Interview: Saitou Kyouko and Kakizaki Memi (Hinatazaka46)

Interview from EX Taishuu magazine April 2019

Highlights:

• Kyouko was thrilled that Hiragana Keyaki got a new name. It will allow them to progress
• Memi was heartbroken to lose the name they had had for three years, even though she likes the new name. She doesn't sound that ambitious, just wants to perform happily
• seeing her burikko performances made Kyouko realize Memi had something special. She thinks Memi is the most idol-like member of the group
• Memi used to hate people calling her burikko, but finally accepted it
• Memi has no objection to performing in any row
• Kyouko works hard to be indispensable to everyone
• when Memi was made co-centre for Hiragana Keyaki's first song, she kept wondering why they chose her
• Memi loves Techi. She admires how Techi is straightforward with everyone and treats everyone the same, and wants to be like that herself
• Kyouko's ideal idol is Ooshima Yuuko. Memi's is Matsuura Aya
• Memi thinks rotating centres is better for an idol group; Kyouko isn't sure whether fixed or rotating is best
• in addition to its "happy aura," Kyouko wants Hinatazaka to bring a "mischievous feeling" to the Sakamichi Series. 

 

Kakizaki Memi doing more gravure

There has been very little gravure of Memi up to now. That seems to be changing, however, now that Hinatazaka has entered the big leagues with their first single. And now that Memi is within 7 months of being 18.

Bis magazine:

As Xiphyas says on Stage48, she looks like a baroque painting...one by François Boucher, it seems to me....

Kakizaki Memi: Fan reaction to the Snow Princess blog post

There has been a lot of fan reaction to Memi's big blog post of photos of her by her sister. Twitter and 5channel have been active. Here is a selection of posts, translated from Japanese -- as well as some examples of fan-made covers for a prospective photobook.

"Kakizaki Memi suits the snow, I think. Even in that white and shining silver word, her smile is blinding" -- Nananero [Twitter nananero_n46, who made the cover]

• the blog's destructive power is awesome. I'm shaken.
• the blog has become something amazing. Thank you, Oneesan [=elder sister]. Looking at this blog post will help me bear the wait for a photobook.
• good work. I like the variation in expressions. Memi kneading the snowball...oshi
• isn't this somewhat better quality than a magazine gravure?

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....

Nagahama Neru blog: Handshake event. The end of winter.

Candy art,  268

Nagahama Neru
2018.02.05


Good evening 


Yesterday was an individual handshake event.
Thank you so much to everyone who came by.

To be able to talk directly with you at a handshake event
Is something I'm truly grateful for.

I received many questions and requests
And I'll give answers in the blog and in Message 


Yesterday's look
Was a velours kilt-skirt with a blouse.

The sleeves are so cute.

Nagahama Neru blog: Handshake, New Year's TV, twintails

Tidying Up

Nagahama Neru
2018.01.19


Good evening

I watched the New Year's videos on
First Errand (Hajimete no Otsukai).

Lots of wonderful places and people appeared.
It reminded me of when I was little, on Gojima.

I really wanted to go back ( ´･_･` )

Everyone there is like a family.
I love, love, love that town.

Watching over those little "great adventures,"
The disguised cameramen were warm and kindly, too.

The music echoed in my tear ducts. Phew.


I also wanted to meet Sandwich Man again.

Nagahama Neru blog: Snow in Nagasaki for book-signing event

Solid Object,  261

Nagahama Neru
2018.01.12


Good evening


Yesterday in Nagasaki
I was able to have a book-signing for the photo album!


And amazingly, very unusual for Nagasaki, it snowed

Nagahama Neru blog: TV appearances, photo-book reprinted for a third time

Whole-grain flour,  258

Nagahama Neru
2017.12.28


Good evening

Thank you to everyone
Who watched Sanma's Palace yesterday!

As expected, I was seriously nervous...
But the personages who were on with me rescued me.
It was a warm and pleasant recording session. I enjoyed it.

Thank you so much for the precious opportunity!

(Oze-chan, who looks too much like her T-shirt)

Nagahama Neru blog: Photobook on sale today!

From here...  526

Nagahama Neru
2017.12.20


Good evening.

Today, the photo album went on sale.

From when the photography was done in July to today,
I've been excited the whole time.

Truly, truly
It is due to you that this day has become possible.



All of you, and all the people around me,
Have been warm and kind to me from their hearts....

It's a precious, precious volume.


The theme of the collection is "youth and eternity."

No matter what age people are, and no matter how much time has gone by,
I hope the book will make them think: "This is nice."
That's the kind of collection I have wanted to make.

I have packed it with feelings like this.

I hope you will go through it at leisure,
And look at it all, every bit of it.

Nagahama Neru blog: Nagasaki book-signing. New photo from the photobook.

Notebook,  252

Nagahama Neru
2017.12.15


Good evening!

Announcement:
There will be a book-signing in Nagasaki on January 10th!!

I am truly happy
That I will be able to talk directly to people in Nagasaki
And hand them a copy of the photo collection!!


It will be at Metro Books in Amu Plaza Nagasaki
on 10 January (Wednesday) starting at 6pm!

http://www.metrobooks.co.jp/mbs/event/metro3330.mtr

The link provides details.
I am really, really looking forward to it!


For those who will be coming to the book-signing on the 19th:
I signed those books yesterday!!

I put all my affection into every book!
May they get into everyone's hands safely...

Nagahama Neru Oricon interview: the photobook, her past, and leaving Hiragana

from Oricon News (9 December):

Nagahama Neru of Keyakizaka46: Her first swimsuit photos! Her thoughts and confessions about her special entry into the group and the end of her double duty with Hiragana Keyaki.
 

When the formation of Keyakizaka46 was announced, on August 21, 2015, the name of Nagahama Neru (19) was not among those who passed the final audition. On that same morning, her mother, who opposed her joining the group, withdrew her from the audition and took her back to her home in Nagasaki.

About three months later, the then-17-year-old entered the group as a special exception. Amazingly, two years after that she is the subject of a solo photo collection, shot in Nagasaki. The first edition of her photo collection, "From Here" (ここから Koko Kara, published 19 December by Kodansha), is the largest first printing ever of a photobook for a Sakamichi Series group (Nogizaka46 and Keyakizaka46) at 120,000 copies. 

With a nervous Neru, we looked back over the photos she had done so well in, back in her home town, and she told us her true feelings about entering the group as a special exception, and about ending her double duty with Hiragana Keyaki.

I couldn't imagine a photo book of just me alone.

Kakizaki Memi blog: Re:Mind drama, new official gravure

Re:Mind

Kakizaki Memi
2017.10.20

Good evening,
It's Kakizaki Memi.

Tonight at 1am. Finally
The first episode of Re:Mind will be broadcast on terrestrial TV!!

Nagahama Neru blog: 1st Photo Collection to be published in December

1st Photo Collection,   237

Nagahama Neru
2017.10.11

Hello.

This morning it was announced
That on December 19th Kodansha will publish
My first photo collection!

The shooting location was in my home towns
Of Nagasaki and the Goto Islands.

The official Twitter account has started, too:
@neru_nagasaki
I would be very happy if you made sure to follow it. ( ◜࿀◝ )

Plans are to post lots of
Various kinds of photos, videos and off-shots.
It would be my good fortune if you were to enjoy looking at them.


But having said that,
In my heart I am very, very nervous
To have people look at them. Quite unsettling.

Kakizaki Memi: A few more new gravure pics from Hustle Press

The Kakizaki/Koike U18 Dear book has sold out, so Hustle Press is printing these off-shots from Memi's photo-session.

Some copies of the book returned from convenience stores will go on sale on the Hustle Press site on 25 September at 6pm.

Meanwhile, more Memi...

Kakizaki Memi: New Hustle Press gravure

A small new gravure online from Hustle Press, along with a Koike/Kakizaki gravure book now on sale.

From the new gravure:

Kakizaki Memi blog: Magazine photos and big ears

Ears that stick out

Kakizaki Memi
2017.06.30


Good evening,
It's Kakizaki Memi.

I'm in the special issue of BOG magazine, "Fresh Big One Girls," that comes out today!

A red dress.
I've always wanted one
Wearing it made me happy～～‹‹\(´ω` )/›› ‹‹\( 　´)/›› ‹‹\( ´ω`)/››

Kakizaki Memi: Hustle Press May 5 gravure and interview

Here's a translation catching up with the interview in Kakizaki Memi's May 5 gravure for Hustle Press. Along with a few of the photos, and a link to the rest.

-- When you hear the word "sparkling," what comes to mind?

Memi: What came to mind right now was a mall decorated for a party. In elementary and middle school, my friends and I had Christmas and Hallowe'en parties, and I enjoyed doing decorations every year. We made paper loops and hung things on them. Though I wasn't very good at it. (laughs).

-- And in your 15 years of life, is there a time when you think you sparkled?

Memi: Is it okay if I mention something from very long ago? In a play in nursery school, I played a princess. That may have been the time I sparkled most (laughs). We were doing The Golden Goose.

Kakizaki Memi blog: Magazine shoot, hugging Kyonko

Kyonko (*ˊᵕˋ*)

Kakizaki Memi
2017.06.11


Good evening,
It's Kakizaki Memi.


Marquee magazine came out today!

Toshi-chan (Katou Shiho), Manafii (Takase Mana), Kyonko (Saitou Kyonko) and I are in it, you know ～o(^o^)o

Be sure to take a look  ♪

During this shoot, I came to love Kyonko more than ever!

Nagahama Neru blog: Souen photo-shoot, handshake power-up

Eyelashes,   201

Nagahama Neru
2017.05.29


Good evening!


Manaka and I are on the cover of the
Souen magazine that came out yesterday, the 27th.

I've always loved to read it.
For me, it's like a picture book packed with emotion.
To be published in a magazine I love so much
Is truly, truly an honour.

During the shoot, as I saw this world I admire spreading out before my eyes
I was in a state of constant excitement.

It made me want to study the world of clothing more!

Katou Shiho blog: Solo gravure offshots

blt graph ( ・ω・) 

Katou Shiho
2017.05.18

Good evening!
It's Katou Shiho of Hiragana Keyakizaka46!

I have a solo gravure in the blt graph magazine published today, May 17!

Because this was a solo gravure, I was being photographed by myself, and was very nervous. But I really enjoyed wearing the cute and sexy clothes they gave me to wear!

They asked me all kinds of questions in the interview. It strengthened my determination to work hard to give ideal answers!

Here are some offshots!