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Keyaki Season’s: 28 no Kakera (Subtitle Bahasa Indonesia) Part 2

Keyaki Season’s: 28 no Kakera (Subtitle Bahasa Indonesia) Part 1

Tempat penyimpanan serbaguna dan bernilai seni untuk barang-barang favorit kalian!

1. Rak di bawah meja (Kak MO)

(Nitori)

Kak MO membeli meja yang lebar dan berongga karena sering menggambar diagram saat belajar. “Aku meletakkan barang-barang yang kubeli online seperti benang wol, peralatan gambar, dan kantong kertas ke dalam kotak. Aku memisahkan materi kuliah dan kenang-kenangan liburan ke dalam sekitar 100 kotak dan map. Semuanya sangat pas di rak Nitori yang kutaruh di bawah meja”.

2. Memanfaatkan laci yang bisa dibuka-tutup (Kak AA)

(Dari kiri: IKEA, IKEA, barang berkualitas tak bermerk, IKEA)

Kak AA menyimpan handuk dan pakaiannya di dalam laci IKEA yang unik. “Saat duduk di sofa, aku menikmati hiasan burung, lilin, dan tanaman sesuai musim yang kutaruh lebih tinggi dari pandangan mata. Untuk aksesorisnya, aku memilih laci kecil berkualitas tanpa merk dan keranjang besar IKEA. Aku suka barang yang tampilannya tidak membosankan dan mampu menyimpan banyak barang”.

3. Meja kerja yang diubah jadi meja rias! (Kak RC)

(Dari kiri: barang berkualitas tak bermerk, Nitori, IKEA)

Meja di etalase depan yang membuat jatuh cinta pada pandangan pertama karena lebarnya yang pas. “Pada awalnya aku membelinya untuk bekerja, tapi kemudian aku meletakkan laci Nitori dan cermin bundar, dan akhirnya lebih efektif sebagai meja rias. Merias di meja yang kutata di atas lantai kayu yang natural menjadi momen relaksasi setiap hari!”.

4. Sofa bed relaksasi yang kita tidak bisa lepas darinya! (Kak AA)

(Dari kiri: IKEA, IKEA, IKEA)

Sofa bed berukuran semi dobel yang dipajang di IKEA adalah tempat yang paling disukai Kak AA. “Aku meletakkan meja kecil di sana, aku merasa bahagia bisa relaksasi dengan segelas teh di atasnya. Di bawahnya aku memasukkan guling dan futon, saat akan tidur aku mengeluarkannya dan menjadikannya bantal. Benar-benar simple karena bisa dibuka tanpa perlu banyak tenaga untuk mengangkatnya!”.

5. Meningkatkan daya simpan dengan memanfaatkan ruang yang terbatas! (Kak NY)

(Dari kiri: IKEA, barang berkualitas tak bermerk)

Di bawah TV kurang lebih ada ruang yang tingginya 10 cm. Kak NY menggunakan ruang kosong ini dengan sangat pintar. “Aku mengukurnya kemudian membeli aksesoris berkualitas tak bermerk yang ukurannya pas. Aku menemukan kotak tisu bambu ini di IKEA. Aku sempat kebingungan dimana sebaiknya diletakkan, jadi aku senang bisa pas di sana”.

6. Tempat penyimpanan besar di bawah kasur yang bisa menambah tempat untuk pakaian

(Dari kiri: barang berkualitas tak bermerk, Nitori, Nitori, IKEA, Nitori)

“Kalau tinggal sendirian maka ini cocok untuk anda!” Kak NY membeli kasur semi dobel tak bermerk namun berkualitas karena mengidolakan slogan tersebut. “Lemariku sempit dan tak muat, jadi aku mencari tempat penyimpanan yang bisa diletakkan di bawah kasur. Di IKEA aku menemukan tempat penyimpanan yang tampilannya fresh dan rodanya tersembunyi. Apalagi sudah ada penutup di atasnya, jadi debu tidak akan masuk.”

Kontributor

- RC: bekerja di perusahaan e-commerce

- NY: asisten editor

- AA: bekerja di IKEA Jepang

- MO: mahasiswi tahun ke-3 (jurusan desain arsitektur)

- MY: bekerja di took interior

Honda Tsubasa Berhasrat untuk Membuat Game: Aku Sudah Punya Konsepnya

Dalam sebuah acara perilisan iklan terbaru yang diselenggarakan tanggal 20 Februari 2019, telah terkuak bahwa model sekaligus aktris Honda Tsubasa berhasrat untuk membuat sebuah game.

Ketika ditanya apakah resolusinya tahun ini, ia menjawab “belajar bahasa Inggris”, “membuat game”, dan “beraktivitas di pagi hari”. “Kesempatanku pergi ke luar negeri semakin bertambah. Dalam pekerjaan sih sudah pasti, tapi dalam berkomunikasi kupikir ada banyak hal dimana aku harus bisa berbicara dengan bahasa Inggris, jadi aku memantapkan hatiku untuk belajar bahasa Inggris,” terangnya mengenai keinginan untuk belajar bahasa Inggris.

Ia juga berbicara mengenai keinginannya membuat game, “Keinginanku untuk membuat game semakin kuat setiap harinya. Sebelumnya, aku hanya memikirkannya diam-diam. Meski ini bukan pertama kalinya aku mengatakannya, tapi ini pertama kalinya aku melontarkan perasaanku ini”.

Ketika ditanya genre seperti apa yang ingin dibuat, ia menjawab, “Kalau game seperti apa yang ingin kubuat, aku sudah punya konsepnya… mungkin genre action sih. Aku ingin membuat game bergenre action yang membutuhkan kerjasama. Ini masih sebatas ide yang ada di dalam kepalaku sih, aku belum tahu bentuk konkritnya seperti apa. Tapi, aku ingin merealisasikannya suatu saat nanti”.

RISA WATANABE - 20± SWEET INTERVIEW

The gap between her 20-year-old self she once imagined of and her 20-year-old self in reality makes her feel disappointed. More or less, everyone feels the same way. So, the future will change depends on whether she rejects it or sees it as an aspiration.

***

She has been already mature since she was a teenager. Quiet, and less talk. Therefore, our first impression towards her was “humble”. However, the more we watch her activity, the more we understand that she is “action before words” type of person, who keeps her determination inside and transfers it into action. Moreover, as the years pass by, and she is getting more experiences, her speech and conduct become more visible, like she already broke the shell that kept her invisible until now. And there Risa Watanabe is… longing for further growth when she approached 20.

- Risa-san, what is big turning point during 20 years of your life? One thing apart from becoming member of Keyakizaka46…

Risa: Hmm… there are many things, but maybe joining volleyball club in the middle school. In my middle school, we’d have to join at least one club, that’s why I started playing volleyball, but instead of being taught the volleyball techniques, we had been taught the importance of human relationship and manners, mostly we had been taught about things we’re supposed to know in our life. That kind of thought, still remains in my heart even now. 

- So, you had been mentally trained, and been taught the important things you’re supposed to know as human, is that correct? For some reason, do you think yourself as hate-to-lose person?

Risa: Hmm, maybe I don’t have any thought like “I don’t want to lose to other”. But perhaps I should say that I don’t want to lose to myself.

- It’s really great to have that kind of thought in such young age. Because, usually teenagers and people in early 20s tend to blame another person and society. 

Risa: I never really thought about that, I don’t have any clue why people think that way… whenever I can’t do something, I think that it’s my own fault. So it’s really frustrating if there’s something I can’t do.

- That logic is really to the point. Perhaps it’s kind of exaggeration if I say that that kind of thought is sort of philosophical or aesthetic, but what is exactly thing that shape the present Risa Watanabe? Is there any person or culture that influence you?

Risa: Eee, I wonder… (thinking for a while) Hmm, maybe I haven’t met that kind of existence yet. I haven’t found something that makes me able to say “This is the one!”, even though I try to think about it. Maybe I already did, but I myself haven’t realized it yet…

- Is there any influence from your friends? 

Risa: Ah, it is (laugh). I have one bestie, if we have free time, I will meet and talk to her, we will hang out together, she is very important to me. I met her for the first time in the mid-school volleyball club, we were not really close back then. But, we attended the same high school… we went to school together, we got closer, and we became best friends. She is really reliable, she can notice something that I even can’t, like “Ah, so there is that kind of perspective!”, I always discover something new every time we meet, she always makes me realize something. That’s why, even though we are of the same age, I really admire her as human.

- I think having best friend that you can admire means a lot to you that can’t even be described in words. Actually, fellow member Nagahama-san said, “I really admire Risa who never lost a sight of anything at any moment”. By the way, what kind of person is Nagahama-san, that is of the same age as you, in your perspective?

Risa: I really admire Neru too. Among Keyaki’s members, she is always busy especially with her job outside Keyaki, however she always pays attention to people around her, she always notices even the small changes. I think Neru is strong. 

- Nagahama-san really wanted to become 20 immediately since she was a teenager, she even said “I’m finally 20” on her birthday . The moment you turned into 20, what did you think? What did you feel? 

Risa: On my birthday? What did I do again...? However, I also want to become 25 immediately, just like Neru wanted to become 20 (laugh). I never thought “I want to become teenager forever”, so I didn’t consider turning into 20 as something special. It only feels “Ah, I’m another year older”.

- I see, by the way, why do you want to become 25 immediately?

Risa: Because I want to become a real adult. 20yo person is already an adult from society perspective, but I think we’re not really adult… Everyone often says that when we’re elementary or mid-school students, 20yo person looks very mature, but when I turned into 20 myself, I’m still a child, nothing changes. That’s why I want to see myself as real adult immediately. 

- I will ask you something about that. How is your image of ideal adult woman? Or, what kind of woman do you consider as adult?

Risa: Hmm… people who enjoying their life. People who doing their job well, and taking a break as well, I really admire adults that have some time to spare. But, if we can live our life to the fullest everyday, I think it will be so much fun, so at first maybe I will start from cherishing every single day. 

- Why do you portray 25yo women as lively people who live their life to the fullest?

Risa: Because I imagine people in that age start to prepare how to face life in their 30s, so I think they are more mature than 20yo me. I want to immediately start that kind of preparation too. 

- Meanwhile, Nagahama-san said “I want to become 40 immediately” (laugh). Is it because both of you experienced working together with wonderful adults?

Risa: Ah, it might be correct. Araki Yuko-san who always helps me in modelling job is also 25, so maybe she became one of my indicators. 

- I see. Okay, with that kind of perspective, how is your ideal “adult love” and “adult date”?

Risa: Adult love…? Maybe I got too much influence from drama, but when I watch “Chuugakusei Nikki”, I think the relationship between the protagonist Hijiri-chan’s ex-fiance and his boss played by Yoshida Yo-san is very interesting. I always laugh every time I watch it. A man that is always being abused by his reliable senior, that kind of composition somehow makes me think, “Ah this is adult love”. But it’s not like I want to abuse someone (laugh). However, if there is love relationship between boss and subordinate in the same company, somehow it sounds interesting. Though it seems so complicated if it really happens in the real life… 

- That’s right (laugh). However, Yoshida Yo-san is certainly a wonderful person, both as an actress and adult woman. 

Risa: I really like her. She is not only beautiful, but also cool. How should I put it… my image of “a complete adult woman” is someone like Yoshida Yo-san.

- So, she is sort of your ideal image. Okay, let’s talk about real life, what kind of adult do you want to be in the future? Use your imagination, and imagine how you see yourself in 2-3 years. 

Risa: Okay… I want to work. Then, what kind of work I want to do… basically I want to do kind of works where I can move my body.

- In short… you want to do active works, is that correct? 

Risa: I want to work while searching for a hobby, and then devoting myself into it… I want to try that kind of life too. For example, I want to attend cooking class, and meet something that somehow I can be enthusiastic about. There are adults who are always enthusiastic about their hobbies no matter how old they are, I think they are so wonderful, I want to be that kind of adult too in the future. 

- I think it’s really a wonderful guideline. Okay, let’s back to the topic, is there something you want to do when you’re still 20? For example, something big like “climbing Mt. Fuji” is okay, or something more familiar is also okay. 

Risa: When I’m still 20… I want to challenge myself by doing something I want to do while fully enjoying the pleasure of this age. When we were doing photoshoot just now, I could see Mt. Fuji, and suddenly I want to climb it, so I think climbing Mt.Fuji is not a bad idea.

- Ah, I see! Today, I didn’t realize at all that we could see Mt.Fuji from this neighborhood, it was a random example though. 

Risa: I could see it! That’s why it caught my eyes (laugh).

- However, you became able to clearly say what you think year after year. In our interview before, you also said “I want to do radio job”, then you got chance to fill the position of “School of Lock” personality as Hirate Yurina-san’s pinch hitter. What on earth is this change of mind? 

Risa: Up until now, even though I want to do this, I want to do that, I don’t say what I think very much. Though I think “action before words” is way cooler (laugh). However, I finally realized in this past year that saying what I think would be a benefit. I feel that it might be better to say what I think particularly in this work. So, I think maybe it’s okay to say what I want to someone around me even it’s only a little bit. From now on, I hope I can be more greedy like that, even though it’s only little by little.

Using words “only a little bit”, “little by little” is indeed reflecting her humble personality. Meanwhile, from this one phrase “greedy”, it can be perceived that her sense of responsibility and confidence that were born from standing at the front row in 2 consecutive singles, are certainly being her flesh and blood now. And her desire to immediately become an adult perhaps is the embodiment of her thought that wants to have stronger mental and more capacity to carry the group… maybe we are reading her mind little too much. However, we cannot help but to feel her high potential and room for growth from her every single word, once again it is the reality. Anyway, it cannot be denied that we should pay attention to the evolution of Risa Watanabe in the future.

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Quick Japan Vol.135 – TAKAHIRO

TAKAHIRO, a dancer who is always being the person in charge of choreography for all singles of Keyakizaka46 up until now and also involved in concert production on their first summer tour. Regarding to their performance, what kind of change does he feel? What can be seen from the girls that encountered their own limit is that they want to create by themselves a group called Keyakizaka46.

- This year is really an intense year for members and TAKAHIRO-san as well. When you look back at 2017, what kind of development do you feel from them?

TAKAHIRO: If there was a strong sense of unity last year, then I feel the emergence of “individuality in unity” charm this year. I have been together with them since they were still amateur, this year they pay attention to each other more deeply, each member expresses their thoughts frankly. While still putting the group first, each member also thinks about what do they want to do as individual? What do they think as individual? Within the identity of Keyakizaka46, the emergence of individual consciousness might be a positive thing.

Therefore, their relationship doesn’t end up with senior-junior relationship, they put effort to face their problems together, they pursuit an answer, I feel the greatness of expression artist from them. For example, when Hirate’s health was in poor condition on the summer tour, normally people from management would think about the solution, then they would tell it to members, however they wanted staff to give them time to discuss it with members only, “We want to think properly about it by ourselves”, and they decided to perform without anyone filling her position, they discussed about how to deal with the situation when member’s health is in poor condition, then they told us their solution.

Also, back then when some member want to ask something about dance, she would ask other member to convey that question to me, but now each member come and ask to me by herself. Their thought and feeling toward this group are really strong, moreover they started to feel proud to belong to this group, they’re already one step ahead at thinking and finding the ideal shape of this group, I think this year is a year which members created Keyakizaka46.

- What kind of thought do they have after they went through the summer tour?

TAKAHIRO: When their television drama “Zankoku na Kankyakutachi” ended, they had to face “Keyaki Republic 2017”, several days later they still had to do rehearsal for the summer tour, I think they were in very difficult situation. They had to create something together in such a difficult condition, so it’s natural if there are some conflict between them, I think it’s easy for them to speak out what they thought. “Let’s give entertaining performance to everyone”, they have one solid goal, but there must be 21 different ways to reach that goal, one member wants to show the aesthetic of a solid dance, another member wants to stress the communication with the fans. It would be endless debate if they have to choose which thought is better. Even though there were conflict of thought between them, I think they already did their best to reach their goal. I want to face to it together with them and show respect to their strong will at the same time. Even in such crisis situation, or when they lose their focus, I think basically they choose their own path to move forward.

- How is your impression toward Hiragana Keyaki?

TAKAHIRO: They got little chance to perform on the summer tour, and watching Kanji Keyakizaka46 who is their sparkling goal with their very own eyes, I think it must be hard for them. Since they are always compared to Kanji Keyakizaka46, they have to think of how to make their fans moved, and thanks to that, their performance and their ability to make expression are steadily improving. On top of that, they are always surrounded by happy aura. Their debut timing and their overall age are close to Kanji Keyakizaka, so it’s natural if they would feel upset for always being compared to Kanji Keyakizaka. But in their case, “We want to shine in our own way!”, they have more sparkling expression, I think probably it gave birth to their charm. Two identities of Kanji Keyakizaka46 and Hiragana Keyakizaka46 are already established, and 2nd generation also already joined, I think they will become much stronger group.

Everyone already experienced standing in the front row, now it’s time to show the overwhelming power of the group

- Keyakizaka46’s worldview which started from “Silent Majority” was compiled on their album and tour, I feel that their latest song “Kaze ni Fukaretemo” is a little bit different from their works thus far. What kind of feeling did you put into this song?

TAKAHIRO: Visualizing the lyric is always be the most important thing. Their songs always have a part that connected to the “Life is not always what we want it to be” theme, whatever the song is. However, “Silent Majority” is expressing a courage to oppose and say “No” to such a thing, while “Kaze ni Fukaretemo” is expressing big-hearted feeling to accept it, “No one knows what will happen in nature, so why don’t we just follow the wind?”. Every member has that kind of feeling,  so I feel that this song is a song that will illuminate their future one step ahead. That’s why the main point of this song is everyone‘s dancing the same choreography. If they show solid performance, their strength will be seen, but if someone make a mistake, she will completely stand out. Since everyone already experienced standing in the front row, probably now it’s time to show the strength of Keyakizaka.

Since everyone already stood out, so I think that now it’s time to show the overwhelming power of this group. Also, in order to develop necessary dance in the series of their story up until now, I also made use of the substance of the song itself. For example, I created Moses formation in “Silent Majority” which Hirate-san walks in the middle of this formation. Even in “Kaze ni Fukaretemo”, I also created the same formation, however I added a choreography that one level harder where they move around to form that formation. Both songs are connected to each other, at first Hirate-san walks in the middle of the formation with ego and strong will, but this time she can accept and get over the harsh reality. A developed dance also expresses that all members are moving forward to the next stage. Figure of Hirate-san that blew a leaf on the beginning of television music program also expresses about the stream of time and nature, probably I already succeeded in creating a choreography that connected to “Futari Saison”.

- Last question, what is your expectation toward them from now on?

TAKAHIRO: I guess many things can still happen to them, every single thing always gives birth to something new, so I want to be blown together with them. I will do my best on the path where we’re blown to.

PICKUP 1: Fukyouwaon’s interlude is expressing about the pain created by society, it’s expressed by Hirate’s movement where she looks like being crushed in a circle, then she shouts “Boku wa Iyada”, as if she tried to break free from it. This idea also appears in Kaze ni Fukaretemo, however Hirate, who dances freely in the middle of the circle, is the object. 

PICKUP 2: Since Kaze ni Fukaretemo’s peformance outfit is suit, they are challenged to do dance with fast step and footwork that can be seen clearly. Also, all members do the same choreography on the chorus. By showing the harmony of all members, it will be showing the unity of the group.

PICKUP 3: Swastika pose that was performed by Sato Shiori in the dance track of last year One Man Live, reappeared in Hiraishin and it’s now performed by all members. Also, the order of members that stand in a line is exactly the same as in Tokyo Tower wa doko kara Mieru?. The idea of previous song that reappeared on another song indicates that there is a connection between the story of those songs.

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Quick Japan Vol.135 – Tsuchida Teruyuki & Sawabe Yuu

Tsuchida Teruyuki and Sawabe Yuu (Haraichi), two MCs that always watch over the girls at their own regular television programs “Keyakitte, Kakenai?” that started airing right after their establishment, were looking back at the group in 2017!

- Which is the most memorable segment this year?

Sawabe: For me it was “let’s arrange who is the favorite among members!” segment (ep78). We didn’t know anything about the relationship among members, and then they were suddenly crying in the middle of the show, I thought it’s just crazy (laugh).

Tsuchida: The first member who cried was Shida. And then, Ozeki cried, Kobayashi also cried... I was like “What are you crying for!?”.

Sawabe: It seems like I was watching “Terrace House” or “Ainori”. Of course other female idol groups also have “relationship diagram” like that, but no group ever revealed it as clear as this group did.

Tsuchida: Then, something silly also happened on the “True Horror Stories” segment (ep93). The top batter Sugai even laughed from the beginning, and Saito Kyoko also laughed all the time, she is really a psychopath.

Sawabe: On the segment where individuals really stand out, we’re able to understand their personalities.

- Is there any member which your impression toward her changed?

Sawabe: My impression changed toward the new front members: Ishimori, Ozeki, and Habu (ep99).

Tsuchida: That’s right. Since last summer, we can see “Let’s do it” spirit from Habu.

Sawabe: On the sport festival (ep103-105), we made fun of Kanji Keyakizaka as “a bunch of PTA aunties”, actually Habu secretly told us “I often feel pain on my waist, please make fun of me”. She gave us that auntie-like information on her own (laugh). *PTA = Parent-Teacher Association*

Tsuchida: Ishimori and Ozeki really want to be someone like Kobayashi, and when they tried to be silent just like her, they disappeared from the screen, it made me really surprised. I told them, “Hey, that’s not your portion!”. (laugh)

Sawabe: From our perspective, they actually understood that such a character doesn’t fit them, but there must be an inner conflict within themselves.

Tsuchida: Last year, their personalities didn’t really stand out as they do now. They want to be a character as elegant as their sister Nogizaka46, so apparently they had a hard time to accept that themselves are too far away from their ideal at first. Ishimori even said, “Finally I got used to my stupid character”. I think 2017 might be the year where they could finally accept their respective characters.

Sawabe: It must be difficult for them. Even us, as comedian, wanted to be a comedian like Downtown-san at first, but we just can’t be like them.

Tsuchida: There is no single comedian that want to be like Dachou Kurabu right from the beginning. Ueshima Ryuuhei (Dachou Kurabu’s member) even said, “Honestly, I want to be a MC” (laugh). Speaking of showing personality, Nagasawa-kun seemed pretty normal at first, but now she understands that she have to respond back whenever we make fun of her. And there was “troubled Oda Nana” situation, normally she always responds back to everything we said without a bit of reluctant face, but this time, when we asked her to act as a snake (ep97), she said “I don’t get it at all!”. 

Sawabe: Ah, that’s right, it turned out we’re relying too much on her (laugh).

- Hiragana Keyaki appeared more often this year, didn’t they?

Tsuchida: I used to appear together with various kind of idols on televison programs back then, but Kanji Keyakizaka is surprisingly very quiet (laugh). Compared to them, Hiragana is more classic idol. With oldest members like Kato and Sasaki Kumi as their core, airhead Iguchi, quiet Mei-chan, and super funny Kyoko, I think they worked really hard. In order to get more chances to promote themselves, I think they should get their own television program somewhere else.

Sawabe: Without Neru, their working-hard spirit is even stronger now. And they will receive more courage from the 2nd generation.

Tsuchida: I’m pretty sure they can work hard in any kind of segment. I think it might be somehow connected to the interesting part of Kanji Keyakizaka46 that doesn’t seem to aim anything.

- Both of you also came to see their summer tour. Compared to when they are in the studio, do you think they had different aura at that time?

Sawabe: The atmosphere around them was really different compared to when they are in the studio. After the concert ended, I was too nervous to greet them at the backstage.

Tsuchida: Well, it’s their main job after all. But they didn’t change a bit when they met us, so we didn’t feel any sense of distance between us. Compared to their Ariake Live back then, there was an improvement in their dance and expression, I thought they had worked really hard.

- Do you mind to tell us your expectation toward them next year?

Tsuchida: I don’t expect anything (laugh). This is not kind of program that trying to do something funny, I just want them to think of this program as something like “Tetsuko’s Room”. “Keyakake” is a talk show. So, they don’t have to push themselves too hard to do funny things, all they need to do is to behave as usual.

Sawabe: If they can come to the studio with enthusiasm every week, it’s more than enough.

Tsuchida: That’s right, this program is their hometown after all.

- I think your words will make them happy.

Tsuchida: Well, I’m not even sure (laugh). Since they’re very busy, if they can think that way, they will go through several years to come. When things like member graduation and position change make the balance of this group altering, whether they can overcome it or not, they will face that kind of trials in the future. Even at such hard times, it will be good if they can still enjoy things.

PICKUP 1: “Let’s arrange who is the favorite among members!” segment revealed the complicated relationship among members (ep78). At the end of the show which is somehow full of tears, Yonetani said “This group is wrong in every aspect!”

PICKUP 2: In the “True Horror Stories” segment, Sugai failed to make progress with her story because she couldn’t restrain herself from laughing. She received one last chance, and finally could make it until the mid of the story, but suddenly blurt out a phrase that sounds so familiar before she failed once again.

PICKUP 3: In the episode of Hiragana 2nd generation’s first appearance (ep101), there was a battle between Watanabe Miho, who has 10 years experience of playing basketball, and another experienced person, Sawabe. Watanabe kept provoking Sawabe before the battle started. This battle of destiny happened once again in the later sport festival.

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BLT Graph Vol. 31 - Watanabe Risa: Meski telah menjadi seorang ibu, aku ingin terus berada di Keyaki

Ia berdiri di posisi dimana sebelumnya ia sempat berkata “Ini bukanlah tempatku berdiri”. Rasa kesepian seorang center dan tekanan yang besar membanjiri perasaannya. Ia dapat melihat pemandangan yang lain dari biasanya. Di dalam diri Watanabe Risa, ada sesuatu yang benar-benar berubah. 

- Meski sudah agak terlambat, selamat atas ulang tahun debut kalian yang ke-2. Di Anniversary Live, penampilan yang ditunjukkan Risa-san saat menjadi center “Getsuyoubi no Asa, Skirt wo Kirareta” sungguh menggetarkan hati. Pertama-tama, bisa tolong diceritakan apa yang dirasakan pada saat menjadi tokoh utama dari dunia di lagu tersebut?

Risa: Sejujurnya, aku merasa sangat kesepian. Aku ditunjuk sebagai center sekitar pertengahan bulan Maret, kami kemudian melakukan pergantian formasi, begitu lagu dimulai sampai pada lirik “Kamu tahu apa soal diriku?” sebelum reff terakhir, aku benar-benar merasa sendirian. Di tengah lagu, ada gerakan dimana aku sendirian berbaring, kemudian member lainnya menghadap ke arah belakang. Selama ini aku menjadi karakter yang berpura-pura tidak melihat tokoh utama yang roknya disobek ”Oh, anak itu roknya disobek...” kira-kira aku berpikir begitu saat melihat Hirate. Tapi kemudian, ketika aku ada di posisi karakter yang roknya disobek, aku berpikir “Ah, semuanya pura-pura tidak melihatku”... dia ingin orang-orang menyadarinya, tapi dia tidak bisa mengatakannya, itu benar-benar menyedihkan. Perlahan-lahan, aku semakin dalam merasakan perasaan yang kesepian itu.

- Apakah kau meluapkan perasaan berupa kesedihan, kesepian, rasa marah, dan tanpa harapan itu pada bagian “Kamu tahu apa soal diriku?” tersebut?

Risa: Hmm... bukan luapan perasaan pada waktu itu sih, ini bukan berarti aku tidak memikirkan apa-apa, tapi perasaanku yang muncul di momen itu saling bertabrakan dengan atmosfer panggung dan venue di hari itu, sehingga sejujurnya aku tidak begitu ingat dengan jelas. Karena itu, aku tidak bisa menjelaskan secara konkrit bagaimana perasaanku.

- Benar juga, Sugai-san yang jadi center “Fukyouwaon” juga berkata ia tidak bisa mengingat hal yang terjadi saat tampil. Apa komentar member dan staff saat Risa-san menjadi center?

Risa: Aku merasa telah melakukan hal terbaik yang kubisa, dan karena semuanya mengatakan “Penampilanmu bagus”, aku jadi bisa menerimanya dan merasa lega. Tapi tetap saja, aku selalu merasa takut sebelum tampil... TAKAHIRO-sensei juga berkata padaku “Tokoh utama ini, meski roknya disobek dan hatinya terluka, sebenarnya adalah orang yang bersedih karena orang-orang di sekitarnya tidak menyadari hal itu.” Beliau memberikan saran untuk gerakan dimana aku mondar-mandir seorang diri, “Anggap dirimu adalah satu-satunya orang di dunia ini, namun bukan sebagai Watanabe Risa, melainkan sebagai tokoh utama lagu ini”. Meski ini hal yang dirasakan oleh hatiku, tapi menganggapnya bukan perasaanku adalah hal yang sangat sulit. Aku tidak pernah berpikir bahwa memahami perspektif dari sebuah lagu ternyata begitu sulit, aku merasa Hirate yang menjadi center 6 kali berturut-turut ternyata benar-benar hebat.

- Member yang lain pun juga merasakan hal yang sama mengenai cara berekspresi dan besarnya tekanan tersebut, menurutmu apakah pengalaman itu berarti besar?

Risa: Aku benar-benar merasa begitu. Apalagi, aku yang cuma jadi center di 1 lagu saja sudah merasa cemas dan takut, tapi Hirate seorang diri terus menjadi center selama 2 tahun sejak debut, kupikir dia pasti telah bertarung dengan tekanan yang besar itu... aku sudah sempat mengatakannya tadi, kupikir dia sungguhlah hebat. Pokoknya, aku tidak bisa menemukan kata lain selain hebat. Tapi, jika aku tidak mencoba berdiri di posisi center seperti sekarang, aku tidak akan memahaminya, kupikir aku mendapat pengalaman yang sangat bagus.

- Dari kata-katamu barusan, aku merasa bahwa kau jadi lebih bisa diandalkan dibandingkan sebelumnya. Ngomong-ngomong, menurutmu siapakah yang penampilannya terbaik di Anniversary Live tahun ini?

Risa: Menurutku... Yuichanzu. Aku merasa tersentuh saat melihat dari balik layar penampilan mereka berdua di atas panggung setelah sekian lama. Apalagi, itu pertama kalinya aku mendengarkan lagu “Ichigyou no Air Mail” di konser. Saat aku mendengarkan mereka berdua menyanyikannya di gladi bersih, aku merasa “Eh, lagu ini ternyata sangat enak!”, padahal hanya gladi bersih, tapi itu membuatku ingin menangis. Karena itu, aku melihat mereka dengan seksama di konser sesungguhnya.

- Kau juga sempat menangis saat melihat tarian solo Harada Aoi-san di “Futari Sezon”.

Risa: Aoi pada dasarnya sudah berpengalaman soal balet, jadi pergerakan tangan dan kakinya benar-benar indah, tapi sepertinya dia merasa khawatir. Di belakang panggung, dia terus-terusan berlatih. Karena aku melihat perjuangannya itu, ketika dia berhasil melakukannya di konser yang sesungguhnya, aku jadi merasa sangat lega.

- Kemudian, itu adalah sebuah titik balik dimana kalian menghadapi peringatan ulang tahun ke-2 meski ada berbagai macam kejadian, apa hal yang kau ingat ketika melakukan gladi bersih?

Risa: Situasi dimana Hirate tidak ada di panggung sudah pernah terjadi di tur nasional musim panas tahun lalu, tapi kami memandangnya dengan cara yang sama sekali berbeda. Saat tur, memang ada member yang merasa sedih, tapi kali ini setiap member merasa bahwa “Kita harus melakukannya!”, kurasa kami menghadapi gladi bersih dengan perasaan seperti itu. Meski hanya dengan member yang ada sekarang, kami ingin membuat konser yang bisa membuat penonton merasa “bersyukur telah menonton”, kupikir semua member menghadapi konser ini dengan perasaan yang sama, aku sudah merasakannya sejak gladi bersih.

- Apa yang kau bicarakan dengan member sebelum konser?

Risa: Aku tidak banyak bicara dengan member... meski tidak saling bicara, tapi aku dapat memahami bahwa kami semua punya perasaan yang sama. Kira-kira seperti ini “Jika Anniversary Live ini tidak berjalan dengan baik, maka tidak akan ada kesempatan berikutnya”.

- Di sesi MC hari kedua, Sugai-san mengatakan “Kami tidak ingin Keyaki berakhir”, apakah perasaan yang semacam itu...?

Risa: Benar sekali. Dari sudut pandang kami, kami merasa seolah sedang berdiri di tepi jurang.

- Kalian mengerahkan segalanya dengan member yang ada sekarang, kupikir itu adalah konser terbaik kalian. Setelah melewati satu dinding penghalang, pemikiran seperti apakah yang kau miliki sekarang?

Risa: Kupikir semua member merasa tenang setelah mampu menyelesaikan konser selama 3 hari tanpa ada masalah. Tapi, aktivitas apa yang akan kami lakukan sebagai sebuah grup ke depannya, kami belum punya gambarannya secara konkrit, jadi aku tidak bisa mengatakannya dengan jelas. Tentu saja perasaan kami tidak berubah, kami ingin melakukan sesuatu bersama dengan 21 member lagi, tapi... aku sama sekali tidak bisa menebak akan ke mana arah kami atau perkembangan seperti apa yang akan terjadinya nantinya, jadi sejujurnya aku sedikit merasa cemas. Tapi, aku dapat merasakan dari atas panggung bahwa penonton yang datang ke konser kali ini sepertinya dapat bersenang-senang, jadi perasaan senang itu menjadi motivasi tersendiri bagiku. Aku benar-benar senang ketika penonton melihat ke panggung dengan tersenyum, atau ketika seluruh penonton di venue memutar-mutar towel di lagu “Abunakkashi Keikaku”. Karena itu, aku ingin sekali lagi merasakan kebersamaan dengan penonton pada saat konser, aku ingin menjaga perasaan itu saat menjalani berbagai aktivitas.

- Aku dapat memahami dengan baik pemikiranmu sebagai salah seorang member Keyakizaka46. Di sisi lain, pemikiran seperti apa yang kau punya dalam keseharianmu sebagai seorang perempuan berusia 19 tahun?

Risa: Soal itu... aku selalu menjalani hari dengan perasaan tidak sabar untuk bertemu dengan teman-temanku. Di antara sahabat-sahabatku dari kampung halaman, ada yang sedang kuliah di Tokyo, ada juga yang sedang mencari pekerjaan, kami selalu tidak sabar untuk berkumpul sekitar 1 atau 2 bulan sekali. Saat aku melihat teman-temanku yang juga sedang berjuang keras di jalannya masing-masing, aku jadi merasa bahwa aku pun bisa berjuang keras. Karena itu, justru aku yang mendapat lebih banyak semangat dari teman-temanku. Momen bersama dengan member juga berharga, tapi momen dimana aku bisa kembali menjadi Watanabe Risa “tanpa embel-embel apapun” ternyata juga sangatlah berharga. Justru karena aku bisa berkumpul dengan mereka beberapa bulan sekali, terkadang aku bisa berjuang dalam aktivitasku bersama Keyaki. Setelah seharian penuh meringankan perasaan yang tegang, aku serasa mendapat energi.

- Yonetani Nanami-san yang muncul di edisi sebelumnya juga mengatakan hal yang kurang lebih sama. Nah, kembali ke obrolan tentang member, kami sempat mewawancarai Nagahama Neru-san akhir tahun lalu, katanya dia begitu bersemangat membicarakan tentang Keyaki denganmu. Aku ingin menggali lebih dalam soal itu.

Risa: Ya, aku sempat berbicara dengan Neru, “Di tahun 2018, ayo kita sama-sama berjuang, baik dalam aktivitas individu maupun grup”. Tahun lalu, aku memikirkan macam-macam hal soal Keyaki, kupikir mungkin Neru juga memikirkan hal yang sama. Hal yang kami rasakan di tur musim panas benar-benar bermakna besar bagiku. Meski begitu, bahkan sampai menjelang akhir tahun, kami belum sepenuhnya merasakan hal yang sama sebagai sebuah grup, mengenai hal yang kami alami selama 1 bulan di musim panas itu, aku merasa bahwa perasaan kami belumlah menyatu. Tapi, saat aku tidak tahu harus berbuat apa, kupikir mungkin Neru adalah orang yang dapat melihat sesuatu secara obyektif, jadi mungkin dia dapat menangkap sesuatu, kemudian aku pun menceritakan hal yang kupikirkan padanya, kira-kira seperti itu.

- Ternyata begitu. Berdasarkan hal tersebut, aku penasaran seperti apa rasa sukamu pada Keyakizaka46 itu?

Risa: Ini tidak realistis sih, aku tidak ingin siapapun lulus, aku ingin terus bersama dengan member yang sama sampai kapanpun juga, seperti itulah perasaanku yang sesungguhnya. Kami juga sering mengatakan, “Meski sudah jadi seorang ibu, rasanya tetap ingin terus berada di Keyaki ya”, kami mengatakannya sambil bercanda (tertawa). Kami tidak tahu realitasnya akan jadi seperti apa... tapi seandainya itu terkabul, aku ingin terus berada di Keyaki meski kami semua sudah menjadi dewasa.

- Aku ingin melihat hal tersebut terjadi. Kemudian, kupikir aktivitas Hiragana Keyaki juga menjadi motivasi tersendiri, apakah itu tepat?

Risa: Ini pendapatku pribadi sih, saat mereka terlihat seperti sebuah grup yang berbeda dari kami, aku agak merasa kesepian. Apalagi kami pernah melakukan konser “Ariake One Man Live” bersama dengan member generasi 1 Hiragana, kami juga melakukan tur nasional bersama, aku benar-benar merasa bahwa mereka adalah grup yang sama dengan kami. Di dalam kepalaku, aku sudah memahami bahwa Kanji dan Hiragana saling berkompetisi supaya masing-masing grup dapat berkembang, tapi perasaanku masih belum siap untuk itu. Akhir-akhir ini, kami hanya dapat bertemu langsung dengan mereka pada saat event HS, jadi kuharap kami dapat melakukan sesuatu sama-sama lagi.

- Ternyata begitu, perasaanmu sudah tersampaikan. Kalau begitu, aku juga ingin sedikit membahas tentang pekerjaan individumu. Apa pekerjaan yang ingin kau lakukan ke depannya?

Risa: Aku sudah pernah membicarakannya sebelumnya sih, aku ingin mencoba menjadi penyiar radio. Di Keyaki banyak member yang jadi penyiar radio reguler, jadi pertama-tama aku ingin tampil sebagai bintang tamu dulu (tertawa).

- Saat sedang mewawancarai member yang menjadi penyiar radio, aku benar-benar merasakan bahwa kemampuan berbicara mereka jadi meningkat.

Risa: Aku juga merasakannya. Saat sesi MC di konser, aku sering merasa Habu-chan benar-benar hebat dalam mencari topik pembicaraan. Ternyata pengalaman dapat membuat kita berkembang. Bekerja dengan talenta-talenta yang lebih tua pasti berdampak besar ya.

- Risa-san juga semakin akrab dengan Araki Yuko-san, bukan? Apa ada banyak hal yang kau pelajari darinya?

Risa: Aku benar-benar suka pada Araki Yuko-san. Araki-san adalah orang yang kukagumi dan kusukai sejak dulu, dia sering mengajakku ngobrol sambil memanggil “Ricchan~”, bahkan sampai sekarang kadang-kadang aku merasa “jangan-jangan ini mimpi”. Bagi diriku beberapa tahun yang lalu, ini hal yang benar-benar tidak bisa dipercaya.

- Selain itu, kira-kira kurang 2 bulan lagi sebelum ulang tahunmu yang ke-20. Sejujurnya, bagaimana perasaanmu saat ini?

Risa: Saat SMP aku pernah membayangkan diriku saat berusia 20 tahun, dan ternyata aku yang sekarang jauh lebih kekanak-kanakan dibandingkan bayanganku waktu itu. Usia 20 tahun yang ada di bayanganku waktu itu benar-benar sudah dewasa, makanya aku ingin cepat-cepat berusia 20 tahun, tapi orangtua dan saudara-saudaraku berkata “Seharusnya kamu berpikir lebih baik selamanya menjadi remaja”, itu membuatku merasa aneh “Kenapa begitu ya?”. Tapi, begitu aku sudah hampir berusia 20 tahun, akhirnya aku benar-benar mengerti maksudnya. Aku tahu ini hal yang mustahil, tapi kalau bisa aku ingin tetap seperti ini...

- Apa kau membicarakan hal semacam itu dengan Ozeki Rika-san, member berusia 20 tahun yang akrab denganmu?

Risa: Aahh... aku cuma ngobrol nggak jelas sama Oze (tertawa). Mau bagaimana lagi, soalnya dia lucu, sampai-sampai aku ingin melihatnya terus-terusan. Saat kami tidak bisa bertemu, aku jadi sangat kesepian. Sebenarnya dia lebih tua dariku, tapi aku ingin dia jadi adikku selamanya~.

- Itu cinta ya (tertawa). Terakhir, ada 1 hal lagi yang ingin kutanyakan. Adakah keinginan untuk mencoba pekerjaan di dunia akting?

BRODY February 2018 - Ikeda Kazuma x Shinguu Ryouhei "A Dialogue of Keyakizaka46’s Music Videos"

Sawabe Yuu - Flash Diamond Oktober 2017

Dalam majalah FLASH DIAMOND edisi Oktober 2017, Sawabe Yuu, pembawa acara “Keyakitte, Kakenai?” (Keyakake), memilih 3 episode Keyakake terbaik menurut versinya! Apa sajakah ketiga episode tersebut? Simak interview selengkapnya di bawah ini!

- Apa daya tarik Keyakizaka46 menurut Sawabe-san?

Sawabe: Sudah pasti lagu mereka. Liriknya bertema punk, ada unsur pemberontakan, tarian yang agresif ala TAKAHIRO juga keren. Walaupun mereka tipe yang disukai banyak orang, aku sama sekali tidak merasakan hal yang norak dari mereka.

- Apakah ada perbedaan saat mereka berada di panggung dengan di acara?

Sawabe: Saat tampil di acara ini untuk pertama kalinya, mereka benar-benar gadis biasa. Pada awalnya mereka tidak berbicara sama sekali, menurutku mereka sekumpulan gadis yang suram (tertawa). Tapi, begitu aku memahami kepribadian mereka masing-masing, aku bisa mengejek mereka dengan lancar, aku berusaha untuk mengeluarkan kelebihan mereka. Masih banyak hal yang tersembunyi dari mereka, aku ingin menarik keluar daya tarik mereka lebih banyak lagi.

- Belakangan ini, member semakin banyak mengejek Sawabe-san.

Sawabe: Kira-kira mulai akhir tahun lalu, ya. Mereka tiba-tiba mempermainkanku (tertawa). Sepertinya ada juga penggemar yang menganggap itu tidak sopan, tapi demi membuat acara ini menjadi lucu, aku ingin member melakukannya tanpa perlu merasa sungkan.

- Adakah suatu perkembangan yang membuatmu ingin memuji mereka?

Sawabe: Mereka sudah bisa bangkit dari kursi dan beradu argumen dengan MC. Soalnya pada awalnya hal itu tidak terpikirkan akan terjadi. Aku ingin bilang ke mereka, “Kalian sudah bisa bangkit dari kursi dengan baik, ya” (tertawa). Lalu, banyak bermunculan cerita-cerita tentang member. Sepertinya kami memperhatikan satu sama lain dengan baik.

- Dengan pandangan seperti apakah supaya bisa lebih menyenangkan saat melihat acara ini?

Sawabe: Di zaman sekarang, kupikir berkomunikasi dengan karyawan wanita menjadi lebih sulit. Soalnya power harassment juga semakin ketat. Bagi orang-orang yang kesulitan dengan hal semacam itu, aku ingin mereka mempertimbangkan Sawabe yang tengah berjuang keras memeriahkan acara ini dan diejek oleh member (tertawa). 

(ket: power harassment = pelecehan yang dilakukan orang yang berkedudukan lebih tinggi)

Episode terbaik pilihan Sawabe!

1. Momen dimana mereka meneteskan air mata kejujuran

Episode 37: Pengumuman senbatsu single kedua!! (26 Juni 2016). Masuknya Nagahama Neru di senbatsu, setelah tidak disertakan di senbatsu single debut karena bergabung belakangan. “Walaupun tidak masuk di video klip, Neru tetap ikut syuting, kudengar dia ikut membantu banyak hal, member pun mengakui perjuangannya, dan dia akhirnya masuk senbatsu. Dengan masuknya Neru, walaupun ada member yang posisinya mungkin menurun, semua member ikut menangis. Saat melihat mereka berpelukan dengan bahagia, ‘Ah, sungguh grup yang luar biasa’, itu membuatku merasa terharu.”

2. Seharusnya terlihat wajah member yang sedang jatuh cinta, tapi...

Episode 68-69: Simulasi pernyataan cinta ideal bersama Sawabe (12 Februari 2017). Sebuah produksi dimana member menjadi pemain, penulis naskah, sekaligus sutradara dari drama pernyataan cinta kepada Sawabe. “Aku datang ke lokasi lebih awal dari biasanya, aku sudah berlatih dengan serius, tapi saat syuting dimulai Sugai malah tertawa saat melihat wajahku. Padahal aku berakting sesuai dengan permintaannya, ‘Ternyata memang wajahnya...’ dia malah bilang hal semacam itu, aku tidak bisa memahaminya (tertawa). Tapi, kupikir ini segmen yang membuat penggemar merasa berdebar-debar.”

3. Terkuaknya cinta terlarang di dalam grup?!

Sugai Yuuka and Shida Manaka: The Miracle that Combines Oil and Water - BRODY Interview

It would be a waste if you overlook it! “Friendship of Cat and Horse”, the most unlikely combination in the group!

BRODY editorial have given it a thought for a long time about which members form the strongest combination in Keyakizaka46. There has to be a dream combination somewhere, and finally we realized it. When we combined these 2 girls, infinite possibilities occurred! These 2 girls, one with a horse-like seriousness to her and the other a cat-like unpredictability, have shown us an unexpected chemical reaction.

- : Interviewer

Y : Sugai Yuuka

M : Shida Manaka

Two girls that admire one another while standing on opposite ends

- Shida-san, which member do people often pair you up with?

M: At first, a lot of fans paired me with Risa, but after the MV for “Hiraishin” was released, I heard a lot of “TechiPippi”.

- I see, A Hirate-san and Shida-san pairing! It does exist. How about Sugai-san?

Y: A lot of fans pair me with Habu-chan.

- No wonder. But, above all that, I strongly believe that this combination is actually quite strong.

Y: Is that so?

M: It’s quite new for me.

- Honestly, I actually think both of you as hidden treasures with potential in becoming Keyakizaka46’s strongest combination. I don’t think people really know about your relationship, therefore, today I want to dig it up. First things first, do you still remember your first impressions of each other?

Y: At first... I thought she was a quiet girl, she’s really beautiful.

- How about you, Shida-san?

M: I’v been asked this question quite often... I didn’t have any impression of everyone.

- It’s not just about Sugai-san? (laughs)

M: However, my impression of her is... that she really does love horses. I thought it was a made-up character at first, but she keeps saying it, she also has a lot of horse-related things, recently I realized that she really loves it.

Y: So you just realized it (laughs).

- Do people rarely mention about this combination? For example, you were once paired in a scene of “Futari Saison” MV.

Y: People mention it sometimes.

M: Isn’t it really rare?

Y: That’s true. Manaka is really the opposite of me. How should I put it... she always exceeds my expectation, she is really interesting.

M: Hahahahaha!

- Just like that laughter just now? (laughs)

M: Yuuka is so funny! The way she said “How should I put it” is really like the “Makeover! Dramatic Before and After” television show (laughs).

- You laughed with a unique tone (laughs). Let’s get back to the topic, Sugai-san said it earlier, that both of you are opposites and are different from one another. Your environments while growing up, friends, stuff you like, music you listen to, I think everything is totally different. Apparently you can’t even read each other’s thoughts.

Y: I can’t read her at all!

- What do you think, Shida-san? Do you think she is the opposite of you?

M: Yes, I do. But, I’m jealous of her at the same time. She can do everything properly.

- I see (laughs).

M: Before the start of every concert, she always writes down the things she wants to say on the MC session, I think she is amazing. I rarely allocate time to do such a thing after all.

- No no no, let’s allocate some time! (laughs)

M: I imagine that Yuuka always does that at home as well, I think she is really amazing.

- Sugai-san, which parts of you do you think is the opposite of her?

Y: From my perspective, I am really jealous of her. She is good at dealing with things, she is the kind of person I have never met before, I want to know more about her.

M: Fufufufufu, it made me laugh.

Y: I always think “People will never get bored of looking at her.”

- Kind of person that you’d never involve yourself with?

Y: There are many kinds of people that I have never met in Keyaki, however, above all that, I have never met someone like her before.

M: Yeah, I’m really weird.

- If we were to decide which one is weirder, I think it will be quite a good battle.

Y: It can’t be!?

- It is true that Shida-san has unique character, but Sugai-san is considerably weird as well.

M: Yeah, you’re weird.

Y: The fact that I‘m far too ordinary really bothers me though (bitter smile).

- Well, you are really different, is there anything you hate about each other?

Y: Not at all.

M: Huh, it can’t be!?

- I am surprised! Do you hate her, Shida-san? (laughs)

M: No, I don’t hate her. During concerts, there were times where I wanted to do something different than what was planned at that time, which surprised Yuuka and the other members. “Huh?”.

Y: Aahh, it occurred during the tour.

M: Yeah, I showed my frustration often back then. There was a time when Yuuka probably got annoyed. I was really annoyed as well. I was aware of it.

Y: It’s really unforgettable, it was during “Aozora to MARRY” performance (laughs).

M: Hahahahaha!

Y: There was a part where the audience did the wave, at that time, her face was so serious. when I said “Let’s liven things up more!”, she said “I don’t want to laugh and lie to myself” (laughs).

M: Ahahahahaha! I remember it!

- So you’re in that kind of mood at that time.

M: Yes, somehow I was really annoyed at that time. I’m the kind of person that sometimes acts without thinking.

- I thought so. I can feel it when I see you.

M: However, It turned out that I was being too rude towards her, I was like “No, it shouldn’t have been like that!”. I want to apologize for saying that.

- How was your response after she said that, Sugai-san?

Y: “Ah, aahh... so that was it” (laughs).

M: Something like that happens frequently in “AoMarry”. But, it’s just between me and Yuuka.

- It’s surprising. Moriya-san never said something like that?

M: Akanen only reacted to what we said, but she never suggested anything. In truth, “AoMarry” members quarrel frequently (laughs).

Y: However, it’s something that we can laugh at, so it’s totally fine (laughs).

- Laughing at something like that, and then forgiving it, it’s the best relationship. I think Shida-san can do what Sugai-san can’t do, at the same time, Sugai-san can do what Shida-san can’t do. Also, you even mention that you want to live by doing what Shida-san does. For me, it’s just like cat and horse.

Y: No, it’s different (laughs). It’s more like cats and dogs though.

- Shida-san is totally unpredictable just like a cat, while the main image of Sugai-san is a girl with dedication just like a horse. What do you think about that?

M: I think someone like Yuuka would easily go through the concerts, if we didn’t have someone like her, it might be an impossible task for us.

- It means you can accept her despite her different train of thought..

M: Yes.

- How about you, Sugai-san?

Y: I think about it sometimes, I think I’m just the kind of person that tries to fit myself in with the people around me, I probably do just what people around me say. “Do I not have my own desires?”, sometimes I even doubt myself. I think someone like Manaka, who can be herself all the time, is pretty strong, it’s amazing for her to frankly say what she wants to do. Even in this small group, there are so many different personalities, on top of that, there is a kind of person who is exactly the opposite of me. On the contrary, I think it might be her strength. People would see her as interesting person.

- Do you somehow admire Shida-san?

Y: Somehow I do. Manaka is cheerful, how should I put it...

M: Hahahahaha! You said it again! (laughs)

Y: Stop it (laughs). When we’re in the dressing room, she is always surrounded by a lot of members, she makes them laugh with her many expressions, she is really popular among us.

- Do you admire her as well, Shida-san?

M: Yes, I do.

Y: Really?

M: Yep (laughs). I have this kind of personality by nature, so If I have a personality like Yuuka, it seems like I can do everything much easier. If it’s possible, I, too, would want to live like her.

- You want to live like Sugai-san?

M: Isn’t it amazing? She sacrifices her own desires and respects opinions from the people around her, I think it’s amazing. I can‘t even do that. Moreover, she is our captain, she is someone who we can rely on. Even if I was chosen as captain, I will never do that.

The melancholia of a compassionate girl, Shida Manaka

- As expected, if we compare two people with opposite personalities, their personalities will stand out from each other. However, why do you have such a good relationship? You talk and laugh at each other during the photoshoot session. I think it’s quite strange.

Y: But, we aren’t usually like that...

M: We don’t talk to each other.

- How can you communicate so well to a point where I don’t realise you two don’t talk much?

Y: We did laugh too much today after all.

M: Hey, isn’t the atmosphere of the photoshoot that makes it interesting? If we try to look objectively, isn’t he interesting? Look at his exaggerated expression, don’t you agree?

- Ah,You talked about me?

M: Yes. You got funny from the middle of the photoshoot onwards.

- It can’t be. We’ve already worked together in a ton of photoshoot sessions, why would you laugh at me all of a sudden? (laughs) By the way, you visited Disneyland together with 5 or 6 members around summer, didn’t you?

M: We did!

- For us, that member composition was very strange.

Y: Fufufufufu.

M: But, I was on the side who got invited, right?

Y: Is that so? Wasn’t it you that invited me “Wanna join us?”?

M: When did we go there again?

Y: After Odaiba’s TIF.

M: That’s right. I was the one who invited you “Let’s hang out!”, then Fuuchan started saying “How about going to Suipara?”. But, Kyoko couldn’t join us at first.

Y: Kyoko-chan was in the same car with us by chance when we approached her, she said ”Well, I think I’ll join”.

M: And then, Suzumoto started saying “I wanna go to Disneyland!”. Right before that, we wanted to see fireworks. Anyway, it really feels like “whoever has free time, let’s hang out”.

Y: That’s right.

- That composition is, if anything, almost the same to the composition of “Mona Kingdom” which Shida-san is the center. I was very surprised Sugai-san was among them.

Y: It was really fun. Deep down in my heart, I was really happy because I was going with members different than the usual. But we talked about it, right? “Aren’t these members rarely together?”.

M: Yeah. “Why these members?”, something like that but it’s really fun.

Y: It wasn’t boring at all, it was fun.

M: But, usually it’s difficult to invite you.

Y: Eh?

M: We’re not a match for each other, I think you would be tired being together with me. I worry about that.

- Aahh, “Is Yuuka having fun right now?”, you think something like that?

M: Yes. Moreover, if I don’t tell her, I don’t think it's fair for her. But, turns out she was having fun.

Y: Yeah.

- For example, Shida-san is having fun with members that’s always together with you, therefore, there must be a common joke among you. If it turns out Sugai-san doesn’t understand that joke, you will think “Is Yuuka not having fun when I’m talking about this?”.

Y: Somewhat I understood it. I’m probably difficult to talk to (laughs). What is it...

M: Hahahaha! Here it comes, her “what is it”!

Y: I probably have a stiff personality, because I say something like that so often.

M: That’s it!

Y: I didn’t do that on purpose, but lately I realized “Probably I am person with a stiff personality”.

- It took you too long to realize it! (laughs)

M: She is a serious person, it makes me wonder if it’s alright to invite her. Moreover, if it’s at night.

- Even at night... (laughs).

Y: Hey, the one who’s older here is me (laughs).

M: But, I wonder whether it’s alright to invite you.

Y: It’s totally fine though...

- By the way, those members were...

Y: Kyoko, Aoi-chan, Suzumon,...

M: Fuuchan, me, and Yuuka.

- What a composition. In an idol group, it is often said that the more members it has, the more factions it will have. When I saw that photo of you, it made me think that Keyakizaka46 isn’t the case.

Y: It’s also a good thing that Kyoko was there.

M: I like Kyoko so much. She once sent me a LINE message at 3 AM, “Can you please buy something for me in Animal Crossing flea market?”

- What was that about?

M: “Animal Crossing” is really popular, isn’t it? It has flea markets there, and apparently she didn’t have any money. If I bought the fishes she sells, she could raise some money, she sent me a message about that at 3 AM, but I didn’t give a damn about it (laughs).

Y: Oh wow, you’re really close.

M: I often ignore her LINE.

Y: So you’re already that close. Manaka is good at communicating with people after all.

M: It depends on the person. I will never communicate with the person I hate! (laughs)

- Next, I have a feeling that Sugai-san probably likes the type of guy similar to Shida-san, what do you think? Do you like people who live freely like Shida-san?

M: I’m probably a playboy (laughs).

Y: I hate playboys (laughs).

M: Who do you like in “KEYABINGO!”? (there was a segment where some members dressed up as boys and then the other members voted which one of them they would want as a boyfriend)

Y: Absolutely not Manaka. She looks like a playboy. (laughs) I prefer Habu-chan or Sebastian.

- Aahh, Oda-san. You have good taste (laughs). How about you, Shida-san?

M: I’m fine with someone passive. Also, I like a person who’s admired by fellow girls.

- It means you also have different types in the person you like.

Y: We’re probably different in every aspect.

M: I will never wear Yuuka’s clothes. I think she will never wear my clothes as well.

Y: That’s true.

- How about music?

M: What kind of music do you listen to?

Y: I’ve never been like “I like this musician!”, I only listen to music that’s popular at a certain time.

- Do you listen to Shida-san’s favourite band ONE OK ROCK, Sugai-san?

Y: Not really. I listen to YUI, KANA-BOON, and RADWIMPS.

- How about comic book, Sugai-san? You once said that you like “Full Metal Alchemist”.

Y: I don’t read much titles other than that. What I like the most are “Attack on Titan”, and “Ace of Diamond”.

- Do you like shonen comic?

Y: I prefer sports genre than heartwarming stories, I also like dark-theme stories.

- What kind of genre do you like, Shida-san?

M: I’m really into “Ajin” right now. To be honest, I don’t really like that kind of genre. When I read it, I can feel its dark atmosphere. What if it does exist in the real world? It makes me anxious. Even in normal situations like this, I’m thinking “What if terrorists come to this place.”

Y: What if a zombie appears when we close the elevator’s door, something like that?

M: Yes, yes! It’s really scary.

- Hearing that conversation, it confirms my “Shida Manaka is most adorable member” theory.

M: Stop that! Stop that!

- I think you are a person that is adorable in every single aspect.

Y: That’s true! The way she doesn’t admit it is also adorable.

- She has a bunch of adorable points.

Y: She probably looks really cool, but she’s not cool at all.

M: Eeehhh! I want to cry! (laughs)

- I heard Shida-san is someone who feels empathy easily, she is also weak toward elders.

M: It’s unbearable...

- What do you mean?

M: In “Japan Record Awards”, the one who guided us was an old man. I thought this year might be his last year. Then, “This person probably has worked on “Record Awards” since a long time ago. If so, is today gonna be his last day working here? I wonder what kind of feelings he has right now?” I couldn’t help thinking that. Even if I’m only meeting him on his last day, I still had to thank him, I told him “thank you very much” from the bottom of my heart. If I couldn’t make eye contact and greet him, ah it’s over... I would think that way.

- That’s very kind of you. That’s impossible he had worked on that program for 50 years... I don’t know the truth though.

M: But, it can’t be helped, right? Also, I’m weak towards old men with soft ice cream.

- What’s up with that maniac situation!

M: I once saw an old man that bought 2 soft ice creams at shopping mall. He probably bought his wife’s ice cream, but what if in the middle of bringing it to his wife, he got involved with a dangerous guy.

- Your paranoia is really strong (laughs).

M: If I think that way, my brain won’t be able process it. For example, there was a time when I thought “How can I save all the elders in this world?”, then my head went blank... Yone even said “Are you alright?”, I made her worry.

- Even if it’s impossible, you still want to save them.

M: I want to save them! But, I can’t always be together with them. There are so many old men in this world after all.

- You can’t protect all of them (laughs).

M: When I think of it, it hurts me...

- So that is it. Being able to understand people’s feeling is evidence of how kind you are!

Y: It’s really amazing!

M: That’s why it tires me out (bitter smile). Particularly when I hang out in Shibuya, it’s very tiring.

- I don’t think there is any old man in Shibuya...

M: That’s why I feel tired when there is one! “What is that old man doing here?!”

- Since there are so many young people there, it looks like he is being surrounded (laughs).

A proposal of intercultural exchange for the troubled Yukka

- Sugai-san, have you ever read “ONE PIECE”?

Y: I’ve never read it. I want to read it though.

- I think Sugai-san and Shida-san are similar to the marines and pirates in “ONE PIECE”.

M: Indeed! But she looks so weak, she is Coby.

Y: Eeh!? Who is that? I have to read it.

- Luffy and his comrades in the Strawhat Pirates are a gang of pirates, they’re supposed to be the villains, but they are the heroes. I think it’s really similar to Shida-san. I think people will easily misunderstand you. You may look like those pirates, but you’re actually very kind. Luffy also feels empathy with people easily, he cries together with them.

Y: That’s a good thing. I think our staff don’t really trust me, but Manaka really gets along with them, I think somehow they like her more than me.

M: No, that’s not true (laughs). It only happens outside of the workplace. Nobody is more reliable at work than Yuuka!

Y: Doesn’t it mean that I’m a very strict person? (bitter smile) It makes me sad... It’s not like I want to appeal that I’m working very hard, somehow I feel so empty...

- I understand your bitterness.

M: I probably understand it!

- No way you would understand that (laughs). Even at school, the one who gets along with teacher is usually a delinquent student, isn’t it?

Y: It’s often said delinquent student that goes through rehabilitation is most liked by the teacher.

M: Reha-bili-tation? What does it mean?

- However, I think Sugai-san is the one who protects this group. For example, if Hirate-san and Shida-san are members who carry the offensive role of conveying this group’s color to the world, then Sugai-san is the member who carries the  important role of protecting the image of a classic idol figure and Sakamichi Series. It just means Keyakizaka46 consists of such a balance, doesn’t it?

Y: I see... hearing it gives me a little confidence (bitter smile).

M: Cheer up!

- That’s why, not everyone can be like Shida-san, and not everyone can be like Sugai-san.

M: Fufufufu! Everyone is Shida... If everyone has my face, it would be interesting (laughs).

- You don’t have to take this analogy so literally (laughs). Even so, if you can show elements that complete one another, it would be a great momentum for both of you. Sugai-san, how about it? Do you feel assured?

Y: Surprisingly, it’s really not bad. I can say my thoughts without hiding anything, it feels so good.

- One more thing, there is one person in this group, who possesses the elements of these two...

M: Akane?

- You know it so well.

M: I once thought about it when we were on the tour. She stood in between us, “I think this is better this way, but this is also better this way”, she said something along those lines, I thought that she was amazing. That’s why she is our vice-captain.

Y: It’s really... great choice... right...

- Hey, you’re feeling down again! My bad! However, If Sugai-san gives an okay, I want to continue this corner regularly.

M: Seems like it can strengthen your mentality, right?

- You said something aggressive again (laughs). Next, I want the both of you to experience each other’s cultures, does it seem interesting? Will you do this intercultural exchange corner?

M: Ah, I will! I want to experience Yuuka’s life for a day!

- Well then, Shida-san will be Sugai Yuuka for a day, and Sugai-san will be Shida Manaka for a day.

Y: I want to do it! I want to know what Manaka does everyday.

M: It’s bad, you know. At night, I sleep with my window open. I hate using the heater.

- Your choice of “bad” is way too normal (laughs).

Y: I also want to wear clothes like the ones Manaka wears.

M: Will I wear Yuuka’s clothes as well?

- Yes, you will.

M: Eehh! I kind of hate it! (laughs)

- Please don’t hate it so suddenly (laughs). Well, let’s do “Shida Manaka and Sugai Yuuka’s 1-day exchange” corner next year!

PROFILE

Shida Manaka, born on November 23, 1998, from Niigata Prefecture. Shidafukin, a traveller that drifts into the idol world, loves freedom and rock music. Nickname “Manaka”.

Sugai Yuuka, born on November 29, 1995, from Tokyo Prefecture. Mirco Demuro of Keyakizaka, that is trusted with the reins of a vicious horse group. Nickname “Yukka”.

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Nagahama Neru - Nikkei Entertainment 2017

Cancellation of her 1-year-and-3-month-long kennin status and receiving full-time status of a Kanji Keyakizaka46 member made her want to be herself even more...

Nagahama Neru became a member of both Kanji Keyakizaka46 and Hiragana Keyakizaka46 from June 2016. For the Hiragana Keyakizaka46 Solo Concert at Zepp Tokyo that was held on March 21st and 22nd, 2017, she couldn’t get enough time for rehearsals due to the filming of Keyakizaka46 drama “Zankoku na Kankyakutachi”, and for her, that concert has topped her “most frustrating jobs” ranking.

At the Zepp Tokyo Concert, I joined the other Hiragana Keyakizaka46 members just before it had started. Somehow we managed to get the job done, however, I think I might have caused trouble to the other members who had already prepared properly.

At the Zepp Namba Concert that was held on May 31st, I could finally properly participate in rehearsals, and I felt a sense of unity among us. I was trying not to stand out during the Tokyo stage, but in Osaka, I thought I had to be more active during the MC session, I wanted to ease (Sasaki) Kumi-chan’s burden, so I was actively talking back then. After the concert ended, each of us spoke our thoughts during dinner, after which we were strongly determined to keep working harder in the future.

Basically, Kanji and Hiragana members rarely meet during concerts or handshake events, therefore, Hiragana members often view Kanji members as “cool seniors”. However, they spend a longer time together with me, so they can certainly see my weaknesses. But, there was a time when Kumi-chan told me “You aren't our senior, you're our comrade, you shouldn’t worry”, her words made me feel at ease.

In the “National Arena Tour 2017” that was held on August, Nagahama Neru sang more songs than any other member because of her kennin status. She sang her solo song “100-nen Matteba” while riding a hot-air balloon, waving her hands as she reached the rear audience seats.

Since they weren't just my fans, I hesitated a bit at first, but I have performed so many songs on stage, this song made me feel closer to the members, and it also made me see the audiences’ faces and waved my hand out to them. I don’t know whether my singing had already improved, but Fuuchan (Saito Fuyuka) told me “I can no longer make fun of your singing.” (XD).

Nagahama was running through “National Arena Tour 2017” as a kennin member, however, on their regular program “Keyakitte, Kakenai?” that aired on the 24th of September, it was announced that she would be released from her 1-year-and-3-month-long kennin status, becoming a full-time member of Kanji Keyakizaka46. On her blog, she quoted words that represented her feelings “Bloom where you are planted”.

I had mixed feelings when I heard the cancellation of my kennin status at the studio. I couldn’t do both properly, and it made me really frustrated, however, I would've caused more trouble to everyone if I still couldn't. I was relieved it was announced at the perfect timing when Hiragana Keyaki 2nd generation members had already joined them.

I managed to talk to the Hiragana Keyaki members a day before Zepp Sapporo (held on September, 26th), but they started crying as soon as we met. We talked about our memories together, and I was relieved to be able to apologize to them properly.

Receiving full-time status in Kanji Keyaki means that we have to be a group that shows our strengths altogether. I want to work harder to compensate the many troubles I had caused.

I have so many goals in the future. I want to do various jobs, and I want lots of people to know who Keyakizaka46 is. Because If I had met Keyakizaka46’s songs when I was in junior high school, I might have felt happier.

I also want to do activities that make contributions to my hometown Nagasaki. Appearing on “Kusunoki”, a television program which contains peace messages, was one of those activities. In Nagasaki, it’s normal to think about peace, but it's different in Tokyo, and it surprised me. I think we have a responsibility to call out to those of our generation.

If I have spare time, I want to spend it with my hobbies. When I had lunch with Nogizaka46’s Ito Marika, she told me, “Devoting your off days to your hobbies can be the most relaxing things to do if you can connect it to your job”. It left me with a great impression when I heard that. Lately, I watch a lot of movies, I also create scrapbooks from fashion magazines. I want to grow up as both an idol and a human as well.

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Kato Shiho - Nikkei Entertainment 2017

A sharp-looking girl aiming for a solo song after managing to improve her singing ability…

We can say that Kato Shiho’s charm point is the gap between her sharp looks and henyo-henyo speaking style. In Keyakizaka46’s 1st album “Masshiro na Mono wa Yogoshitakunaru”, her high-level singing ability on the track “Chinmoku shita Koibito yo”, however, has drawn people’s attention. In recent handshake events, most of her fans have expressed their surprise.

Singing isn’t my strength, I was really bad at it. When I was in high school, I used to  karaoke with my friends, where we only sang Nogizaka46’s songs for 5 hours. Singing their concert setlist, waving our hands as if riding on the truck. Despite doing such a thing, my singing couldn’t get any better. That’s why since joining Hiragana (Keyakizaka46), I’ve been struggling with voice training. I don’t like speaking loudly in the first place. It feels like, throughout my life, the only time I’ve shout is when I’m riding a jet coaster. I can’t even do the lip rolls where I have to jiggle my lip, it started from that point.

I was so surprised when I heard that I would sing the first part of “Chinmoku shita Koibito yo”. I wondered why did it have to be me. I was overflowing with confusion, but I was really happy as well. During the recording session, we were told that this song has a Nogizaka46-ish vibe, and I got very excited as soon as I found out Sugiyama Katsuhiko-san was the composer.

I never properly listened to my singing voice before, so when I listened to this song, “So this is my voice”, that was the first time I heard my own voice. Whenever I speak, my intonation becomes weird, but my singing voice doesn’t have such a problem, so it made me excited.

I didn’t have much confidence. I was very anxious singing “Chinmoku shita Koibito yo” at the concert, however, it feels like I’ve started to sing more consistently.

Members and fans even told me, “I like your voice”, it made me go from disliking my own voice to liking it a little bit. However, when people commented “Please sing for us” on SHOWROOM, I still don’t have enough confidence, I can’t sing straight away without any preparation

I have a dream that someday I would be able to sing my own solo song. It might be impossible, but I think that making a declaration is important, so I will keep saying that. I’ve often said that I really like Naako-chan, and so when we could finally do a magazine photoshoot together, I came to realize that making a declaration is an important thing.

Not only in singing, but people often say “You have sort of a gap” in other things. I think many people already knew it from “KEYABINGO!”, that I’m a fast runner.

I’m a high-spirited person, but I have trouble showing it. I’m such a coward, I can’t even say my opinions during evaluation meetings with members and so I always stay silent.

During September, Kato became the first member of Hiragana Keyakizaka46 to walk on the “GirlsAward” runway. Also, her individual jobs, like appearing in fashion magazines, are increasing. For Hiragana Keyakizaka46 that had just entered a new phase after Nagahama Neru’s kennin cancellation and 2nd generation members joining, her existence must be big.

When I heard that I would be appearing on GirlsAward, I had mixed feelings about it, “What should I do?” and “I’m very happy”, I couldn’t stop crying. I was so anxious during the event since there weren’t any Hiragana members there, but Habu (Mizuho)-san and Berika-san (Watanabe Rika) approached and talked to me, “Kanji members are so kind”, I was touched.

I was really frustrated as I couldn’t make use of the things I learned in my walking training. I was taught how to walk in the coolest way, but I was so nervous that it made me really want to go to the toilet, and I ended up looking like a creepy person.

Habu-san has beyond-model sense of fashion, she also walked magnificently in such a cool way… Since it’s difficult to get taller, I want to show better expressions and get revenge on it.

When I first heard Nagaru’s (Nagahama Neru) kennin cancellation, I was so sad and wondered “Why?”, however, I was relieved when she told us the reason a day before the Zepp Sapporo concert. If she hadn’t tell us the reason, even though it was already decided, I would have said “It’s lonely without you”, and I would be crying. Without our ace Nagaru, I thought that we would face big troubles, however, since we have the 2nd generation members, I can move on and say “Let’s do our best”.

I don’t even know how a shy person like me could get along quickly with 2nd gen member (Watanabe) Miho. I can’t think of the 2nd gen as my juniors. I have to behave more like a senior, and I hope I can communicate with them naturally without overthinking.

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Sato Shiori - Nikkei Entertainment Interview 2017

A pessimistic art college student that transformed into an optimistic one…

Because of her pessimistic thinking, Sato Shiori always experienced troubles since her debut, but she has been able to start thinking positively since 2017. The main factor of that transformation is the existence of one member.

Thanks to Fuuchan (Saito Fuyuka), I could change myself drastically. When we just started our debut, I was worried with such trivial things like “Why was I not called to magazine interview?” or “Why did I get that senbatsu position?”. Fuuchan ever said that me at that time has “super negative aura” (XD). My home and Fuuchan’s are on the same direction, we often go home together after the lesson ends, she often listens to my troubles. She always listens to it seriously and says “Nothing to be worried”, she always gives me positive words. Slow but sure, being together with her made me become more positive. My 2017 goal is “to live freely”, lately I always feels optimistic, it feels like an achievement to me.

During “National Arena Tour 2017” on August, I often shared a hotel room with Ozeki (Rika), we talked about many things. We shared about each other self-reflection, we also discussed about how to show more unity in the concert, we always discussed things until late. We’re already good friends, we’re close to each other. We’re similar in many things like our thinking and our anxious mind. We talked about many serious things at that time, I thought our friendship got much deeper. Since I was always with members almost everyday, I love Keyakizaka46 members even much more. I never experienced things like club training camp, so it’s my first experience always doing so many things together,  like moving together from one place to another everyday or just having lunch together, it was so fun. It’s often said that “the longer you being together with someone, the more you know their ugly side”, but I can’t find things like that, I just love them even more everyday.

We often say that it’s the busiest summer in our life. In our “National Arena Tour”, there is one act in the last day of Makuhari Messe that is so memorable to me. Before we performed “Fukyouwaon”, we did an act which we tore each other shirt apart. At the last part, I tore Techi’s shirt, it’s really important role. I was really enthusiastic “I’m gonna tear your shirt in cool way!”. We also performed the first song “Eccentric” with that shirt. Since we wore that shirt so many times, we couldn’t tear it on rehearsal, so we tore it as hard as we could on the real act. Then, I tried to tore Techi’s shirt off as hard as I could, but it wasn’t torn at all. “Ah, it’s game over” (XD). That day, I felt nothing but frustration.

Every single day, I myself decide to do anything perfectly until the end. It is called perfectionist, isn’t it? I’m a student of art college, I had so much troubles balancing my college life and Keyakizaka46. I did both things halfway, it feels like I have 2 consciousness. But, both are things that I started myself, I didn’t want to give them up halfway. Lately, I finally got used to that situation, I realized that both of them made good impact to me, so I want to do both things seriously. My magazine photoshoot job has increased, and thanks to that, I got interested in photography, so I recently started learning about camera on the college. Thanks to my major in graphic design, I was entrusted with the task of creating VJ video of “Bokutachi no Sensou” that displayed on the concert. Don’t you think it really fits me?

Also, on May this year, I was given the opportunity to participate in Lotte XYLITOL 20th Anniversary Project and to create the design of its gum bottle. When I asked the reason, they told me that I was chosen because I am active student of art college and my age is also 20 years old. I choosed this major because I want to work in design, so this opportunity gave me so much fresh feeling. I had read Imaizumi (Yui)’s interview on certain magazine, she said “The worth of my existence in this group is nothing but singing”, so I decided that the worth of my existence is art. I want to do more individual works in the future by making the best use of my art, so in the end everything I do will benefit Keyakizaka46.

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Imaizumi Yui - Nikkei Entertainment Interview 2017

Since her 4-and-half-months hiatus until her return now, she continues her activities with brighter smile…

Around the beginning of filming of “Tokuyama Daigoro wo Dare ga Koroshita ka?” that broadcasted on summer 2016, Imaizumi’s physical condition started getting worse. After going through so much trouble, she discussed with the staffs, and decided that she would be taking a hiatus by the end of “Keyakizaka46 Debut 1st Anniversary Live” that held on April 6th this year. And since her hiatus announcement on April 13th, the Diva of Keyakizaka46 had disappeared from our eyes for a while.

When my physical condition getting worse, I had to take a rest from my job. It might be better if I take a rest for a while rather than doing a job in half-assed condition. However, I couldn’t find the right timing, and finally decided my hiatus right before our 1st Anniversary Live. I was worried that “If I return, I won’t have a place in the group anymore”, however I always have determination that I won’t stop singing despite taking a rest for a while. Singing and dancing are two things that can make me being myself.

I have started writing a diary since my hiatus. Since I want to try writing songs in the future, I think it’s gonna be useful. I have a note which I keep writing lyric phrase on it, someday I want to make it a song. I kept doing voice training (during hiatus), however since I never danced again, my physical strength got weaker. As example, I already felt exhausted around 2nd part of “Silent Majority”, so I started running to overcome that. I’m bad at running though (XD).

On the 1st album “Masshiro na Mono wa Yogoshitakunaru” (released on July 2017), we can hear Imaizumi’s singing voice from her solo song “Natsu no Hana wa Himawari dake janai” and Yuichanzu’s song with Kobayashi Yui “1-gyou Dake no Air Mail”. We can also see her appearance with short hair and skinny face on the album booklet. When the opportunity of her comeback was getting higher, on the first day of Tokyo Stage (Makuhari Messe) of “National Arena Tour 2017”, Sugai said “Next one is a song which we are always waiting for”, Imaizumi then stood on the stage and sang “Natsu no Hana wa Himawari dake janai”.

Staff told me, “Whether you will be participating this tour or not, the decision is up to you”, so I decided to make a comeback at the final of the tour. I didn’t participate since the beginning, so I was worried about it, but I thought that I should participate because the timing was right, I already prepared myself to step forward.

On the “Natsu no Hana wa Himawari dake janai”, I’m able to make the best use of my voice quality. During my hiatus, I was able to accept my voice as it is, my way of singing already changed.

I thought I wouldn’t have a problem, but I felt nervous as soon as I stepped on the stage, my head went blank. I want to apologize for not being able to sing properly, I’ve reflected on it. On the second day (August 30th), I could relax a little, I thought I was able to put more feeling on my singing better than the first day.

I was worried that people would think “Other members did their best for a month, but Imaizumi only participated at the final”, but as soon as I appeared on the stage, I was surrounded by yellow penlights from the audience seats, I was touched when I saw it. I can’t forget that scenery.

On the encore, I also participated in “Silent Majority” and “Futari Saison” (released on November 2016), but I struggled following their movement since it was my first performance with them after a long time. However during my hiatus, I reread all Keyakizaka’s lyrics, it enabled me interpretating differently. As example, instead of showing “no smile” expression, it’s alright to show different expression in “Silent Majority”. I could perform with different feeling at that time.

At the Makuhari backstage, Yuipon (Kobayashi yui) said “Good Luck!” to me, but I was very nervous, I couldn’t response properly to her. To be honest, I only told Yuipon about my hiatus, but I can’t speak to her properly since my return, I want to apologize properly to her someday.

I’m a person that easily worrying and overthinking, I always feel pessimistic more than anyone. I can’t change my basic personality, but recently I begin to think “well, whatever”. I think I can laugh much more often than before.

On the 5th single “Kaze ni Fukaretemo”, my position is in the middle of third row. I am very happy since I always expected that I would be removed from senbatsu. As a professional, I can’t let people feel that I’m being left behind by the other members, so I will be working hard to catch them up.

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Tsuchida Teruyuki: Jadwal Keyakizaka46 Sangat Padat, Kuharap Mereka Bersenang-Senang Saat Syuting Keyakake

Masih dalam majalah FLASH DIAMOND edisi Oktober 2017, kali ini Tsuchida Teruyuki-san, pembawa acara “Keyakitte, Kakenai?” (Keyakake), memberikan sedikit komentarnya mengenai Keyakizaka46. Tidak hanya komentar tentang Keyakizaka46 secara keseluruhan, namun juga komentar tentang beberapa member yang saat ini tengah menjadi pusat perhatian. Simak sedikit rangkuman dari komentar Tsuchida-san berikut ini!

Masyarakat menganggap Keyakizaka46 sebagai “idola yang tidak tersenyum”, tapi bagi Tsuchida-san mereka adalah gadis biasa yang selalu tersenyum setiap saat. Single debut yang sukses besar membawa mereka tampil di acara-acara besar. Keyakizaka46 yang sekarang terasa lebih kuat setelah melewati berbagai macam peristiwa. Dengan segala pengalaman yang telah dilalui, Keyakizaka46 mungkin akan menjadi grup yang semakin mengagumkan.

Member Keyakizaka46 pada awalnya sangatlah pendiam di acara reguler mereka, Keyakake. Namun setelah 2 tahun, Tsuchida-san merasakan bahwa mereka telah banyak berubah. Harapannya Keyakake bisa menjadi acara yang dapat mengeluarkan daya tarik member yang sesungguhnya.

Berbicara tentang member pendiam, ada satu sosok yang tidak bisa dilewatkan, yaitu Watanabe Rika (Berika). Bagi Tsuchida-san, sifat pendiam Berika tidak ada bandingannya di dunia ini. Namun, Tsuchida-san justru menganggap itu sebagai sebuah daya tarik tersendiri. Di antara member-member yang banyak berbicara, dirinya yang pendiam justru lebih mudah ditemukan.

Ketika berbicara tentang pekerjaannya sebagai pembawa acara Keyakake, Tsuchida-san berkomentar bahwa dirinya dan Sawabe-san bertugas untuk membuat orang biasa yang bukan penggemar menjadi tertarik terhadap Keyakizaka46. Meskipun tayang tengah malam, Tsuchida berharap Keyakake menjadi acara yang menarik untuk dilihat, sehingga pemirsa kemudian mulai menyukai mereka.

Di ulang tahun Keyakake yang kedua, Tsuchida-san ingin Keyakake bukan menjadi acara yang membuat pemirsa tertawa terbahak-bahak. Karena jadwal member sudah sangat padat, harapannya Keyakake dapat menjadi rumah bagi mereka, dia ingin member bersenang-senang saat syuting.

Komentar Tsuchida-san mengenai beberapa member yang tengah menjadi pusat perhatian!

1. Hirate Yurina “Profesionalitasnya tinggi saat berada di atas panggung, dia benar-benar memikirkan arti dari lirik lagunya. Saat ini dia berada di usia yang sensitif, ketika dia dewasa nanti mungkin ekspresinya saat bernyanyi juga akan mengalami perubahan. Kuharap orang-orang bisa melihat daya tarik seorang Hirate Yurina yang hanya bisa ditunjukkan saat ini.”

2. Nagahama Neru “Sampai beberapa saat lalu, dia masih menjalani kennin di Hiragana Keyakizaka46. Meskipun menjadi member yang paling sibuk, dia selalu berjuang dengan senyuman. Pada dasarnya dia anak yang rajin, dia anak yang pintar di bidang akademik. Kuharap orang-orang bisa melihat betapa luar biasanya dia.

3. Watanabe Risa "Setelah memotong pendek rambutnya, mungkin dia adalah member yang paling berubah menjadi cantik. Wajahnya kecil, gaya berpakaiannya juga bagus, apalagi dia terpilih sebagai model "non-no”. Sepertinya dia sangat populer di kalangan perempuan.“

4. Watanabe Rika "Anak dengan sifat yang lembut, mungkin tidak ada duanya di dunia hiburan ini. Dia tidak akan berbicara kalau tidak diajak bicara terlebih dahulu, dia punya daya tarik yang unik. Ada banyak perempuan yang membuat-buat sifat seperti itu, tapi perempuan yang sifat aslinya seperti dia jarang sekali ada. ”

5. Imaizumi Yui “Karena memiliki 4 orang kakak laki-laki, dia punya sifat manis khas anak bungsu. Setelah kembali dari hiatus, dia menjadi lebih dewasa. Dia juga punya kemampuan vokal yang bagus, mungkin ke depannya dia akan menunjukkan daya tarik yang berbeda.”

6. Kobayashi Yui “Meskipun salah satu member termuda, dia sama sekali tidak terlihat enerjik. Gap itu mungkin yang menjadi daya tariknya. Apalagi suaranya merdu, wajahnya juga kecil, aku ingin melihat dia sebagai aktris di masa mendatang.”

7. Sugai Yuuka “Punya etika yang baik dan selalu kalem. Dia dibesarkan dengan sangat baik. Meskipun sikapnya kikuk, dia adalah anak yang berusaha keras, membuatku jadi ingin mendukungnya. Aku bersyukur kapten Keyaki adalah Sugai.”