The idol group "Hinatazaka46" held their formation commemorative live show "6th Hina Birthday Festival" on April 6th at Yokohama Stadium (Naka-ku, Yokohama), with seven former members, including first-generation members Neru Nagahama and Yuka Kageyama, who have already graduated from the group, making a surprise appearance.
The sixth Hina Birthday Festival was held over two days, April 5th and 6th. A total of 114 songs were performed over the two days, including songs from the group's predecessor, Keyakizaka46 (Hiragana Keyaki). The graduation ceremony for first-generation member Mirei Sasaki was held on the 5th, and for first-generation member Kumi Sasaki, who served as the group's captain, was held on the 6th.
This concert took place ahead of the graduation ceremony of Mana Takase, the last remaining first-generation member, on May 1st. In the second half of the 6th, a video message from Kyoko Saito, a first-generation member who graduated last year, was played, with the announcement, "Let's all prove to everyone here that Hinatazaka46 is the strongest, thanks to Kumi's leadership. We've prepared the best present for you," and seven former members, led by Nagahama, appeared on stage: Iguchi Mao, Ushio Sarina, Kageyama, Shiho Kato, Takamoto Ayaka, and Higashimura Mei. The ten first-generation members, including Mirei, Kumi, and Takase, sang Keyakizaka46's song "Hiragana Keyaki" in their original costumes.
Keyakizaka46 was originally started by Nagahama alone. However, Nagahama, who left the group midway, said with tears in her eyes, "I was really sorry that I wasn't able to be there for everyone in Hiragana Keyaki when they were having a hard time or when they were happy," and the rest of the group came together and hugged each other.
A letter was also received from first-generation member Memi Kakizaki, who was unable to attend the event, and read out, "Thank you to everyone who loves Hinatazaka46. Let's continue to support us together." Together with Saito, who appeared on video, all 12 members from the time the group was formed were involved in this concert, making it a performance that evoked the bond between the first-generation members.
