Election Speech 5-7th (Mariko Shinoda, Minami Takahashi, Haruna Kojima)

When Kojiharu’s name was called, Sashiko was closing her eyes like she was in a meditation. Mariko was having a broad smile and her eyes following Kojiharu walking toward the stage

7th Haruna Kojima

今年もみなさんのおかげで、ここに立つことができました。有難うございます。
Thanks to you, I could stand on this stage once again. Thank you so much.

(Mariko and Takamina had teary face as they were clapping hands for her. Both had Doyagao faces.)

速報の１１位とうう結果を聞いたときから本当に不安で、毎日不安でした。
I’ve been uneasy since I heard my early result, 11th. I’d been uneasy everyday since then.
でも握手会で絶対大丈夫だから信じてって言って下さるファンの皆さんがいらっしゃったり、
But I had the fans who spoke to me at Handshake events that “We will definitely make it, please trust your fans.”,
私に来るコメントでは、こじはるは絶対に上がるから大丈夫だろうとか、あと、こじはるは大丈夫そうだから他の子に投票しましただとか、
among online comments for me,  some people wrote, “It’s alright, Kojiharu will definitely increase .” or….  “Because Kojiharu seems to be fine, I voted for another girl.”…

(Yuko had ハ-shaped eyebrows and a staring face as she was once again taken aback by Kojiahru genius remark right in the middle when Yuko was being deeply moved with Kojiharu’s speech. Mariko was casually smiling.)

そういう言葉が結構沢山あって、でも私は全然大丈夫じゃなくて、だからもっとこの子を応援しなくちゃだめだとか、、この子を応援したいって思われるような人になりたいと思いました。
I found a lot of comments like these, but I was not alright at all. So I figured that I want to be a girl who people think she is not fine without their support or a girl who people want to pull for.
だから皆さんも、私の事も１推しにして下さい。でも７位と言う順位は私にとって最高の順位です。有難うございました。
So please everyone, I want to be your 1-Oshi. But… 7th is the greatest number (yet highest) for me. Thank you so much.

(As you can see in the Youtube video, Kojiharu waived her hands to Jurina and Sae as she was approaching her seat.)

6th Minami Takahashi

皆さん本当に有難うございます。
Thank you so much, everyone.

(Karen-chan, who religiously admires Takamina, sitting behind Yuko, was crying so hard with Takamina on the stage. But she never looked down, looking straight to Takamina making her speech)

下二けたが４８でした。私の一番好きな数字です。
Last two digits were 48. This is the number I love the most.

今年は私にとって色々なことがあった一年でした。まだ半年ですけど、、
This year brought me a lot of events. Though it’s still June….
正直、キツイなって思ったことも沢山ありましたが、その時、沢山の方が手を取って、きっと留めていてくれたんだねと思いました。
Honestly, there were a lot of moments when I felt “I can’t take it anymore”. But I figured every time I had those tough moments, somebody held my hand and helped me stay connected to a place where I should be….
だから私は７年間こうして続けてこられました。
With that help from you, I’ve managed to continue for these 7 years.

(Mariko looking straight with an expression like she was listening to the speech of her dear comrade who is also a kind of her little sister.)

去年努力は必ず報われると言いました。
Last year, I said “Effort will definitely be rewarded.”

(Ota raising shout “Ohhhhh~~~!?!?”)

おぉ？そうですね。握手会でね、よくその言葉を言うんです。でも、ある方は努力は報われないと言いました。
Oh? (smile) Yes. I often said this word to fans at Handshake event. But one person said our effort will not be always rewarded.

(She is talking about the comment made by the former KKS of NMB48, Mizuki Hara)

そうかもしれないです。全部は報われないかもしれない。運も必要かもしれない。
She may be right. Maybe not all of our efforts will be rewarded. We may need a good luck.
でも、努力しなけらば始まりません。
But without effort, you will get nothing.

( Huge applause. Yuko is nodding with a light smile of consent. Yukirin looking straight with her eyes wide open, Mayuyu also nodding deeply.)

私にとって努力は無限大の可能性です。
For me, effort means unlimited possibility.
沢山の方がもしかしたらこうして順位をつけることに、やだなぁ、と、何してんだろうと思うかもしれません。
So in this event, members are given numbers, which are called rankings. And some people might think, “What the heck are they doing?” or “I hate this.”

(Sassy is dabbing her eyes as tears are falling down on her face.)

ですが、こうして順位をつけることで、１つの目盛、測りができて、私たちは切磋琢磨出来ているんだとおもいます。
But by putting members in the ranking, we can have a kind of a scale or gauge, and it helped us develop through serious but friendly competition.
ＡＫＢ４８は本当は楽しいことばかりではありません。正直キツイなって思うこともたくさんあります。
Actually, being AKB48 is not roses all the way. We have a lot of things that honestly we find it hard to bear.

(Yuko is grinning, showing her sympathy to Takamina’s word.)

ですが、それを頑張った先に私達の夢があります。
But beyond those tough moments, our dreams and goals are waiting for us.
だから私はやり続けたい。
That’s the reason why I keep going.
ブログで皆さんが願掛けのように一万件のコメントをくれたのを知っています。
I know you gave me 10,000 comments on my blog as if making a wish to a god.
ですがその時は読めませんでした。泣いちゃうなと思って。
But back then I couldn’t read them. I thought I would cry if I did.
だから、今日はこうして帰ってから、一万件全部読みたいと思います。
So, today, after I came back home,  I will read all 10,000 comments.
なのでここでもう一度言わせて下さい。
So please… let me say it again here on this same stage.

(Ota send warm shouts to her, “Ohhhh~~!??!”)

去年と同じ言葉になりますが、ちゃんと発音良く言いますね。
It’s the same word as I said last year, but I will pronounce it better this time.
努力は必ず報われると、私は人生をもって証明します。みなさん本当に有難うございました。
“I’ll prove with my own life that effort will definitely be rewarded.” Everyone Thank you so much.

(Mariko is pleasantly grinning, Yuko has also grin on her face, her eyes get a little puffy and red after tears flew out.)

(When Takamina was walking on the highest place of the sloping tiers of seats, she waived her hands to behind the stage, where seemingly nobody was there from TV camera view.)

(Sayaka talked to Takamina and Takamina responded to her with a broad smile. Acchna arrived at the entrance of Budo-Kan at this moment.)

When her name was called, Mariko looked up to the sky with her eyes closed. She was walking to the stage as she is tightly closed her mouth, biting her lips, tying to kill her chagrin.

FujiTV introduced the cut where she was handing out leaflets to passers-by on the street of Akihabra 6 years ago.

5th Mariko Shinoda

こんなにも素敵な順位をありがとうございます
Thank you so much for your support and this amazing result.
こうやってみなさんの　あたたかさや　ありがたみを本当に
感じられるのもこの総選挙だと思ってます
I can feel your warmth and gratitude I hold to you… and I think that’s one of the important aspect of the election.
私はこの総選挙が嫌いではないです
Actually I don’t dislike the election.
自信があるからではありません　自信はないですし、今日までこの日が来るまではすごい不安でした　眠れない日もありました
It’s not because I’m confident. I’m not confident, as I’d been uneasy until today. I had some sleepless nights, too.
だけど、こうやって皆さんのあたたかい声援とあたたかい気持ちがぶつかる今日の日を　この緊張感を味わえる今日の日を、自分にとっても成長出来る日だと思っています。
But, this day, the day I can feel your warm cheers and feelings….the day I can feel sense of tension… I think what I felt today will help me grow.

(Mariko looked struggling with overwhelming emotion as her speech went on, Ota was giving her huge shout of support, as they realized she is trying to say something important.)

後輩に席を譲れと言う方もいるかも知れません
Some people might say “Give over your seat to junior members.”
でも私はせきを譲らないと上にあがれないメンバーはＡKBでは勝てないと思います
But I think members who can’t forge their own path unless someone hand over positions to them will never win others in AKB.

 (Yukirin smiled as she was shedding tears, Sashiko stop hiding her eyes and looking straight at Mariko. Tears are falling down on her face. Mariko glanced at Yuko, and Yuko nodded to her.)

私はこうやって　皆さんと一緒に作り上げるＡKB４８というグループが大好きです
だからこそ　後輩には育って欲しいと思ってます。
I love this group which members and fans are creating together.
And that’s the reason why I want junior members to grow.
悔しい気持ちすごくあると思います。
I think a lot of you are feeling Kuyashii*.
正直、私も今びっくりして少し悔しいです。
Honestly, I’m also surprised and a little Kuyashii.
でも、そうやって悔しい力をどんどん先輩、私たちにぶつけて来て下さい
潰すつもりで来て下さい。
But turn that Kuyashisa* into power to move forward, and challenge us, your seniors with that power. Challenge us with determination to crush us.

(Jurina was looking at Mariko’s back, with a broad smile of consent. She was also trying to stop tears as her mouth closed tightly.)

私はいつでも待ってます。
I’m always waiting for your challenge.

(Yuko is grinning, expressing her respect and gratitude to Mariko’s courageous word. Mariko kept silent for seconds, and Ota gave her the loudest shout of love.)

そんな、こころつよい後輩がでてきたならば、私は笑顔で卒業したいと思ってます。
And, if such strong-willed and reliable junior members appear, I will graduate with smile.
最後に、この票数は、今日までの私の１年間の評価ではなく今日から来年までの篠田麻里子への期待だと思ってます
Last of all, I think the votes you voted for me is not your evaluation of what I’ve done in the last 12 months, but your expectation for Mariko Shinoda in next 12 months.
この、来年はもっともっと期待されたいと思ってますけど、この期待を胸に今日から頑張っていきます　よろしくお願いします
I am thinking that, next year, I want you to expect more and more from me, but,
I will move forward with your expectation in my heart from today. Thank you so much.

(Yuko looked down, cherishing her word, and was clapping hands.)

*Kuyashii (Noun from: Kuyashisa): to feel a certain mixture of anger and frustration and bitter resentment (over a perceived injustice to oneself)

FujiTV interviewed to Sashiko again, “Sashihara-san, we can see tears in your eyes. How do you feel right now?” “As I heard Mariko-sama’s word, I realized that I should never ever whine again. She said to us “get out of your old self”. She made me determined.” “So you may rank up from 4th, your position in the early result.” “Yeah…. I am getting nervous… but I just wait til my name is called”

Before the announcement of 4th place, all left members except Yuko reached at the peak of tension, Mayuyu was holding her hands under her chin, praying. Yukirin looked choked with tears, but soon got back her gentle smile as Sashiko’s pose brought loud chant from audience. (she put her arm forth, crossed them, then placed the crossed hands on her chest. It was like Kata of Budo, and Sashiko was grinning as Ota reacted to her pose with huge shout.)

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