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 -- BOMB magazine interview and photos

The May issue of BOMB magazine has a photo feature on the front row of the Kyun senbatsu: Sasaki Mirei, Saitou Kyouko, Kosaka Nao, Katou Shiho, and Kakizaki Memi.

Many photos have been online for a few weeks now, but one of Memi, along with a Chinese translation of her interview, has just shown up on a Chinese site. Here's the fuzzy photo, along with my fuzzy English translation.

Memi says she liked performing as Hiragana Keyaki, but that in show business, you have to keep moving forward, and she realizes that the name-change was necessary. She also talks about Neru, about her parents, about acting and performing in lives, and about what she wants to learn more about.

Memi's hands are the most expressive part of this photo

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 x Saitou Kyouko SHOWROOM 5 Feb 2019 (English subbed)

I watched this broadcast live and found it so entertaining that I have made a subbed version so others can enjoy it. This is the smart, funny, natural Memi I am a fan of. And Kyouko is great in conversation. Over the hour it was on, the show worked its way up to over 50,000 viewers, delighting both Kyouko and Memi.

Be sure to watch Memi's face: it is often in motion, communicating even when she is not speaking.

I've been a fan of Memi and Kyouko right from the time of their auditions three years ago,. Here are notes about various things they mention:

01:54  “Cute lately” – Kyouko emphasizes that Memi has been “cute lately.” Perhaps she’s thinking of how upset she was around a year ago when Memi invaded her Showroom, romped around and tickled her – after Kyouko had told everyone not to come, that she wanted all the time with her fans. Then, Memi was being “not-cute” (i.e., not behaving nicely).

05:10 Hinanonano – They talk about Kamimura Hinano’s hand gesture for her name, and Memi shows how complex it really is. It’s so cute when their voices bounce back and forth in shrill surprise: Kyouko at the complexity, Memi that Kyouko didn't know.

07:10 how to grow taller – Kyouko explains what she did to try to get to 150cm (she's now 153cm - 5'-1/4"). Memi finds it all hilarious. Perhaps partly because she would like to be taller than her 157cm (5'-2").

Why did Kakizaki Memi cry when the Hiragana Keyaki to Hinatazaka name-change was announced?

On the Hiragana Keyaki SHOWROOM broadcast a couple of days ago, they announced that the group would put out its own single, would have a Debut Countdown Live concert, would have their own website and fanclub, etc. Kakizaki Memi seemed happy about all those things.

But the final surprise announcement -- unknown to the members -- was the name-change from Hiragana Keyakizaka46 to Hinatazaka46. When that announcement was made, the other members burst into cries of delight, but Memi looked desolate, almost in tears. Why?

Memi has answered that question in a couple of long Keyaki Message posts. She says that she was shocked by the announcement, and felt that all the work they had put into Hiragana might now count for nothing. She is very emotionally attached to Hiragana Keyakizaka46 -- even loves it -- and really didn't understand why a name-change was necessary.

But she says she likes the new name, which she agrees is perfect for the group's image, and will work hard to understand why the name-change had to happen.

Saitou Kyouko: Being an idol is my true vocation

Vocation

Saitou Kyouko
2019.01.29


Being an idol is absolutely a vocation for me.

It's an occupation in which I enjoy the main activities and spend each day happily.

I feel huge gratitude to the judges who passed me in the audition.

For whatever fraction of a long life, it's great that I have become an idol.

I want to be an idol from now on.

Ramen-lover Saitou Kyouko

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

Hiragana Keyaki at Keyaki Republic: Memi, Kumi, Toshi, Miho and NO WAR

Hiragana Keyaki only had 3-4 songs at each of the three Keyaki Republic lives. But they merited a story in Nikkan Sports entertainment news:

At their live, Hiragana Keyaki's Kakizaki Memi shouted out: "Let's make memories!"

The final performance of Keyaki Republic 2018 took place July 22nd, at the FujiQ Highlands Conifer Forest. In the middle of the program, Keyakizaka's junior group, Hiragana Keyaki, performed.

Hiragana went on stage for the tenth song, a joint version of Taiyou wa Miageru Hito wo Erabanai.

This was the first time Hiragana's 2nd generation had performed at Keyaki Republic, and it was the first time the groups had performed the song together. Just before the main hook, the two groups lined up together, members alternating, with the Keyakizaka46 captain, Sugai Yuuka (22), at the left end of the line, and the Hiragana captain, Sasaki Kumi (22), at the right end.

After that, the Hiragana members were alone on stage. Sasaki Kumi said: "Aren't outdoor lives great!" with a smile. Katou Shiho (20) and Watanabe Miho (18) told summer ghost stories, bringing laughter from the crowd.

After that, the group did Kitaishiteinai Jibun. Then the ten 1st-generation members did Dare Yori mo Takaku Tobe! Kakizaki Memi (16) shouted: "Come with Hiragana Keyaki and let's all make summer memories together!" Finally, they all performed NO WAR in the Future, and were bathed in huge cheers.

Saitou Kyouko blog: Pics with all the Hiragana 2gens

The 2nd-generation members

Saitou Kyouko
2017.11.21


I finally took pictures with all the 2nd-generation members \( ´ ꒳ ` )/♥


Even though I am an adult and their senior, and a proactive person, I'm the type who can't make approaches to younger people and juniors, so it ended up that I never got photos with all of them.

But now I was able to take photos with all of them!

Here are the photos \( ¨̮ )/

[Kyonko (r) with Kanemura Miku]

Kakizaki Memi blog: Saitou Kyouko!

Kyouko time

Kakizaki Memi
2017.09.17


Good evening,
It's Kakizaki Memi.

[Memi, Saitou Kyouko]

Kyon-chan (*´ ˘ `*)♥

Saitou Kyouko sings Keyakizaka songs unaccompanied (video)

There's a video on YouTube that collects seven minutes of Hiragana Keyaki's Saitou Kyouko singing parts of Keyakizaka songs on her Showroom broadcasts.

Some people were surprised at how good Kyouko's voice was in her solo on KeyaKake a couple of weeks ago. Anyone who has watched her Showrooms and heard her sing a capella (unaccompanied) was not surprised at all.



She sings parts of: Bokutachi wa Tsukiatteiru, Eccentric, Shibuyagawa, W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta, Aozora ga Chigau, Wareta Smartphone, Eien no Hakusen, Chinmoku Shita Koibito yo, Kataru nara Mirai wo..., Dare yori mo Takaku Tobe, Getsuyoubi no Asa Skirt wo Kirareta, Shoujo ni Modorenai, Fukyouwaon.

Kakizaki Memi blog post: Kyonko turns twenty! I want to become an adult, too. Or do I?

Twenty years old

Kakizaki Memi
2017.09.08


Good evening,
It's Kakizaki Memi.

Kyonko had her birthday on 9/5, and became 20 years old!

Congratulations ♥ \( ´ω` )/

20 years old! Twenty!! ✧*。


Kyouko's old enough to drink alcohol.

I've got five years more to go. (^_^;)

I want to become an adult as soon as possible...

Although that's what I feel, thinking about it I realize that the period before you're of age is an overwhelmingly short part of your life.

The part of life during which I have so little experience will be over in a flash.
So I have to treasure the present (’-’*)

Suzumoto Miyu blog: Nagoya, Aichi fruit, and powering up for the next stops on the tour

(^^) 

Suzumoto Miyu
2017.08.18


Hello ~

Thank you very much for the Nagoya performances yesterday and the day before!!

Suzumoto Miyu blog: Handshake event, Kyonko...plus Keyakitte faces

+

Suzumoto Miyu
2017.08.14


Hello.


Yesterday was the Nagoya handshake event!

Thank you very much for coming to see us in that extreme heat ^ ^


I was awfully happy to hear people's feelings about the tour and the festivals!!



The day after tomorrow we do a tour performance in Nagoya!

Look forward to it, eh.

[Saitou Kyouko, Miyu]

Kakizaki Memi blog: FujiQ open-air live

Fuji-Q!!

Kakizaki Memi
2017.07.22

Good evening,
It's Kakizaki Memi.

Tomorrow and the day after
Keyakizaka46's first open-air one-man live will take place
At Conifer Forest in Fuji-Q Highlands.


"Keyaki Republic 2017"

I'm looking forward to it so much, I wonder if I'll sleep ～(`･ω･´)

Memi and Saitou Kyouko

Saitou Kyouko blog post: the many loves of Saitou Kyouko

I'm Saitou Kyouko

Saitou Kyouko
2017.07.02


Today, I'm doing an "I'm Saitou Kyouko" attack, featuring the things I love! ( ¨̮ )

I'm Saitou Kyouko, who loves ramen.

I'm Saitou Kyouko, who loves abura soba.

I'm Saitou Kyouko, who loves soup.

I'm Saitou Kyouko, who loves to sing.

I'm Saitou Kyouko, who loves Winnie the Pooh.

Takase Mana blog: Memi and Kyonko

Depressed (´･ω･ `)

Takase Mana
2017.06.12


Hello, everyone (｡･ω･)ﾉﾞ

It's Takase Mana.

Recently, Memi has been sticking to Kyonko.

So cute, so charming (^^)

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: The Hiragana live was terrific

I like hot-pot

Nagahama Neru
2017.06.01


Good evening!

Zepp Namba was terrific

Even though there were lots of things to work on,
It was good that Hiragana Keyaki could do a one-man live.

Having the live viewings all around the country
Was really an unbelievable honour!
We felt tied to all of you who were far away.

Thank you very much
To all of you who came,
And to all of you who gave us your support!!!!

Anyway, it was fun ( *˙-˙* )

It has been a while since I posted this many pictures:

Kakizaki Memi, Neru

Saitou Kyouko blog: Kyonko's pet rabbit Rabiko

Rabiko

Saitou Kyouko
2017.03.07


Rabiko was born in the last part of February (exactly which day, I'm not sure T-T lol), and is now seven years old \( ´ ꒳ ` )/ ♥

At handshake events, people often ask me: "How's Rabiko?" ₍ ᐢ. ̫ .ᐢ ₎ lol

He's definitely well and happy, but I have never told you that in my blog!

The reason...?

Because I can't take photos of him…!!(꒪⌓︎꒪) lol

Rabiko hates being held and just runs away ヽ(*´з`*)ﾉ


For that reason, I often photograph him using continuous shooting ( ˙o​˙ )


Why are rabbits in the petting corner at zoos so well-behaved that they will sit on your lap? ( ˙-˙ )


Here are some photos of Rabiko that I worked hard to get \( ¨̮ )/ lol