https://mdpr.jp/interview/detail/4740897
Q What kind of song is “Dried fruits”?
Takemoto: When I first heard it, I thought that it’s such a stylish song. There is the “girly” feeling that can only bring out having us, women, singing it; it is cute but also sexy. I thought that we received a song that has both a mature and a cute feeling. I’d be happy if people could enjoy not just the music, but the lyrics as well.
Q The center is 3ki’s Murayama Miu-san, but what kind of person is she for Takemoto-san?
Takemoto: I see Murayama as someone who can get things done when she has to. I always got the impression that she’s the reliable kind of person who can make decisive decisions when she has to, so I wasn’t worried at all. When Murayama looked anxious, I relayed to her, “You will definitely pull it off, so don’t worry”
Q Please tell us memorable stories from the MV filming
Takemoto: We were split into three teams for the filming, so the group dance scene was relatively short and we had longer time to film with our teams. That is why the color of each team is really visible. Personally, it was during that filming I was able to deepen my relationship with the 4ki members for the first time. Each team was given a detailed instruction on the way to make facial expression and certain vibe, so I hope that those differences can be enjoyed as well
Q The 4th generation joined the production starting from this single, so has there been anything that your junior has done for you that made you happy, or anything that you would like to say to your juniors?
Takemoto: There are countless things that my juniors have done for me. Of course, I feel happy to be able to have a conversation with them, or getting taken out for a meal. But more than anything, it makes me really happy to see them messing with me a little during in-between rehearsal or filming. When I feel nervous and worried, the moments when my seniors interact with me like this was the moment that relaxed and helped me the most. I’m someone why and doesn’t really initiate a lot, so I am conscious of trying my best to take action by poking my juniors and such (laughs)
Q In your graduation announcement blog, you said that you “suffered” as you were unsure of graduating, but was there a decisive moment where it cleared up and you decided “now is the time”?
Takemoto: Personally, I always kept the “5th Anniversary” milestone in mind as a major turning point. I continued my activities with the hope of sorting out my feelings by then, but at first, just thinking about graduation made my feelings change every day as I wondered between “Is this really okay for me to do?” or “I’d like to stay here a little longer” which made me feel afraid and conflicted. Even when I decided “I can graduate now!”, the next day I would think, “I don’t want to quit yet!”. I was really mentally on the edge like that. But, I saw many of my juniors taking the lead at the front reliably, and receiving more opportunities to put into shape the things that I wanted to do or what I like also helped me to gain confidence
Q It seems that you have been taking your work in the past year seriously, as you are counting down within your mind. As you have been doing your activities with graduation in mind, has there been any changes in the scenery that you’ve seen or your state of mind?
Takemoto: It’s been completely different. I approached each and every thing consciously with the fact that it might be the last time, such as “This might be my last tour”, “This probably is the last time I stand at Dome”, “This is the last time I perform at this prefecture”. As I always worked with the feeling that it would be my last, the feeling of gratitude naturally welled up inside me, and I feel that I was able to turn them into strength and finish each and every job. And I started to burn the scenery into my memory. Not just the view from the stage, but the casual moments of interaction with members as well. The view of members that I see in my perspective as a fellow member is what makes me the happiest. I started to really savor those moments.
Q What does “Sakurazaka46’s Takemoto Yui” mean to you?
Takemoto: In the past, I was someone easily swept up by emotions and events, and I think that I was quite weak mentally. I used to feel like I was constantly in the dark no matter what I did, but I gradually became able to do the things that I like, to have a lot of cute juniors, and my position within the group became clearer. In any case, these seven years have made me stronger. Now, I think that I will never have a better experience than this. I have also experienced balancing it with university activities, and it has been a 7,5 years of experience that will assure me no matter what happens in the future. I’d be happy if people could think of me as a “steady presence” in the group
Q After the Dome performances in 2025, Sakurazaka46 will finally be holding the group’s first MUFG Stadium performance this April. Please tell us your current thoughts
Takemoto: As a Sakurazaka46 member, surprisingly I don’t have any special mindset like “It’s the Dome” or “It’s the National Stadium”. As a group, we never really talk about specific venues we’d like to perform at, and have instead thrown ourselves on what was in front of us. “Work hard today for tomorrow’s job”, as we continued this focus, before we knew it we had made it to Dome and then even the National Stadium. Personally, I believe that I have been able to continue for 7 years thanks to this experience. We are truly blessed to also have staff members who have such deep affection for Sakurazaka46. I’d like to stand boldly on that day, taking confidence in what we have built together with those people and believing in everything that we have accumulated until now
Q And lastly, please tell us what is the secret in making one’s dream come true. In July 2025, you said to “keep going”
Takemoto: It’s still the same with “keep going”. There are countless sceneries I wouldn’t be able to see had I not continued my activities with Sakurazaka46. I think that “keep going” is the most difficult thing, and yet also the best thing. I thought about running away many times, and it wouldn’t be strange for me to quit at any time. It was especially hard when I was an active university student, but by keeping going, I was able to see sceneries that I can only see with Sakurazaka46. I was able to do many jobs I never dreamed of doing, even now every day I feel glad to have continued
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https://mdpr.jp/interview/detail/4741309
Q What kind of a song is the title song “The growing up train”?
Konomi: As we live our lives, various different emotions appear within us, but as we become older it becomes harder to express them freely or that or preconceived ideas begin to take hold. I keenly felt that from the part of the lyrics that goes “May the tracks to adulthood not rust”. It is a cheerful and hopeful song that will inspire those who are have doubts about living a predetermined path in life, and let them know that it is okay to forge their own path
Q What do you think of the center of this song, Fujiyoshi Karin-san?
Konomi: I’ve never participated in a single before, and so I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to interact with Karin-san. But as we worked to produce it together, she reached out to me very warmly.
Though Karin-san is someone so warm, when performing she shows a charm that is different from how she usually is. Until now, whenever I see her performance I thought it’s amazing how I can keenly feel her emotions, but this time, I was able to see up-close her figure when dancing during the production or when she is filming solo scenes for the MV. I was once again impressed with how Karin-san made use of everything, from her facial expressions to her performance, to convey her emotions. I am sure that this song will be something that resonates with the hearts of the Buddies
Q What was the most memorable thing Fujiyoshi-san said to you?
Konomi: She once asked me, ”Hearing the people around you say that 4ki is so reliable, doesn’t it make it difficult for you to lean on the seniors?”. Then she said, “If there is anything that I can do, I’d be happy to”; which made me very happy. As Fujiyoshi-san said, I’m not very good at asking for help and showing my weakness, so those words really helped me emotionally. Now I can talk about it with someone easier than before.
Up until now, I didn’t have many opportunities to work with the seniors, so there were not many opportunities to speak with them. So I was hesitant to initiate, and often waited for the seniors to start first. But because Karin-san said, “I’m sure the senior members wants to speak with you too, I found the courage to initiate conversation and has been encouraged by her.
Q Have your feelings (toward joining the senbatsu) changed now?
Konomi: Right after the announcement, my thought of “Is this really okay?” was so much that there were many times where I was absentminded and couldn’t think of anything other than “Is it okay for me to be here?”. But now, my feeling of enjoyment is the strongest. I’ve become able to feel this way because of the interaction I had with my seniors during the production period, the staff members who supported me, and all the Buddies who relayed to me “The MV was really good”; I think that I gained a little confidence from the support of many people.
Still, when I compare myself with what the seniors have achieved until now, I keenly aware of just how lacking I am and to be honest, still feel anxious about it. But if I showed how anxious I am, it would make the Buddies feel worried, so I’d like to cherish the feeling of having fun and to do my best to deliver this song with a positive and cheerful feeling.
Q I’m sure that the presence of Sato Neo-san and Yamakawa Ui-san, 4ki members who also joined senbatsu for the first time, must be big?
Konomi: Ever since the senbatsu announcement, the three of us haven’t had the opportunity to share our thoughts with each other, but just having 4ki members around me already feels reassuring, putting me at ease and a source of comfort. In this production period, I hope that three of us can learn from watching our seniors up-close, and grow a lot as we work hard and encourage each other
Q Although you feel anxious after the senbatsu announcement, you managed to overcome it on your own instead of talking about it with your genmates
Konomi: I think it’s not just me, but all the 4ki members are also probably not good at showing their weakness. I’m sure that each of us have something in mind, but we don’t really put it into words. But when it comes to it, I think that genmates would be the easiest to talk to; So as we do our activities as senbatsu members in this single, I’d like to support the two of them when they are feeling worried, and be someone who could notice what they have in mind. I’d be happy to grow in that sense as well
Q Takemoto Yui-san will graduate with the end of this single’s activity. Could you tell us how you felt when you learned of her graduation?
Konomi: This is our first time working for a single promotion period together, and I was reminded with how Takemoto-san is truly someone who gave her all in everything and is someone who I can respect in any way. That is why I really wish I could have the chance to learn a lot more from watching Takemoto-san up close. But there is still time, and I think that I’d still be able to learn more from her, so I hope to absorb as much as I can and reassure Takemoto-san that Sakurazaka46 will be fine from now on
Q After the Dome performances in 2025, the group has evolved even further, hasn’t it?
Konomi: At the Dome performances the 4ki were able to perform our own songs, and while it was such a good experience, and most of all being able to see the performance of the seniors from close by reminded me of how great they are. While this time we were able to stand on those stage thanks to the efforts of our seniors, we’d like to improve our skills even more so that we can confidently say that we are “members of Sakurazaka46” as we stood there once again
Q Sakurazaka46’s first performance at MUFG Stadium will finally happen this April. With another big stage around the corner following the Dome performances, please tell us your thoughts toward it
Konomi: One hardly has the chance to perform at the National Stadium just around a year after joining, so I think of it as a valuable opportunity. And because the venue is so large, I’m sure that there will be those who are coming to a concert for the first time, as well many of those who have been supporting us until now; I’d like to make this into a concert that will let people know even more of how much of a wonderful group Sakurazaka46 is
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https://mdpr.jp/interview/detail/4740921
Q Please tell us your impression on “Dried fruit” when you first listened to it?
Miu: I thought that it’s such an easy song to remember. I think that it will be easy for the fans to remember it too, and it’ll be nice if it could be a song that we can enjoy in concerts together
Q Murayama-san is appointed as the center this time. How did you feel when you were selected?
Miu: I take on the center position without pushing myself too hard for it. Takemoto-san told me, “I don’t feel worried because I know Miu can do it”. Those words truly made me so happy, and I’m working hard with it as my source of motivation.
Q You didn’t feel any particular pressure in being the center?
Miu: It would be a lie to say no, but I have Takemoto-san next to me, and there is 4ki’s Katsumata Haru on the other side. When they announced the formation, I feel very reassured and at ease
Q Please tell us any memorable story from the MV filming
Miu: The director often told me to have “a blank expression”, and I try to be conscious of changing it so that it doesn’t all look the same. I spent a lot of time filming the treadmill walk alone, but the other members was waiting for me in a lively manner, so I was able to relax and enjoyed the filming
Q Is there any particular part of the MV that you want people to pay attention to?
Miu: There is a scene where I fall, and it was a bit difficult to film, so I’d be happy if you could pay attention to it (laughs). The MV has a lot of surreal scenes, such as singing lip sync upside down or dancing amidst mannequins, which creates a mysterious world view
Q The 4th generation joined the production starting from this single, so has there been anything that your junior has done for you that made you happy, or anything that you would like to say to your juniors?
Miu: My birthday happened around the time we filmed this MV. Perhaps it was also to relay their greetings for it, but even seniors who were not in the song reached out to me as well. I remember everything that my seniors did for me, and I feel happy about all of that, but I was moved by their kindness in reaching out for me with care. I would like to treat my juniors the same way
Q Takemoto Yui-san will graduate with the end of this single’s activity. Could you tell us how you felt when you learned of her graduation?
Miu: To be honest, I wasn’t that surprised. After working together for 3~4 years, I think that I’ve started to be able to sense the vibe of someone who has decided to graduate. Even though I didn’t know the exact time, I also did my activities with the thought of, “I wonder if this single will be her last?”. So when I heard the news, I first accepted it with a “I see…”... but I do feel lonely about it
Q What kind of person Takemoto-san is for you?
Miu: Takemoto-san is truly a strong person, and I also admire her. All 3ki members love Takemoto-san, everyone always goes “Chuke-san! Chuke-san!” (laughs). I’ll miss seeing that scene, and I especially love Takemoto-san when she’s on the stage, so to think that I won’t be able to see such a figure from up close anymore… I want to absorb as much as I can right now, and carry on Takemoto-san’s feelings, even just a little
Q Please tell us your thoughts toward the National Stadium
Miu: For the Tokyo Dome performance, we tried to take on stage production and setlist that we had never done before. When it comes to the National Stadium, I feel that people’s expectations are rising even higher. I sometimes take a walk around the venue, and it’s so huge that it takes 10 minutes to go around it once. It’s so huge that it makes me feel anxious, “Are we really going to perform here?”. But personally, I have expectations for the group that is Sakurazaka46. I want to create a concert that surpasses everyone’s current imagination of the current Sakurazaka46
Q What is the reason Murayama-san has such strong expectations for the group? Even going as far as saying “surpassing the current Sakurazaka46”?
Miu: I like how Sakurazaka46 doesn’t follow trends. The group always has songs that betray your expectations and makes you go, “So this kind of song comes!”, and I feel that we are always taking on challenges. I feel anxious every time, but thanks to the people around us, we are always able to produce wonderful works. That is why my expectations and trust to the group is strong
Q Can you tell us what is the secret to making your dreams come true?
Miu: I really love this group, so I’ll answer with, “To keep on loving”
Q It can be difficult to continue sticking to what you love at difficult times, but is there a way to keep one’s motivation up?
Miu: I have always loved this group from before I joined, so of course, there were moments where my feelings seemed to waver during difficult times. But all the seniors are truly so kind. They are much more wonderful individuals than they appear on screen, and through my activities I come to love the group even more. I'm not consciously making any special effort, it's all thanks to the members. I believe it's because of the members, my current dreams are coming true
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