(Get・ω・Strong)
Rena speaking (・ω・)
There are many choices that need to be made in life.
Depending on the person crossroads differ, length of the roads they stride along varies too.
Because that’s the truth I believe in, I can accept the graduation announcements which where made today by the concerned members.
It might be an awkward way to put it, but for everyone comes a point where those words have to be spoken, a path we will all walk.
When the time for those 9 members to graduate comes, will start for them a new battle to reach their own dreams, but I believe it will also be a time where we will have to show our tenacity.
No matter what, we have to become strong.
(Re・ω・Na)
2D enthusiasts association 1st intervention in Cyzo’s magazine in July 2010.
Subject : Kuroshitsuji.
ps : After staring at those pictures for an indecent long time, I’ve decided Rena was the best xxx48 dansou. Nobody is ever gonna beat this Sebastian cosplay. Ever.
—-
In their lectures, the proud (?) members of the “2D enthusiasts association” will address topics such as manga or anime, discussing the value of “2D works” from their own point of view as to present them to adults unfamiliar with the subject. To kick off this corner, the first teaching material to have been picked is the lately famous manga, which has been adapted into anime too, 「Kuroshitsuji」 (Square Enix). To my surprise, it seems Matsui-san had not read it until now.
Matsui Rena - Exact. But I read the 1st two volumes we lent me and got interested in knowing what happens next. But, the hero’s butler, Sebastian, didn’t make a strong impression on me, I much preferred Ciel. I can’t get enough of him in white shirt, suits him so well!
- But isn’t Sebastian wearing a white shirt more often than Ciel? He is a butler after all…
Matsui - Well…. I prefer the sense of purity that comes off of Ciel in white shirt. But to tell the truth I also have a thing for slender silhouettes and I like cute young male characters.
Nakanishi Yuka - Something like 「I can’t get to like adults」?
Matsui - Tha- That’s not it! True that lately there is this rumor 「Suspicions about Matsui Rena loving shota」 spreading among the girls and members of the staff….
- In other manga, what kind of male character do you like?
Matsui - In 「Arakawa under the bridge」, I yearn after the good-for-nothing side of the protagonist. And when he regressed to an infantile stage, he somehow looked like Ciel, he was so adorable then!!
- No doubt left, you really like shota….
Hiramatsu Kanako - Rather than Ciel, I much prefer Sebastian~
Nakanishi - Kana-chan likes to root for popular characters, doesn’t she.
Hiramatsu - That’s not true. In 「Hakuouki」 my number one is Saitou Hajime and he isn’t the most popular! That’s Tatsumi Hijikata!
Matsui - Ne~, what is good about Saitou Hajime? You don’t think he looks like a pineapple with this hairdo?
Hiramtasu - What the….! And Ciel then, he is just a brat. You darn shota lover~!!
Matsui - ….
Nakanishi - Eh, no refutation?! (laugh)
- Come to think of it, you haven’t said a single word Furukawa-san. Could it be that you didn’t read 「Kuroshitsuji」?
Furukawa Airi - No, a friend lent me his/her books so I read it. It’s just that I like bishoujo so… Ah, but in the 2nd volume Ciel cross-dresses as a girl and gets blindfolded, he is even tied up. That set my heart on fire~♥.
- I see. What about the content of the work itself?
Furukawa - Hum, well …You see, again, I like bishoujo.
- Roger that 「I’m not interested if there are too few female characters appearing」, right? (laugh) So, if you had to point out at other qualities of the manga…
Nakanishi - I like the setting and how England is depict in the books. I’m subjugated by the characters clothes and hairstyles.
Hiramatsu - I also love how cute the Gothic style of 「Kuroshitsuji」 is! Simply looking at the art is fun!
Matsui - The style sure is popular among girls.
Nakanishi - Simply, when you start reading it with certain expectations… it can turn to be a bit hazardous (laugh).
Furukawa - Hum. But if you’re of those who enjoy the atmosphere and characters in manga then it’s ok.
- Chances are the title was initially planed for a short serialization. Thus the development seems a bit awkward , no?
Hiramatsu - But if you keep reading, the story gets better. I’d say the it really becomes interesting in volume 3, maybe?
Nakanishi - I’d rather say in volume 4~
Matsui - Well, everybody will enjoy the story according to his or her won taste!
- Matsui-san, suddenly settling the discussion… As expected of SKE48 appointed moderator.
Nakanishi - Moderator and in charge of the shota departement!
Matsui - Fine, I will aknwoledge it…. Matsui Rena likes shota! (laugh)
——
SKE48 Postscript : 「Before this shooting I had never cosplay nor cross-dress, as I admired both I was really happy to be given the opportunity to do it. But truth is I had not read 「Kuroshitsuji」 yet, so I borrowed 2 volumes from Yuka-chan at the last minute. Now I regret that as a result I was only able to make reference to shota in link with this work (laugh). 」(Matsui Rena)
放課後、2次元同好会 part 1
2D enthusiasts association talk about 「Love Plus」 in Cyzo, first published in September 2010.
Where Airin presents her girlfriend to the world : Nene-san.
—-
This time, as a substitute for Matsui Rena, we welcome a new participant, Team KII Takayanagi Akane for the 3rd edition of this corner. The 1st episode had for theme 「Kuroshitsuji」(Square Enix), the 2nd was about 「Hakuouki」(Idea Factory), even though both are pieces with great popularity, none had seemed to awaken the interest of Furukawa-san, who consequently only shared with us her thoughts on the subjects in 2 or 3 words…
Furukawa Airi - True. But being a “bishoujo ota”, there is nothing I can do about that.
Given the situation, I chose a subject tailor made for Furukawa-san this time. Rumor has it boys around Japan have been infatuated with this title since its release last June : the communication game 「Love Plus +」! The fundamental aspects of the game are the same as the previous opus 「Love Plus」 (both produced by Konami), release in September of last year. Could you tell us then where lies the charm of a game such as 「Love Plus +」?
Furukawa - In tasting the realistic “feeling of having a girlfriend”. Until now in this type of game if you managed to make the heroine your girlfriend you reached the happy ending… and that was the end of the party. Here once you start dating the game continues! Time flows in parallel in our world and in the game, it keeps on matching real time and even seasons. There are also a lot of systems making use DS various functions, for example using the mic you can talk directly with the heroine, or you can brush her face or breast with the touch pen. Ah, but if you touch her breast she’ll hate you (laugh).
- The ojou-sama classmate, Takane Manaka ; the tsundere under-classmate, Kobayakawa Rinko ; the adult looking upper-classmate, Anegasaki Nene. Among those 3 heroines, who is your first oshi?
Furukawa - Nene-san! And rather than my number one oshi, she is my girlfriend. We are dating ♥.
Takayanagi Akane - Watching Airin being all 「Ah so cute, I’m melting」when she plays, little by little I also came to want to try it (laugh).
Nakanishi Yuka - I know what you mean. With Airin who keeps muttering 「Nene-san is so cute! Nene-san~」 I wonder 「「Love Plus」is really that fun?」 (laugh).
Hiramatsu Kanako - Me too when I watch Airin I think 「That is not only otome games, bishoujo games too are nice」. Also gestures of the girls in 「Love Plus」 are perfect. Like, they blink often and sway lightly.
Nakanishi - Eh? But, in real life a girl like that would be annoying no?
Hiramatsu - She would not! With this, 2D girls manage to fascinate men, idoles like us are facing a grave peril! Because, once they notice the charm of 2D girls I’m scared they won’t have interest in 3D girls anymore.
- 「Love Plus」 would be menacing idols’ popularity? How are you going to counter the it?!
Hiramatsu - First of all during stages performance I’ve decided to shift from foot to foot lightly. And to go like 「Well~ You see~」.
Nakanishi - ‘knew it! Told you that was annoying…
- By the way, how would you react if your own boyfriend was playing 「Love Plus」?
Hiramatsu - Absolutely no way! 「Why are you not looking at Kana only?! That’s it, I break up with you~!! (tears)」… That’s how I’d be.
Takayanagi - If we were to play when we are together I’d think 「Well, since I’m playing too that’s ok」. But I’d be against him playing by himself!
Furukawa - Usually, isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? (laugh) I personally believe flirting is irresistible in 2D like in 3D world so I don’t really mind. But 2D and 3D are different stories.
Nakanishi - Airin… unexpectedly realist of you (laugh).
2D enthusiasts association talk about Hakuouki, 1st published in Cyzo in August 2010.
Where we learn that : Rena not simply goes after loli, but shota too. And that Airin decidedly got no interest in 2D males, even preferring to play with virtual tiles rather than to hear about it. Enjoy!
—-
In this serie, SKE48’s “2D enthusiasts association” + Nakanishi-san, offer to our public lectures about “2D works” currently in vogue. Theme for this 2nd episode will be the popular otome game serie adapted in anime this spring 「Hakuouki」 (Idea Factory). Since Haramatsu-san played the PSP edition of the game, she has been unusually fascinated by the title.
Hiramatsu Kanako - It’s true. I don’t think there is any other otome game with a story that deep. I cried several times reading the “samurai way of life” of those Shinsengumi soldiers~! Goal of the game is to raise the soldiers degree of fondness/love toward yourself by making different choices and to conclude the party with an happy ending…. I looked for specific advices about the game and how to complete Hijikata Toshisou-san route. You HAVE to play until the very end. Otherwise you could play a certain time and think the story ends there and you’d leave it at it with a sad memory… I myself stopped right in the middle of a party, half a year ago.
- Half a year?! Don’t you think it’s time you finish it…? I suppose Hijikata-san is your favorite character?
Hiramatsu - No. My number one is Saitou Hajime, and behind him Harada Sanosuke-san. Hijikata would be 5th or maybe 6th. But I love all the characters of 「Hakuouki」. When I played the game, I understood the real meaning of “D.D”, “dare demo daisuki” (tln: loving everyone) and how some of our fans could feel! You can’t help it when you have a lot of oshimen, that’s how it is!
- I see, so playing allowed you to better understand the fans state of mind. By the way, it seems like there were several versions of the game released, one for PSP and another for DS, does it mean there were variations in the versions?
Hiramatsu - There were, like the CG galleries were different with part of the stills ported on both versions and some were exclusive, tokuten (tln : special favor) varied too. This way fans are more tempted to buy both.
Matsui Rena - That’s pretty common with otome game, right? Me too some time ago I was lured to buy the psp version of 「Heart no Kuni no Alice」 (Prototype) because of the tokuten. Even though I had already finish the PC edition. By the way, in 「Hakuouki」 I prefer Toudou Heisuke. I think he is cute with his juvenile look ♥.
Nakanishi Yuka - As expect of Matsui Rena-san and her love for young boys (laugh). I would chose Harata-san probably. Because his sugar level is the highest. (tln : sugar level / 糖度 / toudou -> related to how much sweet talk a male character delivers in a game. If he is really sweet, he is said to have a “high sugar level”, like Harata-san in this case).
Furukawa Airi - I personally like gal game , so I don’t know the first thing about 「Hakuouki」.
Hiramatsu - No but, Airin! Today in the shinkansen I was putting all my heart in the conversation to try to get you interested in 「Hakuouki」and you simply replied 「Ah, is that so?」 while you kept playing some mahjong game on your DS!
Furukawa - Ah, but it’s not like I hate the game. Just…well….
Matsui - It sounds like you don’t have the slightest interest in it though (laugh).
- Do you happen to check which seiyuu is playing in before to buy an otome game?
Nakanishi - Check? I examine the seiyuu list you mean! It’s more like 「If I can hear that seiyuu telling me 「I love you」 I should probably buy it」 (laugh). My favorite seiyuu playing in 「Hakuouki」 is Koyasu Takehito-san.
Matsui - I love the uniqueness of Kamiya Hiroshi’s voice. Speaking of which Kana-chan, you like otome game but you don’t have that much interest in seiyuus, right?
Hiramatsu - Hum. But I pay proper attention to the voices in the 「Hakuouki」anime. To tell the truth I was scared they destroy the game atmosphere in the anime adaptation, so I was against the idea at first, but after watching the result I thought 「Oh, I can follow that ♥」
- Starting in October, there will also be a stage adaptation of the title.
Hiramatsu - Eh?! That’s a bit… Because see, there is no way 3D can beat 2D wonderfulness!
Maria-sama ga Miteru talk between Airin, Churi, Nishishi and Kanakaka. From the 2次元同好会/ Nijigen Doukoukai photobook - (2D enthusiasts association). This interview was originally published in Cyzo, in January 2011 (at the time, Yuimin was still part of SKE48 and president of the NijigenDo).
Beware, yuri inside~
—————
After 2 months our experts are back, this time joined by Takayanagi Akane. Today’s discussion will revolves around the movie adaptation, released last month, of the popular light novel 「Maria-sama ga Miteru」. Those past years, girls love stories or those depicting strong bounds between female characters, genre commonly named 「yuri」 , have seen a big increase in 2D works. And 「Marimite」has been the instigator of this influx…. or so I heard.
Takayanagi Akane - As far as I’m concerned, I’ve this image “yuri=Airin” (laugh).
Furukawa Airi - Certainly because I like yuri things. I’ve all the volumes of 「Marimite」at home, I also sometime buy yuri manga. Overall, yuri works are wrapped in a mist of fine art beauty. That’s the key point.
Speaking of which, in Hiramatsu-san Wikipedia page there was this mysterious description that appeared for an hour 「Homosexual (tln: “same gender lover” in the text) who made her coming out」. …. What was that about?
Hiramatsu Kanako - Since I keep saying to Team S Deguchi Aki-chan 「I love you」, someone probably had the wrong idea. Also the day of Yuimin’s birthday (Matsushita Yui, Team S member, president of the 2D enthusiasts association), I called Aki-chan from the hotel room we were staying at together for work. It happened what I was wearing at that time was making it impossible to go out of our room (laugh). (tln: Kanako is here subtly saying she was either naked or in panties lol) And so Yuimin wrote this misleading entry on her blog 「The circumstances of Kanako and Aki phone call are such I can absolutely not speak about it on my blog 」! Well, I’m very close from Aki-chan so it’s not really a big issue. We even promised to each other to go watch the 「Marimite」movie together ♪.
Nakanishi Yuka - 「Marimite」you say? Those uncalled-for suspicions will only increase (laugh).
Kanako - Is that so? But compared to other yuri works, 「Marimite」is quite tone down isn’t it?
Yuka - That’s something I appreciate about 「Marimite」. The relation between Yumi and Sachiko-onee-sama, is it a sibling-like relationship, are they simply 「Soeur」, or is it really love…. There is room for everyone to interpret it as he/she wants.
Airi - Exactly! That’s great when there is room for imagination/delusion, isn’t it? But the truth is I wouldn’t want to enrol in Lilian Girls’ Academy (laugh).
Kanako - Eh~, why?! Looks like such an oujou-sama school, I totally admire those places.
Yuka - On my end too Lilian Girls’ Academy is a bit…. Wouldn’t it feel weird for me to say things like 「Gokigenyou」? (tln : very polite form to greet/part with people)
Kanako - Hum, don’t want.
Yuka - No need to spontaneously agree!!
Nankanishi-san gives this image that she would be popular among person of the same gender, did it actually happened to you to be confessed to by girls?
Yuka - It did happen.
Akane - How did you answer her?!
Yuka - 「If I come to like you in return there will be no problem for us to date, so I’ll let you like me.」
Airi - Oh! Ohhhhh! So cool!! But me too, if I was confessed to by a beautiful girl who is totally my type I would probably date her….
Akane - Hum. I think I would go out with her too.
Kanako - Ehー!? Actually during my high school days, I’ve been confessed to by a member of my tennis club. I was totally taken aback at the time and I flatly declined her…. She was very tomboyish. Much like Nakanishi.
Yuka - Oi!! Well, between SKE members skinship is quite intense so when we grow used to it maybe it lead us to think 「I could date a girl someday」.
Airi - Also, I think the visual factor plays a role. At the very least, I think all members are cute, so I gladly accept the furious skinship (laugh).
Kanako - If it was for beauties of another planet like Sasaki Nozomi or Kitagawa Keiko, I could probably go out with them. But generally speaking, I wouldn’t consider dating another girl. I better say it and make it clear, or my Wikipedia page may be updated again~!!
March 2012 Entame magazine, pages 18-19. Page 19 chart has been (RenAi bit lol) translated here. Not sure if there is a full translation around. Let me know if you’re interested.
So yeah, Valentine is drawing close, bringing along its infamous cheesy interviews. The 3 victims this time: KanaKana, Masana, Jurina.
——-
The 3 answer earnestly to our love inquiries 「Openhearted round table discussion start !」
Q – The kind of person you like ?
Kanako – I’m often told it’s surprising but if I have to pick a type then someone rather dark, delicate and diligent. I like people who have great fine arts sensibility.
Masana – My ideal-one is Amasawa Seiji from « Whisper from the heart » (movie Ghibli)
Kanako – Ah, good choice ~
Masana – More than anything, I like people with sharp skills.
Jurina – I’m weak toward people with a gap. For example someone peppy and high spirited in appearance, looking a bit gaudy, but who gives everything when it comes to work.
Q – Something that makes your heart twinge inevitably
Kanako – I like people older than me, like the actor Oosawa Takao. I find attractive the settled personality and reliable aura they give away. Also men who looks good in suits and who are fluent in English. What about you Jurina ?
Jurina – I’ve rather big hands for a girl, it bugs me somehow. So my heart skip a bit every time someone with bigger hands than me tells me 「Your hands, they’re small !」. Even during handshake events, my hearts would start beating fast. (beaming)
Masana – I got a fracture from playing dodge-ball in elementary school…
Kanako – Ouch ! Must hurt !!
Masana – So, someone who is good at catching balls (laugh). I want someone who manages where I fail. Since I’m bad at it, someone who can solve without difficulty math problems ♡
Q – The kind of date you want to experience
Masana – Rather than something I want to experience now, that’s something I dreamed of before. After his club activity, some boy comes back to the classroom. I’m seating at my desk, reading a book. He starts searching for what he had forgotten but all his supplies would spill on the floor. …
Jurina – Oh my god, they’re going to talk to each other ! (laugh)
Masana – I get up and start helping him cleaning, when our hands brush 「Ah— !」. And so we leave school together that day, our fist date.
Kanako – I want to experience waiting for my date in front of Nagoya station Golden Clock .
Jurina – It’s a meeting spot like Hachiko in Shibuya.
Kaneko – But it’s more romantic ! So I want to be waiting there.
Jurina – If it’s during winter, I want to share a scarf with my date.
Kanako – Eh～ People don’t do that anymore nowadays (laugh).
Jurina – For real ? You’re kidding !
Masana – Agree. I’ve never seen anyone doing that in town (laugh).
Jurina – Ah, then walking while holding hands in the same pocket, is that ok ?
Masana – You can do that !
Q – What kind of relationship do you want ?
Jurina – Probably a relationship where I’m spoiled, just like I am now by the members, I guess I’d be extremely clingy…
Masana – I’d want to be pampered too. Seating under the kotatsu , if I say「It’s cold outside, I don’t want to move from here」, I want to hear 「Alright, let’s stay here together then」.
Kanako – Eh～ I’ll pass on that (laugh). I would probably say 「I love you」everyday.
Jurina – Kyaa～ Sounds nice ! Also exchanging mails everyday.
Masana – But if you’re glued to each other everyday, it’s like you had already moved in together no?
Jurina – Indeed ! It’s wasting the good time you can enjoy together once you’re married. So, it’s enough to meet on Saturdays I guess.
Q – Any specific requirement for your partner ?
Masana – To be romantic at heart.
Kanako – Waooo, that’s cute (laugh) !
Masana – Always ok for a trip in bicycle, looking at the stars or climb on top of some hill. Also, someone who wants to stay by my side.
Jurina – My condition is that it must be someone older than me !
Kanako – Eh- ! Are you not scared to make your younger fans sad (laugh) ?
Jurina – I’m talking about « mental age » here ♪ To tell the truth, that’s because when I look at my school mates for example, I can’t help thinking they’re puerile.
Masana – When you say older, by which extent approximately ?
Jurina – As long is my mother gives her green light, any age gap is OK (laugh).
Kanako – Seriously ? For me it needs to be someone who tells me 「You’re the only one in my eyes」. If I say 「Hey, isn’t that girl over there pretty ?」, I want to be answered 「You’re way cutter」.
Jurina – Uwaa～ That’s so sweet !!
Kanako – Also someone who cares about family. Someone for whom family isn’t important can’t hold anyone dear in my opinion. Those are my two conditions !
Q – When do you want to get married ?
Jurina – When I’m about 23 ?
Kanako – I – Isn’t that a bit young ?
Jurina – But, if you think about it, it leaves me another 9 years (laugh).
Masana – I wanted to become a kindergarten teacher, so I want to raise kids. I don’t know about getting married though. If I raise a kid, I will devote everything to him/her, I probably won’t care anymore about what becomes of me.
Kanako – Around 27 for me I think. Also to become a mother around that age. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be with my loved one and gives birth to a child that looks just like me ?
Jurina – That would be beyond miracle !
Masana – Kana-chan will become an extremely cute mother I’m sure !
Kanako – Really ? I will need to be careful however, being like me he/she will start throwing a tantrum every-time I leave him/her alone (laugh).
Masana – If I have a son and he gets a girlfriend, I’ll want to question him 「What kind of girl is she ?」 !!
Jurina – Scary ! I would never want to be your child～ (laugh)
Q – Do you seriously want to fall in love ?
Masana – Right now being part of SKE48 I feel completely fulfilled, so I don’t need to.
Kanako – This ! That’s something I aspire to, but not now.
Jurina – Looking at my middle school friends I sometime think 「Must be nice ～」, but since I’m clumsy I don’t think I could handle both. I wouldn’t be able to focus all my attention on my partners inside SKE48 (laugh). So for no it’s ok not to fall in love !!
Hiramatsu Kanako & Mastui Jurina
「Jurina is like a prince coming out of a manga」 -Kanako-
J - If I was a guy, I would date Kana-chan. K- Really? I’m glad!! J- You dress very femininely, your voice and gestures are really cute too. K- If Jurina was to appear in a shoujo manga, no doubt she would be a Prince. J- So, what kind of date should we have? K- I want us to make a cake. J- I’ll embrace you from behind while you’re baking then. K- Kyaaa! (beaming)
Love letter
To Jurina
Your behavior an (?) make me go ♥ dokidoki ♥ KyunKyun! I love that handsome Jurina who always protects me and pushes me forward. If there was a boy like you, I’d probably fall for him ♥.
I Love you (daisuki), Jurina.
From Kanako.
———-
To Kanako,
Girly…
Even your voice is cute Kanako, I really love you ♥
But, what I like the most… It’s when you act all embarrassed….
So from now on, I’ll tease you a lot. Brass yourself ♥
I looo~ve you!!!
by Jurina
「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.
