Idol group "STU48" released their 11th single "Are You Looking at the Horizon?" on January 15th. The center of the title song is 3rd generation member Saki Sogawa. This is her first time being selected, and naturally, her first time being the center of a single title song. We spoke to Sogawa, who was promoted from a trainee to a regular member in May of last year, and exudes a fresh charm.
◇I'm often told that I have a good bass sound.
Sogawa-san was born on August 19, 2005, and is 19 years old and hails from Yamaguchi Prefecture. After it was announced that she would be selected for the first time and take center position for the first time in "Are You Looking at the Horizon?", she smiled and said, "My family, friends, and fans were all really happy for me."
"At the same time, there were also voices of surprise, such as 'I didn't think it would happen so quickly,' but I was also happy to hear so many people say 'It's amazing.' Because people were so happy with it, it made me want to show them something really great."
Regarding his current hit song "Are You Looking at the Horizon?", he revealed, "At first, I listened to the song with excitement, but as soon as I heard the intro, I thought, 'This is a song I like.'"
"It's quite calm, but the chorus really gets you pumped, and it's the kind of song that I like, with the emotional changes, so I thought, this is it (laughs)."
Sogawa also expressed her hope, saying, "I think the lyrics are relatable, and I hope they will strike a chord with people who are chasing their dreams." She also gave her own singing a passing grade, saying, "It starts with my solo, so I was happy, but also nervous during the recording. But I think I sang it well."
"I was often told during recording that I had a good low voice. It's true that I have a low voice, so I thought maybe that's one of my strengths."
◇ Turning 20 in August: "I hope I can become a little more mature"
Sogawa analyzes herself, saying, "Because of my voice, people tend to think of me as a calm, mature girl who doesn't talk much at first, but once you get to know me, I talk a lot."
"My charming feature is my droopy eyes, which people say look like they might fall off (laughs). Sometimes I look silly in photos (laughs), but everyone compliments me on them, so I like them."
Sogawa is currently living a fulfilling life as an idol and says, "I hope this continues every year."
"Last year was a really intense one. Every month there was something amazing that happened, and I was able to spend each day thinking how glad I was to be an idol. This year, first of all, I want to work hard so that we can end our promotions for our 11th single, "Are You Looking at the Horizon?" with great success. In my private life, if I can get some time off, I'd like to go on a trip far away, and I'll be turning 20 in August, so I'd like to act a little more mature."
Finally, when asked about the appeal of "STU48" as a group idol...
"When you think of Setouchi, you think of the sea, and I think the group has a refreshing vibe that reminds you of the sea, and there are members who really have that refreshing vibe, but on top of that, there's also that sparkling feeling that's typical of 48, so I think we're a one-of-a-kind group that has the best of both worlds!"
