28th January

Anonymous

The girls (and you) mentioned that the negative votes were supposed to be a way to keep Yuasa in SKE. I doubt that. Not that I'm saying you (and some other wotas) weren't thinking so, but if the tumblr, blog, forum and message board posts weeks ago (both English and 2ch) were an indication of how the SKE fans felt, then I'm not too surprised to see Yuasa getting demolished like this. I believe (at least the majority of) negative voters didn't really mean any harm, though, just lack of thought

There were definitely people who didn’t trust Yuasa, but as I explained yesterday I think it’s mostly due to the fact that fans didn’t know what his role really was and will be.

Not everyone can possibly check articles like those buried in mags like PB, or Bubka. It’s a real shame I myself discovered very late what his real function was. Looking after the girls.

SKE fans have been really frustrated with how SKE was handled compared to AKB, but also NMB. Just today, NMB announced a tour. A real tour, not just stopping in 48 theaters once or twice. SKE had its last one… nearly 2 years ago if I’m not making any mistake? If we were not in this situation with Yuasa leaving, you could be sure threads would have popped up to complain about his inefficiency.

Now, if this had shown up before :

image

卒業発表した日のブログで、オーディションが受けれんかった、自由にやれんかったって書いたけど、それはSKEの運営、湯浅さんのせいではありません。 
マネージャーさんや湯浅さんはみぃと同じ考えで、みぃがやりたいことやれるように最後まで戦ってくれてました。

そして少なくとも、昔は、オーディションをいくつか受けたことがあります。 
目に見える場所にいるメンバーや湯浅さんは叩きやすいと思います。 
でもそれだけじゃないことを少しは理解していただけたら嬉しいです。

The day I announced my graduation, I wrote on this blog that I had not been given the liberty to pass the auditions I wanted to, but this wasn’t neither SKE’s administration, nor Yuasa-san’s doing.

My manager and Yuasa-san were on the same line than Mii, they fought to the bitter end so I could do what I wanted.

Thanks to them, at the very least, I was able to pass some auditions in the past.

I understand how tempting it can be to lynch on Yuasa-san who is standing in the light with the members.

But I’d like you to understand there are more to it that what the eyes can meet.

Yuasa-san, thank you for standing firm while you were severely criticized in order to protect us!

You were there with me since I decided to graduate, looking after me and listening to worries.

For us all, you were the greatest manager possible. 

Mii will always love you dearly! (*^^*)

I doubt anyone upon reading that would have voted Yuasa down out of distrust. But there could have been even more people voting him down to try to keep it to SKE. So in the end, it doesn’t really matter.

Simply, now fans know Yuasa was fighting behind doors for the girls. For their interest. And he is gone…

On another note : Mii, marry me! ( *>-<)

16th January
Yuasa G+ entry, last edited 2013/01/16&#160;07.55 Graduations announcement. Today, 9 SKE48 members (Kuwabara Mizuki, Takada Shiori, Hiramatsu Kanako, Yagami Kumi, Akaeda Ririna, Ogiso Shiori, Ueno Kazumi, Kobayashi Emiri) announced their graduations in front of fans after the stage had ended. I’ve been informed of their intention to graduate and discussed the matter with them since around last summer.  I believe that as each of them have things they yearn on doing, but they also wished to remain SKE48, so they struggled with conflicting feelings. Talks went until late at night, tears were shed , many topics were discussed.  Being already older than the members’ parents , somehow, those were like family talks. There is of course a good part of an idol activities in relation to which family members can give their support to the girls, but there is also a sizeable part of problem related those activities, that parents would be clueless about.  I really felt as if I was their father. Perceiving members like if they were my own daughters, I wanted to answer their expectations and see them reach for the opportunities they desired.  But we don’t live in such a simple world where all members can possibly see what they wish for become reality. Live up to fans expectations and repay them for their support, to enter senbatsu, stand on stage, becoming an actress, becoming a seiyuu, going to College, studying abroad&#8230; Young girls have an infinity of dreams. However, it&#8217;s with pleasure that I’ve received the assurance that as they took their decision, members were gald that they entered SKE48 and could work as part of the group, that even now they loved the theater and their work. As I interact everyday with a large number of members, I’ve come to understand that everyone has something different gnawing them. But when you’re working as a group, those preoccupations become one. Witnessing it from close, I realized what a wonderful thing it was. To always engage in the battle with all your might if you were only one. Right after Kouhaku performance, Kuwabara asked me “Yuasa-san, do you remember? The day of the opening of the theater (October 2010), during the meeting after our first stage Yuasa-san told us 「Let’s make it so that someday SKE48 performs independently in Kouhaku Utagassen」. It finally happened, didn’t it?”  Kuwabara cried. All the members were the same, deeply moved , kindling. It’s thanks to SKE48 members’ power if I was able to show them the way to Kouhaku. Of course, words exchanged on this evening were considerably colored of gratitude directed at fans whose constant support had made it all possible. Until now, together we have earned Oricon’s top ranking, we have performed outside the boundaries Nagoya, we have open a new theater, but we’ve reached a forking. From here, members who will continue their activities with SKE48 and members who are graduating will part ways, but everyone will continue on the road toward their dreams. As much as it&#8217;ll be possible for me, I want to ascertain that members will be able to go forth following the road they picked for themselves. And I’m expecting members who remained to show their tenacity to keep leading SKE48 forward. For me too who have been entrusted with looking after SKE48 since its formation, delivering this information to fans proved to be a painful ordeal. Today before the announcement members came to me 「Yuasa-san is probably the most nervous of us all.」「Please be your usual self.」. Their words made it possible for me to carry out my mission without showing weakness. I hope you’ll keep supporting the graduating members until the day of their graduation. Last, I want to thank Akimoto-sensei from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to write here my feelings regarding graduations in case. From now on too, please keep supporting SKE48. SKE48 Theater Manager - Yuasa Hiroshi -

Yuasa G+ entry, last edited 2013/01/16 07.55

Graduations announcement.

Today, 9 SKE48 members (Kuwabara Mizuki, Takada Shiori, Hiramatsu Kanako, Yagami Kumi, Akaeda Ririna, Ogiso Shiori, Ueno Kazumi, Kobayashi Emiri) announced their graduations in front of fans after the stage had ended.

I’ve been informed of their intention to graduate and discussed the matter with them since around last summer.  I believe that as each of them have things they yearn on doing, but they also wished to remain SKE48, so they struggled with conflicting feelings.

Talks went until late at night, tears were shed , many topics were discussed.  Being already older than the members’ parents , somehow, those were like family talks. There is of course a good part of an idol activities in relation to which family members can give their support to the girls, but there is also a sizeable part of problem related those activities, that parents would be clueless about.  I really felt as if I was their father. Perceiving members like if they were my own daughters, I wanted to answer their expectations and see them reach for the opportunities they desired.  But we don’t live in such a simple world where all members can possibly see what they wish for become reality.

Live up to fans expectations and repay them for their support, to enter senbatsu, stand on stage, becoming an actress, becoming a seiyuu, going to College, studying abroad… Young girls have an infinity of dreams.

However, it’s with pleasure that I’ve received the assurance that as they took their decision, members were gald that they entered SKE48 and could work as part of the group, that even now they loved the theater and their work.

As I interact everyday with a large number of members, I’ve come to understand that everyone has something different gnawing them. But when you’re working as a group, those preoccupations become one. Witnessing it from close, I realized what a wonderful thing it was. To always engage in the battle with all your might if you were only one.

Right after Kouhaku performance, Kuwabara asked me “Yuasa-san, do you remember? The day of the opening of the theater (October 2010), during the meeting after our first stage Yuasa-san told us 「Let’s make it so that someday SKE48 performs independently in Kouhaku Utagassen」. It finally happened, didn’t it?”  Kuwabara cried. All the members were the same, deeply moved , kindling. It’s thanks to SKE48 members’ power if I was able to show them the way to Kouhaku. Of course, words exchanged on this evening were considerably colored of gratitude directed at fans whose constant support had made it all possible.

Until now, together we have earned Oricon’s top ranking, we have performed outside the boundaries Nagoya, we have open a new theater, but we’ve reached a forking.

From here, members who will continue their activities with SKE48 and members who are graduating will part ways, but everyone will continue on the road toward their dreams. As much as it’ll be possible for me, I want to ascertain that members will be able to go forth following the road they picked for themselves. And I’m expecting members who remained to show their tenacity to keep leading SKE48 forward. For me too who have been entrusted with looking after SKE48 since its formation, delivering this information to fans proved to be a painful ordeal.

Today before the announcement members came to me 「Yuasa-san is probably the most nervous of us all.」「Please be your usual self.」. Their words made it possible for me to carry out my mission without showing weakness.

I hope you’ll keep supporting the graduating members until the day of their graduation.

Last, I want to thank Akimoto-sensei from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to write here my feelings regarding graduations in case.

From now on too, please keep supporting SKE48.

SKE48 Theater Manager - Yuasa Hiroshi -

12th July

Yuasa Hiroshi’s, SKE48 theater manager, interview from Weekly Playboy SKE special.

Decided to translate it so everybody would know a bit more about the man in charge of SKE (well, in the measure of what power Aki-P actually gives him). I’m myself not a huge fan of kuma-san. I have no doubt he likes the members and cares for them, but apart from that he is pretty useless… and spineless. He never publicly stands for SKE48 nor does he go to confront Aki-P or whoever need to be when time calls for it… The interview reveals it clearly enough : he watched over the members individually, but not after SKE48 per se.

I wonder if it wouldn’t be better to give him the title of nanny rather than manager　（/TДT)/

—-

SKE48 theater manager, Yuasa Hiroshi. Being in contact with the members as well as the fans in the theater, what does his position require to think about and what does everyday look like for him? That’s what we will try to figure out in this interview.

Q First, could you tell us about your childhood?

Yuasa - It may come as a surprise, but I was raised in a rich family, my father was running a company. But as he made blunders in the gestion, trouble started. We traded our vast house for a multi-unit apartment. When I was in my 5th year of elementary school, I received The Beatles Best Album from my parents. I was deeply moved by 「Penny Lane」, and I fell in love with the Carpenters. I also loved watching the TV, I was a “child of the TV”. Remembering this now, that’s probably around that time I decided to reach for the world of entertainment.
As a child, my dream was to be a pilot. Next I wanted to become hotel-keeper. But when I was a student, the disco boom occurred and I wouldn’t stop having fun surfing and skiing. I went astray of my dream only having in mind to have fun, I ended up making a lot of detours…

Q How did you end up being offered this position?

I worked for department stores and as real estate agent, I also went studying abroad and in 2000 I started a business with ex-television announcer from Asahi TV, Tsuji Yoshinari. From there I got to meet with a lot of people and when SKE48 was formed I was proposed to take on its management.

Q Concretely, what does your daily schedule look like?

Until late at night I read emails, return them and each morning I’m off to work at around 11am. We have meetings, I go back and forth between Tokyo and Nagoya, I watch over the theater’s performances, I review staff’s reports about the stages, I return home in the dead of night and check my emails again. Repeating that process everyday.
It also happens that I receive calls in the middle of the night from members or their parents regarding issues they want to discuss. There is no time to rest in this job. But lately I’ve come to think I should maybe take some time off. But it is also true that the members are around the same age as my daughter. Being a bit like a father for all of them, I want to keep doing my best a little longer.

Q In such a work, what is the most important thing according to you?

To firmly keep an eye on the members. Pay attention to all of their worries, make sure that each and every one of them is in good condition to deliver their best performance. On top of that, I have to report of their appeal to Akimoto sensei. In the end, that’s us, people of the theater, who know the members individually the best. Management can’t be reduced simply to schedule arrangement.

Q Despite the difference of gender and the disparity in age you’ve to be constantly connected to the members. What are you the most vigilant about?

That they are always neat and tidy and make sure they don’t neglect their schoolwork. The most difficult part is when the members are in high school, I need to keep record of their non-attendances and make sure they don’t skip school without telling their parents. We push those girls to go to school, even if against their own will…
I make a point of having time to connect with all the members individually. No matter how trivial it may be, I’m open to talk about everything with the members. Therefore no matter the time of the day or night, I take the time necessary to talk with them.

Q You’re like a teacher figure for them, no?

Something like that. And in this school there are only students with high aspirations (laugh). However it’s also true that in SKE48 the selection (tln : senbatsu) system exists. And the vast majority of the members aren’t picked out to enter said selection. I have to make sure that even though they aren’t, I never let go of them, that they never feel left aside. But in the world of show-business, it happens that no matter how hard you try, you’re not acknowledged. Even though, it’s our mission to never betray, no matter what, those persons who give their best.

On the other hand, I tell the senbatsu members that they should never get ahead of themselves. When they appear on tv, other members have to ensure the stage ends without accident by performing as their under. There are also those people who make the songs, people who coach their dance lessons, people who take care of their costumes… If they’re able to get their work done, it’s thanks to the involvement of a lot of different persons. I want them to understand this and never lose sight of this reality.

Come to think of it, right before Team E first stage, I got enraged when I witnessed the sluggish attitude of the members and proclaimed 「The team is dissolved! We will organize a new round of auditions!」. After that the members cried aloud. I wanted them to understand that it was impossible for performers to convey a positive energy to their fans if they don’t put all their heart into it.

Q You have created the 「Manager’s room」, a place for fans to directly address you during handshake events…

I did so because there are things I wouldn’t understand if I couldn’t hear the fans’ voices directly. There, everybody is serious and fired up. So I too have to answer them with conviction. I also receive quite a lot of criticisms/reproaches (wry smile), but that too makes me glad. Ah, and we can take picture together, forming a heart with our hands.   (tln : Yuasa selects some questions he received during the HS events and post them on his G+ page with the answers. Things is, he never gives clear answers and always replays by “I would indeed like to…” “I think that maybe…” “I’ll talk about it with avex…” ‘orz)

Q As of now, SKE48 doesn’t have it’s own exclusive theater. But as the title of the concert held on April 14th and 15th hinted at it, fans have had their expectations for such an exclusive theater to be complete soon.

For a long time I have requested, in a lot of ways, for an exclusive theater to be built. I even pulled out concrete plans for the project. But I don’t think of leaving SUNSHINE SAKAE. Because that’s SKE48’s sacred place.

Q The other day, it was announced that Matsui Jurina would hold two positions, becoming also a member of AKB48. To what degree were you involved in this announcement?

I had not heard the first thing about it. That day I was backstage watching the monitor, I only knew about it when Toga-chan (AKB48 theater manager, Togasaki Tomonobu) made the announcement. At first I thought Jurina would be completely transferred to Team K, but she was actually going to hold two positions at the time. If that was going to be so, then I thought it could be a great opportunity for Jurina.
We are supporting her with all our might.

Q Would you say you’re lucky to do this job?

Everyday I receive comments from both members and fans. I sometimes get angry too. But no matter how hard things get, when I hear fans saying 「You did things well」, I’m saved by those simple words. It could be that this work is the best fitting for a naive person like myself.