Generation Nogizaka46 3rd Gen

2024.04.10 Yodachan x Hazuki Nekojita SR


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Umm... if that's the uniforms for the 35th single, don't they look like one's from last year? Somethings going wrong over there!

 

An interview with Renka for the 35th single: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/b581c7d2c414326555ecf2146e6ba35d0e4824a9 (Model Press version: here)

Should I have put it in the 35th single thread? Perhaps, but she goes over some things that really are of interest for a 3rd Gen fan like me. First, her relationship with Yamashita. Second, her relationship with Ayatii. Third, her feelings on the 3rd Gen in the 35th. Anyhow, I found the auto-translation to be reasonable. It's nice interview that will remind you why you fell in love with the group, to enjoy them how they are now, and to look forward to their future...

 

2024.05.15 YAC & Riria Nekojita SR


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3rd Gen candidates 3, 4, 5 (Momoko, Yama, Tamachan) have graduated or announced. Are they going in order? Looking up who was #6...

O noes, 6 was Ayatii!

 

Lately, I get the feeling that the 36th Under Live may well be graduation concerts for some of these 3rd Gen members...

 

Renka's having a BBQ


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Is that her parent's house?

 

After those hints, yeah looks like Iwamoto's family is fairly well off, that's the best look at the house yet.

 

3ki at the end of their 8th year as Nogizaka members.

Let's go!

I love 'em so.

 

Hazuki was candidate 7! Are waiting for the other show to drop?

 

Reno-chan's graduation announcement feels as if the pace of 3rd Gen dissolution will quicken. This 3rd Gen booster ain't ready for it, but will see it through.

 

3rd gen is my favorite generation in Nogizaka. It pains me to think that they've been slowly dwindling in number the past few years despite me knowing that they've been in the group long enough to start graduating. Oh, how my heart hurts...

 

It's been pointed out on the internet that even a year a go, there were 11 3rd Gen members. Now they're down to five! We've got Denchan's Graduation Ceremony occurring during the 38th single under live, but when does Reno-chan graduate? When will the rest? Will they all be gone by the end of the year? 14th Birthday Live? Next summer? Is this dissolution too fast? Who will close out the generation.

One thing I'm thinking about is Captain Ume's graduation. I think she'll be the one to have her's next year at the 14th Birthday Live. Just a feeling...

 

I agree with Ume leaving on 14th Birthday Live, it seems very likely. But I don´t think all of them will leave in 2025. Management will try to hold at least Kubo. I can see YAC graduating this year as well.

My bet is Ito Riria will be the last one standing, but predictions about this can be tricky. Asuka being the last Nogi 1ki grad was predicted by many but no one was betting on Miichan being the last Keyaki 1ki left.

Rentan is the real mystery here. On one hand, she still young, on the other hand, management putting her in under 2nd row looks like their way of saying "please leave" .

 

It really feels like this year is 3rd gen's exodus. Still have Bday live and Summer tour. I'm not sure if any of them wiil be left for 2026. I think (I'm hoping) Ume will let everyone graduate first so having her until 14th Bday live is possible. My guess would be YAC, Kubo, Riria, Ume. I also don't know Renka's plan. I doubt she's motivated enough to be the last one to leave. I could be wrong but I think she won't be around by the 2nd haft of this year. Could be earlier.

 

I know the day would come sooner or later, but the "end" of 3rd gen will hit me hard. They are my favourites, not just as individuals but as a sub-group/team as well. I think they are the most tightly-knit group within Nogi. Watching their year end party or their 5-year anniversary just before Momoko left, I sense that their camaraderie seems genuine and that they seem to actually enjoy each other's company (oh, yeah, their Omoide First MV to send off Momoko also never fails to give me goosebumps, no matter how many times I've watched it). They have some of the most beautiful and fun/quirky members, too. It's just a pleasure watching them. Their choice of MVP's during the 2023 year-end party also shows either their genuine fondness of each other or their impeccable diplomatic shrewdness: they chose themselves (as a group) as runner up MPV's, putting aside the fact that there are girls with various levels of "success" (modelling jobs, dorama roles, etc), with some being obviously more "successful". But they chose to highlight the fact that all of them have worked hard and tried their best, despite the end results which may not be completely within their control. Their choice of Ume as the MVP is also diplomatically brilliant, since they mainly consider her role as Captain, not her modelling or other jobs. I interpret all of these as them putting the collective before the individuals, and it's heartwarming.

I am too late in joining the fandom to really follow the journey of the 1st and 2nd gen (actually, I feel like they are virtually the same gen). Also, the original 1st gen is too big for all of them to create a truly tight-knit bond. Finally, they had the unenviable task of opening the way, carving their niche in the idol world, and establishing the foundation upon which the current Nogi is standing (I vaguely remember the episode where Nanase cried because people ignored them while they were handing out souvenirs (tissue?) at the beginning of their career). The 3rd gen arrived at an opportune moment, IMHO, a time of relative stability in which Nogi is already quite established and had a strong fan base. They still had their senpais to help them learn the rope, and their relatively small number made it easier for them to bond. The 4th and 5th gens arrive when the world suddenly went upside down due to the pandemic (also the 4th came in 2 batches), that it is a rougher start for them. Currently, they also have the task of carrying Nogi to the future without the presence of the original members. This, IMHO, is not a particularly trivial task. It is critical if Nogi wants to stay relevant in this ever-changing world. So far, I think Nogi is in good hands. I hope they'll continue to prosper.

I wish the 3rd gen will stay around longer. But for some of them, age is unfortunately catching up with them and they need to think about their future career and life. I think YAC will definitely leave soon, I don't know about the others. Having Ume leaving last will be great symbolically, as she's the captain. (As an aside, I wonder who's going to be the next captain. I strongly nominate Kakki, she seems to have the right qualities).

When the day finally come and the last of the 3rd gen leave, I will fondly remember them as the most elegant and fun group of young ladies ever to grace Nogi.

 

It will be Satsuki. She is already in training aka is vice captain.

 

Ah, of course. Forgot about Shokichi. Yeah, I think she's got the correct vibes, too. More "Sakurai vibe" than "Ume vibe", IMHO.