Interview] Momo Asakura releases new single "Pinky Hook. What is the complexity of a girl hidden in her cuteness?

Momo Asakura releases "Pinky Hook," the ending theme song for the TV anime "Kanojo mo Kanojo" as her ninth single. This pop number, written and composed by hit maker Sho Watanabe, has a certain heaviness and aggression in its cuteness, making it a song worth listening to.
In the music video (MV), Momo Asakura plays four completely different types of girls to match the world of the song. The coupling song "Futari Signal," which is about a long-distance relationship, and the stylish jacket photo make this an attractive single that expresses various aspects of girls!

The straightforward thoughts of a girl and the devilish side of a girl are included in this song, making it cute in every way!

─ ─ The new song "Pinky Hook" is the ending theme of the TV anime "Kanojo mo Kanojo". In a sense, "Kanojo mo Kanojo" is an outlandish story in that the main character, a boy, has multiple girlfriends, and the girls approve of each other.

Asakura: It's a situation that would never happen in real life, but the story is told with a gag touch, so I think the good thing about it is that it doesn't have a bad taste. Both the main character and the girls around him are too straightforward, which makes the story go in an interesting direction (laughs). I have never seen a harem story with this kind of content, and I thought it was new.

─ Every character is the type that says out loud everything that is on their mind. I guess the fact that everyone's thoughts are leaked out is the cute part of this work (laughs).

(laughs). Yes, that is the cute part. That's why the relationships are getting more and more complicated (laughs).

─ ─ For some reason, it makes me smile when I see it. The ending theme song "Pinky Hook" was also very cute. The lyrics and music were written by Sho Watanabe.

Asakura: First of all, Sho wrote two candidate songs for us to choose from. The one that became "Pinky Hook" had a bit of a devilish start and fit the worldview of the work, and it was a very stylish tune that I had never sung before, so I wanted to give it a try. I also gave them my requests for the lyrics, and they incorporated various ideas.

─ What was your impression of the finished lyrics?

Asakura: The lyrics represent what the girls in the story want to say and what they are thinking, but they are not focused on any one person. The lyrics are really straightforward, but there is also a devilishness to them, and they are cute in every way.

─ ─ "Thoughts? Heavy? Mainly affection" and many other plays on words are included, and the lyrics have a pop feel that matches the groove of the song.

Asakura: The tempo is good, and the lyrics are very familiar to the ear, with various rhymes using the same repetitive sounds. The lyrics are very pleasant to sing, so much so that I find myself humming them in my head on a daily basis.

─ ─ What does the title "Pinky Hook" mean?

Asakura: At first, I thought it might be an image of a cute accessory like a pinky ring. When I asked Sho-san about it, he told me that while it has that meaning, the word "hook" also expresses the aggressive side of a girl. I thought, "I see! Of course, it does not mean that she physically attacks the boy, but rather that she hits him with her heavy feelings because he is too straight (laughs). (Laughs.) Even though the story is written in a cheerful manner, there is still the aspect of competing for the boy in love, and I thought the title expressed the complex emotions of the girls in this work.

─ How was the recording?

Asakura It is a cute love song for high school students, so at first I was concerned that if I sang it in a cute way, it would sound like a character song. On the other hand, if I sang it in a more mature way, it would be out of step with the world of the work, so I tried singing it, listened to it, and exchanged opinions with the staff to find the best vocal balance for this song. As a result, I ended up singing the song in a rather cute way, with some nuances like lines in places.

───What kind of communication did you have with Sho Watanabe during the recording session?

Asakura He is always kind and basically praises me. He was able to convey my feelings to me, and I am grateful for that. For example, the same word is repeated three times in the B melody, "Kono suki wa narutte cheatuii," so I sang it with different nuances and she was happy to hear it. He also praised me for "Hey" at the end of the chorus, saying, "That's just as good as I expected.

─ ─ The groove of the song is very important in a song like this, so Sho Watanabe's words are very encouraging.

Asakura That's right. I am the type of person whose feelings directly affect the song, so before recording, I eat my favorite food to raise my spirits (laughs). (Laughs) Especially this time, I had some doubts in my mind before recording, so I carefully recorded the song with the help of the people around me. In fact, we recorded the first chorus again after we had finished recording the whole song.

The finished song is groovy and playful, and the vocals are refreshing, which I thought suited "Kanojo mo Kanojo" well. In the ending video, you show one cute image after another of the girls on the "pinky hook". This may be a bit off topic, but who was the character that you felt the most emotionally involved with?

Asakura Emotional involvement?　(laugh) If I had to guess, I would say that everyone is so over-the-top that I feel sorry for Saki (Saki) (laugh). (laughs) I think Saki is probably the girl who is closest to us, the viewers. She is always cheerful, and I think that's why we enjoy her work so much.

What is your impression of Nagisa?

Asakura: I think Nagisa is simply a favorite of everyone in the audience (laughs). She's cute, she can cook, and while she seems to take a step back, she's also a bit off-the-wall in some ways. All the other girls are cute, too. I think the best way to enjoy this work is to watch the slapstick of the characters without thinking too hard.

───So, what is your impression of the main character in question, Naoya (Mukai)?

Asakura: "If he existed in real life, what would he be like? (laugh), but it is rare to find a boy who is so straightforward with girls. I thought that part was wonderful. He is a boy who never lies.