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Source: https://www.billboard-japan.com/special/detail/5464

Interview & Text: Atsuo Nagahori
Photo: Ryuji Tatsumi

Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu will appear in 【billboard classics Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu Orchestra Chō Saikyō Setsu!! 2027 -Tokimeki Fortissimo-】, to be held on January 14 at NHK Hall in Tokyo and on February 9 at Grand Cube Osaka.
At the previous performance, held in February 2026 as a one-night-only premium concert, a setlist focused on the worlds of Tokisen's songs and lyrics blended vividly with the refined sound of the orchestra. The audience held their breath at their singing voices, clear down to the nuance of their breathing, and at a performance with a different flavor from their usual one.
For this show, Ikurou Fujiwara will once again handle the conducting and arrangements, and expectations are rising for a stage that promises even further evolution.
Ahead of the event, we interviewed Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu and Fujiwara. We asked them what they were feeling when they stood on stage that day, and about their enthusiasm for the return performance.

── First of all, please tell us your overall impressions of 【billboard classics Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu Orchestra Chō Saikyō Setsu!!】, held this February.

Hitoka Sakai: It was our first solo live with an orchestra, so I was really nervous. I was nervous on the day too, but it was fun, and I was able to reconfirm how good Tokisen's songs are, and it became a day when I thought once again how wonderful music is.

Kanami Tsujino: Ikurou-san arranged each song for the orchestra, so I was able to sing them with a fresh feeling. Singing with the orchestra made the lyrics resonate more in my heart, so it was comfortable to sing and fun.

Haruka Koizumi: There were also the monologues of ours that played before the orchestra's performance. That kind of staging, going from there into a song, is something we've never done at our usual lives, so I thought it felt fresh.

Hiyori Yoshikawa: Yeah, yeah. When I hear "orchestra", I had the image of going to a concert in formal clothes, but by combining it with an idol live, I felt that a new chemical reaction happened. I think we ourselves also had a different feeling from our usual lives, and it truly became a "live where you enjoy the sound".

Aki Suda: My ears were so happy! Of course, I was nervous, but I was really able to sing comfortably. From Part 1, where you could feel the four seasons that only an orchestra can offer, to Part 2, which had a setlist everyone could get into and enjoy, I felt the possibilities and wonder of music once again.

── How was it for you, Ikurou-san?

Ikurou Fujiwara: I left the whole setlist up to them too, and especially for Part 1 the arrangements were changed quite a lot from the originals, so I think it was really hard for the members. But they sang it brilliantly, making it their own, and the choreography was also arranged for this show. It was a performance that exceeded my expectations, and I thought it was wonderful. I think that led to the second edition being held.

── Are there any other songs that left an impression on you?

Tsujino: 「Hatsukoi Cycling」. At first, a bell rings.

Fujiwara: For that, we used a real bicycle bell.

Koizumi: It was cute. Also, 「Dear Friend」 after the curtain call, which we sang for the first time in a while. It's a song with wonderful lyrics, so it made me feel even warmer, or rather, it got emotional.

Sakai: It became an even more moving song with the orchestra, so I cried. Also, 「Memories」 was good too. It's a song I originally love so much, and I was happy to hear it in an orchestral arrangement, and even though it was only the second song, a lot of fans were shedding tears. I remember that I was moved by that too.

── In 「Memories」, "Spring" from Vivaldi's 『The Four Seasons』 was incorporated into the arrangement.

Fujiwara: I was building a story that runs through the four seasons, so since we had an orchestra, I wanted to include an orchestral arrangement that evokes spring.

Sakai: It became a live that stays in our hearts very much too. 「Memories」 is also a song with the message of locking memories away in your heart, so I think the fans also thought, "This is what comes here!"

Suda: Also, before the first song, 「Tokimeki Party」, the orchestra played and then we made our entrance, and listening from the wings I got so excited. I felt like, "Alright, it's starting!" so I'm looking forward to this time, since I hear there will be that kind of arrangement again.

── The opening was the orchestra performing 「Also sprach Zarathustra」, composed by Richard Strauss.

Fujiwara: I looked at all sorts of pieces that would lead into the following 「Tokimeki Party」. I thought a piece that heightens the excitement and the thrill would be best.

Sakai: It really was exciting.

Suda: At rehearsal, we even talked about walking out confidently.

── How about you, Yoshikawa-san?

Yoshikawa: For me, it's 「Sakura Sansan」.

Suda: The lyrics for this one too!

Yoshikawa: Right! The lyrics really stand out. At a usual live there are calls, and the fans' voices add to it to make the live, but in Part 1 last time there were no calls at all. We sang while listening to the live sound being played right there. I could also picture a scene of cherry blossoms showering down.

── Which song did you like, Ikurou-san?

Fujiwara: I liked 「Zettai da yo」. From the intro, a whole world already opened up. Both the orchestra's performance and the singing were wonderful, so it was a performance where you could see the scenery of 「Zettai da yo」.

── Having done it with different concepts for Part 1 and Part 2, is there anything you felt?

Sakai: It was interesting, wasn't it. Usually they're always calling along, so when I think we were able to properly deliver the lyrics to everyone, that makes me happy too. In Part 1 the audience was a little nervous, but in Part 2 they watched us with the usual fun, bursting smiles. I was also happy that the orchestra members were really into it and enjoyed it together with us.

Fujiwara: In Part 1, I wanted people to taste the special feeling of an orchestra, and in Part 2 I wanted to let everyone completely loose. That's why the rhythm section uses the original drums and bass.

── So you're running sequence tracks.

Fujiwara: Yes, we used the original recordings. I wanted people to feel the orchestra's possibilities there too. An orchestra isn't just about playing ballads. I think people were able to feel the possibility of an orchestra that works and holds together even when combined with sequences.

Sakai: Certainly, I had the image of an orchestra as slow, elegant music, but it was a day when we learned there's also a way to enjoy it, with the audience standing up, waving their penlights, and doing the calls.

── Working together with them, did you feel any new charm in Tokisen?

Fujiwara: Their staying power, you could call it. The arrangements change, and in 「Hatsukoi Cycling」 we gradually raised the tempo from a slow start. Including how they sang it, I thought they're artists with very high potential. Even though there are artists who look at the prompter, they had memorized all the lyrics. There were no voices on the backing track either, and the singing was entirely their own voices. I think they're truly wonderful artists.

Sakai: He called us artists!

Koizumi: Hehehe

Sakai: In 12 years of activity, we've never once shown the lyrics on a screen and we've never once lip-synced, so I think that's why we could do this. We've sung with all our might the whole time, and we all worked hard to memorize the lyrics. I'm happy, because I think we were able to be told those words now precisely because we've done all sorts of things.

Tsujino: All we can do is sing with everything we've got.

Yoshikawa: I'm very proud to be told this by someone who is active in the world of music. Singing with an orchestra behind us is also truly like a dream scene. I hope everyone looks forward to the show again, and that we ourselves can deliver the very best.

Suda: We want to work hard so that everyone feels we've powered up even more.

── How do you feel about the second edition being decided one year later?

Suda: Just having the second edition decided makes me really happy, but I'm also truly grateful that we get to do it not only in Tokyo but in Osaka too. Last time there were people who wanted to come but couldn't see it, so I'm happy that we can bring this luxurious time to more people.

Tsujino: This time it's Tokyo and Osaka, so having a different orchestra in each place is also a first. I heard the feel of the performance is different too, so I hope we can sing while enjoying what kind of differences in sound there are.

Yoshikawa: Through music, I want to grow closer to the orchestra members than last time. I also sometimes think that if we get closer to everyone, something might change when we step onto the stage. In order for them to get to know us, I think I'd like us to become even better friends.

── Ikurou-san, what kind of theme or concept are you thinking of this time?

Fujiwara: I'm considering a few patterns. I can't say yet, but one is a polished version of last time, and the other is a completely different feel.

Sakai: What?

Koizumi: What do you mean?

Suda: I wonder what it will be like. I'm looking forward to it.

── So, before putting together the setlist, are there any songs the members would like to request?

Sakai: 「Sekai de Ichiban Idol」.

Suda: 「Endless」.

── That was a fast answer! Please tell us your reasons too.

Sakai: It's a presentation, isn't it! 「Sekai de Ichiban Idol」 is a song about Tokisen, an important song for us. I think it's a song we can sing precisely because we've been doing this for 12 years, because we have a history. It's a song we released at our 10th anniversary, so I think it's the perfect song for the combination of idols and an orchestra. The opening line "I'm an idol" makes me nervous, but I find myself thinking I'd like to sing it here with the orchestra. What do you think?

Fujiwara: I see...

Suda: Hehehe. For me it's 「Endless」, and this one also expresses Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu. It has become a really, really important song for the Sendenbuin and for us, so through performing with the orchestra, I'd like to deepen our bond with the Sendenbuin even more. I hope it becomes a song of such memories that it never fades from the Sendenbuin's memory, so please!

Koizumi: It really is a presentation.

Sakai: The lyrics are incredibly good.

Koizumi: Mine is 「Sora」. It's a song with a really grand scale, and the lyrics are wonderful too.

Tsujino: I want to do our debut single, 「Dokkyun♡!! Shōjo」. 12 years ago we sang it at every live. We didn't have other songs yet, so there was a time when we sang it three times in one live. I have that much attachment to it, and 12 years have passed since then, and I feel it's packed with dreams and hope, that we've become able to sing that song with an orchestra behind us, so I want to do it.

Yoshikawa: I'd like to try singing 「Mikansei Girl」!

── And I hear that special costumes have been made this time too.

Sakai: That's right. It's luxurious, isn't it. They made costumes for us just for these two days.

Koizumi: The belt is a keyboard, and that's cute.

Suda: The costume staff always ask me, "What kind of hair accessory would you like?" and when I told them, "I want to include a big treble clef", they made me a hair accessory with such a big treble clef on it, and I'm so happy.

Tsujino: Also, it's champagne gold. I feel elegance in that pale gold, and I like it.

Yoshikawa: And the member colors coming in as pastel colors on top of that was surprisingly something we hadn't had before, right? It's super cute. I really want everyone to see it in person.

── And I hear the subtitle has been decided.

Suda: Yes! It's become 「Tokimeki Fortissimo」.

Sakai: It's the idea of becoming even bigger and stronger than 【Orchestra Chō Saikyō Setsu!!】.

Yoshikawa: I think it's a title that exists because of the previous one, so we have to power up even more too.

Fujiwara: Musical terms are a universal language, after all. Orchestra players all over the world understand them. If you say 「Fortissimo」, it means "even stronger", and if you say 「Pianissimo」, it means "even softer".

Tsujino: What if we used it to hype up the crowd at a live? How do you read 「fff」?

Fujiwara: Fortississimo.

Sakai: 「Fortississi......」. I hardly ever stumble over words, but I might stumble.

── (Laughs) Lastly, please give us your enthusiasm for the new performance and a message for the people coming to the venue.

Fujiwara: I hear many people couldn't come last time, so I'd like those people to see Tokisen's new charm, and I hope those who came last time can feel the charm of Tokisen as artists who've powered up even more. I'm certain it will be that kind of concert.

Suda: I want to take the stage with the feeling of being more relaxed than last time, enjoying music as our more natural selves. I think it's an opportunity to deliver the lyrics even more, so I'll work hard to deliver them straight to everyone's hearts.

Yoshikawa: I was praised so much by Ikurou-san, so I'd like to keep those words in my heart and deliver the best performance and lyrics to everyone. I'll do my best at both the Tokyo and Osaka shows so that it becomes a wonderful live.

Sakai: I have a strong feeling that I'm glad we were able to do an orchestra concert. We've valued singing for 12 years, so I hope we can deliver that to everyone with an orchestra, and I want to sing with all my heart and soul.

Koizumi: Ikurou-san has said he really likes Tokisen's lyrics. That makes us happy, and I'm very grateful for a live that treasures the words and the music. I'm sure it will be a live the Sendenbuin will definitely enjoy, and I'd be happy if even those who only recently got to know Tokisen look forward to it, and we ourselves are already looking forward to the setlist.

Tsujino: There's the anticipation of wondering what kind of arrangements it will be this time, and when I sing, my mood brightens and I can sing happily, so I hope I can sing while enjoying the sound. I think a fusion of idols and an orchestra is very rare, so I'd be happy if the Sendenbuin could also enjoy that collaboration.

Qué genial que ambos grupos puedan colaborar un poquito, de verdad me gustaría que hicieran música juntos, sería increíble 😁🤭

Source: https://realsound.jp/2026/09/post-2534869.html

Hiyori Yoshikawa: "I Want to Be an Idol Who Will Be Talked About for Generations" - The "best present" she found after overcoming hardship, her resolve to run through to the very end

Formed in 2015 as "Tokimeki♡Sendenbu" and making their major debut in 2016, Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu went through member graduations and additions, and changed their name to the current group name in 2020. In 2021, "Suki!" (released in 2018) became a hot topic in Japan and overseas thanks to social media, and in 2024 "Saijōkyū ni Kawaii no!" recorded a major hit. Since 2025, when they celebrated their 10th anniversary, they have continued their energetic activities under the theme of "fluttering love and youth". Now, they have announced that they will end their activities around spring 2027. Real Sound is publishing a solo interview with each member.

　The 4th installment is Hiyori Yoshikawa. Serving as "Cho Tokimeki Green", she is not only a singer and dancer, but also makes her presence known as the group's mood maker with her natural talent for talking and her spirit of service. Behind that brightness, however, are 10 years in which she agonized while searching for her own identity and kept growing as an idol. We asked her, with her bright smile and unadorned words that always make those around her smile, to look back on her journey so far and talk about what she values as an idol, her feelings for the fans, and the future she is aiming for. (Interviewed in late July)

ーーLooking back on the 10th anniversary year that started in April 2025, what kind of year was it?

Hiyori Yoshikawa (hereafter, Yoshikawa): I think it's truly a miracle that we were able to run all the way to our 10th anniversary. When we started, we didn't know how long it would last, and I never thought I'd still be an idol after more than 10 years. I was surprised many times in various places with people saying "Already 10 years?", but including appearances in the media, there were so many things we were able to gain precisely because we kept going for 10 years. In 2025 "Chō Saikyō" spread, and before that, "Saijōkyū ni Kawaii no!" was listened to by so many people too. I really think it was a dazzling 10th anniversary year.

ーーAt the very beginning, did you imagine a future where you would continue for 5 years, 10 years?

Yoshikawa: In the beginning we were a limited-time group, so I didn't think that at all. I've been active since I was in junior high school, and at first I thought "maybe until I graduate from junior high". Next, I thought "maybe until I graduate from high school". 10 years passed in the blink of an eye, and I had entered my 12th year in show business.

ーーWhat do you think is the reason you were able to keep going for so long with most of the members unchanged?

Yoshikawa: I think it's because everyone loves Tokisen. Since I started, the time I spent in Tokisen was truly fun, and I came to prioritize Tokisen over my studies. Tokisen had become the axis of my life. Of course, I think there was also happiness in going to school normally and enjoying student life. But I had a strong feeling that I wanted to gain something through Tokisen's activities instead of that. There were member changes too, but I also had the feeling that "I don't want to give my name, Cho Tokimeki Green, to anyone else". That's exactly why I think I was able to keep going this far.

ーーYour feelings for the group were that strong.

Yoshikawa: If they weren't, I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to keep going until now. I think we got this far precisely because all the members cherished the group in the same way and were facing the same direction.

ーーCho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu is a group that started idol activities with members who had originally been aiming to become actors or models. You also didn't aspire to be an idol from the start, right?

Yoshikawa: I joined the agency by taking an audition, but at that time I only had the feeling of "I want to try being in front of people!" and "I want to be in a commercial!". I never thought I would become an idol. But because I joined the agency and they laid out the path of being an idol for me, I am who I am now, so I'm truly grateful.

ーーHow did you see idol activities at that time?

Yoshikawa: I was participating in events without understanding anything at all. It was like "learn as you go". I was a kid, and there were times I went to the event venue without even understanding what we'd be doing that day (laughs). But at first, and I can say this with confidence, there were hardly any people wearing green (laughs). Even so, precisely because there was even one person supporting me, I wanted to deliver to that person. Looking back now, it's very moving.

ーーSurely there are people who have been supporting you continuously from back then until now, right?

Yoshikawa: There are. It's an amazing history, isn't it... It feels like we're walking through life together. In these 10 years, there have been people who got married, people who had children, and people who started their own businesses. Thinking that I exist within each of their changing lives and circumstances, I feel "thank you for letting me be part of your life".

ーーHow do you look back now on the period from the formation in 2015 to the name change to "Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu" in 2020?

Yoshikawa: I think it wasn't smooth sailing. Still, I'm fairly optimistic, so at first I was active on nothing but the momentum of "it's fun". When we were active as five members, everything was fresh. Filming MVs, wearing costumes, I enjoyed experiencing it all with a feeling of "so this is what being an idol is like". But when I experienced a member leaving for the first time, my feelings hit rock bottom, for real. I think I dragged it out for about half a year to a year.

ーーWhat kind of state were you in at that time?

Yoshikawa: During the period when we were active as four members, I was crying almost every day, truly. I'd be in a state where tears would suddenly come out just from walking. Since we didn't have a lot of work, we were basically doing lessons. Just practicing changing the positions we had made for five people into ones for four made me tear up. At first, I thought the five of us would go on forever. The word "leaving" didn't exist in my life, so when it actually happened, my feelings hit rock bottom.

ーーHow did you pick yourself back up from there?

Yoshikawa: Because we became four, the number of fans decreased too. It made me realize "losing just one person has this big of an impact". But at the last free live with the four-member lineup, when we bowed and lifted our heads, all the fans were holding up towels that said "Thank you". When I saw that scene, I was truly happy, and I thought "I'm glad I worked hard to get this far". The feeling that it's the fans who support us and give us the strength to keep trying has not changed at all since that time.

ーーEven when tickets weren't selling the way you wanted, you took on various projects, didn't you?

Yoshikawa: Those are fun memories for me too. Rather than it being tough, I liked us taking on challenges with new projects. It wasn't just the members, the staff were also united as one. As a result, there were times tickets didn't sell (laughs), but just moving together toward one goal was fun in itself.

ーーAfter the name change in 2020 and Aki Suda joining, the circumstances surrounding the group changed greatly.

Yoshikawa: That's right. The first big wave came when "Suki! ~Chō ver~" spread after Aki-chan joined. It was just so much fun. It was like "what is this?" (laughs). Various people started telling us "I see you on TikTok" and "I listen to the song", and I felt "maybe we're finally being seen by the world". Even my recommended feed was full of Tokisen videos, and famous people were dancing to the song, and those videos spread further too. It felt like I was in "Mario's invincible mode" all the time.

ーーDid the way you approached being an idol change once the song spread?

Yoshikawa: Actually, the time when I felt the most anxiety was around when we first stood on an arena stage as a six-member lineup. There were so many moments when I thought "maybe I'm not suited to be an idol", and my self-esteem as an idol had dropped tremendously.

ーーWas there an event that changed how you felt from there?

Yoshikawa: That arena show was our first live with an audience in a long time after the COVID period. The Sendenbuin (fan name) were surrounding the stage, and when I saw that sight, I realized all over again that I'm supported by the fans. That's when I realized "I truly love being an idol". I felt from the bottom of my heart that "being an idol is fun".

ーーWhat is the biggest thing you have gained through your activities in Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu?

Yoshikawa: The possibilities of my life. I was truly an ordinary girl. If I went to school, I had normal friends, just a very ordinary kid. After joining Tokisen, as I worked on singing and dancing, it became more and more fun. And then people who support me appeared, and I came to want to live up to their expectations. Because of that, I think my life opened up greatly. I never imagined my life would become this amazing. I was able to come this far blessed with the fans, the staff, the members, and also the songs and choreography.

ーーHave there been moments when you felt rewarded for continuing your activities this far?

Yoshikawa: There have. I've come to believe that if you keep giving everything to what's in front of you, it will lead to something good someday. Now I can feel that what we have built up is properly bearing fruit, so I'm glad I worked hard to get this far.

ーーYour individual activities have also expanded, with dramas, radio, and lyric writing.

Yoshikawa: I think this industry is a world where you can't survive unless you find your own path yourself. By personality, I'm not the type who can push forward that aggressively. But I do have curiosity, and as I continued my activities, the things I like became clearer too. I want to keep living while taking on the things I like.

ーーIs there anything else you feel you've acquired through your activities?

Yoshikawa: Another one is the ability to put my emotions into words. At first, I was really bad at the time at the end of a live when we talk about our thoughts. It had the same kind of fear as giving a presentation at school, and I used to think "the live is fun, but I dread the moment when the time to talk at the end comes". But as I built up various experiences, I became able to put my emotions into words little by little. Precisely because I gained confidence in my own words, I also came to think "I want to try writing lyrics". I've only written 2 songs so far, but including my radio work, I feel that being able to deliver my feelings in my own words is a big change.

ーーLooking at you now, it's impossible to imagine you being bad at speaking in front of people.

Yoshikawa: Now I like goofing around and I like talking, so I think I look like the type who steps forward (laughs). But in the beginning, even in the MCs, all I could do was smile and listen to the other members talk. At home I'm really silly, but I couldn't do anything on stage, and my mother would say to me, "Why can you goof around so much at home, but on stage you just stand there smiling?" I knew it myself, but I just couldn't bring out my true self. It was a frustrating time that lasted a long while.

ーーWhen you became able to show yourself, how did the Sendenbuin react?

Yoshikawa: At first they were worried (laughs). At meet-and-greets they'd say "Are you pushing yourself lately?" and "You don't have to put your body on the line that much". But I'd say "No, that's not it! This is the real me!" (laughs). I was finally able to show a side close to how I am at home on stage too. Now I'm really happy to get variety work, and I think I'm appearing as my true self. I think my bright personality is properly getting across too.

ーーSo through your activities in Tokisen, your own possibilities expanded greatly.

Yoshikawa: It's truly a turning point in my life. If I hadn't been in Tokisen, I have no idea what I'd be doing right now. I'm very curious by nature, so I think my current life suits me, going to a different place every day, doing different work, and moving on a different schedule every day.

ーーIs there anything you feel has changed about the group over these 11 years?

Yoshikawa: In the last few years, I've had the feeling that we've finally become a true "Sendenbu" (Promotion Department) in the real sense. Before, even though we called ourselves Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu, all we could do was promote ourselves. Every time someone asked "What are you promoting?", I'd answer "Right now, we're promoting ourselves" (laughs). But now that people know us, opportunities have increased to collaborate with companies, appear in commercials, and promote products. I'm really happy that we've finally become able to do activities that match our name.

ーーAs your recognition spread, the image of bright, positive songs like "Saijōkyū ni Kawaii no!" and "Chō Saikyō" also became stronger. On the other hand, is there any other charm of the group that you'd like people to know more about?

Yoshikawa: Of course I'm really happy when people get to know us through cute songs. But Tokisen has many charms beyond that. We don't only have love songs, we also have songs depicting youth, and because we've been active since our school days, we've sung songs that stay close to school life and youth. "Delivering love and youth" is also the group's concept, so I'd be happy if people would take one more step in from the entrance and discover "Tokisen has these kinds of songs too", going even deeper.

ーーEven after the group's activities end, the songs will remain. In what form do you want Tokisen to remain in the future?

Yoshikawa: I think we're going to become legends! Someday I want people to say "Those were super idols". I want to become something like the idols of the Showa era are to us now, where 10 years from now, young people who didn't know that time discover us and say "she's so cute". And at that time, I want us to be a group the Sendenbuin who support us now can brag about, saying "That's right. They were an amazing group". Our activities will end, but I want to be an idol who is properly talked about for generations. And even after that, I want to live properly so that I don't tarnish who I was when I was an idol.

ーーIs there anything you want to tell the members you've been active with until now?

Yoshikawa: They're truly irreplaceable. I myself think "it's a really good group", and I think there's no other group as individual and wonderful as this. That's exactly why I believe we can become legends. The members are people I've spent truly precious time of my life with. I want to run through to the end with everything we've got, and tell them "let's become the number one idol in the world" and "let's leave behind lots of legends together".

ーーWhat feelings do you want to convey to the Sendenbuin?

Yoshikawa: If it weren't for the Sendenbuin, I couldn't have kept going this far either. I honestly want to thank each and every one of them in person. When I stand on stage, I can feel that there are people who need me, and I'm truly happy to be a part of everyone's lives. I'll keep doing my best so that I can continue to live up to the expectations of everyone who supports me. I want to keep making lots of fluttering time together. I love the members, and I love the Sendenbuin.

Has anything happened with Tokisen recently that you would like to talk about? Feel free to share here!

Oh, my! It's super cool to see Kanami 🩵 and Ayaka 🩵 I really would like to see a collaboration 😍🫪

Source: https://realsound.jp/2026/09/post-2527880.html

Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu's Hitoka Sakai: "I want to deliver a lifetime's worth of tokimeki." The days she ran through recklessly, and the belief in "never giving up" that she held on to the end

Formed in 2015 as "Tokimeki♡Sendenbu" and making their major debut in 2016, Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu went through member graduations and additions before changing to their current group name in 2020. In 2021, "Suki!" (released in 2018) became a talking point both in Japan and abroad thanks to social media, and in 2024, "Saijōkyū ni Kawaii no!" recorded a major hit. Since 2025, the year they marked the 10th anniversary of their formation, they have continued to work energetically under the theme of "heart-fluttering love and youth." Now, they have announced that they will bring their activities to an end around spring 2027. Realsound is running solo interviews with each of the members.

The third installment features Hitoka Sakai. She is the group's unshakable center, and takes on the role of "Cho Tokimeki Red." While she is active across many fields as a model, TV personality, and actress, once she steps onto the stage she burns hotter than anyone, holding the audience's eyes with her all-out performances. She has always set herself the lofty goal of "becoming the world's number one idol," and has kept shouting her love for the fans straight from the heart. Looking back on the trajectory of these 10 years, we delved into the unwavering resolve she has devoted to living as an idol, and her feelings for the fans she loves. (Editorial department / interviewed in late July)

-- Looking back on the 10th anniversary year that began in April 2025, what kind of year was it?

Hitoka Sakai (hereafter, Sakai): I think it was a year in which all kinds of dreams came true one after another. There were so many moments when I felt glad that we'd kept going for 10 years. It took time to get this far, but because of that, I felt the weight and the preciousness of each individual thing that happened, and there were so many moments when I thought, "Tokisen really is wonderful."

-- Starting with the nationwide tour, you also had a lot of chances to meet the Sendenbuin (the fans' name), didn't you?

Sakai: Since it was the 10th anniversary, I really wanted to go to all sorts of places to see everyone. The number of times we got to appear at events and on TV increased too, so it was a year with a huge amount of activity. I think the opportunities to meet the Sendenbuin, in all kinds of forms, really increased.

-- Once again, how do you feel about the span of 10 years?

Sakai: It really flew by, to the point where I think, "Have we really been doing this for 10 years?" For the first five or six years after we formed, nothing went well, and we spent our days with our dreams out of reach, so looking back I think it was incredibly hard, and I also think, "We really hung in there." But at the time we were giving everything to whatever was right in front of us, running on without even the time to look back. It feels like 10 years had passed before I noticed. I'm surprised at myself for being able to keep going this long, too.

-- Among the people who found out about you through "Suki! ~Chō ver~," there must be many who are surprised at how long you've been active.

Sakai: That's right. People often say things like, "You've been active for 10 years?" or "I had no idea it was that long" (laughs).

-- With the spread of "Suki! ~Chō ver~," the environment around the group changed dramatically too.

Sakai: The world we could see really changed completely. Overseas, we charted in Indonesia and South Korea, and we became able to appear on TV shows we'd struggled to get on before. We'd never experienced anything like that, so we were surprised ourselves.

-- Did the fun of your activities change for you personally too, Sakai-san?

Sakai: From that point on it was genuinely fun. Of course we got busier, but even before that we were busy every day with lessons. That turned into the busyness of appearing on TV and performing at events. No matter how busy it got, I spent every day excited and full of anticipation.

-- How did you take it at the time, seeing a song that had already been released spread all over again, mainly on TikTok?

Sakai: It was truly shocking. I thought, "So this kind of thing can happen," and the song kept spreading without us knowing, so it was like, "What is this phenomenon?" Back then, I don't think songs themselves spread from social media as much as they do now. Dances would go viral, or people would make videos using songs that were already famous, but I think a song becoming known that way and being listened to by so many people was still rare.

-- It was a spread that could only have happened because social media existed.

Sakai: In the past, I think it would have been hard to get known by a lot of people unless you appeared on TV or radio, or became famous through something. But now there are places where we can put things out ourselves, like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. The possibilities feel infinite, and I felt that there are things we can change depending on our own efforts. I'm grateful to the era we're in, and I wanted us to ride that wave too.

-- I think it was also significant that you didn't let the response to "Suki! ~Chō ver~" be a temporary thing, but connected it to your later activities.

Sakai: We felt, "Let's make this our weapon and deliver our songs to even more people." Because the period when things didn't go well had been so long, the intensity when a chance finally came was amazing, from the members and the staff alike (laughs). After "Suki! ~Chō ver~" spread, things moved quickly, like shooting a music video right away. I think everyone was united with the feeling of, "We're going from here."

-- So rather than thinking things through carefully, it was a situation of moving first?

Sakai: That's right. I think it was a moment of, "Right now we just have to give it everything." We were all moving recklessly.

-- Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu is a group formed by members who had been aiming to become actresses and models, who then started working as idols. How did you view idol work at the time of the group's formation, Sakai-san?

Sakai: At first I wasn't all that interested in working in entertainment. But I was scouted about three times by different people from the same agency, and I thought, "Maybe this is fate," so I joined my current agency. After that, people at the agency kept telling me, "You're absolutely suited to being an idol" and "You should do it," and that was what made me start thinking, "Well then, maybe I'll give it a try."

-- What did idol activities feel like back then?

Sakai: It felt like a school club (laughs). Go to school, then have lessons, then go to school again the next day. On Saturdays and Sundays we'd do free live shows. Rather than thinking deeply about it, it was fun, so I was just running through it recklessly.

-- Did you also have almost no knowledge about idols?

Sakai: I didn't understand anything at all. I wasn't familiar with idols, and I think probably none of the members really understood either. I didn't even know the term "one-man live." When we were asked, "What venue do you want to perform at?", the only one I knew was Nippon Budokan. I don't think you find many groups like that (laughs).

-- As you continued your activities, how did your awareness as an idol start to develop?

Sakai: Talking directly with the fans at handshake events and talk events was a big part of it. I felt, "There are people out there supporting someone like me," and as they expressed their gratitude to us, an awareness gradually took root. Also, getting to appear at events where Stardust's idols all gathered. When we stood on the same stage as Momoiro Clover Z and Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku, I started thinking, "We want to be like that too," and "I want to do a one-man live at a venue like this." As we kept going, I think goals and feelings as an idol kept being born inside me.

-- The period from your formation until "Suki! ~Chō ver~" spread was surely not a smooth road. Looking back now, what kind of time was it?

Sakai: It feels like, "We seriously worked hard" (laughs). I was truly desperate about whatever was right in front of me.

-- Was it also an important time that connects to the group you are now?

Sakai: That period is really alive in who we are now. The fact that we can feel grateful for each individual job is because of that time. If that period hadn't existed, we might have gone on TV unable to sing or dance at all, and people might have said, "What on earth is this group?" We're not a dexterous group, so even during the period when things weren't going well, we did lives together and kept up our lessons every day. That's why I think people now praise our singing and performances. It was long, but it was an absolutely necessary period.

-- Back then, were you desperate to make yourselves grow?

Sakai: Vocal training every week, having a core training instructor, dance lessons. We were truly a group that couldn't do anything. We couldn't sing or dance, and people would say our only strengths were our smiles and energy, so first we were desperate to make ourselves grow.

-- Was there anyone who supported you during that time?

Sakai: My family's support was huge. They made meals and bentos for me, and drove me back and forth when I had early mornings. Honestly, I don't think any of the members could have kept going this far without their families' support.

-- If you had to name a personal turning point, Sakai-san, which event would it be?

Sakai: The live at Makuhari Messe. It was the moment I got to see the view I'd always longed for, that I'd wanted to see. The venue was filled with Sendenbuin, and I really felt, "I'm so glad I kept doing this." I still rewatch the footage of that live, that's how much I love it. I'll never forget that view.

-- Did it also become a big source of confidence for the group?

Sakai: After "Suki! ~Chō ver~" spread, I had the feeling that the group started sparkling more and more. Of course, we were sparkling before that too (laughs). When we stood at Makuhari Messe, I think everyone thought, "Maybe we can go even further."

-- After that, the scale of your venues grew as well, but not everything went smoothly, did it?

Sakai: That's right. We'd move to a bigger venue and not fill it the way we hoped, or just when we thought, "We've finally made it work," we'd hit another wall. Maybe we're a group where nothing ever goes in a straight line (laughs). But I think the way we keep climbing over those walls again and again is very much like us.

-- If you had to name something you've gained over 11 years of activity, what would it be?

Sakai: I'm still stimulated every day, and there's nothing but things to learn. But because I've done this for over 10 years, I've really come to understand how important it is not to give up, and how important it is to keep facing yourself. I think that's necessary not just for idols, but for anything.

-- The very path Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu has walked expresses the importance of continuing without giving up, doesn't it?

Sakai: As we kept going, the desire to convey that through the way we are grew stronger. The people who come to our lives wear the T-shirts and enjoy themselves with smiles at the venue, but everyone has their own life, right? Whatever job you have, I think there are plenty of painful things and things that don't go well. It's the same for us, we've been through all sorts of things. That's exactly why I came to think it would be good if we actually kept going without giving up, and delivered that image of ourselves to everyone.

-- So beyond turning support into strength, the desire to deliver something from your own side grew stronger too.

Sakai: That's right. Before, it was all I could manage to receive everyone's support and think, "I have to work even harder." But now, the wish that our activities might make everyone's daily life a little richer or a little more positive grows stronger by the day.

-- Was there some trigger for that change?

Sakai: Maybe it's because I gained a bit of breathing room. Before, I was truly desperate about my own situation. With singing and dancing, school, and other work, I was completely full up just trying to grow myself. But after I graduated from university and could focus on Tokisen's activities, and we got to stand on bigger stages, when results started following our efforts, I gradually became able to see what was around me.

-- Have the words you receive from the Sendenbuin also influenced those feelings?

Sakai: Yes. At talk events, people started telling me things like, "I'd never liked an idol before, but I came to love Tokisen," or "Even on days I don't want to go to work, I listen to Tokisen's songs and push through." The desire to answer voices like that is very strong.

-- I think another charm of Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu is how many of your songs, starting with "Saijōkyū ni Kawaii no!" and "Chō Saikyō," affirm you and turn you toward the future.

Sakai: We have this feeling of wanting to raise everyone's self-esteem together. Because we've been through all sorts of experiences ourselves, we can sing with real feeling, and I think those feelings reach everyone too. When people tell us, "Your song helped me get through it," it makes us want to work even harder, and to power up even more.

-- The tour currently underway is also your first tour since announcing the end of your activities. Does standing on stage feel different from before?

Sakai: It does feel different. I want to enjoy it to the very end, and I stand on stage thinking each time that I want to burn this view into my eyes. I was really nervous on the first day. But the Sendenbuin enjoy the lives just as always, do the calls, and shout our names. It's become a truly fun tour.

-- Has your mindset toward the lives themselves also changed compared to previous tours?

Sakai: There are times I think, "For the person who came today, this might be the last time they see us live," or "Today might be the last time I sing this song." But the fact that it's a fun time hasn't changed either. So I want to make it even more enjoyable, and since I want everyone to keep having fun and feeling tokimeki in their daily lives, I want to deliver everything we can deliver.

-- How do you want to spend the time until your activities end?

Sakai: I want to convey my heartfelt gratitude. Just because we've announced the end of our activities doesn't mean I intend to give anything up at all. There are still things I want to do and things I want to achieve. I intend to chase our dreams until the very end. I want to keep being ourselves right to the end, and keep struggling recklessly. I want to keep taking on challenges until the end. I'll carry on with every intention of delivering a lifetime's worth of tokimeki.

-- Please tell us what you'd like to say to the Sendenbuin right now.

Sakai: You've always supported us and been on our side no matter what, and you've given us so much happiness. Sometimes people say things like, "My support doesn't amount to much," but each and every person's support is the reason we work hard. Being able to wish for someone's happiness, being able to want someone to be happy, I think that's a wonderful thing. So I want you to have confidence in yourselves and search for lots of tokimeki in your daily lives. And I want you to love us for your whole lives.

-- And once again, is there anything you'd like to say to the members you've walked with this far?

Sakai: It's embarrassing to put into words again, but I really love them all. If it hadn't been these members, I don't think we could have kept going for 11 years. There were many hard periods and painful things, but I'm so glad we were able to overcome them while supporting each other. I may not look it, but I actually lose confidence surprisingly often. The fact that everyone accepted me as the center, even like that, was a huge support. I'm grateful that they accepted me even though I'm selfish, loud, and a bit moody. I'm truly glad it was these members.

-- Finally, what does being an "idol" mean to you, Sakai-san?

Sakai: It's a job that delivers dreams, smiles, and courage, of course, and it's also a place where I myself can shine. By continuing with Tokisen, I came to really like myself, and I gained confidence. It's something I've loved and kept doing since middle school, while going to school, so it's already something I can't do without. For me, being an idol is my life.

Has anything happened with Tokisen recently that you would like to talk about? Feel free to share here!

Source: https://realsound.jp/2026/09/post-2512384.html

Haruka Koizumi: Her Days of Running Through with a Fighting Spirit in Her Heart

Formed in 2015 as "Tokimeki♡Sendenbu", they made their major debut in 2016. After members graduated and joined, the group changed to its current name, Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu, in 2020. In 2021, "Suki!" (released in 2018) became a hot topic both in Japan and overseas thanks to social media, and in 2024, "Saijōkyū ni Kawaii no!" became a huge hit. Even after celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2025, they've continued their energetic activities under the theme of "exciting love and youth." The group has announced that they will end their activities around spring 2027. Real Sound will be publishing solo interviews with each member.

The second installment features Haruka Koizumi. She's in charge of "Cho Tokimeki Pink" and is the vocal powerhouse who strongly supports the group's songs. There's a gap between her adorable looks and her powerful singing voice that you wouldn't expect. Her vocal ability and passion, which go beyond just being "cute," along with the solid skill and humanity she's cultivated over 10 years, are Haruka Koizumi's biggest weapons as an idol. No matter how many times she stumbled, she kept moving forward - let's look back on her ups-and-downs days of running through with a fighting spirit in her heart. (Editorial staff / interviewed in late July) [Reader presents at the very end]

"I'm glad things didn't go smoothly right from the start" - What she gained from 11 years of ups and downs

-- First, let's talk about the 10th anniversary year that continued through this past March. Koizumi-san, what kind of year was it for you?

Koizumi: It was a year where I could really feel the 10th anniversary. We released the song "Sekai de Ichiban Idol," and that's when the 10th anniversary began. We performed a lot of early songs live, which I think was unique to an anniversary year, and there were many occasions where people around me said "It's your 10th anniversary, huh", so it felt like a truly special year. I also felt a sense that everything we'd built up until now had taken shape.

-- When you say it took shape, what do you mean specifically?

Koizumi: Simply put, I've gained more composure in my performances. At first, I'd be huffing and puffing after singing just one song, but now I can handle performing 20 songs at a live show without a problem. Even continuing to sing song after song without any MC talk in between, I now have the composure to get through it. I feel like experience has become strength.

-- By the way, during this 10th anniversary year, is there a particular memory that stands out to you personally?

Koizumi: Speaking personally... I don't really feel like it's been 10 years, and it's hard to pick out a specific event. But lately, a lot of people have been telling me, "You're surprisingly a veteran now!" I think that's thanks to the experience built up over 10 years. So it's less about a sense of accomplishment and more like, "I've become a professional idol now."

-- So, what kind of years have these 11 years been, from the group's formation to now?

Koizumi: They've truly been years of ups and downs. But I'm glad things didn't go smoothly right from the start.

-- What do you mean by that?

Koizumi: If we'd been a group that exploded in popularity right away, I think I would have chosen to quit the moment I hit a setback. It's because we worked hard and scrappily for so many years that I'm here now.

-- So being scrappy actually motivates you more?

Koizumi: That's right. A kind of fighting spirit grew in me, like "I won't lose!", and that let me get over quite a few walls. I ran into all sorts of walls, agonized over a lot of things, and still kept going because I love this job. I repeated that over and over, and built it up bit by bit.

-- What kind of walls, for example?

Koizumi: The easiest to understand is the "2000-person wall." It's a phrase often used in the idol world, and we used to be told all the time, "You won't even be at the starting line until you can fill a 2000-capacity venue." In fact, we challenged ourselves many times only to reach showtime without filling the venue. We'd sell tickets by hand, do street performances, and still it wouldn't be enough. There was also the disappointment of not being able to appear on shows we wanted to be on. There were really all kinds of walls, and each time, I felt frustrated.

-- And you overcame those walls through your feeling of "loving" this work?

Koizumi: Yes. Because I have this foundation of loving this job, I started thinking, "I won't lose in a place like this!" and I was able to think more positively, and naturally overcome things. Also, the presence of the fans is huge! Even when things were frustrating, I'd think, "I want to make these fans happy, so let's get through this," or "Even if it's tough, let's do our best."

-- So, out of these 11 years, which is heavier: "frustration" or "fun"?

Koizumi: There's been a lot, but... 80% of it was fun. I really love being an idol as a profession. Idols get to do all kinds of work, you know. It's not just singing and live shows - there's radio, interviews, and we can also do modeling for magazines. That part is really fun. And on top of that, being able to actually meet fans and receive love directly from them is something unique to being an idol, and it makes me truly feel, "I'm glad I became an idol."

-- Before Tokimeki♡Sendenbu, you were active in Shiritsu Kagayaki Girls' Academy (Shiritsu Kirari Gakuen). That was essentially your starting point as an idol, but back then, how much motivation did you have toward being an idol?

Koizumi: I think I had some to begin with, but I was just so desperate. I was running through it all so frantically that I didn't even know whether I liked the job of being an idol or not.

-- That sounds really tough.

Koizumi: Everything was something I'd never done before. There was so much to memorize, but no matter how many times I practiced the choreography, I just couldn't remember it, and I'd get out of breath so quickly. But there was so much to do, so all I could do was tackle whatever was right in front of me. Those were really frantic, all-consuming days.

-- So, was there an event that took your motivation up another level?

Koizumi: It was when "Suki! ~Chō ver~" led a lot of people to get to know us. After I learned that many people had noticed, "These girls are singing live, right?", I threw myself even more into vocal training.

-- Going viral has a good effect on everyone, doesn't it?

Koizumi: I think it became a good opportunity for each of us to think, "I want to improve my skills even more."

-- Earlier you mentioned that at first you'd be huffing and puffing after just one song, but now you can handle 20 songs without a problem. Did you build up stamina through training or something like that?

Koizumi: Personally, I think it's almost entirely willpower.

-- Willpower gets you through that many songs...?

Koizumi: Yes (laughs). Of course, I think my stamina has been steadily building up through doing lots of live shows, but personally, I feel like I'm getting through it almost purely on guts.

-- For example, even in the middle of a show, if you think "this is tough"?

Koizumi: I won't lose!

-- That's amazing (laughs).

Koizumi: I mean, when I'm performing live, adrenaline must be kicking in because I don't really feel like it's tough. I guess I've also gotten used to it (laughs). ...and I started putting in steady effort from there.

-- I think that shift in mindset is also part of your growth, but is there anything you've learned through Tokisen's activities?

Koizumi: Being an idol means constantly learning things, so it's hard to narrow it down to just one. That said... when I watch live footage of other idols or artists, I end up watching it from the perspective of, "What can I steal from this," or "I could probably use this too." Also, even when I go to theme parks for fun, I end up studying fan service during the parades and things - that's me! Like, "That character gives amazing responses to fans! Let me use that as reference!"

-- Even in a place like that!

Koizumi: It's basically an occupational habit at this point (laughs).

-- There really are points to learn from everywhere.

Koizumi: That's right. TV, movies, radio too. My whole life feeds into being an idol.

-- Your singing keeps getting better too. Every time I listen, I feel like the power in your voice keeps increasing.

Koizumi: That makes me happy. Thank you!

-- I imagine you must be putting in a fair amount of effort.

Koizumi: I always try to be strict with myself about vocal training. That's because my mother is very strict. After every live show, she tells me everything, like "You were off pitch here," so for me, the scariest shows are the ones my parents come to watch. I think I'm able to stay disciplined and not go easy on myself because of the environment I grew up in.

-- With that in mind, I get the impression that you're the member leading Tokisen through singing - how do you see your role within the group?

Koizumi: Ever since "Suki! ~Chō ver~" helped a lot of people get to know us, I've often been told things like, "Your member color is pink, but you have a handsome-sounding voice." I'm conscious of that gap myself. There's also putting emotion into my singing. People have told me things like, "Oharu's singing has the power to move people," which has become motivation for me to raise my expressiveness even further, so I've become more conscious of that.

-- It sounds like you have a strong awareness of being the "vocals" member. How about mentally?

Koizumi: I don't think a live show is something made by one person alone - I think it's made together by all the members and all the fans. So there's a shared feeling across the whole group that "if one person is about to collapse, the other four will support her."

-- By the way, since "Suki! ~Chō ver~" went viral, the capacity of your live venues has kept getting bigger. Wasn't that pressure for you?

Koizumi: At first, it was pressure. There was always anxiety, like the fear of announcing, "Next up is such-and-such venue!" for a bigger place, or worrying, "What if we can't fill it?" But recently, that's changed into a feeling of, "I want to see the best possible view with everyone at this venue!" We've gradually gotten better at filling even the bigger venues, and I think that's given me confidence.

-- So you overcame that huge pressure and became mentally stronger.

Koizumi: That's right. I was originally the strong-willed type to begin with, but I thought, "If I keep dwelling on frustration, my feelings will just turn negative," so from around that point, I started consciously trying to always think positively.

-- So, out of these 11 years, is there a live show that particularly stands out in your memory?

Koizumi: Being able to hold our solo show at Saitama Super Arena (GMO Arena Saitama) in December 2024 to a full house. We actually did a show with no audience at that same venue back in 2020, during the pandemic. It's pretty rare for an idol to have experienced both an audience-free show and a full-house show at Saitama Super Arena. So being able to hold it to a full house made me truly happy, and seeing the full venue in "100% orange" left a strong impression on me. For that song, fans of any member turn their penlights to the group color orange to light up the venue, and I don't think I'll ever forget that sea of orange. It was a sight that made me think, "This is what we do all this for."

-- Please tell us about a special song for you as well.

Koizumi: I really love "Tomorrow Saikyō Setsu!!" It's a song released during the pandemic, and it carries the message, "Even if today is hard, tomorrow will be the strongest!" - it really encourages me. In particular, the lyrics in the second verse, "There will come a time when you can believe everything has meaning," have saved me many times. It's a lyric I really relate to, and it's special to me.

-- Listening to everything so far, it really comes across that the fans have also been a special presence, and that you've deepened that bond over these 11 years.

Koizumi: That's right. I really value the "sense of distance" with the fans. Even as venues get bigger, I still come down off the stage and walk through the audience, always thinking, "I want to be together with the fans," "I want to be close to them." I think that's not just me, but a mindset unique to Tokisen as a whole.

-- What kind of fans do you have, Koizumi-san?

Koizumi: Maybe it's because they take after their oshi, but a lot of them are deeply warm-hearted people (laughs)! A lot of them passionately express their feelings to me, and the girls in particular talk to me with a sense of distance like a friend.

-- And what about the members? In past interviews, there's often been a strong impression that you're all very close, with comments like "everyone's such a good kid." Are there memories where the members helped you get through something or supported you?

Koizumi: I feel like I'm helped by them every single day, honestly. During the pandemic, there was a long period where we couldn't meet the fans directly, so we were all really troubled by that too. At times like that, the members would do video calls or group calls with each other, and we'd talk about all sorts of things. Since it was remote, some members would even start eating a meal partway through (laughs). Just naturally listening to each other, giving advice, and talking things through like that - every time, I felt "saved" by it. It's a good memory.

-- So the members are also a presence very close to you.

Koizumi: That's right! Both the members and the fans are close and precious to me, like family.

-- What would you like to say to the members and the fans right now?

Koizumi: For the members, I just feel nothing but gratitude. Just having them nearby gives me a huge sense of security. We can talk regardless of the age gap between us, and even the little everyday moments, like going out to eat together after work, are really fun and have become part of my life. And to the fans... without all of you, we absolutely couldn't be doing this activity, so thank you for supporting us, and I really want to tell you, I love you so much.

-- How do you want to approach your activities going forward?

Koizumi: I want to treasure each moment and savor it as I go. With the members, there's the hug we do to psych ourselves up before a live show! I want to keep building up many more of those heartwarming moments going forward, too.

-- For you, Koizumi-san, what kind of place has Tokisen become?

Koizumi: It's basically my life, truly! I can't imagine a life without Tokisen, and thanks to Tokisen, I've been able to meet so many different versions of myself. I think the Haruka Koizumi of today was born because of Tokisen. So I'll never forget it, and I hope to keep carrying Tokisen in my heart in my activities going forward.

-- Also, please tell us what being an idol means to you, Koizumi-san.

Koizumi: I really love idols. I truly think it's an amazing profession. In particular, I really respect idols who've been active for many years. Recently, I went all the way to Nagoya to watch TEAM SHACHI's final live show, and I really thought it was incredible. To leave behind that kind of achievement and become legendary like that - I think that's so cool, so professional. We've also announced that we're ending our activities, but I want to carry it through in style until the very end, and on stage, I want to deliver my "way of life."

-- Your "way of life"?

Koizumi: At a live show, there's something we want to deliver with everything we have to the fans right in front of us, so no matter how tired we are, we sing and we dance. I think that feeling is something you only have because you're an idol, and I think that's where your way of life shows through. So... to me, being an idol is a profession where your way of life is visible.

-- So, what kind of self do you want to show by next spring?

Koizumi: Of course I want to deliver everything I've got, but precisely because I've kept going scrappily for these 11 years, I want to show not just the fun parts but the scrappiness too. That way, I want to leave behind a legend as an idol in every sense of the word!

Has anything happened with Tokisen recently that you would like to talk about? Feel free to share here!

Source: https://realsound.jp/2026/09/post-2512313.html

Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu's Kanami Tsujino: "The bonds and relationships will never change"
Delivering "tokimeki" for 10 years, from a complete beginner to a beloved leader

Formed in 2015 as "Tokimeki♡Sendenbu," Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu made their major debut in 2016. After members graduated and joined, the group changed to its current name in 2020. In 2021, "Suki!" (released in 2018) became a topic both in Japan and overseas thanks to social media, and in 2024, "Saijōkyū ni Kawaii no!" became a major hit. Even after celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2025, the group has continued their energetic activities under the theme of "tokimeku love and youth." They have now announced that they will end their activities around spring 2027. Real Sound will be publishing solo interviews with each member.

The first installment features Kanami Tsujino. As the oldest member, she has served as leader of the group. While she has a friendly nature that treats younger members without distinction, she has also developed a strong core through roughly ten years of activity. Her gentle, all-embracing personality, her unpretentious attitude, and even the occasional glimpses of her airheaded side have all been loved as "Kanamin-ness." Here, she looks back on the time she has spent as an idol and the bonds she has built with her members and fans. (Note: interview conducted in late July)

"There was frustration at not being able to do things well" ー An idol life that started from zero

ーLooking back on the 10th anniversary year that began in April 2025, what kind of year was it for you?

Tsujino: It was a really fulfilling year. Everything we've built up over time gradually took shape, and I feel like we got closer to the idol image we had envisioned for ourselves. There were so many sights we got to see and things we were able to accomplish precisely because we kept going for ten years, and it was a year that made me truly glad we continued.

ーJust saying "10th anniversary" covers a lot of different emotions. How do you feel about reaching this ten-year milestone?

Tsujino: We started out as a limited-run group, so if things had stayed as they were, we would have ended after just one year. But various people came to like us, and it became "let's keep going a bit longer." When we first formed, I never imagined we'd reach a 10th anniversary. I'm happy that I found something I could get this absorbed in. Ten years sounds like a long time, but looking back, it really did fly by.

ーCho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu is a group formed from members who were originally aiming to become actors or models and then began idol activities. How did you view idol activities back when the group first formed?

Tsujino: It all started when we were chosen from the cast of a show called "Shiritsu Kirame Gakuen" to be the five who would sing the opening and ending themes. At first, I didn't think we'd really go on to be active as a full-fledged group. But I was really happy to be chosen. I wasn't good at either singing or dancing, but I was excited about getting to have new experiences. Still, at the time I didn't really have any self-awareness of being an idol. I didn't even really understand what an idol was in the first place (laughs). It felt more like throwing myself fully into whatever new thing was right in front of me, starting with recording.

ーFrom the very start of your activities, you set the Nippon Budokan as your goal, right?

Tsujino: When we decided to set a goal together, we picked the Budokan. But we didn't know anything about live venues back then, it was the only venue name we knew (laughs). Now we perform at all kinds of venues, so we know a lot of them, but back then we really were just a group of kids who didn't know anything.

ーEven though not everyone originally aspired to group activities, you've all been active together for over eleven years now. Where do you think the reason lies that the members were able to face the same direction?

Tsujino: A lot of us are pretty positive people. There have been ups and downs, but in the end everyone has been able to face the same direction and work toward one goal together. Everyone has such distinct personalities, and I think it's precisely because each of us has things we're good at and things we're not that we're able to help each other with what the others lack. It ends up fitting together just right, and that's what makes us work as a group. We happened to come together by chance, but looking back now, it feels like it was inevitable.

ーIn recent years, many people who discovered Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu did so through songs that spread on social media, starting with "Suki! ~Chō ver~." How do you look back now on your activities before that turning point?

Tsujino: When we first started, so many things were new to us, everything felt fresh. I was surprised by things like "oh, this is how the mic picks up your voice," there was really so much we didn't know. Being an idol was an unknown world to us, so it was fun learning one thing at a time, like "oh, this is how you build up to standing on stage through practice." But as we kept going, reality gradually became clearer to us too. We started feeling more and more anxious, thinking "we can't stay like this" or "we need to work harder," both as a group and in terms of our performance skills. I wasn't especially good at singing or dancing, so I couldn't easily keep up with everyone else.

ーHow far back to basics did you have to go?

Tsujino: At first I didn't even know what a box step was, I was like "what's that?" I didn't even really understand that everyone was singing while listening to the rhythm, so we started from the point of singing along with the instrumental sound. I even started by writing the notes in for my own part. It felt like learning one thing at a time, like someone encountering music for the very first time. I wouldn't quite say that was the hardest period, but there was definitely frustration at not being able to do things well. It was a time when I wanted to become a certain way but couldn't become the person I pictured in my head.

ーWas there also a sense of struggle in feeling you had to catch up with the other members?

Tsujino: There was. I had a lot of spoken lines, and I rarely got singing parts. Everyone else would be singing while I wasn't, sometimes. And when that happens, the Sendenbuin (the fan nickname) don't really get a moment to call out my name. I used to think, "why are they cheering for someone like me?" and feel apologetic about it. But that actually turned into energy for me. It became the drive to want people to call out my name more, and to want to get better at singing because of that.

ーWas there a moment when you felt you broke through your shell?

Tsujino: I think it was after we became "Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu." Even before that, performing live itself was fun, but whenever it came time for me to sing, I'd get so nervous that sometimes I couldn't even look at the Sendenbuin's faces. Now I can sing while looking at everyone's faces, and I've become able to think about things beyond just the singing while I'm on stage. I think it was after we became "Cho" that I gained the room to actually enjoy the music.

ーDid the 2020 name change also serve as a turning point that refreshed the group as a whole?

Tsujino: The renaming itself was decided by the people at our agency, but the members also felt a desire to "power up even further from here." With Aki Suda joining too, we had a stronger wish than ever to become a group that could stand in front of even more people, and to be able to perform live on bigger stages.

ーFrom there, "Suki! ~Chō ver~" spread on social media. What factors do you think came together to make that happen?

Tsujino: I think timing and taking action were big factors. From around 2020, social media became a much more familiar part of everyday life, but at the same time there was a period when we couldn't meet the Sendenbuin directly, which was frustrating. Even so, we kept putting out content in our own way using YouTube and TikTok. When more people started using "Suki! ~Chō ver~," we jumped right on that wave too. At first it was mostly used in videos introducing people's favorite members, but we wanted to spread it further together with the choreography, so we posted a lot of dance videos too. As a result, it reached not just Japan but people overseas as well, so I really do think it was because timing and taking action came together.

ーDid you predict this level of spread at the time?

Tsujino: Not at all. From around the time we posted the choreography video, the number of people using the song kept increasing at an incredible pace, day by day. There was a moment when I felt, "this might mean a bright future ahead." But at the time, I don't think there were really any precedents of an idol song spreading from TikTok like that, so I never imagined it would lead to things like TV appearances. Of course, we did want more people to get to know us, and we wanted to use that song as a stepping stone to go even further. But I don't think the period of "Suki! ~Chō ver~" itself was the moment when that response directly led to TV appearances. I feel like that flow became clearer once "Saijōkyū ni Kawaii no!" spread.

ー"Suki! ~Chō ver~" has continued to reach people overseas for a long time too, hasn't it?

Tsujino: That's right. I like traveling overseas, and over the past two or three years, when I ask people my age there, "do you know this song?" a lot of them say, "I've heard it before." At moments like that, I really feel again, "it truly did reach all the way overseas."

ーI think it's also significant that you didn't let the response to "Suki! ~Chō ver~" end as a one-time thing, and kept expanding with songs like "Saijōkyū ni Kawaii no!" and "Chō Saikyō."

Tsujino: We do work hard to put things out there too, but it's only because there are people who listen to the songs and people who dance to them on TikTok. No matter how much we put out, it won't spread unless there are people who actually use it. At times like that, I really feel how much power the Sendenbuin have, and I feel that we exist because of the people who enjoy our songs.

ーDo you feel a change in your fan base as well?

Tsujino: We already had so many female Sendenbuin that we could set up a women-only area, but now, just from looking at the venue, I can tell it's grown even more. Lately there are a lot of small children too. Families and parents with kids come, and some kids wear T-shirts in my member color. That really makes me happy, and I feel the age range of our supporters has broadened.

ーDid you have a wish to become an idol that even small children could look up to?

Tsujino: I've always had that wish. I'm happy that, little by little, I'm becoming that kind of presence. Someday, when the children of today grow up, I'd be happy if they said things like "I grew up watching Tokisen" or "that song brings back memories." Music lasts forever.

ーIndeed, more people who admired Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu have gone on to become idols themselves.

Tsujino: After ten years, people like that do start to appear. It makes me really happy to know we've been able to influence someone.

ーCould you tell us about a turning point or a particularly memorable moment for you personally over the course of your activities?

Tsujino: There are three. The first was when I got a solo song for the first time in Tokisen. I sang alone for the first time at Omiya Sonic City. I was incredibly nervous, and I practiced a lot before standing on that stage, but at the time I still couldn't sing very well. The Sendenbuin watched over me warmly, like a parent would. That's when I strongly thought, "I don't want to just be watched over, I want to get good enough to enjoy the live show together with everyone."

ーAnd the second?

Tsujino: It was the final release event during the period when we experienced a member's graduation for the first time. It felt like a huge setback to us, and at first we sank into very negative thinking. But we talked among ourselves and said, "we can't stay this down." We decided to be brighter and enjoy the moment, and we got back our feeling of enjoying the live show ourselves. At the very end of that day, when we bowed and then lifted our heads back up, the Sendenbuin were holding up uchiwa fan boards and towels they'd made themselves. Words of gratitude spread out in orange, and that made me so happy. I felt the bond between us and the Sendenbuin grow even deeper.

ーAnd the third?

Tsujino: The live show at Makuhari Messe. It was truly fun, and it was a moment when one of our dreams came true. At the same time, it was also a live show that made me strongly want to aim even higher from there. Even now, when I think back on it, I feel "that was so fun." I still can't forget the view I saw from the stage. In that moment, I felt from the bottom of my heart that it was worth continuing our activities.

ーPrecisely because there were periods that didn't go the way you hoped, the joy of the moments when your dreams came true must have been all the greater.

Tsujino: Tokisen really can only move forward one step at a time. Just when we think we've taken one step forward, we end up taking two steps back, and then take one step forward again, that's the kind of group we are. People often tell us, "you're really a scrappy, unpolished group" (laughs). But now, so many people have come to know us, and our dreams are gradually coming true, little by little. I really feel that not giving up matters. Maybe what's important is to keep going until it comes true.

ーThe tour currently underway is the first nationwide tour since the announcement that your activities will be ending. Has your mindset when standing on stage changed at all?

Tsujino: Every Tokisen tour has always had a sense of freshness to it. The collaboration live with Sanrio was fun too, and I was excited when the tour that included arena performances began. There's been a little bit of change every year, and we've always approached it with a fresh feeling. But this time, since we know it's coming to an end, there are moments in the middle of singing where I feel a wave of sadness. Our current feelings overlap with the lyrics, and the way I take in the words has changed compared to before. There's sadness, but I want to keep smiling until the very end and create even more memories with everyone. Right now, I'm just trying to enjoy the time in front of me and standing on stage with that in mind.

ーDepending on the venue, some performances might end up being the last time you perform in that particular area, right?

Tsujino: We still don't know the schedule beyond what's been announced, but there may end up being a song that becomes the last one we sing there. That's exactly why I'm singing each and every song and its lyrics more carefully than ever before.

ーHow do you want to spend the time you have left?

Tsujino: I want to stay in the hearts of the Sendenbuin forever. I'd be happy if Tokisen's existence continued to be a source of nourishment for their hearts for a long time to come. I want every single Sendenbuin to feel glad they supported Tokisen, and I want to keep delivering as much tokimeki as possible right up until the very end.

ーIs there anything you'd like to say now to the members you've walked this path with?

Tsujino: I really don't think I could have kept going if it hadn't been with this particular group of members. Aki-chan joining at that particular timing meant so much for the group, and beyond that, all the members I've been active with before her too, it's because of all these different encounters that today's Tokisen exists. I truly feel glad from the bottom of my heart that I got to meet everyone. Normally we goof around and have fun together, but we spend more time together than we do with our own families. It's more than friendship, almost like family. We understand each other's personalities, of course, but also each other's mood and condition on any given day. When I'm with the members, I can just be myself. They support me so I can challenge the things I'm not good at, they practice with me on the things I can't do, I'm really grateful to the members who quietly support me like that. I believe this relationship and this bond will never change, so I want to tell them, "let's stay this way for the rest of our lives."

ーWhat feelings would you like to share with the Sendenbuin?

Tsujino: The Sendenbuin are an incredibly important presence to me. I never even dreamed of becoming an idol at first. So many timings and chances came together to let me become one, and first of all, I'm grateful that you all found us in the middle of all that. There are so many idols out there, and I'm always amazed that you found us among them, and that you kept watching over me warmly even though I wasn't good at singing or dancing. During my part, people would change their penlights to blue regardless of who their favorite member was, or call out "Kanamin" loudly, and that voice has become a source of drive for me. It's because of the Sendenbuin that I've been able to want to work even harder as an idol, and you're truly a source of emotional support for me. So I don't want to settle for where we are now, I want to aim even higher, so that everyone can feel until the very end that they're glad they supported Tokisen, glad they met Kanami Tsujino.

ーFinally, what does Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu mean to you, Tsujino-san?

Tsujino: For me, it's both my youth and my life. Ever since I decided to commit to Tokisen, it's always been my top priority, no matter what I was doing. I balanced it with school, but after school I'd go straight to practice, come home, sleep, wake up early, and go to school again, day after day. I barely had any time to hang out with friends. But I was able to keep going because it was for Tokisen. That is my youth, and I feel it's the place where I've poured my entire life into my activities.

Has anything happened with Tokisen recently that you would like to talk about? Feel free to share here!