[GENERAL] The Sakurazaka46 / Keyakizaka46 Thread

Do they still play animal crossing ?

 

Probably, but it's not really idol-like to hear about video games all the time (sadly), so we don't hear much about it from them.

 

Do you feel that it's gotten boring lately ? It's like the novelty effect is wearing off. Things were much more exciting back in 2020 to early 2021, with the transition and rebranding phase, and the creative concerts and all that stuff, plus the promotion of the 2nd gen. Whereas now, with the dwindling of the 1st gen to just a handful, and the 2nd gen growing older, and not to mention only one single this year, it seems things have slowed to a dull pace . There is like nothing really exciting or extraordinarily eventful going on for now. Things are going stale and need to be refreshened.

 

5th single center was just announced Moriya Rena!

 

Talk about things being stale, this should stir things up!

 

Was PonPon actually born in Gunma and not Saitama ?

 

Yes. She was thus labeled “enemy” by Tsucchi and Sawabe

 

Sakurazaka did dance challenge exchange with Pixxie from Thailand

Pixxie danced to Samidareyo
https://www.tiktok.com/@pixxieofficial/video/7182535926478949658

Sakurazaka danced to Boo
https://www.tiktok.com/@sakurazaka46.officialtk/video/7182572100626992386

Previously, there was another Sakurazaka's member danced to Can I Call You Mine by Davika
https://www.tiktok.com/@sakurazaka46.officialtk/video/7176231735980576002

This suggests Sakurazaka eyes for Thai market. Sakurazaka must be desperate. No successful J-pop group cares one bit about Thailand.

 

sakurazaka 3ki individual intro videos will be released starting in january 6 at 12 pm jst
11 new members

the videos of 2 of the new 11 members will be released after march due to academic circunstances





https://sakurazaka46.com/s/s46/page/3rd_generation?ima=3219

 

Looks like 6 girls are on the tall side...

 

i am very excited! i definetly was waiting for this news to come out, wonder what kind of girls we will get!

 

New gens coming is always interesting to witness, I liked it even when was about groups I didn't really follow, but to see Sakura's new gens is always something more. The heart is always more involved, regardless of circumstances.

@Torigoya-San I think you're pretty right, to me it feels like mngmnt went back to do very little to spark new interest and find new fans, but who knows? Perhaps new-gen coming will be also the start of old gens rising, plus there's the new single. We can only wait and hope.

 

From the vid, don't you think the new gen kind of resemble Nogis rather than Saku/Keyaki ? From the look and vibe.

 

Maybe S&F is worried about Sakurazaka's future and is investing in more Nogi-like girls since Nogizaka is still very successful even after 11 years and the recent 5th generation was received with much praise and brought attention to the group (aside from a few scandals ). However, I don't know if the fans themselves will enjoy Nogi-like girls as Sakurazaka (and by extension, Keyaki) always had that "cool" vibe, but I think it's still too early to judge.

 

In my opinion Sakura was pushed towards a more Nogi-style some songs ago. Something I didn't really appreciate and put an hold to my active interest. (Among other choices I still don't get)
It's really hard for me to understand why new and old fans should chose a copy instead of the original, in this case Nogi.

Still, Sakurachans are cool, and fun and beautiful, and so much more... but as a group it's like they have no definite identity and this does no good in a market full of everything and more.

I don't know about new gen cool-vibe.. I'm waiting for their first video to judge, but just yeasterday I stumbled upon a pics of Sakamichi joint audition and Man! I forgot how different they were back there The change is impressive

 

I agree. Maybe in the eyes of the higher-ups it's better to follow the trend, so they should copy something successful. But in reality, sometimes it's just better to be unique and to have its own colour. I don't think going back to Keyaki style is the right move, but becoming so "Nogi-like" isn't either. I believe that the main problem regarding Sakurazaka46 is that they don't have a distinguishable image yet, it seems like they're trying to make the group look more like Nogi but at the same time keeping the cool aspects and although it kinda works in some ways (I really like their MVs and the songs are good as well), it doesn't do a good job in promoting them in the harsh reality that is this industry like @Dill said. But I'm positive regarding the new single and I hope Sakurazaka46 will find its own image soon.

 

Personality aside, tall and slender (thin) girls always look better on stage and on screen.

 

No. Not one bit. The new members don't have any vibe for me just yet except for anticipation. It's sort of hard to tell from just seeing shadows and body parts.

The knock on Nogizaka is that they cultivate a more demure image for their members, but I think that extends to the type of girls the sakamichi series look for (Aruno and Okamoto's scandals not withstanding). I think it's something to expect from those who pass sakamichi auditions.

The funny thing for me is that the preview for Hinatazaka's 4th gen gave me Sakurazaka vibes with a flyover on the cliffs of the sea. That preview presents a mystery -- mysteries and coded messages are the realm of s&f. I guess how similar Sakurazaka's 3rd gen preview is to Nogi's preview MV of 5th gen maybe evokes a Nogi image, but I definitely don't feel it. We'll just have to see in a few hours...

 

And we have the first 3rd gen girl!

Mio Matono, 16 year-old, from Fukuoka. After watching her short vlog, I have to say I'm impressed. She seems to have a strong personality, and even without knowing the other 10, I'm getting future captain vibes.

 

If you squint, Mio looks kind of like Sugai. Also, are the threads starting for the 3ki yet now that we're getting their introductory vlogs?