We Still Subbing

  Q This year’s ”5th YEAR ANNIVERSARY LIVE” has become a concert with the biggest scale in Sakurazaka46’s history, first can you tell us how you were feeling right before the show during the D-day?  Fujiyoshi Karin: Ten-chan, didn’t you… what was it again? The vice captain announcement. How was it? Yamasaki Ten: Uh, rather than that “Samidare Yo” performance was especially scary for me. (※On the day of the concert, “Samidare Yo" performance starts with Yamasaki Ten’s solo singing, with a new arrangement. ) All I could think about was regarding that. I wasn’t afraid at all regarding the vice captain announcement. Since it’s already been decided anyway, it’s not like I can do anything about that. But I’m really scared of performing “Samidare Yo”... they made time for voice training for me right up until the last minute.  Other than that, there are also so many things I had to do that I didn’t know where I should start first. I would write it all, think about that, rememberi...

  Q I would like to hear about what you have gained through the experience of “5th YEAR ANNIVERSARY”. Yamakawa: Before I joined Sakurazaka46, my first Sakurazaka46 concert was the Tokyo Dome performance two years ago, and my seat was right next to the pathway in the arena and I found myself completely absorbed as I looked up at the members performing. And now, being able to stand on the pathway of an even larger venue,  I wasn't feeling only positive emotions…. Since I still vividly remember what it felt like to look up at my seniors back then, I couldn't help but wonder how I looked like to all the Buddies watching me from the audience.  And when I see myself in an objective way, I really feel that I am still far from the level of the seniors I admired. Ever since I joined Sakurazaka46, all I’ve been doing is chasing after their footsteps, and being able to stand on such a big stage has turned it into a period where I deeply think about how I should be and how I should p...

  Q I imagine that you must have experienced various emotions during the rehearsal period for the “5th YEAR ANNIVERSARY LIVE”, such as from excitement, pressure, to worries as you prepare for the actual performance. Yamashita: When I first heard about it, I couldn’t help but feel anxious. Given the scale of it, I think that there must have been members who felt worried whether we could fill the venue or not. But before the rehearsal, as we received the setlist and explanation about the stage productions, my excitement grew bigger than my worries as the details were becoming a lot clearer. I became more focused on what can I do to make this concert even better, and I ended up feeling excited about it. Matono: We started the rehearsal for this at an earlier time than usual, but once we started, it really flew by fast until the time of the performance. I was really looking forward to this day, and I couldn’t wait to do the show. But once the show has started, it will come to an end, s...