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  Uemura Rina “Thank you very much for your hard work in the past 7 years, truly. I’m sure that there must have been times when you just wanted to run away, so thank you very much for staying this long. I am very grateful. As our well-spoken and courteous Captain, Yukka has always done the greetings on behalf of the members. There were a lot of members who used Yukka’s blog as reference when we were at a loss on what to write in their own blogs. I think that she was the best role model for everyone, both as an individual and as an idol. But when Yukka slipped on her words at a very tense moment, we all burst into laughter, and it created a good atmosphere (laughs). From now on, live as you want, Yukka. Let's continue to be friends!” Yuuka: Lately, there are many moments where I feel that Rina has “grown mature”, and she has become someone I could talk about the group with. As she became such a person to me, it makes me happy how we have built a comfortable relationship, like how be...

The lead hitter for the memorial dialogue,  is our Sakurazaka46 captain, Sugai Yuuka.  Being in the same generation, they have been in a friendly rivalry since the beginning of their activities,  and the bond that has deepened while competing against each other  is higher than the mountain, deeper than the sea….. A rare relationship and strong bond of mutual teasing and respect Risa-san, why did you choose hot spring and horseback riding for the shoot with Sugai-san? Risa: In creating this memorial book, I had the image that it would be nice to take photos with the members as if we were on a graduation trip. Among them, Yuuka has been leading the group as captain, and when I was thinking about where to take her, I thought we could relax in a hot spring and refresh ourselves within nature. And since Yuuka is all about horses, I wanted to go horseback riding with her. It was my first time riding a horse, but it was very fun. Sugai: I’m glad. I had known in advance that...

  Source: https://twitter.com/tvguide_alpha/status/1475059974858764290 Working frantically and earnestly for the sake of the group. That attitude has been highly valued, and she has been blessed with the opportunity to expand her field of expression. Sugai Yuuka embodies the importance of making steady efforts. She became an idol just a few months before her 20th birthday. Since then, it’s been a little over 6 years. She has made strenuous efforts as the captain of Keyakizaka46 and Sakurazaka46, gradually expanding her own field outside of the group. Her next challenge is the musical play “Curtains”. Exactly because this is her first ever experience, she is devoting herself to the preparations for it. Even before the curtain rises, she can’t help but to have expectations.  --- Q: It seems that the rehearsal for the musical “Curtains” will start from the beginning of the year, but did you have the chance before this interview to speak with Shirota Yu-san, the director and ...

Q It’s been about 10 months since the renaming. What is the Sakurazaka46 image that you see right now? Sugai: When we do our group circle, we say the slogan, “In a sweet and bold way”. I hope that we could be a group that is beautiful while carrying a heart that doesn’t waver easily. Kobayashi: When we appeared on the “MUSIC STATION SUPER LIVE” last year on Christmas, we wore stylish white pants looks, but I feel that that costume is expressing the strength of our feelings, it really feels right. I think that from now on the group image that we should aim for will naturally be decided. Koike: I thought that since we became Sakurazaka46, the song's protagonist has really grown. Perhaps because of that, the members start to gradually show themselves more and more. But it’s not just a matter of doing what each person wants to do, but also taking in the opinions of the people around them, and I think that we are able to show new expressions. Sugai: The reason I entered this world was o...

The idols’ performances are inspiring because they put their “seriousness” in it. It’s not easy to do something that you want or you like. Moreover, in the case of people who stood on the stage like idols, if it isn’t clear what they are working hard for, then their steady efforts will not last. In order to continue to put their true energy into the team performance. Sakurazaka46, who decided to rename themselves, which is something unprecedented for idols. It’s been about 10 months since the renaming. We asked five members from the 1st generation and 2nd generation who are exuding the new radiance as Sakurazaka’s professionals about their resolution and determination to live as Sakurazaka46 once again. “Sakurazaka46 is a group that was born during COVID pandemic.” 1st generation Koike Minami casually said. It was said when talking about the future of Sakurazaka46 from now on. “When handshake events are made online, there are many fans who say, ‘Recently it’s all been about COVID and i...

  As the captain of Keyakizaka46, Sugai Yuuka has been leading the group since appointed in January 2017. It was announced in January 2021 that continuing on, she is entrusted as captain in Sakurazaka46 as well. She, who looks over Sakurazaka46 as a whole, has a message for her deeply bonded friends who have been and will continue to climb the slope together with. ◆◆◆　1st Generation Members　◆◆◆ Uemura Rina Rina-chan is a very caring girl. You are really observant of the members, so you could notice even the slightest changes, and I think that there are many members who have been helped by your words. You also properly watch the choreography videos for songs you don’t even participate in, and often say things like “I like this part of this song”, so I think that you are very pure and kind. How you never change, in a good way is also Rina-chan-like, so I hope that you can stay as you are. Ozeki Rika I’ve been saved by Oze in many things, including MC. You have mature sides, and you'r...

At the time of Keyakizaka46’s second single, it was a turbulent time when all members shot a drama together, but with what kind of feeling do you spend your days this time? Yuuka: That’s right… We, 1st generation members, have experienced this once. I think that we want to enjoy the unique atmosphere and the flow of time while carefully cherishing our daily lives. However, for 2nd generation members, it is filled with nothing but new experiences, so I would like us to support them. But since we became Sakurazaka, overall, that moody phase has faded away. During Keyaki time, I was told that the feeling of danger and explosiveness is appealing, but the team has become more balanced with having three centers. When I watched the live performance video from TGC the other day, I felt that a stable feeling was shown.” You can see that each 2nd generation members has accumulated good experiences Yuuka: It is said that experience is the best teacher, but watching them from the side I feel that ...

  Our own group It has been roughly 4 months since the start of Sakurazaka46. With the release of the single “Nobody’s fault” and the appearance on “Kouhaku Uta Gassen”,  it feels as though your activities have really begun from the perspective of the audience, but personally have you felt any changes? Sugai: I think the atmosphere has become “Sakurazaka46”. At the beginning it was difficult for us to match our pace, but after we performed “Nobody’s fault” at last year’s Kouhaku, something changed.  Matsuda: I feel as though the awareness that “Sakurazaka46 is our group” has blossomed. I don’t know how to phrase it properly, but during Keyakizaka46, we were so conscious of the fact that the group was something that our seniors had created [for us]. But now the awareness that, “This is our group”, has become stronger I think. But that isn’t really because we stepped into the role of Sakurazaka46, but rather it might be that we feel that way because the amount of time we’ve...