Ok! There is some demand for Bijo Houdan, which I'm glad because it shows a different side of them.
Anyways, here is Bijo Houdan 01 - Takahashi Ai
Part 2 will probably come tomorrow... and it was much longer than I thought. Wrote a lot more than I expected to
Please excuse any grammar mistakes. I didn't proofread it.
Bijo Houdan 01 – Takahashi Ai
Narrator – Explains Ai-chan’s background in MM.
Before the talk: Hosokawa-san thought that Ai had no make-up on and believed Ai to be a pure and innocent girl when she first saw her. Ai talks about never having a greeting like that before and that she was very nervous.
Hosokawa-san introduces herself and says that she is much older than Ai’s parents.
Question 1: Do you like yourself?
After the talk: Ai decides to ask this question because she felt that Hosokawa-san has confidence in herself and Ai-chan doesn’t.
Hosokawa-san mentions that it was the first time anybody asked her a question like that. She never really thought about it. She likes herself and asks Ai-chan the same question. Ai-chan replies that she hated herself the most when she just joined MM. There were a lot of things she couldn’t do and that it was the first time she saw herself objectively. She saw herself (on TV, I assume) and was quite shocked on how she appeared. She just suddenly didn’t like herself. It basically continued for 8 years and she does have parts that she does like about herself, but she somehow can’t accept herself. There are still a lot of parts she doesn’t like about herself. She mentions that she’s not good at speaking and she can’t convey her thoughts/feelings and it leaves her frustrated. And instead of words, she starts crying; frustration tears. She knows she’s not supposed to be crying at that time. When she joined MM the other older members all have pretty strong personalities, so the gokkies always stuck together and cried together. She gets angry whether doing something or not and have a lot of tears of frustration. Even now. Hosokawa-san mentions that Ai-chan still has some growing up to do then.
Question 2: Have you ever had a time where you fought back your tears?
Hosokawa-san mentions that around Ai’s age (23) she went to Europe all by herself; no friends or family. She would sometimes think that she is all by herself and tears of loneliness would come, but other than that, she hasn’t really cried all that much. She isn’t like Ai-chan, who pushes herself so much that frustration tears come out. Hosokawa-san mentions that even after all 8 years you change, but believes that Ai’s ideal is a little too high. She says that if Ai accepts herself, she wouldn’t worry so much and not to only look at the bad parts, but Ai replies it’s all she sees without really thinking.
After the talk: Being told that her ideal is too high, Ai thinks that it may be true.
Hosokawa-san tells Ai to commend herself for growing up, maturing, and doing her best.
Question 3: Should a person get married?
After the talk: Ai-chan can’t really think about marriage right now and that it’s ok not to wish for it.
When Ai was around 13-14, she had a conversation with her friends about what age will they get married and Ai replied around 23. Now that she is 23, she can’t really think about it right now. She thinks it’s because there’s so many things she wants to do. Hosokawa-san asks her what about the future. Ai thinks that some day in the future she will get married, but doesn’t really have any thoughts about marriage. Hosokawa-san says it’s better to get married. Hosokawa-san says it is natural and part of nature for humans to get married and to give birth to children, so she thinks it’s better to get married.
Ai-chan asks Hosokawa-san on why she decided to get married. She knew her husband back in college and it was like a sempai-kohai relationship. When Hosokawa-san was 20, he proposed to her suddenly. Still having a lot of dreams, she declined at that moment. After going to Europe, the second time she met him was randomly in Rome. Ai butts in saying it was fate. (lol) Her husband quit his job at Asahi newspaper, thinking about becoming a politician and had a lot of things going on around him, so he decided to go to a foreign country to cool his head. The second time they met in Rome he mentioned what he needed the most now was her cheerfulness and bright personality and finally consented to a volunteer wedding. Ai-chan mentions it feels like a fated meeting. Hosokawa-san asks what would Ai-chan do and what her thoughts on what marriage is like. Having trouble answering Hosokawa-san suggests a phrase in which Ai didn’t understand. “Ryosaikenbo” = A good wife and a wise mother.
After the talk: Hosokawa-san thought that the phrase might have been too old and wonders if that phrase isn’t used in recent times anymore. She was a little shocked.
Ai-chan mentions that her parents often butt head with each other, sort of like friends, but her dad is stronger. When she sees that she feels pity for her mom and wants to be a strong woman. For Hosokawa-san, it is the husband’s position to stand up and be strong while the wife takes a step back and to take care of the kids. The wife has it the hardest, but Hosakawa-san feels that that is where the value of females comes out. She feels this is what she wants to protect. It is also good to respect each other.
After the talk: Ai-chan thought marraige was a certain type of way, but her thoughts on marriage have changed a little after talking with Hosokawa-san.
Question 4; Ai-chan is leader, but she doesn’t really have those leader-like qualities, so she asks is there a certain type a leader should be.
Hosokawa-san replies that there are all kinds of leaders.
After the talk: Hosokawa-san feels that Ai-chan asked about this is to see if she fit to be a leader. (I think…)
When Ai first became leader she was really worried and thought that she had to be like what the previous leaders were and that she is not like a leader. She felt like she needed to be more leader-like. Right now it’s more like she is borrowing the other members strength and the other members are like, “Ai-chan, you did it again.” Ai often trip up words or have trouble getting words out, but everybody else still follows. It’s often that they help her. Hosokawa-san thinks that is a good thing that they help her while Ai thinks it is not. Hosokawa-san feels that she doesn’t need to be like the past leaders and should go as herself. She should be a gentle/kind leader and the others will follow. She feels that is what female leader should be like. Ai will do her best in understanding each member’s personality and character.
(From this part on, it will be more loosely translated) Ai-chan asks Hosokawa about her time as the first lady. Hosokawa talks about the hardship of first lady and how she would be all tired out and wanted the day to end quickly. She also mentions about having a lot of free time (?), but her husband would be really busy. Also mentions the hardship of being in Kumamoto prefecture where there was no friends there because her husband grew up in Tokyo. Also he started his campaign short after they got married.
Hosokawa-san mentions that over coming hardships is the way for humans to mature and grow. That is why it is important to for the younger generation to encounter hardships, so that they can grow. All the troubles encountered along the way are just a way to polish the soul and if you can overcome that, there is a wonderful life waiting for you. So it is good to have dreams and to try to accomplish them.
Hosokawa then goes on her splurge about volunteering. Ai-chan is interested, but never done it. Hosokawa-san feels that the hearts of the Japanese people have become poor and needy. The easiest volunteer work for a person to do is a smile. She then goes on explaining about a what goes around comes around example. When she went to Moscow, she had to walk a long distance to the airport building while carrying lots of luggage, when, suddenly, a young man comes along and carries it for her. He asks if she is Japanese and then explains that he is an Azerbaijan and when there was a big earthquake, the biggest relief supplier was Japan. So, he wanted to do something in return, but couldn’t until he saw her and decided to help her with the luggage. Then she talks about pay it forward = doing favors for other people selflessly. (lol) She feels that if everybody was like that in the world, there would be more love and kindness.
After the talk: Ai-chan thought that she wouldn’t really be able to talk about herself, but it was much easier than she thought.