Ship All The Way

Two more portraits have been added. Meanwhile, the hit anime returns in June.

Lanjutan dari： Bagian 1 Bagian 2

Tangisan dari Tangisan

- Apa yang berubah selama 1 tahun ini?

Asuka: Sejak menjadi center, usaha yang kulakukan menjelang pertunjukan, kemudian perasaanku pada Nogizaka telah berubah. Misalnya bagaimana sebaiknya keberadaanku bagi para member lain, aku jadi mengerti hal semacam itu… Idol itu bukankah selalu diperlakukan dengan baik? Karena orang sekitar selalu bersikap baik, aku selama 5 tahun, selalu meragukan kebaikan itu, aku hidup dengan tidak menerima (kebaikan itu). Tapi, musim panas tahun ini, aku sangat banyak dibantu oleh orang di sekitarku, akhirnya aku merasa telah mengerti cara untuk menerima dan tidak menolak kebaikan itu.

Hirate: Aku datang menonton hari terakhir tur musim panas di Meiji Jingu Stadiium. Ternyata Nogizaka-san begitu bersinar sehingga tidak bisa dibandingkan dengan kami… Centernya, sangat luar biasa.

Asuka: Tidak, tidak, tidak.

Hirate: Di saat terakhir, Asuka-san menyapa penonton dengan sedikit menangis, aku jadi terharu dan menangis.

Asuka: Fufufufu. Terima kasih.

- Berbicara mengenai persamaan kalian, yaitu “generasi pertama termuda”.

Hirate: Ahh!

Asuka: Ternyata begitu~.

- Hirate-san tiba-tiba saja menjadi center.

Asuka: Ahhh~ Kalau aku sudah pasti tidak bisa. Beban yang ada pada Hirate-chan sangat luar biasa… Kesanku padanya adalah dia gadis yang serius, jadi sepertinya dia memikul tanggung jawab yang terlalu besar.

Hirate: *dengan suara pelan* memang berat… *tertawa* Aku sangat tidak suka dimanja, tapi aku tidak pernah mengatakannya pada member. Terkadang aku memang menangis… hanya saja, saat tubuhku kurang sehat di handshake event beberapa waktu yang lalu, untuk pertama kalinya member berkata tidak apa-apa untuk menyerahkan segala sesuatunya pada mereka, aku sedikit merasa lega. Aku beristirahat sebentar, setelah itu aku bergabung dengan jalur Shida Manaka dan Moriya Akane, aku diapit oleh keduanya, mereka tidak hanya berusaha menyenangkan penggemar, tapi juga berusaha membuatku senang. Di single pertama, itu adalah pengalaman pertama bagi semuanya, jadi aku hanya ingin melakukan hal yang ada di depan mata dengan serius. Karena aku berada dalam situasi yang tidak mengandalkan siapapun… di single kedua aku kembali merasakan tekanan. Di single ketiga aku kembali merasakan hal yang sama, hingga sampai pada titik ini.

Kesiapan

- Di setiap pengumuman senbatsu, ekpresi takut kalian saat menyampaikan kesiapan terpancar dengan kuat.

Hirate: *tertawa*

Asuka: Aaah~ itu sudah jelas~. Aku pada waktu itu, tidak bisa dijadikan referensi.

Hirate: (Center) tidak ditentukan dengan voting seperti AKB-san,  bukan juga yang paling populer, atau yang terbaik di antara lainnya. Tanpa situasi semacam itu, aku dipilih menjadi center… Kadang ada juga momen dimana aku ingin berdiri di posisi center, karena adanya sedikit rasa percaya diri.

Asuka: Aku banyak berdiri di belakang orang lain, aku cukup lama menjadi under (member di luar senbatsu), dengan mengambil pelajaran dari masa-masa itu, aku bisa bertahan sampai sekarang. Hanya saja, jika dilihat dari dekat, dari cara-cara yang dilakukan Keyakizaka, ada 1 hal yang sangat kuharapkan. Yaitu dengan menonjolkan 1 orang, kemudian orang-orang yang melihatnya jadi merasa tertarik, setelah itu satu per satu member lainnya juga ikut dilirik. Hal itu dapat dianggap sebagai kesuksesan besar, ya?

- Baik di media, maupun di musik video (MV), Hirate-san yang pertama kali ditonjolkan, ya?

Hirate: Di MV “Futari Sasion”, member yang lain juga cukup banyak disorot, jadi mungkin itu sedikit melegakan. Di single pertama dan kedua, aku sangat banyak disorot… Tidak ada member yang pernah mengatakan secara langsung padaku, tapi sepertinya ada member yang mengatakan “aku tidak disorot…” pada member lainnya. Saat aku mendengar hal semacam itu, aku merasa itu ada benarnya. Karena itu, aku berusaha supaya tidak mengatakan masalahku pada orang lain.

Asuka: Rasanya, kamu kasihan sekali. Padahal kamu masih muda~ *mata berkaca-kaca* Pasti berat, ya~

- Asuka-san melakukan debut di umur 13 tahun, ya?

Hirate: Ehh, 13 tahun?!

Asuka: Hirate-chan waktu umur berapa?

Hirate: Umur 14 tahun.

Asuka: Pasti tidak terlalu banyak berubah *tertawa*

Hirate: Tapi, aku tiba-tiba sudah kelas 3 SMP.

Asuka: Aku juga tiba-tiba sudah kelas 2 SMP *tertawa*

Hirate: Aahh, begitu~ Fufufu *tertawa*

Asai Nanami (浅井七海) - May 20, 2000 (16)

Inagaki Kaori (稲垣香織) - October 31, 1997 (19)

Umemoto Izumi (梅本和泉) - October 16, 1998 (18) - different kanji than the former HKT48 member

Kurosu Haruka (黒須遥香) - February 28, 2001 (15)

Satō Minami (佐藤美波) - August 3, 2003 (13)

I’m starting a “Get to know Keyakizaka46 through songs” series. It starts with Hirate Yurina’s first solo. More to come.

here are the list of Nogizaka46 senbatsu announcement (1st to 14th single):

Interview from Natalie Push part 2 of 3

Now, I want to know why Sakurai-san and Wakatsuki-san call each other “aikata” (Note : aikata means partner, comrade, buddy, etc) and how can you two get along so well. First of all, do you remember when did you notice each other’s presence?

Sakurai & Wakatsuki :  boku ga kimi o hajimete ishiki shita no wa (Together,  they started to sing Nogizaka46’s Kimi no Na wa Kibou)

-……Well, starting from Sakurai-san (LOL)

Sakurai : During the audition, we didn’t make any conversation. After that, when I looked at her official picture in official site, I thought “What a cute girl”. Then, when all members were gathering, I found Wakatsuki. My intuition felt that “Ah, I definitely going to be good friend with this girl”

Wakatsuki : What, that’s the basic of it? (LOL)

Sakurai : For some reason, I was really sure. I thought that she was really cute

Wakatsuki : I also didn’t notice her during the audition. It was in alphabetical order. So “Sa” and “Wa” (She referred to her and Reika’s name. Sa from Sakurai and Wa from Wakatsuki ) didn’t get chance to see each other’s faces. After the audition over, we were featured in magazines. In the picture, among the front members there was only one girl that really smiled a lot (LOL). That was Sakurai. That’s how I begin to notice her. A while after the audition, when the members were gathered, Sakurai was there. When I saw her face in directly, she looked like a foreigner. At first, I thought she was an half. Moreover, she had weird fashion. She left deep impression to me, I thought “Uwaaa, this person is scary” (LOL). That time, we hadn’t talk to each other. In the next practice, when going back home, we were together in the same group.

Sakurai : When we went home after practicing that day, I talked to Wakatsuki

Wakatsuki : Did we?

Sakurai : Yep. I talked to you, but our conversation didn’t last long. After that event, we didn’t talk much.

Such 2 person who kept in distant, what timing did you two became close friends?

 Sakurai : Maybe during recording for Nogidoko (Nogizakatte, Doko?, a regular program that broadcasted in TV Tokyo) about the physical strength measurement.

Wakatsuki : Really? After that, why we became close, I really don’t remember

Sakurai : That day, after the recording ended I asked “Let’s take picture together?”. On our next encounter, we already became clingy to each other.

Wakatsuki : We look over all the photos in our cellphone , we were so sticky during the recording of Nogidoko. I even didn’t have memory storage left (LOL). A person like Reika, who could be this close to me like this, I didn’t have one in my hometown. I thought “It feels great that I can fool around in front of this person”  

Sakurai : Our places are in short distant, we also in the same age

Wakatsuki : And, both of us went to Girls School

Sakurai : That’s right. Because we went to school with Catholic system, we share many similar topics.

Why Wakatsuki can be playful in front of Sakurai-san. Is it Okay?

 Wakatsuki : Somehow, her character resemble to my older sister. She’s a type who behaves like a spoiled child toward other people. My personality is kinda manly, a person like her is what I like

Sakurai : That’s mean we’re opposite. But, we are comfortable when we together. I’m aware that I’m bothersome. But, such person like me, Wakatsuki can accept me completely. She told me “I like that thing about you”, we can talk about everything.

After Nogizaka46’s CD debut, for quite a time, Sakurai-san was senbatsu member and Wakatsuki-san was undergirls member. They worked separately. Then, last year’s summer, Wakatsuki-san was chosen as senbatsu member for the first time in their third single “Hashire! Bicycle”.

Wakatsuki : Entering senbatsu, one thing that made me surprised the most was Reika’s character which is often getting bullied. If I look at Reika, her singing is good, her dance is great, her face is beautiful. I woder why that impression had to break apart. In the beginning she was worried “I don’t have any character”. That was why, when I entered senbatsu, I was surprised when Ikoma and Ikuchan (Ikuta Erika) bullied her. But, when I look at such Reika, I feel kinda happy.

 Sakurai-san, you were troubled in the beginning…

Sakurai : I’m still worried about it, even now! I don’t have strong character, I think it’s a problem. Maybe I could talk to Wakatsuki back then. But, she wasn’t in senbatsu. I couldn’t consult it with anyone, I got such hard time (LOL).

 Where do you go hanging out usually?

Sakurai : Usually we often have meals together

Wakatsuki : That’s right. Rather that hanging out, we prefer to have conversation

Sakurai : But, Wakatsuki is the talkative one, I’m a devoted listener (LOL)

From Wakatsuki-san’s view, what kind of captain is Sakurai-san?

Wakatsuki : I think she’s a good captain

Sakurai : Is that it? I often told that I doesn’t look like a captain. But, when I think about me being the captain, I feel that I won’t give up this role to other member.

Wakatsuki : she’s good in balancing the relationship among members.

Sakurai : I assess myself too, but the value that I give isn’t great.  But, nope, I’ll go with my own way. Being worry is unavoidable.

 But, Sakurai-san comes to front, and with many thing to be tied-up. I think you do your role as captain pretty well.

Sakurai : To pull Nogizaka46 forward, there’s no need for such thing (LOL)

Wakatsuki : I see. Every single person is strong because they walk through different pathways.

Sakurai : when you strap members, you’ll make their good things vanish. That’s why, rather than direct/control members, in this group’s case, it’s better to let them. I think it’s good to be such captain.

Translated from : here

Keyakizaka46 - Aoi Harada - graduation Junior High 2016

~Admiration for the White Scarf~

Translated by @qc_bb

Interviewer: You are often called the “clingy younger sister” by other Keyakizaka46 members, but what kind of a student were you like in middle school?

Harada: I don’t know it’s fair for me to say this myself, but I mingled and had fun with my friends — I was a regular middle schooler. I was nobody’s “imouto” at school. But the way I say “Nee~ Listen listen listen to me~” hasn’t changed (laugh).

I: I can imagine the scene right now (chuckle). Were you involved in any clubs at school?

H: Yes. I was in the English Club. We performed musicals in English twice each year, during the new student welcome party and the Autumn Cultural Festival. But in our normal meetings, we didn’t really study any English…

I: Even though the club is called “English Club?”

H: I think a long time ago the club made members write English essays, but we couldn’t get anyone to join the club that way, so one day we switched to performing plays.

I: What kind of plays did you perform?

H: During my time in the club we did “The Sound of Music,” and “Annie.” And we also do a lot of pieces from Disney. I was active in the club for a while after I entered Keyakizaka46, but when the dance lessons started, I had to quit the club due to scheduling.

I: I see. Do you have fond memories of going home with your club mates after meetings?

H: I can’t talk much about it (laugh), but when McDonald’s had a campaign on fries or when Starbucks had a new menu item, I would take a detour there with my friends after meetings. We chatted and laughed a lot. Oh, but we only did it sometimes! When my mom called, we would end our hangout. I’d say, “Oh, we’re leaving the store now!” And then we’d continue talking for another five minutes, and then go home. Ah, also, when I’m by myself I would go to the bookstore and read magazines and books on candy, and when I find one that I like, I’d buy it… But I only buy one book every month, because I don’t want to use up my allowance…

I: You’re pretty careful with money, huh?

H: When I want to go shopping with my mom, she always tells me, “Stay home because you make me buy useless things.” I get the urge to buy this and that.. and I beg her to buy them (laugh)

I: Hmm, I can see why she wants you to stay home (laugh)

H: I am a bit of a bother, but my parents told me that I’ve made them proud. I wore a sailor uniform when we performed “Seifuku no Manequin” during the FNS Kayosai TV special. Since my middle school uses blazers as uniform, my mom has never seen me in a sailor outfit. She told me that she’s really happy to me wearing it. I never thought I would get to wear a sailor uniform. I hope she will be happy when she sees this photoshoot.

I: I bet she will be happy! Your family and friends are really important to you, right?

H: Yes they are. They treat me the same way as before I joined, and I am the same when I’m in front of my classmates. They still come to tease me and poke fun. We can talk about serious things too. I am very glad to have them.

I: Did your friends know that you auditioned for Keyakizaka?

H: Other than the friend who auditioned with me, I only told my best friend that I passed the second round of auditions. Now everyone at my school knows, of course. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell them…

I: It’s not something that you go around telling everyone. Anyway, back to your school life. You posted a difficult mathematics problem on your blog. What are some of your best subjects?

H: Well, I’m actually not good at math. I liked it much more when it was just basic arithmetic… Hmm, a subject I’m good at… I like social studies. But I don’t like studying for tests (laugh). Also, there’s those courses that you take just for the passing grade, the ones outside of major courses like home economics and health, when I study for those courses, I keep thinking that in the long run, they are useless, and then I get very sleepy, and now I’m studying for the final exam of my middle school (sighs). Oh, and I’m really bad at modern Japanese, but I like the teacher so I like taking the class very much. She doesn’t just teach us how to study for tests, but she also tells us trivia. I would like to be someone like that one day…

I: Wow, I can really feel your drive to learn. This next question might sound bad after you gave so many serious answers… What would be your ideal love confession be like? Could you take us through a Harada Aoi fantasy play?

H: Ehh?? Let’s see… Maybe I’ll be alone in an empty classroom after school, pretending that I’m waiting for a friend. And then a boy I like enters the classroom because he forgot something. And then, it becomes apparent that we are alone in the room. And we don’t say anything, but somehow, our feelings are mutual… Isn’t not saying anything the best?? Even when I use email or LINE, I don’t like to type the word “like.” I want to be a little indirect and lead on with cues. Whoa… this is really good! Really good!! (laugh)

I: That’s… bittersweet haha (laugh). But it sounds fun. A nice teenage romance.

H: I like to listen to my friends talk about their relationships. Actually, I like to listen to stories that make my heart race! Just recently, my friends and I were talking about how to get the boy she likes to meet her on Valentine’s Day, and I got so pumped by all the imagination that I prompted her, “Quickly! Send him a LINE!!” I can get really excited when I’m just supporting my friends’ relationships. Many people around me say I have an amiable personality (laugh).

Aoi Harada Info: Born May 7, 2000 in Tokyo. Taurus. Blood Type: AB.

Over the past week various outlets have posted articles regarding Keyakizaka and their “Nazi-esque” or “Nazi-themed” costumes, or even just “Nazi costumes”. What started fairly low key became overblown quickly as each subsequent article, lacking any form of real evidence, used the existence of other articles as evidence of outrage about the issue and trick readers into thinking there was an issue in the first place.

Best Times: Habu Mizuho’s BEST 3 “Life-Changing Anime” Interview (English Translation) 4/9/16

ーWell, before we go into talking about anime…. Just the other day you dyed your hair for the first time in your life. How do you like your newly brown hair?

Habu: I’m gradually getting used to it. Honestly, at first I was completely nervous…. But when I was in the process of dying my hair, I got really excited. Reaaaallly excited.

ーHow did the members react to it?

Habu: They all told me it was great! I was glad they liked it♡

ーWere you inspired by your Spring high school graduation?

Habu: Ufufu [giggling], yes that was it. My high school was pretty strict and didn’t allow us to dye our hair, but I had always wanted to try it. If I were able to change my hair color my cosplay range would really widen! I quite like brown haired characters so…. I want to challenge myself with a lot of things!

ーI see. Well, now I’ll be asking you to name your BEST 3 life changing anime…

Habu: Life changing… to that extent, it’s too early [her interest is too new] to say which anime I genuinely feel that way about… but Love Live was the anime that got me into watching anime. That’s where my hobby started: after being introduced to Love Live, I began to rent and watch all kinds of anime DVDs, so of course for me it’s the best. After that, I’m totally in love with Shingeki no Kyojin, so much that my father had started calling me Shingeki no Habu (laughs). There’s a lot of memorable characters that I care about in that anime, so I think it should be second place.… I like the character Armin Arlert! My 3rd place choice has already finished airing, but lately I’ve been totally addicted to Boku Dake ga Inai Machi! When I’m asked by fans at the handshake events which anime I recommend, I always answer with that one!

ーOoh, you answered all in one go eh (laughs)?  When did you first watch your first choice, Love Live?

Habu: I was in my third year of high school, so it’s only really recently. When I was a child I used to really be into collecting Cardcaptor Sakura and Sailor Moon goods, but I never really went crazy for anime. But after I watched Love Live, I just started being motivated to watch a lot of anime.

ーWhat do you think makes Love Live different from other anime?

Habu: I think it’s great because it’s about idols. Keyakiza46 is different in that it’s three dimensional, but even though Love Live is two dimensional, I’m still usually like, “so cuuute” “ahh I love this.”

ーDo you ever reference or take inspiration from Love Live episodes for your work as an idol in Keyakizaka46? Are there any places where it overlaps with reality…

Habu: I do, yeah… when everyone screams “Let’s do our best!” before our live shows, I think, “aah this is just like Love Live.” But on the reverse, the girls in Love Live do things like make all their costumes by hand. When I think about things like that, I think our current circumstances are really fortunate. I think it inspires me to want to try harder.

ーWhich character do you see yourself in?

Habu: Hmm… personally, I oshi (Minami) Kotori-chan, but… but the character I’m most like is… ah, but I want to be an idol like Kotori-chan!

ーWhat about Kotori-chan do you like most?

Habu: The thing I like most about her is her appearance but her personality is also really kind and she has a “my pace,” carefree attitude. Personally I don’t really like doing everything at once; I like taking my time to complete things. So with that sort of thing I’m trying to be more like Kotori-chan.

ーI see. Other than the anime you’ve already named, are there any other anime you’ve become interested in lately?

Habu: A fan told me “you should watch Osomatsu because it’s really funny!” so I started watching it and it was soo funny! I’ve only watched four episodes but… I’m excited to see what happens next!

ーIt seems like a lot of girls are addicted to Osomatsu.

Habu: Without realizing it, after one episode of Shingeki no Kyojin I was intrigued (laughs). I’m excited to see the release of my favorite dramas like Sailor Moon.

ーDo you remember what your first anime was?

Habu: When I was little I liked Ojamajo Doremi. But because I was in kindergarten, I can only remember the character Onpu-chan (laughs).

ーAbout your single Silent Majority, which song particularly has your interest?

Habu: Of course Silent Majority, right? But among the coupling songs, I personally recommend Kimi ga Inai. It’s such a good song! I just love everything about it: the dance, the lyrics, the melody. From the first listen I became unable to forget it. Because it’s a song that leaves such an impression, I really want people to listen to it. My favorite part is especially the hook!

ーWhat did you think of Silent Majority when you first heard it?

Habu: The other members and I thought, “This song gives me goosebumps.” I really like the types of songs that have cool melodies, so personally I thought “this is great.”

ーIt’s not really an idol-ish song though is it?

Habu: Yeah, but I thought it was great that the debut song is cool like that. Fufufu.

ーYou like cool-style songs?

Habu: Ah, but I usually only listen to anime songs (laughs) so I usually like cute style songs but…  I also like things like vocaloid style songs.

ーWell, next time I’ll ask you your top 3 vocaloid songs!

[English Translation: Nikkei Entertainment October Issue part ３] Habu Mizuho, Moriya Akane, Sugai Yuuka, Nagahama Neru: The goals and true feelings of the members with positions in the second row. 

Sugai Yuuka: Our debut single Silent Majority was the trigger that made all of our feelings become one. We all said “I want to make this song a great thing,” and together we formed a relationship where we could say the things we wanted to say.

Nagahama Neru: I’m a member of Hiragana Keyakizaka46, so I didn’t participate in the recording sessions or music video shoots for Silent Majority. Whenever I performed it with them I was the only one who had a different colored uniform. But at the recent Tokyo Idol Festival, for the first time, I was allowed to perform the song wearing the same green colored uniform as the other members. Honestly it happened too fast and I felt overwhelmed, but I was happy. I felt like I had finally adjusted to being one of the group.

Moriya Akane: At the FNS Uta no Natsu Matsuri, our song Silent Majority was voted number one by viewers and was chosen to be performed by the 48&46 Dream Team. It once again made me think about how awesome the song we’ve been given is. I’m so grateful to Silent Majority for giving people a chance to get to know us.

─In the music video to your second single, Sekai Ni ha Ai Shika Nai, you had to do a dance while using umbrellas…

Habu Mizuho: They told us we’d be shooting the video in Hokkaido during the summer so I thought, since it’s summer, it’s probably going to be warm. Surprisingly, it was really cold (laughs). We all only brought T-shirts with us, so at first everyone’s lips became purple!