Does an electronics girl dream of being an idol?
It’s not just the 7 people who tried out the “weightless gravure”.
There is another member of Nogizaka46 who was born in 2001.
Sato Rika has officinally joined the group from the Sakamichi trainees.
She arrives in this world from Iwate to chase her dreams, and now she joins the group, opening up a new era of Nogizaka46.
I still want to close that distance between myself and my friends above me in the clouds.
— What is your impression of this group born in 2001?
Sato: There are still some members who I haven’t talked with yet, so my impressions are from reading magazine interviews, watching TV shows, and reading blogs…… We can start with the 3rd gen members. I haven’t spoken to Kubo-san yet, but I can feel her warmth. I have the impression that she is a very nice person, and I respect that she never forgets to thank the members and staff, has a humble attitude, and has a strong love for the group. As a fellow Tohoku resident, I think it’s wonderful that she loves Sendai and the Tohoku region. She also travels to the Tohoku region in her private life, and her love for the region is palpable. I also love her singing voice and have always been a fan (laughs).
— What about Sakaguchi Tamami?
Sato: “The girl”. Her voice, gestures, and the emojis she uses on her blog make me think she’s girly and “cute!”. When I saw her the other day, I thought her posture was really good and that she was beautiful. On one hand, I think she has her girly side, but she is a serious person too because of her frequent blog updates. I hope to go out with her on a day off someday, as it seems she likes to go out.
— And Nakamura Reno?
Sato: In my opinion, she’s very stylish and fashionable, frivolous, and cute like a doll. I also think it’s nice that she’s naturally like this. She does a lot of stage plays, which is amazing. I want to see her perform on stage in person one day! What I’m most impressed about is that she moves forward even if she feels frustrated.
— Let’s move onto the 4th gen members. What are your impressions of Endo Sakura?
Sato: Her smile is the cutest! She was amazing and cool as centre and when she was dancing with the seniors. Ever since our time having lessons together, her dancing using her long arms is lovely and beautiful. I’ve always thought she’s the kind of person that makes people calm around her. I want to eat mitarashi dango with her (laughs).
— That’s Endo’s favourite food, isn’t it? What about Kaki Haruka?
Sato: She’s a person who cares about those around her, she talks well and is liked by everyone. When we were in a hotel together, we talked about a lot of things, and I felt she was a good girl. She sings well too, and when she cried when performing “Tsuyogaru Tsubomi” (coupling song of 2015’s “Harujion ga Sakukoro”. Fukugawa Mai’s solo song.) during the Birthday Live, I knew she must have been going through so much. Plus, I was touched to imagine what pressure she must be under to perform a song that was sung by such an esteemed senior.
— What do you think of Kanagawa Saya?
Sato: I feel she’s stylish, a good dancer and says funny things. She also seems to be athletic which is cool. Since Kanagawa Saya and I were the only ones who passed the auditions in Hokkaido and Tohoku, I feel a sense of solidarity with her. It’s amazing how much work she has in Hokkaido. Her natural side is also cute.
— And Kitagawa Yuri?
Sato: I think that she’s a bit whimsical, but it’s good that she has her own style. Her voice is also cute and soothing. Her writing in her blog is unique and gives the impression that she has a high sensitivity. The other day, she talked to us newcomers, and I felt that she was overflowing with kindness.
— Do you feel any connection with the 2001 group?
Sato: Not yet. I haven’t had the chance to meet many of them yet, and they seem like such wonderful people, so I feel like they are way above the clouds for me.
— So you can’t stand side-by-side as peers just yet. Is there anything you’d like to do with the 2001 group?
Sato: Firstly, I’d like us to have dinner together so that we can close that distance. Also, this might seem like a strange wish, but because we didn’t spend high school together, I’d like to do something typical of a high school student in school uniform.
— At the age of 18, when you were thinking of your future, what did you want to be before you passed the auditions?
Sato: When I was in middle school, I wanted to become a public servant or a childcare worker. After entering a technical school, I wanted to work as a systems engineer or a web designer. I was looking at job security rather than doing what I liked (laughs).
— Last year, you went on tour as a Sakamichi trainee. What did you feel through the training lessons and the actual performances?
Sato: Each and every moment felt precious. It was a really special time. Although the set list was almost the same, it was a different show every time. If the people who come to see the show are different, the atmosphere changes, doesn’t it? There was only so much time that we could perform with the 15 of us, so it was a very important time for us. I thought, “I have to cherish this moment……” When I was assigned to this position, I once again felt the weight of the time I spent there.
— So it was something that you could only find during that moment, wasn’t it?
Sato: Not only that, but I also felt how amazing the seniors were. We did six live performances on the tour, but each time there was a lot of work to be done, and I felt that I wasn’t quite as good as those who came before me.
— I think things like that can’t be helped. What did you find to be challenging?
Sato: Firstly it was the dancing. It’s also about being adaptable. I wanted to be able to express the world depicted in the song firmly in the dance. I wanted to express myself in a way that makes me feel good and enjoy it, even when I’m performing. However, it’s not enough to just feel it as an individual, it’s also important to have a group dance together, so I want to be able to feel the atmosphere of the whole group and give a beautiful performance. I also need to be able to respond flexibly so that I don’t jump on the spur of the moment when I’m told what to say in an MC, and I want to be able to keep my composure and respond to any hiccups or changes with my usual self without panicking. I always panic (laughs).
Somewhere in my heart, I’ve seen a song that speaks for me in my dreams.
— Have you ever reviewed your goals after being assigned to Nogizaka46?
Sato: I will be working with many wonderful seniors, so I will try to look at my surroundings and act accordingly. I hope to learn a lot from the actions of our seniors. I’ve only just become a member, but being a member of Nogizaka46, I have to be careful about what I say and do so that I don’t cause trouble for the group. I’m not very good at talking, but sometimes I try my best and come up empty, so I want to be mindful about this too. The last thing I need is to improve myself. After meeting with the seniors, I felt again that I need to work harder.
— What is your favourite Nogizaka46 song?
Sato: “Mou Sukoshi no Yume” (coupling song of 2015’s “Taiyou Knock”. Nishino Nanase’s solo song.) I’ve been listening to this song since middle school. I was a realist at the time, but somewhere in my mind I had a dream. I feel like this song could speak for itself. I like the lyrics that tell us to keep moving forward even if we are anxious don’t have the confidence. Nishino Nanase-san’s voice is also good.
— So originally, what kind of image did you have of Nogizaka46?
Sato: I think it’s a pure, beautiful and warm group. There are a lot of lyrics that I can relate to, and they have supported me a lot so far.
— What do you think you need to do to become a member of that Nogizaka46?
Sato: It’s about growing as a person and having a strong and kind heart. Also, there’s a lot of work to be done in terms of visuals and performance.
— What do you think your current weaknesses are that you need to overcome quickly?
Sato: I compare myself with people around me, and that often makes me depressed. I want to be able to live my life with positivity.
— It’s true about the comparisons. There are lot of members in the group so you have to promote yourself. What points of yours do you wish to push?
Sato: The first thing I can think of is “I’m the only one from Iwate Prefecture!”. I’d also like to show people what I like about clothes and cosmetics. I’m also bad with food, so I’d like to push that attribute too. Actually, I used to be a member of a choir club and I like to sing, so I’d like that promoted too, even though I’m not that good at it…… What should I do? (laughs)
— I’ll leave that to you (laughs). At this point in time, what moments do you feel has fulfilled you?
Sato: That moment when you meet so many wonderful people. The staff, the photographers, the make-up artists, the stylists, the other members, the other trainees…… I would not have met them all if I had lived a normal life, so I feel so happy to have met everyone.
— What do you want to do with your life in the next 2 years before you turn 20?
Sato: I want to try a lot of things, and absorb as much as I can in the next 2 years.
I don’t have much experience, but I will push on.
— Do you have an ambition for this generation to become the focus of the group in the future?
Sato: I’m still at the stage where I’m watching everyone’s back, so I’m not quite there yet……
— That might be the case. It seems Nogizaka46 is undergoing a change at the moment, what kind of group would you be glad to see in the future?
Sato: As is still the case today, ideally a group that cherishes gratitude and influences the hearts and minds of many people. It is all thanks to my seniors that I was able to stand on a big stage and perform live with only the other trainees. I would like to remember that this kind of thing is not the norm because I went through an unstable period as a trainee, and I would like to do my best going forward.
— We asked you earlier what your image of Nogizaka46 is. Do you want that to change in the future? Or do you think it’s better that it doesn’t change?
Sato: Because I’m a newcomer, it’s hard for me to answer this…… First and foremost, I wouldn’t want to do anything that would ruin the image that my seniors have built up. That’s the basis, but I feel that if the members change, it’s going to be hard to keep things the same. I think the best way is to keep the image the same, but add new elements on to it. Rather than a change in image, it’s more like the image is evolving.
— Did you ever feel frustrated when you became a trainee?
Sato: A lot. I still don’t think I’ve gotten over it. I had no choice but to keep pushing forward even though I was down. That’s what I did. I don’t have enough experience to say, “I can’t do this!” There are times when it seemed like it wasn’t possible, but I just did it. It’s the same with dancing, and how I look when I’m talking on TV. Look at your reflection in a mirror or glass, or take a video, and see how you look objectively. I’ve always cherished that perspective.
— It’s good to have that perspective so early on. So then, what has made you most happiest since you joined?
Sato: We were able to do the tour with the 15 trainees. I was able to then convey my thanks to the fans and the staff.
— The tour is still fresh in your mind, isn’t it? Finally, what kind of generation do you think those born in 2001 are? What kinds of things did you grow up with?
Sato: In terms of songs, I listened to AKB48, Sakamichi group, back number and Greeeen, The manga “Ao Haru Ride” was really popular, but personally I liked “Sugar*Soldier”. I played Super Mario on the 3DS and DS.
— If the 2001-born members of Nogizaka46 were known as the “XX generation”, what would the XX be?
Sato: The “diversity generation”. I’m not sure if I should include myself in that, but I feel there are a lot of people who have their own characters and specialties.
— Thank you so much for your time today!
Sato: Thank you so much too! BRODY magazine did our first photoshoots as trainees, and I’ll treasure that issue for the rest of my life. Thank you for your continued support!
[PROFILE] SATO Rika = Born 9 August 2001 in Iwate Prefecture. Has played trumpet for 7 years. Genius from the snow country who can knock out the points with her maths and charm. Nickname is “Rika-chan”.
[STAFF] Styling = Arisa | Hair and make-up = SUMIHOSHINA (GIGGLE) | Outfits = school goods KURI-ORI | Musical instruments = Yamaha Music Japan
halcyon Translations 