Ruka Nakagawa of the seven-member idol group FRUITS ZIPPER made her solo debut on September 18, performing her debut song “Asa ni Naranaide” (“Don’t Let Morning Come”) on “THE FIRST TAKE.” After the performance, a scene showed the members gathering and joining hands — but Amane Tsukiashi was the only one who didn’t join the circle or take anyone’s hand, sparking talk among fans about the “off” feeling it gave. Reactions on 5ch split between those who saw it as simple individual quirk and those who pointed to Tsukiashi’s background as a former HKT48 member as a sign of distance from the rest.
FRUITS ZIPPER, the hugely popular seven-member idol group that also appeared on last year’s 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen (year-end song contest), saw member Ruka Nakagawa (29), who represents the group’s “purple” color, make her solo debut on September 18. That same day, she performed her debut song for the first time on “THE FIRST TAKE,” the YouTube channel where guests sing in a single unedited take.
The debut single is titled “Asa ni Naranaide” (“Don’t Let Morning Come”), a groove-heavy R&B track that has also been chosen as the ending theme for “Mame to Mugi,” the TV Tokyo drama co-starring Asuka Saito (28) and Mio Tomita (26) set to premiere October 2 — a sign that Nakagawa is likely to draw even more attention as a solo artist going forward.
The solo debut is said to have been a long-held wish for Nakagawa. Just before her one-take performance on “THE FIRST TAKE,” she commented, “I love singing, and at some point I started dreaming of becoming someone who could deliver songs solo too. Now that I’ve made my solo debut, that dream has come true today. I’d be happy if my dream could become a small part of someone’s happiness who listens to it.” And after finishing the song, a surprise was waiting for Nakagawa.
Source: jisin.jp / Original article here
Other people's happiness kind of makes you resent them, huh?
That just opened a door to some unpleasant memories 😭
Reminds me of how Tatsunori Hara was the only one who didn't do the post-game high-five with Kobayashi.
She was so unbelievably cute back in her Nyanchu days (a kids' TV puppet show).
There's no way all seven of them get along all the time.
It feels more like a bunch of people thrown together who just wanted to debut as idols by any means necessary.
Huge member count, a selection system, kids right in the thick of puberty — and yet the Sakamichi groups still manage to play "we're all besties!" to the hilt whenever fans are watching. Impressive.
Well, except when leaked footage says otherwise.
likes and dislikes are bound to show up
There's no way every single one gets along with every other one
That's just being human.
Of course people have likes and dislikes
It's not like they threw punches at each other — quit nitpicking over nothing.
They're out there as professionals, so
the point is: when you're in public, at least act like you get along.
Wasn't this Nakagawa person also from SKE48? The name rang a bell so I looked it up — turned out to be a totally different person lol
With a 7-year age gap, of course they wouldn't have much to talk about
They're not even into the same stuff.
They've really changed a lot. (mixing up the name with the old band)
Here it comes, Furappa — a world first!
I genuinely can't tell
Which one from the left is getting frozen out?
Somebody explain it to this creepy otaku.
The second one from the right is the only one who never gets touched — and doesn't even seem to get eye contact.
https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2103365994169450496/vid/avc1/1180×660/GW8ICCPdApDhXrsk.mp4
Purple's scary, but is she snubbing Yellow too? (referring to their team colors)
Yeah, this one's bad.
That's blatant lol
Well, any group — guys or girls — has members who don't get along
so it's not really worth worrying about
It's just that women, unlike men, wear it right on their face, so it's obvious right away.
Nice callback to see-saw (respect). (see-saw, a duo known for wistful ballads)
Morning Musume used to have their bad blood totally out in the open
These days everyone from comedians to idol groups has to put on a whole "we're all besties!" show just to sell — rough era, this Reiwa era.
Just say which position from the left "right" actually means.
It's blowing up because they're excluding the second one from the right.
Same here
I thought she used to be in Watarirouka Hashiritai (a Nogizaka46 spinoff unit).
That other Nakagawa is a big star in Indonesia these days.
Background and Talking Points
FRUITS ZIPPER was formed mainly around members who came up through “Kawara Lab” (a reader-model scouting project), and Amane Tsukiashi stands out for having been a member of HKT48 before joining. Within the thread, this difference in background was repeatedly cited as grounds for speculating about a “wall” between her and the other members. At the same time, many pointed out that with seven members, some difference in how well people click is only natural — and the thread split along the line of whether idols should “put on a united front in public” versus whether “personal likes and dislikes should just be accepted.” It’s worth noting that a single moment in a video is thin evidence for concluding there’s bad blood or that someone is being frozen out, and none of those involved have commented on it.
*This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[Idol] “My heart skipped” — FRUITS ZIPPER’s Ruka Nakagawa: Amane Tsukiashi alone doesn’t join hands… the “off” feeling fans sensed in the members’ group shot [Ailuropoda melanoleuca★].”
