[Interview] Mai Haruna passed the weather forecaster exam on her seventh attempt! What was her driving force?

Mai Haruna (2012), who was a member of the idol group "Takoyaki Rainbow" for about nine years from September 9 to July 2021 and is currently active in a wide range of genres as an actor and talent, revealed on her social media this spring that she had passed the weather forecaster exam, causing a huge reaction.

Why did she decide to take the weather forecaster exam, which is said to be extremely difficult? What kind of future does she envision? We spoke to her about her true feelings after just getting her weather forecaster qualification. (Interviewed in Osaka City on March 3st)

春名真依

When he started his solo career, he was prepared to start from zero.

--I'd like to ask Haruna Mai a question. Is it okay if I call you "Maimai," the nickname you've always called you?

Haruna: Yes! Please keep it as "Maimai" (laughs).

--I interviewed Maimai many times when she was active as "Takoyaki Rainbow" and covered her at events. Compared to then, how do you think you have grown as a person?

Haruna: At that time, even if I had an idea, if a member said, "This is the best!", I was the type to think about it together with them. Because when I was in a group, I thought that was the best. But, when I went from being in a group to working individually, I started to clarify my opinions, saying, "This is what I think." I also became a lot more active! If I think, "I want to go!", I'll go right away.

--Where have you been recently?

Haruna: I love eating, so I often go to food events. For example, there are all kinds of festivals like "Ramen Festivals" and "Gyoza Festivals." Recently I went alone to an outdoor event like "Sheep Festival," and ate lamb chops in the rain (laughs). Last year I also went to a music festival. Up until now I've been fortunate enough to be on the performing side, but I've never been on the watching side. I went alone too, so it was lonely (laughs).

-You also went to the event "Sakuma Nobuyuki's All Night Nippon 0 (ZERO)" (Nippon Broadcasting System), right?

Haruna: I went! Yokohama Arena! By myself (laughs)

--It seems like you go alone quite a bit (laughs). When I had the opportunity to watch the "Iginari Tohoku San" live performance from the staff seats, Maimai and Hori Kurumi-chan were there together, and I thought it was great that they were keeping a close eye on their juniors in the agency.

Haruna: When I was an idol in a group, I used to watch other groups' live performances from a work perspective, like "Oh, so there's another way to express yourself like this", but now I can enjoy them honestly. I genuinely feel like saying "Everyone, do your best! If you're having a hard time, tell me anything!" I think I can think that way because I've experienced a lot as Takoyaki Rainbow.

--After "everyone graduated" from "Takoyaki Rainbow," there were probably many options for what path to take. Please tell us how and why you decided to go solo.

Haruna: Ever since I was a child, I loved watching dramas with my family, and somewhere in my heart I always had the desire to appear in a drama. A few years before I graduated from the group, I had more opportunities to appear on stage, and I realized how excited I felt when I opened a script. This feeling that I wanted to act became stronger, and I decided to pursue this path.

--You're currently mainly active on the stage, but you also appear at live shows and events.

Haruna: When it came time to go solo, I had made a big decision. I'd been active as an idol up until that point, but the path I was taking from now on would be a start from zero, so I thought I wouldn't rely on my past self and would just take it one step at a time, thinking that no one knew me. But I've had many opportunities to work with people I'd worked with when I was an idol in different ways, so I realized it wasn't a start from zero after all.

●You graduated from Kansai University two years ago! What was the topic of your graduation thesis that won you an award?

--Maimai graduated from Kansai University, a prestigious university in the Kansai region, in March 2023, but you didn't make public the fact that you attended the university, right?

Haruna: That's right. I didn't say that.

--It must have been very difficult to take the university entrance exam while working as an idol.

Haruna: Of course I worried about whether or not to take the university entrance exam, but I had been studying hard for a long time and I was curious to see how far I could go, so I thought, "I'm sure I'll be able to hold my head up high in four years, so I'll do my best!"

--I enrolled in 2019, and the following year the COVID-XNUMX pandemic hit.

Haruna: It was a tough environment, but I studied to the best of my ability. Because classes became online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was able to attend classes even when I was in Tokyo to participate in stage rehearsals, and I think it was also a time when I could learn a lot of things.

By the way, what faculty are you in?

Haruna: Sociology department.

--When you graduated from Kansai University, you received the "Outstanding Graduation Research Thesis Award." Did you write your graduation thesis on a topic that was appropriate for the Department of Sociology?

Haruna: I found the classes taught by a professor who specializes in language and communication very interesting, so I joined his seminar, and wrote my graduation thesis on a theme that combined what he taught me about "communication" with "idols," a genre I'm good at, while collecting data and taking into account my own experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to write about how the COVID-19 pandemic has made idols and their fans feel more distant physically, but closer psychologically.

●Once you obtain your weather forecaster qualification, it will become a weapon for your future battles!

--Maimai passed the weather forecaster exam this spring! Congratulations!

Haruna: Thank you!

--It is said that the pass rate is about 5%, so how did you feel when you passed such an incredibly difficult hurdle?

Haruna: I had been studying for four years, so I thought, "Finally..." The exam numbers of successful applicants are announced that morning, but I was so scared to check it against my own exam number... Since there aren't many successful applicants, it's normal to skip 4 places. So when I found my exam number, I was filled with the feeling of "There it is! Finally..."

--The weather forecaster exam is held twice a year, so how many times did you take it?

Haruna: It was my seventh time. I had seen my exam number not be there six times before, so I was very happy.

--That must make you feel like, "Finally..." Were you confident that you would pass this time?

Haruna: I was confident, but I thought that if I expected too much, the shock of failing would be too great and I wouldn't be able to get back up... But the feeling was clearly different from before, so I felt that I had acquired the skills properly. The weather forecaster exam consists of two multiple choice written exams and a practical exam in which you write using materials, and if you pass the written exam, you are exempt from taking exams for one year. I passed both written exams a year ago, but I couldn't take the exam last summer due to work, so I decided to put everything into the practical exam in January of this year, and for the past year I have been studying and solving past exam questions.

--What was particularly difficult about studying for the weather forecaster exam?

Haruna: There is a lot to learn. You need a wide range of meteorological knowledge. Of course there is the weather, but there are also a lot of calculations to do, and you have to learn about the universe and science... I studied alone, looking at textbooks and reference books, so it may have been difficult for me to identify my weak areas.

--You were completely self-taught without any teachers. When you announced on social media on March 3 that you had passed the weather forecaster exam, you said, "There were times when I was discouraged by a wall that was too high for me to stand up." How did you overcome that?

Haruna: I think it's because I hate to lose. There were many times when I found it difficult, but I think there aren't many former idols who have a weather forecaster license, so I felt like "I'll definitely pass and become a pioneer!"

-What made you become interested in becoming a weather forecaster in the first place?

Haruna: I've always loved looking at the sky, and I'd think, "The blue sky is so beautiful," and take pictures of it, but I realized I didn't know anything about it. Then I found out there was a weather forecaster exam, and I learned that it was very difficult, but I thought that if I could obtain my weather forecaster qualifications, it would become a weapon for me to use in my future battles (in the entertainment industry), and it would also be an opportunity for people to get to know me, so I decided to take the exam.

--I imagine there was a lot of reaction when you passed the weather forecaster exam.

Haruna: I was surprised to receive so many (congratulatory comments)! The members of Star Planet also sent me a lot of comments, which made me really happy. I'm currently working hard in a different place, but I wanted to show them by example that there are other paths like this.

-What about from your family?

Haruna: My parents were the happiest of all. They listened to me when I thought "Maybe I can't pass now...", and when I failed, they encouraged me by saying "Next time, I'll definitely pass!" I think I was able to pass thanks to their support, so I'm very grateful. After the results were announced, they immediately bought me a cake and we ate it together as a family.

-What do you do to reward yourself?

Haruna: I was so immersed in the sense of accomplishment of having passed that I hadn't really thought about anything else yet.

-What are your future goals as a weather forecaster?

Haruna: I'd love to be a weather girl! Many years ago, several people told me at the same time that "Maimai, you look like someone who could be a weather girl," and that was one of the reasons I wanted to become a weather forecaster, so I'd love to be a weather girl. Also, if there is a weather-related role or production in a stage play or drama, I think I'd be able to use the knowledge I've learned to the fullest to help create it, so I'd love to be of help.

-Finally, please give a message to our readers!

Haruna: I think some of you may have found out about me when I announced that I had passed the weather forecaster exam. I believe this is also fate, so please support Haruna Mai, who is from Kansai, tall (170cm), and a certified weather forecaster!

[Interview, text and photos by Potter Hirai]

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