The news that bassist “Wakazaemon” is joining Tsubaki Factory’s autumn tour became a hot topic on 5ch’s Hello! Project board. Left-handed, with a résumé that includes backing guitarist Marty Friedman, she boasts 76,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter). Thread reactions split between surprise and welcome over whether this is a swap for the usual male bassist, and why a female musician was chosen this time.
The one playing bass on this tour —
Wakazaemon is way too cute (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵) I love her so much😆
A celebrity with more followers than Tsubaki itself
7AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:31
Kinda giving Chii-chan vibes?
8AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:32
Is her face as small as Lesser's? (Lesser, a comedian famous for a bit about having a tiny face)
9AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:35
Wait, isn't she left-handed?
She used to back Marty Friedman
10AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:35
Wakazaemon's got 76k followers on X
13AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:37
Guess the usual middle-aged guy on bass had a scheduling conflict?
14AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:37
Did they fire the old guy bassist?
15AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:37
https://ampeg.jp/artists/images/wakazaemon.jpg
She's an Ampeg-endorsed artist
18AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:39
I've been a fan of Suzuki Wataru ever since seeing the bass recording footage for "Atashi Rhythm," but I guess he's not popular with Tsubaki fans?
20AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:40
What matters for a studio musician isn't flashy technique — it's being able to read sheet music and play exactly as instructed
21AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:41
Can't be helped, she's in high demand
26AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:43
Given Tsubaki's singing ability, wouldn't some cheap unknown woman be plenty for the backing band?
27AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:43
Sounds like she was on Tegoshi's tour up until today
28AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:44
Nice booking
Almost too good for Tsubaki
29AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:44
She's a level above Tsubaki, can they even afford her fee?
30AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:45
I love director Yamao's
"Yeah, nice~"
from the Atashi Rhythm recording
31AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:45
Kinda worried since it's apparently her first time on an upright bass
32AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:45
Surprised no one's made the "knockoff branch" joke yet (a meme for calling someone a lookalike/cheap copy)
57AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:23
Re: #32
Someone already posted that earlier in the thread
33AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:45
Bet she'd honestly rather be in Juice=Juice's band since they're the bigger act
35AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:46
They should just bring in Uozumi on guitar
42AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:52
Re: #35
Uozumi's schedule is packed, no room
She was even bandleader at the iLiFE! live recently
46AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:59
Re: #42
Oh wow, the blonde one, haven't seen her in ages
44AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:56
Maybe if she does well as a trial hire in Tsubaki's band she gets promoted to the Juice=Juice band
45AnonymousSep 12, 2026 08:59
Standing next to Ishii with the exact same tiny face size is impressive
47AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:00
Being untouched by Lesser's 'execution' bit is just unreal (a comedy segment where Lesser roasts people for having bigger faces than him)
49AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:01
Isn't she basically the Maximum the Hormone knockoff?
Background and Key Points of This Topic
In Hello! Project song recordings and tours, it’s standard practice for members to handle vocals and dance while the actual instrumental performance is left to outside support musicians. In the thread, there was notable surprise over a female musician replacing the male bassist (Suzuki Wataru) who has typically filled the role, along with remarks about what’s actually expected of a support musician — like the point that “being able to play exactly from the sheet music matters more than flashy technique.” At the same time, Wakazaemon’s career history and high social-media profile sparked comments like “she’s got more followers than Tsubaki itself,” highlighting an odd reversal where the support musician draws more attention than the idol group. That said, it’s worth noting that the circumstances behind the previous bassist’s absence this time, and whether one or the other will keep being used going forward, remain pure speculation within the thread — there’s no official explanation.
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