This is a translation of an article that was originally published in IDOL AND READ #029 (December 2021).
Inaba Manaka made her first steps in show business at a young age. Before becoming an idol, she was a backdancer for EXILE at Kouhaku Utagassen. Later, she joined Hello! Project as a Kenshuusei and became a member of Country Girls. Her stint in the group ended, as she took a break to undergo medical treatment, leading to her graduation. Then, in June 2018, she resumed her idol activities as a member of Juice=Juice. Those twists and turns made Inaba who she is today, and she wants to show her gratitude to everyone by working hard, no matter what.
— You started your career as a child. You’ve been in Hello! Project for a long time, first as a Kenshuusei, then as a member of Country Girls, and finally, you joined Juice=Juice. To you, what kind of idol is Inaba Manaka?
Inaba: Hmm… What kind of idol could I be… I’ve never had a specific goal in mind for myself as an idol. I’m the kind of person who’s always focused on the work at hand, aiming for perfection. I feel that’s how I ended up here. I don’t know if I can reach my ideal self. When people, friends, see me working hard and tell me I’m doing great, or when they tell me Juice=Juice is trending on Twitter and they’re happy, I do think: “Oh, so I’m at this point now.” I don’t particularly feel I’ve changed after all this time.
— Was there any idol you admired?
Inaba: I always admired Hello! Project idols in general, all the groups. If we’re talking about being really obsessed, I was a stay-at-home S/mileage otaku; I loved them so much. I had been singing and dancing since the age of 4 and I had somewhat of a dream of being in showbiz, but I wasn’t specifically set on becoming an idol. By watching S/mileage, though, it made me realize idols could shine so brightly and it was very close to what I wanted to do.
— I’d like to know more about your upbringing. How were you as a child?
Inaba: I was very lively. I remember my teachers would often get mad because I was mischievous. They’d scold me and say: “Manakan is a very mischievous girl!” Maybe I was a problem child. (lol) I was the type who would play with both boys and girls. I remember playing cat’s cradle with the girls and (play) fighting with the boys. I’d pretend I was a superhero, and I loved acting. When they beat me up, I didn’t just fall over, I grunted: “Ughh!” (lol) I’d even act as if it were painful.
— You were a kid, but you were playing your part seriously. (lol)
Inaba: Also, when I was 2 or 3 years old, I was so restless, I’d start dancing whenever I heard music. According to my mom, I was a kid who would just disappear too. I couldn’t stand still, and when we went shopping or something, I was gone immediately. My mom always wondered where I was and looked for me everywhere. I would also hide in clothes and racks in stores. (lol) I was a tomboy.
— You said you started dancing at the sound of music. What kind of music were you listening to?
Inaba: I don’t remember it myself, but I was bopping to Utada Hikaru‘s Automatic.
— You were a kid with taste. (lol)
Inaba: I had it in me, if I say so myself. (lol)
— You started learning how to sing and dance at 4 years old. Was it your idea?
Inaba: I don’t really remember it, but apparently, I said I wanted to. My mom was harsh. When I say this, she tells me to stop. (lol) It was my decision, so she was harsh. I would be practicing this upbeat song from My Neighbour Totoro called Sanpo and she’d go: “Kumo no su kugutte…! Right!” (lol) Mom was a big fan of Nakamori Akina and she loved listening to music and singing, so she was very strict about my singing. Of course, she pushed me and taught me as much as she could because I wanted to sing, but as a kid, it was frightening. (lol) We’re super close nowadays and she’s like a friend to me. She’s the one person I can always talk to, and the one who understands me the best.
— So, as far as you can remember, you were always singing and dancing.
Inaba: Yes, and now that I think about it, there was no other path for me.
— When did you start thinking you liked singing and dancing and wanted to work hard of your own free will?
Inaba: In the lower grades of elementary school, I believe. I was praised for being fast at remembering dance moves. I started competing against myself around that time, and people who watched me perform said I looked determined. (lol) I didn’t think about competing against others, even if, of course, it’s the way to go in this business. In elementary school, I just wanted to reach goals, be able to do this dance step, and I competed against myself. During dance tests, I wanted to see how well I could dance and if I could be praised by my teacher. It was the only thing I had in mind.
— Improving your dance skills was most rewarding for you.
Inaba: This sense of accomplishment is what made me like dancing, step by step. I didn’t dislike singing, but deep down, since my mom had been so strict teaching me (lol), I thought I was bad. I was a girl who liked dancing over singing. In 5th grade, I changed performing schools and went all the way for dancing. It was a real challenge that influenced the way I am today.
— What happened then?
Inaba: I had been dancing since I was 4, but they put me in the starting class in this school. It was the first time I felt like a failure and it hurt my pride. It brought out my competitive spirit and I wanted to perfect my dancing skills. That’s why I can dance like this now.
— Speaking of which, what kind of girl were you in elementary school?
Inaba: I’d say I was the kind of girl who stood out. At the time, I was modelling in advertisements and you could see me around, so I think I came off as “the showbiz girl.” In school though, I was calm, or really, I wasn’t as daring as in kindergarten. (lol) I was a serious girl who listened and followed the rules naturally. I was like this in elementary and middle school and I was even on school committees. My hair was dyed brown, but I was a model student. I was in the executive committee for the cultural festival, led the chorus competition and served as yosakoi leader.
— What does a yosakoi leader do?
Inaba: In my native Hokkaido, I believe all schools do yosakoi at sports festivals. Since I had been learning how to dance, I took it upon myself to be good at yosakoi. (lol) In the upper grades of elementary school, I started attending an EXPG dance school and had the opportunity to be a backdancer for EXILE. People expected me to be good at yosakoi, so I thought I had to go hard! Now that I think about it, it’s embarrassing, but I really did go all out for it.
— So you did yosakoi beyond what’s expected of an elementary schooler. (lol)
Inaba: Everyone just wanted to have fun, but I was the only one yelling like “Spread your legs more! A bit more over here!” It was intense yosakoi. (lol)
— You said you were a backdancer for EXILE. Was it your first performance on a big stage?
Inaba: There’s a music agency in Hokkaido called Runtime Music Entertainment, which ZONE belonged to. I went to their school from the age of 4 and thanks to this, I was able to dance on big stages as a child. However, it was only at EXPG that I passed auditions and was chosen to dance on big stages. The biggest stage I danced on was at Kouhaku Utagassen in 2010; I was a backdancer while EXILE performed I Wish For You.
— Dancing at Kouhaku Utagassen at that age must have been a memorable experience for you.
Inaba: I was in 6th or 7th grade at the time and it was a memorable experience indeed. We weren’t told we’d be performing at Kouhaku Utagassen until later on, though, because they didn’t want the information to leak out. We were five people chosen from EXPG Sapporo. We went to Tokyo at the end of the year and it wasn’t until we arrived that we actually knew where we’d be dancing. (lol)
— You’d think it was a prank. (lol)
Inaba: There, we met students from all EXPG schools, including future members of E-girls and GENERATIONS. Even back then, those people were the cream of the crop. It really felt like a gathering of people who would be famous later on. I was excited. I was there for Hokkaido too, and I didn’t want to be overshadowed by all those people. I felt strongly that I had to represent our Sapporo school well so I practiced! Then, staff told us we’d be backdancing at Kouhaku Utagassen.
— This story sounds like it was taken straight from a movie or an anime.
Inaba: It was like a dream. Hamasaki Ayumi performed just before EXILE and witnessing this incredible scene, I was so nervous! Everywhere I looked, there were famous people. Information kept coming at me and my ears and eyes were filled. I was greeting people, but it was so overwhelming, I couldn’t assimilate what was going on. It was my first experience on a live show and seeing it unpack. Every time the stage rotated, staff yelled each other’s names and I really thought they were all angry, it was scary. (lol)
— How did you feel dancing on a stage as exciting as Kouhaku Utagassen?
Inaba: Well, I was happy for sure. I had been dreaming of showbiz since I was 4 and one of my goals was to perform on this big stage at Kouhaku Utagassen, so I was glad. My family and other people around me were excited, and that’s what made me the happiest. I thought I was giving back to them for supporting me. You know, they paid the monthly fees for my school, and when you think about it, spending this much on a 4-year-old child’s lessons is unbelievable. It was a time I wasn’t as serious about it either… This experience made me think I could start showing gratitude for my younger self little by little.
— Was it around that time that you decided to follow the path of dancing and singing?
Inaba: Well, I didn’t just want to dance and sing on stage, there were other things I was interested in. I took countless auditions as a child. There are people who pass auditions and become famous right away, but it wasn’t a Cinderella story for me. I failed most of them. I bought magazines with information about auditions and found some with my mom. I didn’t just pick those I really wanted to do, but went for those that would lead to different things. So I auditioned for random things, like a milk commercial.
— What did you do at the audition?
Inaba: It was an audition for Yotsuba Milk. I don’t know why, but I was dead set on passing this one. In retrospect, I should have made a cuter expression while drinking. The thing is, when they said, “Drink like it’s a competition. Let’s go,” I thought I’d pass if I drank it fast. I chugged it down. (lol) I looked desperate, so there was no way I’d pass…
— If you don’t look like you’re enjoying the drink, it doesn’t make for a good commercial. (lol)
Inaba: I made it look as if it were a pain to drink. (lol) I was just a kid so I made a lot of mistakes and failed. Still, I got picked for jobs, like a commercial where I ate carrots frantically, and I appeared in flyers as a model and on stage. I always thought I’d be working in showbiz, but I wasn’t sure which path I’d take. While dancing at EXPG, I was also taking acting lessons at Sun Music.
— So you took acting lessons?
Inaba: I thought being an actress sounded so cool and acting was fun, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do yet. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to perform, no matter what.
— Acting is something you get to do in Hello! Project too, right?
Inaba: That’s right. When I was in Country Girls, I appeared in a stage play called Kizetsusuru hodo aishiteru. I really loved acting in it. It was a bit of a rough period for me, and playing the main character, Hiroko, helped me get through it. Not only did I love acting, but I grew to like myself as an actress thanks to it. After joining Juice=Juice, I got to play in Time Repeat ~Towa ni kimi wo omou~, which was such a struggle. (lol)
— What did you struggle with?
Inaba: It was heavy and hard to deal with mentally. I cried the first time I read the script. It was a serious and raw story. Miyamoto Karin and I played the main characters. I had lines that you’d never hear in real life, in everyday conversations, and I struggled to remember them. Sorry for the spoilers, but my character died multiple times as time kept repeating itself. We were making every effort to find a way to solve this problem or else everyone would die. I’m not telling you how it ends because it’s surprising, so please watch the DVD. (lol)
— We will. (lol)
Inaba: So, Time Repeat ~Towa ni kimi wo omou~ was a play with a serious topic and there’s a scene where I cry while singing. As I was doing my usual idol activities, I was doing this mentally exhausting play. I got lots of praise for my performance and I felt a sense of accomplishment from it too. It was a job that confirmed my love for acting. It was a struggle, but it was a great experience that made me want to work in other plays.
— Let’s go back to your childhood. You were taking singing, dancing, and acting lessons and you were confused as to which path to take. When exactly did you want to become an idol and join Hello! Project?
Inaba: I changed performing schools in 5th grade and chose to dive deeper into dancing. I always aimed to move to the next class and worked hard towards that until I finally reached the last one called “Queen Class.” I was an honour student and I rejoiced that I reached that point. However, I didn’t know what to aim for next. There are many things you can do in this field, but when I thought about my future job, I figured I wasn’t interested in just dancing. It just so happened that I was looping Hello! Project videos at the time and saw making-of footage of Morning Musume videos. It helped me get a feel of how things really were backstage for idols and I was impressed. It had a big impact on me.
— You could call that a turning point.
Inaba: My mom was worried about me at that time, too. Although I was an honour student, there was no difference in my lessons. She wondered what I’d do in middle school and in high school, if I should go to a school related to the entertainment industry. We had to think about how much I should study and plan for the future. It worried me, but as I watched Hello! Project videos every day, I decided to audition for Morning Musume’s 9ki generation.
— You were prepared and decided to become an idol.
Inaba: I ended up failing the audition, but through this, Tsunku told me of an opportunity with TNX. I had an interview with him at a later date. He told me: “You can sing high notes without falsetto and you always keep your natural voice. That’s good.” All this time, I thought I was bad at singing, but he praised me. I wanted to sing his songs even more from that point. Then, I’m not sure what was his intention, but he asked me: “If I told you to wear an afro, would you do it?” I just replied: “I would!” (lol) After this, I was invited to join TNX, but I wanted to sing Tsunku’s songs as a member of Hello! Project specifically. I couldn’t give up on that, so I mustered all of my courage and declined their offer.
— It was make or break for you.
Inaba: Had I joined TNX, I don’t know what I would have done. Still, during the interview, I asked Tsunku what I was lacking to become a member of Hello! Project as I failed the audition. This is what he said: “Nothing’s lacking. It’s just that you overlapped with Sayashi Riho.” There were other things I asked about, but after hearing this, I felt it was so close. It was frustrating, to say the least. (lol) Thanks to this, I decided to be an idol for real and wanted to work harder than ever. That’s why I went back to Hokkaido and gained some experience in a local idol group (PEACEFUL.) I learned how hard it was to sing and dance at the same time.
— I see, so you had never sung while dancing before.
Inaba: I learned how to dance and sing separately. When you do it at the same time, you breathe and move your body very differently and I first experienced it there. It was frustrating, because I thought I was good at dancing, but when singing, I started neglecting it. It made me think Hello! Project members were really amazing because they could do it. I learned a lot in my local idol group, but it eventually disbanded. That’s when I started auditioning for Hello! Project again, just when they had a Kenshuusei audition in Hokkaido. I passed it and joined Hello! Project as a Kenshuusei.
— Then, in 2014, you debuted as a member of Country Girls, which had Tsugunaga Momoko as a playing manager.
Inaba: I was among the oldest Kenshuusei so I felt in a rush to debut. What would I do if I couldn’t debut? I was worried, especially as I was behind and couldn’t take all the lessons because I was travelling all the way to Tokyo from Hokkaido unlike the other members. I felt lonely, and while I never went as far as to say I wanted to quit explicitly, I discussed my future with our manager. Just as I was beginning to think about quitting, news of me debuting came up! I was shooting an introduction video when Satoda Mai appeared unexpectedly and said: “Manaka, you’re joining Country Musume!” I was shocked!
— Country Girls was a group that focused on cuteness. How did you feel about that?
Inaba: I mean, I was a total S/mileage otaku. (lol) Basically, I love cute idols, but I don’t think I’m cute. I do this teasing, cuteness act now, but it’s part of performing and it’s mostly for fun. Back then, I thought would people think I’m a burikko and I couldn’t pretend I was cute. Gradually, I started enjoying myself while acting cute. I had a blast doing the Koi Dorobou music video! I was excited to shoot in a cute set, it was like, wow, so idolish!
Country Girls – Koi Dorobou (2015)
— Unfortunately, you had to leave Country Girls to undergo medical treatment. What was your state of mind during this period, before you restarted your activities?
Inaba: (silence) I had mixed feelings. It wasn’t what I was hoping. I had to take a break, then I had to graduate… (silence) In this turn of events, I couldn’t have a proper departure or even tell everyone directly with my own voice at the time. It led to so many misunderstandings. Even now… (silence) Like… (silence) It’s hard to put into words, but my time in Country Girls made me who I am today and I cherish it… (silence) This feeling hasn’t changed, and my feelings towards the members haven’t changed either, but leaving in such a way… (silence) When you can’t see or you don’t know something, people can only guess what’s happening and there’s really no way around it. I didn’t want it to end like that, I always thought: “It’s sad. It’s frustrating. That’s not it.” As I was getting medical treatment in Hokkaido, I always aimed for a comeback.
— You came back because you felt like this.
Inaba: Perhaps it was a bit of a rushed comeback, but I restarted my activities in Hokkaido gradually while keeping track of my health. All of a sudden, I was told I’d join Juice=Juice. THAT was shocking. (lol) They didn’t tell me in advance or anything. I graduated from Country Girls and came back on my own in Hokkaido. It never occurred to me that I could join another group. Again, I was called to shoot a video, and they told me: “You’re joining Juice=Juice. The members are waiting for you downstairs. We’re going to see them.” Like, what?! This agency really does unexpected things. (lol) Fans were surprised too and had different opinions about me joining.
— Anyone would be shaken. (lol)
Inaba: They’d think, “What? And Country Girls?” Even I wondered if it was right for me to join. I just thought I had no choice but to work hard for those who believed in me and watched me. There were fans from my days in Country Girls and others who followed me after I joined Juice=Juice. I had to work hard for all those people who supported me so I could show my gratitude to them. Maybe that’s how I managed to pull through all this time.
— You’re playing a central role in Juice=Juice now and the group has seen a lot of members joining and leaving. What’s your mindset while working in this environment?
Inaba: After joining, I told myself that I had to keep up with the current Juice=Juice. I had to perform as well as my seniors. I had to take the plunge and work hard. I repeated to myself that I “had to” and overdid it. Even if that’s part of the way I am too, I realized overdoing things isn’t good. I want to be adaptable, not only as a member of Juice=Juice, but in my life in general. I want to take it easy and adapt to things as much as possible. Things flow naturally, so I should tackle every task at hand properly. Also, we have three new members (Arisawa Ichika, Irie Risa, and Ebata Kisaki) who are a breath of fresh air for us. They look so much like me when I debuted and I want to teach them everything I know. Still, I don’t want to be strict with them and say too much, as they should spread their wings freely.
— At the beginning of this interview, you said you don’t think you’ve changed much. Isn’t this something you can say because you’ve gone through ups and downs?
Inaba: I guess so. Really, a lot has happened to me and I overcame many obstacles. Looking back, my life has been an adventure. (lol) Now I’m 24, and I have a feeling the adventure will continue. (lol) Whether I had a good or a bad experience, it was all worth it. Those experiences made me who I am today, for sure, they were what made me forgive and approve myself. This interview was a reminder that I shouldn’t forget to show my gratitude and enjoy and treasure each passing moment. Thank you!
World Wide Wota 