We Still Subbing

"To put everything we have into it" Their resolve for the Center-less last single "After all, the decision to end it is frustrating" “It’s really… difficult to put into words” - Sugai There were many conflicted feelings behind their resolve. On 16th July 2020, on the stage of their first audience-free online live performance "KEYAKIZAKA46 Live Online, but with YOU!", Keyakizaka46 announced their renaming. The ups and downs of emotions leading up to that decision could not be simply summed up in a few words. “When I look back on the past 5 years, there are so many things that have happened. About the renaming, what we first thought about was if there was any way at all that we could continue as Keyakizaka. The decision to end it is… frustrating, after all.” - Sugai  However, since their pivotal live performance at Tokyo Dome in September 2019, their activities have not progressed as expected. The release of the single was postponed and a string of members g...

Part 1 They are released on newspaper the same day, but released at different timing as a free online article. This one was released on24th August 2020 Keyakizaka46’s Kobayashi Yui (20) reveals the charm of their new song “Dare ga Sono Kane wo Narasu no Ka?” (Released on the 21st online), and a story during their performance. She also talks about the recent situation of the group that has announced its name change, and her expectations for the juniors. Kobayashi Yui taking a picture with her junior, Morita Hikaru (left) during the online live performance in July Her personal favourite lyric in “Dare ga sono kane wo narasu no ka?” is the “(Lyrics) I’m just arguing the things I want to say out loud, Endless self-assertion is just noise”. She reveals that, “There are some parts that are danced with powerful emotion, as if we're trying to break something with our elbows.” During the performance, there are many parts where she stood in the central position together with Sugai Yuuka (24)...

The storytellers of the group, Ishimori Nijika and Saito Fuyuka. They’ll talk about plenty of stories of the grand happiness leading up to the current turning point, as well as what’s to come going forward. (All published gravure & interviews of Keyakizaka46 in B.L.T. and blt graph are laid out in front of them) Saito: Hey, isn’t this from the first time we were photographed as all 21 members? Ishimori: How nostalgic～ They took the photo from above while everyone was formed in a circle with their eyes closed. Saito: Which was it now… that photo of you, Nijika! Ishimori: Eh no it’s fine we don’t find it. (lol) Saito: This one this one! This will be a topic among members forever won’t it? (lol) This has to do with the time you were shooting the MV for 『Kataru nara Mirai wo...』 right? Was there something in the photo on the opening page? Saito: All of the members were looking at the completed volume of blt graph. At first we were laughing at Ozeki’s face in it, but then someone said “...

  She said that she is the type that supports the team from behind, rather than leading at the front. However, listening to her brilliant and powerful words, I was convinced that a new bud is beginning to sprout. During the new 2nd gen MC part in the online live performance held the other day, you were given the role of moderator, weren’t you? Rena: I wondered if it’s okay for me, someone who is unreliable, to be the moderator. I wondered if it’s not more interesting to have (Masumoto) Kira-chan or (Ozono) Rei-chan instead. But I handled the MC for a little bit during the “Sakamichi Trainee Tour”, so I feel that that experience has been put into good use You looked confident and reliable. Rena: Thank you very much. I was often told “You are reliable” by the other trainee members, but my high school friends treat me like a younger sister. The truth is that all I’ve done is rely on my friends, so I’m not aware that I’m a dependable person at all (laughs) It was announced during the o...

Keyakizaka46’s Kobayashi Yui (20) talks about the new song “Dare ga sono Kane wo narasu no ka?” (Will be released on the 21st as an online single). For Keyakizaka46 who have announced the closing of their 5 years long history, this will be their last single. She talks about the charm of the song, her feelings toward the group, and message towards the fans Kobayashi Yui showing the Keyakizaka46 pose “Dare ga sono Kane wo narasu no ka?” is a song that mixes Keyakizaka46-like strong messages with a kind atmosphere. The lyrics have a phrase that gently calls out to someone. “I think that in the past, there have been a lot of lyrics about 'Boku (I)' blurting out our own opinions toward the other people in the past. But in this song, the 'Boku (I)' thinks that 'We've all said a lot of things, but if we stop and listen for a moment, wouldn’t we be able to see something new?'.” The song begins with Kobayashi’s narration. “The answer is in the narration at the start,...

  How have you been spending your time at home? I’ve recently been playing with my pet dog Pomu, putting Keyakizaka songs on shuffle, continuously switching through the worldview and feeling of each song and dancing to them, like doing a solo live. I even try dancing to unit songs I’m not normally a part of,  trying to make practices exciting by dancing in front of a big mirror, making air lives part of my daily routine. Oh, though I haven’t done it yet today. Is it like experiencing the Keyaki songs with a different view? There should also be the feeling of re-discovery. I didn’t really notice it while I was performing them live, but when I thought of going through singing and dancing to every other part I usually don’t, surprisingly, I couldn’t. I thought, “Huh? How did this part go again?” and miss it. That’s why I’m re-listening to Keyaki songs and reinterpreting them by myself. Even if the sound is similar, the impression is different compared to when I listen to it durin...

  Brightening up the place weekly and with funny stories. Just by having her here, I felt as if glimmer = brightness. For you, Matsumoto-san, what kind of presence are the new Keyakizaka46 2nd gens? I was this feeling of familiarity with Kosaka Marino but, recently I’ve became able to talk with Onuma (Akiho)-san. During our kenshusei (trainee) period we weren’t that much in contact, and when we became the new Keyaki 2nd gens, the self-restraint period soon started, so we talked slowly. Recently, when we had the opportunity to be together, Onuma-san really has changed, actually, she’s a really passionate person. That’s why, in my head she has the image of a “the passionate apple”. I thought that you don’t know people unless you talk to them after all, I believe the new 2nd gens will become a family-like presence from now on. I see. But, when reading your blog and such, you also have a unique impression. What do you think about being unique? That’s the question. In my opinion, I’m th...