We Still Subbing

  There is no such thing as an easy slope to climb. With hard work and simple honesty, one step at a time. When the accumulation leads to the scenery where the flowers are in full bloom, your heart is filled with happiness. This issue will be released after your last live as Keyakizaka46, but is there  any song that Kousaka-san feels attached to, that you’d like to perform? “I wonder what? Hmm~ After all, it’s “Silent Majority”. It’s so famous, that people would be reminded of it when it comes to Keyaki. I think it’s a representative song that anyone has heard before, and ever since I joined, it has never been performed. So I'd be happy to perform it in the live performance with the all current members.” I pray that it will come true. By the way,  have you always liked idols, Kousaka-san? “It’s not like that… It’s more like I come to like them shortly before taking the audition. I had a friend who likes Nogizaka46-san, and I started watching videos of Sakamichi (series) w...

  I wanted to show everyone during our online live that “This is us!” Kobayashi-san’s presence and performance at the online live “KEYAKIZAKA46 Live Online, but with YOU!” seemed to stand out even more than usual, to the point that it made me imagine you would be the nucleus of the group from here on. The renaming of the group was announced towards the end of the concert, but I would like to ask you what your honest feelings about it are lately. Kobayashi:  By the time we reached the day of the concert, I could feel everyone’s enthusiasm in being like “let’s do this!”. As for the group’s renaming… I’m already looking ahead, or rather, I’ve been made to look ahead. At first, the feeling was kind of like “oh so there’s also the option of renaming”. As with all the members though, I still wanted to continue on as Keyakizaka46 after all, and for some time I thought about how we’d be able to continue under the name of Keyakizaka. It’s not that I was fixated on it, but there are a n...

At that time, her reticent eyes were focused only on the future. July 16th. Keyakizaka46’s livestream concert, watched by approximately 300,000 people. Through varying worldviews from the large-scale stage set assembled in the grand hall of Makuhari Messe, they boldly delivered the message of each song. Dances, melodies, and harmonies that were synchronized with her emotions. From the center, her gaze was strong, beautiful, and very clear. What is she thinking amidst the waves of change? Two years on from when her photobook “Kanjou no Kouzu” was shot, we bring you Kobayashi Yui as captured on camera by photographer Suzuki Shin. T/N: As this is not the typical straight Q&A, Yuipon's words are in bold . As we stepped out onto the rooftop after finishing shooting indoors, the sun was slowly setting. The stagnant air was warm with a cool breeze. It was the border between day and night, the moment in time between summer and autumn. Photographer Suzuki Shin captured her side profile ...

  Sugai who pulls the group as the captain, and Matsuda who shows leadership within the 2nd generation members. This is a conversation between the two who are often in charge of MCs during live performances and are anticipated as the face of the group. It has been a year since the 2nd generation members joined Keyakizaka46, has your impression of each other changed since you have begun working together? Matsuda: My impression of Sugai-san has been the same since the beginning, she is a person who is exactly as I thought she was. She really does things properly, and she is always thinking about the group. But she gets teased by everyone and also has a playful side (laughs) Sugai: Hahaha (laughs). Matsuri-chan (Matsuda) is able to move according to her own will, she has the power to pull those around her. Of course, until now there have been members who were also like that, but I think she surpasses them, I think that her existence is a fresh breath of air. Actually, the new things b...

  Being the group’s “youngest child” cherished by anyone, there is the charm of the “gap” between the outside appearance and the inside.  The “being loved consultation” of the, in reality shy, companions starts here. 「An existence as a younger sister as well as an older sister」 Yamasaki-san first met Harada-san at the time of the Nippon Budoukan performance in May 2019, is that correct? Ten: Before that we met once. The first time I saw Harada-san she was being surrounded by 1st gen-san. Aoi: At that time I knew there were a few 2nd generation members there but since I am shy I could not really talk. Because of that I greeted 2nd generation members for the first time on the day of Budoukan. If you think about it, it's only been a little more than a year. What impression of Harada-san did Yamasaki-san have from the time you were seeing her on TV?  Ten: She has a sweet appearance so I assumed she was a little sister character, but when I met her it was totally different and...

  Where the song is headed It has been about 1 year and 9 months since the 2nd generation members were announced, what are some of the most memorable songs you've participated in? Karin: Tokyo Dome’s “Garasu wo Ware”. Actually I wanted to say “Taiyou wa Miageru Hito wo Erabanai” from Republic of Keyaki 2019, but I like it so much that I said it in many places (laughs). What do you like about Dome’s Garasu? Karin: It was the first song performed in Dome, and I was surprised by the scenery I was seeing. It’s not about my performance. Ten: For me it’s “Dare ga Sono Kane wo Narasu no Ka?” from online live in July. It’s largely because of the costume we are wearing right now (laughs), but since it was our first performance of the song, so I thought that it might have left an impression on everyone. Since it was the first performance of the song, I'm sure it attracted a lot of attention and left a lasting impression on the members as well. How was DareKane, Fujiyoshi-san? Karin: Befo...