Translation : AKB48 Sousenkyo Mizugi Surprise 2013

Tashima Meru: The naive ace of Hakata

Learning how important is the center

How did it feel when your name was called on your first sousenkyo?

The truth is, when (Tomonaga) Mio's name was the first from HKT48 to be called, I sort of gave up (bitter smile). My goal was to rank higher than my rank of 42nd from the preliminary results. When Mio was called, I was honestly happy, but I also wondered if I wasn't going to be called and I ended up crying. So, when at 55th my name was called, I was really surprised and I felt like crying, but I remembered that I had decided to be happy and smile together with the fans, so I did that. Also on my speech I was supposed to smile!

You got into the senbatsu of "Sayonara Crawl" and you are the center of HKT48 as a kenkyuusei. After you joined, you have been really standing out.

When I was chosen as center of "Hatsukoi Butterfly" right after joining, of course I wondered if I was OK for it, but before that I also thought a lot about "What is a center?". At first I was absorbed in it without knowing that. But I appeared in music shows in the center position, and I was chosen for the senbatsu of "Sayonara Crawl" and worked with the AKB48 members, and lately I've been learning how important is the position of center. The performance and the behavior of the center is the first thing people see, so it leaves an impression about the group. I wonder if noticing this wasn't the most important growth for me.

Growing everyday, right?

I think the many chances to attract people that I had were connected to my ranking 55th, so I think this rank of 55th was a chance that the fans gave me. I receive this result as a report card, and I am going to work hard so that I can keep on growing. The chances are infinite, whether I seize them or not is up to me.

Thank you all for always supporting me.
I will keep aiming high and working everyday
in order to become the sun of HKT48
and to make my dreams come true.

Kenkyuusei Tashima Meru, also known as Meru

  

credited to DreamingPebbles

Translation : Umaka Times

Beautiful transfer student joins school!

Tashima Meru-san causes confusion in the school

Attention-gathering HKT48 member comes to our school

A beautiful transfer student came to Umaka Gakuen. It's HKT48 member Tashima Meru-san, who is garnering lots of attention now. While all the students are getting restless, we received reports that the boys have imediatelly fallen in unrequited love with Meru-san. By the way, it is said that in the Umaka Gakuen website there is a school song sung by Meru-san and a Meru-san introduction video. Please check it out, as this may be in the test.

credited to DreamingPebbles

Translation : Gekkan AKB48 Group News 2013

Meru's Segment :
55th Place 13,246 votes (Preliminary 42nd)

Tashima Meru, 13 years old

HKT48 Research student

First time entering


"I want to accept each vote with a smile"

"Meru" was the center for HKT48's debut single "Suki! Suki! Skip!" In the instant she heard her name called, she was dazed, but that reaction quickly became tears of joy. "My mind went blank, and I wondered if I was dreaming." Even with 13,246 votes, she said with a thankful expression, "I want to accept each vote with a smile. Thank you for giving me confidence."

At the same time, just by being made the center of the debut single and being given such a chance, it was a situation full of pressure, as if to say "If there aren't any results from that..."

After her speech, and even after she returned to her place among the members, her tears didn't stop.

Translation credited to : Silenka

Scanlation : AKB48 Oshare Sousenkyo 2013 "The Round Table between Sasshi, Lovetan, Meru and Mio

HKT48 Senpais and Kohais Round table

Learning the secrets of today's most vigorous group

HKT48, the youngest group, has been pulling a great effort lately. Tashima Meru and Tomonaga Mio--fresh 2nd generation members who were in the senbatsu for AKB48's 31st single--and Sashihara Rino and Ota Aika--the big sisters who came from AKB48--got all together for some girl talk! They'll report to us on the state of the usually busy backstage.

How is the tension in the backstage different between AKB48 and HKT48?

Sashihara: Before the sosenkyo, let's tell everyone about HKT's appeal. To that end, as round table president, I'll be presenting some nice topics!

Scanlation : AKB48 Oshare Sousenkyo 5/15/13

Translation : 

Tashima Meru's Ace Aura

Described as the "new Matsui Jurina", since she passed the auditions Meru has been making people feel her "aura". "Actually Jurina-san told me 'You're like me because you don't like crying in front of others and because you're a sore loser'. Now she treats me affectionately, like a younger sister." This 13-year-old talent, acknowledged even by the SKE48 ace, will keep on climbing to the "true ace" status in the energetic HKT48. (*credited to DreamingPebbles

Magazine Translation : March

Meru's growing up!!

Even if a perfect performance is impossible, I can still give 120% of my strength!

As a baby... I've heard that I didn't have any serious diseases and was a healthy kid. The name “Meru” was chosen by my grandmother. “Mer” means “sea” in French, and she wanted me to have a heart as wide as the sea. It's unusual, isn't it? I have only seen it in the Meruchan doll. But I like this name. And people can remember it fast.