It’s something of an open secret these days that all the commercial excitement comes from Nogizaka46, not AKB or its direct sister groups.
Photo books by the likes of Mai Shiraishi and Nanami Hashimoto have become runaway bestsellers, or photo shoots by Misa Eto have dazzled. Even more minor members such as Yumi Wakatsuki, Mai Shinuchi, Kazumi Takayama, and Miona Hori have established their reputations in recent times — at least in our consciousness.
But let’s not forget the official AKB48 sister groups. NMB48’s Miru Shiroma, for example, is a true star on the rise.
And now the Nogizaka46 sister group Keyakizaka46’s Neru Nagahama is planting her flag in the idol landscape as a starlet to watch.
She poses semi-nude for a new photo book, her first — and she seems determined to make a splash with her debut.
“Koko kara” (From Here) was published earlier this month by Kodansha with a print run of 120,000 and a reprint has already been ordered, according to media reports.
