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. 

 

Macho French Doll -- Kakizaki Memi interview from September 2017

I think this interview gives an insight into aspects of Kakizaki Memi that are not so obvious. She is not really the cute, shy little thing people have thought she is, but actually strong, direct and straightforward. The very feminine side of her personality, and her tendency to fawn dependently on her elders, have misled us. Her stoic reaction to her broken wrist may be closer to the real Memi. If she is a French doll, she is a macho French doll.

 

*                    *                    *

Mannish, strong-willed

Interviewer -- With your statement "I want to become a French doll" and so on, Kakizaki-san has a strongly feminine image. But from various things I've heard, I've come to think you may be someone with a lot of guts. And your manager has used the word ikemen [cool guy] about your character.

Kakizaki -- Hahaha. It's true that although I've talked about wanting to be a French doll ever since elementary school, I'm actually rather strong-willed.

-- So you normally played like a boy?

Kakizaki -- Yes, that's true. I was outside doing things like climbing trees (laughs).

-- So you were actually quite a little scamp, then! (laughs) Were those the things you liked doing, rather than playing house?

Kakizaki -- In pre-school, I played dolls with my elder sister. I liked doing both. But lately, I haven't played like that, have I. (laughs)

-- Certainly, for a high school girl to climb trees would be a bit extreme. (laughs) The thing that made me think you might be someone with inner strength was hearing that after a Hiragana Keyaki performance in Tokyo, you vehemently declared to members: "I want to work harder on our performance!" Could you speak a bit more about that?

Kakizaki -- I said something like that I was not just trying to look cuter, more than that I wanted to properly work on singing and dancing. At the time, I was probably a bit angry. (laughs) We talked about things, and the members had various opinions, and we were rather scattered. 

-- With what tone of voice did you say it? Were you crying?

Kakizaki -- I wonder if I was. I was sure there were other girls who felt the same, but none of them said anything. I really hated it, so I said it myself.

-- It seems you said what you really wanted to say. So your character is to be quite frank?

Kakizaki -- That's what people around me say.

Kakizaki Memi tells her hometown about Hiragana Keyaki's year of rapid progress

Kakizaki Memi: "Running the whole time" through a year of rapid progress

In the "Nagano Idol Vanguard" column in the Nagano edition of Asahi Shinbun last Saturday, Memi talks about the past year, saying she was "running the whole time" through a year in which the group made quick progress. She adds that she is now working on her singing, hoping to become good enough to get a solo song. To make the group better known, she wants to do a tour of smaller venues around the country, "like a samurai's journey of self-improvement." She didn't mention it, but no doubt she's thinking that Nagano would be one of the venues.

________________________________________________________

from Asahi Shinbun, Nagano edition, Saturday 17 March 2018:  

The popular idol group Hiragana Keyakizaka46, to which Kakizaki Memi of Nagano Prefecture belongs, is releasing its first solo album. The group has completed a national tour, which began last March, and is riding the wave of three successful performances at Nippon Budoukan in Tokyo (Jan 30 - Feb 1). We got core member Kakizaki-san's look back at this "year of rapid progress."

"All kinds of things happened during the year. And now it seems over in an instant.... I was running the whole time," says Kakizaki-san with a smile.

Kakizaki Memi: Long and revealing interview from Idol & Read magazine

 

Kakizaki Memi -- Hiragana Keyakizaka46

20,000 word interview from IDOL AND READ magazine #013, December 2017

With our increase in numbers, I want us to grow into a major group that is as well-known as Kanji Keyaki. 




Interviewer -- I’d like to start by hearing about the time before you entered Hiragana Keyaki. To begin with, please tell me about your family structure. You have an elder sister, don't you? 

Memi: Yes. My mother and father and a sister two years older. Four people.

-- And you come from Nagano prefecture.

Memi: I grew up in Nagano.

Hirate Yurina: long interview from December Rockin' On Japan magazine

from Rockin' in Japan magazine, December 2017:

Hirate Yurina of Keyakizaka46

A 120-minute interview talking about her encounter with Fukyouwaon, the first national tour, her feelings toward the other members, and the new single, Kaze ni Fukaretemo.

I guess this was a year in which I faced myself. And came to understand myself a bit

Interviewer -- It’s been a while.

Hirate: It has.

-- Our previous interview was in February. Since then, you have had your first outdoor live, you have produced numerous works, and above all you have had your first national tour. In asking you about these things one by one, I very much want to know what Hirate-san has been thinking over the almost eight months since our last interview, as you continue to stand there in the centre of Keyakizaka46. Now I hope to hear from you in detail about these things.

Hirate Yurina: handsome photos, meaningful interview

With the new single coming out next week, magazines are cranking out the Keyakizaka features. Playboy is featuring some amazing photos of Techi: handsome and cute at the same time.

And in the fashion mag ViVi is a fascinating interview in which Techi says that she makes her own decisions, and will not just follow orders. But she also says how much she loves Aki-P's lyrics, and is always amazed at how he seems to know her feelings. (click photos to enlarge)

Kakizaki Memi interview: "Yurina and I"

Yurina and I

A world of their own, where the two are neither "members" nor "classmates."

With her dainty frame and good looks, she seems like a doll. But Kakizaki Memi's appeal does not lie in that alone. In fact, she bears a strong will and is fighting to succeed as an idol. Doesn't it seem almost inevitable that she would become friends with that other straight-ahead girl? Is it Kakizaki Memi's reality that only Hirate Yurina is reflected in her eyes?

Hirate Yurina -- Long Interview from Rockin' On Japan Magazine

Hirate Yurina of Keyakizaka46 --
A Ten-Thousand Word Monologue

...all I can do now is now. Please watch the me of today. The 16-, 17-, 18-year-old me will not be able to express this 15-year-old me.


The editor of Rockin' On Japan magazine has a theory that all outstanding songs are inevitable. He believes that it was the particular nature of Keyakizaka46, and especially Hirate Yurina's "overwhelming presence and exceptional potential," that called Silent Majority into being.

He describes "her gaze, shining from deep behind her bangs, now more brilliant and fragile than ever." He wanted to find out what is reflected in that gaze: what her thoughts were about herself, and about performing.

The magazine asked Hirate to perform for them so they could take photos of her in action. She enthusiastically agreed. And when her performance was over, the interview began....

Hirate Yurina blog: New songs, radio, great interview (transcript)

Hello

Hirate Yurina
2017.03.24


Hello.

The music video for Fukyouwaon was made public already yesterday.

It's an extremely kakkoii song.

And the choreography involves really intense movements.



Today it was made public
That from April on I'll be doing the third week's show every month of GIRLS LOCKS on Tokyo-FM's SCHOOL OF LOCK.

Thank you very much.



I'm nervous about it, but I've just graduated from middle school and look forward to starting high school.

Everybody, please let's be friends ( .. )
I'll do my best,
So please treat me well!