Matono Mio & Yamashita Shizuki interview in SWITCH June 2026 Edition
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, so I had this complicated feeling of both wanting it to start and at the same time not. If possible, I wanted to keep looking forward to the concert together with the fans forever, and the feeling grew stronger as we inch closer to the show.
Q What was your overall impression on the setlist?
Yamashita: “Shoninyokkyu” that usually got placed in the latter half of a concert, and alternating songs by day “Make or Break” and “Jigoujitoku” were put in the first half this time. But because the venue was outdoors, it was still at the time of the day where it is difficult to showcase the performance with light effects like in a normal concert. We were aware that dancing in such bright conditions,if all members are not synchronized it would make people go “Huh?”. When I looked at this setlist, the first thing that came to my mind was “Oh, we need to properly synchronize ‘Shoninyokkyu’ or it’ll be bad…” (laughs)
Matono: The National Stadium is a big venue, and I thought that this is the concert where we have the most number of people bringing their friends, new fans, and those who are watching Sakurazaka46’s concert for the first time. So by selecting songs that can deliver “This is Sakurazaka46” to those people, it made it easier for us too, and I think that it has become a setlist that conveys the charm of Sakurazaka46 to those who are watching for the first time.
Q In this concert, there was a part where “Mamoribito”, which is a 3rd generation song that had always been performed by the 3rd generation, was performed by the 4th generation. What was your impression of their performance?
Yamashita: I think that each of the 4th generation members tackled the rehearsal and stood on the stage for the actual performance with various thoughts and feelings, but as for me… or rather, I think that all 3rd generation members were really happy about it. Ever since we started singing this song, we have been talking about how it could be an even more significant song when it’s sung by juniors who will one day join the group. We were happy that it could come true, and the choreography is also newly created for the 4th generation, which made me feel emotional from the moment I saw it at rehearsal.
Matono: I was happy about it as well. The way the 4th generation had these unwavering eyes during the rehearsal struck me as well, and I was really inspired by them. Seeing the 4th generation perform this song reminded me of how their entrance led to our growth.
Q With the addition of the 4th generation last year, the 3rd generation is sandwiched in between generations, but has there been any change in your feelings?
Yamashita: We have been spoiled a lot by the 2nd generation members until now. But the 4th generation are girls who joined the group already knowing us, the 3rd generation, as members of Sakurazaka46. So even now I still worry about disappointing them (laughs). But at the same time, it really keeps me on my toes and it makes me reflect on my attitude about a lot of things.
Matono: Seeing the 4th generation’s freshness and desperation from up close reminded me of the importance of continuing to strive for more. I always think that there are so many that I could learn from watching the 4th generation members. I'm not sure whether we're able to give them anything, but we've certainly received so much from the 4th generation, and I hope that they can continue to give courage and lift the spirit of many people from now on.
Q In the “Seijaku no Bouryoku" that was performed after the 4th generation, penlights were turned off the moment the song started, and the venue fell into darkness. While it is already a familiar sight in Sakurazaka concerts, what did you think about it happening at the National Stadium?
Yamashita: It wasn’t something that we especially requested, and something that the Buddies started doing on their own, the staging was then adapted to follow it, which then led to what we have now. In that sense, the members, all of the Buddies, and the production team worked together to perfect this song. When the song started and I turned around to look at the venue, I was so moved to see how such a big stadium did not have a single light. I was so grateful to everyone.
Matono: Even now, there are so many fans who would talk about how much they love this song whenever we perform it in concerts. Because of that, I think that we need to show a new change or improvement each time we perform it. Last time, we danced in the darkness with no music, and this time there was the staging that used a music box, but there was this sense of performing together with the fans so the way it felt between the rehearsal and the actual performance were completely different. But that too, is something fun, and such a happy thing.
Q Near the end of the song, where the members usually stand facing outward around Yamashita-san at the center, on the second day everyone held hands and looked at Yamashita-san instead. In the post-concert stream, it was revealed that this was a surprise for Yamashita-san.
Matono: That’s right, but I didn’t know that it was a surprise for Shizuki at first (laughs). I was among the last to hear about the change. The dancer was like, “OK so, when the lights go off, turn around and hold hands”, so I only learned later that it was actually a surprise the 3rd generation members had planned for Shizuki. It made me think, “Ah, 3rd generation is so nice”.
Yamashita: Really? (laughs) This was probably something Nagi (Kojima Nagisa) came up with.
Matono: It was Nagi?
Yamashita: I think it was Nagi who came up with it, then she asked the dancers for approval. I heard something like “We got the OK!" from over there, but then I was told "Don’t worry, there are no changes for you, Shizuki”.
Matono: So you merely thought that we are doing something different from usual?
Shizuki: Yeah, I’m aware that a change happens. Nagi has a loud voice, so I knew that something’s up.
Matono: She wasn’t even trying to hide it (laughs).
Yamashita: So during the actual performance, I saw Nakashima (Yuzuki) first as everyone turned to look inward, so I thought that she made a mistake in the choreography. Then I realized everyone was holding hands and looked my way. I was like, “Eh?”.
Q It seemed that Yamashita-san was moved by this surprise.
Yamashita: That’s right, I was happy. It seemed that they were thinking of making me happy, and bringing me to tears. And they thought, “She’ll surely cry if she sees 3rd generation’s faces at that moment”. They got me completely.
Q If you two were to name moments that left a deep impression on you two over the course of those two-days, what would it be?
Matono: As for me… I think it’s the incredible amount of lights from the penlight that filled my vision all the way up. I was so focused on performing the songs that I didn't realize it then, but when I was walking on the pathway during encore while looking up, I could see penlights up so high that my neck couldn't keep up. When I thought about just how many Buddies are watching over us, I felt really emotional for some reason. Being able to be surrounded in 360 degrees, made me think of how amazing the situation is. That sight was really overwhelming, and made me realize just how many people are cheering for Sakurazaka46.
Yamashita: For me it was the expressions of the members. How the members smiled widely as we lined up side-by-side for the MC, how the members happily waved their hands toward the Buddies while walking on the pathway, how the members were holding back their tears… As a fellow member, I was really happy to be able to see sides of the members I love that could only be seen on that day while we were performing live.
Especially during “Sakurazuki” performance on the second day, in the last part of the chorus when we gathered around (Moriya) Rena-san, I was walking while facing inward, and I saw Rena-san crying at that time. In this concert, from the time of rehearsal, I was positioned next to Rena-san a lot in the formations or MC sessions. I’ve always had Rena-san as my oshimen and I love her, but this period made me love her even more. She’s someone truly strong, and she’s never really been one to show those kinds of emotions openly, so I ended up crying as well. Ozono (Rei)-san also cried during the 2nd generation song “Aozora ga Mieru Made”, and it reminded me that every member had stood on that stage carrying special feelings.
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