINE that I was graduating, she replied with a blunt "What are you going to do after you graduate?!" (laughs). It's truly wonderful to be able to connect with senpai I've never worked with before.
──In 2018, you appeared as Marita in the Engeki Joshibu production of "Pharaoh no Haka", and your sword fighting skills became a hot topic.
It brings back memories! The sword fighting was so much fun, so I think I'd like to do it again if I have the chance in the future. And after appearing on stage, people often told me that my singing had improved. So that left a strong impression on me.
──Is there anything else that made an impression on you around 2018?
I mentioned Harunan's graduation earlier, but Ogata (Haruna) also graduated that year. As for Ogata, I was rooting for her because I saw her working hard at her studies. But to be honest, I also felt a bit sad that she was graduating already. If she were still in the group, I would have liked to see her interact with 17th generation member Haru-san (Inoue Haruka) as Kansai duo.
I don't remember the exact timing, but around 2018, people started saying things like "You're the one who never has been absent." I wasn't really conscious of it, so it was only when I realized "Come to think of it, I haven't really been absent before...?" (laughs).
──17th generation member Yumigeta Ako-san respects Ikuta-san's excellent ability to manage her health, as she mentioned in her appearance in the September issue of Non-no last year.
Yumigeta is a really hard worker, she always arrives at rehearsals earlier than anyone else and stays to practice afterward. But she unknowingly pushes herself too hard and keeps going beyond her limits, it'd be such a shame to end up getting sick. That's why I told her "Managing your health is part of your job, so your first priority should be being able to make it on stage." When you feel something's off with your body, it can be hard to tell for others if you're pushing yourself too much. So you have to make that decision yourself. Since her body is still changing, it's very important for her to know her limits and protect herself. Of course, you need an environment where you can rest if you get sick or injured. However, in Yumigeta's case, I worry that she might be pushing beyond her capacity without even realizing it.
That said, even though I'm talking big here, I'm not perfect myself. And of course I do get sick sometimes. I think a big part of it is luck, that it just didn't happen during events or concerts. In my case, my mother was very strict about my health. If I said "I think I have a slight sore throat," she'd put about 30 bottles of Kakkonto (cold medicine) in front of me (laughs). It's not so extreme anymore, but I still keep Manuka honey at home and carry cough drops with me. So I feel like I've developed the habit to take precautions on a daily basis.
──The setlist for your 2018 birthday event was a retracing of your history up to that point, but what was your mindset when you selected those songs?
The setlist included songs I sang during my audition, such as "Little Princess☆Pri!" and "Aitai Lonely Christmas". So some fans suspected I might be graduating. Looking back now, I can't remember why, but looking at the setlist again it also includes a medley rehearsal I had with Michishige (Sayumi) that I wasn't able to perform on the 2011 tour. So it's certainly understandable that people would think I'd be graduating (laughs).