SEISHUN KAKUMEI: YOUR REVOLUTIONARY GIRLS: ysabelandrei

ysabelandrei

SEISHUN KAKUMEI: YOUR REVOLUTIONARY GIRLS

Aug 11, 2016 23:10

(c) Seishun Kakumei's facebook page

SEISHUN KAKUMEI, a group of young passionate individuals, is making their dreams come true! This Japanese pop cover group, also known as revolutionary girls, landed the 2nd place at the J-Pop Dance Contest held at SM Mall of Asia last July 25th, 2015. I had the chance to sit down and talk with the members after the said competition. Get to know more about these wonderful girls with this very first feature about SEISHUN KAKUMEI!

Present in the interview were:
Kang: “The onee-sama [eldest sister] of the group”
Satsunyan: “Very ikemen [beautiful] person”
Ciara: “I’m a cat.”
Sachi: “I’m Sachi, your resident mahou shoujo [magical girl]”
Jessica: “I’m the rapper of the group, the swagger, minsan nag-e-MC-MC rin.”
Rin: “A random tomato”
Donna: “I’m the newest member.”

“Walang initiation. Collective.” [No initiation. It was collective.]

Seishun Kakumei started as a J-Pop cover group when it was finally announced that there was going to be an event exclusively for Filipino J-Pop fans. The members openly expressed that it was a collective decision to start a cover group.

Sachi recalls that she and her friends were in one place when J-Pop Festival Kick-off Party was announced.“From the start naman idol fans na kami. So noong nagkaroon ng contest ng J-Pop Festival noong 2011, nasa bahay namin kami. First time na nagkaroon ng J-Pop idol contest noon. Yun lang yung nakita naming chance, finally”, Sachi happily exclaimed. [We were idol fans from the beginning. We were gathered together at my house when J-Pop Festival was announced in 2011. It was the first time we heard of a J-Pop idol contest here. That was finally our chance (to start).]

Jessica further adds that it started as out a joke, but the joke became a real decision. “Walang initiation. Collective. Nagsimula siya sa joke. ‘Tara, cover tayo ng ganyan.’ Joke lang siya pero biglang, ‘bakit di natin siya seryosohin?’ Tapos naghanap na kami ng mga members.” [There was no initiation. Collective. It started as a joke. “Hey, let’s cover something.” It was only a joke, “but why not?” Then, we started looking for members.]

While Ciara was surprised yet happy to find out that they were going to compete for a J-Pop dance contest. “Actually, noong nagpasa sila ng application, bigla na lang nila sinabi na ‘kasali pala tayo guys.’ Hindi ako informed! May contest pala na sasalihan. Hindi ko alam.” (laughs) [When they passed the application, they just suddenly told me that we were competing. I was not informed! I was about to join a contest. I didn’t know.]

“If we were to go back to the humble beginnings… the hampaslupa beginnings…”

The exciting discussion about the group led to their humble beginnings.

Jessica excitedly remembers their fresh start, “Nagstart kami sa mga bahay-bahay namin, bahay ni Pau, bahay ni Sachi. Kasi noong time na yun, first time naming mag-dwell sa covers. Wala kaming kaalam-alam. Ginamit namin yung mga spaces ng mga bahay namin kase iyon yung mga may malalaking areas. Tapos noong J-Fest, matagal kaming nagprepare, 1-2 weeks straight. Halos everyday kami nag-papractice kasi maraming time noon at students pa kami. Tapos yung iba, free time. Pag may time, the longest is one month. Depende kung gaano kabilis iyong announcement. But, pag late yung announcement, pinipilit namin ng one day to one week.” [We started (practicing) in our homes, in Pau’s house, in Sachi’s house. It was the first time we dwelled on covers. We had no idea how to do it. We used the spaces in our homes because of the large areas. For J-Fest, we prepared for a long time, almost 1-2 weeks straight. We practiced almost everyday since we had lots of free time, and we were students. If we had more time (to prepare,) the longest would be one month. It also depended on how fast the announcement was.]

“We had to come back stronger this year.”

(c) Seishun Kakumei's facebook page

Seishun Kakumei landed 2nd place at the J-Pop Sing and Dance Contest!

When asked how long they prepared for the J-Pop Dance competition held at SM Mall of Asia, they proudly stated that there was time and effort invested for the contest. This was the second time that they joined the JICC competition. These revolutionary girls wanted to experience the stage again, but with a fierce comeback. All they could think of was to perform E-girls since this specific idol group executes difficult and powerful dance moves. The members are also huge fans of E-girls but they didn't have the chance to cover them until Cosmania 2014.

Jessica explains, “May chance na kami. May Cosmania so nagpractice kami sa bahay ni Kams (Satsunyan). O sige, ayaw kong isang beses lang siyang i-perform. So, ilang beses namin siyang ni-perform.” [We finally had the chance. There was Cosmania so we practiced at Kam’s (Satsunyan’s) place. We didn’t want to perform this set just once so we performed it over and over.]

The group danced to E-girls songs at Cosmania 2014, Tamashii Convention 2015, and in Kawaii PH #BeyondTheCutestDreams Book Launch. The preparation was indeed all year long.

(c) Seishun Kakumei's facebook page

Seishun Kakumei in Kawaii PH Book Launch: Beyond The Cutest Dreams

“Actually kung may chance, gusto naming magperform. Sino ba namang ayaw magperform di ba?”

Seishun Kakumei was officially recognized by one of their Japanese idol groups, 9nine. The dance cover video they submitted for the “Fan 9 Global Broadcasting Party”, an interactive event between the members of 9nine and their fans, was selected by Yoshii Kanae as 「世界まで行ってもうたんやで賞」. What’s more exciting is that the members are also open to the idea of someday performing in Japan!

Ciara excitedly remembers, “Noong nagpasa kami nung video na yun, maraming nagpass, so nagulat kami. Noong napili kami ni Kan-chan (Yoshii Kanae), sabi pa noong staff na ‘pwede ba namin kayong tawagan for a video call. Tapos, mag-aappear kayo live sa F9GBP.’ Kahit na ‘di sya natuloy, andun yung fact na narecognize kami, so napakasaya. And then, actually kung may chance, gusto naming mag-perform. Sino ba namang ayaw magperform di ba?” [When we passed the video, there were lots of people who also passed so we were surprised. When we were chosen by Kan-chan (Yoshii Kanae), the staff asked us if they could call us for a video call. We would appear live on F9GBP. It didn’t push through, but the fact that we were recognized made us really happy. Actually, if there’s a chance, we want to perform (in Japan). Who doesn’t want to, right?]

For the video they sent to 9nine’s Fan 9nine Global Broadcasting Party, head to their facebook here.

Screencaps from their 9FGBP entry

Pizza is one of their favorite food

Stated at one of their interests on their Facebook page is pizza! Armed with curiosity, I asked the group what’s the story about pizza. We later found out that five of their members can eat one huge monster pizza within a short span of 10 minutes!

Kang describes their experience, “Kasi dun sa practices namin, parang individually, matatakaw naman kami, parang we amplify each other’s katakawan. The pizza inside joke started sa house namin. Nag-order kami ng monster pizza this big [as big as a one meter table]. We split it among five members. Hindi tumagal ng 10 minutes. Five girls and one monster pizza in less than 10 mins. Tapos parang, nag-progess na yung love of food nung nag-sastart na kaming magpractice sa bahay ni Kams [Satsunyan]. Her mom will go out of her way to prepare us food. And when we say barrio fiesta, literal na barrio fiesta. If we ever do have disagreements, it’s over food. We feel passionate over food.” [During our practices, we eat a lot of food. We amplify each other’s hunger. The pizza inside joke started at our house. We ordered a monster pizza this big (as big as a one meter table). We split it among five members. It didn’t last 10 minutes. Five girls and one monster pizza in less than 10 minutes. Our love for food progressed when we started practicing at Kams’ (Satsunyan) place. Her mom will go out of her way to prepare us food. And, when we say barrio fiesta, it’s literally a barrio fiesta. If we ever do have disagreements, it’s over food. We feel passionate over food.]

“If we want to achieve something, we’re going to do something about it.”

The group reveals that they have common traits, which are being very passionate and determined. They uncover that having the same attitude sticks them together.

Jessica spells out, “Kahit one week na deadline ng something ng submission, gagawan namin ng paraan kung gusto namin talagang sumali. I think yun yung pinaka-common sa amin. Kasi kahit pare-pareho yung interests pero kung di magkakatugma yung ugali namin, di kami magtatagal eh.” [Even if the deadline of submission is just one week, we will make a way if we really want to join. I think that’s the very common trait we have. We can have the same interests, but if we didn’t jive, we wouldn’t last this long.]

Kizuna (Bond)

(c) Seishun Kakumei's facebook page

The young women behind Seishun Kakumei reveals that their friendship is the best achievement they have attained.   Sachi unveils, “Minsan kasi parang, pag nasa ganitong klase ng group kayo, parang ang hirap magform ng friendship outside it, lalo kung iba-iba yung priorities niyo. Pero since we were already friends prior to the formation of SK, as we perform, mas lalong nagiging strong yung bond namin that was already there from the start. So, parang, maybe it’s not just the common interest but it’s also because of having each other.” [Sometimes it seems like being in this kind of group makes it hard to form friendship outside it, especially if the members’ priorities are different. But since we were already friends prior to the formation of SK, as we perform, the bond that was already there from the start only becomes stronger. So maybe it’s not just the common interest but it’s also because of having each other.”]

Jessica further points out, “Marami rin kaming di common points, marami rin kaming mga differences. Pero, all the more na dahil may ganitong differences kaya na-reconcile namin yun.” [We also have many differences. But, the differences all the more help us reconcile.]

Satsunyan adds that their group’s unique trait is being able to both sing and dance at the same time, and counts this as one of their achievements. They won’t stop until they’ve tried something they want to do. “Nagkaroon kami ng sing and dance na numbers, like, ‘di naman lahat kami kayang pagsabayin yung sing and dance, pero gusto pa rin naming i-try. Katulad ni Rin, hindi siya yung best of health kung kaya ba niyang pagsabayin yung sing and dance na sobrang active yung dancing part. Syempre, hindi kami mag-gi-give up without even trying.” [We had sing and dance numbers, too. Not everyone in the group can do both singing and dancing at the same time, but we wanted to try anyway. Like Rin, she’s not in the best of health and even doubted if she could sing while also actively dancing. But we didn’t want to give up without even trying.]

“Make it work!”

(c) Seishun Kakumei's facebook page

Seishun Kakumei proves that if you want to do something then you have to make time and find ways for it. Rin advises to aspiring performers, “Never give up and set your goals right. Kung gusto mo talaga, may paraan. Kung ayaw, maraming dahilan.” [Never give up and set your goals right. If you really want to do it, there’s always a way. If you don’t want to, you’ll have your excuses.] Donna further adds, “Tiwala sa sarili.” [Trust yourself.] Then, Ciara encourages, “Make it work!” Sachi emphasizes to “Make time for what you want to do.”

Future Plans

Seishun Kakumei plans to perform this Cosmania in October, and possibly in Kawaii in Manila 3! They also have new endeavors that they want to try so let’s all stay tuned on their social media accounts!

SEISHUN KAKUMEI: YOUR REVOLUTIONARY GIRLS

(c) Seishun Kakumei's facebook page

Seishun Kakumei is currently composed of 8 lovely passionate girls from the Philippines. These young ladies are Jessica, Sachi, Ciara, Kat, Kang, Satsuki, Rin, and Donna. This J-Pop cover group specializes in doing dance covers of popular Japanese idols such as AKB48, Morning Musume, S/mileage, Tokyo Girls’ Style, AAA, 9nine, and E-girls, which they perform in Jpop/Anime conventions and similar events.

#beyondthecutestdreams, seishun kakumei