If you come here for an answer, then you'll find none, because honestly, I don't know for sure myself.
But, I do have an idea.
In the latter half of 2020, after so many years, Keyakizaka46 YouTube finally removed region restrictions on its latest uploads. One of which is the performance video from Darekane. Overseas fans quickly noticed and used the chance to write their thoughts and feelings, posting them in the comment section just like other fans would do. Then, when "Bessatsu Kadokawa Keyakizaka46 and Sakurazaka46 1013/1209", members shockingly made a mention of it in their interviews, like Ten.
Perhaps encouraged by the comments the members made, overseas fans showed their support again in the comments section for "Nobody's fault" and other videos. Yamasaki Ten then made another mention of it again in an interview released in early January 2021!
Since then, comments from overseas fans continued to pour in, and thankfully perhaps even increases with each single. Then, at the end of 2021, the fandom made a splash with the Times Square project. The result went beyond anyone's imagination, bearing fruits bigger than anyone expected, both from the members and the management themselves.
Then, the year turned 2022, and I wondered if management will respond back to it in a way. The MV to "Samidare yo" was released, and there seemed to be a bigger number of comments from overseas fans way more than ever before! Takemoto Yui even talked about it in her Showroom and thanked everyone for it.
Then, on 20th March, Sakurazaka46's official Twitter account unexpectedly started tweeting out teasers. The "JST" is a nice touch, the kind that you would find in say JO1's Twitter too, but I don't want to get my hope up too much (Thought in the end, I did half expecting to see an English subtitle).
Then they posted "IN 2 DAYS", and I jokingly bet with a friend wondering what will they say tomorrow. Is it going to be "In 1 day"? Or a simple "tomorrow?"
Well, the answer turned out to be "tommorow", but then the most unexpected happened. They not only corrected it but even apologize in English! Which is cute and funny, two words I never expected I would ever associate with Sakurazaka46's (Keyakizaka46's) official Twitter account.
Unfortunately, "Boku no Dilemma" has no English sub, but then yet another unexpected thing happened:
Sony Music Record's official Twitter is... asking in English?! And most recently, they even teased "Shakankyori" MV ahead of the official Twitter (albeit in Japanese, but still!).
So, back to the question: what's up with all these English tweets recently?
Now, this is just my personal opinion, so I think that it's their turn to test the water. It might seem insignificant with just simple tweets, but they still did dip their toes in the water, and I think that we should respond to that. It doesn't need to be something complicated, it can be as simple as reacting to their tweets, leaving likes and comments in MV, especially when we know that members do read the YouTube comments!
Who knows, perhaps it could lead to a bigger splash in the future.
---
Okay so funny thing, I wrote this blog weeks ago, put it in the draft, and forget about it. And as of today, 7th April 2022, they have added both Japanese and English subs not only to the title song MV (Samidare yo) but also to Boku no Dilemma and Shakankyori!
As I mentioned above, I think that we should actively show our appreciation which can be done by thanking them in MV comments. Reacting to it might encourage them to continue adding English subtitles in the future, after all! And since it made it easier to promote Sakurazaka46, don't be shy to link your friends (and maybe even family!?) the MVs~
Komentar
Posting Komentar