Memi's graduation: Good news from Takase Mana

Memi fans' worries are much reduced today, after words from Takase Mana in her blog.

Manafi makes a point of saying Memi has spoken to her often, over a long period of time, about other things she wants to do, and about graduating in order to do them. She says that Memi will not have any regrets. 

Fans are making the implication that Memi has not suffered from any of the wilder things speculated, such as a serious illness, or being attacked by a stalker. 

We still don't know for sure why she is quitting now, as opposed to earlier or later. The change of the name and atmosphere of the group must be part of the immediate push. But the idea of graduating is not something new, and has a positive feeling behind it.

Here is the part of Manafi's 27 June blog that deals with Memi:


(...)


And the number of handshake lanes I've sold out has risen to 13!
It's still not enough
But I am truly filled with feelings of gratitude!!


In recent handshake events,
Even though there have been sad things, I have been optimistic, thinking a sad face would not do, and have faced you all with many smiles and had handshake events that were truly enjoyable, from the bottom of my heart.

A lot of things have happened in a short time
That have shaken you fans.
People have been coming to my lane crying.
It surprised Kono-chan, who was in my lane for the national handshake event. You never know how long we will be able to continue meeting, so it came strongly to me again what happiness, what a miracle it is that I can meet and talk with you all directly.

Through tears, you all told me your feelings, about me and about the group, and I came close to crying myself.
There was talk about Memi, but there were a lot of people who said how much they loved us as a combo. I thought about a lot of things, such as that if I had become more popular sooner, we could have done more together.
But I've been hearing from Memi for a long time about ways she would like to live in the future, and things she would like to try doing, and that she wanted to graduate to do them, so this is not something she will regret.

Takase Mana blog: Kakizaki Memi's graduation

Idols

Takase Mana
2019.06.22  21:55


Good evening, everyone (｡･ω･)ﾉﾞ
It's Takase Mana

Kakizaki Memi's graduation and Hamagishi Hiyori's hiatus have been announced.

Hiyo-tan
Hiyo-tan is really an honest kid, everyone's little sister, someone who sees everything around her and is kind to people.
With her continuing poor health, even when she was able to take part in activities, she sometimes had to rest. But she continued to do her very best.

Speaking personally, for Kyun she was in the position next to me and always made me laugh!
When she was not able to take part in lives or TV recording, I felt quite lonely.
With Hiyo-tan not there, we change our positioning a bit to fill the gap, and for bigger performances we make changes in our movements.
Hiyo-tan should not worry but just relax and rest, so that when she returns she will be able to perform and work even harder.
Hiyo-tan's place will be here for her whenever she returns. We'll wait for you!
Since you've decided on a hiatus, I want you to rest properly and become better, and return with your usual smiling face.

And then, Memi.

Ahh...honestly, I don't know what to write, or how.

Kakizaki Memi announces her graduation

Important announcement

Kakizaki Memi
2019.06.21  18:00h

This is Kakizaki Memi.

Today I have something to announce to everyone.

I apologize for the suddenness of this,
But with the activities for the 1st single
I will be graduating from Hinatazaka46.

Since around April I have been unable to get my mind and body in balance, and have been allowed many absences from work.

I am truly sorry for the great trouble and worry I have caused the fans who support me, the members of Hinatazaka46, and staff of various organizations.

In the time off I have received, I have thought a lot about things up to now and about the future.

With friends around me thinking about university and so on, I've been thinking about my own future,
And in thinking over my life, I have made the choice called "graduation".
I will take time from now on to think about what I will do after graduating.

I was in third-year middle school when I entered Hiragana Keyaki,
And now I'm suddenly in third-year high school.

It seems like the time has passed in a flash.
No matter what part I look at, it's packed with memories. It's like a dream.

There were fun things and bitter things. It was a tremendously important life experience.

Kakizaki Memi: Story from realsound.jp about her charm, and regretting her absence

Kakizaki Memi: Hinatazaka46's heroine? 

From being double centre with Nagahama Neru
to gaining the title of "First Burikko Queen"

Realsound 6 June 2019


Hinatazaka46 will release its second single, Doremisolasido, on July 17th. Amidst the excitement of the release of the title song, the one worry concerns Kakizaki Memi. Kakizaki was right in the middle of breaking out as a burikko character, but has now been missing for quite a while both from handshake events and from her place as a regular on the NHK ETV high-school course "Society and Information."

When Hinatazaka began, as Hiragana Keyakizaka46, she was double centre with Nagahama Neru, and has seemed like the group's heroine, so for her to be absent leaves a feeling something is missing. Here we will once again introduce Kakizaki's appeal.

Kakizaki is 17 years old and comes from Nagano. When Hiragana Keyaki was formed, she was the youngest member, at 14 years old. When she applied for the auditions, she was in first-year middle school. she had become enamored with Nogizaka46 videos she had seen on YouTube, and yearned to be like them.

Memi (r) comforting a nervous Neru backstage in 2016

Her catch-phrase when she joined was "Hiragana Keyaki's French doll." She liked cute things like lolita fashion and French dolls, and had a strong characterization as a little sister who liked to stick to members physically and not let go.

But on the Keyakizaka show Keyakitte, Kakenai? (TV Tokyo), Nagahama introduced her as "not a flatterer," and explained that she was someone who never lied, but just came straight out with what she felt. At that time, Moriya Akane was feared as "the sergeant," but Kakizaki said she'd like to take her on in arm-wrestling. She had a strong spirit of junior defeating senior.

Nagahama Neru blog: Summer; alone to Lauv's live in Osaka

Somen,   345

Nagahama Neru
2019.05.30


Good evening!


How are things going?
Now it's really gotten hot, eh.

I've finally
Made this year's air conditioning debut.
And somen debut, too!


Have you done other summery things?



A few days ago
I went alone to Osaka to see
Lauv's live!

I was unhappy that I would be working
On the days of the Tokyo and Nagoya performances.
This was the first time I'd gone on a long journey to see a live.

The live was so, so great
I was mesmerized and clapped and clapped.
I'm so glad I went to Osaka...!
I'm still immersed in the lingering memories.


Going by myself, I could only watch alone,
But the person beside me, a girl about my own age, spoke to me:
"Are you by yourself? I am, too!"

We spoke just a bit after that.
During the live she said to me:
"Look over here"....


I was surprised and pleased, quite in a flutter!

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. 

 

Nagahama Neru blog: Budoukan

Budoukan,   344

Nagahama Neru
2019.05.14


Good evening!

It's mid-May
And already totally warm.

May has a green image...

Days of the week have colours, too
And times and numbers also have colours.
I wonder if other people get the same feeling.


May 9-10-11
Were our Anniversary Lives at Budoukan.
They were over in a flash, but so much fun!

NIPPON