Keyakizaka46, a year rushing forward at high speed -- "Rock is in their being"
interview with Keyakizaka46 management committee chairman Konno Yoshio, from Nikkei Style web
Keyakizaka46 is the second idol group in the Sakamichi Series, following Nogizaka46. Its debut single,
Silent Majority, had a strong message and conveyed the emotions of teens, and its support spread beyond idol fans. In its first week, the song sold over 260,000 copies, a rocket start that set a new record for debut sales by a female artist.
From that point, the group has continued to rise. Its second single,
Sekai ni wa Ai Shika Nai (released August 2016) set a mark of 320,000 for its first week. The third single,
Futari Saison (released November 2016) sold 440,000 in its first week. All three singles entered the Oricon weekly chart at #1.
Futari Saison became an extended hit, climbing over 500,000 in sales and gaining a double platinum award from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
 |
| Keyakizaka46 (first two rows, ~April 2017) |
Keyakizaka46 had taken only eight months to reach sales numbers that it took Nogizaka46 a year and five months to reach (with its sixth single,
Girls Rule). At the end of 2016, only nine months after their debut, Keyakizaka46 appeared on NHK's
Kouhaku Uta Gassen. And their fourth single,
Fukyouwaon (released April 2017) had sales of 630,000 in its first week. The Keyakizaka46 whirlwind is showing no signs of slowing down, and is having a big effect.
