NEW![Promise Me the Spotlight] Going Viral – A Special Feature with AKB48’s Momoka Ito x Mizuki Natsuno! – Part 1

Interviews #AKB48 #K MANGA #Mizuki Natsuno #Momoka Ito #Promise Me the Spotlight September 15, 2026

Two viral sensations!

In January 2025, the phrase “There’s a super cute AKB48 trainee!” blew up overnight on social media. This brought the attention of a ton of fans and propelled Momoka Ito to the position of the most-watched idol. In this special talk, she chats with Mizuki Natsuno – an idol who was on the verge of graduation until a music program showcased her stunning coolness to the world and reignited her career!

Momoka Ito even recreated some poses from *Promise Me the Spotlight*!

That sparkling spark

Mizuki Natsuno (Nerves: MAX):
(Oh my gosh… she’s so cute, I can’t look…)
Thank you so much for the wonderful opportunity. Jumping right into things, what made you want to become an idol, Ito-san?

Momoka Ito:
The pleasure is all mine. I’m so happy I get to meet you, Mizuki-chan!
Actually, I wasn’t aiming to become an idol at first. I worked as an actress since I was little, all the way up until I auditioned for AKB48.

Mizuki Natsuno:
I see! You could have continued in that line of work, so what made you decide to try joining AKB48?

Momoka Ito:
After I graduated university, there was a period where I wasn’t sure what to do with my future. I took some time to think about what it was I really wanted to do. That’s when I realized that my biggest desire was to stand in front of an audience. I thought back to the time I acted with some idols on a job; they had such a wonderful energy, like they were sparkling. I realized how much strength I got from idols who were my age, and I thought that it would be wonderful to become someone who could do the same for others. That’s why I decided to audition for AKB48.

Mizuki Natsuno:
I totally get it! Idols really do sparkle so bright it’s almost unbelieveable. I felt exactly the same way, so when I auditioned and was asked what sort of idol I wanted to be, I said that I want to be an idol who shines brighter than anyone! Thinking about it now makes me feel a little embarrassed though…

Momoka Ito:
I know you can become an idol who shines brightly, Natsuki-chan! I’m going to do my best so I don’t lose to you in that department too, okay!

⇧ Volume 1 – Natsuki Mizuno’s classic idol pose!

She was right next to me a moment ago, and now she’s on TV?!

Mizuki Natsuno:
If you don’t mind, could you tell me about what it was like when you were a trainee? Was there a senior member you looked up to?

Momoka Ito:
Airi Sato. I had the chance to work with her on the live-action drama adaptation for Stardust Telepath right after I joined. It was right around the time she was chosen as the center for AKB48… After she finished shooting with me, she went straight to record a music TV program. This person who was right beside me just a few hours earlier was on TV, singing and dancing. I thought that was really cool!

Mizuki Natsuno:
That really leaves an impact, doesn’t it! Did you watch her on TV? Did you feel frustrated at not standing on the same stage?

Momoka Ito:
I watched it while I ate dinner at home [laughs]. If it was me as I am now, I would definitely start sprouting seeds of frustration. But back then, I had only just joined so I was still looking at things from the perspective of a fan. I watched with simple admiration for how she shone. As I was chatting happily with my family about it, I was thinking about how I wanted to stand on the same stage and make my family proud someday too.

Mizuki Natsuno:
I see. I think they were probably the happiest people in the world when you first appeared on TV.

Momoka Ito:
I’d be happy if they were! They always contact me if they watch, but my mom is pretty tough with her feedback… She’ll say things like “isn’t this angle a little better?” She can be kind of harsh [laughs].

Mizuki Natsuno:
My mom is pretty harsh too… (Well, there’s also someone who’s very supportive, but…)
Let’s change the subject a little. You performed at the AKB48 theatre when you were a trainee, right? Do you feel like you did a good job from the get-go?

Momoka Ito:
Absolutely not! When I first started out, I spent a lot of my focus on things like “don’t forget the choreography!” and “don’t mess up your position!” so after performances, I really didn’t remember much else. As I gradtually got more used to things, that focus changed to making sure the fans in front of me enjoyed the show.

Mizuki Natsuno:
At the theatre, can you see the fans’ expressions clearly?

Momoka Ito:
You can really see all their faces, all the way to the back. As a result, I also realized there were people who were not looking at me… Right now, I put my everything into my performance so they look at me, too, not just their favorite member!

Mizuki Natsuno:
I really feel you on that frustration when people aren’t looking your way. It just means you can try even harder to try to catch their eye, though, right?