Sugai Yuuka interview with MOVIE WALKER (18th September 2020)

“"The group name 'Keyakizaka46' itself takes on a life of its own, and I really no longer know what kind of image the fans and the public have of us anymore. The dilemma was that we couldn't convey the members’ realistic selves to them.”

Sugai Yuuka, the Captain of Keyakizaka46, recalls her days of being distressed by the speculation and thoughtless reports on the Internet.

“Our Lies and Truth: Documentary of Keyakizaka46” that was postponed due to the influence of COVID, is the group’s first documentary movie. It follows their turbulent 5 years, starting with the group’s formation in 2015, the birth of “Hiragana Keyakizaka46” that is now currently active as “Hinatazaka46”, the time when members such as Kobayashi Yui, Watanabe Rika, and Watanabe Risa expanded their individual jobs working as exclusive models for magazines, the withdrawal of Absolute Center Hirate Yurina and graduations, and finally their announcement of renaming. Based on footage of live performances and testimonies from members and staff, it shows the "lies and truth" of the group that have never been revealed until now.

MOVIE WALKER PRESS held a solo interview and photoshoot with Sugai at the “Shibuya Stream” complex in Shibuya, Tokyo. Looking back on the group's history, she talks about what she's feeling in a 5,000-character-long interview.

“Keyakizaka46 was not a group where our roles were determined by being in the front or in the back”

Following Nogizaka46 as a part of “Sakamichi Series” produced by Akimoto Yasushi, Keyakizaka46 began their activities in August 2015 with 21 members selected from among 22,509 participants. The girls made an impressive debut with “Silent Majority”, breathing life into the crowded idol world with their songs and performances that carry strong messages.

Looking into the streets of Shibuya, Sugai exclaimed, "It's very nostalgic.”. The music video (MV) for "Silent Majority", boasting about 150 million views on YouTube, was filmed at the construction site for the Shibuya Stream building.

“‘Silent Majority' is the song I'm most fond of. Personally, I've always admired Nogizaka46's 'Seifuku no Mannequin', AKB48's 'Beginner' and other cool songs, so I was happy when we received 'Silent Majority'. Watching the footage of our first live performance in this movie reminded me of my original purpose.”

Sugai passed the audition for the group at the age of 19, while still attending university. Shortly after their debut, she was appointed as the group's Captain. Modest and gentle, a fitting description for Sugai, she said that at first she had a "scary" image of joining an idol group.

“Before I joined, I thought that the atmosphere in idol groups is tense, as everyone is fighting to be the Center. But the meaning of Center in Keyaki is completely different, as the emphasis is on conveying the song’s message from each position, which I feel is different from the image of idols that I imagined where each person makes an effort to shine individually. The role of the Center is to express the emotions and lyrics of the songs in a direct manner, and each member plays a role in the place given to them. Our roles are not determined by being in the front or the back of the group, and as such I felt that it was a good way for “expressing” the song.”

“I could see a drama in each of Techi’s performances”

An indispensable part of Keyakizaka46’s story is the presence of Hirate Yurina, who has continued to stand as the Center. Known by the nickname "Techi," she was 14 years old at the time of the group’s formation and the youngest member of the group, but with her overwhelming presence, has risen to a position of what should be called a cultural icon.

In the film, the scenes from her innocent facial expressions at the time of the group’s formation, her gradual change under pressure, to her sudden announcement of withdrawal in January this year are vividly depicted, while each member talks about the charismatic existence that is “Hirate Yurina”.

Sugai, who in the film said “I like her performance just as much as our fans do”, revealed what she thought was the appeal of Hirate: "She puts in a lot of effort, and I think it’s in her self-critical attitude with which she faces her performance while struggling and thinking about it”.

“It's becoming a given for Techi to be the Center of a single, and we are getting more and more lyrics that portrays the image of Techi, but I was really impressed by the fact that she can create her own expression instead of trying to imitate someone else. I don't really like talking about it in this way and make it a burden for Techi, but personally, I feel like I can see a drama in each and every performance, and I really admire her for that.”

With the release of the singles “Sekai ni wa Ai shika nai” “Futari Sezon” “Fukyouwaon”, their 1st album “Masshirona mono wa yogoshitaku naru”, the start of their namesake program “Keyaki-tte, kakenai?” and “Full power! Keyakizaka46 variety, KEYABINGO!”, the drama series “Tokuyama Daigoro dare ga koroshitaka?” and “Zankoku na Kankyaku-tachi” that starred all members, and their first appearance in the 67th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, Keyakizaka46 rose to stardom within one year of their debut.

The first test for the girls, who seemed to be smooth sailing, comes in the incident at the ‘Keyakizaka46 National Tour 2017’ concert at the Nippon Gaishi Hall, which is featured prominently in the film. A mentally and physically exhausted Hirate announces her absence on the day, and the tour was to continue without the Center. Sugai gets close to the emotions of Hirate, as she struggles with the enormous pressure.

“Rather than giving advice as a Captain, I always say to her as an individual, “Let me know if you have any thoughts”, when it came to group activities, live performances, or anything else Techi wanted to try.”

“I was given the chance to stand as a Center, and for the first time felt the world that Techi has been seeing.”

At Keyakizaka46’s ‘2nd YEAR ANNIVERSARY LIVE’ held at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in April 2018, Sugai filled in as the center of "Fukyouwaon" for Hirate who was absent. "I had always felt the weight of the song every time I performed ‘Fukyouwaon’ in live performance, but I never thought I would ever be the Center myself. I felt a lot of responsibility," she recalls.

“When I actually stood as the Center, it was a completely different kind of difficulty than before. I felt my heart really hurting in the choreo where I was getting hit by everyone, and it was the first time I realized how difficult it was to control my feelings in this song. But on the other hand, I was able to experience the joy of being able to convey the message of the song directly, and I felt like I was able to feel a bit of the world that Techi had been seeing. It made me want to help her even more, so I think it was a big moment for me.”

Sugai also revealed an episode with Nagahama Neru from that time. “In the performance formation of 'Fukyouwaon', Neru and I were in a symmetrical position with Techi between us, which is why we came to talk more often. When Techi was absent, Neru would ask and give me advice like, ‘What can we do to help her (Techi)?’ or ‘Would it be better if we left her alone?’. When I was acting as a substitute center, Neru would sometimes stay back and practice with me, and she was moved to tears when the choreographer, TAKAHIRO-sensei, watched me perform the whole song. That encouraged me and I was able to do my best for the performance.”

"I no longer know what kind of image people had of Keyakizaka46 anymore”

Due to the anxiety over her injuries and physical condition, Hirate's absences from the group's activities increased, but at the same time, negative rumors about Keyakizaka46 began to circulate in the weekly magazines and on the internet.

“I don't know what kind of image our fans and the public have of us, as there are a lot of things that I don't understand, being a member myself. To me, the strength of Keyakizaka46 lies in the power and rebellious spirit of the music, and in the strong messages that we deliver through our songs and performances, but on the other hand, I felt that there is a gap between this and the realistic girls side of the members. That's why I felt strongly that I wanted this other part of ourselves to come across more.”

While their activities did not go as well as they would have liked, in the summer of 2019, with the addition of the 2nd gen members to their new lineup, the production of the phantom 9th single "10gatsu no Pool ni Tobikonda" advanced, which was later postponed. "Dare ga sono Kane was Narasu no Ka?”, recently announced as the last single for Keyakizaka46, was also made during this time. 

“This song was given to us just while we were working on '10gatsu no Pool ni Tobikonda' and 'Sajin.’ Of course, I had no idea at the time that it would become our last single, but it was a song that I loved from the first time I heard it. After that, since it became our Center-less last single, some of my interpretations of the song have changed, and I was able to embrace the song more forthrightly.”

There is a scene in the film where Hirate was absent from the shooting of the music video for "10gatsu no Pool ni Tobikonda", and the staff later informed the members that the release of the single had been postponed (and later cancelled). How did Sugai attend to the 2nd gen members who were disappointed that their first single had been postponed?

“They are all girls who entered Keyaki because of how much they liked it, so I think that they would have wanted to create a work together with Techi. When we were filming the music video, the 2nd gen members filled Techi's position and I thought about just how frustrating it must have been for them that we were unable to release it. I conveyed to the 2nd gen members my feelings, such as “I liked your performance (in the music video)” and “Thank you”.”

“When I heard about her withdrawal, I was filled with the thoughts of ‘Thank you for your hard work’.”

On 18th-19th September 2019, their first Tokyo Dome concert was held as an additional performance for the ‘Keyakizaka46 Summer National Arena Tour 2019’. Hirate, who had been absent from the tour, also appeared in the entire show and charmed the audience with a performance that could be considered the culmination of Keyakizaka46's past performances. However, as they were preparing for the year-end music special with Hirate, Sugai felt a sense of foreboding building up.

"As we continued to perform on more music programs, I was gradually convinced of my hunch that ‘This is probably the last time that we will perform together with Techi’. So the 70th Kouhaku Uta Gassen, which became our last performance together, was like a final confirmation.”

And just as she said, after this final appearance, Hirate Yurina announced her withdrawal from the group in January of this year.

“After our turn on the stage of Kouhaku, I was told directly that this will truly be the last time. At that time, rather than stopping her, my thoughts were all of ‘Thank you for always giving your best until now. Thank you for all your hard work’. I just wanted to express my gratitude towards her. I received words of appreciation of “thank you” from Techi as well, and I’m glad that we were able to properly talk.”

 “Having it left on record as a film, it reminded me of those days when I was so absorbed in things.”

The movie was originally scheduled to be released in April this year, but due to the spread of the COVID, the release date was postponed. As a result, additional filming was done for activities after April, and put at the end of the film. The most important scene amongst this was the announcement of the group’s renaming and suspension of activities at the live-streamed concert "KEYAKIZAKA46 Live Online, but with YOU!”. As the Captain of the group, Sugai gave a 4.5 minute speech in which she candidly revealed her feelings leading up to the decision: "For the past 2 years, it was like wandering through a tunnel with no visible exit" and "There were days when I was troubled by things that made me want to cover my ears”.

In the movie, Sugai recalls that her speech "made my heart feel lighter," but what did she feel after watching the film that encapsulates five years of history, including her struggles and frustrations?

“I'm so grateful that the days when we frantically struggled have been captured in such a way on film, and it's a strange feeling to see them screened in a movie theater. The film recorded many incidents that were nostalgic that made even me think ‘Did something like that happen?’, and it reminded me of those days when I was so absorbed in things.”

“Especially in the first year, I didn't know what to do, and there were moments when I felt like I wanted to fire up my weak self. But because of those times, I felt as I watched the film that each one of us has become more reliable with stronger feelings. I haven't talked about the film with the members who have graduated, but I'm very curious to know how they will feel about it.”

“We want to be a strong group in individuality, where each of us can have dreams.”

In her speech, Sugai said, "I believe in the experience we have gained and promise to become a new, stronger group" with regards to moving forwards as a new group in the future. Lastly, we asked Sugai about the "strong" group image she would like to aim for in the future.

“Looking back on our past selves now, I realize that we were very fragile in some ways. We want to become a strong group in individuality where each of us can further improve ourselves, and to have dreams not only as a group, but also as individuals,” she replied distinctly.

“I'm the oldest in the group, and I've had the opportunity to be Captain. I'm going to do my best to pass on that experience to my juniors and to become a supportive presence for them. I will turn 25 this year, so I want to be able to show more of my presence as ‘Sugai Yuuka’. I want to become someone who can cheer others up just by seeing me," she said, clearly looking ahead.

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Translation: toomuchidea

QC: Cirrus

Original article (more pictures here)