Keyakizaka's best handshake artists

A recent thread on 2channel, the big Japanese discussion board, asked people to recommend members of Keyakizaka (both Kanji and Hiragana) for their reception of guests at handshake events.

Here are some of the responses:

Imaizumi Yui

-- Zuumin (Imaizumi Yui) and Sugai-sama

-- Ushio (Sarina), Katou Shiho

-- Harada Aoi. No half-measures.

-- NaakoNaako (Nagasawa Nanako)

-- Nagasawa, Katou

-- Kage-chan (Kageyama Yuuka)

-- Sasaki Kumi. She's a college student who can easily get into the swing of things.

-- Ozeki: figure, heartwarming, much better-looking in real life than in her selfies.



-- Yukkaa: Always courteous and conscientious. (Sugai Yuuka)

-- Berika: Superior reactions.

-- Zuumin: Love-love handshake.
-- Uemuu: Gives funny replies (Uemura)
-- Katoshi: Used to dealing with guys. (Katou Shiho)
-- Kyonko: Good service. (Saitou Kyouko)
-- Takamoto: A real flirt-artist.

-- For me, definitely Habu-chan, with her moe voice.

Nagasawa Nanako as a policewoman
who arrested guests at a handshake event

-- I've been to everyone in Kanji Keyaki and eight members of Hiragana (except for Ushio, Sasaki Kumi, Higashimura and Kakizaki)
-- Good treatment every time: Naako, Zumi, Muu (Uemura), Captain, Berika, Aoi, Katoshi, Kyonko, Takamoto.
-- Okay every time: Suzumoto, Nijika, Fuu-chan (Saitou Fuyuka), Habu-chan, Miiko (Koike), Yone, Mirei, Manafi (Takase Mana), Kage.
-- Better before: Techi, Neru, Akanen.
-- Comes in waves: Pon (Kobayashi), Shii-chan (Satou), Orika (Ozeki).
-- Pretty cool: Risa, Mona.
-- Burst onto the scene recently: Mao (Iguchi Mao)
-- Compared to Nogizaka, for which it is just work, treatment is pretty good from Keyakizaka.

These posts confirm what I've read elsewhere. A lot of guests are looking for a bit of simulated romance and flirtation. Imaizumi is a real artist at this, with long handshakes, blown kisses, bringing her face close to the guest, etc. Nanako is known for cosplay and weird humour, and for holding guys when the attendants ("peelers") are trying to peel them away.

The attendance figures also confirm who is the most popular: Imaizumi is tops. But members for whom handshake is not their forte, but who are overwhelmingly popular, also do well: Hirate, Neru. And Katou, Kyonko and Takamoto, all of whom gain praise for their handshake sessions, are the big sellers among the Hiraganas.

I'm happy for the girls to whom all this comes fairly naturally, either enjoying the performance and the relating, or even just being able to talk to guys easily and without much embarrassment. But it must be pretty difficult for shyer people to talk to hundreds of guys in an afternoon. Fortunately, most entertainers like to be admired, lol.