'I could die right here': Riho Sayashi reveals the moment of 'complete combustion' as the ace of Morning Musume
Singer Riho Sayashi appeared as a guest on Nippon Broadcasting System's 'Akane Osawa LUCKY 7 supported by Inuzuka Seisakusho,' discussing her honest feelings about being the ace of Morning Musume and moments of complete fulfillment.
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- 📰 Published: May 23, 2026 at 07:00
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Singer Riho Sayashi appeared as a guest from May 18th to 22nd on the program 'Akane Osawa LUCKY 7 supported by Inuzuka Seisakusho' (aired by Nippon Broadcasting System, Monday to Friday from 9:50 PM to 9:57 PM), hosted by TV personality Akane Osawa. She spoke candidly about her five years as the absolute ace of Morning Musume and the moments when she felt completely burned out (in a positive, fulfilled sense).
Sayashi debuted in 2011 at the age of 12 as a 9th generation member of Morning Musume. After graduating in 2015, she studied dance in New York and resumed her entertainment career in 2020. Since then, she has been active not only in solo music projects but also as an actor, starring in dramas, films, and stage plays.
She mentioned that it was Morning Musume that inspired her to start dancing as a child. Looking back on those days, she said, 'Being able to stand in the place that was my dream and work there for five years was a time of youth where my dreams came true.'
She pointed to the 20-minute medley performed during a concert at the Nippon Budokan as particularly memorable. 'As I ran onto the runway as the center, I thought, "I could die right here." I felt so happy, I felt like I had given everything to the point where it would be okay if I lost consciousness,' she said, revealing that moment of bliss.
On the other hand, she confessed the pressure she felt as the ace: 'I felt the responsibility of carrying and inheriting the banner of a group I had admired. I felt that if we let the group decline in our generation, I would be dragging the name through the mud.'
In such an environment, she said the greatest treasure she gained was her friends. When she confessed, 'I don't have many friends,' Akane Osawa teased her, saying, 'You don't seem like you have many... (laughs). You're actually a bit of an introvert, right?' Sayashi laughed and replied, 'You found me out.' She also revealed the strong bonds she formed with her colleagues, saying, 'I met people within the group that I can call friends for life.'
At the end of the show, Osawa remarked, 'It is truly wonderful and cool that you can sum up those five years in Morning Musume with the words, "I gave it my all."'
'Akane Osawa LUCKY 7 supported by Inuzuka Seisakusho' featuring guest Riho Sayashi is aired from 9:50 PM, May 18th (Mon) to May 22nd (Fri). The episodes are also available via podcast after the broadcast.
Sayashi debuted in 2011 at the age of 12 as a 9th generation member of Morning Musume. After graduating in 2015, she studied dance in New York and resumed her entertainment career in 2020. Since then, she has been active not only in solo music projects but also as an actor, starring in dramas, films, and stage plays.
She mentioned that it was Morning Musume that inspired her to start dancing as a child. Looking back on those days, she said, 'Being able to stand in the place that was my dream and work there for five years was a time of youth where my dreams came true.'
She pointed to the 20-minute medley performed during a concert at the Nippon Budokan as particularly memorable. 'As I ran onto the runway as the center, I thought, "I could die right here." I felt so happy, I felt like I had given everything to the point where it would be okay if I lost consciousness,' she said, revealing that moment of bliss.
On the other hand, she confessed the pressure she felt as the ace: 'I felt the responsibility of carrying and inheriting the banner of a group I had admired. I felt that if we let the group decline in our generation, I would be dragging the name through the mud.'
In such an environment, she said the greatest treasure she gained was her friends. When she confessed, 'I don't have many friends,' Akane Osawa teased her, saying, 'You don't seem like you have many... (laughs). You're actually a bit of an introvert, right?' Sayashi laughed and replied, 'You found me out.' She also revealed the strong bonds she formed with her colleagues, saying, 'I met people within the group that I can call friends for life.'
At the end of the show, Osawa remarked, 'It is truly wonderful and cool that you can sum up those five years in Morning Musume with the words, "I gave it my all."'
'Akane Osawa LUCKY 7 supported by Inuzuka Seisakusho' featuring guest Riho Sayashi is aired from 9:50 PM, May 18th (Mon) to May 22nd (Fri). The episodes are also available via podcast after the broadcast.
FAQ
What episode did Sashihara Rino recall when looking back on her Morning Musume days?
She revealed that during a 20-minute medley at a Budokan live performance, she felt so completely fulfilled that she thought it would be okay if her life ended right there.
What kind of pressure did Sashihara Rino feel during her Morning Musume days?
She felt the responsibility of carrying the banner for her dream group and the heavy pressure of not letting the group decline during her generation.
What did Sashihara Rino say was the greatest treasure of her Morning Musume days?
She stated that the bonds with lifelong friends she met in the group were her greatest treasure.
What is the name of the program Sashihara Rino appeared on?
It is 'Ohsawa Akane LUCKY 7 supported by Inuzuka Seisakusho' on Nippon Broadcasting.
When was the program 'Ohsawa Akane LUCKY 7' broadcast?
It was broadcast from May 18 (Monday) to May 22 (Friday), every Monday to Friday at 9:50 PM.