28 Feb 2015 Entame - final article in the Churi Meshi series translation
TN: God, this is painful. I ended up crying at a few parts. It's so, so, Furuyanagi, and the tone of the interview is pretty informal too. But the love just comes through. I'm not gonna translate the off-shot part (last page) because I've already done a translation here: http://anshinanzen.tumblr.com/post/112237380382/oh-my-god-did-a-quick-translation-of-the
A "real" recipe program fi~lled with love from Team KII's Takayanagi Akane.
Churi Meshi (Final) SKE48 Takayanagi Akane cooking series
Takayanagi Akane Born 11 Nov 1991 in Aichi prefecture, Blood type B, nickname "Churi".
Furukawa Airi Born 13 Dec 1989 in Aichi prefecture, Blood type AB, nickname "Airin".
The guest for this round is Team KII's Furukawa Airi
The "Churi Meshi" series that has run for almost 3 years has finally arrived at the last round! The last customer is Furukawa Airi-sama who is graduating at the end of March, and we talk to them about various "graduations". Please enjoy the touching finale that will be treasured forever by Furuyanagi fans!
Various graduations for Churi and Airin...
Furukawa-san has announced her graduation. Did Takayanagi-san know about it beforehand?
Takayanagi: At around that time, about a few days after Miepi (Satou Mieko) and Nakanishi (Yuka)-san announced their graduations, we came to stay in Tokyo for the Kouhaku Utagassen rehearsals. There, we stayed in the same room. After I said, "Miepi and Nakanishi-san are also graduating aren't they~?", she looked away from me and said "Yeah~". I thought that it was a bit strange, so I tentatively asked, "Honestly, is Airi thinking about it too?", and she replied "Ah~... yeah. I've already decided to do it, you know".
Furukawa: And she was really surprised (lol).
Takayanagi: That's to be expected isn't it! I asked her "Eh!? WHEN!?", and she replied "in March...." you know! I was like, "Isn't that the same as Miepi and Nakanishi-san!"
Furukawa: Well, I had decided that because Churi's seitansai was coming up, once her seitansai was over I would tell her. Like, I was thinking that I didn't want to unnecessarily make her feel uneasy before her birthday... (TN: That is SO FURUKAWA.) But, because we ended up having a conversation (about graduation) between just the two of us before that, I was thinking that if if I didn't tell her, after that she would unnecessarily end up feeling more hurt so I told her. (TN: SO VERY FURUKAWA AGAIN)
Takayanagi: Then, we laughed about it you know. Because it still didn't feel real. But even if I cry now, it feels kinda wrong, so it's like I'm trying to be strong (lol). But I was thinking that it was probably coming up.
Eh, why were you thinking that...?
Takayanagi: Over the course of this one year we were always together, whether when eating meals or when moving between places, and we did touch on the subject of graduation a bit during our conversations. More than about the timing of graduation, it was things like what she'd like to try doing after graduating, or places she'd like to go, or about her dreams. I noticed that I heard quite a bit about things like that from Airi during this year so I was like "Oh, perhaps it's going to come up soon...". But, I didn't think that it would end up being so soon.
Furukawa: Ahaha, sorry 'bout that. (TN: IDIOT FURUKAWA, SHE SERIOUSLY SAID THAT) Because we've spent so much time together, I didn't really know how to come out and say it either.
Takayanagi: Recently, when I was doing work that wasn't together with Airi, when I was on the bus, no one was sitting next to me, and I ended up thinking "Ah~ from now on, Airi will never be around anymore isn't it?". But, probably reality only really hit when she announced her graduation at the theater. Because if she told the fans, there was no going back.
The secret story of both of them missing out on communicating on the day of the graduation announcement
Takayanagi: On the day of the stage performance, even though I had kinda heard that she would announce her graduation, I didn't hear about the details of it, and was unable to confirm it with her. The performance began without us having spoken to each other.
Furukawa: I, too, had thought of a timing where I'd planned to say it, but I wasn't able to tell her about it.
Takayanagi: When members have announcements that they want to make, most of them do it by raising their hand and saying "Hai!" just before the final greeting, where we say "We sincerely thank everyone who kindly came here today", you know. I was thinking that if Airi was going to say it too, she would do it there. Before going into the greeting, I actually cleared a bit of time, you know. While going with the flow of the situation (lol).
Furukawa: Yeah, that's it. But, I was also going with the flow so I was like "Should I do it now? Is now ok?" (lol). Because Churi was looking to check with me while she was talking, conversely, I didn't know if it would be ok to say it and in the very very last moment, I went "Hai!" and finally said it.
Takayanagi: That's right! Gradually, I even had no idea what I was saying... and I was thinking that perhaps you weren't going to say it (lol)!
Furukawa: Because my announcement was a surprise attack, Churi was so shocked that she ended up crying. It was a different surprise from what she expected so, it was a shock, wasn't it. It was like "so you were going to end up saying it weren't you!" (lol)
Takayanagi: Once I started crying again I couldn't stop. I ended up crying again while doing the announcement from the shadows (TN: Kage ana) after that, and was crying when doing the send off too. Because I didn't want the fans to worry, I was smiling while crying, and my face looked incredible...
Furukawa: On the blog, there were fan comments like "Because Furukawa-san is a calm and collected person I'm not worried about her future, but I'm worried about Takayanagi-san" as well.
Takayanagi: I had comments like "Losing both Satou-san and Furukawa-san who she's especially close to and have been supports at the same time, will Churi be able to continue?" on my blog too (lol). On the day of Airi's graduation announcement, she had around 800 comments posted, but I got around 700 comments even though I'm not the one graduating (lol). My heart was warmed by the concern that everyone had for me.
Furukawa: But, even though in my blog comments, there were words like "it's sad", it was mostly forward-looking stuff like "I was thinking it was about time", or "please continue to work hard!" you know.
Perhaps like Takayanagi-san, who intuited that graduation was coming, perhaps that aura was also conveyed to the fans...?
(TN: It was. That's why I did so many crazy things in Japan to see her, thank her and spend time with her. I knew it would be the first and last time, intuitively. Please do the same for your oshimen.)
Furukawa: That's true, I raised an incredible number of graduation flags (lol).
Takayanagi: Even though it might've been done unconsciously by Airi, her message before the start of the "Ramune no Nomikata" song suddenly became really solemn, you know.
Takayanagi: (imitating her voice) "I feel really privileged to have been able to perform this stage.... Please listen to this song. "Ramune no Nomikata"" It felt like that!! From there, I started to think a bit like "oh, perhaps? (she's gonna graduate)", you know!
Furukawa: Eh!! I wasn't conscious of it at all! What do I usually say?
Takayanagi: "I hope that from now on, too, everyone will continue to grow and grow together! Please listen to this song! To~gether! "Ramune no Nomikata!""
(Comment box on the bottom) From 34 rounds in 3 years! Memories from "Churi Meshi" best 3:
Vol 6: Deguchi Aki and "Shrimp mayo"
Even though it's a series with a system where stars are awarded, this is a shocking round where one star was snatched away! When asked why, I was told "I would've given you the star if you had worn a naked (hadaka) apron"...... (tears)
Vol. 14: Matsui Rena and "Green curry"
During this round I got to do a gravure shoot with Rena-san too! The green curry that I made turned out really well, so it became a member of the standard menu of the Takayanagi household.
Vol. 18: Shibata Aya and "Mapo tofu"
From around this time, it feels like the outfits became a bit like cosplay... (lol). But, thanks to that, it was fun and delicious, and I started looking forward to every photoshoot!
Furukawa: That imitation is not like me! But oh... I didn't notice that!
Takayanagi: "I won't be here next year!" it was like you were really giving off that atmosphere, you know! Suddenly!
Furukawa: Perhaps even though I couldn't say it to everyone, I had already decided in my heart so it ended up being conveyed, isn't it~ (lol). After I'd made the decision, if I continued saying as always "everyone will continue to grow and grow together....", I was like, after I announce my graduation, maybe people would think "but you're graduating aren't you!"... So even though I was the one who decided to graduate, it's probably that I didn't want to be seen as "the graduating me" while standing on the stage, you know. That's probably it.
Since I'm graduating let's do it in a gag-filled way!
Takayanagi: Speaking of which, I was thinking that there's still one more regret. We've never done a unit song together, you know! And because I didn't anticipate that you would be graduating in March, I was even thinking that some time this year I'd like to do one somewhere!
Furukawa: Ah~. That's true!
Takayanagi: We were saying that we wanted to do "Wagamama na Nagareboshi" or something like that in a really joking way~ isn't it.
Furukawa: "Koko de ippatsu!" too!
Takayanagi: But since it turns out that you're graduating, perhaps it would be better if we did something a bit more serious?
Furukawa: If it was a serious graduation it would not suit me, you know (lol). I'd like to graduate in a way that is gag-filled to the very end!
Since you're always together, in a serious situation you get embarrassed isn't it.
Takayanagi: Even though we talk very seriously about subjects like the team, for example, just now when we were talking about things like the future, after Airi said "once I've graduated I'd love to hold an art exhibition~" I was like "Ah, then I'll hold an event there!". So, more than talking seriously in a way like "is she graduating?", we say things like "don't put up drawings like that!", or "maybe I could draw and give out caricatures to the first people who turn up?" (lol).
Furukawa: It's as if we make jokes about things that aren't a joke isn't it (lol).
(TN: Again, completely Furuyanagi. And Furukawa has always been bad at talking about serious stuff..)
The both of you, whether in drawing or cooking etc., seem to have the image of being multi-talented. Do you have any other things in common?
Takayanagi: Both of us care too much about what others think of us (lol).
Furukawa: Ahh, that's true... Even though at things like handshake events, I'm completely fine with talking with my fans. I'm so, so, uneasy about how I'll get along with other people after I graduate...!
Takayanagi: But, even among other members, when we meet, I immediately get shy so perhaps the only one whom I'm close enough to that it's fine even if she comes to stay over at my place is Airi.
Furukawa: Me too! You know, Churi came by bicycle to the train station closest to her home to meet me. While we headed over to her place together, we were saying "Ahh, right now it feels like a time of youth!" isn't it (lol)!
Takanayagi: And we just separately watched movies, or read manga, and didn't really need to care about the other person. Because both of us normally care far too much.
Up till "Furuyanagi" was formed and since "Furuyanagi" was formed
The fans created the nickname "Furuyanagi" out of a portmanteau of both of your names, do you know when this happened?
Furukawa: A long time ago, my fans kindly created it, isn't it. And at some point it completely caught on... (TN: From memory, that was probably about mid-2012, on twitter and g+. Before that, they were just known as Airin + Churi.)
Takayanagi: For the both of us too, when we first heard it we were thinking "what is that!?". We were like, "Furuyanagi" sounds like an old-fashioned Japanese restaurant's name (lol)!
Furukawa: But, for the both of us, too, a name that is too "idol-ish" would be hard for people to go along with, so unexpectedly, this caught on really easily isn't it (lol).
To us too, conversely, it was really easy to remember (lol). For Furukawa-san personally, is there anything particularly memorable in the time that you've spent as an SKE48 member?
Furukawa: Hmm, yeah~. Even though there's a lot of things that are memorable, it's definitely when I got my own song. I was really happy. Because that I would be able to get my own song from someone like Akimoto-sensei, who is like a presence above the clouds, is something that I never dreamed of even before I became an idol. It's not like everyone would be able to have something like that, you know! But, when the "Ramune no Nomikata" stage was written and we were talking about who would do which unit song, it was rumoured that I would definitely be in "Usotsuki na Dachou" you know. (TN: I've heard this multiple times, each time it makes me laugh.) From there, I was swopped over to "Manazashi Sayonara".
Takayanagi: Yeah, yeah! Initially, "Usotsuki na Dachou" had racier lyrics and was a much more adult song, you know. But after that, the members who were singing it were changed, and the lyrics changed too. The lyrics became a lot cuter, isn't it.
Furukawa: Because initially, it was a song meant to be sung by the older members, including me. Thinking about it now, if I had done the sexy version of "Usotsuki na Dachou", wouldn't I have gone down the road of the sexy oneesan character?
Insert: Churi Meshi's 3rd season reward for achieving 10 points!
(Furukawa on one knee: Congrats!
Takayanagi: Eh?! No waaay!)
Award presentation ceremony
With the previous round of the series, she has finally collected 10 stars, so we secretly prepared an award for Takayanagi Chef on the day. The Chef was shocked to receive the present from Airin, and the surprise was a success~!
Inside the present was.... A hand juicer that can be used to make green smoothies and vegetable and fruit juices! Please drink it every day, okay? ❤️
Takayanagi: I had the chance to have fun cooking in cute outfits with various members every single time! At places like handshake events too, I was really happy when fans told me "recently I made a dish from Churi Meshi, you know. It was delicious!"... Even though Churi Meshi has ended, I must keep working on my cooking skills! Maybe I'll start first with this juicer, and make the members and my family healthy (lol).
Takayanagi: ....no, no way (lol).
Furukawa: But I'm really glad that I got "Manazashi Sayonara"! It has become a song that is filled with memories that I will never forget for the rest of my life.
Airin's graduation. What about the "Furuyanagi" relationship...?
After graduation, will there be large changes in the "Furuyanagi" relationship, we wonder.
Furukawa: It's not like we were comedians who said "Let's form a comedic duo!", it's just a name given to us when we're together, so I think even though the time that we spend together will be less, it doesn't feel like "the group breaks up!" isn't it. (TN: I love how natural she is about it)
Takayanagi: Yeah. We'll still be meeting on off days as usual anyway. Nothing will change.
What about Furukawa-san's activities from now on...?
Furukawa: Well, firstly, I think that I would want to keep drawing forever. Among the fans who kindly came to see me at handshake events, there were quite a lot of them who said "I came because I love Chibi Airin". As such, more than as "Furukawa Airi", I will have Chibi Airin carrying out my activities, and would like more people to know about Chibi Airin.
Takayanagi: You'll make a picture book isn't it.
Furukawa: Yeah, yeah! At a handshake event, there was a girl who wants to become a paediatric nurse who came, and kindly told me that her dream was to place a Chibi Airin picture book at the hospital and have small kids ask her to read it to them! (TN: said girl is a Furukawa wota on my TL... loads of us working in the med/nursing/research fields because we want to serve people.)
Takayanagi: That's a touching story isn't it! After hearing that, I was like, "then I would want to be an actress who is always appearing on the TV that's placed in that hospital" (lol).
Because no matter what, you'll always be connected isn't it! This is such a wonderful story.... Is Takayanagi-san also thinking about things like graduation in the future?
Takayanagi: I'm thinking that I still have things that I want to do. Also, I'm thinking that together with the graduating members, I too may still have things that I can teach the kouhai (junior members). Of course, as SKE48's Takayanagi Akane too, I'll be having new experiences like the musical, and personally, there are still things that I would like to learn here. If there is a senbatsu election this year, I want to enter senbatsu! There is also that huge goal!
Furukawa: You're especially fired up this year isn't it!
Takayanagi: Last year, I felt really ambivalent about it. Right till the last minute I was torn over whether to take part or not, and the day before the deadline I declared my candidature while wondering if it was okay if I participated. But last year, I was able to feel really strongly "I still want to be in SKE48!", and because of that, my feelings that I have to protect this place became really strong.
You became able to consider the future of the whole group of SKE48 isn't it.
Takayanagi: I'm able to feel the importance of the things that haven't changed, and I'm thinking that for the things that have changed, it would be great if we can push it in a positive direction, so now, with the fans, I'm fired up (lol). As a member of SKE48, I want to enter AKB48 senbatsu!
As an individual member, what direction would Takayanagi-san like to push SKE48 towards?
Takayanagi: Even though it sounds like a cliche to want to return to the feelings of when we started (TN: The term here is 初心, which means beginner, or the enthusiasm you have when you start something).... For the musical that we're doing now, the main character in it is a kenkyuusei who has just entered AKB48, and her joy at being able to stand on the stage that her senpai spent 10 years creating, and how she is trying her best to surpass them. I would like us to be a group that has those feelings.
No matter what, there will be differences between the feelings of the members who first entered the group and the feelings of the members who have just joined, or are going to join, isn't it. Does it feel a bit like compared to when you joined, the newer members are a bit soft...?
Takayanagi: In the past, when practicing for a concert, time-wise we had a few weeks of lessons, and were able to gather everyone to practice together. But now, with very tight timing, everyone is moving together, so rehearsal time becomes very short, and sometimes we have to head to the actual performance immediately, so I think it's very tough for the kouhai members. Because the obvious things that we faced then are different from the obvious things that we face now, I think that to push the way that we have always done things before on them is wrong. However, I hope that they will understand that to stand on the stage, there must be at least a certain amount of time and work that is required first. Because now the amount of practice that everyone individually puts in on their own has become really important, more than knowing that "the stage is not such an easy place to be able to perform on", when we are able to gather everyone together, it would be ideal if we can immediately show an explosive power isn't it.
Panel on the bottom: Because it's embarrassing we can't say it to each other's faces so...
Since both of them have a relationship which feels like "even you ask me about it now I can't say it!", we got them to fill out a survey about various things. How much do the two of them love each other...?
1) What do you like about Furukawa-san?
- She is a partner where I don't have to put up a front
- When we're together it's fun
- When there's food that I can't finish she kindly finishes it all for me. (lol)
2) What about Furukawa-san do you want her to fix?
She uses the racks in the standing area of the hotel bathroom while they're still stacked up (First time I'm confessing this lol)
(TN: an e.g. is this kind of rack)
3) If you had to represent Furukawa-san in one phrase?
An old married couple (so it's said)
5) A message to Furukawa-san please.
I think, for life ahead you've still got loads of dreams, goals, and things that you want to do.
I am looking forward to seeing you go to fulfil each and every one of them.
But the most important thing is that even when you have graduated from SKE48, please come contact me. That's all.
Please take care of me piyo. (TN: She says "Yoropiyo")
1) What do you like about Takayanagi-san?
That she gets embarrassed when I call her "Akane".
2) What about Takayanagi-san do you want her to fix?
That she spreads out all of her stuff in the hotel room.
I also want her to quickly go bathe when we share a room.
3) If you had to represent Takayanagi-san in one phrase?
Passionate (TN: Also reads as "hot", as in, temperature)
5) A message to Takayanagi-san please.
Even though I occasionally think that her being passionate is annoying lol (in a good way), that is the best thing about Churi, so I hope that you will carry on being a stiflingly hot Churi!! And please make a passionate SKE48/Team KII!!!
Furukawa: In terms of the group called SKE48, we too entered when a foundation had already been built so, it's not like we can speak arrogantly either. It's scary that the number of people who can mentor is getting fewer and fewer isn't it. But I think Churi is able to properly speak in a way that is easy to understand to kouhai, so I'm not worried.
Even from here onwards, "Furuyanagi" is eternal!
Is there any advice that you'd want to give Takayanagi-san who from here on is going to continue to work hard as a member of SKE48?
Furukawa: What I've always been saying is "enjoy it, okay!". I believe that what is sadder than anything else, is thinking too much about various things and forgetting to have fun. I would like her to try taking the perspective of wanting to have fun, regardless of what you're doing. The same applies to the kouhai members too. (TN: FURUKAWAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. This is how she changed my life.)
Finally, please shout a yell to each other!
Takayanagi: Waaaah~..... This kind of thing is really embarrassing isn't it....! I think that for Airi's future dreams, both I and the fans will be watching closely to see it come true. Or rather, we hope that you'll work hard enough to convey that to us, so that the fans will be able to confirm that you're still living (lol). I hope that you'll be able to send out messages regularly! (TN: Churi.. thank you.) Also, when you're free please put me on the top of your list and contact me.
Furukawa: Fine, fine (lol). I, too, have become kinda embarrassed...! Since we've been appearing in the media together up until now... This year, I'll be on the side that watches a lot of it! So whether in stage performances or on TV or in the theater, may you be very active in all of them, so much so that I get sick of you!
Takayanagi: Yeah. I'll work hard to make you say "omg it's Churi again"... (lol).
Panel on the bottom: Breaking news! From the next round, there will be a new development that gives Churi Meshi power! Will that Chibi Airin appear too...!? Please look forward to finding out what it is!
--------------------------------
TN: That's it. God that was long. And Airi.. Thank you very much for 4 wonderful years of memories and for changing my life. Godspeed and much love.
