With their flamboyant and utterly cute looks, this group of KIDZ is one you’re bound to be in the know of. Busting out weird (yet totally loveable) faces throughout their dance routine to their highly robust tunes, TEMPURA KIDZ are shedding a whole new light onto the pop culture in Japan. 。Performing all three days at the MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2015 in TOKYO (MOSHI FES from here on), the KIDZ transmitted their wild and fun-filled energy to the crowd in full – here’s our interview with them from day 1, straight after their very first performance at the event!

――Good job handling the opening act! How was it?

NaNaHo：Since it was an opening for a huge event, we were nervous on a whole new level. We collaborated with the wadaiko (traditional Japanese drums) for the first time, so that was new.

YU-KA：It was fun collaborating with Ginyu Tokusentai (otherwise known as the Ginyu force) as well. The crowd seemed to like the interesting collab, and they all got pumped for the performance.

――Right, that’s definitely a collab you can only witness at MOSHI FES. You’ve performed previously a number of times at MOSHI FES abroad right?

NaNaHo：Yup. We’ve been in Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, and Paris. Performing abroad has always been our goal, so we feel very grateful to have this opportunity to front stages across seas.

――Does the crowd react any differently at home vs. abroad?

KARIN：The crowd abroad is wild and direct! So it’s easy to tell whether they’re enjoying our performance – it’s a great feeling. Japanese people are polite and also quite shy, that’s the impression we get. But either home or abroad, the fans have been very welcoming and we truly appreciate it!

AO：We always try to speak in the language of the country we perform in, and the crowd loves it! We pour all our effort into memorizing the lines so we can say it on stage, but it leaves our mind once we leave the stage (laughs)

――How was “in Tokyo” compared to all the other MOSHI FES’?

NaNaHo：We saw a couple of familiar faces from stage, and it made us feel like we were home. I guess we felt relieved in a sense.

YU-KA：There were a lot of foreigners too. Fans from abroad were able to watch from the priority area up front, so we got the same amount of energy we usually feel when we perform abroad.

――MOSHI FES aims to deliver Japanese culture to the world – what do you feel you can deliver to the world?

P→★：We’ve always wanted to perform abroad, so the idea of “delivering Japanese culture abroad” – this is something we’ve always kept close to our hearts. We’d love to have our outfits incorporate elements of Japan in it, this one we’re wearing today is also one that translates to just that.

NaNaHo：Our senior, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu-san – she not only delivers Japanese culture to the world, but she’s got her own style in the way she does it. We really look up to her for that. Following the footsteps of our esteemed senior, we’re working hard towards creating a world of our own, and transmitting that to countless countries abroad.

――Any place you’d like to go that you’ve never been to yet?

KARIN：I love Harry Potter, so I’d love to visit London!

AO：I want to go to Hawaii. On vacation would be awesome, I’d love to perform there as well.

P→★：I’d say New York! It seems like a very fancy place to visit – there’s a lot of dancers there, so I’d like to soak up all the energy from all the talented, aspiring dancers.

NaNaHo：I’ve always said I wanted to visit France, but since that dream already got realized – I’d have to say Los Angeles as of now.

YU-KA：Same here. There are a lot of dancers I look up to who are from LA, and it’s been a city I’ve long admired ever since I started dancing. I’d love to actually go to LA and watch them perform. Perhaps even take lessons.

――Do you know where you’re performing next?

NaNaHo：We’re actually going to Thailand next week. We love Thailand. We usually stay in Bangkok when we visit, but Chiang Mai is also beautiful with all the nature! The sausages there are yummy too.

――You’ve performed at a number of different music festivals including ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL amongst many others, but what would you say is the difference between these music festivals and MOSHI FES?

NaNaHo：Other music festivals are usually all about the music. Even when it comes down to other festivals, if it’s an anime festival, it’s all about anime. If it’s a fashion event, it’s all about fashion. What’s different about MOSHI FES is that it embodies not just one but many elements into the event. There’s music, there’s fashion, and there’s the NIKU FES outdoors. There are also a whole load of different booths both in and out of the venue that allows you to get a perfect idea of what Japanese culture is all about. I’d say that’s the difference.

――Thank you so much for speaking with us after your show! Can’t wait to see you perform on the next two days as well.

All：Yup! We’re giving it out all!

Photos：Yuta Mukaiyama、Interview：Toshinori Tanaka（SHUTTER）