It's a mysterious connection, one you can't communicate with words, one that you can't guess correctly by touching it with your hands. The closest place to probing into its conceptualization is the atmosphere, temperature and smell...probably that fusion just resembles the feeling. So rather than daring to chase after the physical side of the chronological sequence, we'll try to ask things focusing on the four members 'hearts' - on MAX's present past and future.
I think something that people always wonder is 'What is the source of MAX's
unity?' Where does that come from?
Mina: That's a good question. But as our stages pile up, I have a feeling that our...maybe
our consciousness as a group, or our bonds, gradually get stronger, and solidifies.
Lina: It's like without even realizing it, we've naturally grown into this relationship. But,
we're completely different from when we first met. It's not that we didn't get along or
anything, but it was really just to the point where we could normally have
conversations.
Was there a mutual feeling of distance in the beginning?
Lina: I think we all were searching for something.
Mina: Because we couldn't see it. We were all were groping for something, even as the
group MAX.
Reina: In the beginning we didn't really think about MAX much. We had more to do as
the [Super] Monkey's, and besides, we were told that MAX was to be only for one
song...
Nana: At first, it felt like we were just doing it as a one time thing, so we didn't about
what the group would do later for awhile. We all thought more about our own personal
futures.
You had your own thoughts about yourselves individually.
Lina: We were all doing our best to bring ourselves up. Things that we lacked, or we
wanted to develop more...When I had free time, I did various things in the range that I
could, thinking 'Isn't there something I can absorb?'
Reina: Because I didn't know myself what I liked, I thought that I wanted to find
something though trying many different things, but...I didn't any impetus, so I didn't
know where to begin. So I did a lot of groping that way. (bitter laugh) Because we had
more work as the Monkey's at that time, we just sat coolly behind Namie...
Nana: 'Coolly?' Don't you mean 'espacing out'? (laugh)
Mina: I really worried about the gap between MAX and the Monkey's. I didn't know how
to go about creating myself. So, I don't even know what I was like at that time.
Nana: To tell the truth, my feelings toward dancing and singing weren't as strong as they
are now. I've always liked acting, so I wondered 'Is what I'm doing now really what I
want to do?'
So when MAX started, the four of you were all coming from different
directions.
Mina: Possibly.
Nana: I think that in the beginning all of our feelings were separate.
So when did your field of vision widen so that you were able to have a viewpoint as
MAX?
Mina: Maybe from around 'TORA TORA TORA'?
Nana: The circumstances we found ourselves in changed as well.
Reina: We all had a strong feeling of 'We can't stay like way.' Because we were on the
verge of being sent back to Okinawa. (laugh) From that period on, we all came to talk
together about work more.
Lina: And we spent more time together, I think that was a big thing too. Our work as
MAX began increasing, and so the amount of time we spent together talking about work
increased too...and out of that we all came to an understanding, and I think that became
stronger at concerts too.
Nana: Oh, maybe the biggest impetus was our first tour. Because we all talked a lot
together about what we should do.
Reina: I think that that was a big thing, that we all became able to say our opinions, and
brainstorm together to make one thing.
Nana: Moreover, so many people came to see us, and went wild listening to our songs...
I think we were the one who were the most moved when it was over. We became really
tight after that. I think that at the end of the tour, we began to see what MAX would come
to be like.
Mina: We realized a lot of things, and certainly our consciousness changed again at that
first tour.
Lina: Because even now, on the last day of the tour, I really feel 'I so glad I met
everyone!' So it's certain that every time we have a concert, our unity grows stronger,
like Minako said.
Don't you ever collide with each other in the process?
Lina: We've had little collisions many times over, haven't we?
Mina: Yeah. But then we all calm down. We generally try out all our various opinions
about work and things...
Nana: And we choose the good thing.
Mina: Because we can all say 'Good things are good.' So it's only a collision until we
arrive at that.
Lina: But I also feel like those collisions have changed from how they were in the past.
Maybe we've become adults a little. Before when we collided. we'd get offended, and
feel like 'What the heck!?' , but now we can listen to each other's opinions calmly. Don't
you think?
Mina: Who got offended? I never did. (laugh)
Lina: Oh wow, that's a difference in our personalities (embarrassed laugh) I'm sorry!
(laugh)
Nana: When our own opinions didn't make it, we think 'Ahh..I knew it wouldn't be this
way...', but no one tried to force their opinion.
It's impressive you try everyone's opinion. It's like a complete
democracy.
Lina: If we don't try them out, we don't know what they're like. You can't just think
about it, you have to see it, or you can't feel anything.
Mina: There are also times when there's something that looked good in our heads, but
when we try it out, it doesn't seem the same.
Oh, so it's also your confirmation.
Reina: Also, Things like 'If it was just me, then it would be this way, but since it's the
four of us, it's this way.' Because we have in our heads the things that the four of us
together like and think are cool, in the end, our opinions settle precisely.
You all respect each other, and you can also notice the way you are where you can
appreciate yourselves as well....well, if you didn't have that kind of relationship, I don't
think you could have the kind of concerts you do. Because when we watch you all on
stage, we can really feel how strong the bonds between the four of you are.
Mina: Yeah. Maybe you really can feel them when we're on stage. We can't touch
each other's feelings, but we know them from the atmosphere and stuff. And when we're
standing together, we have peace of mind. Without the four of us, we couldn't do this...I
think that for MAX, being on stage is where we can be the most proud of that.
Lina: And we love how we are when we do lives.
Reina: Also, we have the strength of all the people around us, and the dancers, and band
and the staff...
Nana: Yeah. And so many people give us various advice. It widens the ring of the four of
us talking. So we're that strong. That's another place that we can take pride in. We have
so many companions that say 'Love MAX', so the extent of that 'love' is amazing.
We're happy about that. So we always think 'We have to be open.' And we have a
attitude of 'Let's listen to what various people say, as MAX, and also as individual
people.'
Before Lina-san said 'We also love how MAX is when we're doing a live.' So what
other MAX do you like?
Lina: I also like Angry MAX. (laugh)
What? What?(laugh)
Lina: It's like, You can't always do well, or, Whatever you're doing, there's a wall there
every time. I think the group MAX is bigger than it was in the beginning, but there's
always a side of the four of us that gets angry, even so.
Mina: But that's also MAX-like.
Reina: I really love Natural MAX. How we're not embellished. It's even interesting to
watch the other 3 talk. (laugh)
Nana: That's true. Also...I think everyone's cute. (Enthusiastic agreement all around) I
love our cuteness.
I understand that. There's also a feeling that your various personalities are the cause
of your unity. No matter when I see MAX, the atmosphere always has a good feeling.
Nana: We're not sisters, and we're not friends, but...we're both....and we're also
companions. It's a very mysterious feeling. I also know that they need me, and I need the
other 3 as well.
And I assume you ask each other for advice?
Nana: Yeah. At those times, sometimes someone will become the older sister, and we
also talk as friends too....we all transform. If asked, we can all become big sisters.
(laugh) I'm really glad that we can all do those various things.
You four may be MAX's biggest fan. (laugh)
MAX: Right. (laugh)
Well, I'm sure you all have many thoughts about your Best Album, right?
Lina: Oh, you know, it's sort of like a photo album. With each song, the memories of that
time come back. And since we went from our teens to our 20's, you can also hear the
growth of our voices, as well.
Nana: Right. And since we were always running forward, at the time of each song, we
couldn't look back at it...we realized what we've done until now formed a single
'shape'.
Reina: And you can really see how we changed and grew, so that's a lot of fun. We're
going to going to be heading in a new direction with our new single, so I'm glad we
released it now. I think it became nice cut off.
Mina: When I'm listening, I unintentionally start singing and dancing. (laugh) The people
who listen to it probably do the same. And, I remember about our concerts...We'll also
have new discoveries heading towards are next tour as well...hee hee.
The heart always goes forward. (laugh) Lastly, please tell me about your ideals for
the MAX of the future.
Reina: Umm...To gradually do all the things we love as individuals as well, but for
MAX to always be the place we return too. And I want MAX to be the coolest women's
group in Japan. To have an original presence.
Aren't you already that?
MAX: No, not quite. (laugh)
Lina: With a feeling that we're all steadily walking the stage to become Super stars
(laugh)
You've all been talking about being Super stars a lot. (laugh) But what is your ideal
of a Super star? How must they be, and how do you want to be?
Mina: I don't think that our devotion to creating something every time inside our senses
will change. So I think that even if we do become super stars, I always want to continue
to challenge ourselves. I'd like to always be running swiftly. I want to search for new
things to try and gradually go forward. I don't want to have a top, but to always make our
goals higher and to reach for them.
Nana: Yeah. To do the things that we individually want to do, and it continue to shine
when the four of us are on stage. I want to be myself, always chasing after my dreams,
without resting, and I want to be the four of us, the way we are now.
Lina: To always be the same four members. First, we're not super stars yet, but if any of
us left, I don't think we could attain it by putting in a different person. MAX is these four
people. That's what's most precious.