Synopsis
“September 14, 1997 — Morning Musume is born.
Now, 20 years later…
It’s time to find out the real story.”
“Morning Musume 20th Anniversary Official Book,” published in June 2018, is a book commemorating and celebrating 20 years of Morning Musume history. It features interviews with 31 of the group’s total of 41 members (as of 2018), as well as their producer, Tsunku♂.
How was a national idol group born, and how is it now welcoming its 20th year? Tsunku♂ and the group’s members, both past and present, talk about the light and the dark of the idol world. Their feelings of the past, stories they can only share now, the members’ individual memorable experiences, their varying forms of love towards Morning Musume… and the future of the group.
The definitive Morning Musume interview collection. A must-read for all fans.
Interviews
- 1st Generation
- 2nd Generation
- 3rd Generation
- 4th Generation
- 5th Generation
- 6th Generation
- 9th Generation
- 10th Generation
- 11th Generation
- 12th Generation
- 13th Generation
- 14th Generation
- Tsunku♂ — Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Note: If you like the book, do consider buying it.
This is my next translation project: the Morning Musume 20th Anniversary Official Book!
I originally bought this book only for the sake of the Tsunku♂ interview, but even in just briefly skimming through some of the rest of the book I soon realized that the Tsunku♂ bit wasn’t the only great thing about it: I discovered that what we have here are some of the best Hello! Project member interviews ever published. Thus, I’ve decided that it needs to be translated. All of it.
This will be a massive undertaking — I estimate that in English it’s going to be around 150,000 words long. This one might really be the one that kills me. But goddammit, I’m gonna try.
I bought this on my last trip to Japan and never thought I would ever know what it all said, I thought I could only look at the pictures. Now, thanks to you, I can do both! What an amazing effort! Thank you from the depths!
you are the GOAT. thank you.
thanks for your work
Thank you for you hard work, I enjoyed reading what everyone had to say!
So sad there are so many girls missing and two generations as well
thank you so much, is the Tsunku interview included as well somehwere?
uhhh derp just saw it..sorry i just woke up…
Hehe. Good morning.
Thank you so, so much for your tireless efforts in this massive endeavour and for making it available to all of us non-Japanese speaking fans. Such an insightful body of work!
I hope you have taken the appropriate time and actions to celebrate this monumental achievement. If not, please do so immediately!
Thanks again and my sincere best wishes to you and yours.
Thank you for the kind words. I did indeed celebrate: I had a pretty special glass of whisky right after putting the finishing touches on this. I doubt I’m going to get many more chances in life to drink something older than me.