What’s something about your current tour that you really want people to pat attention to?
I’m doing a hall tour this time, so the stage is close to the audience so I want to become one with everyone and have a really good time. When I was planning the show, I made sure to think about just what we could do with the limited space of a hall type venue, so I think the feeling of the show will be a bit different than previous ones!

What do you work hardest on to keep your physical condition during a tour?
I don’t really do any special kind of conditioning or relaxation methods during a tour. I just do what I always do. I try not to think about it too much, not to be too overprotective of myself just because I’m on tour. It’s not an absolute must, but I do bring candles with me. I like vanilla scented ones.

Which fans do you tend to look at during a show?
The cute ones! Girls wearing pink dresses, or clothes that copy my costumes, or girls in cosplay, they all stand out, and make me happy. When the lighting dim I can’t see [the audience] very well, but when it gets lighter I can actually see not just the top half, but their entire body quite well! People in yukata? I usually tour during Fall or Winter, so I haven’t toured much during the Summer, so there aren’t every many people in yukata. Some people might wear them to the shows that are coming up though! That’s exciting!

What are concerts to you?
Concerts are the destination of my music. In my case, when I’m given songs, and making a decision between songs, I’m already thinking about my concerts. When I record a song, I imagine performing the song live as I’m singing, and when I chose a song I’ve already got an image of the costume I want to wear and the dance I want to do for it. If I can’t really get a picture of that kind of thing, I won’t chose a song.
I can’t imagine a life where I don’t perform concert, and I make albums so I can do concerts. When I go too long between concerts, I start to feel like, “I really want to have a concert soon!” The reason I love concerts so much is that it makes me so happy to be together with my audience. Each city has a different vibe to it, and it takes a while to grasp that vibe, so I’m usually nervous from the start of the show until two or three songs in. That’s the one thing that never changes, no matter how many concerts I do. But after that I start to relax and really enjoy myself. This time I chose Okinawa as the last stop on the tour, which is my home base, so I’ll be able to really relax, and the audience is so warm there.

Where do you shop?
I go shopping during a tour. I just go out like normal to the shops in each town. I also sometimes buy clothes I wear for photoshoots. Often I’ll buy something I think is cute and it turns out to be the same brand. I actually bought a few of the pieces I wore today.

What kind of clothing do you want to wear this summer?
I love maxi dresses because not only are they comfortable, they’re cute. I own a bunch. I also like rompers but they’re kind of a pain to take off. (LOL) But I think I wear pants the most. I have a lot of jeans. What cut? I actually tend to wear boot cut jeans more than skinny jeans. Lately I like beige and baby pink a lot. I usually wear the most color in my tops. The dress I wore for today’s photo shoot was a light green which I don’t really ever wear, and it was a fun change!

How do you do your hair and make up on your days off?
I usually do the natural look. Just some foundation, some blush, and maybe some eye liner. It’s very rare that I’ll put on eye shadow or lip gloss on my days off.(LOL) But when I have the time, I do curl my hair with a curling iron.

Is it true that you’re into watching foreign TV shows?
When I’m at home during my days off, the TV is always on the channel that shows foreign TV shows. I really like ‘Gossip Girl’. It’s amazing that those high school kids are so much like celebrities. Their parties and their romances and all of that, none of it is like high schoolers are all, and it’s so surprising! I like Blair’s fashion and face best. My pick of the guys is Dan, I guess. If you’re going to watch ‘Gossip Girl’ Season 2, I recommend watching the dub over the sub because in the dub they speak like Gals which makes it even more realistic. I’m also watching ‘HEROES’, ‘LOST’ and ’24’ on DVD. I just spent all this time talking about ‘Gossip Girl’, but I usually like shows like LOST that keep you on the edge of your seat. (LOL)

What manga are you into these days?
Right now I’m into ‘Ouke no Monshou’ (Crest of the Royal Family). I love stories that move through time and deal with people going back in time. I got into manga kind of late, so I’m reading my way through series that are already finished. I usually decide what to read based on other people’s recommendations, but when I decide on my own I choose ones where I’m drawn to the title, or the art style. I’m also into ‘BASARA’. First I just bought Volume One, but it was so interesting that the next day I went out and bought the whole series.
When I find a series I like, I end up losing sleep because I stay up all night to read. My hands almost get blisters. (LOL) Before I was into NARUTO. Where do I buy my manga? I usually buy it on tour. In the big cities the books stores are big so they have so many different titles, which is so much fun! I always have more luggage going home then I started out with…
When I move, I get rid of all the manga in the house except for the ones I really like. Two series I kept because I really like them are BASARA and Hana yori Dango.

How do you deal with stress?
By eating something delicious! I love yakiniku! And lately I’m into crunchy things. Like fried wontons. When I need to get up early, I have okayu with fried wontons in it. When I’m on tour and feeling tired, I take a long bath and that helps me destress.

What would you do with a week of vacation?
Go on a trip! Lately I’ve been going to Europe a lot, so I’d love to go wot NY again! I love NY because it’s so lively, it makes me feel cheerful. I want to wander around Central Park. They film ‘Gossip Girl’ in NY, so maybe I’d even run into Blair and co!

What would you like people to listen for in your new songs?
BREAK IT is the CM song for Coke Zera, and it’s a song with a really positive message. I sing it with a rock feeling and it feels so good. I hope listening to it will make them feel pro-active, like ‘I want to try something even if it seems impossible!’
My other new song ‘Get Myself Back’ is a really summery song. You can feel the sea or the wind, and I want them to listen to it during the coming season! It has a message of ‘You’ll be alright.’ I hope the lyrics make them feel better, and give them courage.

What is music to you?
For me, music isn’t something I listen to, it’s something I sing.
It’s everything to me. The album is my starting off point. Then I firm up my image of the concert I’ll give. As the concert gets closer, I listen to my own songs over and over again when I’m driving