#yukirin

⌗ YUKIRIN, KASHIWAGI YUKI ICONS

⌗ AKB48

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5/2/26

NYLON x IDOLM@STER Magazine

Kashiwagi Yuki Interview Highlights

Q: Kashiwagi has an image of being 'an idol among idols', but what do you think makes an ultimate idol? Yukirin: I think the best idols are always cheerful and give you energy just by looking at them. I've always loved Matsuda Seiko. At lives, she sprints from one side of the stage to the other, and no matter how old she is, she always wears cute sparkly costumes. I also love former Momusu idol Ichikawa Rika. Both of them are energetic, cheerful, and work hard.

Q: Kashiwagi is also trying to become that kind of idol? Yukirin: That's right. I want to be happy all the time and be someone people can support. I was in AKB for a long time because I find the job of an idol really appealing.

Q: What's fun about being an idol? Yukirin: When I'm on stage and see the smiles of fans, who are shining brighter than me! Or at events when fans tell me 'I studied hard becuase there's a live show coming up', or 'I dressed up for today'. I think, 'I've recieved so much love, I want to give it back,' and that gets me through tough times.

Q: AKB's costumes are made to suit each member; what's special about Kashiwagi's costumes? Yukirin: Most of my costumes are high-waisted, to make my figure look beautiful. Also, AKB has a lot of costumes that are school uniform style, but the costume department deliberately made my skirt shorter and exposed my stomach, to make it more adult-like. I'm grateful for that.

Q: How do you decide your hair and makeup? Yukirin: There are no strict rules. We usually know out hair accessories in advance, so for example if I know I'll be wearing a hat, I'll search for hairstyles that look good with a hat. Even in my down time, I'll search for 'ribbon hair arrangement' and save pics as reference. I also match my makeup to my costume, and if I want to stand out in a large group, I'll wear glitter extensions.

Q: It must be difficult with a lot of members not to overlap. Yukirin: It's really difficult. During lives, the juniors get ready first, so I look at them and try to choose a style no one else is wearing. If we're getting ready together, I'll say out loud, 'Maybe I'll try a ponytail today~' I don't mind matching with others, but some girls don't like it. I also prefer not to match with members who are close to me in the choreography, or if we share lines, so I'll make arrangements with them beforehand.

Q: Is it important to think of the fans perspective when your producing yourself? Yukirin: 90% of the time I though about the fans perspective, their wants and likes. But if I only did that, I would lose myself, so I put in about 10% of my own preferences. For example, fans who come to our lives want to shout and get excited, but I want them to listen to my songs carefully, so I put in a couple of ballads, or even lesser known songs, to the setlist, because I want to really hear them in that moment.

Q: Is there anything you cherish as a fan? Yukirin: When I was an idol fan, I never interacted with my idols, but if I were an idol fan now, I'd be a completely positive wota who spoils them. I'd never criticise them. I'm grateful when fans give me their thoughts with good intentions. But for example, if I cut my hair, and I hear 'But you looked better before!', I just think 'Well what do you want me to do about that?' So I've started saying 'Well come see me when my hair grows out.' That's part of my 10% of myself. Since becoming an idol, it makes me 100 times happier to hear things like 'Your song was good,' or 'You're cute today.'