[OWV] Oggi 241129

[OWV interview] “This is awesome about the members!” Introducing each other with “strong praise”

OWV is a four member boy group who have been active in various fields as “Pioniers”, pushing forward on an unprecedented path. Their new song “Frontier”, produced by Kudo Taiki from Da-iCE, is a driven dance tune about their history and their future ambitions. We asked the members to introduce the song and each other, in a way they can only do here!

“Frontier” is like “water” soaking through your body
Katsunari: We debuted in the corona pandemic (2020) and we were constantly worried as we were absolutely unable to do what we wanted. But when we found our own “light” we were able to push forward. I believe that our new song “Frontier” is a song that will touch people who are struggling like we did. I hope that listening to this song will help you get over your hardships and troubles.
Kosuke: I would be really happy if seeing us, OWV, paving a way that has never been taken before, could give you even the slightest bit of courage or emotional support. The song contains the message “it’s okay not to rush”, so I think it will resonate with the people who are working hard every day like the readers of Oggi. The song has a fresh and bright melody and it is a soothing song for those who are looking for healing. It is a song that you can listen to in the morning and it will soak throughout your body comfortably, so please give it a listen.
Katsunari: It soaks throughout your body just like “water”. It will surely become an essential song in your life.
Kosuke: Right!

“TRVCKSTVR” is a song that brings the excitement to a new high!
Shuta: The b-side “TRVCKSTVR” is a song I hope you check out. As the lyrics “Gear it up!” symbolise it is a song that will raise your spirits and make you go crazy!
Fumiya: Because of the nature of our work, our bodies are our capital. There are many times when we have to gear it up, so for example I always run 5km before leaving home.
Shuta: That’s impossible to copy? (laughs)
Fumiya: You can do 5 kilometres ! That's a short distance!
Katsunari: Since Fumiya started getting public attention for his marathons, he also tells everyone around him “Run!” It’s becoming more and more like bullying. He is also becoming crazier and says 5km as if they were 50m (laughs).
Fumiya: Our manager is also getting a little crazy. He thinks because I can run so easily, the members can run 40km.
Katsunari: Well, we can’t run this at all (laughs)!
Shuta: By the way, if I want to get into the mood, I try to eat sweet things.
Kosuke: Because sweet foods give you energy.
Shuta: When I am at home, I always have a seasonal dessert after each meal.
Kosuke: Cause you still live with your parents? It’s time you really think about living alone! (laughs)
Fumiya: He gets a LINE message from his mother saying “which sweets do you want today?”.
Shuta: Today I left early, but I had a roll cake after breakfast.
Katsunari: The love is strong!
Shuta: Thank you, mom!
Everyone: hahaha

We want Oggi readers to get to know OWV better! Therefore, they will introduce each other here! Let’s start with the Honda & Sano pair.

Kosuke: Fumiya won the 2024 “All Star Thanksgiving” Akasaka 5-chome Mini Marathon! It was shocking! His first participation and first win! The winner of the previous edition was K-san from &TEAM, and the next one Sano Fumiya from us, OWV, establishing a new path of enlightenment for boy groups! He became 4th in the recently held fall edition of the Akasaka 5-chome Mini Marathon but he lost to an Olympic runner. Well, I think in 4 years Fumiya could participate in the Olympics.
(*Furthermore, Fumiya finished in around 3 hours and 20 mins in the Osaka marathon in February 2024 and placed second in the 100km survival marathon of “27 hour TV” from Fuji TV)
Fumiya: No way I could participate! (laughs)
Kosuke: Of course he has many other qualities other than marathons. He is a strong dancer, a good singer and an all-rounder. I think that is what makes him stand out. Also, he says everything straightforwardly, which I think makes working women happy. Sometimes he says kind things to me. That’s his tsundere side.
Fumiya: No, I’m not like this at all!
Kosuke: Hey, now introduce me.
Fumiya: Honda-kun is our undisputed leader and the emotional support of QWV. He is a player and at the same time he has a very strong fan focus. I think it is a huge strength for a group to have a leader who has understanding and awareness. Now that he also does stage plays, his ability to express himself and his performances have been brushed up. Since OWV has only 4 members, I’m really looking forward to who will be the next one who will show off and blow up.
Kosuke: （ (◦ˉ ˘ ˉ◦)nyanya）

Conclusion!

Sano Fumiya is:
running, singing, dancing, sometimes tsundere. And in 4 years OWV’s pride, the perfect performer…?

Honda Kosuke is:
OWV’s dependable leader who guides the group and provides emotional support to the fans!

Next up is the Nakagawa & Urano pair!

Katsunari: I think the Oggi readers often work hard, so they want to be healed right here and there. Shuta is very funny and he is a healing person who can bring laughter into the midst of our daily lives. He is also surprisingly considerate. He often sleeps at my place, but each time he comes over he asks me if I need anything. When you come to someone’s place often you tend to forget that kind of consideration, don’t you? But Shuta never ever forgets to show his appreciation for me hosting him.
Shuta: Yes, I will heal you!
Katsunari: The fact that he is unexpectedly well-behaved makes me annoyed! I don’t think so but I think women will think Shuta is cute. But I don’t think so (laughs).
Shuta: No need to say this twice! Kacchan is a good driver and cook and he is a kind guy who makes you a quick meal after coming home. He picks you up and takes you home. He does everything I just mentioned for me!
Katsunari: You happily ate the healthy gyoza I made from lettuce, didn’t you?
Shuta: They were delicious-! Also, it’s easy to make us laugh, so we are laughing all the time, which creates a nice atmosphere. This is a good point, isn’t it?
Katsunari: You have to smile at least once, because when Shuta is down, it immediately shows on his face.
Shuta: Really!?
Katsunari: Recently, we traveled to Singapore privately. We laughed the whole time, and yeah maybe it is just comfortable for us to be together.
Shuta: Oh, I’m embarrassed!(laughs)

Conclusion!

Nakagawa Katsunari is:
Save driver & good cook. His laughing and lettuce gyoza are healing. OWV’s visual!

Urano Shuta is:
OWV’s youngest who brightens up your everyday life with laughter and subtle care.

As the years since their formation are passing, OWV have deepened their bonds and grew stronger. Their song is an inspirational song that encourages us every day as it depicts them pushing forward on their unique path which is not the traditional one to reach a goal that only they can reach. Please listen to it on your way to work or when you are exhausted. In the second part, we asked the four members to look back on their path. Please enjoy the “OWV Chronicles” filled with their sense of humour.

[OWV] B-Pass 240719

OWV - A hyper dance-rock tune that takes them to even greater heights!

OWV, whose previous single “BREMEN” brought them the 1st place in the Oricon weekly ranking for the first, are at the height of their power currently. Now aiming for even greater heights, they next unleash a hyper dance-rock tune that mixes band sounds into a dance track! We asked the four members to talk about “LOVE BANDITZ”, a challenging song just at the right time.

Your new song “LOVE BANDITZ” is a passionate song that is perfect for summer. What kind of discussions did you have when the song was chosen?
Fumiya: Our basic idea was that we didn't want to lose the steam that we gained from reaching the first place on the Oricon charts with “BREMEN”. We also talked about how we wanted to create an atmosphere where people who didn't know us would think it would be fun to support us, and that they would always be somewhat energized.
Kosuke: I feel that people who had only heard of OWV or had seen the one of the members but did not know the group existed, finally became aware of the group because of the hype related to our previous release “BREMEN” and Fumiya’s first place in the Akasaka Marathon at the “All Star Thanksgiving Festival”.

Right, it feels like the winds are blowing in the right direction for you now.
Kosuke: I am grateful and happy about it. That was also the reason why we chose “LOVE BANDITZ”. When it came to decide on the next song after “BREMEN”, we listened to a lot of candidates, but only “LOVE BANDITZ” was obviously the right one. But there was also the talk about whether the song would be a bit of a challenge when chosen, but we all felt that it has to be this song.
Shuta: Honda-kun’s excitement was huge back then.
Katsunari: He was happy like a child finally getting the toy he wanted. (laughs)
Kosuke: That’s how impactful it was!
Shuta: He felt alien in a good way.
Fumiya: Right, just like OWV’s Shuta.
Shuta: Hey, who are you calling alien?!
Everyone: ahahaha
Shuta: But well, in a good way… am I an alien?
Fumiya & Honda: Yes.
Katsunari: Physically you might be.
Shuta: From space!?
TN: This part was tricky to translate cause 浮いてる usually means “floating” but can also mean “being out of place”. I tried to find something that could somehow translate the jokes into English.

Let’s go back to the topic. (laughs) The song felt aggressive.
Kosuke: I think we have established a band sound since implementing this into “Gamer”. “LOVE BANDITZ” is even more metal oriented with a very fast BPM. But I believe by choosing such a song now, we can establish OWV’s identity even more.
Katsunari: When we first decided on this song, I felt like this was not a song boy groups tend to do. I wondered what kind of dance it would have. But at this moment with “BREMEN” getting the first place, we felt that if we hadn’t chosen the song with the current momentum, we would have never been able to release this song. Hence, I thought this was the moment to release it and I was excited that it would be a fresh breeze of air for OWV.

If you can showcase this song well, it will increase OWV’s strengths.
Katsunari: I think the most important thing for a group is to express something unique, so I thought this song would allow us to do that.
Shuta: The hook of the song is the dance break. The choreographer of the song is YORITO-san with whom we worked since “Bling Bling”, but in the songs we entrusted to him previously we did not dance much in the dance break. Pretty much that there was not even a dance break in the MV. However, this time the moment we enter the dance break we dance fiercely. There are a lot of movements and sound frames, the formations are also detailed. The difficulty level is quite high, but I think this makes a good hook.
Katsunari: This time there was not much time for the choreography…
Shuta: And the difficulty level was also high. But me and Kacchan were told “you learnt the choreography faster than last time”, which made us really happy. Last time I could not remember the choreography after one day, but this time we were able to gasp the flow in one session, so I felt that we improved.

Honda-kun and Sano-kun, do you feel that the two have improved in dancing?
Kosuke: I feel it, but they made some big mistakes during the “Poka Poka” changeover dance…
Shuta: (cuts him off) Next question please!
Kosuke: That was fast. (laughs)
Shuta: No~, during the changeover dance I made a big mistake and I ended up having a mental blackout…
Fumiya: So your head was Poka Poka? (= fuzzy)
Shuta: It’s a live show!
Fumiya: Well, they surely became faster in learning the choreography. When we are rehearsing on tour, they remember things faster, and they are also learning additional choreography faster. I think the quality has also improved.
Shuta: …! (seems happy)
Fumiya: YORITA-san is someone very busy, so we made a quite absurd request this time. But not only have we worked together many times, but we have also improved our ability to absorb things, so we were able to discuss and create together, which was really amazing. YORITO-san also contacted us outside of practice hours and we communicated closely if there was anything we wanted to change. I knew that YORITO-san was a reliable and experienced partner.
Kosuke: While there is a formation in the chorus this time, there is no dancing. That’s how much we devoted ourselves to the dance break. I felt that the dance that incorporates every single sound is a masterpiece by YORITO-san. It became pretty much the highlight, so I hope you will anticipate it.
TN: Poka Poka is a TV show on Fuji TV in which Shuta & Katsunari appear every two weeks on Tuesdays. Sometimes when they change the studio interior during the live broadcast, the two will dance to a popular song and this segment seems to be called 転換ダンス or “changeover dance” when literally translated.

The lyrics have been written by ZERO-san like the last time.
Kosuke: I really like the whole idea of not letting go of the momentum and recognition we gained with “BREMEN”, and making people like us and become fans.
Shuta: Until now it was often that we told QWV (through the music) “we go ahead and you follow us”, but now that the people who support us have increased, the urge to release lyrics that say “Let’s go to take over the world” is there.
Katsunari: I love the words that ZERO-san chooses. It is also wonderful how our name was inserted in a cool way like in Fumiya’s part “CODE: Operation OWV starts”. In “LOVE BANDITZ” there is also the meaning that we want to steal everyone’s hearts and make them like us. It’s really typical for OWV and once more I was glad that we asked ZERO-san to write them. It became a powerful song in which each part has its highlights.

ZERO-san wrote lyrics for all 3 featured songs, right?
Katsunari: We are totally addicted to his lyrics!
Fumiya: Not only are the lyrics cool, but there is no mismatch between each member's part, and the lyrics fit the characters nicely. It's because ZERO-san wrote the lyrics with a clear understanding of us which makes them easy for us to interpret, and it feels really good to sing them. It's great that there is absolutely no contradiction between the message we have and the lyrics written by ZERO-san.
Kosuke: He is originally a rapper, so he has a cool way of phrasing things, and he puts what we want to say into words in a cool way, which really surprises us each time. He always writes things beyond our imagination, so we are really happy that we could ask him to write all three songs this time.

[OWV] Fukushima Minyu Shinbun / Minyu.Net 230224

https://www.minyu-net.com/news/sinsai/shinsai12/news/FM20230224-760081.php

OWV’s Honda Kosuke-san: ”I want to convey the current Fukushima”. His first concert in Koriyama on 11th March

“I want as many people as possible to feel that ‘Fukushima is a good place’”, says Honda-san at the Kenshin Koriyama Bunka Center in Koriyama. .

On 11th March, 12 years after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, the four-member boy group OWV, led by Honda Kosuke-san (27) who comes from this prefecture (Fukushima) will hold their first live concert in the prefecture, in the city of Koriyama. Honda-san, who experienced the earthquake as a middle school student, says “Through this concert I want to convey the charm of the current Fukushima and I want as many people as possible to feel that ‘Fukushima is a good place’”.

In 2020 his group made their debut under Yoshimoto Kyogo. They released 7 singles and have live performances all over the country. Honda-san also widens his activities by for example appearing on variety shows on TV and in a drama.

“Having a concert on 11th March makes me half happy and half anxious.” On 11th March 2011, Honda-san was a Nakadori* third year middle school student. His graduation ceremony was over and when he went home he was shaken by the huge earthquake. The electricity broke down and thus the night was spent under candlelight. Seeing footage of the tsunami and the damage in the TV news made him feel that he “had encountered something terrible”.
TN: Nakadori is a region in the prefecture of Fukushima, the middle third of the prefecture. The city Koriyama as well as Fukushima City are located there.

The announcement of whether he was accepted into high school was postponed and the gymnasium of his high school was used as an evacuation center even after his enrolment. He also had classmates who had moved into it because they were unable to return to their homes due to the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident.

12 years have passed since then. After his graduation from highschool, he went to a vocational school in order to become a dancer and thanks to the audition he participated in, his activities as a member of OWV began. This live tour will be the first day of a tour that will visit four cities. The first live performance as a member of OWV in his old hometown coincides with a significant date. “It was a dream for me to have a concert in Fukushima. I would be happy if more people become interested in Fukushima because of me.”. In preparation for this concert, we visited the venue of the show, the Kenshin Koriyama Bunka Center. Honda-san powerfully expressed: “I want to show a lot of people that Fukushima experienced something terrible, overcame this and works hard towards recovery.”

The first show of “OWV LIVE TOUR 2023 - CASINO-“ in the prefecture will be held at the Kenshin Koriyama Bunka Center, Big Hall on 11th March. The tour also stops at the NHK Osaka Hall in the prefecture Osaka on 19th March, at the Fukushima International Conference Center in the prefecture Fukushima on 21st March and at the NHK Hall in Tokyo on 1st April. For more details please check their official homepage.

[OWV] BoyAge Festival Issue 230111

OWV reached the third year since their formation. How do they keep their team work in mind as these four strong individual personalities move forward on their way? Which sides of them changed from the time they met to now, and which of those evolved?

Theme Talk
Team Work -How to build a relationship of trust-

That we became able to have such good teamwork, is because each one of us was able to establish their own character

Does everyone of you have something they keep in mind or is particular about in your activities with OWV?
Katsunari: We tend not to do so, right?
Kosuke: Not really~
Katsunari: What I feel is that we all have strong individual personalities. We all have our own strong feelings and determination. But we want to do the same things as a group and this was clear since the formation. Thus, it never happened that I thought something like 'We have to emphasize this as a group!', but I feel there is a strange balance of the four of us getting along very well.
Shuta: We also unconsciously help each other. We are four members, so when for example someone gets something to drink during a MC or someone has a coughing fit and thus stops talking, there are even less members who can talk. But in such moments the other members follow the flow naturally. This is not just the case for live shows but also in interviews or variety shows. On the other hand, when three members talk a lot, I feel one member calmly watches. In the last two years this developed naturally.
Katsunari: Because it’s like we are always together, both at work and in private, right?
Shuta: The way you say it sounds like song lyrics? (Laughs)
Katsunari: Like 'Be always with me' (laughs). But it’s really like this and I feel the result of this that the team work came to be on its own. We don’t really keep this in mind, but we are close with each other.
Fumiya: I think this is also because we are not just close with each other, we trust each other, too.
Kosuke: It might be this, but I believe that we were able to have such good teamwork, is also because each one of us was able to establish our own character. We all understand our own characters, so we think ‘I can leave this to this person’ or ‘Here I will talk’.

This feels like you distributed the roles, right?
Kosuke: That’s right. We do this diligently. We were close from the start, so there was consistency, but everyone made truly use of their characters after they became able to comprehend all characters. Hence, I can feel that we can move forward in our talks and work more smoothly than before.

And having these characters also happened naturally?
Kosuke: That’s right. Because it happened that during our activities, the members and the fans got the image of ‘This person is like this’. A certain person however, that guy Nakagawa, his character became blurry currently (laughs).
Shuta: Rather than becoming blurry, it’s that his wall was taken down (laughs).
Katsunari: Indeed. Because I think there had been a huge wall in the beginning.
Shuta: Because you are shy.
Katsunari: Yes. But this one disappeared now and I became normal. I feel this makes my character blurry on the other hand (laughs). Thus, I feel a bit sorry that Honda-kun became interested in me and asked me whether we want to do this together in a time when the wall was still there (laughs).
Kosuke: No, I’m fine, however, if you are like now in private.
Katsunari: I was weird in the beginning, wasn’t I? But I want to diligently protect the character that is needed for performances in the future.

Sano-kun, what are your thoughts regarding OWV’s teamwork?
Fumiya: To work as a team was something I really disliked in the past. I hated acting as a group so much that I left the baseball club and joined the track and field club (laughs).

Such people often join boy groups and are active with those (laughs).
Fumiya: That’s absolutely right.
Katsunari: This is also funny, isn’t it?
Fumiya: Because I didn't think much about it. Speaking of this, In a boy group, it’s like there is someone other than me, too! (Laughs). But while being active with OWV, I can actually feel the perks of everyone having the same goal and running towards it. Hence, despite me having my own pace, I want to cherish the team during this.

Of course. Teams also have their perks.
Katsunari: They have a lot. Sure enough in your activities, you will discover the sides where you lack. But when the members are there at this moment, they will compensate for this. Thanks to this we can create something good, so I feel the team is something really great.

You can balance each other.
Katsunari: That’s right! That’s right! To make it simple, there is the role of the leader, right? That’s a role I can’t do. But there is someone in the group who takes up this role. I feel this is an amazing merit.

I feel that exactly because it is these four people OWV’s charms are getting refined.

This connects to the “role distribution” that Honda-kun had mentioned earlier. Like the right person is at the right place.
Kosuke: Exactly this. I believe we are like this.
Fumiya: This is like a… Yakiniku menu?
Katsunari: Hm? What do you mean? (Laughs)
Fumiya: Isn’t it “Let’s say it in a four character idiom!”?
TN: 適材適所(the right person at the right place) and 焼肉定食 (yakiniku menu) are both 4 characters in Japanese. A lot of Japanese metaphors are 4 character idioms.
Katsunari: No, because it’s not this (laughs). Also, yakiniku menu isn’t such a four character idiom.
Fumiya: Well, to answer this seriously, when I arrive at the workplace and say “Good morning”, they reply “Good morning”. This makes me happy.
Katsunari: Cute!
Fumiya: But I think if I had debuted alone, this would not happen. It is the same as when I return home to my family and say “I’m home” and they reply “Welcome back” and it makes me somehow feel relieved. Because I feel the members are like a family and this makes me feel happy.
Shuta: But you rarely say “Good morning”, don’t you?
Fumiya: Yes, and even if someone else says it I don’t reply.
Kosuke: Someone reading this must think you are the worst.
Fumiya: But when I say it from time to time and get a reply, I’m happy!
Shuta: Makes sense. What I think is a perk of the group is that we all come from different backgrounds. That's exactly why everyone can teach me a lot about the things I don’t know. I feel this is really great.

Can you give an example for this?
Shuta: Games, manga, anime and sports. I rarely came in touch with those (in the past). But they gifted me a game for my birthday and they told me about manga, so I’m reading “ONE PIECE” right now.

Right now!? You started pretty late (laughs).
Fumiya: See! They all react like this!
Shuta: But after reading it it’s pretty funny, and since we started to cook on YouTube, everyone teaches me this and so on. There might be something I would have never noticed myself, so I feel my life has become richer.
Kosuke: I get that. There is a lot we can learn from everyone, isn’t it? We are different kinds of people, so when these four people come together, lots of different opinions and ideas come out. I feel that thanks to this my brain grew bigger. This is also reflected in the brain as OWV. Thus, I became able to image things I would have never thought of myself and the topics for the MC also became more, so I feel that exactly because it is these four people OWV’s charms are getting refined. They even reply to my advanced gags, so this is amazing, too.
Shuta: Because they are not advanced.
Katsunari: I don’t know. Maybe these will be well received jokes in the future.
Fumiya: Yes, in the year 20XX.

Sure enough our style is to cover each other’s weaknesses and work hard together!

Do you also consult with each other in regards to the song production?
Kosuke: We do. We chose the songs all together and from time to time our opinions on those differ. At such times, we discuss with each other why we think that song is good.
Fumiya: Also regarding the choreography, we get proposals from the vocal-line such as 'This choreographer would be good' and also when we record the songs, when someone records alone, the other three members listen to it. Because of this, there is the feeling that we created everything together.
Shuta: When we struggle with the dancing, another member will help us. I certainly feel that we improved (thanks to this).
Katsunari: In regard to dancing, they help me so much that I’m a bit ashamed. They diligently help me when I ask them, for which I am grateful. From time to time a member does the choreography for one of our songs, but this is also something I personally can’t do. Hence, I feel like this is another strengh for this group and another virtue of it, too.
Fumiya: If I didn't teach you, I could be the popular one however (laughs).
Katsunari: He might say so, but in reality he teaches me with a really happy face.
Shuta: Right. With a wide smile he teaches up to the extra parts.
Fumiya: To be honest, I’m the happiest when I’m told “Teach me!”. Sure enough our style is to cover each other’s weaknesses and work hard together!
Katsunari: But during the MC everyone tries to make the audience laugh.
Fumiya: It’s a battle royal, isn’t it?
Kosuke: Right. In the MC it’s like who can make the others laugh.
Fumiya: It’s the World Martial Arts Tournament.
TN: World Martial Arts Tournament is a reference to “Dragonball”, a tournament that features the Earth’s strongest fighters.
Katsunari: That said, I think my character is becoming blurry because everyone is too funny. Because I can’t survive if I stay quiet.
Shuta: Because lately, Kacchan puts great importance on the adjective “funny”, doesn’t he? (Laughs) But I’m sure there is a lot of demand for “cool” and such, too.
Katsunari: No, the “cool” is weak inside of me.
Fumiya: Indeed. The expiry date of “cool” might be early. “Someone funny” keeps on being told they are funny no matter how much time passes.
Katsunari: Exactly! That’s why I feel “funnily cool” is the best.

It is different at oneman shows and at festivals, but actually it’s not right to say festival, rather we go into a battle.

And in order to become so, you are surely studying “funny” right now (laughs).
Katsunari: That’s right.
Kosuke: Also now you are funny enough when you are relaxed.
Fumiya: But everyone has a different style of being funny.
Shuta: That’s right. Honda-kun is a specialist for one-liners and I guess I’m the one for reactions.
Katsunari: And it depends on who picks up Honda-kun's jokes, as well as what happens afterwards.

Because one of OWV’s strengths are your MCs during your live shows, right? (Laughs)
Fumiya: Because we see MC also like a song.
Shuta: Yes. We want to make the audience as satisfied as if they had heard another song.
Kosuke: Last year during the “Inazuma Rockfest”, we squeezed in 2 MCs. But other artists didn’t even have one.

2 MCs, during how many songs? (Laughs)
Kosuke: During 5 songs (laughs)
Shuta: I heard you don’t really do MCs at a rock festival. Because everyone came to hear the music.
Kosuke: But we put too much effort in our MCs and squeezed in two of them. Thus, when no one else did them, we thought ‘Huh? They don’t do that?’
Shuta: It was normal (what they did).
Fumiya: Maybe in our case, I feel that one day our first song will be a MC.
Katsunari: This would be hilarious! But during the “Inazuma Rockfest”, Nishikawa-san also told us 'I’m looking forward to your MC! Because I will be watching you from the wing (of the stage).' So we had no choice but to do it.
Kosuke: We had no choice but to squeeze in two. But since we were the first ones to perform, I think we warmed up the crowd.

Furthermore, this was good because it made you different from the other artists.
Katsunari: I agree. I think we want to walk a little different way.

Including these MCs, I believe live shows are a very important place for OWV. Is there something you keep in mind at such times?
Fumiya: It is different at oneman shows and at festivals, but actually it’s not right to say festival, rather we imagine that we go into a battle.
Kosuke: Exactly. We think on how we can make the parts of the audience who are not our fans raise their hands for example.
Katsunari: When we find someone who doesn’t raise their hand, we launch a concentrated attack against them! (Laughs)
Shuta: Because in reality we say something like 'Please raise your hand' or to sitting people 'Please stand up'. We have the huge intention of wanting to have fun with everyone.
Katsunari: Because there are lots of shy people among Japanese people, it is sometimes important to tell them something. It’s like if you like music, it doesn’t matter (to us) whose fan you are!
Kosuke: Furthermore, we will make our big breakthrough in the future and it would be a shame if you didn’t see us back then.
Fumiya: As long as you can still see us closely.
Shuta: We are a confident group.

Then how is it during a oneman show?
Kosuke: We have a concept, so we value this and we create it considering a flow adding songs that makes the fans happy. An oneman show is a creation, so our way of thinking is absolutely different compared to a show with other artists.
Fumiya: The key point is that QWV are included in the making of it. And for outside events, (the key point is) that people discover us. In contrast, oneman shows have the sense that everyone is creating the space together.

Your favorite and least favorite weekday
A question for all artists appearing in this issue! “What was your favorite and least favorite weekday as a child?” We bring you their answers along with their reasons!

Favorite day
Kosuke: Sunday
Back then on Sundays between 7:30 am and 8:30 am two Sentai shows, bundled together as “Super Hero time” aired. I loved those, and on Sundays the whole family came together, we were able to eat lunch together or go shopping, which I enjoyed.
Katsunari: Friday
I really hated studying, but due to my parents’ upbringing I pretty much went to cram school every day. Only on the weekend I didn’t have to go. And I prepared for that on Friday (laughs). I enjoyed this day because my favorite anime such as “Doraemon” and “Crayon Shin-chan” aired on this day.
Shuta: Thursday
Because it had a 'long lunch break' that was about 10 minutes longer than (the one) on other days. So, together with my friends I used to play 'SASUKE' (= Ninja Warrior) using the school playground equipment such as the monkey bars, climbing bars, slides and so on. We also played dodgeball and soccer. But I wasn’t particularly active in any of these (laughs).
Fumiya: Saturday
On Saturdays I had out of school activities. I hated these activities itself, but as an elementary school student it’s exciting to meet your friends at night, isn’t it? We felt a bit like we did something bad (laughs). It was only 9pm, but (it felt like this) because it was something you normally can’t do.

Least favorite day
Kosuke: Wednesday
I went to school so often, but only half of the week had passed… I hated this thought. I also didn’t like my timetable on Wednesdays much. It was annoying to have lots of humanities and there was no art class. Because I only liked arts and sports (laughs).
Katsunari: Monday
Despite relaxing since Friday and finally resting on the weekend, my body reset itself again and a long week started. I remember how tough it was for me to keep studying in my mind. On the contrary, I recall that by Wednesday I somewhat got used to studying (laughs).
Shuta: Monday
I went to a cram school because I wanted to take the entrance exam for middle school. Their (weekly evaluation) result came out on Monday. Since my parents supported me in my studies, I was always nervous on Mondays. However, in the summer during my 6th year in elementary school, I started to aim for the entertainment world, so I pretty much gave up on the middle school entrance exam (laughs).
Fumiya: Tuesday
I was somehow able to overcome Monday which had some remains of the weekend (laughs). But Tuesdays were just awful. Moreover in summer we had swimming lessons on Tuesdays, but I am a hopeless swimmer. So, it felt like a punishment and I hated it. Despite, on the ground, I ranked first in the prefectural fitness test!

[OWV] Ray 221122

You can stan them now ♥️
We met these guys!

Overwhelming stage presence and their variety power makes you fall for them♥️
OWV
OWV was formed by former trainees of “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN”. Their performance is powerful and when they start talking, they won’t stop!?
The amazing four member group that makes you fall for their deep characters♥️

What is the reason to stan you?
Kosuke: The days are fun when you stan me. When you come to the live shows, I will be cool, cute, funny and impress you. I think I can make you feel all possible emotions.
Katsunari: Your self confidence will rise. I am always super clumsy, so you might think “Even so you can live your life” (laughs). Some days ago, I went to a sushi restaurant with Urano and I said “The fall hineri sushi please”, but they told me “It’s minori”… Let’s live together strongly!
Shuta: That my voice is big. However, it happens that I am called noisy (laughs). It’s everywhere, so it is easy to remember.
Fumiya: That I am fast to absorb things. If I do something I had no experience in previously for one or two times, I can do it afterwards, so for example also in the case of housework, if we lived together, I will absorb it and do it (for you). The ochazuke the other day was a failure, but if you taught me…!

What are you into right now?
Kosuke: Animes. My phone case has a “Dragonball”-motive and I have a lot of merch at home. Yet actually I would like to have a simple and stylish home. But with figures, my Kamen Rider belt, Gundam models and the Chainsaw Man-plush toy I got from a gacha recently, it’s impossible to be simple (laughs).
Katsunari: Collecting “Yu-Gi-Oh” and “Pokemon” cards. I don’t play the card games but I enjoy looking at the illustrations after I put them into an album. I want to have the “Blue-Eyes White Dragon” from “Yu-Gi-Oh” one day.
Shuta: Saunas. Because after Katsunari recommended those to me, I got completely into visiting them (laughs). Lately we went together. My sauna hat is in my member color yellow!
Fumiya: Taking walks at night. I like to take a walk in a cold season like now. I also like the time being idly in a coin laundry. I have a laundry machine at home, but I guess I like to go there to be absorbed in my thoughts.

Who is your bias in the group?
Kosuke: Katsunari. His performances are cool but his personality is cute. I feel there are a lot of people falling for him once they discover this gap.
Katsunari: Honda-kun has the impression of him being like an older brother, but he is actually the youngest of his family, as he has two older sisters and an older brother. His charm is that he is unexpectedly indecisive and has human kindness.
Shuta: Fumiya. I can learn a lot from watching him such as the strength of his heart that allows him to make decisions on point! I am a worry wart and tend to get nervous, so it is reassuring just to have Fumiya around me.
Fumiya: Shuta who is the key to our vocal line. We have the same antenna for things and talk about similar topics. The other day we analyzed “King of conte” together.
TN: King of conte - a comedy contest program airing on TBS

If you described your fans in a few words?
Kosuke: We are a “family” that works hard together. I also work hard for everyone and they are all supporting us with their lives. Our feelings are the same.
Katsunari: The fans tell me their clumsy episodes, too, so I also call them “clumsy” (laughs).
Shuta: “Flower garden”. They are also beautiful flowers who make the way we walk a flower road and that they kindly watch over all of our sides, makes me feel like they are a “flower garden” (laughs).
Fumiya: "Competitive". Maybe because I am the same, I feel there are a lot of fans like this. During the online talks or for the radio messages, they try to fool around or say something more funny to me.

Something that makes you happy to hear from a fan?
Kosuke: “You are cool”. It’s simple but it is pretty much what makes me happy the most.
Katsunari: Something like “I was able to do my best” because they saw me doing so. Knowing I am someone's source of energy, makes me glad I am working hard.
Fumiya: “You are taller than I expected.” I was happy when someone told me that for the first time at the meet & greet some time ago.
Shuta: “I am glad that you are part of OWV.” A lot has happened before we formed and started our activities, so when someone tells me this, I feel in my heart “I’m glad to be here”.

A message to the fans who are stanning you!
Kosuke: I am going to work hard to bring you days full of enjoyment! Please continue to support us!
Katsunari: Aren’t you interested in clumsy me???
Shuta: Don’t you want to try to make Urano Shuta a part of your live?
Fumiya: Stan Sano Fumiya and you won’t regret it!

[OWV] KELLY 221118

https://kelly-net.jp/enjoytoday/2022111822002272299.html

OWV are here! An interview in celebration of the release of their awaited new song “Let Go” and their first live in Nagoya

OWV, who celebrated their second anniversary in September, released their 7th single “Let Go” on 2nd November.
As the creative concept is “holding close”, the 3 featured sounds portray various situations of holding people close.
As the final show of their fall tour “OWV LIVE TOUR 2022 -STRANGE-, they performed at Nagoya Shimin Hall in Aichi on the 3rd November 2022.
We held in interview in which the 4 members, Honda Kosuke, Nakagawa Katsunari, Urano Shuta and Sano Fumiya talked a lot about “Let Go”, their memories of Nagoya and the changes in themselves and the other members.

“OWV and Nagoya” Each one’s memories

Welcome to Nagoya! I heard it is the first time for you as OWV to come to Nagoya, but have you come here before?
Katsunari: I am from the prefecture Hyogo and back when I was a student I went on a drive with 4-5 friends that brought us up to Nagoya. Back then we just felt like going to Nagoya and no plan at all, but I heard from a friend that “Yabaton is delicious”, So I ate Miso-Katsu at ‘Yabaton’ there.
Fumiya: Like “Yabaton, it’s insanely good?”
Katsunari: Right (laughs). Because of that I went home, thinking “So Nagoya is this kind of place”. There are so many delicious things. This time I also want to go home after eating lots of things!
Fumiya: I came to Nagoya for a Karate tournament when I was in the later years of elementary school.
Katsunari: So cool! My story was lame (laughs).
Fumiya: So for me, Nagoya is “place where I went to to punch people’s bodies”.
Katsunari: It is better to say, it is “the place where you came to deliver your fists”.
Fumiya: I remember eating Ten-musu in the bus on the way home. I am interested in the food specialities of Nagoya, but I want to visit Nagoya castle.
TN: Ten-musu is a rice ball wrapped in nori and filled with deep-fried shrimp. A speciality of Nagoya.
Katsunari: I also want to visit Nagoya castle!
Shuta: I passed Nagoya on the way to a shooting. Since I just passed it, I had no chance to eat anything delicious there. This time I want to eat a lot of Nagoya’s specialties!
Kosuke: I have gone to Nagoya in the past when I was still active in another group.
Shuta: And you ate something in Nagoya back then? So nice! What did you eat?
Kosuke: It is just something banal, but the Onigiri from ____ (a certain conbini).
Shuta: Eh! Tell me about a speciality of Nagoya.
Kosuke: And there was ____ (a certain conveyor-belt sushi chain). Maybe this was because it was in Nagoya. But it was really delicious.
Shuta: I guess you haven’t eaten any specialities of Nagoya, have you? I thought you had tried Miso-Katsu.
Kosuke: Oh, I did. The Miso-Katsu was delicious.
Shuta: Eat it for real! (Laughs)

Deciphering the feelings in the dance and the lyrics of “Let Go”

The main track “Let Go” has a different atmosphere than before. Please tell us your favorite parts of it.
Katsunari: “Let Go” is a beautiful ballad, a heartbreak song, that holds close to people who experience a breakup with their loved one, as in the lyrics “You who used to laugh beside me is not here anymore”.
I like the clean transition from the verses to the chorus: The verses are sung in a sad and tranquil way, bringing some gloom to everyone while the chorus expresses a strength in the sadness. The transition makes the song pleasant.
My favorite lyrics are, when talking about my own parts, “Even when I try to forget I can’t erase it”. The choreography changes in the verses there, so I think it is an impressive part.
Fumiya: I will talk about the dance. This time, we express the concept of “holding close” and the feelings of parting, sadness and melancholy through the dance. Until the chorus, each one of us is a different person and we just perform as we should. But in the chorus, we send a positive message that we as OWV “are holding the fans close” in the nuance of holding our hands up to the sky, gasping the light that lies beyond.
Kosuke: I like the lyrics “Since the day we untied our fingers, the love I felt for you still calls to you.”
Shuta: What do those lyrics mean?
Kosuke: You used to hold hands with the other one, but after that day it is not possible anymore. It’s that there still love left?
Shuta: !?
Kosuke: So, you are singing that you are still thinking of the day you broke up. The title “Let Go” means “to let go (of the hand of the other one)” and the lyrics here fully express that feeling of “I want to let go but I can’t”. Just as the lyrics say, you are left behind with those feelings.
Shuta: It is a part I sing, but it’s “I don’t want you to laugh in someone else’s arms”. Just as these lyrics are, they straightly reveal the feelings of the heart, which is heartbreaking. I can picture this scene and I feel many others can do so, too.
Kosuke: If you think of ”Let Go” as a contemporary writing question, where would you find the right answer? It’s a question like “Think about what the author wants to express”.
Shuta: If it was such a question… (thinks) It is either “Even if I tried to forget I can’t erase it” or “I don’t want you to laugh in someone else’s arms”.
Kosuke: The right answer is… “I cannot let go”.
Shuta: This one! I overlooked that part.
Kosuke: These lyrics are about wanting to let go but being unable to. Actually, the song is not about “Let Go” but “I cannot let go”. But well, I’m not the one who wrote it.
Shuta: Right. We were not involved, were we?
Kosuke: Yes. I just read the lyrics we received.
Shuta: That’s how many emotions are into it.

A glimpse of their actors’ sides are shown in the acting scenes of the MV, where they challenge being emotionally invested into it♡

I watched the MV which was full of emotions! It was your first MV with acting scenes, right?
Kosuke: Since two of us have been acting.
Shuta: You are talking like an actor! (Laughs)
Kosuke: Shuta, you have appeared in a drama before, right?
Shuta: I played a young doctor in a New Year’s special..
Kosuke: Oh! That’s so cool!
Shuta: … It was just a reenactment-VTR.
Kosuke: A reenactment-VTR!
Shuta: But I did it properly! This is also my experience as an actor (laughs). But Honda-kun, well…
Kosuke: It is a terrestrial one and my role got a proper name.
Shuta: Amazing!
Kosuke: I am appearing in a serial drama! It is the TBS drama “Watashi no shite kurenai feromon kareshi”. There is some pressure, but I’m doing my best at acting.
Shuta: I have to watch it!
Kosuke: I’m still pretty much a beginner, so I worked hard on the acting in the MV, too.
Shuta: I expressed the lyrics by letting them possess me. OWV has a lot of concepts with intense dancing and flames, but this time it is a sad song, so I tried to put that into my expressions. Honda-kun filmed his scenes in a car, right?
Kosuke: When I pictured the lyrics in my mind, I acted those or rather it was just happening. I was so immersed into those memories, so it didn’t feel like acting to me.
Shuta: You are probably just joking right now (laughs),

I have no idea whether it was a joke or not!
Shuta: Was it the side of us being signed to Yoshimoto or the side of being an artist? I said something good now (laughs).
Kosuke: I also thought I was saying something good in the middle of it (laughs).

It was refreshing to see a MV with all of you acting.
Shuta: This time there were people other than OWV appearing there, too, and the other two (Nakagawa & Sano) had person-to-person expressions, so I think we were able to show a new side in the MV and as OWV as a whole.
Kosuke: Everytime we release a dance performance video, but exactly because the dance performance of “Let Go” is really beautiful, I hope you will both watch the MV and the performance video. The ratio of lip scenes and dance scenes is different for each MV. So far it was always about 50% each, but in this MV the dance scenes are only 30%, so I hope you watch the performance video and feel “Let Go” in the dance, too.

What OWV, who are committed in everything they do, want to challenge next I was impressed by the way you discussed your standing positions and such during the filming!
Katsunari: It depends on the situation on the set, but we often discuss the finer details ourselves and check the cuts as we film.
Fumiya: It ends up with us pushing the time. What should we do… They might think “They are too particular, it’s annoying”? (Laughs)
Katsunari: That would be the worst (laughs).

You showed a new side of yourself in the new song, but what would you like to challenge in the future?
Kosuke: Playing a doctor in a Special…
Shuta: You will play my role in the reenactment-VTR! (Laughs)
Kosuke: I watched that show with my family and even through it was just a reenactment, it was just cool!
Shuta: You sent me a message back then. Well, I will teach you how to play a doctor.
Kosuke: But being honest, I hope to have a concert in Nagoya each year. This was our first time coming to Nagoya and I am really happy about it. We want to come more often as we finally made it possible!
Shuta: We want to hype up Nagoya!
Kosuke: The time you need to go to Nagoya by Shinkansen is also just right. You just nap a bit and then you are already there. I feel it’s also easy to have fun here in private. I will take KELLY along and do some sightseeing. I will just take KELLY with me.
Shuta: Right. KELLY is all you need.

If you compared the coupling tracks to certain characters…

Thank you very much!! Please tell us also about the other two songs.
Shuta: “Tararam” is an uptempo song that holds close those who want to raise their mood. It is a song that has two sides.
Katsunari: If it was a human, it would have a dual personality that entertains people.
Kosuke: It is like H-san from the manga that takes place at a police station in front of a park.
Fumiya: And when he rides a motorbike, his personality changes.
Katsunari: Like L-san in the anime which is about collecting seven balls?
Kosuke: Yes yes! Like changing your appearance and personality when you sneeze.
Shuta: (laughs) The sound changes completely between the verses and chorus.
Katsunari: The verses are like a fresh pop-song, but in the chorus there is a heavy bass sound. This change is the key point.

How about “Gonna Getcha”?
Shuta: “Gonna Getcha” holds close those who don’t feel well, a song that raises your self esteem. A song that pushes you forward.
Kosuke: It is a song that gives you hope that you can get up from there again when you feel down and listen to it! Out of the three songs, this one is the easiest to get into someone’s ears and the refrain sticks in your mind. I hope people will feel better after listening to it.
Katsunari: The melody line is also very clear, so please sing it, everyone ♪

Congratulations on reaching your second debut anniversary in September. Do you feel like something about the members has changed?
Kosuke: Katsu had a cool impression in the beginning, but recently he is like a character who came from a “pirates manga” and he really laughs like “gahahaha”, making me worried “Is he okay?” (Laughs).
Shuta: Didn’t he say he has a wall around his heart in the beginning? This wall broke down by now (laughs).
Katsunari: Even the walls that were not supposed to be taken down, were taken down!
Kosuke: Even the walls you should protect as a human were broken down (laughs).
Fumiya: If you were a building, it would be difficult to get rid of you. You cannot be repaired anymore.
Katsunari: I’m a lot like my father when it comes to the way I laugh.
Fumiya: In this context, you must feel sorry for your father (laughs).
Katsunari: Well, in a way, this is just how he is.
Shuta: Everyone is now able to show their true selves.
Katsunari: Rather than being able to, it just comes out, at least in my case.
Everyone: (laughs)
Kosuke: Everyone also has unchanging sides in a good way, and I like this. The distance between the members was always close.
Shuta: Sometimes for the MCs at our concerts we just decide only on the general things beforehand and the details just happen. I like this because it shows the normal OWV which makes the fans happy.
Fumiya: It always feels fresh.
Katsunari: I feel the tempo sense has improved in the last two years. It’s always like this even when there is no camera.
Speaking of this, I discovered a hidden side of a member recently. Urano, whose member color is yellow, is cheerful during MCs and such, fitting perfectly to his member color, but after work, he doesn’t talk at all.
Fumiya: Even when he doesn’t talk right now, he adds a bit of coolness (laughs).
Shuta: You are all talking so much, so I have to do it properly! Be grateful. I want to actually talk!! (Laughs)
Fumiya: In my case, I want you to outdo me. “Oh that’s just as I expected it. I can’t keep up with Shuta’s talking” (laughs).
Shuta: Everyone wants attention so much, so you are talking too much! (Laughs)
Fumiya: Then, I will be silent from now on.
Shuta: Too late! (Laughs)

Other than the change of Nakagawa-san, is there anything else that makes you think a member has changed in this regard?
Fumiya: I will analyze myself. I think I was really determined. I went from being an ordinary person to suddenly joining an audition to debuting, so I was ignorant about this world and I met the people around me for the first time, too, so I was clueless about a lot of things. But now I am gradually getting the hang on how far I should go.
Katsunari: You came to understand a lot of things.
Shuta: I was really quiet during the audition and played cool. After it ended and I was with the other OWV members, they told me "Shuta, that’s not your position” and got my current member color yellow.
Kosuke: What is your actual color?
Shuta: My true member color happens to be red.
Fumiya: So you are the type to take the lead in the front?
Shuta: Yes. But thanks to the members I got yellow and my character changed. How about Honda-kun who is red?
Kosuke: In my case the red became a bit pink. Fumiya: White got mixed into it so it became lighter (laughs). Kosuke: In a good way, I started being pampered by everyone. If there is anything, they will say “Try it.” Or “Can I ask you to do it for me?”. OWV is getting bigger and we have more things to do. I do what I have to do, but to broaden the scope of what we do, I often have to rely on everyone.
Shuta: It means you trust us, right?

Lastly, please send a message to QWV.
Shuta: Then, let our leader do it.
Kosuke: We will always “hold you close”.

Perfect! Thank you very much for this interview with those well-matched reponses!

[OWV] VoCE 221111

https://i-voce.jp/feed/2102827/

[Currently popular: OWV] The first appearance of the group, made of 4 former trainees of “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN”! The member who is full of self esteem is…!?

The 4 members of the boy group OWV come from the survival audition “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN”. They have been charting in the TOP 5 of Oricon and Billboard since their debut and are finally making their first appearance at VoCE web! We will bring you an interview full of their charms that will of course make their fans and also people who don’t know them fall for them!

I want you to listen to a song that holds you close in a season that makes you wish for the human touch

I heard that your 7th single “Let Go” that had been released some days ago was created under the concept of “holding close”. Please tell us what kind of message is included in it!
Katsunari: Isn’t the season when it turns from fall to winter, the one where you wish for the human touch? We released this single, thinking that if there is a song that gently holds you in this song, it will warm everyone’s hearts, and we wanted to do so. Furthermore, there is the thought that as OWV reached its second year after debuting this year, we wanted to show you a different side of OWV while we move forward.
Kosuke: I want you to enjoy the expressions we showcase in the “Let Go” MV. Everyone shows expressions fitting the world of “Let Go”, so I want you to especially enjoy this a lot! And especially my crying scene! (Laughs)

(Laughs) Did anything happen during the filming that makes you wish you could hold close to another member?
Fumiya: This time we did not film the MV scenes together but went individually. One after another had his filming, but save for Urano’s scenes, our leader Honda-kun stayed close to our scenes and watched them. He should have been resting however, as it was early in the morning. He also was there when we individually shot our dance scenes and I really felt that our leader is always holding us close to himself.
Shuta: However, he took a break right when I had my filming! (Cries) When I asked “Honda-kuuuun, how was my expression?”, the staff replied “He is not here anymore”.
Kosuke: No, right during your turn I had another schedule! (Laughs)
Katsunari: Because Honda-kun is super busy! (Laughs)
Shuta: Still~! (Cries) Ah, but the other day when I muttered “Honda-kun, let’s film a TikTok in during the MV shooting”, he came really close to me. I had thought that Honda-kun had already gone somewhere else, and might have forgotten about it already, so I considered going home after my filming, but he came all the way back to take the TikTok with me. I was moved that he remembered it, saying “Alright, time to take the TikTok.”
Kosuke: And, that TikTok was done in about 10 seconds (laughs).
Katsunari: So short (laughs). When will you upload it?
Shuta: We haven’t done so yet (at the time of the interview, but we will do it soon!!!

When your self esteem drops, watch me… No, “Watch OWV”

As the coupling track “Gonna Getcha” is one that holds close to the ones who want to raise their self esteem, please tell us what you try to do to raise your self esteem!
Fumiya: Well, I have no idea because it never happened that my self esteem dropped. It is constantly overflowing and unstoppable.
Kosuke: Can I have some of that overflowing esteem?
Fumiya: Sure, take some. Even when I shower, the flow of self esteem doesn’t stop.
Kosuke: What I do to raise my own confidence is to take some of Fumiya's overflowing self esteem. Well, it’s not actually low, but when it seems to drop, I take some from Fumiya.
Fumiya: Put some of my self esteem in a vial. Like a self esteem water.
Shuta: We can’t sell something like that as merchandise.
Katsunari: (laughs) Makeup helps me to raise my self esteem. It was always pretty low, but when I wear my costume and get my makeup down, I don’t feel like myself, so the switch is turned and it gets me into the mood.
Shuta: You look cool even without makeup!
Kosuke: You look cool even without makeup!
Katsunari: You are just messing with me (laughs)!
Shuta: I think I have low self esteem because I’m a worrywart, but at such times I’m looking at old posing pictures of myself.
Kosuke: You mean because you used to not be as good as now?
Shuta: Right. I look at my potato day pictures and the ones from now, and think “Wow, I became so cool!”.

By the way, do you all remember that pose?
Everyone: It was like this.

Kosuke: I have a phrase for the ones who get depressed by comparing themselves to others. “You don’t need to be an One in a million. Because you always have been a special One in a million.”
Shuta: Those are not your words (laughs)
Kosuke: Well, lastly let’s have Sano-kun tell us what you should do when your self esteem drops.
Katsunari: Won’t it be ‘watch me’?
Fumiya: Watch me. Well, ultimately watch OWV.
Everyone: That’s it!

Getting to know OWV! Member Q&A

Your nickname?
Kosuke: Honda-kun for me.
Katsunari: Hm… Lately it’s Katsu-chan.
Shuta: Shu-chan.
Fumiya: Charisma.
Shuta: No (laughs). It’s Fumiya or Pumiya!
Kosuke: I haven’t heard Pumiya yet (laughs).
Fumiya: Just as it is, Fumiya.

Something you are into recently?
Kosuke: Collecting hats!
Fumiya: Charisma!
Kosuke: No no, not like this (laughs)
Shuta: How can you be into charisma!?
Katsunari: I just go ahead. Collecting (trading) cards!
Fumiya: Eh, then, vitamins! Beauty supplements!

An essential beauty care?
Fumiya: Doesn’t this kill the joke? (Laughs)
Shuta: You don’t have anything more to say, because of the beauty supplements. In my case it’s drinking lots of water!
Fumiya: Ah! Got something! I don’t swiftly remove my makeup on the set, but I do so carefully and thoughtfully with a gel-type cleanser after getting home.
Kosuke: This is important. I do the same!
Katsunari: For me, it’s not letting stress build up.

Some words to QWV!
Kosuke: Thank you for everything.
Katsunari: Please continue to support us! Shuta: Continue to stay at our side!
Fumiya: Show some guts!
TN: Fumiya’s answer might be based on a famous song by Japanese rock band “Ulfuls”, “Gattsu da ze!”, which was released in December 1995. It was their biggest hit and earned them their first Kouhaku appearance the next year.

Some words to another member!
Kosuke -> Fumiya: Show some guts!
Fumiya -> Shuta: Eh, so, show some guts!
Shuta -> Katsunari: Hey! Show some guts.
Katsunari -> Kosuke: I gotcha!
Kosuke: No, you have to say Gattsu here! (Laughs)
TN: ガッツ (gattsu) - guts & ガッチャ (gatcha) - gotcha

[OWV] JJ 221110

https://jj-jj.net/lifestyle/159992/

OWV’s Honda Kosuke-kun - The crying scene in the “Let Go” MV is… - An exclusive behind story

The popular boy group OWV released their 7th single “Let Go” under the concept of “holding close” on 2nd November. We based the interview on the keyword “self affirmation” based on one of the coupling songs, “Gonna Getcha”, a cheer song for people who want to raise their self confidence. The last one is with OWV’s Aniki, Honda Kosuke-kun!

KOSUKE HONDA
Born 11th April 1995. 27 years old and from the prefecture of Fukushima. He is someone considerate and gentleman-like and is the well liked Aniki of the group. He is known for his powerful dancing and has also been in charge of choreographing.

Is Honda-kun's self confidence high? Or low?
As soon as the interview started, he said “Oh, JJ-san, what kind of question will it be today?” And he responded to each in a friendly manner. Let’s start with an interview that felt like home!

The keyword, the JJ generation is curious about, is “self confidence”. Is your self confidence high, Honda-kun? Or is it low?
(When he heard that the close Sano-kun answered before “I don’t have any.”)
Hey, if Fumiya doesn’t have any, none of us has it (laughs)! In my case I can neither say that I have nor can I say I don’t have it. But in this industry, there are things I wouldn’t be able to do without any confidence.

When self confidence drops… Honda-kun’s mental management skills

What do you try to raise your coincidence?
It rises when my hair and makeup is done. It switches my feelings. Makeup might be one of the things that lifts my mood. I feel I don’t like myself much. I might have a rather low self esteem. I always see myself as someone else when I’m doing OWV’s activities like this one, shootings and such. It is fun and interesting to do so, but when I think about my future self, my confidence is not high, honestly.

And when your self confidence drops more than necessary, how do you gain it back?
I sleep. Because after waking up a lot of things have turned for the better. It also often calms my feelings. Furthermore, if there was some reason, I think about “why it happened” and come up with a solution. For example, if the photos at some shooting don’t turn out cool, I look at photos that became cool and think “Next time, I’m going to do it like this.” Or “Let’s go back to the makeup from that time.” I might find a solution to do it better and become positive again.

Honda-kun is a “reliable big brother”? Checking OWV’s characters once more!

You have appeared in JJ several times since your debut, but let’s check on OWV’s characters one more time!
Sure!

Right now, you are the “masculine big brother leader” for us, but how are you actually?
You are absolutely not wrong! (Talking to Sano-kun who is close) Hey! They are not wrong, right?
Fumiya: Well, they are not wrong but… (laughs)
It is really like this!?

Next up is Sano-kun’s catch phrase. What do you think about "Charismatic dancer”?
Please let me correct this! He is a charismatic allrounder. I talked with Sano about this, but the image of him being “good at dancing” is strong despite him being able to do everything, not just dancing. He is seen like this because he is just too good at dancing, but actually he is the kind of person who can do everything. Thus, he is an allrounder. I want everyone to know all the other things he can do.
It would be okay to just go with “Charismatic”. If you want to add some note you can write *we are looking for something he can’t do”, then it would be perfect (laughs).

Is there actually something Sano-kun can’t do?
He really can do everything, so I want to consult with the staff and make a project out of it. At one time, I asked him to do a speed mental calculation, but Sano couldn't do it from the start level (aughts). But it was just a different dimension. It was too difficult. By the way, what is Urano’s catchphrase?

“Shuta’s MC skills are really amazing!” A member analysis by Honda-kun

Urano-kun is “a genius vocalist belonging to Yoshimoto”.
Genius? Hm.. This is wrong. He is a planning? analysing vocalist. Or rather he is a really hard worker. But it is good that it looks like he is a “genius” to everyone else. He is actually working very hard in the background. But I feel he does not want to show this side of himself. Thus, please add the note “He would love to be a genius” (laughs). I think belonging to Yoshimoto fits him the best. The way he talks his different from us. You can feel his strengths strongly in the MCs and the staff often praises him, saying “Urano-san’s MCs are the best.”.

And, Nakagawa-kun is the “ikeman rapper”.
(Breaks out laughing) He got the position of a rapper, but he also does the singing, so would could fit… Ikeman ponkotsu… Ponkotsu should fit the best! You don’t need to add anything else (laughs). He also often does weird actions, so he is “Ponkotsu fellow with a loose screw” (laughs). It is hard to explain… He is just out of his mind! He acts naturally strange. I will not reveal any details (laughs).

A behind story from the creation of the 7th single “Let go”

We have to change the OWV member profiles now (laughs). We talked about self confidence today, but please let us ask you about the creation process of the 7th single “Let Go”, too. Was there something memorable for you?
I have two things, one of them being the sunset. It was cloudy that day and we couldn’t take any sunset footage alt all, but right when it was time to film for me, a beautiful sunset appeared! The cameraman said “It’s a miracle!” and it was really memorable. The other one is my first crying scene. The member and the staff raised the handle by telling the director “He can do it!”. The director also teased me by saying “I have some eye drops, but you don’t need them right?”, so I had the enthusiasm, saying “I will cry on my own!” and were able to do so.

That’s amazing! How were you able to cry?
I was desperate. I saw the Drum island from “ONE PIECE” (laughs). With that I was able to cry. This is a secret, however, so don’t tell anyone.

Thank you so much for sharing this secret! And finally, please give a message to the readers!
The 20s go by so fast! (Laughs) I think the 20s is the time when you mature a little and stretch yourself a bit and it is the time when it is the time to do a lot of things. So I want to do as many things as you want and explore what suits you the best.

[OWV] Classy 221107

https://classy-online.jp/lifestyle/242315/

OWV’s Honda Kosuke “A winter memory…” A moment he spent with another ‘before OWV’s formation’?

The popular boy group OWV released their 7th single “Let Go” under the concept of “holding close” on 2nd November. Following the concept of “holding close” we held special interviews with OWV about “what do you want to share with OWV this winter”.For this we bring you new shots of OWV dressed in the mid-winter London coat style. The first interview is with OWV’s reliable Aniki & leader Honda Kosuke!

KOSUKE HONDA
Born 11th April 1995. 27 years old and from the prefecture of Fukushima. He is someone considerate and gentleman-like and is the well liked Aniki of the group. He is known for his powerful dancing and has also been in charge of choreographing.

“What do you want to do this winter?” Chasing the true side of Honda-kun!

What is the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear “winter”?
Nabe! My favorite is kimchi-nabe. I really like kimchi. However, I prefer “kimchi stock” over the kimchi-cabbage itself. There was a time when I was into putting kimchi stock on everything. Even on soba.That’s how much I love it!

Have you ever had a nabe-party together with the other members?
No… Because of the pandemic, we were barely able to meet all together, but once I ate something from McDonald’s at Katsu’s place. As it is something you can eat everywhere, I also thought “Why are you eating this after going to another member’s place?” (Laughs). We had voice training afterwards, so everyone left on their own.

So, is there anything you want to eat this winter?
I already said “nabe”…
(Heard that Sano-kun answered “hoto”)
Oh yes, I want to eat hoto, too! Back in summer we all ate hoto together. It was so hot and we ate it while sweating, so just by hearing him say “hoto” I want to eat it. I want to try eating it in winter. This is exactly what I needed to hear.
TN: Hoto is a specialty from Fumiya’s home prefecture, Yamanashi. It is a hotpot dish with udon noodles and vegetables.

“Because my home is Fukushima…” The sport he wants to do in winter?

By the way, do you have some OWV winter memories?
I bet Fumiya is going to answer the snow mountain shooting (laughs). No matter what, this is the answer. (After thinking a bit) Other than this, there was one before we became “OWV”. It was January two years ago. We went to a cafe together. We went there and talked from then on about the future and “what kind of group we want to become”. It took about 5 hours. Eventually, the talks became quite long, so we would discuss it at places with a drink-bar or all-you-can-drink, or somewhere with fries and other snacks.

Before you became this group! It is a precious story. And do you have a place that you want to visit this winter?
As my home is Fukushima, the regular pastime as a student was snowboarding with everyone, so I want to do some winter sports! However, I want to go to a shopping mall even more (laughs)! Some time ago, on the way home after going alone to a concert of a friend, I went to Odaiba. I went to the shopping mall on that day and thought “It’s so nice!”, so I want to go with all the members (laughs). Going into stores, eating something, going to a Game Center…

It’s like having fun with your friends from your hometown (laughs).
That’s right. However, humans tend to go back to the same places over and over. Both me and Sano lived at places where pretty much the only place to have fun was a shopping mall. The shopping mall in my hometown was THE date spot during my school years (laughs). You talked at the foodcourt, like a bit of bragging with your girlfriend (laughs).

“Surely, it’s kinda weird…” Honda-kun’s ideal winter date is?

So, what would be the ideal winter date for you?
I guess in a cinema. I always say that, but I’m too shy to walk around with a girl and I also can’t hold hands with her. But in a cinema, the purpose is “to watch a movie”, so I feel that it eases my nervousness. I like the cinema so much that I even go there alone. Like the other day I went to watch “Galileo” alone. When I looked around after it ended, I was surprised to see so many couples.
I don’t really think of this as a “date” now. My ideal mature date would be taking someone to a fancy restaurant. But I never did that… I only know cinema(-dates) (laughs). Hence, I don’t really have an idea, but if I went on a date it would be to a cinema. I would be happy if she tagged along with my interests. But honestly, I like to watch 3 movies a day. I guess people surely think it is kinda weird (laughs).

Next is what item do you want to have this winter?
What I want… What I really want are pants by Supreme! I got the shirt for a matching set, but they didn’t sell the pants. It was just too popular that it had been sold out already. No one sells those anymore and I really want it! I search those like crazy but I can’t find them…

They are quite rare, right?
That’s right. This winter we can work at various places and when traveling there I like to be in a casual style! But I also want to look stylish, so I bought those.

This winter’s fashion theme is “to break away from black”!?

Since we are talking about fashion, please tell us about the fashion you want to wear this winter.
My usual personal fashion got lots of black items and even the accessories are black. However, I took the leap and brought a beige newsboy cap the other day. This year, I hope to try wearing clothes with colors. But in the end I guess I will go back to black. But I will try! I liked the beige hat so much that I thought about buying it another color, like black, too. I held back, even though I felt another color would be nice, but I still want to buy it! I might buy it later (laughs). I really do like hats.

Other than “breaking away from black”, is there anything else you want to try this winter?
I want to read. By being able to appear in drama, I realized my own shortcomings. I rarely read books until now, but I think as someone in the entertainment industry coming in touch with books is important. I want to read because I believe there are emotions and new feelings and expressions that I can gain from this.

Lastly, please give a message to the CLASSY-readers!
I am exactly the CLASSY-generation. I am arasa, I want to be robust but flexible. Because we are the generation that will lead the society to the future, I don’t want anyone to be bound by old ideas and fixed conceptions. Hence, I want to listen to the opinions of young children and put those together, to make everything better, and build a better society together with everyone! Thank you for everything!
TN: Arasa = short for ‘around 30 years old’

[OWV] Encore 221104

https://e.usen.com/interview/interview-original/owv-letgo.html

OWV “Let Go” Interview - Their thoughts on a beautiful ballad which hugs those who have experienced a break up with their loved one

OWV are a group made of 4 former trainees of “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN”, a Japanese audition program that became a social phenomenon in 2019. The creative concept of the 7th single the group, which aims to become an unique super performance group that Japan has never seen before, is “snuggling close”. Their intention is?

OWV’s 7th single is under the creative concept of “snuggling close”. The lead track “Let Go” is a sad ballad that is sung with the feelings of a man who can’t forget about his ex lover. It is a theme a lot of artists have sung about before, but what did you keep in mind to bring out OWV’s uniqueness in this?
Shuta: I kept in mind to have a gap in it. A sad ballad sung by seemingly strong guys. That gap is good, right? (Laughs)

Indeed, there are many people falling for such gaps.
Shuta: That’s right! We thought that it would be nice to have a heart break song sung by strong people who don’t seem to become depressed over a heartbreak. Personally, I like showing gaps, so I kept that in mind.
Kosuke: To sum it up, I think it is something akin to a weakness shown by strong people.
Shuta: Why did it seem like my words couldn’t convey (the meaning)!? But well, it fits… (laughs)

(Laughs) Honda-san, Sano-san, is there some part in the lyrics that you can relate to?
Fumiya: Hm.. I’m pretty much the type who goes bam! And switches back without dragging it out, so there isn’t really…
Kosuke: I’m the type who sends a LINE message every two minutes after breaking up…
Shuta: Eh!? For real!?
Kosuke: No (laughs) Because I never hit such a low before.
Fumiya: Yes. So rather than relating to the song, I just tried to express myself.
Kosuke: By expressing myself like this I was able to experience this kind of love of “Let Go”.

It’s like you take something from the song and give it back through the performance.
Kosuke: Yes. I hope the fans can feel something from our performance. I guess they will do so?

You also performed the song at “OWV LIVE TOUR 2022 -STRANGE-“, but what was the response from QWV?
Katsunari: We first performed it at the Tokyo shows, which had been a surprise for QWV, too, so everyone was excited how they would receive it, but I felt that the response was really good. I feel it’s good that it is a song that comforts everyone's hearts in this time when winter follows fall.

I saw your performance live and the moment when Urano-san leans back with the three others encircling him during the “I don’t want you to laugh in someone else’s arms”- part was impressive.
Shuta: This movement is wonderful, right?
Katsunari: To what image are we dancing to?
Shuta: What I tried to express was to remember the warmth of the ex-lover, (while singing) “I don’t want you to laugh in someone else’s arms”.
Fumiya: Right answer!
Kosuke: You won!
Shuta: What do you mean with Right answer and You won? (Laughs)

(Laughs) Please tell us anything else you were particular about regarding the performance.
Fumiya: Whereas the previous “Time Jackerz” was driven with a powerful performance full of vigor, this time it is more flowing but powerful expressions and the impression that the moves are to convey the lyrics.

So this was a new feeling for everyone?
Fumiya: That’s right. So far we have had a lot of performances where the one who is singing is in the middle. For “Let Go” we have a different way to show it. We are only 4 members, so we try out a lot of different formations and hope to show a lot of different patterns.

The music video is also unusual as it not only includes dance scenes but also image-cuts. What part do you want the audience to pay attention to?
Katsunari: For the first time other people than the 4 of us appear in it. We felt that by each of us acting, showing something fitting to the lyrics, the world of the song might be conveyed better. So far the main focus of our MVs were dancing, but this time the music video features dance mainly at the intro and the chorus, and all together there aren’t many dance scenes, but each one of our visuals are shown often. It has a different taste, so I hope that everyone will watch it over and over.

Is there something you struggled with during the filming?
Katsunari: Honda-kun struggled a lot, didn’t he?
Kosuke: Yes. The scene of me crying was a struggle.
Shuta: It is one of the highlights, isn’t it?
Kosuke: One tear, plop
Fumiya: But you made some adjustments?
Kosuke: Yes, in a way. The part was about “me being rejected but looking forward” and as there wasn’t really the image of me crying a lot, only one tear rolled down. The adjustment was it being just one tear. The director asked, “Do you need eye drops?”, but I said “No need!”.
Shuta: So cool〜
Kosuke: But I only remember this much, I can’t remember the rest cause I was too much into the acting.
Shuta: You know, there are actors who are getting absorbed (by their role). Despite you shedding just one tear (laughs).

You are the actor type (laughs). Are there any scenes of the other members that surprised you in such a way, or are there any particular points you want everyone to pay attention to?
Fumiya: In this regard, I think Honda-kun crying perfectly is amazing.
Shuta: I didn’t see the filming of the other ones. I only heard about him crying.
Katsunari: When I came to the studio to film my scenes, Honda-kun was also there and said “Watch it! I cried!” He looked so happy, so I thought “He is lying?”, but when I watched the video, he indeed cried.
Fumiya: Back then it felt like “he worked really hard on it”, but earlier he said “I can’t remember it”. (Laughs)
Katsunari: We asked “You cried, but did you use eye drops for this?”.
Shuta: We made a quiz out of it at first, didn’t we? (Laughs) Like did you use eye drops or how was it?
Katsunari: I believed he used eye drops, but when I watched the video, he diligently cried and I thought it was really amazing.
Kosuke: Thank you very much (laughs).

How about you, Sano-san?
Fumiya: In this video only Nakagawa and I had scenes where we appeared along with someone else. I had my filming first, so I was curious about what kind of feeling Kacchan would film it and how it would turn out. I thought “ohh〜” when I watched the result.
Katsunari: In terms of atmosphere we were a bit similar, right?

Did you have some talks beforehand to match the atmosphere?
Fumiya: We only discussed it with the producer, but we members did not really discuss it. I feared everything might feel different despite being one single video…, but I’m glad that the atmosphere is similar.
Katsunari: My filming was after Fumiya’s one, so I was able to watch his setting. It was fun to watch everyone acting. But I didn’t see Shuta’s one…
Shuta: No one was there.
Kosuke: Thus, when I saw the finished MV, I was surprised to see Shuta laying down.
Katsunari: His acting as if his right arm hurts was also really…
Shuta: It wasn’t my right arm hurting (laughs).
Kosuke: So it was no baseball elbow?
(TN: as the name suggests it’s a kind of overuse muscle injury that’s common with young baseball players.)
Shuta: It did not hurt because I threw too much (laughs).
Kosuke: But it was fun to see a new side of everyone. And the scene in which Fumiya turns around in the second chorus is good, too.
Fumiya: Everyone likes that scene.

There are also the two coupling songs “Tararam” and “Gonna Getcha” featured and both have some kind of impact. Please tell us the highlights of each song.
Katsunari: “Tararam” is a song that shines at live shows. I especially like how the transitions are made: The two verses sound like fresh pop music, but the chorus has a spectacular feel with thick and broad instruments, and I was blown away by it when I first heard it. Furthermore, more and more sounds are added from the last chorus to the end of the song, and it ends with a “bang!”. I think it will be fun when everyone gets hyped up, so I can’t wait to perform it.

How about “Gonna Getcha”?
Shuta: There are the phrases “You can do it!” And “a new world” in the lyrics which made it a song that gives a push to those who are worried about a lot. I guess they can feel better just by listening to it. Katsu-kun, you know the meaning of “Gonna Getcha”?
Katsunari: …!! It’s “I’m going to get you for sure” or “I’m going to win you over”.
Shuta: It is really like this, and it is a song that makes you think positively again. When you come to our concert, I want you to enjoy the song and forget all the bad things just for this moment.
Kosuke: The way you connected it… like a genius (laughs).
Katsunari: My translation was totally drowned (laughs).

(Laughs) By the way, are the choreographies for the songs already completed?
Kosuke: Not yet. (*at the time of the interview)

In the past there have been songs with choreographies made by Honda-san and Sano-san, but when you receive a song, do you have some images like “I want to dance like this, I want to try this formation” in your minds?
Kosuke: There are countless.
Fumiya: Those are coming to our minds, but… For example, you can make curry with carrots, potatoes and curry paste, right? But you don’t know how to make curry with these alone. When listening to the song, I know “We can do this kind of dancing”, but I can’t put everything together on the spot.
Katsunari: It’s like you can picture the choreo in fragments?
Fumiya: Yes this. I can picture the complete version but how to go there is what I don’t know.
Kosuke: Same for me.
Fumiya: Thus, I want to do my best watching recipe videos.
Katsunari: And with that you can make curry.
Kosuke: Wow, this tsukkomi was so good!? That you said “And with that you can make curry”
Katsunari: No no, not at all.
Fumiya: This is how the members raise the confidence of themselves and each other (laughs).

(Laughs) Thinking about the whole single, the main character who was depressed in “Let Go” could be cheered up by the two coupling songs. In this regard, how would you cheer up a depressed friend?
Fumiya: I invite them for a meal. Like “Let’s go to eat something together”.
Shuta: Nice. You keep them close.
Fumiya: And then we go to a gyudon-restaurant.
Shuta: I see that’s what you do. But you will finish eating soon and you won’t be able to talk about it.
Katsunari: It depends on the personality of the other one. Some people are better off being left alone. For others, I will just listen to what they say. But I don’t give much counsel. I feel it’s enough of a stress reliever for them just to talk about their problems and complaints. How about you, Shuta?
Shuta: I hug them gently from behind.
Kosuke: In this case, I will gently kiss them.

I actually imagined the other one was a male friend (laughs). Shuta: Oh, it was a guy! Well, what should I do…
Fumiya: So, how about this? You go up to him and hand him a can of coffee without saying anything. Wouldn’t that be cool?
Shuta: Yes it would be.

After the release of the new single, there is still the tour final in Nagoya and the “OWV LIVE TOUR 2022 - STRANGE - After Party” left. What is that After Party going to be like?
Kosuke: The After Party will be more of a talk with behind stories and souvenirs from this tour, and showing of videos taken in Osaka and Nagoya. We hope to wrap up the tour with OWV together, so I hope everyone will come to the After Party and have fun.

[OWV] Nikkei XTREND 221028

https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/contents/18/00602/00025/

OWV - A talented group x Yoshimoto Kyogo, a pride of unique characters

OWV is an up-and-coming boy group, formed in April 2020 by 4 former participants of PRODUCE 101 JAPAN, the survival audition that gave birth to JO1. In addition to their solid skills in dancing and singing, they won the heart of their fans with the gap between having a mature and sexy look, and also an easy approachable and honest side.

Their activities started after the audition ended, when Honda Kosuke, the future leader of the group, approached Yoshimoto Kyogo, their current agency, directly regarding (possible) activities. He made the self-analysis that a “boy group of Yoshimoto Kyogo” would their own novelty and strength amidst the countless active boy groups. This also turned out to be the origin of the group name “Our only Way to get Victory” (= becoming an unique group that no one is able to copy and taking the victory in this world’), a pride they have.

Kosuke: After the audition ended, while talking to Yoshimoto Kyogo (who were involved in the production of the program), I said “Wouldn’t it be possible to be active as an unit?” and after receiving a “Let’s do it”, OWV was formed. The main factor for the four of us forming this group was, that we just got along very well together. We were four people having the same dreams, or rather we were aiming in the same direction of what we wanted to do. This group is a project from a blank sheet of paper, something Yoshimoto Kyogo and we created together. I believe we have paved a new way.

Shuta: I think that this time, where there are a lot of artists, you will be unable to reach the top even if you walk the same path as a similar group as walked before. We want to widen the qualities of Yoshimoto Kyogo & Universal Sigma (OWV’s recording label). There is the gap between OWV’s music and the sternness of our visuals, where you can feel our mature side and on the other hand our banters in the MCs. If we can perfect this, OWV will surely become a strong and unique group.

Kosuke: Sure enough, being signed to Yoshimoto was the biggest thing for the group (so far). When I think about how it would have been if we would have signed to some so-called artist agency… I can’t really imagine it. Especially since we are able to actively collaborate with comedians, we have been shaped into what we are now, with our fun talks. In regards to music, Universal Sigma is pushing us forward, and we are learning from various seniors by participating in festivals. Another motivation had been our meetings with comedians. I think it is rare for other groups to be in an environment where comedians are close by and approach you. The group’s direction of being artists who can sing, dance and be funny is something we are only able to do under Yoshimoto Kyogo.

Fumiya: We signed right at the break into the “7th generation” of comedians. In this regard, OWV is a “7th generation artist”. I would like our catch phrase to be “Following the footsteps of Shimofuri Myojo! The 7th generation artist”
TN: Shimofuri Myojo - a manzai duo from Yoshimoto Kyogo. They are actually critical of the 7th generation of comedians, saying people are just in it for the glory. Still the media counts them as one of the representative comedians of this era.

Their mid term goal is to have an oneman show in front of 10.000 people

The 6 singles they have released since their debut all charted in the Top 5 of the Orion weekly charts. On 2nd November 2022, they will release their 7th single “Let Go”. The title track, that has been pre-released already, is a beautiful ballad that expresses with a sad singing the feelings of parting from a loved one and not being able to let go afterwards. They performed it for the first time on their second tour “OWV LIVE TOUR 2022 -STRANGE-“ which started on 1st October, and their epic performance attracted quite the attention.

Kosuke: Since we released (the dance tune) Time Jackerz (as our 6th single), we all said “Next, a ballad would be nice’”. First we had set up the theme of “a ballad that could work out even if we don’t dance”, but after all one of OWV’s strengths is dancing. So we said “Let’s try to dance to it” and added choreography as well.

Katsunari: We first showed it to the fans at the tour. About a year ago we first performed new songs at our tour and I felt happy regarding this.

Kosuke: The performance on stage was more difficult than I had imagined. It has choreography and lyrics so unlike our other songs, and it was hard for me to put emotions into it. However, there was the sense of “a song that makes you listen” and I was abler to immerse myself into the song. It was a new kind of fun for me.

Fumiya: Indeed. I feel that the lyrics reached the fans straight in their hearts. When I was watching their reactions and expressions during the performance, I could tell they were directly affected by those.

Katsunari: Also the music video displays a new atmosphere. So far we had a lot of videos that were made of dancing and image cuts, but this time it contains a lot of scenes in which the members act a bit. On top of that, we show the dance in the chorus. I think it got a fresh feeling, something different from OWV’s prevíous music videos, so I hope you will listen to it and watch it a lot.

When asked about their future goals, they replied with some worry “We said so much…” (Sano), they also talked about the hot topics they only talk about during live shows. The group, always friendly and cheerful, were constantly chattering about their goals.

Fumiya: The short term goal is of course that everyone stays fit and we can finish the tour.

Shuta: Yes, that’s important.

Kosuke: The long term goal is to have 50.000 people coming to our tour all together.

Katsunari: And staying fit in this case, too.

Shuta: That all together 50.000 people come to the tour?

Kosuke: Yes. 5 times more than the current tour. I guess we could make it happen if we had 30 shows on that tour. I am thinking that this time we are doing 6 shows in 3 cities, and next year we are gonna visit a few more places and then in the end, bam! We will have a concert in a big venue. Ah no, this sounds somehow vague. I aim “to have a solo concert in a venue that has a capacity of 10.000 people within 2-3 years”.

Shuta: Ah this sounds better.

Kosuke: It’s easier to understand, right? Earlier was vague, I will reflect on this (laughs).

Lastly, we asked Honda, born in 1995 and who is proud to be “exactly a Generation Z member” and the two years younger Nakagawa, the two oldest members of the group, about their favorite form of entertainment lately.

Katsunari: I have been playing (the shooting game) “Apex Legends” since about my final year of highschool and I’m so into it that I already broke one controller from playing too much. It all started when I first tried it out at my friend’s house, with whom I have been close since middle school. But what I really want to say is that “I am into watching stage plays”. There are a lot of plays lately that I want to watch. I really want to see the Harry Potter one (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), but so far the dates never worked out, so I didn’t go yet. So I can’t really say “I’m into this” yet…

Kosuke: I’m into Disney movies these days.

Katsunari: Really?

Kosuke: Really. I subscribed to “Disney Plus”. As an artist who expresses himself, when I thought about “What could be the best entertainment?”, I just knew I had to watch Disney movies. The first era animation movies, that had no text yet, were particularly interesting and they attracted me. Originally Mickey Mouse had been my role model, but from the viewpoint of just not being “interesting”, I’m watching one movie per day to rediscover myself and learn something. Disney’s own way of linking music and story is also a great teacher for my work.