DoLive July '85 Interview
DoLive was an entertainment magazine aimed at men that ran with the catchprase "Gain confidence with money and women."
This interview with Yukiko Okada, which was published in the July 1985 issue, is an insightful and surprisingly honest account of her feelings. The interview was conducted by Masahiro Morita, whom I can't find any information on.
Thank you to Angelyuki18 for transcribing the interview (the original can be found here) and thanks to 岡田有希子BOOKS for scanning the article in high quality, including the original photographs. Enjoy!
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People often tell me I’m an unusual person. There’s a part of me that’s strong-willed, but there’s a part of me that becomes scared at the smallest thing. I’m impatient, but I can be strangely laidback as well. My staff all say they can’t keep up with me.
When I think about the future, for some reason I get scared. You can’t be an idol forever after all, and no one knows how long fame will last. I might fail to mature to an adult singer, and I might suffer because I find someone I like…... Hah! As if! I end up making myself afraid when I get caught up in this train of thought.
Let me tell you about something that happened recently. Last winter, as I was walking in the snow, I managed to slip and fall. I fell right on my butt so it didn’t hurt, but I stayed still on the ground for a while. After all, it was the first time I’d fallen in a long time. I looked at the sky, and I realised the snow was extremely beautiful. After five minutes, a member of staff came and they were quite irritated. They thought I’d broken a leg! I guess other people just can’t understand my nature.
When I’m reading a book or manga, people often ask if my head is screwed on straight. When I’m looking down reading manga, people keep trying to steal a glance of my face. I might seem to be howling with laughter, and then suddenly I’m sobbing. I’m told it really surprises people.
If I had to explain why this happens, it’s because when I read a book or manga, I feel like I’ve become the protagonist. I’ve always had this habit, and it’s never gone away.
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It’s been two years since I came to Tokyo from Nagoya with my heart set on becoming a singer and a star. Looking back on these past two years, I think of all the conflicting emotions I’ve gone through.
There’s been times where I’ve thought “Ah, I’m utterly sick of this life. Tomorrow, I’m going to pack my bags and return to Nagoya," and there’s been times where I’ve thought “Being an idol is the most wonderful thing in the world. I want to be a singer forever!”
I’ve cried and I’ve laughed, I’ve laughed and I’ve cried again. I’m still a child, aren’t I? I go home to Nagoya about once a month because of my job, and when I see my middle school friends they think I’ve got it all figured out.
I have an older sister, so as a child I was often put down as the younger sibling. I used to rebel and ask “What’s so good about her? What’s wrong with me?” but my parents wouldn’t listen. They say your first rival is your sibling, but I feel like in my case, that rivalry is what gave me the strength to stay strong in the idol industry. Right now, my sister is 19 and I’m 17 so our relationship isn’t so fiery these days. I don’t think I could have been a singer if I’d been a spoiled only child.
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I think Hiroshi Tachi and Tatsuya Fuji are really wonderful. Their personalities are a perfect balance of intelligent and untamed. There’s a certain glimmer to them.
Girls are weak to guys with that glimmer. It’s not about looks or style. When you see someone single-mindedly pursuing one thing, you become captivated. I think men shine the brightest when they’re over the age of 25. If I can be brash, it feels like young people can only pretend to be cool. Even someone with a plain appearance becomes wonderful when you can feel the value they put into their own lives.
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This year, I won’t just be releasing new songs, I’ll also be appearing in a drama. I’ve always been really interested in the work of an actress, so I’m really looking forward to it. I’m the type to get really absorbed in things, so I’m actually trying not to get too worked up over it.
I’ve become good friends with Momoko Kikuchi-chan and Kumi Tanaka-chan, so I want to make this a fulfilling year for me. They say once you’re a celebrity, you can’t make close friends, but that’s not true at all. If you take a step away from work, you can get absorbed talking about food or movies. When our schedules align, we go out and have fun together. I want to use my time well, and make plenty of fun memories.
