Single Sakurazaka46 9th [Jigojitoku] (2024.06.26)

Better late than never. My overal assessment of the 9th productions:

Jigoujitoku Talking about A-sides here: So far, I'll put an equal sign here in comparison with the 7th. So 9th=7th, both being on top...
When 7th was released I was still under the spell of the 6th which I considered the pinnacle of A-sides. It took me long to like the 7th and put it on top (mostly because of the choreography which I - still - consider top notch). However the 9th almost IMMEDIATELY grasped my attention - and my heart. The dance practice helped me see that choreographically it keeps the level set by the 7th, while musically I prefer it a little more. My highlight: that "eeeeeeee" at the "owatta koi nante" at around 3:06-3:07... I've never before got so many goosebumps from a Keyaki/Sakura vocal moment... (I think its Matsuri, Inori and Yuzu behind this perfect vocal jewel).

Aishiainasai I wonder why many people don't like it... Maybe because the 80s sound seems a little "too much of the past". However, in the age of our fathers, humanity enjoyed prosperity and times of indulgement and carefree life. Music reflected that: the dominance of the synthis, the decline of distorted guitars, the mellow tunes, disco nights dancing all-night-long under the discoballs, don't tell me you don't want to experience all these!? So yeah, I LOVE this song (ALSO because its my Rika song) as much as I LOVE my Miu "Love song".
Also, let's wait and see it in concert... The way girls will render it choreographically might help set people on fire. My gut feeling tells me that a lot of people will change their opinions as soon as this song is performed live.

Hikikomoru If Seijyaku is the "holy moment" this song will set fans on fire during concerts... For me it is "=" to Seijyaku. Both are the dark and light faces of the 3rd gen "coin". As a MV production is "a perfect 10" for me. Around the end we come to see how the choreography will look like in concerts and it gives the promise of becoming a top moment (and the guarantee that "Ito-brat" is the girl that is currently riding the crest of the wave of well-deserved popularity).

Isabelle I like it as a song. It has the proper melody unfolding for a Sakura song, the background wall-of-sound by the guitars is so satisfying to hear, the tempo is vivid and imposes mild head-banging and ... have you noticed that it gets more intense towards the end? I am so eager to see how the 4 girls (especially my beloved hurricane-Akipo) will convey the song live. I'll put it on my "very good songs" list.

Engikatsugi Now what is this strange thing? So interesting! That introductory beat... The harmonica... The funky drums... The rap... The combination of two so good but so different voices (womanly and girly)... This weirdo of a song would have been the BEST of them all if it continued along the "beaty" part and not include a more mellow melodic part (tastes, tastes...) but overal it makes for a very interesting listening experience that one does not get tired to listen to. I hope that we come to see it often in concerts because of the interaction between these two cuties, although I doubt it exactly because of this: the group of two... Unless they creat a live version with the whole group along the lines of "te wo tsunaide". I cross my fingers!

Hyoushiki Another one that I like. But I don't know why. I listen to it on repeat without getting bored and that says a lot! It reminds me of many other Sakura/Keyaki songs (especially the refrain) although I cannot say which... Is the voice of Rikochan too prominent in this song? I can feel the cuteness here. Another thumbs-up for this one as well...

Ikkyoku No, just no... I was getting worried that "it can't be! I may not like ALL songs from this single..." It just made me tired, it gave me angst, it annoyed me with that ratata... I disagree with @JaeRoler here: Manhole is far superior IMHO. However, this song can play the role of towel waving chaotic moment similar to "Abunakkashii" of the Keyaki times.

I would NOT fall into the temptation to rate the 9th overal. And that is that so far Sakurazaka is surprising us by constantly raising the level bit by bit. This one, the 9th, helps build-up to the number of REALLY GOOD modern Japanese music productions exceeding J-pop limits in my opinion. I consider it to be, at least, yet one great moment in the ladder of success and recognition of this group into becoming the number 1 Japanese group (at least for non-Japanese fanbase).

 

Oh no, I had meant that Manhole is superior. Manhole drew me in straight away (that's why it was S-tier) but Ikkyoku was too rock and ended in B haha.

 

@JaeRoler Sumimasen!!!! I should read things more carefully. Glad we agree then!

 

One thing I have noticed I haven't enjoyed any BACKS song. It is the same for Nogi's Under songs and now Hiragana Hinata's song. So I don't think it only applies to BACKS, this is a problem coming from the songwriter. I also think they should at least go back and produce 4 MVs so the song quality puts pressure on the songwriter/producer. As of now with mainly 3 MVs it lacks versatile direction.

Another thing I saw in the comment section for Hikikomoru was the opinion of the transparent concept. Has anybody else noticed it when 1st and 2nd gen were laying the ground for Sakurazaka the concept was unclear?

What this comment was trying to say was the concept of hope become transparent with 3rd gen. They have had songs about four seasons, passion and determination and they continue to stick to that. The continuation of Keyakizaka into Sakurazaka.

Keyakizaka wanted to lock itself inside and despair while Sakurazaka wants to get out and see the world with a glimpse of hope. That's what the message has been all about since Natsuno Chikamichi and they still stick to it when the producers at Sony Music approached Bugbear.

Seijaku no bouryoku that interprets silence is violence is the opposite of Keyakizaka who preferred to stay silent. Don't stay silent, open your eyes and speak up. Determination just like Hikikomoru.

Outside of 3rd gen songs I agree the concept has not been so transparent and it has been all over the place with different society problems and different messages. You can't really tell what the key concept is from all of this.

Edit: I want to add Engikatsugi is incredible from a vocal standpoint. Impressed with both Matsuri and Rikatan, I wasn't convinced before with On my way, but Matsuri showed a better side with this song.

If I'm going to be honest and very strict on vocal quality I think only Matsuri in 2nd gen, Airi and Rikatan in 3rd gen make it. Airi is very versatile and has shown a pop/rock side on Love it, J-rock side in her individual bonus PV and performed a power ballad at age of 13, Rikatan is very pop oriented but showed a folk side in her individual bonus PV and Matsuri has very strong vocals in her own way.

If Sony Music gonna spend resources they need good vocalists to make it worth. Matsuri, Airi and Rikatan are the best vocalists we have seen in the group since Imaizumi and Hirate.

 

Too bad that we lose to INI, but buddies has done a great battle as they re able to sold out two record stores in shibuya. And the result is actually a hike jump from previous single. And it surpassing nogi single kokoniwa

櫻坂46「自業自得]
１日目　515,008枚（1位）
２日目　43,736枚（2位）
３日目　27,025枚（2位）
４日目　16,902枚（2位）
５日目　22,619枚（2位）
６日目　31,130枚（2位）

total 656,420枚（2位） 　
Difference　　16,447 from INI

 

I know what you mean but I might not be a Fan in this way of Sakurazaka but huge congrats to this sales and release! enjoyed the Songs Aishiainasai and Jigoujitoku so gar the Most

 

if the video does not show watch the video here

The first performance of Jigoujitoku during the 4th Arena Tour (although I don't really know if this is from Day 1 or Day 2).

 

@JaeRoler -- What a fantastic event. Crowd's enthusiasm through the roof. Performance not as perfect as some others, but still outstanding. So great to see the delight bubbling up in Shii-chan. And as I've thought before, her dance excellence infects everyone and the group reaches a higher level. Only real downer is some lack of coordination of camera-work, missing bits of her dance moments. But group looks so "up" -- lively and proud -- overall. I loved the sudden silence for Shii-chan's main solo near the end. Respect.

 

They finally beat the double platinum allegations after 9 singles.

RIAJ certified triple platinum for the 9th single.

What only remains is a million to catch up to Keyakizaka and be a public character to start to reach gold for streaming. They need 50 million streams for gold. Keyakizaka achieved platinum for Silent Majority after nearly 8 years. I do think some older songs from Sakurazaka will soon reach gold for streaming. I don't ask for records like K-pop groups achieve. 19 weeks for NiziU's Make you happy and NewJeans' Ditto was beaten by ILLIT's Magnetic in 11 weeks to reach 100 million streams. Not even Keyakizaka who was a big figure of general public could reach that quick.

If silver level was still around Sakurazaka would have stand a chance with Shoninyokkyu which only requires 10 million streams.

Source:
https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd.html

 

Photo of 3gens in Hikikomoru Jikan wa Nai outfits. Useful for identifying members in the MV. Photo shot in roof area of Shibuya Tsutaya music store on the Shibuya Scramble in Tokyo:


(l-r): Miu, Yuzu, Nagi, Riko - Murai, Itoha, Shii-chan - Airi, Odakura, Rika, Mio

(click image to enlarge)

 

I strongly suggest that the management should adopt these outfits as one of the official uniforms that 3rd gen members may use on some of their songs during concerts...

I know it would be a nightmare to put them on and take them off again in such short times as required by the concert's demands however, for me some of them have already become iconic (e.g. Nagisa's Spanish - Gypsy floral patterns, Rika's and Shizu's beanie, Mio's ripped jean and Miu's orange vest/gilet).

 

Agree, I think management should rethink to boost every member's appeal in more specific way. Make us fans know the members more personally, so we can be attached more to one specific person. I think the reason why we rarely see a close up before because they don't want us to get attached to only one or some members. THEY might Not want to do the same mistakes. BUT

lets the fans to drawn into the member's appeal and not for a group in a-whole.
This means, lets us fans to focus more on our favorite members.

yes, this might backfire when the popular member graduated, but consider this as the only way to make sakurazaka46 grow even bigger than this. In the end, most people will get into the group because they like certain members and not because they like all of the members. Some might like all of the members, but they will eventually have a bias. I think saku management has done a great job to give member chances to shine, looking at how sakurazaka members have more sold out meguri/handshake ratio.

But it's my wish for sakurazaka to have a star that shine brightly like the two sun of nogizaka (maiyan & nanase) or techi from keyakizaka, members who get recognition from general public. Members who shine outside the idol world. I want the management to start to focus more about this, to "create" a member who have huge public recognition. Because I think it's the time just like nogi in 2017-2018 era.

my bias will graduate someday, but I hope when they did, they won't struggle. In the end, even the graduate members are still under the same management too. So why not let your talents becomes so famous that everyone want to see her when seeing the group, so when she graduates, she will have a solid popularity behind her.

since the sells for this single has been great I wish in the future sakurazaka members will be listed in the top of nikkei talent ranking. (Previously only techi has that, even sugai yuuka only has 16.5% public recognition ) I think this could be saku next goal aside for international exposure and million sellers. Because I believe having a public recognition members will eventually give them million sellers and probably international exposure as well.

 

Sakurazaka has two stars that will shine even brighter in the near future: Ten and Karin.

 

No, five stars whom are Rena, Hikaru, Shi Chan and probably Hono (she will not be in center but she is beauty)

 

Mainly Ten. Ten will be next group face after Runrun grads(hopefully not soon, please last at least 2 years more). This is always hinted in collabs and photoshoots, her whole push is being the next group face. She is always paired alongside Runrun for a reason, just like Inoue Nagi is always paired with a current nogi ace like Endo.

I think Karin, if she keeps getting more outside jobs, might become the member who is most recognized by GP. I have noticed, based on yt comments in MVs and SNS in general, that she is the member who is attracting most casuals. Many comments say "oh so she is the girl who appears in this show/presentation/dorama". If the momentum continues, she has potential to skyrocket.

In summary, Ten x Karin will be face of the group and most recognized member.

Shii-chan still a mystery, too soon to say anything. I just find interesting that in this single, the AiriShizu pair wasn´t pushed. When 3ki made their senbatsu debut in Shonin Yokkyu, I got the impression that they would push Airii and Shii-chan as a pair(as wings to Run), they were 2nd row wings to Honyo in Ikutsu as well, but in 9th single, we had Shii-chan center and Airii in the corner of 3rd row, I expected her to be 2nd row center/shadow center if they were pushed as a pair.

 

It's already hinted for a long time that management push Tenchan as Face of the group. But I know why some people couldn't understand that, Tenchan has IT factor but she still not have this momentum that show everyone she is the Ace or FOTG.

But from Nikei Survey we know that Tenchan and Hono has the highest public recognition among the group member, While Matsuri, Rena, and Karin has the highest public interest? (If I read it properly) so at least Tenchan push didn't wasted and many member of the group were recognized by public. Also I think it's really hard nowadays for j-idol to even survive in the midst of kpop invasion.

If management try to push Karin as the FOTG since the start, it might work just look at her now. But I think management afraid the past would repeat. And if they try push her now, I am afraid she would graduate soon when she become more busy.

They might found Shiichan Airi pair was not really doing well, so they might have another option. Looking at the rising of Mio and Miu, I think management would push them as new pair in the future.

 

^^^
I think the reason why ten is lagging behind because she has the look of yamato nadeshiko but doesn't have the yamato nadeshiko image / personality. International fans like her, but japanese male wota doesn't go crazy for her.

Just like everyone said, Good chances for public interest is using ten, hono and karin. The 3 of them has the most potential from 2ki. For 3 ki I could say it's shi, mio and miu. Airi could be the 3ki of matsuri.

I wonder about Hikaru tho. In term of skills and professionalism , she has the most control from all saku members IMO. It's just she is so short and her figure is not model like ten rin hono. When I see on ten x run, I can see a member who have mastered her role vs a flaw member that has a room to grow bigger.

 

I think Airii could be the Yuipon of 3ki. A member with great singing and dancing skills, but not center. She will be a pilar member, but not the center girl. Sakurazaka needs vocalists like her.

You probably gave the best definition of Runrun´s role in the group.

 

The context here is "recognition by the general public", not who is more popular with Sakurazaka fans.

I don't live in Japan to say for sure, but it seems Ten should be recognized for her several commercials, music shows and to a lesser degree, her modeling. For Karin it is music shows and her movies. There is a lot of buzz around them in Twitter ("X") as well. Granted that music shows are recognition for the group as a whole, but you can tell where the focus goes.

Hono, Rena, and Hikaru participate in variety shows, and I'm sure that helps, but that is not "star power" (unless you are a variety monster - Yuzu may be one in the future).

Shiichan is way too new to the scene. One centership is not enough, and management may rotate centers from now into the future to "test the waters" and avoid perma-centers.

 

Interesting discussion. I've long seen Ten as the future star, but perhaps I overestimated the appeal of such a big, strong personality to idol otaku, if not to the general public. I myself find Karin the most fascinating, but her personality is perhaps also a bit too restrained and off-centre for people. However, she is learning how to fit in with what is required. I agree that those two seem currently to be the most seen by the general public.

• Miu and Mio are both certainly qualified to become popular, by skill and personal attractiveness, and both are continuing to grow.
• Airi seems to be slipping out of notice, but her skills seem to be growing, too, along with her outside work. Does Japan no longer appreciate the Yamato Nadeshiko look? To me, she's in the running for most beautiful member of the group.
  
• For me, recent episodes of SokoSaku have made Shii-chan a much more interesting personality: her honest struggles climbing the mountain for the group prayer for success -- weeping, leaning on Odakura -- were moving and amusing at the same time (eps 189-90). And the episode (191) in which other members competed with her in things she said she was good at was hilarious. Her "humanization" began for me with her innocent delighted smile at the end of the Jigojitoku MV. Add all that to her overwhelming dance skill and good singing, and her combination of child-like-ness coupled with an underlying tsun-tsun and aggressiveness, and it's hard to imagine her not becoming popular -- though I'd be shocked if S&F changed its determination to avoid having a perma-centre.
• As an idol, I'd add Itoha. She just continues to grow...but as an idol perhaps more than as a potential general star. Personality, skills -- she seems to me like a real idol.

I'm hoping Karin will at least be in the front three for the 10th, to capitalize on any added general popularity her film may bring (opens in theatres 9 August). Her director says he admires her work in it.