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Translation & Subtitles: thoseguiltyeyes | scandal-heaven.com
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Hello, I'm SCANDAL's vocalist HARUNA.
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I'm guitarist MAMI.
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"Start Your Journey!" is about conveying the appeal of guitars to those considering taking it up.
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In the previous video we explained things about guitars and amps.
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What shall we cover next?
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We thought it'd be good to talk about more detailed things.
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We played our guitars last time,
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and we'll be talking about what you'll need up until the time you play,
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-including tuning.
-Tuning is essential.
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Firstly, tuning is about setting each string to a certain sound.
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-You must do this before playing the guitar.
-That's right.
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Something essential for that is what MAMI has in her hands: a clip tuner.
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It's a tuner you can take along with you.
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-They attach onto standard headstocks.
-That's right.
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You put it on the headstock,
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switch on the electricity, and...
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For example, the top string is tuned to E.
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-The top string is E.
-Yes.
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It says "E" on it.
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If you tune it to the right note, it'll be displayed in the middle.
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If it's a little off, the lines at the top and bottom of the note will not appear.
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This is a standard E (sixth string).
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A (5th string).
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D (4th string).
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G (3rd string).
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B (2nd string).
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E (1st string).
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By matching them to the right notes, you can get an accurate guitar sound.
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-For tuning, it's better to do it frequently.
-Yeah.
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When we were to perform a few months after the band formed,
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I understood that tuning's about matching the strings to the right notes,
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but I wasn't sure how many times I should be doing it.
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On the day of the performance, I was asked if I tuned my guitar.
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I remember saying, "Yes, I tuned it yesterday."
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-So embarrassing.
-Right?
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They were like, "Do it right now!"
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Even though I was being told things like, "Do it right now! Why did you only do it yesterday?",
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-I still didn't understand.
-We were like, "What?"
-Yeah.
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I thought that I could tune it once and wouldn't have to do it again for another four months.
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That's one of the first things I was aware of.
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We thought that, but that's not the case at all.
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You need to do it frequently.
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Also, you can easily tune it using smartphone apps.
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Fender apparently has its own app for that.
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And it's free!
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Free? That makes me happy.
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You can use it immediately after downloading it,
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so if you happen to forget your clip tuner,
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you can use your phone to tune your guitar right away.
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It's very convenient.
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Also, guitar picks.
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-They also come in many shapes and thickness. Colors, too.
-That's right.
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Instrument stores have tons of different ones.
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You can pick some up and try them out.
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We each have our own picks as part of our merch line-up.
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They have portraits of us.
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They have portraits on them drawn by MAMI.
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Artists' signature picks are also sold,
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so pick some up and try them out.
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After you tune your guitar, you can finally start playing it.
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The way you play when sitting down and the way you play when standing up will change a bit.
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So today, we'll be putting on guitar straps and standing while playing.
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This is what it looks like when you put on a strap.
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-There are also a lot of different straps.
-That's right.
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-It's pretty fun choosing a strap.
-It is.
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Ta-da!
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The strap's so long!
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Wow.
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This is a side of MAMI you don't really get to see.
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When you have it at that length, it gives off a punk vibe.
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The position that makes it easier to play varies with each person,
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so it's okay to leave it long--
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-This position here too.
-Yes, and it's also okay to have it short.
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I want to keep it the same as when I'm both sitting or standing,
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so I've been making it really short recently.
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That's one way of thinking about it.
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The kind of performance you want to show can differ,
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so find a position you think is cool and adjust the length as well.
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-When we first started, we had them around here.
-That might be true.
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-It's pretty difficult to play if you make it longer.
That's true.
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You can no longer see the strings.
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But when you're playing bent over, your silhouette looks cool.
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The way you hold the guitar--
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You said earlier that when you're sitting or standing,
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-you want the guitar in the same place,
Yeah.
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so you make the strap a bit shorter.
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There really is a difference if you're playing while sitting or standing.
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That's true.
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When you're sitting, you're holding the guitar in your arms,
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so it's easier to see the strings and fretboard.
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When you're standing,
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you're not holding the guitar in your arms,
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so it's harder to see [the strings and fretboard].
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Each person has their own form.
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I think so.
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Like, there are those who elevate the guitar neck while they play.
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If you play while singing, if you raise the neck a little...
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-It's easier to play?
-Yeah.
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You can check what chords you're playing as you're singing,
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so that's why I often hold it upwards.
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What about when you play an acoustic guitar?
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Since the body's thick,
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my form's different and it's like I'm hugging it.
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The back part is big, so...how should I put it?
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-Your shoulder is raised, right?
-Right.
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You end up hugging it, and you naturally end up having a different form from when you play an electric guitar.
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This applies to picks as well.
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You can play an acoustic guitar with a pick,
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or you could also play it with your fingers.
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Right.
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Unlike when you use a pick, it sounds softer.
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-It gives off a warmth.
-Yeah.
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It's also nice to play it with your fingers.
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A lot of those who sing and play to their own accompaniment play with their fingers.
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I'll practice with that.
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You can also change the way you play according to the song or situation.
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You can make all kinds of sounds on the guitar,
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and you can also make sounds with just one string.
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Essentially, the guitar is an instrument with which you often play two or more strings at the same time.
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"Chord" is the English word for it, so please remember it.
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It was difficult learning chords at first.
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For chords, yeah.
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There would often be chord charts on the back page of music magazines,
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so we'd all look at it and memorize them.
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-We stuck it on the wall of the practice studio.
-That's right.
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What we recommend when trying to play your first song are power chords.
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You play mainly the sixth and fifth strings.
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That's right.
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It's best to have the six strings sound clean,
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but if it's still difficult, simplify it.
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Those are power chords.
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It's fine if the upper three strings make sound.
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-These are what we memorized first.
-That's right.
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What people stumble on when they first start out is the F chord.
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But the F chord, like what HARU said...
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It's best to have all six strings make sound,
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but you can also just play the sixth, fifth, and fourth strings.
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They're the same F chord.
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Power chords consist of more than just F.
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Any chord can be used in various ways by playing only the upper three strings in the same way.
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Even if your hands are small or if you don't have enough strength, you'll be able to play these,
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-so try them out at least once.
-I agree.
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I think there are many people who get tripped up by the F chord and quit, but that's such a waste!
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Right?
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Just by learning simple chords and being able to play a song will completely change your confidence levels.
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We recommend trying to complete one song in that way.
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I think it's okay to have your fingers shaped in way that makes it easy for you to play and come up with different ways.
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We just want you guys to try it out.
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Related to being frustrated with the F chord,
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there are many people who wonder how they can improve
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in order to overcome their problems and continue playing.
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The four of us managed to do it while making full use of power chords.
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That's true.
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Saying things like guitarists need to play fast or super-well--
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Of course you can't do things like that from the get-go.
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Rather than practicing silently like that all alone,
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I personally think it'd be great if you could play with friends and have fun.
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If you have someone you can start learning with,
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or maybe you know someone who plays an instrument, you can play together.
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-Perhaps you'll find someone you can enjoy this with.
-Yeah.
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It's very motivational.
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It's like, "Ah, you're already at that point!"
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That's true.
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"I want to catch up to you."
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Also, you can all try playing guitar solos.
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It's not only MAMI who tries playing guitar solos--
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Our bassist TOMOMI also wants to try it out,
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so all of us have fun while working on it.
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That's something we've done a lot.
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-Also, you can try singing while playing.
-That's true.
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-You can remember the solo by voicing it.
-You might able to play it if you verbalize it.
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We've done that before.
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-We've done things in many different ways.
-Right?
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Also, there are big mirrors in music studios,
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and you can use those by holding your guitar and working on your poses.
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You can be like, "Oh, it looks cool if I play it like this,"
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and you can all practice jumping, too.
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First, try out a style that you think makes you look cool.
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You can also start by practicing for a performance.
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That's all for today's video.
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This has been "Start Your Journey!" with SCANDAL's vocalist HARUNA and guitarist MAMI.
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Bye bye!