AAA member Uno Misako discusses her solo debut, learning English and filming her music video in New York

On Valentine’s Day, AAA member Uno Misako released her debut solo single “Doshite Koishite Kon’na” (Why do you fall in love with this?).

In April 2017, Uno and fellow AAA member, Nishijima Takahiro sung in English for “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST” and many wondered how she learned how to speak English.

In a recent interview with Oricon, Uno explained how she became interested in English.  Uno said, “My sister had called an oversea friend who came to Japan as a foreign exchange student and it was my first time hearing English conversation.  From a young age, I tried using the phrases of lyrics by reading the Western music in katakana.  When I was younger, I went to Germany for summer camp and had conversations in English with other children from different countries and felt I wanted to study abroad for a short time”.

When asked if she likes to speak English, Uno explained, “I always liked English class because it was my favorite subject.  I woke up early every morning and studied because I didn’t want to fail.  I felt that there was a power to learn and besides textbooks and reference books, I watched dramas and movies in English with Japanese subtitles.  Also, there are many times I listened to English music, so I can learn many times”.

When asked what her secret to communicating in English, Uno said, “It is a problem for me because I have poor conversation skills when I am in Japan.  So, I visit my English teacher occasionally and was told to make friends for English conversation.  I felt that reading a textbook and jumping into a conversation would make me panic and felt it was best to jump into an environment of communication in English and getting used to it.”

When asked about her solo single “Doshite koishite kon’na” and debuting on Valentine’s Day, Uno said, “I love music that is pleasant to my ears and I really wanted to release my own work.  I want to feel that important feeling of becoming close to fans who cheered for AAA.”

As for shooting the music video in New York City, Uno said, “I was watching the American drama ‘Sex and the City’ and New York is a city that I long for.  I was very happy to go to Central Park alone and relax and also going around Times Square.  I really enjoyed myself in the area and enjoyed seeing the various streets.  I like to take walks when I go abroad and when I’m alone, I like to go shopping or visit a cafe during my free time”.

When asked if she spoke English when she was in New York, Uno said, “I did not have many conversations but I enjoyed talking with the cashiers.  Japanese tend to be afraid, but I wonder if it is good to pretend that you are able to speak naturally? (laughing). I feel that as I enjoy visiting other countries, I can keep up while being calm and communicating properly.  Probably much more now because I am an adult”.

 

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