We Still Subbing

  I'd like to ask the three of you who are acting as the Center in Sakurazaka46’s first single about your various thoughts. First of all, I'd like to ask you about your honest feelings about being in the position of Center. Hikaru: I think that the fans have various thoughts and opinions about the new system where the three of us share the position of Center for the songs in the single, and I also think about various things, but... I'd like to perform as the center of the songs in my own way. I read the fan letters sent through the mobame app and handwritten ones, and I feel like I’m only receiving their feelings of support now. I'd like to express what only I can do, and I think there are also expressions that can be born from it, so I'd like to focus on that. Karin: I didn't have a sense of 'I'm a Center, so this is what I have to do'. Oh, but I guess that might have been in the back of my mind somewhere!? Of course, I wanted to make it something g...

Watanabe Rika never breaks her own pace. Even if Keyakizaka46, which she belonged to for 5 years, gets renamed and the new Sakurazaka46 is born, looking at the Last Live, she will continue to be as she is, with her soft and gentle presence. Before Keyakizaka46’s CD debut with 「Silent Majority」, a 「Ponkotsu Queen Battle」was held in their variety show 「Keyakitte Kakenai?」. As expected by the majority, the first Queen was Watanabe Rika. In the first six months of the program, the viewers came to believe that it really was ”as expected by the majority". Her being the “Ponkotsu '' of the group was noticeable since their creation. For example, the orientation camp was held shortly after the formation and start of the program. Watanabe came to the meeting place, sat down, and suddenly realized that she had left her carry-on bag at the station… Her unparalleled beauty, her character that has not changed over the past five years,  Watanabe has been loved by the members and fans ali...

  As the Captain of Keyakizaka46, she has been leading the group until now. For her who has been taking the brunt of the big aspects of the group, including the renaming announcement in July’s online live, “Keyakizaka46 The Last live” held in 12th and 13th October was not only their last live performance as Keyakizaka46, but an event of many meanings. "It was the first time for Keyakizaka46 to have a different setlist in 2 days, and I think that we are able to cover almost all the songs, so I thought we would have a sense of accomplishment if we could do it. But at the same time, because it has a completely different menu in 2 days, I was worried about how difficult the rehearsal will become (laughs). Many original members had graduated, and the 2nd generation had joined, so it felt like we’re recreating all the songs from scratch. Of course it was our last as Keyakizaka46, and it may also be our last time performing Keyakizaka46 songs. So far we have shown performances in various...

The Beginning of Sakurazaka46 Over the past 5 years, they have gone from the fierce wind of “Keyakizaka46” to the white cherry blossom in full bloom of “Sakurazaka46”. From the decision of changing the name of “Keyakizaka46” to the announcement of the group name “Sakurazaka46”, what kind of feelings did Uemura Rina spend her days with? In the regional performances in Miyagi, Kanagawa, Osaka, and Fukuoka that began in August 2019, Uemura Rina, who served as the center of the songs “Kimi wo mou sagasanai” and “Mou Mori e Kaerou ka?” has been a member of the group since the beginning as a 1st generation member and at times has borne the heavy-duty of being the center. She recalls her initial negative attitude towards the name change, and through reading fan letters, had a change of heart and faced forward. She candidly talked about the changes to the new group and her expectations for it. Please tell me your honest reaction when you heard of the name change and how do you feel about it no...

  Masumoto Kira Please tell us the reason you auditioned for the Sakamichi joint audition. I was very influenced by my Sakamichi group seniors, so I also wanted to become a person who moves people both physically and mentally like my seniors. Please tell us what “was as expected” and what “was different” between the image you held of Keyakizaka46 and what it was like when you actually joined. I had the impression that there would be a lot of people who were cool even when they weren’t performing. As expected, even though during rehearsals and on stage everyone put on fierce facial expressions and their intensity heightened even more when watching them on the monitor, in the dressing room the mood shifts to something that would suit a gentle meadow. When does your tension rise? Whenever I have nothing to do, and Onuma-san is close to me. When my tension rises my voice becomes loud and I become unaware of my surroundings. This is a part of me I want to fix. Among the 2nd gen, what’s ...