-You were born and raised in Nagasaki City. How long did you live in Nagasaki?

A year after being selected as the Grand Prix winner at an audition held by Up Front Works (Morning Musume, to which they belong), I lived in Nagasaki City until the summer of my second year of high school. I was born and raised in a place a little far from Nagasaki Station, where I had to walk up and down three or four hills to get to school. As you all know, Nagasaki is a city of hills. Ever since I was little, I've loved the view of the Nagasaki sea from the top of a narrow slope, secretly thinking to myself, ``This is a landscape only I know,'' and was always excited about it!
 

- Please tell us about your memories of Nagasaki City, where you lived until you were 17 years old.

We have a lot! My memories from when I was an elementary school student are going to Glover Garden every year with my cousin for free research during summer vacation, and sketching the scenery of Nagasaki Port that can be seen from Glover Garden. I also have fond memories of my mother taking me to the family restaurant on the 8th floor of Nagasaki Hamaya to eat milkshakes after I finished my homework during summer vacation. For Nagasaki citizens, milkshake is not a drink, but a food (lol). Speaking of food, there is a coffee shop in the city called Cafe Olympic, and I have fond memories of eating a gigantic 80cm parfait there with three of us, including myself, when I was in high school. After I finished eating parfait with a friend whose birthday was coming up, I sang Masaharu Fukuyama's ``Sakurazaka'' on the guitar. It's nostalgic (lol). I checked in advance to see if I could play the guitar and sing at the store when it opened.
 

I often took her to festivals. I also loved the bravery of the Peron tournament held every summer at Nagasaki Port, and I also loved the Nagasaki Kunchi held at the end of summer. My father was a dragon dancer, so I was moved when I saw him perform live for the first time. I also want to become a person who can devote myself to one thing with all my passion. I love the shouts of "Motekkoi!" after Nagasaki Kunchi's performance, and when I became a musician and performed live in Nagasaki, the audience members at the venue shouted "Motekkoi!" When I heard him say "Encore" (meaning encore in Nagasaki dialect), my memories of Nagasaki Kunchi were synchronized with me, and I felt a warm feeling that I can't express in words.

-What is your favorite season and time to spend in Nagasaki City?

Every season has its own charm, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, but if I had to choose my favorite season, I would say that I like the period from autumn to winter. The air is so clear that you can enjoy the view of Nagasaki from far away. If you like night views, I think you'll find even more wonderful views. My favorite time is dusk. Whenever I return home, I still take a walk in the evening at Nagasaki Mizube no Mori Park, located in the Nagasaki Port Bay Area. I also like how the entire park is lit up at night. I also like the fact that if you listen closely, you can hear all kinds of ``Nagasaki sounds,'' such as the whistle of a ship or the sound of a tram. By the way, my favorite memory at Nagasaki Mizube no Mori Park is when I passed the audition and decided to go to Tokyo, my friend invited me to buy Kakuni Manju on the way home from school and we went to the park together. I will never forget the time I spent there. Nagasaki city is full of many memories for me.

 

-What are the highlights of Nagasaki that you would recommend to people from outside the prefecture?

The best recommendation is for people living in Nagasaki. Everyone is always so warm. This feeling hasn't changed even when I lived in Nagasaki and now when I return home for work and personal reasons. I would like people who come to Nagasaki City to actively interact with the people of the city. In terms of spots, Nagasaki City, where the Japanese-Chinese culture is alive, has a lot of things to recommend. For the past seven years or so, I've been a fan of Japanese swords, and my personal recommendation is the Kameyama Shachu Memorial Hall, which is connected to Ryoma Sakamoto. You can see up close the Mutsu no kami Yoshiyuki (replica) that is said to have been in Ryoma's possession. I might be a bit of a maniac (lol)