Nakashima Yuzuki feature in Asahi Shimbun Digital (251219)
I graduated from the University of Kitakyushu this spring. After joining Sakurazaka46 in 2023, I have been commuting to school 1,000 kilometers one way by plane. Balancing my studies with idol activities in Tokyo has been hard, but I was able to overcome it with the mindset of never giving up on doing my best.
During high school, there was a period of time where I didn’t feel like doing my best. I quit the brass band, which I’ve been doing as a club activity for three years in middle school, just after one month. It’s a school where everyone is doing their studies and club activities at such a high level, so maybe I couldn’t keep up. I decided to focus on my studies after that, and when the university entrance exam was coming up, I would take the first train at 5 AM and go to school to study alone. I don’t want to feel awkward with my friends because of the exams, so I wouldn’t even tell them about the results of my mock exams. Even if they asked me, I would just say “Maybe I got a perfect score~?” to fool them. Maybe that was my own way of maintaining my mental health.
I’ve always liked reading books, and I had an interest in comparing the differences of the expressions used in novels and their English translations. I wanted to become a Japanese language teacher, and so I made University of Kitakyushu’s Department of Comparative Culture as my first choice. I had promised my parents that I would pay my tuition fee with the earnings from my part-time jobs, so I had decided to go to a public university.
I was good at Japanese language, but world history was my weakest subject. I went into the exam without getting an A on any of my mock exams, but I got the highest score that I’ve ever gotten in every subject, and that led to getting into my first choice. I think I just got lucky with the exam problems. Or maybe it was because I perform well under pressure.
If I were to give advice regarding entrance exams preparations, it would be to focus on others’ strengths instead of your own inferiority. I thought, “Everyone can be my teacher!” and asked them to teach me over and over again. They really taught me a lot. Being in a good condition is also important to perform well in the exams. I think the others struggled in that part. I even brought my own cushion to the exam hall, and I also focused on maintaining my body temperature. I would take off and put my cardigan back on as needed, or even blow my nose without any care.
After entering university, I worked part-time at a claypot rice restaurant and a bento shop to earn money for my tuition fee. I had fun going to class, and I was able to complete my assignments during my two hour commute by express bus. I completed my credits properly. When I was in the second year of university, I watched Sakurazaka46 perform on a music show on the TV. Yamasaki Ten-san, who was the center of the song, was the girl I thought was cute when I watched her livestream during her auditions (She was 13 at that time). I was overwhelmed with the fact that she had come so far already.
Rather than wanting to become an idol, it was more like wanting to stand on the same stage as the members of Sakurazaka46. That’s what I had in mind while going through the auditions. Even before passing the audition, they asked me what I was going to do regarding university, and I answered that I will definitely graduate. However, since the members are supposed to run together towards the same direction, I thought that maybe having to attend university while being a member wouldn’t fly with them. I had a feeling that I wouldn’t pass the auditions. Nevertheless, the staff checked the credit requirements and said “It’s fine. We will support you.” And so, I was able to give my all.
After joining the group, I have been making day trips between Tokyo and Kitakyushu about twice a week. I borrowed money from my parents for the commuting fees, and I’m still in the middle of repaying them now. I would take an early morning flight to make it in time for my class in the 2nd period, but when I have exams in the 1st period, I’d have to take the last flight on the day before. There were days where I had to leave our concert during the encore, flew alone while crying, and stayed at a hotel. Everyone has to be present at the rehearsal the day before our concerts, but sometimes I can’t attend that as well. I was determined not to hold everyone back because of my studies, and to finish everything with the best of my abilities, not making mistakes. The members also encouraged me, and I thought that I’m really blessed with great people around me.
The reason I didn’t make my long-distance commute story public until I graduated was because I didn’t want to make the fans think that university was more important for me, even for just a moment. But the experience of balancing both of them has really helped me in my activities. Now, even when I have a lot of things I have to do, it doesn’t feel as hard to complete everything without cutting any corners. I hope that sharing my experiences could help test-takers who are feeling lonely to do their best again.
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