HKT48’s Miyawaki Sakura, Yabuki Nako and AKB48’s Honda Hitomi interviewed by Natalie prior to focusing on IZ*ONE full time

 

As AKB48’s 54th single “NO WAY MAN” will be released on November 28th (featuring HKT48’s Miyawaki Sakura as center and HKT48’s Yabuki Nako and AKB48’s Honda Hitomi in their last AKB48G single for the next 2.5 years as they focus on IZ*ONE).

The trio were interviewed by Natalie prior to focusing on IZ*ONE.

A few key things from the interview:

In regards to AKB48’s “NO WAY MAN”:

Honda Hitomi said, “It’s referred to my last single before I work on IZ*ONE full time, but for me it’s the first time.  While I feel that I am glad to be in the AKB48 senbatsu, which I have dreamed of, I do not wish for ‘NO WAY MAN’ to be my first and last song.  Two and a half years later, when I return back to Japan, I would like to become part of the senbatsu again”.

In regards to how “Produce48” changed their lives:

Miyawaki Sakura said, “There was a lot of time to practice in Korea and it certainly changed my life in terms of ability and there was a change in feelings beyond that.  I think that the music video shooting of “NO WAY MAN”, I was able to perform with a high level of energy that I never had done before”.

Yabuki Nako said, “This is the third single in which I was part of the AKB48 senbatsu.  This time, it is my best position by far.  I was very nervous when shooting the music video.  I was nervous when I was the center for HKT48’s “Hayaokuri Calendar”, but with a completely different tension after that.  I feel there is a special meaning to become a senbatsu member of AKB48 and I will not sing without a thought of all the AKB48G on my shoulders”.

Miyawaki added, “Also in this single, the contents of the lyrics are quite amazing.  It’s a message from the three of us and it expresses our feelings towards our fans.  I know two and half years makes some people feel lonely but please wait for us”.

Honda Hitomi said, “If I had not been on ‘Produce48’, I would not have been interviewed like this, as a senbatsu member of AKB48.  I may be able to graduate from AKB48 without people knowing my name or face.  So, in that sense, the show definitely changed my life.  I am very glad to participate in this project and I have pleasant feelings when I think about the future”.

On how their followers on social media increased as they go global:

Yabuki Nako said, “I can not believe it.  My Twitter followers doubled”.

Honda Hitomi said, “My Instagram followers went up to 120,000 followers in two months”. (note: currently her Instagram is now at 260,000 followers)

Miyawaki Sakura said, “I read the responses on Instagram and Twitter and I feel it’s amazing that someone else thinks about me.  I definitely feel it’s a big opportunity”.

When asked about studying Korean and leaving their family, is it difficult?

Honda said, “I am doing my best now”.

Miyawaki added, “Other members can speak Japanese very well.  I anticipate activities in Japan but I am studying everyday.  I myself have stayed at hotels at many places in Japan, so I do not feel the loneliness of leaving my parents”.

As for the dance lessons, Miyawaki Sakura said Japan and Korea do things differently.

Yabuki Nako said, “In Japan, I stay in the studio for 2-3 hours in Japan.  In Korea, I practice all the time until all of us practice choreography”.

Honda Hitomi added, “In Japan, on the floors there are markings of 1,2,3,4 and the center is 0.  Korea does not do this.  You need to know your mark by intuition.  Because of the high quality of a K-Pop group, I don’t know why but it’s quite amazing”.

The interviewer said that watching the music video for “NO WAY MAN”, they saw their special training from Korea evident in the music video as the difficulty of their dance moves are much higher.

Miyawaki Sakura said, “I wanted to practice even more and show a better performance”.  Yabuki agreed, “I feel the same.  I wished I had more time to practice”.

When asked about what kind of idol they want to be when they return back to Japan, Honda Hitomi said, “I don’t know what will happen in the future but I do want to raise my skill, increase my name recognition and become a big presence.  I want to return to AKB48 and contribute by doing what I have learned”.

Miyawaki Sakura said, “I want to constantly update my peak.  It’s frustrating when I hear ‘The previous version was better’.  I want to become better and to become the best Miyawaki Sakura now.  As long as I keep being an idol, I want to do it right to the end”.

Yabuki Nako said, “After two and a half years doing my best with IZ*ONE, I hope to bring back the big boom of idols in Japan.  Not just with HKT48 or AKB48, but we want to boost the entire Japanese idol world through our work in Japan and Korea.  That is my dream for now!”.

Read the complete interview here

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