Cho Tokimeki♡ Sendenbu — Tokimeki Egao Interview
Wrapping Up the 10th Anniversary Year with the Best "Tokimeki Egao"!

Cho Tokimeki♡ Sendenbu, who celebrated their 10th anniversary on April 11, 2025, released their new album Tokimeki Egao on March 4th, bringing their 10th anniversary year to a close. We asked all six members about their passionate feelings toward the album, as well as each member's personal favorite track!

Juri: Every time we release something, we get to show everyone a new side of Tokisen. And I think this release is no different — it shows yet another new side of us. In particular, the "Chō Saikyō Solo ver." included in the KiT ALBUM of the first-press limited edition was re-recorded from scratch. We were able to record it after having sung the song extensively at lives and on music programs, so I really hope people pay attention to that.

Aki-chan: This time too, the first-press limited edition has individual member versions, and mine — "100000000万％愛♡" — is the very first solo song of my life, included in the "Aki Suda ver." I really want everyone to enjoy it!

Hiyorin: My solo song "来世でも誇れる人生をっ！" (A Life I Can Be Proud of Even in My Next Life!) is included in the "Hiyori Yoshikawa ver.", and I also wrote the lyrics myself, so I really want everyone to listen to it a lot. Also, the album Tokimeki Egao includes five songs with tie-ups. Up until now, we've always been promoting ourselves, but I think this really shows that after 10 years, we've finally reached a point where we get to be the ones doing the promoting for others.

Hito-chan: As everyone said, I think it's an album that's perfect as the wrap-up to our 10th anniversary. The lead track "笑顔で超感謝" (Egao de Chō Kansha / Super Thanks with a Smile) was sung with the feeling of "Thank you so much for supporting us all this way!" so I hope that sense of gratitude reaches everyone. Also, including the cool-style track "JIRI JIRI," every song is forward-looking. They're all songs that say "We want to keep pushing forward from here!" — so I'd be really happy if people could feel our strong determination in them.

Hiyorin: It's such a perfectly Tokisen song, isn't it?

Hito-chan: It's a very Tokisen-like song. I thought, "This is Tokisen, right here!"

Hiyorin: It really does capture Tokisen's essence, and it properly conveys gratitude. Even though it's an upbeat song, it feels like it could bring you to tears... When I sing it, something tugs at my heart.

Aki-chan: While I was recording, thoughts of all the fans, all the Sendenbuin who cheer us on, kept swirling through my mind. There are so many moving lyrics, and it's become one of my favorites.

Oharu: The lyrics are really just so wonderful. Lines like "Because you were there / I could keep going / Let me tell you: Thank you!" — it's something you couldn't easily say face-to-face, but I thought it's a message that can be conveyed through a song.

Hito-chan: That's so true. It's not only for the fans, but there are also feelings directed toward the members. Lines like "You pushed my back / So I could dream" and "Our meeting is the greatest treasure" and "I'll never forget you!" — we've spent 10 years together as these members, and I'm sure there were moments for each of us when we felt like we might break. But because everyone was always there together, we've been able to make it this far. So for me, this song holds gratitude not just for the Sendenbuin, but also for the members.

Juri: This song has a very straightforward feeling to me. It has a lot of the "超 (chō / ultra)" that's so characteristic of Tokisen — and "chō" isn't a word adults use that often, right? Rather than using difficult words, the song is full of words anyone can understand and that stick in your head. And things like "ニヤ♡" (a grinning smirk) and "テヘ♡" (a playful giggle) — words you don't normally say out loud — are used, and I thought that was a highlight too.

Kanamin: Hehe, it really does feel fresh. Our fans have always been cheering us on. There are dreams we were able to achieve because everyone was there, and when we were about to break down, it was also the fans and the members who gave us the strength to say "Don't give up, keep going!" So I want to tell the fans: "Even if things are tough at work or school, we're on your side, we'll always be by your side." I really love the sense of the message: "Don't forget about us."

Hito-chan: So, here's the thing... we wore school uniforms! Tokisen has a rule of "wear school uniforms at least once a year." Before the shoot, our manager called me over — "Got a minute?" — and I thought it was going to be something serious, but it turned out to be: "The next MV is going to have uniforms, is that okay with you?"

Oharu: It wasn't "is that okay?" — it was "You're wearing uniforms." I think the staff felt like they had to at least give the members a heads-up beforehand, just in case...

Hito-chan: The realization that we've reached an age where that sort of thing needs to be checked on... But that uniform scene was the most memorable part. There was a scene where we all walked in a line along the coast, talking and laughing together. It was the last music video I'd film with Juri, and I was happy that we could share that sense of youth together at the end.

Hiyorin: The filming location was Yokohama — the very city where Tokisen was born. A lot of our big lives have been held in Yokohama too, so I'd love for the Sendenbuin to go on a location tour. Having that place — Yokohama, with all those memories — as part of it felt very fitting for our 10th anniversary.

Kanamin: The dance was filmed indoors... surrounded by lots of balloons, it looked really cute, didn't it?

Oharu: There was a stage set, and we danced on top of it in the costumes we're wearing now. It has a very sparkly, glittery feel.

Juri: In my very first MV, "ときめき♡宣伝部のVICTORY STORY," I had a ponytail. Back then I didn't have bangs yet, so it was a full-up ponytail. I didn't have the courage to fully recreate that this time (laughs), but I did pull back my bangs a little more than usual to partly recreate it... choosing the look of a school uniform with a ponytail myself was a highlight for me. Yesterday I was looking back at the behind-the-scenes shots, and the sky was truly beautiful and clear. Everyone's smiles were so cute too, so please watch it lots!

Aki-chan: It was also the first time I showed my forehead in a music video! I'm a little worried, like, "Is it okay?"

Oharu: It was cute!

Hito-chan: Aki-chan is cute no matter what! Also, the day of filming was close to Juri's birthday. A while back, when filming an MV close to Kanamin's birthday, they surprised her with a birthday celebration. So Juri kept saying all day, "Is it going to happen for me today? It's about time, isn't it?"

Juri: I was saying it from the morning. But by evening I'd forgotten all about it... and then they surprised me, and I was genuinely so happy.

Oharu: And then, afterward, someone came up to me looking very apologetic, saying "I'm sorry it's a bit late, but since it's still January..." and handed me a cake that was one size smaller...

Kanamin: While Juri was loudly cheering "My cake is so big!" right next to you (laughs). "Isn't Oharu's smaller? Are you okay?"

Oharu: It was so funny, so I didn't mind at all.

Hito-chan: I think I would have been sulking.

Oharu: If anything, I was like, "I'm sorry, thank you for celebrating me" — but the way the person had to push through a crowd looking so apologetic to bring it to me was just hilarious.

── (laughs).

Kanamin: It was the first time I got to sing the opening in an MV, and I was so nervous for the TV performance. I was sweating from my palms since the morning of the day before, thinking, "Maybe I've never been this nervous in my life."

Hiyorin: Really? Were you that nervous?

Kanamin: I kept telling myself, "Stay calm, stay calm," and somehow got through it.

Oharu: When Hito-chan asked her, "Are you going to be okay?" she cut her off with, "I'm in the zone right now!"

Hito-chan: I said "sorry" (laughs). She was incredibly nervous, but Kanamin is the highlight of this song!

Kanamin: I think the lyrics are uniquely fitting for the social media age. I hope everyone smiles every day looking at their screens.

Hiyorin: I hope this song makes people think, "I want to see Tokisen more and more in person!" Though — the angel costumes were all pink, like everyone was dressed as a strawberry shortcake. Our outfits are usually flashy, but we've never all worn the same pink before, and we'd never done headdresses either, so we were all nervously saying "Is this going to be okay?" as we put them on. Personally I find them adorable and I love them, but what does everyone else think?

Kanamin: They're cute!

Aki-chan: The headdresses were a first for me, so I was a little worried.

Hito-chan: Aki-chan is cute no matter what (laughs).

Hiyorin: I think the angelic vibe really comes through in the outfits too. It's refreshing not to be in our member colors.

Oharu: But this song also carries a message that isn't entirely forward-facing. The fact that the lyrics aren't all positive is something I find really interesting. And since Noshi provided the song, both the sound and the way everyone sings has a slightly rock feel to it. The contrast between the cute visuals and the cool, edgy vibe is a great balance — listening to it, I thought, "This is so fun."

Juri: I also feel like this song contains the message of "accepting yourself." Even if something doesn't go well, or you make a mistake — the lyrics are saying you can love all of that too. I thought this is a song that will save a lot of people.

Kanamin: Mine is "私がチョコです♡" (I Am the Chocolate♡), which has been stuck in my head ever since I first heard it. I think it's a song you just can't help humming. It's full of Valentine's Day references, with lots of chocolate-related wordplay woven in, which is so cute. It's packed with playfulness and it's just a song I could listen to forever — I love it.

Hiyorin: I love it too, and it just won't leave my head. I want it to become a Valentine's Day classic. This year it's still just getting started, so I want to plant it deeper and deeper in everyone's minds leading up to next year!

Oharu: "Plant it"... (laughs)

Hiyorin: I want it to be like Sayuri Kokushō's "Valentine Kiss" — I want to spend the next year spreading it, getting everyone to know it. When we're grandmas, I want this song to still be playing!

Hiyorin: I can't decide between "キラキラミライ" (Kirakira Mirai / Sparkling Future) and "あっち向いてキュン" (Acchi Muite Kyun)...

Aki-chan: Me too — it's one of those two!

Juri: Mine is "Kirakira Mirai"!

Hiyorin: Then I'll go with "Acchi Muite Kyun." We've already performed it at a live, but it was the opening theme for a deep drama called Warui no wa Anata Desu (It's Your Fault), about a story of dangerous love. It made me feel like "Tokisen has entered a new phase" — and I think that "fallen too deep" feeling came through in the choreography and the performance too. I was extremely nervous the first time we performed it, though.

Hito-chan: The dance is difficult, isn't it?

Hiyorin: Yes! It's quite intense. One of the things I love about the choreography is the image of "five members forming a cage with their arms while the captive one dances in the middle." It's a song where you get to see a side of Tokisen that isn't just cute and carefree, so I really love it.

Aki-chan: It's so fun to dance and perform. It's also great for live shows — the dancing and singing are both so enjoyable, so it's a song I want to keep doing lots going forward.

Juri: It's just the epitome of "youth" for me — but even while singing it, it fills me with energy and makes me feel positive. I think everyone has times where things just aren't going well lately. When you listen to this song in those moments, it has words that make you think, "Yeah, I should just go to bed early and try again tomorrow" or "Worrying isn't going to help" — it really does feel true. Lines like "If you keep smiling no matter what / Happiness will come find you!" — I truly believe that. It's such an uplifting song that blows your worries away, and I want as many people as possible to hear it.

Aki-chan: The more I sing it, the brighter my future feels — it really makes me feel positive when I sing it, and I love it!

Oharu: Mine is "JIRI JIRI" — I love the contemporary sound. The lyrics feel like they're singing about Tokisen itself... the pre-chorus line about "the proof of our love burning in orange" feels like it's about the pen lights, and there's a line that says "this moment is the greatest, strongest, finest of all." The way the modern, cool style of the music balances with the very Tokisen-like lyrics is something I really love.

Hito-chan: My favorite is "開花宣言！" (Kaika Sengen! / Blooming Declaration!). The melody and the lyrics were so easy to sing — it felt like my voice just clicked right into place, and it's a song that feels really good to sing. It's the theme song for the movie Himitsu no Aikatsu: Mankai Buzzrium Live!, so I'm also looking forward to hearing it play in theaters. Having our song play in a movie theater is a pretty rare thing for us, so I want us all to go see it together. Kanamin has this really long part in it!

Hito-chan: I kept thinking, "There's still more of Kanamin's part, it's still going..." When I told Kanamin, "That was amazing!" she didn't say "Thank you" — she said "I'm freaking out..."

Kanamin: I'm scared for the actual performance (laughs). I've never sung a part that long before, so I'm going to have to really psyche myself up for it.

Hito-chan: And then the line after that — "It's a little embarrassing to put into words, but — this is a promise. I'll always be here for you!!!!!!" — that's something I want to convey to both the members and the Sendenbuin. So honestly, I'm worried about whether I'll be able to sing it without crying...

Hito-chan: It really does make you cry.

Oharu: Please, go ahead and cry (laughs).

Hiyorin: We do "Haru no Harestage" every year, but Pia Arena MM is a new venue for us, and it will be Juri's last show with us. The subtitle is "Cho Tokimeki♡ Sendenbu no VICTORY STORY," so I want it to be a live where you can see the VICTORY STORY of Tokisen going forward.

Aki-chan: We've actually been requesting the staff to "let us perform as many songs as possible!" — and I want it to be a live that never lets the Sendenbuin' hearts slip away.

Oharu: Just like the title of this album, I want it to be a live that lets the Sendenbuin move forward with a "Tokimeki Egao" — a heart-fluttering smile.

Kanamin: It will be our last live as a six-member group, but I want us to walk forward positively from here with smiles on our faces. I want everyone to feel, "These six really are the best." The Cho Tokimeki♡ Sendenbu that Juri helped build alongside us will continue going forward. And I want our fans to feel "I want to keep loving this new Tokisen, I want to keep supporting them" — so we're going to put everything we have into our performance.

Hito-chan: It's a venue where we've never performed before, and we're incredibly grateful to be doing two nights there. Since it will be Juri's last live... even after all these years, no matter how many times we've gone through goodbyes and hellos, you never really get used to it. I catch myself thinking that I don't quite want that day to come — but I want to send her off properly. And for everyone in the audience too — lots of you may be heading into new environments at this time of year. I want this to be a live that pushes your back and makes you think, "I'll do my best starting tomorrow!" Also, my personal goal is to try not to start crying right from the beginning. If I do, I won't be able to sing.

Juri: For me, performing the new songs from Tokimeki Egao that we haven't unveiled yet — this live will be both the first and the last time I get to do that. There's anxiety and nerves that come with a first performance... I have some worries about whether I can pull it off at a high level, but I want to prepare thoroughly and face it head-on. And more than anything, just as the title says, I want to perform with a "Tokimeki Egao" — a heart-fluttering smile. We do "Harestage" every year, but I want it to be a stage where not just the members, but every single Sendenbuin shines too — a Harestage that belongs to every single person there. And since it's a late-March live, like Hito-chan was saying, I want each and every Sendenbuin to walk away feeling not "sad" but "energized — I'm so glad I came." I want to bring smiles to as many people as possible, convey my gratitude with everything I have, and above all — make it a live with no regrets!

(End)

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