Ishimori Rika, Mukai Itoha, Murayama Miu & Murai Yu interview in BRODY February 2026 edition
Observing the 3rd Generation
— The 4th generation members performed the 3rd generation’s song ‘Seijaku no Bouryoku’ during their training camp and at the ‘First Showcase’ (12th June 2025). Did you feel anything while watching their performance?
Mukai: When we watched them at the ‘First Showcase’, we were so moved that some of the 3rd generation members even cried. It was a performance that only the 4th generation could pull off, and it really inspired us, making us feel like, ‘We have to work hard too’.
Ishimori: I could feel their respect for the original version of ‘Seijaku no Bouryoku’. Their individual interpretations also came through clearly and it was stimulating to learn that, ‘This kind of performance style is also possible’. It really gave me a fresh perspective.
Murayama: I was really looking forward to it, but I couldn’t make it to the ‘First Showcase’ because of another work commitment. I watched the footage at home and even through a screen, I could really feel their energy. They had a completely different atmosphere compared to us 3rd generation members and I was deeply moved by the raw power of their voices.
Murai: I could really see how much they’ve grown since I watched them at training camp, and I could tell they were taking it seriously.
—Do you remember when you first received ‘Seijaku no Bouryoku’ yourselves?
Ishimori: At first I was so shocked by the word ‘Bouryoku’(violence) in the title. But when I listened to the melody, there was a real sense of sorrow to it as well. I remember feeling anxious, wondering if we would actually be able to express a song like this.
Murayama: I loved the song from the moment we received it, I really liked the piano intro and how high the overall key was. However when it came to making the music video, we really struggled with learning the choreography. When Takahiro-sensei showed us these black dots and told us, ‘This is the rhythm’, I was at a complete loss, clutching my head and thinking, ‘What are we even supposed to do with this?
Mukai: We spent a lot of time producing that music video, and because of that many of us went through our own individual struggles and periods of suffering. But I believe it was precisely because of that pain that we were able to create that specific performance. This song became the catalyst for me to discover a side of myself I never knew existed.
Murai: Back then, I was just so desperate… I was focused so intensely on the lyrics that I couldn’t see anything else, constantly thinking, ‘How can I truly convey the message of Seijaku no Bouryoku?’ One of the song’s greatest charms is how it completely shifts the entire atmosphere of the venue the moment we perform it live. I want to keep treasuring this song forever.
—I was blown away by the staging of the ‘3rd Year Anniversary Live’ (25th & 26th November 2023)
Murayama: To be honest, when (Yamashita) Shizuki started walking toward us, I couldn’t stop shaking. It was a mix of the heavy tension in the air, my own nerves… and even the cold (laughs). I was trembling from a whole whirlpool of emotions. I think the reason the venue felt like it became one was because all the Buddies were holding their breath, watching over us so intently.
—Speaking of 3rd generation songs, Murayama-san serves as the center for their fourth track, ‘Nando LOVE SONG no Kashi wo Yomikaeshita darou’.
Murayama: During the MV shoot, the other members spent a lot of time practicing how to use the desks. While I was waiting by myself, I kept thinking, ‘I want to join in too!’ (laughs). On the other hand, when it came time for my solo scenes, everyone stayed to watch over me and some of the members even cheered me on, shouting ‘Do your best!’ It made me feel so much of everyone’s kindness.
—Is the solo dance part freestyle?
Murayama: I make it a point to change it up for every single performance. I usually have the final pose planned out for when the camera cuts to me at the end, but for the rest of it, I don’t think, I just dance on instinct.
—Watching ‘Soko Magattara, Sakurazaka?’(TV Tokyo), I get the impression that Murayama-san’s comments about her fellow members are always spot-on. It feels like you are very observant of those around you.
Murayama: I think I do tend to observe others. It’s because I love the 3rd generation so much.
Mukai: Out of the blue, she once told me, ‘Itoha, this is how you walk, right?” It made me realize, ‘Wow she really is watching closely.
Murayama: I observe them and then take notes on my phone (laughs).
Murai: What?! I didn’t know that! (laughs).
—From the perspective of you three, what do you find charming about Murayama-san?
Mukai: She has a very strong will, and that’s something about her that has never changed. I really trust her for that and I think it’s a wonderful quality.
Murai: Seeing her so focused while listening to her music right before a performance really inspires me, it pushes me to do better too.
Ishimori: I feel like Miu has a lot of her own ‘personal rules’. Whether it’s during a concert, other professional activities or even just her daily life, she has truly established her own unique style.
—So you’re quite stoic, aren’t you, Murayama-san?
Murayama: It’s not so much that I’m stoic, it’s more that I just don’t want to break my ‘image’.
Mukai: She definitely has a cute side too, but she only ever shows it to us.
Murayama: Exactly. That’s why whenever the other 3rd generation members are about to talk about that side of me on the radio, I’m always like, ‘Shhh!” to stop them (laughs).
Ishimori: The way she’s so thorough about it is actually what makes her so cool (laughs).
Murayama: Lately, that image has been starting to crumble a bit, so I’m constantly trying to fix it whenever it does (laughs).
Watching my fellow members from the audience
— ‘Seijaku no Bouryoku’ was performed during 2024 tour, the 3rd Generation Live shows (12th & 13th September and 8th & 9th October 2024) and the 4th Year Anniversary Live (23rd & 24th November 2024)
Ishimori: I feel that no matter how many times we perform this song, our duty is to deliver it with everything we’ve got every single time. I believe we must remain a group that faces the music wholeheartedly. While I’m grateful for every opportunity we’re given to perform it, the pressure only grows heavier with each time.
Mukai: The emotions I feel change every time, depending on the atmosphere of the venue and the expressions on everyone’s faces. For some reason, I had a feeling we might not perform it at the 4th Year Anniversary Live, so when we did perform ‘Seijaku no Bouryoku’ during the 3rd Generation Live, it was the first time in my life I experienced tears that just wouldn’t stop.
—Regarding those 3rd Generation Live shows, Mukai-san had to miss the Tokyo performances due to poor health and your appearances during the Osaka shows were limited to only specific songs. Since you were the center for the 3rd generation track ‘Hikikomoru Jikan wa Nai’ during that period, I imagine you must have had a lot on your mind.
Mukai: Back then, when it was decided I’d miss the Tokyo shows, I couldn’t bring myself to tell everyone directly… So I watched the concert from the audience feeling nothing but apology. But it was so moving, I could honestly say it was the most impactful performance I’ve ever seen. That’s exactly why I wanted to give it my all for the Osaka shows, and I practiced every single song. In the end, I still had to limit the number of songs I performed, but thanks to everyone, I felt like I can’t give up.
— Could you three tell us what you find charming about Mukai-san?
Murai: She is so thoughtful, and you can really feel her love for the 3rd generation. Just being with her makes you smile.
Ishimori: Ito-chan is funny and really quick-witted, but she also has that ‘youngest child’ quality to her. Above all, she’s just pure. Whether it’s toward the fans or her work, she is straightforward and sincere about everything she does.
Murai: There’s one moment involving Itoha that I’ll never forget.
Mukai: What is it-!?
Murai: After the 3rd Generation Live in Tokyo, Itoha came up to us with a huge beaming smile and said, ‘I learned how to dance ‘Masatsu Keisuu’ and ‘Manhole no Futa no Ue!” and then she started dancing them for us right there.
Mukai: How embarrassing!
Murayama: I’m sure she was struggling with complicated feelings while watching that concert from the audience but that innocent smile of hers, the one that didn’t let any of that sadness show, really left a deep impression on me.
—Do you make a conscious effort to keep smiling even when you’re feeling down?
Mukai: I consider myself the clumsiest person in the world. I’m just not very good at showing people when I’m feeling down. But I believe that as long as I keep smiling, it will make someone else smile too. That’s how I’ve made it through the last 19 years, by smiling my way through things.
—During the 2025 tour, you didn’t perform ‘Seijaku no Bouryoku’.
Mukai: I think the intention was to show a ‘new’ Sakurazaka46. Especially for the Dome performance, there was only one MC break during the main set and many of the performances leaned heavily into pure entertainment like the circus troupe theme. I think we were able to show everyone a brand new side of us.
Murai: I feel like our options for setlists have expanded because we have more songs now. That said, it’s not as if we will never perform those songs again. We simply want to show a different ‘colour’ of Sakurazaka46 with every concert.
—Seeing the Tokyo Dome performance, the song ‘Minato-ku Parsley’ with Ishimori-san as the center left a strong impression.
Ishimori: When I first received ‘Minato-ku Parsley’, I felt it was different from Sakurazaka46’s previous style and I wanted to build on that. Even saying lines like ‘Here we go’ or ‘Watch me’ before the song started came from a desire to add a new colour to the group. I felt like we could step into a genre we hadn’t explored yet, I wanted to surprise the audience and show them that Sakuraza46 is a group capable of doing things like this, so I took ‘Minato-ku Parsley’ very seriously. At Meet & Greet events, many people have told me, “I started liking you after seeing ‘Minato-ku Parsley’” which makes me glad I worked so hard on it.
Because I love them
—From the perspective of you three, what do you find charming about Ishimori-san?
Murai: When I talk to Rika-chan, I find so many aspects where we share the exact same way of thinking and it makes me so happy. In all my life up until now, I’ve never met a girl I had so much in common with.
Mukai: Rika is someone I can open up to and say, “Actually, back then this is how I was really feeling”. She creates an atmosphere that makes it easy to talk. I still remember her asking me, “What kind of person do Itoha feel comfortable opening up to?” I think that was her roundabout way of saying, “I’m here for you if you need to talk”. Before when I was struggling or feeling down, I couldn’t talk to anyone until after I had solved the problem myself, but now I’ve become able to talk to Rika.
Murayama: Both Rika and I have loved Keyakizaka46 and Sakurazaka46 for a long time and we used to talk about how we ‘didn’t want to ruin the current atmosphere of the group’. But hearing what she just said, it makes me happy to realize that her mindset has evolved in a good way.
Ishimori: I’ve loved the Keyakizaka46even before the debut, so my love for the group is incredibly immense. Precisely because I love them so much, I want this to be a group that lasts for a very long time, so I don’t want to hold anything back in terms of what I can do for them.
—You are the center for the title track of the latest single ‘Unhappy Birthday Koubun’.
Murai: My desire for as many people as possible to discover Sakurazaka46 has never wavered. I perform with the hope of increasing the number of people who see ‘Unhappy Birthday Koubun” and find themselves becoming interested in who we are, even if it is just one person.
—How do the three of you see Murai-san?
Mukai: It’s a bit embarrassing for me to say this after Rika just called me ‘pure’, but she is truly pure. And yet she has the strength to see things through to the very end. Lately she’s been leaning on other members more often too. After an MV shoot, Yu was the last one to come back to the dressing room, she climbed right on top of me while I was lying down and gave me a big hug. It made me so happy.
Murayama: I always had this image of Yu being very positive about the idea of being center, so when the formation was announced, I was genuinely happy for her. I’ve told her this directly as well, but she is always so radiant. She’s so bright it’s almost like, “Okay, that’s enough already!”... She just shines too much (laughs).
Ishimori: Yu-chan can get along with everyone. She’s so straightforward and her emotions are always stable, so I think everyone feels a sense of security when they’re around her. When she really immerses herself into a song, she delivers a performance that feels like it has no limit, it’s so cool. I thought ‘Unhappy Birthday Koubun’ was a perfect fit for her. She’s so good at switching her ‘on/off’ modes that even when I’m dancing behind her, I never have to worry if she’s okay. Even when she makes a pained expression (as part of the choreography), she just looks cool doing it.
— I heard you received some advice from Yamashita-san who has also experienced being the center.
Murai: It happened during a casual conversation, but Shizuki gave me some advice based on her own experience of deeply confronting the lyrics for ‘I Want Tomorrow to Come”. Her idea of ‘not letting yourself be swallowed up by the song and knowing how to switch your ‘on/off’ modes’ felt incredibly important to me. It allowed me to perform from the bottom of my heart. It’s not just Shizuki through, having all my fellow 3rd generation members by my side gives me such a huge sense of security. Because of them, I’m able to stand in the center position with a stable mind.
Yakiniku and the National Stadium
—I’ve heard that the 3rd generation members often gather naturally and go out to eat as a whole group.
Mukai: It usually happens by just calling out to whoever is around at the time, asking “Who wants to go grab food?” I often hear stories from both our seniors and juniors about how they went out to eat with the 3rd generation members, so it might just be that a lot of us simply love going out for meals (laughs).
—Oh, so that’s how it is (laughs). When I interviewed Odakura Reina-san and Kojima Nagisa-san, they mentioned that when the 3rd generation decided to go out for a meal together, you were the one who made the reservation at the yakiniku restaurant, Murayama-san.
Murayama: I try to make sure stories like that don’t get out…
— Does that go against your image? (laughs)
Murayama: It’s just embarrassing, isn’t it? (laughs).
Mukai: You just happened to be the one to book it, right? (laughs).
Murayama: Right, it was just a coincidence (laughs). We had just finished filming the final scene for the drama Rojiura Hotel and we were talking about how lonely it felt now that it was over. That led to us deciding to go for yakiniku, so I went ahead and made the reservation.
Mukai: I didn’t even know that’s how it started, I was just suddenly asked, “Want to go for yakiniku after this?” and I immediately replied, “I’m in!” It was such a happy time.
Murai: Since there were 11 of us, some members were sitting at different tables, yet everyone was still talking to each other and laughing. It made me realize all over again how close the 3rd generation members are, I just find everyone so precious.
Ishimori: Ever since I joined, I’ve found everyone so adorable that I can’t help myself. I used to move around constantly thinking, “I have to work hard to keep up with everyone’s youthfulness!
Mukai: Hey, what are you saying? (laughs).
Ishimori: But as time goes on, I think everyone has become much more conscious of the 3rd generation as a single unified team.
Murai: As we do our activities, the more the love grows, and I find myself feeling happier and happier whenever we get to work together as a 3rd generation unit. You can’t turn back time, so I want to cherish the ‘present’.
—Do you feel like you want to hold another 3rd Generation Live?
Mukai: Precisely because my participation was limited during the last live shows, my desire for the 11 of us to do a concert together is so strong. I talk about that with everyone all the time.
Ishimori: When only nine of us stood on stage during the Tokyo performance of the 3rd Generation Live, it felt so lonely, I kept thinking, “It feels so small with just two people missing”. We don’t know how long the 11 of us can stay together like this, so I really want to make another 3rd Generation Live a reality.
Murayama: I want to do a 3rd Generation Live so badly. I keep saying, “I want to do a live with all 11 of us”, and I’m being very persistent about it. We also hear fans saying, “We want to see the 3rd Generation Live again”, so while I don’t know if it’s possible yet, I really want to put on a show where Itoha and Reina are fully part of it.
Murai: I want it so much that I don’t mind doing a 3rd Generation Love right now, this very second! (laughs).
—It has been decided that the ‘5th Year Anniversary Live’ will be held at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium) on 11th & 12th April 2026. To conclude, please share your thoughts and enthusiasm.
Mukai: I feel truly grateful to be able to stand in the National Stadium at such a milestone as our 5th anniversary. While feeling immense gratitude toward all the Buddies and the staff, I want to make this an unforgettable concert where you won’t want to bling for even a second.
Murai: I never imagined we’d be able to stand in the National Stadium at this point in our journey, so it feels like a dream. I believe this is the result of our hard work together with the Buddies in every step of the way, so I hope to repay that kindness through our performance on stage. The National Stadium is incredibly vast, so there will surely be many family members and friends of Buddies, as well as first time attendees. If those people walk away feeling that “Sakurazaka46 is actually pretty great”, our circle will grow and we’ll become an even larger group.
Ishimori: My heart has been racing ever since the announcement was made to the fans. At Meet & Greets, I often hear people say that the Tokyo Dome or Kyocera Dome Osaka shows were their ‘very first concert’. I think we can increase those numbers even more at the National Stadium and I want to see the place packed to capacity. More than anything, I want to cherish the Buddies who have been watching us all along. Seeing their joyful faces at the Meet & Greets after the National Stadium announcement is something I’ll never forget. I want to work hard so I can show them a cool performance and make this a truly meaningful live show.
Murayama: I believe the staff chose this venue because they have high expectations for Sakurazaka46. I want to deliver something that exceeds those expectations. I’m ready to take on any kind of staging or choreography. With the graduation of seniors and the addition of the 4th generation, I want to aim for a concert where we can hold our heads high and say, “This is the Sakurazaka46 of today".
Mukai: This isn’t the finish line, it’s just one point along the way. I want to give a performance that makes people think, “I want to keep watching what lies ahead for them".
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