Billboard Japan‘s Women in Music interview series returns with ATARASHII GAKKO! The initiative launched in 2022 to celebrate artists, producers and executives who have made significant contributions to music and entertainment and inspired other women through their work, following the footsteps of Billboard’s annual Women in Music honors. This series featuring female players in the Japanese entertainment industry is one of the highlights of Japan‘s WIM project.
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This new interview arrives ahead of the one-night-only special live event set for June 9, Women in Music – EQUAL STAGE presented by Billboard Japan and Spotify. Making their second appearance in this interview series, SUZUKA, MIZYU, RIN, and KANON of ATARASHII GAKKO! — now in their eleventh year together under the concept of “going beyond (hamidashi) through individuality and freedom” — chatted again with writer Rio Hirai about their philosophy of standing out, the bonds between them, and what they’re bringing to the June 9 show.
This is the group’s second time in this series. SUZUKA, what stuck with me from the previous WIM interview was what you said about wanting to live “one hell of a life.” Now that we’re almost halfway through 2026, how have things been so far?
