That was really interesting. I always thought Nao from Syachi and Towa ex-Takoniji looked like Kanako. At that time I took it as Stardust trying to make mini-momoclo and choosing them because of Kanako, but the face ratio might explain why they choose similar people.

The first time my mom saw Ebichu she asked me if aiai was Reni's sister. And also Hinata and Kaho look at least like cousins. :))

momomofu said:

1:20～
Hasegawa:It was in an audition of the last year that I met her for the first time.
She was not good at speaking. She said "I want to sing a song". We were surprised as soon as we watched her performance.

Her name?

Hasegawa:Her name is Hirota Aika

For a long time I wondered if she uses that ridiculous moe voice to disguise speech problems, and between this and what limited videos I've seen of her not using it, I'm leaning towards it being the case. I guess they're different skills, but it's a little surprising considering her singing abilities.

it's definitely not her natural speaking voice, but like I said, it seems like she has some kind of lisp almost like Momoka when she speaks "normally" so I can see why she tries to hide it.

lol, someone uploaded that super awkward clip from Global Ka Keikaku where she's talking about her stuffed pandas

I'm not criticizing, she's just such a weirdo that I find her fascinating and try to understand where she's coming from. :)

^ you learn something new everyday
I remember she mentioned about her thought in her blog when a fan asked if she likes her own voice, couldn't find it at this time instead I dug into an interesting post by the Rijicho (section 3 president). I just find out that he used to post stories in their blog until 2012 and mostly about mildly interesting and funny history of momoclo and ebichu.
History of Ebichu
Hello, this is President the Wild Angus (a wrestler nickname) again, I'm getting tired about Momoclo's history as for now, let's take a detour and talk something about Ebichu
Once upon a time in section 3 meeting in 2009
rijicho: little sister! I want a little sister!
some staff: eh little sister? the sister of who?
rijicho: well Momoclo of course
staff: Isn't it a bit too soon!?
rijicho: Even Morning Musume has Berryz Koubou!
staff: Momusu, who doesn't know about Momusu? And all we have is this Momoclo, they're completely obscure!
rijicho: Either make a sister group now or never, find me some cute girls!
staff: seriously!?

thus they gathered some cute girls and got another meeting started
Rijicho: I'm gonna name the new group "Ebisu48", what do you think?
staff: No way! That's way too dangerous!
Rijicho: Okay, 49 then.
staff: That's still dangerous!
Rijicho: well, let's make it's like forty something, it's good enough, also I want to make it something with schoolgirl, teacher and stuff!
Rijicho: Ah I knew! How about Ebisu Junior High?
staff: School? is it going to be a private school (shiritsu) or public?
Rijicho: gotta be private, it's fun and we will have something to do if it's a coed school!

and then the activities of our five girls was started. This is a story about what happened a year before this event. http://ameblo.jp/shirituebichu/day-20100713.html

Hirono Official Calendar 2015 launch event

Ebichu [Event] Haitateki Handshake Event

I just prefer natural voices. Aarin's natural voice is really nice, IMO. I don't find deeper voices to necessarily be "unladylike."

I think that it's kind of natural for people to speak and behave differently when they know that they're in the public eye, so I'd expect some kind of shift between acting like normal teenagers and how they behave and talk when they're aware that they're on camera.

What I find interesting about Aiai's style of speech is that it seems so extreme. If, on one hand, her mother and sister talk that way, and she considers it normal, and on the other hand, she can shift in and out of it, I think I'd have to consider it a style. And to some degree, that happens in a lot of families and social groups -- styles of speech, private slang, ways of doing or saying things that only your family or friends understand. In her case, it's like she's turned her style of speech into her personal trademark -- something that says, "This is Aiai, and don't you forget it!" :))

Maybe what makes Aiai seem so unusual is that she has a very strong personality, and a lot of natural charisma, and she is eccentric (in a good way) -- she's willing to stand out like a sore thumb, and she enjoys it. (These are all qualities which I admire.)

Today 28/11 is Hinata 4th anniversary since her joining in Ebichu.. Omedetou gozaimasu Hinachan~

It's may a little bit big so I'll put some pics in the spoiler.