Iwata Karen Article by Buzzfeed Japan 2017/03/12
Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/tatsunoritokushige/iwatakaren?utm_term=.rhoyY8RERq#.nkPROrbnbE
Tatsunori Tokushige 徳重辰典 BuzzFeed Social News Editor, Japan
Idol and the face of earthquake disaster victim support, former AKB48 Iwata Karen’s conflict and determination.
The memories of keep running as idol for the sake of Tohoku
By Tatsunori Tokushige / BuzzFeed
Earthquake and idol. Both are equal to former AKB48 Iwata Karen (18)
「What can I do for someone?」Project which is continued by AKB48 since 2011 for 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Support Charity Activities. Iwata, who was the only disaster victim has appeared in many media as the face of the activity.
It’s been 6 years since the earthquake.
「For me it was like recent memories. The clock has stopped since that day for many people in Tohoku, including me. Even when I lived in Tokyo, I feel that. Even more in the disaster areas now, from the people who work for reconstruction」
Conflict drawn by the gap of idol and earthquake victim
March 11th, 2011,「The day of turning point of life」. Iwata who was a 6th grade student became a victim in an apartment in Sendai city, Miyagi prefecture.
She stayed in her father’s car overnight, and then with her family she went to the shelter and then stayed to her relative’s place.
3 weeks after the earthquake, there was AKB Research Student audition.
She was at loss of whether she should go for it or not, but the words from her mother 「Become AKB, when you returned to your hometown, you will be its strength」supported her, so she went to Tokyo. She was accepted as a result.
Busy day in Tokyo. She didn’t went to her elementary school’s graduation ceremony because it was postponed by the earthquake, and she couldn’t say goodbye to her friends.
She advanced to the path of idol while having the thoughts of her hometown. However, wearing glittering clothes, showered by lights, and the gap of being an earthquake victim have caught her in self-disgust.
The people of my hometown surely didn’t care of my activities. It’s painful when I thought of that.
The first visit to disaster area that was scary
Year 2011, AKB’s disaster area visit to Rikuzentakata City, by AKS
On November 13th, 2011, Iwata visited the disaster area for the first time as AKB in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture.
「It was scary. I thought it was weird if I were told that I left my hometown, what kind of face should I show when I meet everyone?」
The first stage in the affected area. In the middle of cold rain of November, the children, without umbrellas, were waiting for the appearance of AKB while getting soaked.
「There are people who didn’t care about our activities at that time, of course there were things that they didn’t understand, but with their glittering eyes, those children were waiting. People who have waited for hours, even if it’s just 1 person, I thought that I have no choice but to continue」
The Miracle Pine Tree in Rikuzentakata is an unforgettable scenery until now. She was told by AKB Producer Akimoto Yasushi 「Be the Pine Tree of AKB」.
I have to stand strong. That’s what she thought.
By Jijipress
Criticism of reconstruction support activities
Iwata, who was the only victim of the earthquake, became the face of the reconstruction support in AKB.
She participated as one of the singing member of the year 2012′s Great East Japan Earthquake charity song 「Flowers will Bloom」. She also sang the solo version for the coupling.
As a navigator of NHK 「Karen’s Reconstruction Calendar」, she told the daily life of the people who lived in the disaster area that was not covered by the news.
Until now, disaster area visits exceeded 80 times.
Although she went around the disaster area as AKB, 3 years since the earthquake, the reconstruction didn’t progressed, people who watched the stage became less and less. People who came also took a step back.
「I thought that was because there were people that think: I don’t want to hear songs. I couldn’t care less about dreams and hopes. In the middle of that, we held our microphone and came to see them, it became a selling of one-sided kindness. Other than me who was the victim of the disaster, the members who were not affected by the disaster has also been thinking about it many times」
By Tatsunori Tokushige / BuzzFeed
There was some time where the activity received bashing on the internet.
「At those days I worked desperately, I couldn’t care less about what I was told. It’s not the time to care about those things. That was the most important thing」
「When I think about it now, I didn’t really feel the pain of my heart because I was so desperate. I entered when I was 12 years old, I was doing well in that kind of situation」
Do the activities as an entertainer save the disaster area? Iwata answered the question while choosing the words.
「If there are people who can become energy, there are also people who cannot. There are also people who have no interest in entertainers. We believed in that and there is no other choice but to continue」
The biggest thing to think about was celebrities’ power to send message through their blogs and other means. And make (people of) their surroundings smile.
「Even for me, there are people who look forward to take pictures together, there are shops that are decorated with (my) signs. I was pleased by that. I’m happy to be a celebrity」
Year 2012 visit to disaster area in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture. Left is Iwata Karen, by AKS
Iwata who was asked for comments about her connection to the earthquake, and has a slight gloomy image, was originally a person who is easily flattered. She was glad to appear in variety shows, but there are also conflict at the same time.
「I am connected to the earthquake. I was worried about what will happen if I got creamed, or did some reactions」
It was the smile of the people she met in the disaster area that saved her from her worries.
「There are also lots of shows in Miyagi, there are lots of people who watched. The kid who left Sendai has now been doing these kind of thing, it’s fine to laugh. 『How does scorpion (the one that was eaten in variety show) taste like?』 When I heard that, on the other hand, (I answered) it was a little bit complicated (LOL)』」
Things about herself are the second, the third. After all, she wants to go to meet the people of Tohoku. She’s been looking for what kind of things that she can do. She was enthusiastic.
Is it painful to work hard for the sake of Tohoku?
「Because it was the reason I worked hard. If there’s no earthquake, I might enter AKB as usual for less than a year. I think I would not be in this kind of world」
No matter how hard it is, no matter how much she wants to quit, she can do her best if she thinks about Tohoku.
「I have a reason to work hard, I have people that I want to protect, I have a place to return. I think those are things that make me happy. That’s why I didn’t think even once that it was painful to work hard for the sake of my hometown」
Graduated from AKB after enrolled for 5 years
By Tatsunori Tokushige / BuzzFeed
Iwata graduated from AKB on March 2016. Turning point since joining 5 years ago. There were no basis (for the graduation), but she had this thought in herself.
「I didn’t overestimate myself, there were things left that I need to do, but I have devoted all my youth in AKB and support activities. Perhaps it’s time for me to work hard for myself」
Feeling that she has carried out that far, she finished her activities for 5 years since March 11th, 4 days later on March 15th she finished her activities as AKB with the graduation performance.
Messages from her mother were read in the performance. It was like this at the end of the sentence.
「We may be foolish parents (*oyabaka) , but you are truly the best daughter in the world」
Even though I left AKB, I haven’t changed my mind
Her old place AKB, on March 4th, visited disaster areas of Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and had reconstruction support live there. Seeing her peers went to visit the disaster area and thinking that she also wanted to go, she felt a little bit of pain.
However, now she works hard on the works in front of her, she wants to be an actress that could make the local people happy by just going there. She also thinks that she wants to work hard in the movies and videos that shows her hometown.
The desire to do work related to Tohoku also doesn’t change.
On March, she also served as a narrator in the documentary program 「High School Students who Connect Tohoku’s Future, Our Dreams」. During the recording, seeing the younger children working so hard, she lost of words.
Found a new goal which is photography
The current dream is not just being an actress.
Through blog and social media, she’s thinking of sending messages of the current situation of the disaster areas, not only the light of the reconstruction, but also the parts in the shadow that haven’t progressed yet.
However, words can be often misunderstood. In such case, she thought that if it were picture, she could reflect the light of the present Tohoku as well as the shadow.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMqCPgrjJ9G/
Photo of Arahama Elementary School uploaded on Iwata’s Instagram Instagram: @karen0513_
「There are also buildings that are purposely left after the earthquake. Putting what I want to express in a frame, uploading it, I’ll be happy if more people come to visit Tohoku」
She got 0 experience in photography. Now in order to learn about taking pictures, she was helped by her acquaintance who is a cameraman.
「Please allow me to learn, I asked. I’ll be happy if I can take pictures with good expressions. Of course Tohoku’s scenery is also included, but I also want to take pictures of the people who are working hard there」
To the future
Started from AKB, and then reconstruction support activities since 12 years old. She has devoted all her youth.
「I like my hometown. I like people in my hometown. I like the scenery of my hometown. I’ve been working hard so that one day the scenery will restore as soon as possible. That’s why, now I am here」
Actress and photography, now, she’s heading for those 2 dreams. Beyond those dreams is her hometown.
Iwata Karen, even now, still together with Tohoku.
By Tatsunori Tokushige / BuzzFeed
