Sakura Nao Deep Dive - Part 2

*This was posted on OneHallyu in May 2018. When going back to look at the original document, some pics have since been deleted, so I either had to substitute them or omit them completely. I've been working on an original piece, but I wanted to finish backing up the Sakura Nao project I made last year before posting it. This was my first in depth project, so I thought it would be a good idea to show what started it all.

The second installment of my Sakura Nao deep dive. While I looked for pics of Nao and Syachi relating to the Dragons, I found some other interesting pics. In the blog I translated the other day, Nao mentioned that she's a big fan of Hide. Well, She might like him a little too much.

After some more searching, I found a bunch of blogs she posted relating to the "Lemoned Mixed Jelly" Festival. On 5/2, the Anniversary of Hide's death, Nao announced that Syachi was invited to participate in 2016's event which will take place on 7/18. I'm familiar with the Hide Memorial Concerts, but I didn't know about this event. Some brief background:

"Lemoned" was the label that Hide started. In the mid-90's, Summer Festivals hadn't become a thing yet in Japan. "Mix Lemoned Jelly" was held in 1997 at 5 different clubs in Tokyo simultaneously. Hide's label was intended to gather artists from different genres, so the festival followed the same principle. The current incarnation mixes Music, Games, BMX, Fashion, etc. Not unlike some American Festivals.

Since there are multiple blogs about the event, I'm going to summarize them instead of doing full translations.

5/2 Blog Entry: (*She jumps around allot. I don't know if she was so excited that it was just a stream of consciousness post)

Nao writes that she appreciates being able to work with Rock and Metal, which she loves. Outside of her job, she adores Hide. When she found out Syachi was invited to the Festival, time stopped. She wants to show her love for Hide with the world. Of course she loves other Artists, but Hide is exceptional.

Nao goes onto to say that when she was watching X Japan live perfs on video, Hide's long red hair stood out to her. She was attracted be his charm and became a fan.

It's an honor and a privelage to be invited. Even thought she's looking forward to it, as it get's closer to the event, she's feeling the pressure, so it's difficult to talk about.

The first time Nao went to an X Japan concert, she was riding the Shinkansen and crying while watching final live video when they disbanded. At the concert, she held her Hide doll tightly from the beginning until the end. On the train ride home, she hit it off with an older girl who was cosplaying as Hide. She apologizes to people who might not understand how she feels.

(*Nao really, really likes Hide)

Nao brings up that it's the Anniversary of Hide's death. She was only 8 months old. when he died. Now, she's 19. Her favorite song of his is "Misery" and she cries every time she hears it.

When she turns 20, Nao plans to go to his grave. Because of school, she doess't have time right now.

While on her way to work, she plans to get off at Shin Yokohama without permission and go to Miura Cemetery (*Where Hide is buried). She's definitely going to dye her hair pink.

(*This part is a little confusing only because I don't know if her Birthday is coming up. Is she turning 20 soon and is there a school break coming up so she can go to the Cemetery? It's not clear enough)

During class, she was making a drawing of Hide's Mockingbird model guitar that he famously used (*It's a B.C. Rich Mockingbird). She'll lie to the Manager and hang out at the Lemonade Shop. She's going to take Hide with her to University for the Anniversary and wear a Hide t-shirt during gym class.

(*Does she mean taking her Hide Doll with her to school?)

BGM is Misery.

Addressing the Anniversary of Hide's death, Nao says the weather is nice in Nagoya. She jokes and laughs that it's ironic because Hide hated a Blue Sky. She wonders how the weather is in Yokosuka (*Where he was born).

(*I'm not sure what she meant by the Blue Sky joke. I don't know if she referencing the song "Blue Sky Heaven" which is either by X Japan or Yoshiki, or if it refers to an interview Hide gave.

I'm also not sure what's behind the pics she re-posted. I guess she had a party for her 17th Birthday, which would have been in 2014, and it was Hide themed, so someone made a cut out of his guitar, and he was a guest of sorts. I'm sure she made a blog entry, but I don't feel like backtracking to find it. Maybe some other time)

*7/21 Blog Post:

We jump ahead to right before the Festival. Nao is getting her hair dyed Pink like she said she would. She thinks about Hide doing this 18 yrs. ago. Nao jokes that it would be cool if her hair gets damaged and it looks like Pink Mozuku which is a type of seaweed used in various dishes.

This blog is mostly a bunch of pics of her going through the dying process. Nao explains that Hide didn't dye his hair all the way to scalp. It starts a few centimeters away from the scalp. Here's a sampling of the pics she posted on her blog documenting the process.

She ate Pizza while getting colored!

Nao mixes the color herself.

Now we're getting somewhere.

And Viola!

It's weird because the color changes depending on the light.

Nao said it took about 3 hrs. for the whole process. She going through with the proper treatments for it.

Nao wonders how long she'll keep it Pink. She's going to leave it up to fans to vote when it will change back to black. There probably won't be time to change it for the upcoming Girls Factory event.

(*Girl's Factory is the same event I posted about from 2015 when a bunch of Stardust Groups got together for one big show and they did collaborations like the Yellow Summit. Nao is referring to the 2016 event which must be coming up soon. I've seen pics from the 2016 event and she definitely keeps the Pink hair!)

She posts a list of options for fans to choose from:

1. Change it immediately after Girls Factory!
2. I don't care if it's black at Budokan.
3. Definitely Pink at Budokan!
4. 2 Shot with Pink!
(*I don't know what she means. Maybe she's referring to a fan meeting where they'd take pictures with her?)
5. Why aren't there other colors besides black? (Fans can request another color)
6. I'm not sure, but I think this option is "Pink forever".

Looking at comments, she thinks allot of people want to see her keep the Pink for a while, which is why she gave these options. Fans can pick 1 of the 6 options, but she think 5 and 6 would be fun. The deadline for voting is her next blog entry. Fans can just post the number.

She ends by saying it will be fun going on Music Station with Pink hair.