[GENERAL] The Sakurazaka46 / Keyakizaka46 Thread

For me it was Kyocera Dome as the last stop that make me think it's gonna be gradcon. I know there's already a lot of hint, but I hope Hono not graduate yet atleast until the end 2025.

 

There's this video on my X tl about Mio and Yuu, I wonder if this real video or not but it seem AI to me and when I looked up on their tiktok acc there's no kind of video. Maybe I am too sensitive, but that's really unaceptable whether it's joke or no knowing that Mio still underage. I realize now that Saku gotten more fans, those called new fans were annoying. Starting a war with other group fans, deepfake member with unappropiate thing, etc.

 

Honestly graduation flag is so high for Hono. But with her popularity, she can still be in sakurazaka. I don't think the agency will rush her. I can see

new photobook
Final kyocero dome
New album
And the concept of this year means like the peak of sakurazaka before the graduation flag will be coming next year. It feels like when nanase decide to graduate and every members and agency tried to postpone it as much as they can. Because currently it is their prime.... they are going up and not down like the other two groups

it will be hono > run/rin > rena/zono > ten (ideally)
I like all osaka members (tenrinno) so I don't anticipate it

losing hono will lost a significant fans, but it term as a whole, since hono rarely be the face of sakurazaka, it might not hurt saku so much. Not until hikaru also is graduating. It might be surprising if ten ends up graduating first lol

 

Can we all here stop the G-conspiracy theories and crystall-balling and put an end to the G-jinxing for the group? Like, please? Can we let events roll naturally, enjoy the new productions, the new lives and the new upcoming fresh members? The group still is skyrocketing and that's all that matters...

 

I think it's good to speculate so long as it's with positive connotations.

In light of Miichan's graduation announcement, there will be no more members of the 1st generation of keyakizaka46. That's a huge milestone that should be spoken about. And I think that's wonderful. I've always imagined how the last graduation concert of a 1ki member would play out. From 48 to 46, other idol franchises alike, they always have at the very least, a homage to the graduating idol and her generational peak. Given how kind snf have been towards graduating 1ki since sakurazaka has been formed, I have no doubt in my mind that this one will be great, and I'm very excited to see what they come up with. But it also makes me speculate for the 2nd gen, who are quite literally next in line to reach the end of the slope. Graduations are always anxiety inducing pre-announcement and a shock to the system when they're announced, but the time after that can be filled with lots of time to reminisce and be grateful for the years we've spent with these members and this iteration of the group. The first chapter of Sakurazaka will end with this milestone and with that lots of new goals and pitfalls and memories. Keyakizaka still lives on in the 2ki who joined before the group changed, and I wholeheartedly believe 3ki embody the spirit of Keyakizaka too.

So to me, graduation speculation is fun, emotional, and rewarding. The best part is seeing them grow up as adults and share their lives with us. And if they don't, we still get to keep the fond memories of them as an idol. I spent the last few days listening to old keyaki and hiragana songs and feeling melancholy, nostalgia, but overall an unsurmountable feeling of gratitude towards the members of keyakizaka, and the members who continue the legacy through sakurazaka and hinatazaka. It's shocking to me that i've been watching the group since it's formation.. had my rebellious teenage phase alongside the group's, and now feel a lot more in tune with myself, much like i feel sakurazaka has truly found it's character. 10 years.. i'm very grateful and excited to keep loving the next iteration of the group.

My biggest hope and dream is to see them all together again for one last keyaki fes, but i'll take a cute photo of them backstage too haha

 

Do you think there is any particular reason in the low number of photo books Sakurazaka release? I mean only 1 last year when the other 46groups had like 5-6 each, and we already have two Nogi and one Hinata book for this year. No books for the graduating first gens, no books for centers like Hikaru, Karin and Ten. There is a clear difference between Sakurazaka and the other two groups, and it just made me curious.

 

Maybe Run, Karin and Ten aren´t interested in releasing PBs. They might be the "no pb" type of girls. I think however it´s time for a Saku group PB, if they don´t release this year, then they never will.

 

PB usually associated with bikinis or lingerie, I think that's why some of our girls was debating whether doing it or not. But I think from trio center, Hikaru might have a chance to realese it in the future. On the other hand I want Tenchan realese photobook about every picture she take or something like satsu-pb where the content was her pict which taken by other member.

 

As much as Hikaru has really caught my attention recently and I find her absolutely stunning, I feel like she doesn't have the figure to do a PB. I think Matsuri, Takemoto, and Ten have the highest chance of releasing one next. It's probably still too early for any 3rd gens right now.

 

@SunlitZelkova I would argue otherwise my friend, if I recall some old pictures of Meimei wearing black shorts and black sweaters(?): She was super cute and on the other hand quite sexy yet keeping her innocence. Of course a PB doeasn't have to include bikinis, lingerie or bikini swimsuits. On the other hand, petite girls are such a blessing! Especially if these petite girls are strong and explosive enough - like Run and Meimei - a sign of a strong and healthy body. Personally I find tall and lanky girls somewhat less attractive (Habu and of course my beloved Miu-chan are exceptions). So regarding Saku girls, I group Runrun in the group of girls that would make for a succesful PB. For the moment, I would argue that Ten-chan would be the absolutely perfect candidate for a PB that would cover all tastes...

 

PB conversations can very quickly lean into being weird, so to restrain the convo leading that way I will say, I would like to see more tasteful photobooks being released from them. I don't mind bikini pics by any means but I would rather the books focus on their personal style and beauty. Something that showcases their hobbies or even just pics from their camera roll haha. It's clear the girls have no interest in having PB's in the traditional sense, so it's better to lean into the style of PB's they would be comfortable doing. I can see Karin, Run, Hono, Matsuri, Rei and Rena definitely releasing one each over the next 3 years.

 

Habu's PB could be an argument that you don't need to have bikini/lingere photos to have a good book. Hers was really well done and I imagine if Ten released one I think it would be in the same vein, being fashion focused.

 

I'd like that too but unfortunately I feel like both Nogi and Seed & Flower management are leaning the other way. I feel like Sakamichi PBs have been getting increasingly risque over the past few years.

 

Talking about Nogi PB, ugh I really hate those freaks who made underage girl realese bikinis pb. Yes they realese it after they turn adult, but thinking about they taking the pict when those girl still underage make me angry. Sugarcoating PB as a way to advance their popularity... is just trash behaviour But I hate more those who buy the PB not because they love the member as a person, but just want to exploit them.

 

One big reason I like Japanese idols especially Sakamichi (and not so much AKB for the same reason) is that they hide their beauty in decent uniforms. We don't need to see how pretty they are overall, we KNOW IT. For this reason I am fully against PB. I would rather see them in "model-style" fashion clothing: their faces are more than enough...

 

My main reason for asking was because there is a noticeable difference in the number of released PBs. But if we are taking it deeper I think that there can be photobook without swimsuit like Habu's, but is just not the same. Maybe because I am too curious to find what is underneath. Also I think there are not shooting the girls in bikinis if they aren't at least 18 anymore. Sakamichi never released such a book I believe, but it was common for the 48groups to see like 16 years old girls in magazines, but they also stopped that. Also I like to say that almost every western star, actress or singer has posted swimsuit photos of her social networks, and you can say it's different cultures and you will be right. But something happened that 5 years ago I would say it would be impossible, a member of a Korean girl group uploaded swimsuit photo, I am taking about Ji hyo from twice. But all in all I would like to see more than 1 PB from Sakurazala this year and I hope it will not be from a graduating member.

 

lol you are so naive. sexual consent itself in japan is 16 so there is no problem by the law to just take the picture of the idols for PBs since they are getting paid for doing so. If the idols are marketable and willing to doing some spicy picture its their right to do so and if they are unwilling they have the right to refuse and get the consequence. Idols are company product and the company will doing everything to make the idol sell since its the way to pay the them. Its the way idol and entertainment industry works. You take it or you leave it.

 

Something I noticed on X today is that Takahiro, when posting about the choreography he has done for the 11th single, referred to Sakurazaka46 as a "female group" (女性グループ) rather than an "idol group." With that and the English subtitles (which I think are new) for Nothing Special's MV on YouTube, I think it is cool that they are trying to reach out more and more internationally as artists (rather than simply as idols).

It reminds me of Hirate Yurina's dream that Keyakizaka would be known as artists rather than idols, which at the time she said it (2017 IIRC) resulted in an enormous amount of backlash from domestic fans.

 

Just to say that they have been including official English subtitles in MVs for the past few singles. Sometimes it took them a few days after the MV is posted before it is updated.

I had hoped they would update all their past MVs with official English subtitles but have not seen anything as yet.

 

News of an overseas ticket lottery for the National Tour 2025 (linked page is in English):
https://sakurazaka46.com/s/s46/news/detail/E00470

The lottery will be open for applications from noon JST on 2/24 until 3/9 at 23:59. Event dates:

《Tokyo》 Tokyo Dome
July 24, 2025 (Thu) Doors open 16:00 / Show begins 18:30
July 25, 2025 (Fri) Doors open 16:00 / Show begins 18:30
July 26, 2025 (Sat) Doors open 14:30 / Show begins 17:00

《Osaka》 Kyocera Dome Osaka
August 23, 2025 (Sat) Doors open 14:30 / Show begins 17:00
August 24, 2025 (Sun) Doors open 14:30 / Show begins 17:00

Link for applications:
https://tixplus.jp/feature/sakurazaka46_nationaltour2025_en/

All seats are 12,000 JPY each (tax incl.)