How was 2009?

Yajima Maimi: Many things happened to us, I mean for C-ute and for us as individuals. On my 17th birthday, the members and the fans organized a surprise thing for me in the bus tour (a fanclub event). There was a big cake and a big pannel with messages on it. We also went overseas (to Hawaii) for the first time. But, definitely the biggest happening was us becoming a five-member group. From now on, please support us as well! This year was a like a new beginning, I think.

Nakajima Saki: I think that a lot of things happened to us, as C-ute, and as individuals. Lots of stuff happened, and I think the whole year was a challenge for us. We got to sing many types of songs for our fourth album (4 Akogare My Star). In our spring concert, those songs required not just any dancing or facial expression. The dance for "Bye Bye Bye!" (8th major single) was difficult as well. Even now, it's still difficult for me (lol).

Nakajima-chan, will there be changes for you (in your private life) when you become a high-school student?

Nakajima: Nothing will change much until then. But, during middle school, there are different ways of spending the time. I myself even went to buy lots of things with my friends.

Suzuki Airi: Comparing 2009 to other years, it seems like it went by in the blink of an eye. I hate it when things go by in the blink of an eye. Regarding my personal stuff, since I will graduate from middle school, it means no more culture festival, sports festivals and other similar school events. For how much time I am able to still go to school...?

Suzuki-chan, is it usual for you to say "school is fun"?

Suzuki: Yes. In our current class, everyone is close and I really love that. So I don't feel regretful about my life as a middle-schooler. About my job, it was a fully-active year. For me, there was Buono, singles and albums. Songs increased in number, and I was active in two groups at the same time! Members graduated, and many things happened, and although I think that we went through a lot, I want to connect that to 2010.

Okai Chisato: 2009 was a year where many parts of me couldn't develop. I couldn't even think about what I wanted to do. So I want to do my best in 2010!

Chisato-chan is also graduating from middle school on the spring of 2010?

Okai: Yes. I wonder, is it alright? (lol) But, since Nakajima-chan became a high-schooler last year, she told me "it's okay when things end". Since I agree with that, I also want to do lots of things when I become a high-schooler.

Yajima: Yah~ So Airi and Chisato are entering high school...

Maimi-chan has already graduated from high school, right?

Yajima: That's correct.

Since school life has ended for you, don't you feel lonely?

Yajima: Eh... the important thing were the studies (lol).

Hagiwara Mai: For me to feel proud, I wanted to develop one skill, but I couldn't make it happen. I wanted to be level-headed, but after three days I pushed my selfish button for the first time (lol). There were many things I didn't got to achieve. In 2010 I start my third year of middle school, and I want to do my best while also enjoying the student lifestyle.

On 2010/01/06, the new C-ute single "SHOCK!" will be released!

Suzuki: I think it has a cool an mature sound. I got to sing quite a LOT (ie. "it felt like it was too much"), the lyrics and the melody were different, and everything had to be presented differently. I had to be conscious of all of that. Although it's not difficult to sing lyrics that talk from the view point of a girl, I also felt happy to be paying attention to everything.

Hagiwara: This time, we get to dance a lot. It's a pretty difficult dance.

Okai: It's all about the dance and the song. They're both a new challenge for us.

Yajima: It's a song about broken love, however don't worry, it's not just that! It's also a song about a strong-willed girl. In order to present the dance, song and expressions in the best way possible, C-ute will put a lot of effort into this. The clothes also give a cool vibe.

So this time, the visuals are a novelty too.

Nakajima: That's right. The clothes are black and white, and so it gives that kind of (black and white) mood. It was also the first time Mai-chan had curly hair.

And the hair style is also a "SHOCK!"... Maimi-chan, how many cms of your hair were cut?

Yajima: About 30 cms.

Wow! How much has it been since the last time you had short hair?

Yajima: It's been 10 years.

Hagiwara: I think that the people that care about C-ute were probably impressed about this too.

Nakajima Saki: I think black-haired girls give a vibe of prettiness.

Hagiwara: Until now, I never thought about cutting my hair.

Nakajima: Yeah, I didn't either. But that's okay. With okay I mean that while long hair is pretty, having (new) short hair presents a new side of someone.

Yajima: But it's a lot of work. In morning I use the curling iron. I use the dryer once, and it gets all messy again. Drying it is pleasant.

So for you all, what was the first time you had a "hair style challenge"?

Okai: Umm...

Hagiwara: Chisato, this is the first time you wear a detectivesque hat right?

Okai: Yes (lol)

Yajima: Everyone got styled differently. I wear short hair, Airi got short bangs.

Suzuki: This time everyone wears a brand new hairdo. I really want to have a long hairstyle once.

Nakajima-chan, this is the first time you have straight bangs, right?

Nakajima: Nope, I've had straight bangs since the beginning. They've always been separated like this.

Please give us a message for 2010!

Hagiwara: C-ute has become a 5-person group, and even though the original meaning of the group has been lost, I want to give more of my power. Personally, in order to get skills nobody else has, I must do my best.

Okai: In 2010, I also want to give an exciting feeling to all of our fans. I will do my best to get told "hey, that was fun".

Suzuki: In 2010 I graduate from middle school and start the life of a high school student. I'll also do my best to be more grown-up and have a fashionable style. But I wonder, is the way I'm right now okay too? I think so (lol). In 2010 I also want to have fun with all of the fans with all of those upcoming songs.

Nakajima: In 2010 I want to become sharper at dancing. I also want to be challenged at various songs, and to be able to put nice expressions according to the song. I want people to look at the various (and increasing) sides of C-ute. For that to happen, all of us will do our best.

Yajima: I want 2010 to be a year of changes. I think that, so far, the five of us have shown our individual good points. There were various challenges coming like at once, when I made failed, I tried not to let my failures crush me *laughs*. I want to keep on living with this beaten and broken heart (*possible explanation*: "I'll continue to go on, despite the failures/mistakes"). I also want our group to become one that is loved by many people.

So, for the last part, tell us an unforgivable memory from 2009.

Nakajima: I have lots of stories to tell from the time we all went to Hawaii. We all slept in the same bed, and how there were members who couldn't sleep. Airi fell from the bed when she was sleeping, and when she returned to the bed, Chisato and Mai started to make noise. It was very fun (lol)

Suzuki: On the morning after the last day of our recent tour, I woke up with a cramp in my leg. So I was late for the first time in my life (lol).

You overexerted yourself?

Suzuki: Did I? I was in a rush, but instead of going crazy, I spend the whole time waiting (lol).

Yajima: Oh just now I remembered, once when I was walking, suddenly something something fell through my collar and went inside the back of my clothes. Then I thought it was a cockroach, so I panicked and started screaming. A lot of people were looking at me and I said "Please wait! Please wait! A cockroach went in!" (lol). The staff took me to a more calm place, to take off my coat, and a comb fell out (lol). When I was putting on my cap, it fell into the back of my top (lol)

Hagiwara: My sister and I often sing together. Once were talking, all of sudden we went silent. We both started singing, the same song, at the same time!

Yajima: Were you in harmony?

Hagiwara: We were! It was something that really surprised me.

Okai: Once when with my family we went to the river, a group of 5 years old kids, they were diving from a crag that was over 10 meters high. I thought I'd like to try that too, being up there in the crag. But then I was all "can't do this" (it was too high). A little kid told me "yo! why don't you jump?" (lol). So I did. My sister pushed me lightly too (lol). My cel was in my pocket... so it submerged with me. My dad did the same thing. Father and daughter went under water that day (lol).

Yajima: That sounds so Chisato (lol)