Before she entered Sakurazaka46, Takemoto-san was a 2nd year high school student who enrolled in a preparatory school and studied hard for her university exams.
”I stayed in school after-class to study. But at the time, I was mostly following what my parents said and aiming for university. Many students around me have already decided which university they want to go to from the 1st year. But I was studying without having a clear dream or goal, and that really made me feel frantic. Every day I would pore over the thick book of the list of universities to find out which to apply to. As I continue to unable to decide, I thought “This is the only thing that I like right now” and applied for Sakurazaka46 (Then Keyakizaka46) audition, that I was a big fan of”.
Just about the same time as she passed the audition, she also decided to go to university.
”My parents have been supporting me greatly in my studies such as sending me to cram school since elementary school and taking the middle school entrance exam. I wanted to take the university entrance exam as a way to give back to my parents. I also didn’t want to stop studying, which I have worked hard on until then. I knew it would be difficult to take the exam and enroll in one while also working as an idol, but I was determined to take it”.
A major factor in deciding the university of choice was meeting someone who graduated from Aoyama Gakuin.
“A close relative supported me when I passed the audition and moved to Tokyo. They were a graduate of Aoyama Gakuin, and someone very respectable. When I consulted them about my struggles in deciding which university to apply to, they told me of the appeal of Aoyama Gakuin. With the thought of “Maybe I can be someone like them if I go their almamater!”, I started to become interested in Aoyama Gakuin. I read a lot of university information and attended countless open campus events, but I never once considered attending Aoyama Gakuin. While Aoyama Gakuin is a famous school that I heard a lot about, I thought that they didn’t have a department that I wanted to attend. But through that relative, I was able to meet Aoyama Gakuin graduates on several occasions, and it changed my feelings greatly. I felt that everyone is serious about certain things and doesn’t compromise. And more than anything, I feel their deep compassions, and so I thought ‘the ideal adult I want to become = Aoyama Gakuin student’. Regarding the department, I learned that a new department was established a year before I took the exam, and that was the Department of Community Studies. This is a department that thinks about regional revitalization and local initiatives. As the only Sakurazaka46 member from Shiga prefecture, one of my dreams was “to do something that can contribute to my beloved hometown of Shiga”, and I also thought that attending this department might lead to future work opportunities. My mind was made up instantly that this is the department for me, and prepared for my application through self-recommendation”
That was toward the end of summer of her high school senior year.
”For the department's that I applied through self-recommendation, the process involved a 2000 word essay in the first round. If I pass it, then I will have to write another essay and go through an interview. The deadline for the first round was really tight. For the essay, I relied on my high school Japanese language teacher from my hometown. I e-mailed them the essay that I wrote, had them proofread it, then I wrote it again; it was a repeat of this process. For the interview I prepared a notebook, and wrote all the questions and answers that I could think of. To come up with questions, I thoroughly read the university brochure and other materials about the department I wanted to apply to, thought about what I would be studying there, and worked backwards to figure out how to convey that in an interview. And when Sakurazaka46 goes on tour to the provinces, I made sure to get the window seat so I could observe the city and take notes. I wrote down things that I thought I could talk about in the interview, such as “When I went to this prefecture, I became interested in this something that I saw”.”
While continuing her activities as a member of Sakurazaka46, she narrowed down the department she wanted to attend within the limited time available and prepared for the entrance exams.
”In my case, my entrance exam was one where I narrowed down not only the university but even down to what department. I mentally had this feeling that this was the only place for me. I applied to several other universities, but failed them all. I was feeling quite worried because I had failed all the other options and the only one left was my first choice. And yet I still desperately focused on getting into my first choice! I distracted myself from all the worries I had by studying. I’m someone who tends to be distracted by the slightest stress before an exam. So I tried not to overlook even the smallest stress such as “I’m kind of feeling hungry”. But what should I eat at such late night? In those moments, I was saved my miso soup. I often studied with a cup of instant miso soup with clams in one hand”
Her hard work paid off, and she was successfully accepted into her first choice! Regarding her preparatory period for university exam, she said, “I received a lot of support from the adults around me”
”Although I decided on which university to enroll in, I wasn’t sure what to do to prepare for the university exam. Many adults kindly gave me advices. I don’t think I would’ve been able to pass on my own. It was all thanks to the teaching and feedback from my parents, my teachers, and the alumni of the university. It was truly valuable to hear about the university entrance exam, which was a major event I am going through for the first time, from those who experienced it already. I was working hard at my studies while doing my activities as Sakurazaka46 member, and in fact, I didn’t know that I needed an ID photo for my resume until my teacher told me about it (wry smile). In any case, I was glad to listen to what my seniors in life had to say, to think hard on what I’d like to learn, and do everything that I could.”
As she safely enrolled in her first choice department, she began her university life while continuing her activities in Sakurazaka46.
”It was something that I already expected even before the entrance exam, but it was truly a difficult four years. That is why I was glad that I carefully selected my department. This is something that I’d like to tell everyone who is about to take the entrance exam, but university life is harder than what you might imagine. It is full of things that are different from the “sparkling campus life” that you have in mind. There are many moments where you’d feel like giving up. At times like that, it is easier to work hard if you are in a department you want or a field that you look forward to. Even for me, who loved my department, I felt like giving up many times and wanting to say “I have enough!” (laughs). But every time, I would think about how hard I worked for the entrance exam or my feelings when I selected this department, and returned to my original spirit. Though I couldn’t decide on a university that I wanted to attend until the summer of my high school senior year, I’m glad I didn’t just decide on a whim.”
Takemoto-san who said that she was glad to have studied in university
”The great thing about university is how you get to learn things that you can’t learn from textbooks or reference books alone. One of the most memorable experiences for me was the week-long internship at a facility for people with disabilities. We wrote reports on what we felt and thought during the internship, and there was time for us to exchange opinions in the seminar, and there were moments when I was moved to tears. The experiences I had during the internship were so profound that I was very grateful for the opportunity to share these thoughts and exchange opinions. Everyone in my seminar group was very understanding of each other's feelings, and we were able to speak with the same enthusiasm. And at that moment, I thought, "I'm glad I came to this department. My gut feeling in my senior year was not wrong". The reason I decided to take the entrance exam was to “give back to my parents”, but everything that I learned through the entrance exam and my university life has been for my own benefit. To decide one’s own path and face studies with determination. I have come to realize the importance of this more deeply during my time at the university”
Yui’s Item
Memorable ID photo
I found out that I needed an ID photo for my documents, so I took one in a hurry. When I look at it now, I feel bothered by the messy bangs (laughs), but it is a treasured picture filled with memories from my entrance exam period
Graduation thesis that I poured my all into
The topic of my graduation thesis was a local museum that I visited many times since I was little. I’d like to express into words all that I learned in university, such as regional revitalization, and connect it to my future activities
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