エンタメNEXT「2015年度 トーク委員長・白井沙樹が語る〝さくら学院〟」インタビュー

Going without trouble through this summer's big festivals like TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2015 and @JAM EXPO 2015, this nendo Sakura Gakuin is approaching a fruitful autumn.

The solo show at Tokyo - Shibuya TSUTAYA O-EAST on September 27th was sold out!

Enfolding in a vortex of emotions all the fukei who filled the venue, the curtain was brought down on a very successful performance.

Then, in long interview of more than 10000 characters at entamenext, the fifth president of the student council, Isono Rinon talked about her passion for the 2015 nendo.

Following that interview, we did a very long interview of 15000 characters and more with the third 'Talk Chairman' Shirai Saki (who produced the recent solo show), titled "2015 nendo Talk Chairman Shirai Saki talks about Sakura Gakuin" (the interview was done immediately after the show, the 4th of October).

It's obviously about the live show, but also the passion for Sakura Gakuin, the duties as Talk Chairman, and also her own view on marriage (!) an exaustive article for you all fukeis. Therefore, please keep reading!

Sirai Saki, born 2000.9.28, (3rd year middle school) from Niigata prefecture

-- First of all, congratulations for the great success of your show at Tokyo - Shibuya TSUTAYA O-EAST! Now, for a venue with a capacity of 1300 people, it was pretty packed!

S: thank you very much!

-- The night of the show in September, there was a surprise celebration for Shirai-san's birthday, you have already become a favorite for the fukei (laugh), this time it was the day before your birthday.

S: but it wasn't set on purpose, I was lucky it was by chance a Saturday [? I don't understand this, C-chan birthday was on Monday, maybe she meant Sunday?]

-- The show was 5 months after the transfer-in ceremony on May, how was it? Compared to the shows you did this summer at festivals like TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2015 and @JAM EXPO 2015, the audience and its reaction was probably different, and the feeling on the performance's side was also different, wasn't it?

S: indeed, in the case of a solo show it's almost only fukei-san who come because they like Sakura Gakuin, so it feels like playing 'at home', after all. The cheering is also closer and louder, and that's the special thing of solo shows, I think ♡

-- Now that you mention it, during the MC you also said things like "people in the audience are different"...

S: yes, as expected, since last year's 3rd year members like Yui-chan and Moa-chan graduated, the fukei san in the front row who were fans of 3rd year members moved to the middle area, so faces you often saw in the front row are a bit in the back now, things like this... but the fukei san who come to the shows, even when their favorite members graduate, keep coming affectionately without abandoning us, and I feel grateful for that!

-- So, after all, even from the stage, you do notice something has changed.

S: yes, when comparing with the last nendo, 6 transfer students were added to the 6 enrolled students, and we become a new group of 12 people, so I feel it has really changed a lot.

-- how was it? Obviously as a member of SG - but also as a serious fukei, don't you think 'it's a bit sad' sometimes?

S: yes, well Saki has also been a fukei, I know you can wholly support SG by doing things like listening to CDs and watching DVDs, and now there's also LoGiRL! Once in a while I think I would also like people to come to our live shows and open lessons, but I'm also happy if they support us "secretly" [i.e. from home]. What's more, as a fukei, even if the favorite member graduates, the love for SG won't change, and this is the good thing about SG after all.

-- You bet! As a fukei, supporting 'secretly' is right, in a sense (laugh). So, let's hear about the recent solo show we mentioned earlier. First of all, please tell us your impressions on the day of "Sakura Gakuin 2015 - After School Number Magic".

S: It was the second solo show for this nendo, and for the transfer-ins it was also the first at a live house, what's more the audience was standing, so the reaction from the fukei-san was amazing, it was a sort of feeling like 'I have to keep it up!'

-- The feeling the audience can transmit is totally different, when you compare standing vs seating, isn't it?

S: yes, definitely. It's really completely different!

-- To begin the live, first you sang 3 songs in a row from the early days, 'Verishuvi', 'Chime' and 'School Days', but with the addition of the transfer-ins, it felt really like something fresh. Obviously the voices, but which aspects of the performance show the qualities typical of 2015 nendo?

S: When I entered SG in 2013 nendo, the performance was quite powerful, and the 3rd year students were leading the younger members. But in the last nendo the number of members was reduced to 10, so for me the point was - how can we show our performance neatly?

Then in this nendo 6 transfer students joined the group, and they are very energetic - more than ever before (laughs). Talking about the quality and energy of the expressions and moves, in singing and dancing, I'm happy to think of this nendo as being (maybe) the number one.

-- Certainly it's worth of this 'fresh' feeling you say. However, age height and stage experience of each member are a bit scattered, and I think this difference in your preparation is visible, somehow or other. From your point of view, which member you think had a remarkable growth?

S: All the members have a great potential, both for dancing and singing! When they joined the group, it was difficult for us [enrolled students] to judge the 6 members properly. But each of the transfer students, with a lot of effort, could grow during the summer so much that you could hardly recognize them. During this live show I strongly felt they have become a big asset for SG as a whole.

-- The existence of the transfer-ins is the key point of this nendo. How was it? This summer at the TIF, were there conflicts among you before and after?

S: This nendo before TIF and @JAM EXPO 2015 we had a consultation.

-- Specifically, did anything happen? Please tell as much as you can say about that.

S: Well, before the TIF the fellow members were on good terms, now during lessons and practice we were always together, so it's obvious that - for very brief moments - there could be some little disagreement. And these things kept piling up, then we had a discussion, and everyone was crying. We cleared all the misunderstandings and our bonds became deeper!

-- you're always together and on good terms with each other, but sometimes there's also quarrels, right?

S: well, there's a lot of elementary school members, and also for us middle schoolers sometimes there are several things we have to deal with. For example things like studying, and other things you must necessarily do increase.

-- hahaha (laugh) You're very busy with the real school life in private, and with SG activities you go over the maximum capacity. So, going back to the live shows, Hidaka (Marin) san singing "Song for Smiling" with her fluent pronunciation was a performance you didn't have for a long time?

S: at Ciao Festival it was a short version, so the full exhibition was the first one for this nendo. It was exciting, and it's also a song from the era of Su-chan, so in a way we all went on board of the ship pulled by Su-chan, it was a song the whole members enjoyed with a sense of unity.

-- And this nendo the one who pulled that ship was Isono Rinon, right? And then 'Friends'... this was a rather early timing to perform it.

S: I thought that as well, but I felt that flow was interesting. Playing it as conclusive song for the show gives a calm feeling, but actually the melody is cheerful, so I thought the cheerfulness of this nendo's SG could be shown by that set list order.

-- When you change the set list, the impression of the song changes as well. And then after that, the flag song 'Hello! Ivy' colored in pink the whole floor, then the new song 'Mathematica'... there when you used lasers during the intro part, the fukei were really excited.

S: we used lasers for the first time ♡

-- that was really cool!

S: yes it's cool, isn't it? Since watching them being used at places like BABYMETAL's lives, I was yearning for that~

-- normally you don't have that sort of production in the middle of a show, was it because of the new song?

S: this time we had to change clothes quickly, in SG it's rare that we have to change clothes every song.

-- when you do, it's limited to club activities units, right?

S: for club units, the girls who don't go on stage do the MC, but this time it was our first attempt at this - all members having to change clothes - we took this challenge, and we totally succeeded! Well, didn't we succeed? (ironical smile)

-- well, surely at least one of you did it barely in time (laughs) (about the incident of Isono Rinon's having trouble with her Mathematica's outfit skirt, when she had to quickly change). O-EAST x Isono Rinon = incident jinx again... about that Mathematica outfit, I hear from a staff room teacher "it will be never worn a second time at a live show".

S: (looking truly disappointed) it's true~

-- this was the last time, what a waste!

S: I wanted to wear it more!

-- nonetheless, you will probably use it in the future as well, as if nothing happened?

S: but, each one has a number for the height... so on the contrary, by limiting it to the 2015 nendo alone, it could become legendary.

-- [Sakura Gakuin] is a unit limited to the growth period, therefore the ordering by height... that means it's greatly probable that this outfit will eventually be added to 'C-chan collection'. Let's take it secretly from the storehouse without being discovered! (laugh) That reminds me, the socks were different at the live, if compared with the PV. They were matched in color with the sneakers, so it turned out well in the end!

S: as expected, those colorful socks with Sakura's uniform... (forced smile) The changing from loafers to sneakers was also decided like two days before the live.

-- heee~ it was really decided at the last moment!

S: Many times it happens that a couple of days before, after the results of the rehearsals, the members of the staff talk together and they change stuff.

-- obviously there's also questions of length [of the time slot]. Then next song, starting from Mathematica and linked to its order of height, "Makeruna! Seishun Hizakozou". That choreography when you form groups two by two is good.

S: yes, it's good!

-- do you change the combinations of who is with who?

S: generally, it's like the first time the choreography was made at the beginning of the new nendo, from when you enter to when you graduate it doesn't change.

-- that being the case, if a girl like Okazaki (Momoko) san and Asou (Maaya) san has drastic height increase, can they also be paired with another tall girl?

S: I think being able to experience the growth of each member in that way could also be good.

-- Certainly, this is an aspect that's enjoyable to watch. Well, last is "Hana * Hana" closing this part of the show. Before the encore, the well known "Piece de Check!" by the Purchasing Club. At the Purchasing Club, I've always thought, at that "~ random enclose" passage, after Yoshida (Soyoka) san's "then, give it back!" and Shirai-san says "eh? I'll take it then!" that is a characteristic moment, right? That moment, what do all the fukei do? When moving left and right of the stage, that's necessary but doesn't it open a considerable space?

S: (with an expression like 'yes that's true!') Well, I don't know what to say.

-- As in Dachou Club's gag 'douzo douzo' [* I think it's a gag where one doesn't want to do something, and other volunteer to do it (this way the first one will agree as well), and then the others say 'please, please' forcing him to do it], the fukei could say "then I will take it!" "no, no! I will!" and then Shirai-san says "eh? I'll take it then!!". With this dialogue you could do a 'call and response' adding some extra energy.

S: I'll remember that! I will improve it!

-- Still, the dialogue together with Yoshida san during that unique moment can make such a soft and warm mood, so keeping the status quo is probably the best (laughs). Then, one more thing about the Purchasing Club! The flag case that Shirai san keeps suggesting, won't be commercialized at all...

S: that's right! (a bit angry) The teachers in the staff room kept saying 'next year we'll do the flag-case!' but they didn't do it at all... (with a sad expression) doesn't such a case exist in the first place?

-- That's probable. For instance it could be based on a case for drum sticks... please make this happen before Shirai san graduates! (laugh). Well, coming back to the live show, the last song during the encore was "Kimi ni Todoke". Singing it with an air full of gratitude towards the fukei-san, would destroy their lacrimal glands!

S: (with shining eyes) you bet! Bringing Kimi ni Todoke at that point will kill them~

-- so, up to now it's the daytime performance. These day and night performances were a present for C-chan, after 2 years, but was also the set list suggested by Shirai san, like with last nendo's Production Chairman Mizuno (Yui) san?

S: well, actually (looking disappointed) the idea was rejected~ the songs I wanted to perform were too many, and it was difficult to put it all together... (bitter smile). Actually I thought about several ways to put them together in a clever way, but then I thought I also wanted to add "Planet Episode 008" and then "Animal Rhythm", it ended up like this.

-- there's also "Wonderful Journey" and "Sakura Hyakunin Isshu"

S: yes.. (with sparkling eyes) as a fukei I would like to listen to "Hyakunin Isshu" as well～♪ But among the current members there is only one who can dance it (looks downhearted)

-- Ooh! That's a difficult problem to begin with.

S: (looking sad) indeed...

-- About the title of the morning performance "After School Number Magic", what was this number magic?

S: the surprise of wearing the 'Mathematica' outfit during the live, with the numbers for our height order

-- Ah, I see... it was quite straightforward!

S: While discussing with the teachers about the several points for the morning and evening live shows, we asked things like 'what should we do?' and eventually we fulfilled our wish to wear again the Mathematica outfit.

-- The fact that it won't be used anymore means it was a premium live show. Now, from now let's talk about the evening part, "Sakura Gakuin 2015 ~ Shirai Saki will charm you as fukei representative!". Like 2 years ago, you chose the music yourself, starting from the music before the show. From 'Over Drive' by Judy and Mary (which you sang at this year's Idol Otakarakuji live) to Negicco's 'Sunshine Nihonkai'.

S: I wanted to play "Over Drive" because it's a song that marks 2015 nendo's summer, so I chose it as the first song.

-- and in the MV of 'Sunshine Nihonkai' you can see the scenery from Shirai san's hometown in Niigata

S: yes ♡

-- While the fukei raised their expectations and thought - "this is truly C-chan's birthday!" - as soon as 'Hirari/Hitori/Kirari' from the beloved 'Aikatsu!' was playing, the names and pictures of the members were shown in the screen behind the stage, that was a stylish production.

S: actually, during the opening of the transfer-in ceremony in 2011 (when Rinon chan and the graduate Taguchi Hana chan joined the group) there were videos, and based on that I made this nendo's version ♪
Saki at that time couldn't go to the show (I had the tickets but due to the earthquake, the day of the show was postponed, and I couldn't go) therefore I am happy I could do it!

-- it's a nice production for the old-time fukei. And the first song was "Fly Away" as 2 years ago.

S: you know, I like to begin with "Fly Away" as first song~. It's a song I've always liked, since before I joined Sakura Gakuin, but reading the lyrics well a second time I realized it was perfect for the transfer-ins. You know, things like "At first we were shy, and we weren't good at talking~♪" and "we can see everyone beyond the light". So I thought, with the melody and the lyrics of this song, we start the live with all our strength! And I absolutely wanted to put it as first song.

-- "Let's rush out with all our strength, to a stage we saw only in a dream" it's truly an appropriate song to be chosen as 'top batter'

S: that's correct ♡

-- before, during the interview with Isono san, she told that "C-chan, from before she entered Sakura Gakuin kept addressing us all the time".

S: that's true~. Wanting autographs... (laughs)

-- hahaha. Then, after that we have "School Days". Rushing out to a stage they saw only in a dream, Sakura Gakuin's school days begin, it's really a good sequence. And then from here we continue with 3 songs of the series 'we can get smarter'. The first song about English "Song for Smiling", then "Hana * Hana" about the language of flowers, and then about arithmetic "Mathematica!". Following that, performed for the second time by this nendo, the song that could be called without exaggeration the representative of last nendo, that is "Heart no Hoshi". Since you are now 12, the formation has changed considerably, did you have to practice a lot?

S: yes, it was rather difficult... the formation from the last nendo had a different feeling, and some members grew taller as well, and obviously the number of pompons increased, right? Because of that we had a tough time, and we had to practice several times.

-- when you did the last 'earth' round shape, I think you could draw it neatly.

S: thank you very much ☆

-- then the friendship song "Marshmallow Iro no Kimi to". This song brought some deep emotions. If I'm not mistaken, the choreography of Marshmallow from 2 years ago at the O-EAST didn't come up perfectly, so you trained enduring your tears.

S: yes, I couldn't do it at all. That day, I couldn't absolutely do it, so I kept training 'Marshmallow', and it was such a trauma that even while sleeping I dreamed of Marshmallow lessons (with a mortified look) but eventually I still couldn't do it...

-- and yet it was a song you really liked from the start?

S: yes, I love it ♡ for this reason, it was frustrating not being able to do it... I had also this feeling I absolutely wanted to do it, since it was a song I loved.

-- This time it was a production different than usual, starting from Isono san and Shirai san, was it all according to your design?

S: Originally, "Marshmallow" and "Heart no Hoshi" were in the opposite order in the set list, but due to several things like dealing with the pompons, doing "Heart no Hoshi" after the MC was smoother, so to speak, therefore it was decided like that. That is romantic as well, isn't it?

-- what's more, isn't that a tune about friendship? While watching it my lacrimal glands got destroyed as well, and I couldn't help it! Then, before the encore, "Message". The song that brings to a close the 2010 nendo's first album "Sakura Gakuin 2010 nendo ~message~".
The famous song that the first generation president of the student council Mutou (Ayami) sang with the enrolled students of that era, during the anniversary celebration of 3 years ago. What kind of message does it contain?

S: I had the feeling I wanted to end it with this quiet song, bringing the first half of the show to a climax with "Heart no Hoshi" and while adding some touching and sad feelings with "Marshmallow Iro no Kimi to", I also thought I could link these feelings with "Message" in an emotional way, so I decided it would close this part of the show.

-- at the production live from 2 years a go, you had minipati + Notsu (presently Honjou Yunano) special edition "Princess a la Mode" and things you rarely hear at lives like "Dear Mr. Socrates". It had the feeling of a special program that was the embodiment of what Shirai san would like to watch. This time, were there also special parts delivered by Shirai san?

S: well, 2 years ago the club units had this feeling of perfection, there were also things I would have liked to do, but in this nendo until summer the club units weren't certain, so I thought it would be better to spare them for Sakura Gakuin festival on October 31st and November 1st. What's more this time we could show our growth from this summer, so without club units we attacked with the songs for full 12 members!

-- This is also a great anticipation for the Gakuin Festival! At the encore after the Purchasing Club, it has already become an usual event (laugh), Shirai san's birthday surprise! As might be expected, this year you got used to it so you didn't cry, did you already expect it?

S: I didn't realize it at all!

-- it's 3 years in a row, are such things as not realizing possible?

S: I wonder why?? The day before the live they told the lesson would end early, so I went to lunch with my mother and family who came the previous day. I've heard they did the choreography during that time, so really (laughs)

-- So your friends secretly practiced while you didn't know. Even if it's every year, that moves me to tears (said with a deep emotion).

S: I was surprised!

-- well, normally you can't imagine playing the song of last nendo's 3rd year students "Takaramono". Which reminds me, you use the word 'sparkling' when you want to express Sakura Gakuin, right?

S: yes! Takaramono is a good song~ sparkling ♪

-- well, which part of SG you feel is 'sparkling'?

S: I think the fact that fellow members are on good terms with each other is clearly visible, even in cool songs like "Fly Away" we make eye contact with each other, this is a good thing. Actually I think the image of all of us singing and dancing with a lot of energy is amazing and kawaii, it's really sparkling ♡

-- The image of you all smiling earnestly while giving your best, certainly echoes in the fukei's mind. Shirai-san can feel this more strongly, as expected from a serious fukey!

S: I would end up saying something on the lines of 'I love my own group', but watching from a fukei's point of view, I strongly feel like that for real.

-- as expected, your 'Sakura love' is overflowing!, then in the style of "Yume ni Mukatte" you talked about your aspirations as a 15 years old. "I love Sakura Gakuin and I'd like to draw everyone into it, I want to smile my best towards my dream of becoming an actress", surely in the future you want to follow the example of the great senpai Miyoshi (Ayaka) san and Matsui (Airi) san, and aim at the path of being an actress.

S: yes, I'll smile my best!

-- is there an actress you see as a model?

S: I admire actresses who act naturally and also with a bit of kawaii-ness. For example people like Ishihara Satomi san.

-- if compared to the senpai aren't you a different kind of little devil!? Well, however I can imagine something like that, maybe (laugh). Please smile your best for that! Then, going back to the evening part of the show after this break about future dreams, how was it?

S: the last song was "Yume ni Mukatte", and as surprise present the 3rd year's song "Takaramono", in a song fashion it tells the ambitions of a 15 years old, in a way I wanted to connect this to "Yume ni Mukatte", and I talked about my own dreams. Therefore, I sang it while thinking about the future Sakura Gakuin, going towards my own dream like in the song. When as a fukei, before joining the group, I went to the lives and this song was the last one, I always thought 'it's over!' with a sense of completeness, the ending when they put down the flags was incredibly cool! So thinking about this I was personally happy to close with this song ♪

-- indeed, ending with "Yume ni Mukatte" is powerfully cathartic, like the scene in "Mito Koumon" when he takes out the seal case. Well then, in your Sakura Gakuin life this is your last birthday live, are you satisfied?

S: actually, I have the feeling that there's still more to come! In this period, starting from the summer festivals we go towards Gakuin Festival, it's a period like a turning point connecting everything, till the Gakuin Festival the feeling that I want to get through more and more has become stronger. How can I get the transfer-ins involved even in the MC? How should I assign the middle management? And also for things like the way I talk and behave at LoGiRL, I was judged negatively by my mother, and that was right on the mark... by receiving such various advice, I also had some feelings of frustration, so again since I turned 15 I'd like to keep changing and improving myself.

-- truly, as regards the MC, recently you consciously involve others by bringing up topics, I also feel a growth as Talk Chairman

S: at first I thought I wanted to lead more the transfer-ins during the talking, but everyone was already involved in learning the dance moves and songs to the best of their ability, so I tried not to make it a burden for them... then, during the summer everyone grew up a bit, and before I became aware of it, I was able to assign the talking.

-- At the moment, who is the most interesting, when it comes to talking?

S: Megu (Okada Megumi) I guess~. I tried to let her talk in this live as well, but there was a situation where she totally lost focus, so from now on without trying it at the rehearsals I'd like to try and let her talk all of a sudden (laughs).

-- As Talk Chairman you realized the mistake perfectly (laugh) Do you think your personal MC power has increased?

S: hmm... who knows? But since when I was nominated Talk Chairman, by discovering more about the characteristic traits of each member, I wanted to bring them forward more and more. Maybe I can do this a bit better, when compared with before. From now on, approaching the Gakuin Festival, I want to polish my talking even more.

-- I thought you would surely become the second Production Chairman, so when the roles of each 3rd year member were decided, the fact that you were Talk Chairman was unexpected for me. Didn't that surprise you as well?

S: I thought so! But talking about Production Chairman, like the first generation member Yui chan I worked together with, I think I have a deep attachment to Sakura Gakuin, so maybe I would have been able to get that position. From a fukei's point of view, maybe Saki could have brought the SG everyone would like to see, but I thought I couldn't really be a match with Yui chan, so I accepted this other role. What's more I like talking, basically I was happy to become Talk Chairman ♪

-- I see. As Talk Chairman, the fact that you love SG from the point of view of a fukei is a great asset. What the fukei desire the most, is for you to be able to show the Sakura Gakuin everyone wants to see, and this is the unique characteristic of Shirai san, isn't it?

S: Maybe, I guess... and also since the start of LoGiRL we have more occasions, I mean having a regular program every week, where we can talk in front of everyone - what's more it's live! Actually even our shows are live, so we had the opportunity to train our ability in talking, dealing with unexpected incidents, and so on.

-- so even the staff room teachers now feel at ease, and they can leave it to you! Which reminds me, what happened to the Koyaji club? In a very early diary, the joining registration was submitted, but...

S: I want to do the Koyaji club, really! When Saki entered the Purchasing Club, (Taguchi) Hana chan started the Pro Wrestling Circle and Moa chan was alone, so the club was on break.

-- I would like you and Ooga san to do a cross-dressing club. A cross-dressing unit that can sing, dance and act even after the graduation, something like Takarazuka!

S: (nonchalantly) certainly, at summer events we perform the same as usual~, Rinon chan and Saki [Ooga] chan and Saki [Shirai, = me], the three of us! At smile garden and free space, we have plans to spread a cardboard and perform (laughs).

-- then please take a snapshot at "OVERTURE"! (laughs)

S: indeed! (smiling)

-- I am sure you will show periodically your grown up image, even after the graduation (laughs). Talking about growth, I've read your whole diaries again, and compared to when you joined SG, your hand-writing has improved a lot.

S: Yes, at school I write regularly so got to a good level, when it comes to handwriting ☆

-- And also when I hear you talking, during your conversations you don't use words as 'nanka' and 'demo' [* i.e. filler words]. Your language is solid, I feel that fits you perfectly as Talk Chairman. Is it so even in your real school?

S: thank you very much! In my real school, I have probably been told by my friends that I'm 'adult-like', in particular my way of thinking. To the point that I regularly say to my friends things like "If I have to marry, it must definitely be someone older" (laughs)

-- With this information you will throw the fukei-san in a tumult! When we say 'older', how many years of difference are we talking about?

S: hmmm... up to about 10 years is ok. My parents are 9 years apart, so I think it's entirely possible ♡

-- I think the fukei will get angry and say 'it's still early to think about marriage!', but anyway the fact that up to 10 years is ok, is a nice and dream-inspiring piece of information, I guess. By the way, a person having which kind of occupation?

S: Someone working for a large company... something like a dependable and reliable office worker......

-- are you an office lady? Let's set aside for now this 30-years-old office lady kind of talk, there's something I'd like to ask in addition... ah, I just remembered, last nendo's middle-school 3rd year members wrote in their diaries their worries, in a gentle way typical of them. As a 3rd year member for this nendo, do you have worries like 'now I would like to do like this a bit longer'?

S: maybe we are gentle as well... I wonder... still, I think it could be a different kind of gentleness, when compared to the senpai who graduated last year. Last year, there was really this feeling of being watched over, when the junior members didn't do properly, even if we weren't told "the 3rd year senpai can do it properly, so you have to do it reliably!" still everyone did it voluntarily.
In 2015 nendo there's six transfer-ins, so frankly just the three of us [* 3rd year students] can't see all the troubles. When compared to last year, we tell people off when we need to, and when we need to say something we do it, but the things we need to say are way too many... conversely there's times when we refrain from doing it, so from now on going towards the graduation ceremony on next year's March, I think I'd like to say these things with more force.

-- with more force, you say! It's a bit unexpected. Seen from the point of view of a 3rd year middle school student, elementary students are still kids, I mean, you deal with them as with kawaii juniors, I guess...

S: We sometimes ask ourselves if they can really understand, but since we are senpai there's things we really have to tell them. Still, there's also many times when we feel the things we want to teach them get through... maybe (sarcastic laugh)

-- surely, communicating with juniors who are some years apart is not straightforward.

S: They're still elementary students, so their ability to concentrate is totally lacking, if you keep speaking to them for a long time, they all end up spacing out. They get sleepy (smile). Ah, and the moment when they're gone and you say things like 'is it all right?' they come back to reality...

-- when this happens, do you get irritated?

S: no, I'm a kind of person who doesn't easily get angry, so it's ok.

-- are Ooga san and Isono san the same?

S: they both don't get angry a lot.

-- It seems that last year's group was made of senpai of the kind who don't need to use any words, and kouhai [* juniors] who learn just by watching them, but this year conversation and communication have become important. So, from now on you will watch them more strictly.

S: but... even if we say 'strictly', the relationship between members is very good ♪

-- in Sakura Gakuin there's this feeling of friendship, even if your school years and careers are different, isn't it so?

S: yes. If compared with last nendo, this year our age difference is even more extreme, so at first I thought: will we get used to this? How should we deal with 5th graders? But right now, all 12 members are on good terms just as if we were in the same school year ♪ This is one of the merits of this nendo, I think.

-- in which aspects can you see this? For example during the live shows?

S: Talking about the live shows, you can see our friendship in casual moments, for example the eye contact, that also gives the fukei a warm feeling ♡ Saki likes the moments when we enjoy the live shows together with the fukei, of course. So I like it when we make the same eye contact with the members, and our postures are perfectly in harmony!

-- some time ago in her diary, Kurashima (Sara) san wrote that you didn't make eye contact, and somehow it felt like being ignored, surely this has been improved now?

S: Now it's totally different from the way it was then! Really, in "Friends" we are a pair with Sara, and in the 'teddy bear' part of "Marshmallow Iro No Kimi To" when we make a pair, even in that case I'm with Sara, so we make eye contact. When we do it, I can really see the feeling of distance between us getting smaller.

-- Certainly at first, after you joined the group, you seemed to have a strong link with Yamaide san, who joined the same year. But recently in Kurashima san's diaries you are mentioned more often.
Well then, if you could tell us about your enthusiasm for the approaching Gakuin Festival... today (when the interview was taken) you will probably do lessons for the festival, to what extent is it completed? Please tell us as much as it is ok to tell!

S: we'll perform some new songs.

-- You mean new songs for this nendo? Or existing songs in 2015 version?

S: not for this nendo, but we need to refresh the dance and singing of existing songs, and then there's a song characteristic of the Gakuin Festival, among other things. A hint is... smiling our best while holding a package!

-- oh! so it will be brought to perfection till the very day of the live, I'm looking forward to it, so smile your best! Then it's like a final rush for a few weeks (this interview was taken on October 4th), which member had the most remarkable growth right now?

S: I think we could say everyone ~ even Soyo (Yoshida Soyoka) when we performed at TIF couldn't talk at all in the Purchasing Club, and yet after roughly one month in the solo show of the other day she was able to do it, and I was really surprised! I also think about my lines for the MC, and in the MC of the Purchasing Club this time I tried to assign more lines to Soyo, and even if I was worried thinking '...but, will she be able to say them?', doing them together surprisingly she could, and from now on I want to steadily increase our dialogues during the talks.

-- MC is the strong point of the Purchasing Club so to speak, so it's also the path for a Talk Chairman. As with former Honjou san.

S: yes, at first it was only MC without a song.

-- the title for that song, was undecided till the album release (laugh). Now there's also the special asset of Yoshida san, that is Kansai ben [* = dialect] so from now on I expect a clear 'boke and tsukkomi' [* wiki] kind of talk! Well then, even in your diaries you touched subjects like 'the meaning of joining Sakura Gakuin' and 'things I have to do now' please tell us more about this.

S: straight from the beginning Saki was a fukei who supported the group to the utmost, so I like SG a lot, and not because I joined the group as a member. However, actually after I joined I started to think: it's nice that I could join Sakura Gakuin! And SG concept of aiming at being a super lady, it's the same as the dream Saki always had of becoming an actress in the future. I always thought: even If I can't become an actress I want to become a super lady! Therefore till the graduation I want to get closer to this dream more and more!

-- I see. So, what's the thing Shirai Saki must do for her beloved Sakura Gakuin?

S: This nendo six transfer-ins joined the group, and I would like to treasure the merits of this nendo, its energetic feeling and cheerfulness. There's times when I think it's too much energetic, and we need a bit of 'neatness'. Therefore, I would like to act as a lead with the 3rd year members, so that cooperating with everyone we can show the fukei even the 'pure and beautiful' part of Sakura Gakuin!

-- This is one of the charms of SG, Shirai san having the point of view of a serious fukei. Last, please a message for the readers of "entame next"!

S: during Sakura Gakuin's performances, everyone is always full-power! With a lot of fine details worthy of note, you would expect the figure of each member smiling their best must look tired at the final stage of the live, but in order to send these feelings to all the fukei, we sing with a smiling face, and in each moment we are happy to show various kawaii expressions and moves ♡

-- as expected, we finish from the point of view of a fukei (laughs) Thank you very much!

S: thank you very much!