Matsuda Rina interview in SWITCH June 2026 Edition

Q What did you sincerely feel when you first found out about doing a concert at the National Stadium?

Matsuda: It was a bit of a shock, as if seeing something that had never really been in my field of vision suddenly appearing right in front of me . While of course I feel happy, but at the same time there was also a part of me thinking, “Really? Isn’t it too soon?”. To be honest, at the time, I didn’t have the confidence yet. I felt like it wouldn’t be good if I stayed the same. But even I don't understand why I thought like that, there was also a time when I was caught up in this vague sense of anxiety.

Q What kind of discussions did you have with the members toward the concert?

Matsuda: Just like what I always do before a concert or tour, I gathered everyone for a discussion before we start the rehearsal. We’d talk of how to spend our days toward the tour, or things that we should be conscious of in our activities as Sakurazaka46. But this time, I asked everyone to send me their goals and dreams in advance. It can be something toward our National Stadium concert, it can be something far in the future. I then collected what everyone said, and as a representative, read everything.

Q What kind of answers did they give you?

Matsuda: Such as wanting to perform at places we’ve never been before, wanting to do a tour to all 47 prefectures, wanting to appear in a certain music show. Not all of them were concrete goals either, like some were simply wishes for everyone to keep smiling and be happy together. There were a lot of goals for the group’s future, viewed from a long-term perspective. By sharing such goals with everyone, I thought that it’ll make each member think of what they can do to help achieve it, and I wanted them to have a passionate spirit toward this concert.

Q The words Matsuda-san said during the MC, “We’d like to deliver the future of Sakurazaka46 through our performances”, were memorable. The 4th generation members who joined last year also participated in the entire production.

Matsuda: One of my worries is that, by holding the 5th Anniversary at National Stadium, it might be seen as an end goal or a finish line. We, of course, have no intention of stopping here. So I hope that through our performance, we can show that we are still aiming far ahead, and that we’ll continue weaving our own future. In this concert, the 4th generation performed “Mamoribito”, which is a 3rd generation’s song, and I think that they were unsure if they had the right to perform that song. But there is a meaning from this song that says “I will continue to protect this Sakura tree” performed by new members so desperately with everything that they have. Sakurazaka46’s future was very visible to me when I saw the 3rd and 4th generation on the stage of this concert.

Q At the encore of the first day, it was announced that Yamasaki Ten-san was appointed as the new Vice Captain, a position that had been empty until then.

Matsuda: She is truly reassuring. Up until now, she has always stayed at my side and helped me despite not having any official title. And I did think that she might as well become the official Vice Captain… but she’s already giving her best while carrying so much on her shoulders, and I feel sorry to put more burden on her. Of course I feel very happy, but in that sense, I also feel a complicated feeling about it. That’s why more than anything, I hope that Ten-chan can just continue the way she is, and freely do her activities.

Q What was the most memorable scenery that you saw from the National Stadium stage?

Matsuda: That’s difficult… I'm torn between two.

Q Then, you can say both of them.

Matsuda: Really? While I can endlessly talk about it, if I had to narrow it into two, then the first one would be the view of the National Stadium that we members saw as we stood in a row while holding hands at the opening. We could hear everyone’s warm applause, and that really touched my heart. And then there is Morita Hikaru’s expression during “Nobody’s fault’. During the song we practically almost cannot see Morita from where we are, but there was a brief ~three seconds moment where we all turned to look at her. And the Morita I saw at that moment was just so cool. I was feeling really glad that this girl carried Sakurazaka46’s first single, and led Sakurazaka46 to this point from there. My five years-worth of gratitude overflowed within me. I’ll never forget that expression and that performance from Morita.

---

Raw & QC: kiryu

Translation: toomuchidea