2018-12-26

Nagahama Neru blog: Yoshimotozaka46, Music Station costumes, Tamori as Kannon, Hotokes

"Saint's meal tea" colour,   322

Nagahama Neru
2018.12.27


Hello

Suddenly December is ending, eh.


Today, Yoshimotozaka46's debut single
Is being released!!
It brings tears to my eyes!!!

I want to go to their handshake event! I will go!

All of you, too, for sure




M-Station.
Thank you very much to those who watched

It was fun...


2018-12-18

Nagahama Neru blog: The year ending; photobook rankings; going from bar to bar

Dim blue,   321

Nagahama Neru
2018.12.12



Hello


The days rattle by
And suddenly it's mid-December.
A feeling of year's end ~



At Countdown Japan I really want to hear Okuda Tamio --
When I sent out that message
I got a surprising number of letters back from everyone.

My father likes him a lot.
We have often watched the DVD together
Of him singing and talking live at the Hiroshima City baseball stadium.



What an exciting year-end it is.



My photobook "Koko Kara"
Has gotten 2nd place among photobooks
In the Amazon annual book rankings.

And in the Amazon ranking awards
It got 2nd place in the entertainment section!


Kakizaki Memi: "I'll spend the winter doing as much burikko as I want"

Lots of good reaction to the new talkative Memi in last weekend's Hiragana Oshi. She and Manamo were "seeded" top burikkos and the other members took their turn trying to do burikko (pleadingly seductive) gestures, to hilarious effect.

While the others were trying their hand, Memi was next to Kasuga doing commentary. She said she was surprised how much potential Miho showed as a burikko. Lol. Me, too.

The line that got the most reaction -- almost to the point of becoming a meme -- was that this winter she would "do [burikko] as much as I want" (やり放題 yarihoudai). She thought that girls were cutest in winter, with mufflers and gloves, etc. All this she explained with a nice mix of cute, direct, and ironic.

"I'll do it as much as I want"


2018-12-17

Nogizaka's Akimoto Manatsu praises the Hiragana Keyaki Christmas lives


In her Monday blog, Akimoto Manatsu of Nogizaka46 says she and Shiraishi Mai went to one of Hiragana Keyaki's Christmas lives at Budoukan and had a wonderful time. Here is an excerpt from her blog:


Hello (。・ω・。)

It's gotten quite frigid.
Have you all caught colds yet?

As for me, hay fever aside, I'm in pretty good health (^^)



Recently, I went with Maiyan to watch
Hiragana Christmas 2018 ♪

We really enjoyed it!
We both got into very high spirits ♥

Our mood became "HAPPY"!


2018-12-16

2018-12-07

Takase Mana blog: Kakizaki Memi, on her 17th birthday

Memi's Birthday  

Takase Mana
2018.12.08


Hello, everyone (。・ω・。)ノ
It's Takase Mana


December 2nd was Kakizaki Memi's birthday!




"Happy Birthday" [in English]
Congratulations


As Memi's age builds up, she has become a very amusing girl, especially recently when she's saying nothing but "meow" and has become a burikko!!

When we first met at the audition, she was 14.
That girl is now 17. It seems to have happened so quickly.


2018-12-06

Nagahama Neru blog: Kobukuro, Takayama Kazumi, FNS, Neru's third anniversary in Keyaki

Astringent Brown,   320

Nagahama Neru
2018.12.06


Good evening

How have you been doing these days?
It's already December. Yay!


Mmm... Things that have happened recently....


Last week on M-Station
Kobukuro did a cover of
Silent Majority!
 
Just by chance, I was doing some work at Asahi TV that day
And was introduced to them.

Whew. It was quite moving.
Their voices and their insistent sound were fantastic.
Thank you very much!!


Takayama Kazumi-san's Trapezium
Is now on sale!!

Please be totally, totally, totally sure to read it.



I'd like to write a great deal here,
But my appreciation
Will be published in the issue of Da Vinci magazine
That comes out tomorrow.

I'm so sorry, but if you will...!




2018-12-02

Kakizaki Memi blog: Hoping to shine brightly now that she is 17. Lots of pics. Joyful Love video link.

17

Kakizaki Memi
2018.12.03



Hello,
It's Kakizaki Memi.

Yesterday, December 2nd, was my birthday!

I'm now 17...




The members all wished me Happy Birthday



2018-12-01

Kakizaki Memi turns 17. Happy Birthday, Memi-chan!

Kakizaki Memi turns 17 today, December 2 (it's already Sunday in Japan). What a year it has been for her:
  • Breaks her wrist and can't perform in the final tour live last December. Faces this with fortitude and quiet tears.
  • Triumphant Hiragana live performances at Budoukan. 
  • Duet with Mirei, doing Sanrinsha ni Noritai on the album. Memi can sing!
  • Hugely entertaining video extra with Hirate Yurina on the Ambivalent release.
  • Finally able to give convincing fake smiles on Hiragana Oshi and elsewhere (as idols must).
  • Complete and utter triumph as star of Magia Record stage play. What a voice!
  • New prominence on Joyful Love videos and in recent ad campaigns.
  • Good acting in Sakamichi stage play, Zambi.
She does her first gravure in a fashion magazine in the January bis:


An actress. As a comment on 5channel said: "Wow, wow, wow! What an expression! What a worldview!" People have used the age-estimating site How-Old.net to say she looks 6 or 13 in various photos. But that site says she looks 16-20 in the vast majority of her photos. It says she looks 20 in this image, and the next:


2018-11-28

Kakizaki Memi notes: praise from Habu, Kubo; more prominence in new Joyful Love video

Memi continues to be slow to update her blog. Having just finished concentrating on the Zambi drama, she is now likely concentrating on preparing for the Christmas Lives.

But others keep talking about Memi. Habu-chan wrote in her blog about the Nogi and Keyaki members who worked with her in the Zambi stage play. Her praise for Memi was about the highest she gave to any Keyaki-chan:




2018-11-20

Nagahama Neru blog: Actress Miyazaki Karen's birthday. Neru with military commanders.

Pale Grape-colour,   319

Nagahama Neru
2018.11.21


Good evening.

Today is Miyazaki Karen-san's birthday!!




25 years old. Congratulations!!!


Kakizaki Memi notes 2018.11.20 -- monthly greeting video, CM "making-of" video


Memi's greeting video for November:




She talks about Joyful Love, and how pretty the "gradation" of colours is. She asks that we watch the Mechakari TV commercial. There's speculation in Japanese comments that she's wearing the Joyful Love outfit under that coat, lol. Could this be the week the single is announced? Independently or as part of a Kanji single? Or a double-A side single? On Hirate's radio show Thursday? (Hopeful.)

And here's the CoCo Ichi curry house ad "making of" video:


2018-11-18

Takamoto Ayaka blog: Performing with Kanji Keyaki on Best Hits TV

Best Hits Song Festival

Takamoto Ayaka
2018.11.19


Hello,
It's Takamoto Ayaka

A few days ago I performed with Kanji Keyaki on Best Hits Song Festival
Four members of Hiragana Keyaki -- Sasaki Kumi, Higashimura Mei, Watanabe Miho and myself joined Kanji for the performance

Did you all see it??
At the handshake event a couple of days ago, I was happy to hear many people's opinions about it.

I haven't talked about my own opinions and feelings yet. I will talk about them now.

When I first heard about this, I was thrown into total confusion

I really love Kanji Keyaki.
Right from the beginning, I loved Kanji Keyaki.
And after joining Keyaki, I continued to love them, always beside them, watching their great efforts.
I always thought it wouldn't be easy for Hiragana to join them.
When I heard about this event, I thought of the Kanji-sans,
I thought of giving the fans unpleasant feelings,
I thought it sounded like a joke.

But it was true. It had already been decided.


Watanabe Miho blog: Performing with Kanji Keyaki, Matsumura Sayuri two-shot, Shida Manaka

Best Hits Song Festival

Watanabe Miho
2018.11.18


Hello, everyone!

I'm Watanabe Miho
Of Hiragana Keyakizaka46, 2nd generation,
18 years old, from Saitama!





Did you see yesterday's Best Hits Song Festival?

Sasaki Kumi-san, Takamoto Ayaka-san, Higashimura Mei-san, and Watanabe Miho -- the four of us -- were given the chance to perform.

We performed the Kanji-sans' Ambivalent with them!


Kakizaki Memi blog: Handshake event outfits. Mechakari. Handshake guest reports.

Stripes

Kakizaki Memi
2018.11.09


Good evening,
It's Kakizaki Memi.

Yesterday at Makuhari was the final individual handshake event for the 7th single!

My dress ↓♥ ♥



From Mechakari!!


2018-11-16

Nagahama Neru blog: Manaka. Yone-chan.

White Violet,   318

Nagahama Neru
2018/11.17


Good evening.

Yesterday was the Best Hits Song Festival
In Osaka, Yone-chan's home town!

In the Shinkansen on the way home,
I woke to find Yone asleep on my lap  bliss....
 



2018-11-13

Nagahama Neru blog: Bohemian Rhapsody, Kanzarashi, Mechakari

Deep navy blue,  317

Nagahama Neru
2018.11.14


Good evening.

I finally saw Bohemian Rhapsody!!
Even in scenes that weren't sad, my tears flowed.
That's how cool it was...


When I was four or five,
QUEEN was playing at our house a lot.
It's a faint memory, but I'm sure it's true.
Thinking of it now it seems mysterious.

What was going on...? Mother....



Look!!!
I'm in the Kanzarashi poster with everyone!! ( ˙༥˙ )




2018-11-10

Nagahama Neru blog post: A quiet restaurant in Nagasaki

Dewgrass Color,  316   

Nagahama Neru
2018.11.11


Good evening.

It's in a purely happy mood that I write this post.

Usually,
It takes me one or two days
Of adding and erasing to write a post.

But I don't want to forget this mood
So I'm just setting down my memories as they are.




There's a certain restaurant
That the technical people in the shooting team
Recommended.

So I went and ate dinner there.

It's a quiet place standing in a residential area,
A famous restaurant among the locals.


As I waited for the food,
No matter where my eyes fell was nice.

With what perfect timing
They brought the moist towel to wipe my hands! lol


2018-11-09

Nagahama Neru blog: Filming a TV drama in Nagasaki, tangerines and a new friend

Coral,  315

Nagahama Neru
2018.11.09


Good evening!


I've been dreaming a lot lately.

Frightening or happy,
All I remember is the aftertaste.


Why do I never remember what was in them? (´-`).。oO



The filming of Kanzarashi ni Koi Shite is finished.

Beginning with Kanjiya Shihori-san
Endou Ken'ichi-san
Izumi Chinu-san and
Miyazaki Karen-san

My fellow-actors, the location team --
Everyone was warm and kind and funny
And I passed happy days with them.



Also,
Today I met a cute kid!!



2018-11-05

Nagahama Neru blog: New TV ad, photobook sales

Toast brown,  308

Nagahama Neru
2018.11.05


Hello!

Every day, I read the blog
Of someone who travels around the word taking photos
(Pe-chan told me about it)

I read it when I'm going somewhere in a bus, etc.

When I happen to lift my eyes from the page,
It's like "Eh, where am I?"



That happens when I'm reading, too.
It feels as if I've entered another world.
The real world seems unreal.


There are so many places in the world that I want to go!


(:˒_ヽ)


The Nagatani-en X Keyakizaka46
"Let's get together over green-tea rice"
Campaign has started!!

We also appear in a TV commercial




Suzumoto Miyu blog: Imaizumi Yui's graduation

Overcast

Suzumoto Miyu
2018.11.05


Hello.

Thank you very much to everyone who made their way to the handshake event yesterday.


Yesterday Imaizumi gave her graduation address.

Standing behind her watching her speak brought it home to me again: she really is graduating.

Honestly, it made me feel so lonely and sad.

Looking at all the past photos and so on made me envy my past self.

I will support her activities from now on, from the shadows.

Always cheerful Imaizumi
Thank you for everything!


2018-10-31

2018-10-27

Iguchi Mao blog: Photos of Kakizaki Memi, "burikko"

"Snack Mao" night 2

Iguchi Mao
2018.10.27


-- "Burikko" is the highest compliment -- ["a girl who acts cute to attract guys," see note below]

The guest
On the second night of Snack Mao
Was Kakizaki Memi-chan

Thank you for coming to our shop




2018-10-25

Kosaka Nao: Hiragana Keyaki's new centre?


Translation of a Yahoo Japan "Real Music" column, posted this week.
___________________________________________________________________________



Hiragana Keyaki: will 2nd-generation member Kosaka Nao become centre? 

-- My feelings after seeing the TV ad featuring their new song Joyful Love.


Hiragana Keyaki’s new song, Joyful Love, is being used in the new Mechakari ad now on air. Mechakari is a fashion rental app that Keyakizaka46 were image characters for. Now it is Hiragana Keyaki in a “Mechakari x Hiragana Keyakizaka46” collaboration.

Hiragana 2nd-generation member Kosaka Nao 小坂菜緒 acts as the main figure in the ad. Fans are asking: “Is Kosaka finally centre?” Her overwhelming visuals have had people calling her the next centre right from her debut. So I thought I would look into Kosaka’s appeal.




2018-10-22

Nagahama Neru blog: A little boy, a metor shower, and how I curl my bangs

Tangerine-colour,  307

Nagahama Neru
2018.10.22


Good evening...

Walking to the station today,
A boy came running toward me (he was about 7)
And just before it seemed as if he would run into me,
In order to avoid that,
He hugged me!

I was like:
Hey, wai... what...?

"I'm really sorry!" he said
And rushed away.


He did a nice formal apology,
Taking his cap off.
Maybe he was on his way to play baseball...
It comforted me to think that, anyway.

But really, more than all that, he was so cute....
Big sister was surprised, lol.



On Message and at handshake,
I'm asked how I curl my bangs.




2018-10-21

Keyakizaka46 group photobook -- the new one and the one from 2015

A Keyakizaka46 photobook has been announced as their first, to come out in November. However, there was another little group photobook way back in 2015, produced just after the group was formed.

It was produced so early in the group's history that it contained pictures of Harada Mayu, the member whose affair with a former teacher got her kicked out of the group before they had really done anything. That is probably why you don't see much about that book any more. That and the fact it came out before Neru joined the group. And although it's called a "book," it may just have been a feature in a magazine.

Here's the possible cover of the new book, along with a page from the old one, which was entitled "Welcome to Keyakizaka46."


That's Hirate Yurina in the new pic, and Hirate Yurina second from right in the pic from three years ago. Much has happened in the years between....


2018-10-14

Nagahama Neru blog: Handshake photos, fall fashion, Memi, flowers

The colour of a withered field,  312

Nagahama Neru
2018.10.14


Hello.

It's terribly cold today
The air has chilled right off.
It's finally winter, eh.


Clothes this season
Are nothing but grey and brown and beige.
Just about all of them.







2018-10-13

Nagahama Neru blog: Clothes, books, Nijika, Oda Nana

Walnut Stain,  311

Nagahama Neru
2018.10.13


Hello!

How is everyone these days?
Is your health good?



Recently
I mentioned to Nijika-chan that
Even though I hadn't bought any fall clothes,
I didn't feel like going shopping...

She said that going shopping
Could brighten my mood!

So when work was over,
With heavy steps, I set forth to go shopping.


I almost always
Shop on the Internet.
It's been a long time since I was out shopping,
A long time since I was out in the crowd.

I was flustered and in a hurry
But somehow
...it was fun!

Just as Nijika-chan said!! (。・_・。)



I saw a great knit and boots
And for the first time ended up buying two different colours.

This is almost like an adult...!
I thought, with a bit of a self-satisfied look,
And somehow I felt like really going at it.


I'll economize on daily things.


2018-10-12

Nagahama Neru blog: September posts (1/3)

I was busy through September and wasn't able to keep up my translations of Neru's blog posts. She posted eight times over the period I was away. Here are summary versions of her posts, starting with the first three:
__________________________________________________________



Forget-me-Nots,  303
29August 2018

Neru says what a good time she had doing the commercial for the AGA hair-loss clinic. All the staff were very nice to her, and the kindergarten kids were wonderful. Here's the commercial:





And here's her photo from the shooting.


She says that the press conference for the commercial was the first such press conference she has attended alone, and it was nerve-wracking. But getting a message from soccer star Nagatomo Yuuto, of Inter Milan during it made her feel amazing.


Nagahama Neru blog: September posts (2/3)

Lapis Lazuli Blue,  306
2018.09.07


Neru announces that the episode of Neru NHK Online that was broadcast 14 August, but interrupted  in Kyushu and Okinawa by the typhoon, will be rebroadcast there in September. She thanks NHK for doing this, so her family can see it.


With Sugai Yuuka

Nagahama Neru blog: September posts (3/3)

Here are summaries of the third batch of posts I missed:
____________________________________________________

Forget-me-not Blue,  309
2018.09.24

Good evening.
Yone-san has announced her graduation.
Yone was the member who most expressed what was on her mind.

I had never met a person
Who was no nice and so broad-minded!
And so smart!!!

To be honest,
I came to rely on her so much that I can't imagine life in Keyaki without her.

I wonder if it's possible....

Yone! I'm so sad.

I will support you from now on with all my heart.
Thank you always.


Ooo...
In the time we have left, I will communicate my love for you more than I have.


2018-10-08

Kakizaki Memi blog: Magia Record stage play on DVD/Blu-Ray

MagiReco!

Kakizaki Memi
7 October 2018


Good evening.
It's Kakizaki Memi




This photo is definitely Iroha. lol

I'm sorry it got to be such a long time before I posted


2018-10-07

Kakizaki Memi blog: At Pokemon's house with Sunshine Ikezaki

[This post is over a month old. I haven't been able to do any translating for the past month. In fact, it's Memi's last post: through the Magia Record stage run and the other events of September, she didn't post much to Keyaki Message, and didn't post at all to her blog. This post is about her solo appearance on the kids' show Shall we get together at Pokemon's house. With the popularity of Pokemon, it is a popular weekend show. One of the hosts is the seiyuu/personality Nakagawa Shouko, and the other guest on this episode was popular comedian Sunshine Ikezaki.]

Shall we get together at Pokemon's house?

Kakizaki Memi
2018.09.02


Good evening,
It's Kakizaki Memi.

A few days ago, I went over to Pokemon's house to play!!



2018-08-27

Kakizaki Memi blog: Handshake event flowers (including Memi)...plus reports from handshake guests

The Flowers

Kakizaki Memi
2018.08.28


Good evening,
It's Kakizaki Memi



Kakizaki Memi blog: Handshake yukata; fireworks; Kage-chan's hiatus...plus photos/video re Magia Record play

Fireworks!

Kakizaki Memi
2018.08.27

Hello.
It's Kakizaki Memi.

Yesterday was the final handshake event for the first album, Hashiridasu Shunkan!

We're already reaching the end of summer,
So thinking that it might be the last chance, I wore a yukata in the 4th and 5th sessions.



2018-08-23

Nagahama Neru blog: Oda Nana; turning 20; promoting a writer

Pale Blue,  302

Nagahama Neru
2018.08.20


Hello!

The two Niigata performances are over!
Thank you very much to everyone who came by.



2018-08-21

Kakizaki Memi SHOWROOM video -- Magia Record starts Friday

Another wonderful Showroom from Memi, who seems to be more mature and capable every time I see her -- but still so natural and real.

She shepherded Techi through that "Selfie TV" feature from the new release, contributing a lot to Keyakizaka, I believe. They are friends, and perhaps that was the only way Techi would happily make such a feature. I don't want to overestimate the possibility of romance, but it sure was great to see Memi practicing her heavy-hitting embraces on Techi.

Now here's Memi, probably forced to do a SHOWROOM to advertise the upcoming Magia Record stage play. Memi seems to like to concentrate on her singing and dancing and acting. She blogs and messages more than Techi or Suzumoto, but not as much as most members.

Her last SHOWROOM was almost two months ago. For a fan such as me, every one is gold. I much prefer her quietness and calm to the more talkative and  "entertaining" SHOWROOMS others do.





2018-08-16

Nagahama Neru blog: Trio MV, Neru NHK TV show, Lawson's Keyaki campaign

Toffee-colored,  300

Nagahama Neru
2018.08.11


Hello!!

The tour is about to start!
I'm looking forward to the first day in Fukuoka



And just now
The Unrequited Love in the Music Room
MV was made public!

Following on from the last single,
This same three-person unit got a song.
I'm really happy. It's a great joy!!!


Relaxed and warm,
Time with them passed with an easy feeling. So nice!


I love this photo!




2018-08-08

Nagahama Neru blog: 73rd anniversary of the Nagasaki atomic bomb. Zumiko's graduation.

White,  299

Nagahama Neru
2018.08.09


Good morning.

Today, August 9th,
It is 73 years since an atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

As well as reverently praying for happiness in the next world
For those who made the sacrifice,
I offer sympathy to all those
Who are suffering even now.

I hope this will be a day when we feel at least a bit
That enjoying the life we are living
Is something we will naturally do.



(Taken on this year's visit to Sannou Shrine)


2018-08-07

Hiragana Keyaki stage play Magia Record cast photo -- Kakizaki Memi in the centre

The Magia Record Twitter account just started up with this photo:

front l-r: Ushio, Tomita, Kakizaki, Sasaki Mirei, Watanabe Miho
rear: Nibu, Kawata, Kanemura, Takase, Saitou Kyouko
To me, Memi looks pretty happy to be where she is, in the centre. But she's smiling her gentle but rather real smile quite a bit recently.



2018-08-06

Nagahama Neru blog: Rock in Japan, 20th birthday approaching; plus gravure photos

Pale blue,  298

Nagahama Neru
2018.08.04


Good evening.

Today, we appeared
At Rock in Japan 2018.

Truly, truly thank you very much
To everyone who came!

I hope you got through the day in good shape