7/18 Sae’s Letter to Yukirin (Eng Trans)

Sae wrote the letter for Yukirin’s 23rd Birthday Theatre show. The main contents and the style of the letter was kept as much as possible but the translation is done so that it flows and work in English for the most part.   Kashiwagi Yuki-sama, Happy Birthday!   When I was asked, would you write the letter, I thought what would be good to write for Yukirin’s birthday ceremony letter.   I’m really happy that amongst the hundreds of members within AKB group, I was chosen as the suitable person and be allowed to write a congratulatory letter to Yukirin.   For the first two years that we met, we were dreadfully and distinctly a senior & junior relationship. However, through the opportunity of AKB Kagekidan, Yukirin slowly opened her heart. First, it went from honorifics and change to casual language. From calling me by my last name, it became my first name. Lately, we’ve been calling each other by unofficial nicknames “Miyaza-san” & “Kashi”. And speaking of, amongst the members and the fans, we even became that hot hot well known pairing.   By appearance of course, our personalities are completely opposites so why do we get along so well? After giving it some thought, my answer was, it’s probably because we share the same values isn’t it?   After the 2nd General Election was over, together we thought, that Kami-7 wall is high, we cannot easily surpass it can we? That kind of talk, do you remember?   The next year, at the 3rd General Election, the Kami-7 wall that we thought that couldn’t be surpassed was topped with a bang, heading straight to Best 3. I was really moved for Yukirin, rather than feeling regret (for Sae herself), I was overwhelmed with happiness. Up to now, I have not forgotten that feeling.   You also debuted as a solo singer. And at Yokohama Arena, Yukirin held a solo concert. I thought, you are the pride of AKB group and the real idol.   Yukirin does not easily show her emotions so I always thought where is a place that can reveal your true feelings. That place is…when you entered AKB, she who traveled with you to Tokyo from Kagoshima, she who always waited for Yukirin to return home, it is your mother. I realized that when I saw Yukirin during Kazanbai at the solo concert.   To have become such good friends with Yukirin and a trusting relationship, I am truly grateful from the bottom of...