Tsuntsukutsun Expo, TC Claxon, Rainman's

A challenging office live performance in battle format where new material is essential every month.
Trained on that stage, 'Tsuntsukutsun Expo' and 'Rainman's' won the ticket to the finals of 'Tugikuru GP'.
They have been watched over by 'TC Claxon' as live MCs and as seniors.
What are their thoughts as they are starting to show their presence in awards races and now have a theater performance...?

Released on 6/19 (Thursday)!
The first part—Is the common element “Mr. T”! From the secrets of joining the agency to the behind-the-scenes of the award race, the straightforward talk does not stop!

'6/22 (Sun) Grape Company Office Live'

Venue Tickets

ZAIKO: At the Grape Company office live held at the end of each month, they participate in a “battle format” seed live (2 parts) and grains live (3 parts) where the replacement is decided by monthly voting.
I’ve heard that both Tsuntsukutsun Expo and Rainman's have been regulars on the grains live side. Can you tell us about your feelings as you approach the live while presenting new material every month, and your impressions of each other?

Naito Koyu (Tsuntsukutsun Expo, hereafter Naito): Until now, we were in the position of being the youngest in the agency live, in a position like “challengers,” but recently, interesting juniors are coming in from below, so the feeling of “I don’t want to lose” has become stronger.

Akase (Rainman's): Rather than being rivals here, it’s more of a feeling of “I don’t want to lose to those below us.”

Tough Guy (Tsuntsukutsun Expo): I don’t want to give up first and second place in the grains (the replacement match between parts 2 and 3) to the younger generation.

Kumoten (TC Claxon, hereafter Kumoten): Oh, you've grown up (laughs). You're not always juniors anymore.

Naito: I’ve already graduated now, but I wanted to surpass seniors I admired like 'French Piano' and 'Ponloop' who were always at the top, so I want us to become like that too.

Kumoten: 'Katakura Blizzard' has been dropped a lot from the seeds, and 'Honda (Swimming School)' also drops occasionally (laughs)

All: ...... (wry smile)

TC Claxon: Kazuya Kumotoya, Rainman's: Akase, Horikoshi

ZAIKO: I’ve heard that you present new material every month in office live performances. Isn’t it too hard to come up with new material every month?!

Kumoten: It's not something you can just easily create, right?

Akase: Only the chosen ones can create it~ (laughs)

Horikoshi (Rainman's): There are times when we don't have anything ready even when we start (laughs)

Kumoten: There are times like that (laughs)

ZAIKO: The 'Tsuntsukutsun Expo' often has materials with impressive rhythms and sounds, how do you create your materials?

Naito: We often create them by discussing together. If it’s a material based on a song, for example, Guy sends me a phrase.

Tough Guy: Then, Naito calls me…… basically, we start around 11 PM the night before, so I’m always nervous.

Naito: Basically, I think it’s best if Guy has material that’s easy to get into, so Guy often sends it out, and I usually expand on that.

Tsuntsukutsun Expo

ZAIKO: Do you often give feedback on the material to the two groups who are your juniors from 'TC Claxon'?

Naito: I often hear Kumoten say things like, “That idea was good,” or “That rhythm I can’t get out of my head,” and they usually watch from the wings as the MC, so it makes me really happy when they praise us.

Horikoshi: That’s true. Everyone is vaguely conscious of wanting to impress TC.

Kumoten: Well… do your best (blush)

Naito: I’m so happy (laughs)

Kumoten: But both groups are really funny, and they have their own “colors,” so I think it would be good if they value that.

Tsuntsukutsun Expo: Tough Guy, Naito Koyu, TC Claxon: Sakamoto NO.1

ZAIKO: This isn’t just limited to office live but, I think there’s a charm that can’t be conveyed unless you go to the theater. If there's a point you want people to watch, please let us know.

Naito: I think the fun is completely different from seeing it in a video. Like Sakamoto’s voice (laughs)

Sakamoto NO.1 (TC Claxon, hereafter Sakamoto): No, it’s big even on video!!

Tsuntsukutsun Expo & Rainman's: No, no, no! It's completely different on video! (laughs)

Tough Guy: Only Sakamoto’s voice volume is “buzzing”!

Horikoshi: There are times when the metal pipe above (the venue) howls…

All: (laugh)

Horikoshi: Also, 'Honda (Swimming School)' tends to howl a lot too (laughs)

Kumoten: That's true.

Horikoshi: Sometimes it sounds like, “Key!!”

May Office Live

ZAIKO: From the stage, how does everyone see the atmosphere of the audience at the venue?

Naito: It’s the last Sunday of every month, so there are some audience members who come as a routine. I think many people come with the feeling of “Let’s enjoy the office live!”

Tough Guy: There are even people who come for the whole day, which is appreciated!

Horikoshi: I feel like the audience for Grape Under (part 1, young people’s live) is also increasing rapidly. There have been times when it was just the two of us..

Naito: Yes, there were. In the beginning, it was really very few people.

ZAIKO: Was there any kind of trigger for that?

Manager - Mizumoto: Maybe because everyone is working hard individually to communicate and make people think, “I want to see this combination.”

Tough Guy: Also, one thing I think has changed recently is that younger audience members are increasing.

Naito: Certainly, it might be different from the impression I had when I joined.

Tough Guy: I'm not sure, but I feel like there are more people in their late teens to early twenties. And also, there are always people who have been watching since long ago… as if they are looking at it from a parental perspective.

All: Who? (laugh)

Tough Guy: There are people like that! Like dads! Don't you think there are?!

All: Eh~!?

Kumoten: It might be a god (laugh)

Tough Guy: Maybe everyone can’t see them~? (laugh)

May Office Live: Tsuntsukutsun Expo

ZAIKO: While the office live is also a place to present new materials every month, what do you think is the charm that can only be found in a live performance?

Tough Guy: New materials are quite edgy or, for better or worse, we sometimes show rough materials. It’s rough, but being able to see the “moment it's born” might be the charm of office live.

Horikoshi: Sometimes I go up without having decided on the punchline yet, thinking, “This is rough~” while doing the material (laughs)

Tough Guy: You can also make jokes based on the atmosphere at that moment!

ZAIKO: I see! Speaking of material… Just recently, you made it to the finals of 'Tugikuru GP'!
Congratulations to Tsuntsukutsun Expo for three consecutive years, and to Rainman's for your first finals appearance!

Tsuntsukutsun Expo & Rainman's: Thank you very much!

ZAIKO: Was the material that passed the preliminaries something you had performed at an office live before?

Naito: Yes, that’s right. We brushed up the material we've been doing at the office live, and we also used it for this award race.

ZAIKO: So, in the future, if fans of both groups come because of the award race, they will be able to see such material at the office live… that’s what you mean.

Tsuntsukutsun Expo & Rainman's: That’s right! We would be so happy if you could come to the venue!

Naito: We want you to see the material that has just been born as well.

ZAIKO: Please tell us your enthusiasm for the finals of 'Tugikuru GP.'

Tough Guy: I’m happy to have progressed to the finals, but… since it’s the third time, there’s a contradiction in “Next comes” (laughs). I definitely want to win this time.

Naito: The fourth time would seriously be bad (laughs)

Akase: It deviates from the concept (laughs)

Tough Guy: So this time, I’m feeling like I have no regard for “the same level peers.”

Horikoshi: Suddenly aggressive…!

ZAIKO: Then, who are your rivals this time?

Tough Guy: It’s 'Stamina Bread', I guess. They are on a roll now, so if I can get through them to win, I think it will be a hot topic!

Naito: Well, last year I lost to a junior called 'Ebishya'… (laughs)

ZAIKO: Next, please let us know the enthusiasm of the two members of Rainman's.

Akase: First of all, I’m just genuinely happy that we can go to the finals with Tsuntsuku. When Tsuntsuku made it for the first time, we hadn’t even participated in the preliminaries yet.

Horikoshi: We’ve always been chasing Tsuntsuku. I want to overtake them all at once here! (laugh)

ZAIKO: Since TC Claxon also has experience in the finals, please give a message to your junior two groups.

Kumoten: ... How many votes has Tsuntsuku received until now?

Naito: The first year was about 5 votes, and I think last year was about 1 vote, right?

Kumoten: Okay, I see. This year, I want you to “bring back a lot of votes to the agency.”

Tsuntsukutsun Expo & Rainman's: Votes? (laugh)

Sakamoto: Votes are important.

Kumoten: In the past, we and 'Ponloop', 'Warafujinaru', and others had all 0-1 votes, so I hope you can bring back a lot of votes.

Naito: Please say