Masumoto Kira interview in B.L.T November 2026
Q When did you start thinking about graduation, Masumoto-san? Kira: It took me about a year to come to a decision. I thought that I would regret graduating on an impulse. I once went for a meal with Sugai (Yuuka)-san prior to her graduation, and she told me “Graduate at the time that you feel is best”. So I thought about it again and again until I was convinced… and then I made my decision. Q What pushed you to finally decide? Kira: Graduation is something that has to happen eventually, right? But that kind of decision requires resolve, and I understand that after that decision, it will be difficult to decide what to do for the rest of my life. But the more I put it off, the harder I felt it would be for me to make the decision… I thought that if I was going to go through that hardship eventually, then I might as well do it now. I talked about this with Yamaguchi Haruyo (who graduated from Hinatazaka46 in August) when we went out for a meal, and Paru (Yamaguchi) said that she had...