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  It was earlier than expected. Sakurazaka46 will release their 2nd single "BAN" in April and no time has passed since the first single was released on December 9 last year. The title song "BAN" with Morita Hikaru as the center, "Guuzen no Kotae” with Fujiyoshi Karin as the center, and "Omotta yori Sabishikunai" with Yamasaki Ten as the center will be released in the same formation as the first single. So far, Sakurazaka46 has changed the color of each of its three centerpieces. This reflects the diversity of the group and seems to indicate the direction of Sakurazaka46. In this issue, we asked Uemura Rina, who has been a regular contributor to our magazine since her days as a member of Keyakizaka46, about the second single, changes in the group and herself, and what to expect in the future. She had a lot of bright things to say, and I'm looking forward to the future of Sakurazaka46. Q: That was fast, the 2nd single (is already here). Uemura: I’m ...

  What to change and what to keep Q Goto-san, what kind of impression did you have of Keyakizaka46 before Sakurazaka46? Goto: Once during karaoke there was a girl singing “Futari Sezon”, and I watched the MV being played like “Hoo~”. From there I listened to the other songs such as “Silent Majority”, and I guess you can say that I got pretty into it. In any case, I thought that their MVs were really good. I was really into it for a while - the MVs, the songs, and how Hirate Yurina-san gave out a vibe I had never felt before. But from around “Garasu wo Ware!” I stopped listening, and at first I didn’t even know that they were getting renamed. Q So it was like that. And from there, the renamed Sakurazaka46 released their 1st single, and you directed the title song MV. Goto: I worked in the same agency as Mori Yoshihiro-kun who directed “Hiraishin” MV, and at the time I said, “I want to do it too”, so I was surprised when I suddenly received an offer to do an MV for Sakurazaka46. I’ve...

  Two sides of the same coin Q: As we move from Keyakizaka46 to Sakurazaka46, I would like to hear from TAKAHIRO-san, a creator who knows the Keyakizaka46 era intimately. Your journey here has been marked by twists and turns of fate, but what did you envision when you came up with the choreography for “Nobody’s fault”, including to differentiate between the two groups? TAKAHIRO: Both Keyakizaka46 and Sakurazaka46 take on as their motif the changing feelings of young hearts when they feel repressed emotions, as a presence that comforts those who feel that way, and moves forward together with them. That is something you feel when listening to songs from any of the Sakamichi groups, but each group has their own answer to how they face that repression. For example, in Keyakizaka46, the characters of the story continually face their heavy emotions on a deeper level, and follow a Thanatos-like path. In the face of reality, their relaying of the message that “It’s hard right now, but that...

  The feelings they put into “Guuzen no Kotae” Q Fujiyoshi-san, do you take Seki-san as an “older sister”? (Looked at each other and laughed) Seki: I don’t think she thinks of me as one (laughs). Karin: I do. I do. I quite do (There are pauses). Seki: See? She doesn’t think of me as one (laughs). Karin: Not at all. I still have some childish aspects, so I see you as an “older sister”. There’s the impression that you are taking care of Inoue. Seki: “Taking care” (laughs). I feel like my genmates are the same age as me. I never thought of Karin-chan as “childish”. Q Fujiyoshi-san certainly has the tendency to be seen as mature. Karin: Is that really so? Q Have you ever thought “But the truth is that I’m still a child”? Karin: I’m the oldest in my family, but I’m surrounded by people older than me when I entered the group, so I thought “Everyone is more reliable than me”. That’s why I also feel that Seki-chan is like an “older sister”. That’s true. Seki: I get it (laughs). Q Something...

Q What do you think is the difference between 1st generation and 2nd generation? Morita: In any case, the 2nd generation are really close. The day we passed the audition, we all went to dine in together. Fujiyoshi: Ahh, we did go~ (laughs). Morita: Since then, I couldn’t feel any distance at all. It’s comfortable and fun no matter who is talking to whom. But when it gets serious, I could say my opinions and everyone is so serious, which I think is cute. Fujiyoshi: We are like students, or rather, male students. Seeing that made me laugh (laughs). There’s the feeling of naïve boys, and I love it. Morita: I have always wanted to do what I love as a job. There were many twists and turns before arriving at Sakurazaka46. It’s hard to put it into words, though. But what I learned from being an idol is how I can’t do anything by myself. “I can do it because everyone is there!” become my fundamental. Fujiyoshi: We are blessed, aren’t we? As for me, right after we became 2nd generation, my genm...

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...