Infiltrating the Recording of 'Let's Go! Tsubaki Factory'! Exploring the Secret to Their Popularity!

Our editorial department infiltrated the recording set of Tsubaki Factory's regular variety show, "Let's Go! Tsubaki Factory," to uncover the secret to their popularity!
Please enjoy this look at the recording set and behind-the-scenes footage—the "Ikutsuba" you don't usually get to see.

What is the secret to the popularity of "Let's Go! Tsubaki Factory"?

Tsubaki Factory is charming for the gap between their refined atmosphere and their powerful performances.
Before the interview, I studied up by listening to "Konya Dake Ukaretakatta," "Teion Yakedo," and "Hatsukoi Sunrise," and I was completely captivated by their adorable faces and their somewhat fleeting, bittersweet songs. To think they can dance so sharply... you are guaranteed to fall in love with that gap.

The show that lets you get up close to the true selves and charm of Tsubaki Factory is "Let's Go! Tsubaki Factory," which we are infiltrating today.
It is a 30-minute show where Tsubaki Factory members take on various challenges, and watching it will definitely make you love Tsubaki Factory even more!

Time to Infiltrate: Behind the Scenes of the Recording! The Members Are Charming Even Off-Camera!

After finishing my preparation, I headed to the set.
We are infiltrating the recording set for "Let's Go! Tsubaki Factory" #40.

15:50 Arrived at the location.

Since #40 is the hypnosis episode, preliminary hypnosis is being conducted in the studio where the members are. Perhaps because of the preliminary hypnosis, the hallway is quiet.

16:00 Standby!

The preliminary hypnosis ends, and the members gather one after another at the studio entrance.
Chatting, checking dance moves—the members are full of smiles even before the recording. They turn on the microphones attached to their waists, touch up their makeup, and are fully prepared!

"Thank you for having us!"

Each one bows as they enter the studio. From the way they greet the staff crisply, you can feel the high level of enthusiasm the members have for their work as idols.
Marine Fukuda, who serves as the MC for #40, is carefully checking the script with the staff. (This time, Fukuda serves as MC because she is taking on a serious hypnosis challenge she wanted to try.)

16:50 Recording starts!

The recording starts with the staff's count of "4, 3, 2!"
It is a hypnosis project that Marine Fukuda wanted to try. Hypnosis psychology coach Hazuki-san begins to hypnotize the members.

Hypnosis where your spinning hands won't stop, hypnosis where your hands start to rise, hypnosis where wasabi tastes like matcha or zunda mochi, hypnosis where you can't stop laughing, hypnosis where colorless, transparent water in a plastic bottle looks black, hypnosis where a person turns into Funassyi...

There are members who are easily hypnotized, like Runo Yofu, who jumps because her spinning hands won't stop, and Mizuho Ono, who eats wasabi deliciously, while others like Yumeno Kishimoto and Saori Onoda are not affected at all.
(After eating the wasabi, Kishimoto-san smiles and says, "I'm really okay! My body is strong." She is too cool.)

18:50 Recording finished!

After the recording, they took photos for promotional use and chatted with hypnosis psychology coach Hazuki-san.
There were also moments where Hazuki-san broke the hypnosis for members who couldn't snap out of it, and members practiced their own versions of hypnosis on each other.
"Hold my hand, and the moment you let go, your luck will drop!" "Ugh! My hand, my hand won't let go!"

Hazuki-san: "Please let me come to your concert sometime!"
Tsubaki Factory: "Thank you so much!" "I hope it's not raining outside. Please be careful!"

"Thank you very much!"
After filming the promotional video, the members bowed to each staff member one by one before leaving the studio.
(They were truly polite and wonderful members!)

The editorial department infiltrated the recording for #40, but since they were also recording #39 on the same day, the Tsubaki Factory members and staff took a break.
Thank you all so much for your hard work!

The Program Producer Speaks! What is the Appeal of "Ikuze! Tsubaki Factory"?

Finally, we asked the program producer (P), K-san, to talk about the appeal of "Ikuze! Tsubaki Factory".

—Thank you for today. I felt that it was a very friendly set with constant laughter; is it usually like this?

"Thank you as well. Since the members are working so hard, I think we are able to make it a set filled with laughter on a regular basis. Thanks to everyone, the program has entered its third year, and I feel that we have been able to build a relationship of trust, little by little."

—K-san, I believe you have been working with talent as a producer for a long time, but what exactly is the appeal of Tsubaki Factory?

"Anyway, they are funny. I think the excellence of their performance and songs goes without saying, and it's a given that each one of them is wonderful with their own personality, but I don't think there is any other idol group that is this funny when they come together as a group. Fans might get mad at me for saying this, but idols don't necessarily need to be funny, I suppose. However, I think the appeal of Tsubaki Factory is that they give it their all to be funny, and they feel frustrated when they fail."

—Are there any specific appeals or points of focus for "Ikuze! Tsubaki Factory"?

"I think the biggest appeal of 'Iku-Tsuba' is that it's basically just the members doing hardcore variety content.
Most idol variety shows have comedians in the position of older brothers or sisters to lead the program, but in 'Iku-Tsuba', the members do everything that comedians would normally do. Of course, I think it would be more stable with comedians present, but by having only the members do it, there are many benefits, such as them being less reserved, their usual relationships being reflected in the segments, and everyone having a proper role. I believe it's a format that only works because each and every member of Tsubaki Factory is genuinely funny.

Also, I make sure to capture the moments where the members display their incredibly funny sense of humor. During recording, there are times when I feel a shock from the members' comedic sense, similar to what Coach Anzai felt toward Sakuragi and Rukawa during the Sannoh game. I make the show with the hope that the viewers can also feel that same shock."

—Lastly, please give a message to the 'Iku-Tsuba' fans!

"Thank you for always watching the program. I read everything you write on Twitter and blogs, and it is a huge encouragement. I think the challenge is to get people other than Tsubaki fans to watch it, so it would be a great help if you could all help spread the word about the program! I would be happy if you could continue to go to Tsubaki Factory's live shows and events, buy merchandise, comment on your favorite member's blog or Instagram, and then use any extra money and time you have on 'Iku-Tsuba'. Please continue to support 'Iku-Tsuba' in the future!"

(Text by Yama)

▼ Click here for the broadcast schedule of "Ikuze! Tsubaki Factory".