Good evening,
Thank you for opening my blog.
I’m Katsumata Haru, a Sakurazaka46 4th generation member!
The “4th Generation LIVE” took place on the 2nd and 3rd of June.
The fact that all nine of us managed to power through the tough rehearsal period, brave the typhoon, and pull off the concert without a hitch is undoubtedly thanks to all of you.
Whether you came to the venue, because you wanted to see the nine of us perform, watched the livestream, or recommended it to others.
Itโs because you all are always there, sending your warm support and kind words our way, that the nine of us were able to take in this view.
Thank you so, so much.
The performance before Minato-ku Parsley.
It’s one of my favourites because we got to show sides of 4th generation members that people hadn’t seen before.
Both the rehearsals and the actual performances were absolutely brilliant!!
And as for this first outfit we woreโฆ
I’m sure some of you might have spotted it, but the same outfits as the one our seniors wore on tour, just in different color.
The seniors were in green and pink.
We were in blue.
Recently, starting with the artist photos released the other day, weโve had far more opportunities to wear the same outfits as our seniors.
Every time I stand alongside them, I naturally find myself straightening my posture, reminding myself that I need to become even more worthy of being recognised as a member of this group.
For the 4th Generation Live, alongside showing how much we’ve grown, I also wanted us to bring a new “colour” to the group
To fully express what makes the fourth generation unique, and what makes each of us unique as individuals.
That was the mindset I carried throughout the rehearsal period.
And every time I put on this differently coloured costume, I felt those feelings grow even stronger.
By the way, did you manage to catch each of the nine members’ personalities and our essence on the day~?
Every song means a great deal to me because we’ve devoted ourselves wholeheartedly to each one. Today, I’d like to share a few memories connected to some of them. ๐ต
___
I Want Tomorrow to Come
Actually, I was the one who sorted the narration before the song!
It was my first time recording narration in English, and I hadn’t used English properly in quite a while, so I was rather nervous during the recording…
“The answers still haven’t come. The loneliness never truly disappears.”
็ญใใชใใฆใใพใ ๅใใใชใใ่ฟทใใใๅญค็ฌใใๆถใใชใใ
“But somewhere in the dark, there is still a light only the night can reveal.”
ใ ใใฉโโๅคใฎไธญใงใใ่ฆใใชใๅ ใใ็ขบใใซใใใ
When I was handed the script, those words truly gave me a push.
Iโd be absolutely delighted if the time we spent performing managed to shine a light, even just a little, on someone’s hidden worries or anxieties.
___
Next, Neo, Chii, Wako and I performed “Hyoushiki” together.
My favourite part is when all of us turn to face one another.
(As I was writing this, I realised Chii had said the same thing in her blog. It made me oddly happy to think we’re all feeling the same way. ๐)
As it happens, the choreographer for this track is someone whoโs been closely supporting us 4th generation members since the training camp!!
All four of us were absolutely delighted when we found out we’d be performing that song.
Before the concert, we even joked amongst ourselves that we’d work hard enough to make that dancer cry from the audience.
(Of course, first and foremost, our goal was always to deliver the performance to all of you watching. ๐)
Thinking back on those late-night lessons the four of us had together feels very nostalgic now.
After the performance, we all asked, “Did you cry?” And the response was: “It wasn’t really tears, it was more like, ‘Yeayy!'” lol
It sounds like she really enjoyed it, so that makes me happy in its own right.
___
And then, during the encore, we performed “Mamoribito.”
Whether it was during the live performance itself, rehearsals, or even practising at home, there wasn’t a single day when I didn’t think about what it meant for us to perform Mamoribito.
Over these two days, I’ve become certain of something: when I’m singing Mamoribito, I naturally become myself.
Whatever I’m feeling in that moment appears directly in my expressions and performance.
Or perhaps more accurately, the song allows me to be that unguarded version of myself.
I reckon that’s because I resonate so deeply with the lyrics and the emotions poured into it.
I am a guardian, a guardian of the cherry tree
I am proud to be chosen as one of them
Now, hand in hand, let’s assure ourselves
If, through our performance of Mamoribito during this 4th Generation Live, even a small part of those feelings reached all of you, I would be delighted.
There are still so many things I’d love to talk about, and plenty more photos I’d like to share, but I’ll stop here for today!!
Oh, right!
During the MC on the first day, I mentioned the meaning behind the member groupings for the unit songs “Hyoushiki” and “Manatsu no Daitoryo”.
Did anyone manage to work it out? Honestly, I’m not even certain if there is a proper answer, but since I brought it up in front of such a massive crowd, I wanted to find some sort of common thread.
So I’ve been looking everywhere for clues.
Before rehearsals on the second day, I spotted a group of five members happily gathered around some doughnuts that had been given to us.
I thought, “Ah! Maybe that’s the Manatsu team?”
But when I checked who was actually there…
Konomi wasn’t there, and Wako had somehow taken her place instead.
(Though to be fair, everyone got excited about the doughnuts at some point or another. ๐ฉ๐)
Then, on the first day of the live, I noticed that every member of the Hyoushiki group happened to be wearing grey trousers for rehearsals. I thought, “Hang on, that’s interesting!”
But after looking at the Manatsu group as well…
Unexpectedly, 7 out of the 9 members were wearing grey. ๐ซจ
Even after the live ended, I’ve been desperately trying to find it out, but I just can’t seem to find the answer… ๐ฆ
Well, I suppose that just proves you can’t neatly divide nine people into tidy little categories!!
๐ธ
That’s all from me!
See you again soon~
Haru Katsumata #36
Translator: bukanfilexlsx
Original Blog Link: https://sakurazaka46.com/s/s46/diary/detail/69654?ima=0000&cd=blog