[Interview] "Kare na Ivory" Teramoto Rie and Fukuda Hinata talk about what made them want to become idols and their aspirations for their major debut! What they like about each other too!

The idol group "Karen na Ivory" (abbreviated as "Kareai") is sound produced by the creator unit "HoneyWorks."
With the addition of four new members at their third anniversary live show in October last year, the group now has 10 members and will be releasing their major label debut album, "Shiro Ja Irarenai," on January 3th.

This time, we interviewed Rie Teramoto (22 years old) and Hinata Fukuda (23 years old)! They talked about what they like about each other as well as what to listen for in the album. (Interviewed in Osaka City on December 2rd)

Rie Teramoto (left) and Hinata Fukuda (right)

What made you want to become an idol?

--Please introduce yourself!

Teramoto: I'm Teramoto Rie, also known as "Riitan," in charge of the lovely ivory red color!

Rie Teramoto

Fukuda: I'm Fukuda Hinata, also known as "Fukuhinya," and I'm in charge of the lovely ivory yellow color!

Hinata Fukuda

Both: Nice to meet you!

--Thank you very much! Yesterday (December 12nd), you held the Osaka performance of your major debut commemorative tour in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. How was it?

Teramoto: We mainly perform in Tokyo, so we were very happy that so many people from the Kansai area, who we don't usually get to see, came to see us. It was a concert that made me really want to perform on a bigger stage with all our beloved fans.

Fukuda: I realized that there are a lot of people who support us outside of Tokyo. I want to be more active in Tokyo and be able to perform live all over the country.

--I watched the evening performance, and I'm convinced that Kareai-san can definitely perform on an even bigger stage.

Both: Thank you!

--During the MC at the evening show, you mentioned how excited you were to try Osaka's specialty delicacies, "Uncle Rikuro's Cheesecake" and takoyaki, in the dressing room. Are there any other Osaka delicacies you like?

Teramoto: I love the "Mitarashi Komochi" which is a rice cake with mitarashi bean paste inside, so I always buy it! All the members love it, so some of them buy about three boxes (laughs).

Fukuda: For me, it's takosen. I remember having it at a food stall and it was delicious, but I don't get the chance to eat it very often, so I'd like to eat it again after a long time!

--During the MC, you talked about what made you want to become an idol. Please tell us that story again now.

Teramoto: I studied abroad in America for almost a year from my first to second year of high school. However, I'm shy and not good at interpersonal relationships, so it was hard for me to make friends. Also, there were cultural differences between Japan and America, so I was having a hard time every day. Then, I watched the music video for =LOVE's "Want you! Want you!" on YouTube and it really cheered me up. It made me want to become an idol and be someone who could give people energy.

--So it all started with ＝LOVE. Now you're a fan of Nogizaka46's Nana Ogi (laughs).

Teramoto: You know me! (laughs)

--I saw the photo of you and Ogi Nana that was posted on social media, and the tension is palpable.

Teramoto: I was so nervous. My legs were shaking so much (laughs).

--What made you want to become an idol?

Fukuda: I've loved AKB48 since I was a child, and I used to collect merchandise and admired idols, but in middle and high school I was all about club activities and never really thought about becoming an idol myself... I graduated from high school in 2020 and started my dream university life, but then the COVID-XNUMX pandemic hit and I could only take online classes, so I couldn't make any friends and was going through a frustrating time when I saw an advertisement for an audition for the group, and since it was produced by HoneyWorks, who I love, I thought "now is the time!" and applied right away.

--Fukuhinya is a fan of AKB48's Chiba Eri, right?

Fukuda: I love it!

●What do you like about each other?

--Reiwa Roman, who won the "M-1 Grand Prix 2024", appeared live on a show right after and answered the question "What do you like about each other?" So, I would like to ask the two of you to answer the same question. What do you like about Riitan?

Fukuda: He's the center on stage and is really cool, but in everyday life he's like a baby (laughs). He's usually clumsy and has a weird way of running, and that contrast is cute. Also, he's very tsundere with the other members and fans, not lovey-dovey. Even when he's praised, he acts tsundere to hide his embarrassment, which is cute.

Teramoto: I'm a 22-year-old adult, so I don't understand why people call me a baby (laughs).

Fukuda: Our member Akari Shibasaki often touches him and says, "Your cheeks are like a baby's♡" (laughs)

Teramoto: Everyone touches me. Akari-chan has a soft touch, just stroking me, but Nanasa Odagiri touches me really hard (laughs).

--It seems that Riitan doesn't want to be treated like a baby, but the other members think that's what's cute about her. What do you like about Fukuhinya?

Teramoto: It's only been three years since I met Hinnya, but it feels like we've been friends for over 3 years. She's cheerful, has great communication skills, and is fun to talk to. Also, her innocence is cute! Hinnya is 20 years old, but she loves Anpanman, and when she sees Anpanman, she runs off screaming, "It's Anpanman!" I may be a baby, but Hinnya is a five-year-old (laughs).

Fukuda: It's true that I like Anpanman, so I can't deny it even if people call me a 5-year-old (laughs), but the other members often say that we've always been friends. I don't really know why, but maybe it's because of the distance? Too close?

Teramoto: I feel like she's really into me. I'm quite shy, so I'm happy about that. Also, I think it's great that Hinya is so honest and says "Teach me!" when she doesn't understand something about the choreography.

●Behind the scenes stories from the music video for "Girls and Ivory" revealed!

--It was announced that you would make your major debut at a live concert in June 2024. How did you feel at that time?

Teramoto: I was happy because it was my dream to release a CD. But it was a surprise, so I was shocked! I had heard that there would be an announcement for auditions for new members, but when they announced "Major debut!", I was so shocked I couldn't close my mouth.

Fukuda: We had been talking amongst ourselves about how we wanted to make our major debut, but to do that we needed to improve our skills and become better known, so I was surprised! I'll do my best to live up to those expectations.

--You met the four new members in September. What was your impression when you first met them?

Fukuda: It can be summed up in one word: cute!

Teramoto: I'm quite shy, so I was really worried about whether I'd be able to get along with all the new members, and I think there was a distance between us at first, but I'm glad that we've become good friends now.

--Your major debut album "Shiro Ja Irarenai" will be released on January 1th. What are the highlights of the album?

Teramoto: I think this is an album that will allow you to feel the history of lovely Ivory.

Fukuda: The first limited edition includes all of our songs from when we debuted on stage, including a cover of HoneyWorks. They're all new recordings, so I hope you'll listen and pay attention to the voices of the 12 of us now.

--What do you recommend about the lead song, "Shojo-tachi to Ivory"?

Teramoto: The best part is how the choruses are sung differently. I think it's really emotional when the eight original members sing "We'll connect you with care" and then the four new members sing "We'll deliver it to you with care."

Fukuda: When I first read the lyrics, I was really struck by the lines in the first chorus, "The brave wounds keep increasing," and the second chorus, "Even though we were soaking wet, we weren't cold. We warmed each other up and laughed." It wasn't a smooth road for us in the three years leading up to our major debut, so I think HoneyWorks expressed that.

--The music video for "Shojotachi to Ivory" has also been released. What are the highlights?

Teramoto: The story is about four new members boarding a ship with eight original members. Our leader, Nagao Rio, is the captain, and I use binoculars to search for the new members. Each of us has our own role, so I hope you will pay attention to that as you watch.

Fukuda: I think the scene where the eight original members are on the staircase and the four new members join them best represents the lovely Ivory of today.

--This music video expresses Kareai's new start. Please tell us some behind-the-scenes stories from the filming.

Teramoto: We actually filmed on a boat at sea, but it was winter so it was cold, so we gathered in groups of four and kept each other warm, just like the lyrics say (laughs).

Fukuda: We warmed each other up (laughs). Also, we were filming in Shizuoka, and Remirin (Tsuchiya Reimi) is from Shizuoka, so her family brought us some sweets! All the members love sweets, so they disappeared in no time (laughs).

Teramoto: I received a lot of them (laughs). Also, the four of us - Hinya, Remirin, Nanasa (Odagiri Nanasa), and I - had a high kick championship (laughs).

Fukuda: I did it! (laughs)

Teramoto: We were competing to see who could lift their leg the highest while taking photos, but we haven't decided on a winner yet (laughs).

-Finally, please tell us your aspirations for 2025.

Teramoto: We will be making our major debut, so I hope that this year will be one where our music reaches people overseas as well as in Japan. Recently, my TikTok video went viral, recording 1600 million views (as of January 2025, it has exceeded 1 million views), and I have received many comments from overseas, so I would like to spread the name of the lovely Ivory through it!

--If you were to perform a live concert overseas, where would you like to go?

Teramoto: When I was in junior high school, I read a book about France in the school library and ever since then I've wanted to go to France, so I'd love to perform a live show in France. I'd also like to go back to America, where I studied abroad, as a kind of triumphant return to my second home!

--What are Fukuhinya's aspirations?

Fukuda: I hope that by making our major debut, people will be able to feel our presence even closer to them. I hope that we will appear on TV and radio a lot, and that people will get to know the quality of the songs produced by HoneyWorks and the charms of our members!

-Is there any show in particular that you would like to appear on?

Fukuda: I want to appear on "Music Station"! I've been watching it since I was a child, so I've always wanted to be on the show, and I think it would be a good way to give back to my family and relatives who have always supported me, so I'll do my best to be able to appear on the show!

[Interview, text and photos by Potter Hirai]

◆Karina Ivory Official Site
Lovely Ivory (karennaivory.jp)

◆ Major debut album "Shiro ja Iranai" product details
Major debut album "Shirojairarenai" track list & jacket photo revealed! | Karennaivory (karennaivory.jp)

◆ Major debut album "Shiro ja Irarenai" release commemorative event
Major debut album "Shiro ja Irarenai" release commemorative event January information released! | Karennaivory (karennaivory.jp)

◆ "Girls and Ivory" MV

View on youtube

[Amazon.co.jp exclusive] Shiro Ja Irarenai (first press limited edition) with mega jacket (randomly autographed by the members)

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