HKT48 Sakamoto Erena’s encounter with “Kikuchi P” changed her destiny. Her talents bloomed when he endorsed the lyrics she wrote and sent to him “the earliest”
Interviewer: Satoshi Oda
【Interview part 1】 A "Dance Girl" when she was a kid, she was awed by Hamasaki Ayumi and dreamt of becoming a singer
HKT48, the idol group based in Fukuoka started their first-ever Stream-Only Live performance from their dance lesson room on July 5th. Maintaining adequate social distance to prevent the spread of COVID-19, they limited the performing members to just 10, and 3rd gen Sakamoto Erena, 2nd gen Tashima Meru, 3rd gen Tanaka Miku, as well as other regular Senbatsu members, took to the stage to deliver a compassionate message the people in the regions of Kumamoto and Kagoshima hit by the heavy rainfall and flood disaster. In this article, I will trace the footsteps of Sakamoto who is striving to realize her dream to become a singer while overcoming various obstacles.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, theater performances and handshake events have all been postponed. Unable to communicate directly with fans who support them, it is difficult to deliver messages of comfort to those hit by heavy rainfall and floods. That is why Sakamoto wants to put her soul into songs which she believes "delivers a message stronger than words" and cheer people up. She passed HKT48's 3rd gen audition in 2013, 7 years ago. Since then, she has paved the way to her very own idol career.
While Sakamoto, born in Fukuoka prefecture, was slightly shy as a child, she was also a very "active girl" who would play outside the whole time during recess time. It may have been a natural calling for an active girl like her to immerse herself in rock and hip hop dance classes for all 6 years when she was in grade school.
Invited by a friend, she went to watch an "HKT48" stage performance and was charmed by 1st gen Kumazawa Serina's sharp dance moves and decided to audition for the group, but when was the first time Sakamoto thought "I want to become a singer"? Going back, she says she had a role model when she was younger even before she started taking dance lessons.
"When I look at my nursery school and kindergarten album, I wrote 'To become a singer' as my future dream. I drew pictures of myself basking in the spotlight and singing, so I had wanted to sing in front of an audience ever since I was young. Thank to my mother's influence, I really liked Hamasaki Ayumi, and she was the starting point of my dream to become a singer"
However, she had never taken a singing lesson before joining HKT48, and when she first started her career as an idol, "Myself included, everyone around me did not see me as a singer". Coincidentally, something she was told during her Trainee days became her guiding compass.
"I was better at dancing then, and did not have confidence in singing. But during a sound recording, a staff praised me saying, 'You have a nice voice' and that made me really happy and made me think 'I'll put in effort in singing', 'This is what I should work on improving'. I'm really grateful for those words.
Her "Solo A Capella Video" Led To Her First Senbatsu, while Her Encounter With "Kikuchi P" Changed Her Destiny
After being promoted to a Team Member from Trainee in 2016, Sakamoto performed in the "6th AKB48 Kohaku Utagassen" held in December for the first time. She was chosen to represent HKT48 as a member of Team Vocal, along with Minegishi Minami & Oda Erina (AKB48), Yamauchi Suzuran & Furuhata Nao (SKE48), and Shiroma Miru (NMB48), the members from each of the 48G who are well known for their singing abilities, and together sang "Mata Anata No Koto wo Kangaeteta" a capella.
This prompted her to start recording her "Solo A Capella Video" which she posted on "Google+" for the first time in March 2017, which later became a video series. In the same year, she was chosen as senbatsu for the first time for HKT48's 10th Single "Kiss wa Matsu Shikanai Deshoka?", released in August of that year.
"I was thinking of ways to express my love for singing. While looking for a way, I saw videos of people singing in harmony, and went 'This is it!' When I started arranging a capella version of songs, I got really good reactions and it encouraged me to continue singing a capella and in harmony. I believe I was chosen as senbatsu for the first time thanks to my 'Solo A Capella Videos', so it was definitely a turning point in my idol career"
Sakamoto is a competitive person at heart, recalling how "When I lost at the trump game 7 rows, I would cry out of frustration." After becoming aware of her own strengths, devoted herself to the path set out in front of her. She was presented with another opportunity, again at the "AKB48 Kouhaku Utagassen." Kikuchi Shin (AKA "Kikuchi P", who has produced various music shows on Fuji TV), the Producer for the event suggested to her, "Why don't you write a song?"
"When I performed at the (7th) AKB48 Kouhaku in 2017, Mr. Kikuchi P praised my singing. I realized it was a great opportunity and spent 3 weeks thinking of a lyric, and while I wasn't sure if it was good enough... I sent it to him while questioning myself, and 1 week after that, he brought the music for the song all the way to the venue of our handshake event. He said, 'you're going to sing this at ZEPP TOKYO (for the music talk show Kikuchi Kara GIRLS' FACTORY NEXT) in summer 2018' and I froze, going 'Huh?' (lol). It all happened so quickly and I was really surprised"
She was never given a guarantee that it would become a song. Kikuchi Producer also talked to other members about it, but the one who "sent it to him the earliest" was Sakamoto, and that enthusiasm gave birth to her original song "Motto, Kitto".
"I'm glad I sent it early (lol). Kikuchi P has made a huge difference in my life. Thanks to his arrangement, I teamed up with idols from other group to form the idol unit 'Gachinko☆(Star)' and was able to gain a lot of experience in singing. My song has not been put on a CD yet, so I will do my best to publish it as a CD"
Sakamoto, who snatched this chance with her own hands and cleared a path to a new stage in her career, would experience a tumultuous time ahead.
(Continued in Part 2)
□Sakamoto Erena was born on September 12, 2000, in Fukuoka prefecture. In 2013, she entered HKT48 as a 3rd gen trainee and was promoted to Team TII in March 2016. Apart from the dance skills she learned in grade school, she also immerses the audience into her world with her gentle singing voice and is one of the aspiring Divas in AKB48 Group. During her "Stay Home" time, she worked out using the popular fitness program "Billy's Boot Camp". Her favorite phrase is "Everybody Is Unique and Special in Their Own Way"
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Furuhata Nao Article from Sports Nippon Translation
SKE Furuhata Nao, A bold transformation from her pure image! An adage from the new Center who shines on the festival of stars (Tanabata)
[ 7th July 2019 10:30 ]
She dyed her hair blonde and boldly changed her looks. Furuhata Nao writes her wish on a paper hung on a bamboo tree for Tanabata
【Sunday AKB】SKE48's Furuhata Nao(Nao、22) is shining like the stars on the Festival of Stars (Tanabata). Since autumn last year, she has boldly transformed from her pure image with black hair to a unique one with blonde hair and ear piercings. She had success with her solo live last month, and has climbed up to her long-wished position of center in the new song "FRUSTRATION" (July 24 release). She is characterized by positive thinking. She is being touted as the new "Star" of SKE48.
Interviewer: July 7th is Tanabata. What wish did you write on your paper?
Nao: I wrote "I hope I won't have to think too deeply about life"
I: What did you mean by that?
N: If we think deeply about life, there will be no end. I want to live a happy life, so I want to always make sure I'm not putting myself on edge
I: You are really positive. Speaking of wishes, you finally became center 8 years after debut.
N: It was a promise I made with my genmate Suga Nanako(grad 2014) We promised to each other, "Lets become Double Center someday"
I: Did you contact Suga-san?
N: I messaged her on LINE saying "It's thanks to my promise with Nanako that I was able to make it this far" and she replied "I couldnt realize that dream, so I really respect Nao for being able to do it ur own"
I: That's touching.
N: She's a normal working woman now so she said "I can make time on Friday nights. Lets go and have dinner together". "Friday night" felt really typical of a working woman.
I: How would you assess SKE's current situation?
N: I'm getting the vibe that members and the staff are itching to try new things. It's a really good vibe that is spreading through the group
I: There's a lot of expectation for the new song as well.
N: The song has energetic reggae elements, so it would be perfect for outdoor live events too"
I: I heard that even the intro is really provocative?
N: 2 guys are rapping in the intro, so fans won't have time to do the normal fan chants. That's new. We will come up with a way for fans to cheer for us, brainstorming with both members and fans.
I: I heard the choreography is really aggressive as well?
N: It's really sexy. It'd make you think "Am I supposed to watch this!?" Check out the bounce dance (in which they move their hands and legs up and down while bouncing) and the lion dance-like choreo where we stoop down and move our heads from side to side.
I: Regarding your own personal challenge, you had success with your solo live last month. What did you learn?
N: I learnt about money management. I had to check our finances each time I wanted to incorporate something, and I consulted people around me. It made me even more thankful about being able to hold a live event.
I: Did you come up with the title of the live?
N: Yes, "Sharing time with a Twenty Two year old who failed trying to pierce her ear, just before summer". Personally, I really liked the "just before summer" but nobody really noticed it
I: Yes, the part about the "pierce" leaves a stronger impression. How many ear piercings have you got?
N: Recently I got 3 new ones, so I now have 9 in total.
I: Apparently people who like to do piercings are mentally prone to "break the status quo" and "to breathe new life into old traditions". Do you have that kind of mentality?
N: I don't think of it that deeply (lol) I just felt like wearing cute earrings and decided to do a piercing September last year
I: As with your ear piercings, you have dyed your hair blonde and totally changed your image. People close to you have noted that you've also become more cheerful following the change of image.
N: In the past, I used to think "What would I do if they don't like this?" but I've learnt to talk to people without thinking too much about it. As for hair color, I've tried blonde, blue, pink, purple, orange, brown, raven black, a total of 7, so I can't wait to try a new color.
I: What kind of color would you like to portray as Center?
N: In a good way, I have no stereotype of "A Center must be like this". So I want to enjoy it freely.
Furuhata Nao is on a BS TV show which has been airing from April, in which she visits drinking spots. In her adventures with all kinds of alcohol, the one which hit her spot is Aomori's local sake, "Denshu (田酒)". Nao "I usually don't like the taste of sake, but I couldn't stop drinking Denshu. I was impressed with how different it tasted". She says she doesn't have a lot of chances to go drinking during her private time, but she believes knowing more alcohol will give her an extra topic to talk about, so she said with a smile "I'll try to do a little better"
As announced a few weeks ago, Matsui Rena will reply to postcards from fans!!
So I am putting up an offer to write (and translate if necessary) on your behalf and send it out for a small fee of USD2. (Limit: 9 nos, first come first served basis, dateline: 30 August 2017)
Prerequisites
1. Rena Matsui Official Fanclub number - will require your 会員番号 or Grick ID
2. Forwarding service in Japan (tenso, goyokikiya) - will require this address
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2017.03.01 20:30 (*´▽`*Hyuuhyuu Blog☆) Deden! I will paint your heart in Rena’s color ＼＼＼(´ ◇ `)//／／ I’m Isshiki Rena aka Renahyuu (Hyuuhyuu) Today I had a recording for “1+1 is not 2!” The strong battler I faced this time was!! Furuhata Nao-san(o^^o) (Hyuuhyuu) Just being in the same room with her Purified my heart! Lol It’s relaxing to be together with Nao-san! We got to talk a lot and even after the recording She talked to me a lot And it made me happy! It will be on air On Matsui Jurina-san’s birthday!!!!! 8th of March (Wednesday) 21:30~21:40! Please do listen to it! (Hyuuhyuu) Thank you for reading my blog today!!
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I was in the same lane as
Matsumoto Chikako-chan and...
A lot of fans came and told me
"That Chikako looks up to Nao-chan"
I realise how much Chika-chan
Must have spoken up,
And written about it
That so many fans know about it...
I'm really happy that I got to know of it,
And it urges me on to do even better and become even lovelier
So that Chika-chan wouldn't feel
Embarassed to say that she looks up to me.
Thank you, Chika-chan☺💓
...As well as being encouraged,
I also got embarassed, yes. (lol)
I love people but
I'm bad at communicating
And can't keep a conversation going...
I understand that it's difficult
For juniors to talk to me (lol)
But I'm doing my best to solve that at my own pace,
Although I'm really slow,
So please look after me😌
Thank you everyone for coming
And making it a lovely moment.
Fans of
Risako-san,
Chikako-chan,
Kataoka-chan,
Nojima-chan,
And Yuuna
Thank you for shaking hands
With me too.
I hope I'll see you again☆ミ
Thank you for reading my ameblog,
Giving me a thumbs up,
And writing me comments.
I will write about the 2nd day
Of AKB48 Request Hour!
The songs I performed are
No.45 Kaisoku to Doutaishiryoku
No.11 Boku wa shitteiru
Thank you😭
Kaisoku to doutaishiryoku is one of the songs I like
And I'm glad that I got to perform it again.
During the MV shooting for this song,
I wasn't as good friends with members as I am now
And I met most of them for the first time
So I was really nervous... (lol)
That's how it was but now
I know everyone
And I can chat with them casually
I'm really happy about that😌
And my position is
At the far side of the last row
At that time I wasn't particular about my position
And was really happy that I even got to perform...
A few years ago I got that position
And now I get to sing a song in AKB48's album
Which will go on sale soon...
I believe I've matured,
And I'm really glad I
Can feel that through the songs I get.
So, no matter what position I am in,
As long as I have a place to call mine,
I'm able to leave my mark
And be proud of it.
Grateful!
Not just this song, but SKE48 songs as well!
When I sing Kaisoku to doutaishiryoku
"Waiting room" comes back to mind
I really like this song too🙈
I've written about this on Ameblog a few times I think!
Yes, I'm just reporting that I like it (lol)
"Boku wa shitteiru"
This song which also ranked in last year,
During that time I had a musical stage
And couldn't perform it so
I'm glad I got to sing it
During this year's Request Hour✨
Thank you very very much to
Everyone for voting
Songs which ranked in
And songs which didn't rank in as well.
Thank you to everyone
Who came to watch
And everyone who cheered on us.
It was a fun Request Hour
This year too☆ミ
Thank you for reading my ameblog,
Giving me a thumbs up,
And writing me comments.
The photoshoot was together with
Suda Akari-san
And Kitagawa Ryouha-chan
It's the first time the 3 of us
Have had a photoshoot together
But although we are in different teams
We have spent time together as senbatsu members
So we felt at ease with each other☺
The outfits were all very mature
And I'm nervous to see if
I looked good in it.
It will go on sale on February 9th.
Please check it out.
After that, during Team K2's 0start stage,
We had Matsumura Kaori-san's seitansai.
She's really really loved by everyone
Kaori-san's personality attracts people around her...
She's truly a lovely and amazing person
I wish Kaori-san a lovely year ahead☆ミ
I like her a lot😌
Let's do our best today too☆ミ
Thank you for reading my ameblog,
Giving me a thumbs up,
And writing me comments.
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I wore a black kimono
Featuring large cranes
It's really pretty and I love it.
It's the year of the rooster
So I picked a kimono which
Symbolized taking off in flight🐔
I never imagined that I would
Be at the AKB Coming of Age Ceremony
Which I used to watch on TV...
I became 20yo in the blink of an eye too
When I realize that this special
Once in a lifetime day has already ended,
I feel slightly sad.
It was a significant day for me today,
But I believe my fans think of it
Even more preciously than I do...
There were fans who came and waited
At Kanda Shrine for a long time,
And fans who came really early in the morning,
And fans who couldn't come but wished
They could celebrate it together there
And fans who congratulated me
A lot of love was put into this day
And I feel really happy😌
Thank you so much
For waiting for me in the cold.
The deeper your love is for me,
The more you show your love for me,
The happier I am, so I will be waiting for
Your appeal to the 20yo me as well!
Fufu☺💓
To be celebrated so much on the coming of age day,
Refreshes and clears my heart
That's how blessed I feel.
It's a very special 20yo coming of age♪
Please warm your body up
So that you don't get sick.
Please take care of
Furuhata Nao from now on as well.
I wrote my wish like this
On the prayer tablet
"To cherish
Myself
And those close to me"
I can't summarize all the reasons now but
I believe this is the perfect wish at the moment😌
I'm already 20yo
I will become a lovely woman☆ミ
Thank you for reading my ameblog,
Giving me a thumbs up,
And writing me comments.
