Nakanishi Yuka and Kitahara Rie’s rondo from Marutto SKE (out March 2013)
Let’s sing about SKE and AKB differences
Kitahara Rie in concurrent position in AKB48 and SKE48 and who made her debut in SKE48 theater on February 20th. Nakanishi Yuka who transferred from AKB48 to SKE48. The two friends who lived under the same roof as KKS tell us about the “differences” between the two groups.
Difference n°1 - SKE48 has shoyou traits and AKB48 sauce traits*?!
(*tln : しょうゆ顔/shoyou kao refers to a type a face typically Japanese, very close to Japanese traditional standards ソース顔/sauce kao basically looking very non-Japanese)
Kitahara - The very first thing I felt when the concurrent position became effective was 「My face is out of place!」.
Nakanishi - What do you mean?
Kitahara - That’s the impression I got during my first photo shooting with SKE48. It’s hard to put into words. Maybe it has to do with the make-up… Everybody felt very fresh.
Nakanishi - Ahahah. There is nothing to worry about. And if you do, I should remind you I’m already 24.
Kitahara - True. But once I posed with Kizaki Yuria-chan and Yagami Kumi-chan and there I couldn’t avoid to feel it～ I couldn’t fight it, those two are so young and so cute it’s unfair.
Nakanishi - But see, both of us have already been active for over 5 years now.
Kitahara - I wonder if it shows on my face that I originate from the region… (tln : alt “I hope I inherited Aishi’s traits”)
Nakanishi - SKE48 has shoyou traits and AKB48-san have sauce traits (laugh).
Kitahara - But maybe it’s better if I look out of place. There would be no meaning in the kennin system if I were absolutely identical to everyone.
Difference n°2 - AKB48’s crafty dance vs SKE48 display of energy
Kitahara - There is a difference in our choreographies too. The first SKE48 song I had to learn was 「Nakama no Uta」and I couldn’t memorize it at all.
Nakanishi - This song isn’t so complicated, so how comes?
Kitahara - I think that’s because there were moves I never used in AKB48.
Nakanishi - Now that you point it out, it’s true that our moves give out a different feeling. AKB48-san tends to emphasize more the technical aspect of their dances while SKE48 displays more power. Our moves are thought to let out our energy more effectively.
Kitahara - After doing so many years of dance, difference in style must have been important for me to struggle so much to remember just one song. We share some of our dance teachers but our dance styles are still apart. It’s Makino Anna-sensei, who is also works with AKB48, who decided on 「Pareo wa Emerald」choreography, right? It only took me 20 minutes to remember it.
Nakanishi - Fast! (laugh)
Difference n°3 - SKE48 power of unity and AKB48 individual charms
Kitahara - There is one more thing I realized concerning SKE48’s dance. I had the occasion to come and watch a stage performance from a normal guest seat and I was amazed by how uniform and in synch members were, it was true collective piece of art.
Nakanishi - We pay great attention to it. But there is maybe also a bit of the fact that we have been performing 「Seifuku no Me」for over 3 years now (laugh).
Kitahara - I had countless occasions to watch AKB48 perform from the wing of the stage, there my eyes are always dragged to particular members. Like「Ouah, Wasamin (Iwasa Misaki) is seriously cute」or「(Yamauchi) Suzuran is on a fishing spree」(laugh).
Nakanishi - In SKE48 once you aren’t under the care of your sempai anymore, Kuwabara Mizuki and (Matsui) Jurina essentially, you have to nurture your talent and up your game on your own. Because once kenkyusei join our stages, you can be sure Mizuki-san will severely point at every of their mistakes (laugh).
Kitahara - In AKB48 Team K (Oshima) Yuko-chan is the one putting our performances together 「We aren’t in synch there, let’s go for another round of practice.」, so I think we all share the same feelings, in AKB and SKE, when it comes to stages.
Difference n°4 - SKE48’s low heels to facilitate dancing!
Nakanishi - When I look at AKB48, I think they are real idols.
Kitahara - Really? For me SKE48 is closer of what idols should be about.
Nakanishi - Eh? When there is absolutely nothing idolish about us (laugh).
Kitahara - Somehow, I’ve lost track of what defined an idol (laugh). Of course it makes me very happy to be called national idols (tln:国民的アイドル/kokumin-teki idol) but…
Nakanishi - But the power of expression of AKB48 members during performances shows how they really are idols no?
Kitahara - Sure. We’re good at presenting ourselves..
Nakanishi - But then in SKE48 we keep dancing without caring about how much of mess our hair is. Our shoes even have low heels to make dancing a bit easier.
Kitahara - That’s because SKE48 is all about
Difference n°5 - The kindness of fans I felt during S stage
Kitahara - And then fans are different too.
Nakanishi - Hmm, that’s one big difference. When it comes to AKB48 you can feel how they’ve touched a broader audience and are known among common people.
Kitahara - It’s clear when I perform in AKB48 theater. It’s very different from when we performed as kenkyusei. Cheers from fans are different.
Nakanishi - I know what you mean!
Kitahara - What really struck me when I performed in S stage for the first time the other day, was the enthusiasm of fans’ calls. Part of me was scared I wouldn’t be welcomed, but soon this 「It’s fun!」feeling took over my nervosity.
Nakanishi - Glad to hear that (laugh).
Kitahara - And how the encore started! It was something like「xx-san, yoroshiku!」. It brought back so many memories it gave me goosebumps!
Nakanishi - You’ll have many much more occasions to stand on that stage from now on. Let’s enjoy those times to the fullest～ (tln : if you had known Nishishi…)
SKE members like themselves some nakedness!Yo~
2D enthusiasts association (KanaKana, Nishishi, Airin & Churi) talk about Hetalia. First put onlike on Cyzo website (and online for premium members) on 2011/02/10. Later published in 「Houkago, Nijigen Doukoukai」photobook (out 2012/04/20).
Where Airin doesn’t care about a serie without girls ; where Nakanishi feels very lonely ; where Mokyu rules in the teasing department and where a surprising confession occurs~
Enjoy!
——
Hetalia Axis Powers
Since last year in manga and anime the technique of 「Near Humanisation」, which consists of having non-humans entities represented by characters with human shape, seems to have taken over the world of 2D. Today’s subject will be the pioneer of this fashion, the manga 「Hetalia Axis Powers」(Gentosha Comics).
Starting with the cheerful but clumsy Italia, each country appear under the form of a “pseudo human” character. The manga has met such success that it has been adapted in anime but also as a movie. Nakanishi-san is her herself a big fan of the serie.
Nakanishi Yuka - I am! But even if I say so myself, I’ve only read the original manga. The story of 「Hetalia」is really exciting as it’s related to the actual state of affairs of the world, it’s also a great way to study world history. Plus, I don’t know exactly how but, it makes you love the world! Everybody knows how there are good sides and bad sides in all countries and through 「Hetalia」you get to find them pleasant, even endearing.
Hiramatsu Kanako - Exactly. So far Kana has only read articles about the serie because they features in my otome game magazine but…. even if I don’t know exactly how, I’m sure that’s a serie that will make you fall in love with our world!!
Nakanishi - Errr— “ I don’t know exactly how”, would you mind stopping riping off my words….?
Q - What about you Furukawa-san?
Furukawa Airi - Hmm, I’ve heard about it but I’ve actually never open a single volume. Virtually all the characters are males and I’m a bishoujo otaku so I don’t think it’s relevant to my interests.
Q - Well then, Takayanagi-san?
Takayanagi Akane - Actually me neither, I’ve never really read it.
Nakanishi - Hold. On.! You’re telling I’m the only one who have an idea of what we’re talking about today?!!
Takayanagi - Thing is, I’ve no idea what is supposed to be interesting in this manga.
Nakanishi - That’s because you don’t know the characters. Enjoying 「Hetalia」is quite similar than enjoying AKB48 or SKE48 or any other “large idol group”! Every country under the trait of its character has its own personality and features and they are all different from each other. So you just have to find the one who piques your interest or enjoy the way they interact…
Q - By the way Nakanishi-san, who is your 1st oshi in the manga?
Nakanishi - I love Spain the most. Most of the time he is frivolous and laugh at everything, but when it matters he goes into “let’s do it!” mode, this gap is irresistible!
Furukawa - Gap is a precious factor isn’t it～? I also like the worthless type of male characters, but they need something more. They can’t be constantly good for nothing. There need to be this gap with where they show you they have “more” to them.
Takayanagi - So, you think Italia have this “something more” he reveals later in the story?
Furukawa - How would I know? (laugh) I’ve only looked up 「Hetalia」’s characters profile on the official website of the serie and I got the feeling England would be quite to my taste.
Nakanishi - You’ve got a fine eye. Clearly the most popular character among fans. He is your typical tsundere, that’s why.
Furukawa - Ehhh～ Really…? I tend to be driven away by popular characters, not you?
Hiramatsu - Tell me, among SKE members isn’t (Matsui) Rena your oshi? Airin, you’re contradicting yourself～.
Furukawa - I- It’s a misunderstanding. I simply happen to like 「Gekikara」the role Rena-san was playing in 「Majisuka Gakuen」…
Nakanishi - So you’re telling us “I don’t particularly like Rena herself”? (laugh)
Furukawa - No- No way, what are you saying? It’s not what I meant! Rena-san, I love you!! (tln : “玲奈さん、大好きだよー！！” in the text)
Not even cryi-
…
( ;^;) I’m just so happy for them all…
Possible nonsense ahead…
Nishishi speaking.
Yesterday Yagami Kumi announced her graduation.
Even after one night it seems i couldn’t come to term with this idea (—;).
I’m sure Kuu-chan is someone who has a lot in her mind and who reflect over things again and again.
So she must have thought about her graduation, became anxious, thought about it again, summoned her courage… and took her decision. I think that’s how things went.
So I’ve no other choice than to accept it.
So I have to support her.
Even if it breaks my heart to be separated again from someone precious to me… She is that important to me that I have to cheer for her with a strength in proportion with my feelings, so she walks without fear the path she chose.
Kumi-chan is really a kind girl.
Yesterday I sent a mail to Kumi filled with my feelings on the spur of the moment.
And you know, her reply showed how much she was concerned about me.
I love this kind Kuu-chan. Kuu-chan who has the bravery to be honest with herself. I love her and respect her. ←
Hmm. As expected I couldn’t put it nicely (laugh).
Even if the graduation was announced it doesn’t mean it’s going to be imminent. Now we should treasure our time with Kumi and share a lot of good moments together (^^).
Kanon, Mikity and Nishishi interview by Shuukan-SPA! (online October 5th)
Part of the magazine serie focusing on AKB’s Future Girls, in this interview the 3 FG from SKE talk about their experience during janken tournament and the goal they want to reach next year in the (not yet decided on) general elections.
note : Because of Show Fight I can’t help but read “FG” as “Fighting Girls” instead of “Future Girls” ‘orz
note 2 : Non and Nishishi speech about SKE supplanting AKB in General Elections reminds me of Yuasa’s words. They sure like to dream big and I’d like to have their faith but realistically speaking that won’t happen… unless AKS put voting tickets in sister groups CDs too ( #°^°)
——
SKE48’s Future Girls talk about their objective for next year
Q - This time Kanon-chan entered janken senbatsu. Your participation was settled after a round against a fellow SKE member, how did that make you feel?
Kimoto - It was a totally different feeling than during preliminaries which were between SKE, I was perplexed at the idea of facing Yumana (Takaga Yumana) who also happens to be in Team E. I wondered if it was ok for me to win. But easing up on her would have certainly result in a poor sight for people who had come to see us, so I made my mind : “The winner will be SKE representative”, “A victory is a victory” and it’s with a fighting spirit that I went to grab that chance.
Q - Nishishi too this time around you entered the final selection, how was it?
Nakanishi - Expeditious (laugh). It was sweet to think of the possibility to grab the title of ｃenter. But I couldn’t even pass first round… Even then, it was really fun. Last year and the year before I wasn’t in Budokan to watch the tournament so I was glad to be there this time to cheer on my friends.
Q - You were smiling through the whole game, was there a particular reason behind it?
Nakanishi - Rather than simply smiling, I had in mind when I came there to enjoy the event to the fullest. During the preliminaries, I won while having a good time the experience. I thought that doing the same during the final selection would grant me the victory but in the end, I didn’t win a single match.
Q - Mikity, you didn’t made it to the final selection of the tournament but can you tell us about how it felt to be there to cheer on your comrades?
Yakata - It was the first time I could be there in Budokan for the tournament, we were seating with the other sister groups members but every time someone from SKE was in the arena, I stood up and cheered for her. But as one would expect, I regretted to lose in the preliminaries. But I’m really happy that from SKE Kanon and Kasusu (Ueno Kasumi), who is the 3rd generation member like me, entered senbatsu. Fellow 3rd generation Ogi-chan (Ogiso Shiori) and Yuria (Kizaki Yuria) were sitting close by and the moment Kasusu won the 3 of us cried of joy. I hope her airy yet gentle personality shine vividly in the selection.
Q - As UG, Kanon-chan was opposed to Harukyan (Ishida Haruka) in the 1st round. It was like witnessing your showdown in the FG unit song 「Show fight!」for real.
Kimoto - In the 1st tournament Harukyan-san run-up for the title so I pictured her as someone very strong at janken. I was actually very scared of losing but I couldn’t let my sempais see me going up against her cold feet and I had to give my best as SKE representative, so I faced her with all I had.
Nakanishi - After the match Harukyan joined me to support the remaining girls, but when Kanon won I was super happy.
Q - Nishishi, what did you think of the battle outfit of fellow FG as well as fellow rural member*, Shiichan. (tln : 地方組/jikata kumi : literally “the group of those from the countryside/rural area”)
Nakanishi - How should I explain it… It’s something I discussed with Rieko (Kitahara Rie) and Sashihara (Sashihara Rino), but all the rural members went down with a single deathblow. When I asked Shiichan 「What are you wearing for the tournament?」she told me 「Something rather banal」. So when I saw her appear in this costume, I couldn’t help but laugh out of surprise.
Yakata - The show she made after losing was something to witness too.
Kimoto - Like if she was throwing a tantrum, right?
Nakanishi - She is a real entertainer, that Shiichan.
Q - And this time FG Nitou Moeno ended 2nd of the tournament.
Nakanishi - She did. Isn’t it incredible? I’m really happy for her.
Mikity - She had an incredible ardor to fight and snatch the victory, I could feel it when I watched her retreating figure. I was happy to see FGs enter the selection and what’s more in such good position.
Q - It might still be early to be concerned about the topic, but I’d like to inquire about your objective for next year general elections if they take place.
Kimoto - I haven’t think about it yet.
Nakanishi - There is a chance that there won’t be any elections next year (laugh). Who knows what will happen…
Yakata - If elections take place then just like in the FG’s song 「Show fight!」, I think there is but only one option for us and it’s to aim higher. Balrog style*. (tln : 完全燃焼 / kanzen nenshou / perfect combustion. Expression used in Show fight! notably and which means “giving everything you have / going all out”. Haven’t found a satisfying English counterpart yet…)
Kimoto - Thanks to this janken tournament, it will be my 2nd time entering AKB’s senbatsu. Even if joining senbatsu itself is our goal, I think there is something more important and that’s to answer expectations of those who support you. I want to believe in the fans and accept the outcome no matter what it will be.
Nakanishi - I really didn’t give it much thought yet. Simply, I don’t want fans to get excessively emotionally invested and to be obsessive about the ranking. However, I wish more members will rank in.
Kimoto - So that there are more SKE members than AKB ones.
Nakanishi - I say we should take the majority. Let’s aim at becoming the new ruling party (laugh).
Q - Will we soon see the retainer supplanting its lord? I have faith SKE will make even greater strides next year and reach new and unexpected heights.
Nikkei Entertainment October 2012 - released September 4th - (last part) Nakanishi Yuka, Yakata Miki and Suga Nanako interviews.
-Furukawa Airi, Ogiso Shiori, Matsumura Kaori, Kimoto Kanon and Mukaida Manatsu interviews : here
-Hata Sawako, Takayanagi Akane, Oya Masana and Suda Akari interviews : here
-W Matsui interviews : here
——
Nakanishi Yuka
Q - Enrolling in SKE48 as a 1st generation member, she acts as a mediator in the group. Supported in her stand by fans, she ranked for the first time in this year general elections.
Yuka - As I see it, being myself a member of the 「2D enthusiasts association」along several other members, the “reeking of otaku“‘s (tln : オタクくさい/otaku kusai) atmosphere is SKE48 peculiarity. In a good way, the impression we give out to lack refinement makes our charm.
Since I entered SKE48 as a 1st generation, I’ve always been among the oldest members. Thus, I’ve taken upon the role of the boke and to provoke tsukomi situations. Even if sometimes I’m worried about being annoying, I think my part is to butt in. I’ve been thanked by Yakata Miki-chan for example 「Thank you for guiding me when I was still a research student」, I’m the most happy if I can help everyone to show their true potential and if they can shine thanks to it.
Since the time when I was in highschool, I’ve tried to pass auditions to be a seiyuu and one day it brought tears to my eyes during our club activities… Why couldn’t I gain experience? But the next day, while we were going somewhere we all got excited together while watching the night sky, it felt like we were in a school trip. At this point I realized I was living the spring of my life and my sad feelings turn into happiness.
——
Yakata Miki
Q - At the age of 20, she entered the selection for 「Aishiteraburu」for the 1st time this year. Getting the 62th position in the general election, this is the year of her great leap.
Miki - I think SKE48 songs are full of peps. Especially the singles, making you want to go further forward, and the dance are often furious too. Lately I’m praised by the members 「You’re great at following the rhythm」. In my opinion, if you’re not focused you can’t follow the moves, but I guess I did progress and that makes me happy.
I’m personally confident in my imitation skills. I make demonstrations in the break room or behind the curtain and members get excited no matter how many time I repeat them. Lately I’ve been called “the break room star”.
So far I often used staff members as references for my jokes, but lately I’ve been able to imitate Rola-san among others, so I hope to have the chance to show it soon to fans.
Someday I want to try acting. Especially, since I love anime, I want to try working as a seiyuu.
——
Suga Nanako
Q - Being the first member of her generation to enter the single selection, she is the new generation’s hope. This young girl of the same age of Matsui Jurina (15) holds surprising talents.
Nanako - I’m very grateful to have been selected for the new single but right now I have a ton to catch up with. Everytime I sing or dance I gather impressions around me as to keep the best and discard what I did badly.
This way, I get to understand what are my weak points and sometimes when I think I did something average I’m told 「That was great!」. There are lots of various opinions coexisting in SKE48 which makes everything more fun.
What surprised the members the most is that I was able to make a walking robot in my 4th year of elementary school. I have studied wiring and programming. It was under the influence of my father and big brother that I built this「Robo One」, it felt natural for me at the time.
It seems that among SKE48 I’m the one who sweats the most. I was told so by the person making my makeup, as well as fans after stages 「Today too sweat drops were flying」. .. I suppose it’s a good thing, right? (laugh)
SKE48 4th Anniversary Special - Our Jurina - Nakanishi Yuka x Oya Masana interview from Bubka, October 2012 : full.
Interview is divided in 4 parts : First encounter with Jurina ; True colors of 15yo Jurina ; Changes brought by the concurrent position ; Jurina & Rena (last one previously posted here)
A great article for anyone interested in knowing how Jurina is behind the scene. And Nishishi and Masana are all kind of awesome themselves! Truly, the kid’s second mother and her big bro. SKE family is splendid. No kidding.
Enjoy~
——-
Team S’ “mother” and “big brother” lay bare their affection! - Our Jurina -
I/First encounter with Jurina
Q - The theme of this interview is 「Our Jurina」, also I have decided to call for you two who inside SKE48 are among the members who are the closest to her and probably understand her the most. I thought you could certainly tell us about her true personality and how she grew up during those 4 years you spent together in SKE48.
First, can you describe the initial impression she made on you when you met?
Nakanishi - I didn’t take part in the auditions so my timing was a bit different from everyone else. How was it for you Masana?
Oya - We were in different groups for the auditions, but I think we were put together for the first time when all the successful candidates were gathered for group pictures right after the announcement of the final results. But I was standing on the front row so I only paid attention to the girls on the same line as me. I only properly met with Jurina the next day.
Q - Did something happen that day?
Oya - Jurina and myself were invited to appear in 「AKB 0ji59fun!」, we were to meet on the shinkansen platform. I had been told I was going with a girl who was still in elementary, so I had imagined a very short and cute little girl.
Q - Reality was quite different from what you had pictured (laugh).
Oya - Indeed (laugh). She was around the same height as me. And from the second I put my eyes on her I thought her aura was incredible. Jurina was standing with her mother on the platform and even from the distance I knew it had to be her. And there for the first time we greeted each other 「Oya Masana」,「Matsui Jurina」and we boarded the shinkansen.
Q - It must have been difficult for a 3rd year of high school to talk with a girl in elementary.
Oya - Not at all. We drank orange juice together…
Nakanishi - How come you remember even those little details (laugh)?
Oya - Jurina talked a lot, from all sorts of topics during our travel like「I was in the track and field club」, as if this 11 year old Jurina was throwing off her reserve toward the 3rd year of high school student I was. She even warned me when we arrived at the studio 「In the world of showbusiness, you have to properly say “Good morning” to people you meet!」 (laugh).
Q - As expected of her (laugh). What about Nakanishi-san?
Nakanishi - When Masana and Jurina came to Tokyo for「AKB 0ji59fun!」, they came to see Team B stage. I was performing then as a back dancer. We talked a bit together then for the first time. Masana looked very immature and Jurina too seemed a bit childish so I thought both were in first year of middle school (laugh). When they told me their ages「What?! You’re so many years apart?!」.
Q - It somehow sounds like your encounters were pre-destined. It was probably around that time, if my intels are correct, before your debut during one of the lessons, that Makino Anna-sensei said 「Those here who can say without a doubt they gave their 120%, raise your hand.」. And then you witnessed Jurina, the only one in the entire group, firmly raising her hand. What did you feel at this instant?
Oya - I think we all felt, somewhere in our hearts, that we had danced with 120% of our capacities. But somehow we didn’t dare answer because you see, it’s delicate in this kind of atmosphere. Only Jurina, without a second of hesitation, raised her hand firmly. I thought she was impressive, not only did she hved self-confidence, but her guts were at a whole different level than ours.
Q - It must have stunned everyone. In between those intensive lessons, SKE48 made its debut during AKB48’s Hibiya concert. After which Jurina was immediately picked to be AKB48’s center for 「Oogoe Diamond」.
Oya - I was worried. She had to feel lonely, being only in elementary school and yet sent by herself in Tokyo. When she was in Tokyo with her manager, I called them and asked to talk directly to Jurina. I asked her 「Are you doing fine?」, she replied 「I’m alright!」. But when I was going to wait for her at the station when she was coming home, the moment she exited the shinkansen she would send herself at me and hug me tight. I realized that after all, she must have felt lonely.
Nakanishi - At first especially, she gave the feeling she had decided not to show any weakness. I was worried for her too, but at the same time we were in a situation where we didn’t know how far SKE could go or how long it would last, so to have a girl among us so highly estimated by Akimoto sensei made me happy. But I hadn’t expected her to suddenly become center, even less to see her stand alone on the CD jacket. Everyone was talking about how amazing that was. And no one ever once said she was jealous of her. Jurina herself never complained to have been put in that position.
Q - You never questioned the fact that Jurina was center? (tln : alt -> You never had a problem with the fact that Jurina was center?)
Nakanishi - I think the moment we saw her stand alone on 「Oogoe」’s jacket, we all became aware that it couldn’t be differently. (tln : alt -> it became an evidence for all of us)
Oya - Calmly considering the years separating us, maybe I always stand my ground which was to watch over her.
II/ True colors of 15yo Jurina
Q - From the 1st day up to now, Jurina has never built a deceiving character. She is a strong and cheerful person who doesn’t like to show her weakness. But it seems to have been perceived by some people as signs of「impertinence」. Also we, the redaction of this magazine, have tried to clear this misunderstanding for a long time now.
Nakanishi - Truth is she is a big wheedling child (laugh). She very often comes to me all nyan~ nyan~. And some days, for no particular reasons, she arrives 「I made cookies!」.
Oya - She often bring sweets doesn’t she. And she even writes everyone’s names on them.
Q - Would you say she acts with you as she would with a big sister?
Nakanishi - I would rather say I’m like an older brother (laugh). (tln : onii-chan in the text)
It was especially true when we debuted, back then she totally saw me like a boy.
Q - If Nakanishi-san is like a big brother to Jurina, what kind of figure is Oya-san?
Oya - … I’m told I’m like a mother.
Nakanishi - Because you always clearly tell her to stop doing something if she shouldn’t. As if you were teaching manners to a child (laugh). When she has to do something she tells her「I hope you properly did it」with a concerned tone. I think that’s why Jurina trusts and relies on Masana.
Q - I can perfectly picture that! I suppose you’re often paired with Jurina when you’re lodging outside, how is she then? In my mind she is one to exclaim「I’m so tired~」and collapse on her bed *paf*.
Nakanishi - That’s exactly how it is (laugh). She is always like that.
Q - Does it go「Get up, you need need to take a shower before going to bed!」?
Oya - Indeed (laugh).
Nakanishi - You know, Jurina is really bad at waking up.
Q - Does she become moody?
Nakanishi - Rather, she tells you 「Got it…」and goes back to sleep.
Oya - Once, Jurina and Yukko (Kinoshita Yukiko) were sharing the same room. In the middle of the night I received a phone call from Yukko, I guess she had gone straight to bed without even taking her make-up off 「Jurina-san won’t wake-up! We have to get up early tomorrow morning, what should I do?!」. I told her to bring her phone close to Jurina’s ear so she could hear my voice「Jurina wake up, it’s Masana! Wake up now!」, when I heard on the other side 「Shut it! Loli●on!」
Nakanishi - That’s a great anecdote (laugh).
Q - I’ll conceal one letter just in case (laugh).
Oya - She was still half-asleep. I kept telling her「Get up already! You shouldn’t sleep with your make-up!」to which she finally replied 「I get it.」and it seems with that she woke up.
Nakanishi - When she is with Masana, Jurina’s face turns completely into a child’s one.
Oya - But lately she has grown up a lot. It even sounds like lately she is able to wake up by herself.
Nakanishi - Even this long pillow she was always carrying with her, lately she doesn’t take it along at all. But she won’t stop so soon to sleep with someone. Everytime I wake up, she is there sound asleep with her stomach uncovered. I tell her 「Your belly will grow cold」and cover her up again (laugh).
Oya - She is really cute, isn’t she? Like she was in the old days.
Nakanishi - And yet, she has grown and is turning into an adult.
Q - She is still only 15 after all. Listening to your stories, I somehow felt reassured.
III/ Changes brought by the concurrent position
Q - It was announced during the concert at Saitama Super Arena last March that Jurina would hold a concurrent position in Team K. We could see clearly from our seats in the audience the flow of tears on Oya-san’s face the moment the announcement was made.
Oya - I had never imagined, not even once, of the possibility that Jurina could leave SKE. When she was going through hard times I had been at her side, when I was going through hard times she had been with me and gave me strength, so when I thought she would be quitting SKE I was submerged by all those emotions「 I refuse! Don’t go! Don’t leave us! 」.
Nakanishi - Personally, all the memories I had made with Jurina up to that day flashed in my mind, then I wondered what was going to happen to SKE after this. I also seriously wondered what I should do. It was the same feeling as if she had suddenly announced her graduation. Turned out later that it was actually a concurrent position and not a transfer, which calmed me down a bit.
Oya - Same for me.
Q - Since the concurrent position became effective, did Jurina change?
Oya - She tells us about the good aspects of AKB 「Wouldn’t it be best if SKE did things more this way too?」, and about what she learns there.
Nakanishi - I went to see K stage and I think it’s an excellent thing for Jurina to experience dancing in a position other than center, she was bursting with life. No matter where she is, Jurina is Jurina. I was worried she might not feel at ease and experience some painful moments. But it wasn’t the case at all, I saw the same figure I had always seen before. And so, rather than thinking Jurina was going through hardships because of the concurrent position, I now believe she has won a second place where she can be at peace.
One place where she is pampered and one where she can return. (tln : “return” as in “returning home”, though it carries the meaning of “home”, it’s only implied)
She was probably burdened with too much until now, but compared with before her load seems somehow easier to carry.
Oya - That’s what it seems indeed. I once asked her 「Isn’t it hard for you?」and she told me 「Not at all」. And everyone in AKB is treating her with care. So when she said 「Not at all」I’m the one who suddenly felt lonely (laugh).
Q - As if your daughter had left the nest?
Oya - I received a phone call when she was in Okinawa during K-san’s tour. She told me「Right now you know, I’m in Okinawa. Tomorrow I’m going to eat a ton of delicious food!」.
Nakanishi - She knew Masana would definitely react when she told her she was going to eat a lot of delicious things . You must have been「Sounds great, tons of delicious food~」.
Oya - Not at all!!
Q - Lately it has become well known that Masana-san has a fierce appetite (laugh).
Nakanishi - She is building up an「I love eating!」character (laugh).
Oya - That’s not the same! It’s not as if I ate like an ogre! The day after she came back from Okinawa, Jurina came to find me「I made chijimi! It’s a secret!」. She must have been tired and yet she made them herself. It really touched me.
Nakanishi - Meaning she had been lured by food again.
Oya - I’m telling you you’re wrong!!
Nakanishi - And thus, at all times, Jurina always gives her best. No matter how tired she is, even to the utmost limit, I’ve never seen her cut corners. I went to see K-san’s stage and stayed the night with Jurina, when the tour was right around the corner. There were some K stage songs I could perform but Jurina didn’t know any of them at all, and so we practiced together. She remembered everything in 2 or 3 days. She trained while properly preserving her sleeping time, I thought that was impressive. I thought I also wanted to see the result on stage.
Mastering a choreography in 2 or 3 days in totally ok, but at the time she remembered a total of 5 or 6 dances in 2 or 3 days.
Oya - She is the best right, when it comes to remembering things.
Nishishi - She has an incredible memory.
Oya - Since she always goes all out, there are times where she runs out of steam. And when Jurina goes flat like this, (Matsui) Rena comes, quietly, quietly, and suddenly PAN! she snaps. (tln : “snap” as in “suddenly wakes up to take over”)
IV/ Jurina and Rena
Q - Jurina and Rena, from your point of view what sort of relation exists between them?
Oya - We had this same conversation not long ago between members and we agreed that really Jurina and Rena are complete opposites.
Nakanishi - It’s very strange. They’re different from A to Z, but when they line up for example, they are the same height. I seriously think fate has done a splendid work with them.
Oya - Because they are polar opposites, you’d think there are part of them which wouldn’t match with the other, but that’s not the case even for the slightest thing, they really fit each other.
Q - But being “polar opposites”, shouldn’t they repel one another?
Nakanishi - All the contrary, they are a perfect match. Rena for example, she will always be on the defensive but on some rare occasions she would let her guard down… That’s irresistible!
Q - I think I know what you mean (laugh).
Nakanishi - At the very end of our last song 「Kiss Datte Hidarikiki」, the last move is done by Jurina and Rena who pretend to kiss. When they practiced, Jurina was like “let’s do it seriously / for real”, while for Rena it was “No way. No way”. But during the actual performance she did it seriously, as if she was giving in a bit… Ain’t that good?!
Q - How come Nakanishi-san is so excited suddenly (laugh) ?
Oya - But when Jurina is down, Rena works even harder. It’s amazing somehow.
Nakanishi - It’s as if Jurina was the husband and Rena the housewife. On some aspects, they are like those very old and typical married couples. Even though the two concerned would definitely not agree with that analysis.
Q - It’s wonderful. Listening to you I’ve come to love Jurina, SKE48 and you two even more (laugh). To close the interview, if you have something in mind you’d like say to Jurina, please go ahead.
Oya - Jurina and Rena are compared a lot, and sometimes it bothers Jurina. She would say「Rena-chan manages to do that but I can’t」.
But, Jurina, you shouldn’t worry about it, you should go forward being yourself, not comparing yourself with Rena or trying to imitate her, I want you to learn more about yourself. I’m sure you possess at least as many resources as Rena, find them, find those things that distinguish you from Rena and cultivate them. I know you’ll make them grow.
I simply want to say, you don’t need to worry.
Q - I think everyone who reads those words will sympathise with your declaration. What about Nakanishi-san? It could also be about something you wish she would stop (laugh).
Nakanishi - To be bad at waking up then (immediate reply). It’s cute on some aspects, but she really won’t wake up! On a scale from 0 to 8 to rate the capacity to wake up, where 8 is the top mark, I wish she could reach at least 2. This is a Nakanishi’s plea.
Q - As I thought, it was the correct choice to have this discussion with you two. Thank you very much!
「なんてったって、栄ドル」byれなひょん♡ A frog with no recollection of the 1st time it saw SKE perform live in early 2011... Making up for it now? Maybe.
