Idol group 乃木坂46 (Nogizaka46) has announced the formation for their upcoming 38th single titled "ネーブルオレンジ" (Navel Orange), set to be released on March 26. The announcement took place on March 3 during the group's flagship program, "乃木坂工事中" (Nogizaka Under Construction) aired on テレビ東京 (TV Tokyo) among other networks. The highlight of this announcement is the dual centers for the single, with fifth-generation members 和 (Waka) and 中西 (Nakanishi) stepping up to lead the charge.
Nakanishi expressed her surprise, remarking, “I wonder, why me?,” and acknowledged the significance of her selection saying, “This place feels so special.” She mentioned her uncertainty about the path forward but vowed to work hard so the outcome would make everyone proud of the decision. Meanwhile, Waka articulated her enthusiasm for the single, stating, “I think this will be a single with changes for 乃木坂46. With many seniors graduating, I feel this year needs extra effort to convey the wonderful aspects of our group to more people.”
The formation includes several fan-favorite members across different stages: On the third row, 金川紗耶 (Kanagawa Saya), 冨里奈央 (Tomisato Nao), 弓木奈於 (Yumiki Nao), 菅原咲月 (Sugawara Satsuki), 筒井あやめ (Tsutsui Ayame), 田村真佑 (Tamura Mayu), 奥田いろは (Okuda Iroha), and 林瑠奈 (Hayashi Runa); on the second row, 小川彩 (Ogawa Aya), 川崎桜 (Kawasaki Sakura), 久保史緒里 (Kubo Shiori), 池田瑛紗 (Ikeda Eisa), 梅澤美波 (Umezawa Minami), 五百城茉央 (Iohira Mao), and 一ノ瀬美空 (Ichinose Miku); and finally on the first row, you have 賀喜遥香 (Kaki Haruka), 和 (Waka), 中西 (Nakanishi), and 遠藤さくら (Endo Sakura).
The excitement doesn't stop with the new single. Another big event for fans is the first photo exhibition by popular group SixTONES’ 京本大我 (KyoMoto Taiga), which will take place at the art gallery SAI located within Tokyo's MIYASHITA PARK from March 3 onward.
乃木坂46's undertaking isn't merely limited to their latest music. Their presence spans various fields, including live performances, variety shows, dramas, films, and modeling. With this momentum, the group aims to explore more dimensions of their members' talents and personalities, showcasing their diversity through numerous projects on shows such as “乃木坂工事中.”
Next week’s episode of “乃木坂工事中” promises to deliver entertaining segments including the members’ private revelations, sharing moments from their routine lives, aiming for what they term as the B-grade news awards. Viewers can tune in on Sunday at 24:15 across various networks including テレビ東京 (TV Tokyo), テレビ大阪 (TV Osaka), テレビ愛知 (TV Aichi), and TVQ九州放送 (TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting), among others.
This extensive engagement exemplifies not just the commitment of 乃木坂46 to their fans but also the growing influence they hold within the Japanese entertainment sphere. Their new single and other activities reflect the group's dedication to evolution and outreach, solidifying their position as frontrunners among idol groups.