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Announcing her graduation from Sakurazaka46 and moving towards the next step… Watanabe Risa talks. It’s been about seven years since her debut. Watanabe Risa has eagerly run through the times as part of Keyakizaka46 and Sakurazaka46, but what does she have in mind now? ---- The “graduation” was decided after thinking it over many times I started thinking of graduation about one and a half to two years ago. From that period until the announcement, as I wrote in my blog, there were many times where I rethink about it. Now that I have finally decided to graduate and told the fans about it, I feel really refreshed inside. I’ve been active as part of Keyakizaka46 for about five years, and when it was decided that we will be renamed into Sakurazaka46, I also thought, “Could this be the timing for my graduation?”. But, it was an important new start for the group. As the members continued to do their best, I also wanted to devote myself into laying the foundation of the group, and so I changed

  Source: https://twitter.com/tvguide_alpha/status/1475059974858764290 Working frantically and earnestly for the sake of the group. That attitude has been highly valued, and she has been blessed with the opportunity to expand her field of expression. Sugai Yuuka embodies the importance of making steady efforts. She became an idol just a few months before her 20th birthday. Since then, it’s been a little over 6 years. She has made strenuous efforts as the captain of Keyakizaka46 and Sakurazaka46, gradually expanding her own field outside of the group. Her next challenge is the musical play “Curtains”. Exactly because this is her first ever experience, she is devoting herself to the preparations for it. Even before the curtain rises, she can’t help but to have expectations.  --- Q: It seems that the rehearsal for the musical “Curtains” will start from the beginning of the year, but did you have the chance before this interview to speak with Shirota Yu-san, the director and star of the pl

  Becoming the center of a title song  for the first time, then the release of her 1st photobook. And moreover, her first drama appearance… The Sakurazaka46’s ace looks back on 2021, a year that was filled with various kinds of new challenges. ---- Please tell us what was the most memorable event in 2021? First of all, the photobook’s photoshoot was a chance for me to get a feelof laying myself bare. During the photoshoot, I felt like I was able to show my true side, which I had never really been able to show in public. Looking at the pictures, I was surprised to see that I could smile so much. I could feel my expression getting softer with each photoshoot, and I came to think that it was okay to show my true self.  Another one was when filming the MV of 3rd single “Nagaredama”, where I was appointed as the center for the first time. I used to think that no matter what position you were in, each of us would just do what we had to do, but when you stand in the center, you attract attent