INTERVIEW: ATARASHII GAKKO! Talk About Their Plans for World Domination

In January of last year, Japanese music group ATARASHII GAKKO! dropped made their international debut with the single "NAINAINAI." Millions of subscribers and views later, and they have made their mark all around the world!

Ahead of ATARASHII GAKKO!'s performance at San Diego Comic Con as part of the Crunchyroll Concert Series, we had the opportunity to talk with the group about their music, their aspirations, and how exactly they filmed that "Pineapple Kryptonite" video. Each member of AG! also provided us with their top 10 favorite anime, so be sure to check that out over here!

Crunchyroll: I have a pretty easy first question: how did ATARASHII GAKKO! first form as a group?

ATARASHII GAKKO!: Time brought us together! And that's how we formed AG!

In previous interviews, you all have talked about wanting to spread the charm of Japan. What elements of Japan are you excited about sharing with overseas fans?

AG!: A part of it is spreading the humbleness and humility of Japanese culture. But, through our dance, we also want to express the cultural beauty of Japan. For example, we sometimes make a beat on our own backs in order to sound like taiko drums. We try to express culture through our dance in ways like that.

That really shows. Fans in the US really feel the uniqueness of the dances.

MIZYU: That makes me happy!

So, lots of pop groups try to maintain a pure image through sort of reserved music, but ATARASHII GAKKO! is pretty wild and edgy. Has it been challenging to find success while staying true to yourselves?

SUZUKA: We're really excited and interested in doing this wild and edgy sort of music and dancing. Rather than being the same as everyone, we want to stay ourselves and stay unique. 

KANON: We're really attracted to this sort of style and performance. It's really natural for us.

I think that's part of why people overseas have loved your music so much — because it's so interesting. So energetic! And you can tell that you're all really being yourselves.

The viral music video for "NAINAINAI"

So, "NAINAINAI" was your international debut, and it was a pretty big hit here in the US! How did it feel to know that your music was being listened to all around the world?

SUZUKA: When we wrote "NAINAINAI," we tried to use Japanese that was easier to pronounce so that people outside of Japan could sing along. Then, through the choreography, we tried to make it easy to dance along, too. We were so excited when we went to the US and saw people singing and doing the choreography with us.

"NAINAINAI" was the first song I heard from you and it made me so happy when I listened to it!

SUZUKA: That's great!

The Japanese sailor school uniform is your group's signature. What about that uniform do you think makes it so popular around the world?

KANON: I think it's that the uniform is really Japanese, like it's unique to Japanese style. I think people also see it in anime a lot, like in Sailor Moon. That might be why they're so familiar with the uniform and respond so strongly to it.

I really think Pineapple Kryptonite had an amazing music video.

AG!: Thank you!

What was it like to film it? It looked like a crazy time with that alien costume and everything.

MIZYU: We made a storyboard with our producer, Money Mark, from scratch. We wanted the concept to be very fantastical. We also felt like it had to be filmed in California. 

So you all helped develop the whole concept for the video?

AG!: Yes.

It really shows! It feels like a product of your wonderful brains.

SUZUKA: It helped that Money Mark has such a fantasy-oriented brain! Our brains combined to create this video. 

Did you all choose the costume that you wore in the video?

SUZUKA: We went to vintage and second hand stores to choose the costumes, and we really tried to make outfits that represented an American family.

You got it so right! 

The music video for "Pineapple Kryptonite"

So, next question: Are you all fans of the Beastie Boys? I really loved your cover of "Intergalactic."

KANON: Money Mark said that we have the same energy as the Beastie Boys. We learned about their music and really began to respect them. 

I can see that, you both have really energetic performances. Was it challenging to rap a Japanese translation of English lyrics?

SUZUKA: Instead of doing a direct translation, we instead tried to capture the sound of the English lyrics. We used Japanese that captured the sound and the rhythm more than directly capturing the meaning of the original so it's a lot more fluid to sing along with.

I have to ask since I work for Crunchyroll: are any of you fans of anime or manga? If so, what are some of your favorites?

KANON: I'm a big otaku. I love anime. I'm watching Dr. Stone right now.

RIN: I love manga! I'm reading To Your Eternity. It really amazed and shocked me in the best way possible.

You all will be performing at 88rising's Head in the Clouds festival in August. What are you the most excited about for this performance?

SUZUKA: Definitely the energy of the audiences in America. We almost have a craving for that energy. We need it! We're really looking forward to it.

Is the energy of fans in the US different than that of your fans in Japan?

RIN: It's totally different, comparing Japanese and US fans. Japanese fans can't say anything while they're watching the performances right now because of COVID regulations, so it's more like they're cheering with their eyes and their hearts. They're really excited but they can't express it outwardly so they have to put it in their hearts. But American fans are really energetic and really expressive. They're both different, but both great in unique ways.

What are your plans for the future of ATARASHII GAKKO!? Are you going to take over the world?
 

AG!: Yes! We're going to take over the world!

Okay, I'll be sure to help you take over! I only have one more question which is: do you have any parting message that you want to share with your fans all around the world?

SUZUKA: We're feeling something crazy right now. We feel like we're becoming a greater version of ourselves. We want to take this opportunity to go farther. We're expanding this energy to the world and using social media to connect to fans all over the world, but we want to connect in real life too. 

KANON: We'll get to meet fans in August, but we also want to meet fans in Europe and all over the world, really. We want to meet everyone in real life. 

MIZYU: We can't stop!!

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Cayla Coats tweets @ceicocat. You can watch her rarely updated YouTube channel here.