Yui Murata: “Otoki-chan’s Bangs and Singing Gave Me Chills” — Sense of Crisis After ‘Shakunetsu’ Rehearsal

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The story

On Tsubaki Bunshogumi’s radio segment “Wota Mail,” Yui Murata sparked buzz on 5ch’s Hello! Project board by admitting that during rehearsals for “Shakunetsu,” seeing Otoki Nishimura’s singing and newly grown-out bangs up close for the first time left her blurting out “this is insane” (yabai, used here approvingly) — a genuine sense of crisis. Co-stars Tanimoto and Doi also chimed in, agreeing that Otoki has leveled up. While most thread comments welcomed Otoki’s growth, the conversation broadened into a debate over generational change across Tsubaki as a whole — “so who rises next?” — with an ongoing back-and-forth comparing the singing and dancing skills of younger members like Murata and Taguchi.

What people said

1AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:40
Wota Mail: Nishimura's performance in "Shakunetsu" was great
Tanimoto: Yeah, Otoki-chan really was amazing
Doi: She was amazing
2AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:41
Sounds like it's lighting a real fire under her
4AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:42
Guess 'Shakunetsu' was the first time she really felt what it means to be the King
5AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:42
[Celebration] Otoki Nishimura's bangs have finally grown in — she's basically a whole new member wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (wwww = Japanese internet laughter, like "lol")
https://kizuna.5ch.io/test/read.cgi/morningcoffee/1788692478/1

1 Name: Anonymous Wanted…[] Posted: 2026/09/06 (Sun) 20:01:18.99
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ytBM12a3-_0



https://www.girlsnews.tv/reimage/y2026/m08/w1000/img260527_26.08.27_tsubaki_4.jpg
https://www.girlsnews.tv/reimage/y2026/m08/w1000/img260527_26.08.27_tsubaki_1.jpg





https://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20260829/22/tsubaki-factory-new/8c/b5/j/o1080144015816981430.jpg
6AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:43
An amazing rookie has joined us 🐥🐥🐥

👑
7AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:44
Their natural singing talent is just different, so trying to compete head-on in the same lane is tough
Better to hone your own kind of appeal
You're the next Maopin (nickname for member Mao Akiyama)
35AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:21
Re: #7
Akiyama could actually sing decently
She's just not popular, so there's no demand for it
9AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:46
Hinaazu aren't the type who could actually rack up BP (get real results) on the skill assessment test even going through the trainee program — they just got fast-tracked straight to passing
Members who proved themselves as trainees first and then got promoted are unquestionably top-tier in the Hello! Project hierarchy
11AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:50
Tayu should start chasing cuteness too, even now
That's the first thing expected of Tsubaki members anyway
16AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:56
Re: #11
Tayu's the cutest one on the inside, though
12AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:51
Well, this is the era where Dambara, Matsunaga, Kawashima, and Hayashi run the show unopposed
13AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:51
Otoki-chan's gotten so much more polished that even Yui-chan was stunned!
15AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:55
Murata: I was just thinking, how much has she been listening to this?
Tanimoto: Oh, and Otoki-chan loves Hello!, right? She probably listens more than anyone
Murata: Tch… that's not even the level we're talking about here (Yeah, right, you really do love Hello!, huh)
17AnonymousSep 12, 2026 09:59
After Mao Akiyama graduates, she'll probably join the Dance Academy program
so it comes down to how much she can show there
18AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:00
It's the King who felt the sense of crisis here
Her royal blood stirred — she couldn't just keep leaving things to these guys forever
20AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:00
Can the King reclaim the future of Tsubaki that the Hinaazu took away?
22AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:01
Murata and Ishii's voices just don't carry on mic — it's almost sad how bad it is
24AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:04
Tayu's more of a dance-specialist type compared to Maopin
26AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:07
Same goes for Marin — pale skin and a small face cover a multitude of flaws
28AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:08
Marin's photobook is my treasure
The King needs to put out a photobook too
29AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:09
Once Saniko graduates and a new member joins, Tsubaki's the one that's gonna blow up
30AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:09
Can't you become Tsubaki's Mifu, Ms. King?
56AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:37
Tsubaki's Saniko problem and Hinaazu problem are both getting serious
61AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:38
Re: #56
If only Chiori were still around
She pushed the generational change forward on Ritokyame (short for a variety segment, likely "Little Camera")
65AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:40
Hinaazu are victims of the backlash from Ritokyame setting the bar unrealistically high
69AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:42
Re: #65
Ritokyame's popularity has dropped since Yagishiori graduated
73AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:43
If they added Hattori-kun to Tsubaki, I bet Murata would get cut loose — what do you think?
76AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:44
Re: #73
Not sure what kind of asset Hattori would even be
81AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:49
Murata's dancing is supposed to be amazing, right?
Once Akiyama's gone, she'll slot into that position and get noticed even more
87AnonymousSep 12, 2026 10:51
Re: #81
I'm saying that's not good enough
Why would you repeat the same mistake

Background and Key Points of This Discussion

“Wota Mail” is a segment on Tsubaki Bunshogumi’s own radio show where members read out fan reactions, and “Shakunetsu” is known as a demanding track for both dance and vocals. The thread started from Yui Murata’s comment that she was struck by Otoki Nishimura’s singing and grown-out bangs (a change in her look) while rehearsing the song, and expanded from praise for Otoki personally into a broader debate about generational change across Tsubaki, as well as comparisons of members’ singing and dancing skills. Opinion split most sharply over “who will become the core of the next generation” — with Murata and Taguchi both floated as potential successors to Maopin (Akiyama) — while dissatisfaction with some current top members also surfaced. Readers should note that any “scandals” or assessments of specific members’ popularity and skill mentioned in the replies are strictly fan speculation and rumor, not confirmed facts.

*This article is composed as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “[Good News] Yui Murata Feels a Sense of Crisis: “The First Time I Saw Otoki Nishimura’s Bangs and Singing at the Shakunetsu Rehearsal, I Got Chills — This Is Insane”.”

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