We Still Subbing

  Buying juices for you Q Inoue-san, back when you were still just a Keyakizaka fan, what was your image of Koike-san? Inoue: From the POV of a fan, despite her cutesy image, she showed a cool performance on stage like she was a completely different person. Personally, I thought her melancholic expressions were incredible. I was proud to be someone from Hyogo, just like her.  Koike: I’m glad to hear that. Q And then after entering Keyakizaka46, several 2nd generation members were added into the formation. Inoue: As several 2nd gen members get to join music shows [performances], I learned as I watched them across the screen. The members that had performed with the seniors and the seniors were getting to know each other while I was getting flustered as I couldn’t bring myself to speak with them, Mii-san reached out to me. It was really reassuring. Q Koike-san, do you remember this moment? Inoue: I do. Rina-chan drew a penguin on her greeting card, so I asked, “You like penguins!...

  She spent five years as the trunk of Keyaki. She spent five years in Sakura, looking for her own way to bloom. As winter becomes spring, and the islands take on new colors in this new “saizon”--you’re no longer here. Q  First of all, thank you for all the hard work over your last ten years in the group. Due to various things, Koike-san has become the “anchor” of the first generation. How do you feel about that? Koike: To be honest, it still doesn’t feel real that I’m graduating. But, I think that back during the filming of TokuDare? There was a time where we all happened to be discussing the topic of who would be the last to graduate. Back then, most of us answered with “Fuu-chan” (Saito Fuyuka) (laughs). I myself never thought I’d stay in the group for ten years, so I was the most surprised to find myself as the last (1st generation) member. Q A while back, in the video uploaded to the Sakurazaka Channel Youtube page where Koike-san and Fuyuka-san entered the storage room h...

She, who has the image of being the leader of the 3rd generation members, talked about her own potential after facing the past year. — I feel that the 3rd generation members have become even closer because of the “3rd Generation Concert” (Held at Yoyogi 1st Gymnasium on September 12th-13th and Osaka Jo Hall on October 8th-9th), but what do you think? Yuzuki: That’s right! This past year, there are members who have been doing activities as a part of senbatsu, and in turn, the other members were active as a BACKS member. Through those separate activities, each of us felt like the others had grown in various ways. Personally, I really love “BACKS LIVE!!” and I often come to watch them, thinking how cool they are every time. On the other hand, the BACKS member also said to me “I watched you on this music show the other day, you were amazing.” So when we were told about the “3rd Generation Concert”, after doing our own activities while seeing each others’ growth, I thought “So we can do a c...

  After completing her first live performance at Tokyo Dome since returning… Because Sakurazaka won’t leave anyone behind. "Sakurazaka46 4th ARENA TOUR 2024 Shin・Sakurazensen -Go on back?- " concluded with great success. The last performance at Tokyo Dome attracted Buddies from inside and outside of Japan, showcasing Sakurazaka46’s current momentum. The fact that this was Koike Minami’s first live performance since her return was probably a major factor in its success. After taking a break since last October and finally returning to the stage, she spoke of her current thoughts and determination. Riko made “Sonia” pure   - Since taking a break from activities in October 2023, the first time you appeared in front of fans again was at Kobayashi Yui’s graduation concert on February 1st. Were you nervous? Koike: Up until just before standing on stage, rather than nervousness, the feeling of fear was greater. Even though I told the staff ‘I want to send off Yuipon’, I realise that ...

※ The conversation started naturally as soon as the three of them sat down on the long sofa together. Murai Yu: Wait, I’m the oldest among us? Taniguchi Airi: Yes, but there’s barely any difference between us. Kojima Nagisa: Personality-wise, Airi is the most older sister-like. I’m pretty confident that I’ll be the little sister, no matter which 3rd generation I am with, or rather, I want to always be the youngest sister (laughs). Q Age-wise, Matono Mio-san is the youngest, but I’ve got the impression that she’s pretty mature mentally. Airi: She also likes to be spoiled. Nagisa: Perhaps because Mio has a bit of an age difference with her brother, she’s really good at getting herself spoiled. Q While Kojima-san’s age with your brother is close? Nagisa: My brother is in the same academic year and age as Yuzu (Nakashima Yuzuki). So there's a three year difference between us. Airi: Wait, we have a three year age difference with Yuzu!? Yu: Apparently my current age is the same as (Ishim...