'Each of you by yourselves, you can't win against Namie. But if the four of you combine your strength...' While only Amuro was bathed in regonition, MAX continued dancing. What do MAX themselves feel about their time as underlings when they laughed off their fears?
When did you all first meet Mr. Taira?
Nana: I think it was about 5 or 6 years ago. Sometimes he would come to watch our
lessons at Actor's.
What was your first impression of him?
Nana: He was very friendly, not like a president of a company at all.
Lina: And he was very easy to talk to, being about to move on from his status as comapny
president to make communication.
Mina-san and Nana-san's debut was decided earlier then the others, and you went to
Tokyo in '92. If you you think back on that time, what do you feel now?
Nana: At 14, we really were children. I think that our way of thinking was much more immature than say SPEED, and junior high students of today. I don't really have many good memories (laugh.) We went to Tokyo imagining we would sell, but the reality was quite different.
It was just lessons, again and again, while our doubts grew. We had changes of members too. Although we had no work, we'd get up at 9 in th morning, do strength training,spend the afternoon at the library, and listen earnestly to music at night. The same thing everyday, Because I had a more fun image of this world, I was suprised.
Mina: On the other hand, we did have some times when all we did was play.
Well,when did you first begin to feel that your work was fun?
Mina: When Lina and Reina joined In terms of singles, when 'Try Me' was released.
When Lina-san and Reina-san were invited to join the group, what did you think?
Reina: At first I was worried. It was just about the time I was thinking of quitting Actor's.
Lina: So was I. Even though we went to Actor's, we didn't get any chances, so the two of
us were talking about going to Tokyo and trying to get into this world by ourselves.
Thinking of quitting Actor's, which has so much energy and spirit?
Nana: Now Actor's is thought of as a school that will get you somewhere, but when we
went it was different. If you went to Actor's you were embaressed about what your
friends at school would say. There weren't any sucessful singers form Okinawa at that
time, and in Okinawa, the only work you could get were those shows were people dance
around and sing in animal suits. Even the lessons were geared towards that kind of thing.
I see. Did you have a passing aquaintance with each other?
Lina: I did. Nana-san and I were in the same class at Actor's.
Nana: When Namie and we all started living together, as members of the same group, we
grew close and unreserved with each other quickly.
Mina: Because we were always together, every day.
Then with the new members, as Amuro Namie with Super Monkey's, you
released 'Try me'. and...
Nana: It really seemed like we were finally beginning. We started appearing on music
shows, and I felt as though we were finally in the world of singing.
Did you feel a response at the same time?
Nana: Hmm....We were missing Namie's merits. Even though we were dancing in back
of her, it felt as though she was going ahead of us. Although we stood on the same stage,
only Namie shone.
Although 'Try me' was a hit, you felt impatient?
Nana: We saw that Namie was rapidly making progress, and we felt 'We have to do our
best too!'
And with your next single, 'Taiyou no SEASON' it was all under 'Amuro
Namie'.
Nana: And finally,from the single after that 'Stop the Music,' on, we were absorbed in
dancing, without even holding microphones at all. Looking from to audiance, the Super
Monkey's were like back up dancers. It was fun then, but we also wanted to sing as well.
And between the releases of 'Taiyou no SEASON' and 'Stop the Music'. you
began your activities as MAX.
Nana: It was proposed to us really suddenly, so we were suprised, but we were so happy.
MAX: We were so happy!
Nana: At the beginning, there was a big gap between our activities as the Super
Monkey's and as MAX. From the size of the stage to the seats we got on trains,
everything was different. We thought, 'Namie's gone, but we're the same as before.'
(laugh)
Were you shocked?
Nana: But MAX is the kind of group where no matter what happens, we can laugh it off.
Reina: Originally, they told us MAX was just a project, so we were at ease.
Mina: So at first we weren't really expecting much.
Lina: We just enjoyed ourselves.
But as more singles were released, you gradually became major.
Nana: MAX's activies became real with the release of our third single, 'Tora Tora Tora'.
Mina: It seemed like Mr. Taira really wanted us to sing 'Tora Tora Tora', he even came
to the recording.
Your first album sold over 150 thousand copies, and 'Give me a shake' hit #1 on the
charts.
Mina: We were so suprised, we couldn't believe it.
Do you still have alot of contact with Mr. Taira?
Nana: We do. He told us 'If anything happens, you can always call me.' , so if we need
advice on something, or have questions about something we really do call him up.
What is he to the four of you? Like a kind father?
Nana: I don't think he'd like it if we said 'father' (laugh)
Mina: Because he even jokes with us, saying 'When we're together, aren't I like a
boyfriend?' (laugh)
Lina: When we're talking, he seems like a friend.
Nana: Maybe like a leader? I mean, he really understands us. Not just him., the rest of the
staff at rising are the same. MAX is made by everyone. It's like the four of us are just the
representatives on the on the stage.
Lastly, please tell us some things you would like to do as MAX.
Nana: We want to sing a different types of songs, and dance, and challenge are selves
with things that are different than the image we've had up to now. Our ideal is for each
of the members to be able do a drama, or whatever they personally want to do as a solo
activity, and for MAX to always be charming entertainers.
