Quick Japan Vol.135 – TAKAHIRO

TAKAHIRO, a dancer who is always being the person in charge of choreography for all singles of Keyakizaka46 up until now and also involved in concert production on their first summer tour. Regarding to their performance, what kind of change does he feel? What can be seen from the girls that encountered their own limit is that they want to create by themselves a group called Keyakizaka46.

- This year is really an intense year for members and TAKAHIRO-san as well. When you look back at 2017, what kind of development do you feel from them?

TAKAHIRO: If there was a strong sense of unity last year, then I feel the emergence of “individuality in unity” charm this year. I have been together with them since they were still amateur, this year they pay attention to each other more deeply, each member expresses their thoughts frankly. While still putting the group first, each member also thinks about what do they want to do as individual? What do they think as individual? Within the identity of Keyakizaka46, the emergence of individual consciousness might be a positive thing.

Therefore, their relationship doesn’t end up with senior-junior relationship, they put effort to face their problems together, they pursuit an answer, I feel the greatness of expression artist from them. For example, when Hirate’s health was in poor condition on the summer tour, normally people from management would think about the solution, then they would tell it to members, however they wanted staff to give them time to discuss it with members only, “We want to think properly about it by ourselves”, and they decided to perform without anyone filling her position, they discussed about how to deal with the situation when member’s health is in poor condition, then they told us their solution.

Also, back then when some member want to ask something about dance, she would ask other member to convey that question to me, but now each member come and ask to me by herself. Their thought and feeling toward this group are really strong, moreover they started to feel proud to belong to this group, they’re already one step ahead at thinking and finding the ideal shape of this group, I think this year is a year which members created Keyakizaka46.

- What kind of thought do they have after they went through the summer tour?

TAKAHIRO: When their television drama “Zankoku na Kankyakutachi” ended, they had to face “Keyaki Republic 2017”, several days later they still had to do rehearsal for the summer tour, I think they were in very difficult situation. They had to create something together in such a difficult condition, so it’s natural if there are some conflict between them, I think it’s easy for them to speak out what they thought. “Let’s give entertaining performance to everyone”, they have one solid goal, but there must be 21 different ways to reach that goal, one member wants to show the aesthetic of a solid dance, another member wants to stress the communication with the fans. It would be endless debate if they have to choose which thought is better. Even though there were conflict of thought between them, I think they already did their best to reach their goal. I want to face to it together with them and show respect to their strong will at the same time. Even in such crisis situation, or when they lose their focus, I think basically they choose their own path to move forward.

- How is your impression toward Hiragana Keyaki?

TAKAHIRO: They got little chance to perform on the summer tour, and watching Kanji Keyakizaka46 who is their sparkling goal with their very own eyes, I think it must be hard for them. Since they are always compared to Kanji Keyakizaka46, they have to think of how to make their fans moved, and thanks to that, their performance and their ability to make expression are steadily improving. On top of that, they are always surrounded by happy aura. Their debut timing and their overall age are close to Kanji Keyakizaka, so it’s natural if they would feel upset for always being compared to Kanji Keyakizaka. But in their case, “We want to shine in our own way!”, they have more sparkling expression, I think probably it gave birth to their charm. Two identities of Kanji Keyakizaka46 and Hiragana Keyakizaka46 are already established, and 2nd generation also already joined, I think they will become much stronger group.

Everyone already experienced standing in the front row, now it’s time to show the overwhelming power of the group

- Keyakizaka46’s worldview which started from “Silent Majority” was compiled on their album and tour, I feel that their latest song “Kaze ni Fukaretemo” is a little bit different from their works thus far. What kind of feeling did you put into this song?

TAKAHIRO: Visualizing the lyric is always be the most important thing. Their songs always have a part that connected to the “Life is not always what we want it to be” theme, whatever the song is. However, “Silent Majority” is expressing a courage to oppose and say “No” to such a thing, while “Kaze ni Fukaretemo” is expressing big-hearted feeling to accept it, “No one knows what will happen in nature, so why don’t we just follow the wind?”. Every member has that kind of feeling,  so I feel that this song is a song that will illuminate their future one step ahead. That’s why the main point of this song is everyone‘s dancing the same choreography. If they show solid performance, their strength will be seen, but if someone make a mistake, she will completely stand out. Since everyone already experienced standing in the front row, probably now it’s time to show the strength of Keyakizaka.

Since everyone already stood out, so I think that now it’s time to show the overwhelming power of this group. Also, in order to develop necessary dance in the series of their story up until now, I also made use of the substance of the song itself. For example, I created Moses formation in “Silent Majority” which Hirate-san walks in the middle of this formation. Even in “Kaze ni Fukaretemo”, I also created the same formation, however I added a choreography that one level harder where they move around to form that formation. Both songs are connected to each other, at first Hirate-san walks in the middle of the formation with ego and strong will, but this time she can accept and get over the harsh reality. A developed dance also expresses that all members are moving forward to the next stage. Figure of Hirate-san that blew a leaf on the beginning of television music program also expresses about the stream of time and nature, probably I already succeeded in creating a choreography that connected to “Futari Saison”.

- Last question, what is your expectation toward them from now on?

TAKAHIRO: I guess many things can still happen to them, every single thing always gives birth to something new, so I want to be blown together with them. I will do my best on the path where we’re blown to.

PICKUP 1:

Fukyouwaon’s interlude is expressing about the pain created by society, it’s expressed by Hirate’s movement where she looks like being crushed in a circle, then she shouts “Boku wa Iyada”, as if she tried to break free from it. This idea also appears in Kaze ni Fukaretemo, however Hirate, who dances freely in the middle of the circle, is the object. 

PICKUP 2:

Since Kaze ni Fukaretemo’s peformance outfit is suit, they are challenged to do dance with fast step and footwork that can be seen clearly. Also, all members do the same choreography on the chorus. By showing the harmony of all members, it will be showing the unity of the group.

PICKUP 3:

Swastika pose that was performed by Sato Shiori in the dance track of last year One Man Live, reappeared in Hiraishin and it’s now performed by all members. Also, the order of members that stand in a line is exactly the same as in Tokyo Tower wa doko kara Mieru?. The idea of previous song that reappeared on another song indicates that there is a connection between the story of those songs.

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sorry for my bad english, special thanks to toomuchidea for the RAW