A treasure. I will cherish them forever (2026.06.01)

Good evening

Having finished all my activities as Sakurazaka46 member,

this morning, for the first time, the realization that I have graduated hits me; my heart ache with loneliness

When I was writing this blog, I was crying while watching ChokoSaku.

I got a video call from the members

I was happy at how perfect the timing was. Lol

They really know Yui well!

CDTV was great, wasn't it? The MV was amazing too, right?

I'd love to try dancing that too, it's so cool

I guess I will be watching the group from the outside like this from now on~

Once again,

I have graduated from Sakurazka46.

This will be my last blog.

Please allow me to write my thoughts on my activities.

For the past eight years since the audition, I have spent every day thinking about all sorts of things and being driven by all kinds of emotions, but my mind has always been occupied with the group.

But the other members around me are also completely focused in the group too. That is just how much everyone loves Sakurazaka46 above all else.

First, I'd like to express my gratitude

for being given the chance to take on many challenges

in such loving environment.

When I was a student,

I thought that people who are excel in at least one thing

were cool

Ever since I entered this industry, everything that happens every day is "work", I set many specific goals for myself since I wanted to be able to do anything and believed that I must be able to them as this is something that I do as a job

On the other hand, I only had very vague idea

for my dreams or ambitions,

but I wanted to be an entertainer.

Somewhere along the way, I was focused solely on chasing that dream

I was so determined to master everything that I would feel frustrated if I was only praised for one thing

Many people told me something along the lines of

"Takemoto is really suitable for variety",

but that was really painful for me,

and I wanted to be praised for my dancing and singing too

But even if I'm so engrossed in dancing that I holed up in my room to study,

if I'm not able to say anything funny in variety show,

I'd be going home feeling frustrated while thinking on what to do next

In the rehearsal period for my last concert,

I was memorizing and practicing rakugo while coming up with the all-members dance track for Abura wo Sase! lol 

And as I was making horse racing prediction in-between,

I thought, "Oh, all of this made it somewhat came true in the end"

The feeling that everything that I have been entrusted with has become something that really reflects who I am...!

Now that I am leaving the group,

when I think about how I've finally been able to bring every job to a satisfactory level thanks to the words of encouragement I received from everyone, I feel that everything hasn't been in vain

The me who found herself thinking

"being Idol is so hard", "being Idol is painful"

despite it being a world that I have always longed for,

Came to think

"Idols are amazing. If I were reborn, I want to be an idol again"

before I knew it.

Or rather,

Sakurazaka is great, they are amazing

It is something that I, as a former member, can say unabashedly

I'm proud of them. I think of them as my treasure

These past few days, I have been moved to tears by blogs and the album messages that are written by the members lol

I wanted to convey better of just how much

I have been supported by everyone, more than they all realize.

Perhaps, the reason why I have always picked

the harder path than the easier one

is because overcoming those challenges has become something of norm for Sakurazaka.

Maybe it's because we have shared the feeling of joy and accomplishment

from overcoming those together so many times already 

Everyone in my group is so amazing,

and everyone are contributing so much,

I feel so much respect and admiration to them, which made me feel frustrated the whole time.

I felt that I couldn't quit until I have left some kind of a mark that would allow me to stand equally next to everyone else.

To be honest, the members around me, the Buddies, and the staff members might have noticed it already,

but as I have become a little bit more resilient

so I graduated with still some more left in the tank lol

You might think I don't have to say this,

but I've been thinking of how to use this spare energy I still have

in my life from now on

Or, how should I channel this feeling of curiosity

-- which I might have deliberately held onto, to it's fullest?

That is what I am thinking about right now.

I believe that the duty of those who set on a journey

is to live in such a way that you will never lose

the purpose in life, the reason for being that you have found.

Once again, to all my fans

for about 7,5 years, you have continued 

to support and embrace me with unconditional love and unwavering belief

Truly, thank you very much.

I have said this many times

and my choice of words have become a little more milder

This group is

seriously amazing, for real

I am absolutely certain that they will make you happy

So please do feel free to dedicate your life to them.

Eight years ago, I was just slightly timid high schooler

Thank you for making me,

who wanted to be a powerful girl,

into a true powerful girl.

In a few years,

I hope to be about as powerful as a powerful, powerful, powerful girl!

In any case, please stay healthy and support Sakurazaka.

Please always be by their side.

I look forward to your continued support

In this period, I received many messages of

"Please be happy",

I'd like to pass them right back at you

Your happiness was my happiness

That will never change from now on

I ended up saying something idol-like, as this is the last time lol

But, this is truly, truly what I feel

I will always be praising for everyone's happiness from from distance!

Thank you very much!!!

See it through to the end😊