Thanks @qpet for the translation, so good to know new sides of Airi. She's a good complex person and I can't wait to see her evolve even more, but I appreciate a lot her love for books, how energetic she seems to be and the fact Airi, like other 3kis members, seems perfectly natural both in and out of idol character. I read the first volume of Frieren too some weeks ago and planned to buy more, so I find interesting she likes the manga since the concept is not your usual fantasy shounen or shojo manga but a journey about what happens "after" the story ends. (BTW, Frieren is a She) I can understand the Memi-like comparision, but Memi never appreciated so much following fans expectations even though she's always been aware of them as much as Airi is.
Some perfectly appropriate (IMHO) adulation from Japanese comments: This person is not just a dancer, she can sing and play, too. She went to an actors' school, so she's also done a bit of acting. Her singing and playing [guitar] is outstanding. Truly, her face scores very high. And she has star quality. That she joined Sakurazaka is a very good thing. Overwhelmingly the face of a centre She seems quite adult. But hers is a kind of pretty, pure beauty. (綺麗系美人 kirei-kei bijin) Her beauty spots. She's cute even in extreme close-ups. Somehow, she has no weak spot. It feels as if there has been no member like her up to now. That's exactly how it feels. As soon as one saw her in the documentary, she spoke and moved with such strong exactness ["shikkari"]. Right from the time of the auditions, she seemed perfect. And with her skills, she's ready for battle. Her feeling of fearlessness is so good. The fact that ASH [=Actors School Hiroshima] accustomed her to the stage seems very big. She has the strength of character to be a centre. And I can't resist posting this devastating double-photo by Miu, whose lovely hand you see:
Two photos from 'Weekly Young Jump' #36 (on sale 8/3): https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/3876143 One more from the magazine's Twitter as a winner of the Young Jump Award: https://twitter.com/g_youngjump/status/1686754493134741504
Airi is showing new hairstyles, including twintails and "half-up": I think she looks great in the Rockin' show, suiting the traditional-syle new outfit. But the much less formal twintails are also great in their way. Like the majority of posters to a discussion about who is the next-generation "ace," I think it is Airi -- if there will be such a thing as an "ace." Too many outstanding choices for centre: Airi, Shii-chan, Miu, Mio, Nagisa, Yuu-chan, Yuzu.... And I can even see Itoha and "Enrico" (Endou Riko) coming up. Airi is just oustanding on SokoSaku, with great reactions and a certain boldness.
X post with video self-promo of interview/pics in bis mag. Says the atmosphere is cute and adult. Image seems so. Web interview from bis.
Airi will be regular in love it the wednesdays from april to june. https://x.com/tbs_loveit/status/1776050502389879054
