Beyond the eternity born from the overlapping seasons we spent together--- Now is the time to talk about Keyakizaka46’s future (B.L.T's editorial piece 27th January 2020)
It was out of the blue. An announcement of Oda Nana and Suzumoto Miyu’s graduation, Sato Shiori’s hiatus, and Hirate Yurina’s withdrawal from the group. When I saw the news on my smartphone screen, I was so shocked I’m at a loss of words. After pondering my thoughts, I thought that it’s best to respect the feelings of the four that have decided to take the next step and the feelings of Keyaki members who supported their backs. When you talk about these girls who always try to truthfully live momentarily in “the present”, could that be nothing short of arrogance to impose one’s desire and image of “Keyaki should be like this” and “I want Keyakizaka to be like this"? With that in mind, I would like to seriously discuss a group called Keyakizaka46 again.
First, about the three who branched out from Keyaki and have taken a new path. In particular, inexpressible surprise when I find out that Hirate Yurina -- that can be said without exaggeration was the poster girl of Keyakizaka46 -- will be leaving the group. Because based on her own words and the testimony of the members, as she tries to strike the limit of “What can I express with Keyakizaka and what can I express” , she has constantly challenge something that does not fit into the framework of conventional image of an Idol Group, because B.L.T have constantly been watching. Last summer, Kobayashi Yui who went out for a meal together with her, revealed in [blt graph vol.47] that Hirate had the idea of “She wants to implement elements of a sword fight in live performance”. Needless to say, her stoicism that focused on works and staging, as if devoting her life as a teenager, often surprised me. Her achievement of renewing “idol = iconic figure” in a short but not long time of 4,5 years will be passed on forever.
The shock received from seeing her saying “Don’t say NO” in front of Shibuya station at dusk with a piercing gaze as she raised her antithesis does not fade away even now. But I remember how in her debut year, from time to time she would show gap by charmingly act her age during interviews, that brought a smile to my face. We had all Keyakizaka46 members appear in the cover of the first issue after the 20th anniversary that was released at the end of September 2017. I can’t forget how a few days before the photoshoot, when I shared my impression of the blood drenched “Fukyouwaon” from the encore of the final performance in their first national tour, she shows a genuinely happy smile. After the 5th single “Kaze ni Fukaretemo”, through her works, live performances, radio, and also the interviews with members I learned about her attitude and behaviors, about how she sharpened her senses as an expressionist, and relieved to hear stories of her never changing innocence.
The “Shin (= True / New) Fukyouwaon” performed in the 73rd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, in which becomes Hirate Yurina’s last performance, she slowly raise from the intro before punching her fist forward. Falling down in C melody so hard that the sound is picked up by the microphone, and the power released by the cry like “Boku wa yada!” before the last chorus… Each scene was impressive. Especially right before the coda, one will surely never forget how she looks up at the sky with a fearless expression as if she lets out a loud laughter, singing “You better start by overthrowing me!”. To be able to do it on a “sunny stage” called Kouhaku, seen by people all over Japan, you just have to admit that she is an extraordinary performer. Without any exaggeration, she is the one and only.
And… In terms of Suzumoto Miyu’s graduation, who shared many formation and positioning next to Hirate if not in the same row, you can’t help but feel lonely. Her dance performance that have a different dynamic from Hirate’s blood curdling expression power is undoubtedly Keyakizaka46’s “flower”, to think that you won’t be able to see it anymore makes you feel sentimental. After all, there is this feeling that she communicates with Hirate without needing to say a word, and the strength of creating an image just by having the two line up together. In fact, in a 10.000 character interview in [blt graph vol. 34] in which Suzumoto decorates the solo cover (Which was her only solo cover in her time as a member of Keyakizaka46), she said she talked to Hirate about important matters, it’s clear that she at least have Suzumoto’s full trust. I’m sure there are many people who say, “If only one of them remained in the group…”. However, given that they were the two that shine best when they are lined up together, perhaps it is the best choice that they leave Keyakizaka at the same timing. Hopefully, Suzumoto would want to once again listen to the voice of her heart in the form of a long interview, but she more eloquently speak through her way of living rather than words, so whichever way she go I’m sure she will stick to her philosophy.
In addition to Suzumoto, her timing of graduation overlaps with Oda Nana who was the “mental stabilizer” for Keyakizaka members, there is a thinking that the group only have “the present” to move toward the next stage. As Suzumoto have previously said in an interview with B.L.T, “Each member in Keyaki(‘s 1st generation) is needed by someone else,'' the consciousness of “a group that shares the same destiny” has become a kind of double edged sword. The solidarity of the 21 members in reverse is fragile and unsteady (but at the same time, it’s also attractive), and the one member every member called “Oasis of Heart” and loved for was Oda. Just as how the members say “I never see Dani (= Oda) got angry before,'' her sereneness have soothed us during B.L.T interview from time to time…. And so, she was someone who gives other members reassurance, but now she must have fixed her gaze on her long journey as an individual. No one can deny it, including the love and kindness of members who accepted it.
The same is true for Sato Shiori, who has decided to take a hiatus to study art in which she majored in university. It feels lonely that we won’t see her graceful dance that she has learned from ballet as well as how she keeps laughing when she already caught in the joke for a while, but as long as the current members protected Keyakizaka -- the place where she belongs -- we must believe and wait for her as she returns with more expressiveness.
In other words, the four of them have “branched off” from the Keyaki tree. The members that have become the stem of the group sprouted a new hope for spring, and grown vibrant green leaves. Keyaki have yet to be decayed. Rather, the next drama begins in this harsh winter.
B.L.T who have seen their progress, and will unchangingly continue to do so, would like to dedicate this passage to Oda Nana, Sato Shiori, Suzumoto Miyu, Hirate Yurina, and Keyakizaka members who are proceeding on their respective path.
”A landscape different from yesterday,
To live is to change like this,
You are a season”
First, about the three who branched out from Keyaki and have taken a new path. In particular, inexpressible surprise when I find out that Hirate Yurina -- that can be said without exaggeration was the poster girl of Keyakizaka46 -- will be leaving the group. Because based on her own words and the testimony of the members, as she tries to strike the limit of “What can I express with Keyakizaka and what can I express” , she has constantly challenge something that does not fit into the framework of conventional image of an Idol Group, because B.L.T have constantly been watching. Last summer, Kobayashi Yui who went out for a meal together with her, revealed in [blt graph vol.47] that Hirate had the idea of “She wants to implement elements of a sword fight in live performance”. Needless to say, her stoicism that focused on works and staging, as if devoting her life as a teenager, often surprised me. Her achievement of renewing “idol = iconic figure” in a short but not long time of 4,5 years will be passed on forever.
The shock received from seeing her saying “Don’t say NO” in front of Shibuya station at dusk with a piercing gaze as she raised her antithesis does not fade away even now. But I remember how in her debut year, from time to time she would show gap by charmingly act her age during interviews, that brought a smile to my face. We had all Keyakizaka46 members appear in the cover of the first issue after the 20th anniversary that was released at the end of September 2017. I can’t forget how a few days before the photoshoot, when I shared my impression of the blood drenched “Fukyouwaon” from the encore of the final performance in their first national tour, she shows a genuinely happy smile. After the 5th single “Kaze ni Fukaretemo”, through her works, live performances, radio, and also the interviews with members I learned about her attitude and behaviors, about how she sharpened her senses as an expressionist, and relieved to hear stories of her never changing innocence.
The “Shin (= True / New) Fukyouwaon” performed in the 73rd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, in which becomes Hirate Yurina’s last performance, she slowly raise from the intro before punching her fist forward. Falling down in C melody so hard that the sound is picked up by the microphone, and the power released by the cry like “Boku wa yada!” before the last chorus… Each scene was impressive. Especially right before the coda, one will surely never forget how she looks up at the sky with a fearless expression as if she lets out a loud laughter, singing “You better start by overthrowing me!”. To be able to do it on a “sunny stage” called Kouhaku, seen by people all over Japan, you just have to admit that she is an extraordinary performer. Without any exaggeration, she is the one and only.
And… In terms of Suzumoto Miyu’s graduation, who shared many formation and positioning next to Hirate if not in the same row, you can’t help but feel lonely. Her dance performance that have a different dynamic from Hirate’s blood curdling expression power is undoubtedly Keyakizaka46’s “flower”, to think that you won’t be able to see it anymore makes you feel sentimental. After all, there is this feeling that she communicates with Hirate without needing to say a word, and the strength of creating an image just by having the two line up together. In fact, in a 10.000 character interview in [blt graph vol. 34] in which Suzumoto decorates the solo cover (Which was her only solo cover in her time as a member of Keyakizaka46), she said she talked to Hirate about important matters, it’s clear that she at least have Suzumoto’s full trust. I’m sure there are many people who say, “If only one of them remained in the group…”. However, given that they were the two that shine best when they are lined up together, perhaps it is the best choice that they leave Keyakizaka at the same timing. Hopefully, Suzumoto would want to once again listen to the voice of her heart in the form of a long interview, but she more eloquently speak through her way of living rather than words, so whichever way she go I’m sure she will stick to her philosophy.
In addition to Suzumoto, her timing of graduation overlaps with Oda Nana who was the “mental stabilizer” for Keyakizaka members, there is a thinking that the group only have “the present” to move toward the next stage. As Suzumoto have previously said in an interview with B.L.T, “Each member in Keyaki(‘s 1st generation) is needed by someone else,'' the consciousness of “a group that shares the same destiny” has become a kind of double edged sword. The solidarity of the 21 members in reverse is fragile and unsteady (but at the same time, it’s also attractive), and the one member every member called “Oasis of Heart” and loved for was Oda. Just as how the members say “I never see Dani (= Oda) got angry before,'' her sereneness have soothed us during B.L.T interview from time to time…. And so, she was someone who gives other members reassurance, but now she must have fixed her gaze on her long journey as an individual. No one can deny it, including the love and kindness of members who accepted it.
The same is true for Sato Shiori, who has decided to take a hiatus to study art in which she majored in university. It feels lonely that we won’t see her graceful dance that she has learned from ballet as well as how she keeps laughing when she already caught in the joke for a while, but as long as the current members protected Keyakizaka -- the place where she belongs -- we must believe and wait for her as she returns with more expressiveness.
In other words, the four of them have “branched off” from the Keyaki tree. The members that have become the stem of the group sprouted a new hope for spring, and grown vibrant green leaves. Keyaki have yet to be decayed. Rather, the next drama begins in this harsh winter.
B.L.T who have seen their progress, and will unchangingly continue to do so, would like to dedicate this passage to Oda Nana, Sato Shiori, Suzumoto Miyu, Hirate Yurina, and Keyakizaka members who are proceeding on their respective path.
”A landscape different from yesterday,
To live is to change like this,
You are a season”
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