Know your AKB Members: Kashiwagi Yuki

2nd post of this series. This one is about Kashiwagi Yuki. AKB's Reaction Queen, Team B captain and also Weather girl for Hiruobi.  She's a great singer and performer and is one of my favourite girls in AKB. I first took notice of her while watching her performance in Inochi no Tsukaimichi at the Request Hour 2009. From then on, she has always kept rising in my ranking. Hope she rises on yours too!

Written by Aigon, who also runs http://aigon.wordpress.com/


More after the jump

Team: B (Captain)
Name: 柏木由紀
Name (romaji): Kashiwagi Yuki
Nickname: Yukirin (ゆきりん), KY, Black Kashiwagi (ブラック柏木)
Birthdate: July 15th, 1991
Birthplace: Kagoshima, Japan
Height: 163cm
Bust: 75cm
Waist: 54cm
Hips: 81cm
Agency: Watanabe Entertainment (http://www.watanabepro.co.jp/)
Blog: http://blog.watanabepro.co.jp/kashiwagiyuki/index.html

Singles Participated In
BINGO!
Sakura no Hanabiratachi 2008
Baby! Baby! Baby!
Oogoe Diamond
10nen Zakura
Namida Surprise!
Iiwake Maybe
RIVER


Stage Units
B1: Kinjirareta Futari
B1: Fushidara na Natsu
B2: Namida no Shounan
B2: Koi no PLAN
B2: Senaka Kara Dakishimete
B2: Rio no Kakumei
B3: Temodemo no Namida
B4: Kuchi Utsushi no Chocolate
H2: Kioku no Dilemma (Revival)

When I first became a fan of AKB48, I was like the majority of fans; I referred all of the major front girls to the others. I figured that they were the best because they were the ones we always saw in, well, everything.

Later on, as I discovered the stage songs and performances, I came to realize that the front girls weren't all they were cracked up to be, and I began to discover that the girls who were not pushed could be just as talented as the girls up front. And in some cases, far more talented.

One of those cases is the now captain of Team B, Kashiwagi Yuki, who would quickly rise to become my oshimen over all others.

Up until a year and a half ago or so, Yuki was simply another member of Team B. When Team B was first formed, they were pushing Watanabe Mayu a ton, sometimes to the point where she was the only member of Team B to be put into senbatsu for singles. Yuki's first single was BINGO, where she was one of the senbatsu members, but for some inexplicable reason, she was passed up for the next two singles. Afterwards, Yuki has been selected for every single since then, and has become the clear front girl for Team B, along with Mayu. Things got even better with the shuffles, which put Yuki in the top position of the new Team B as its captain. For the last year or so, Yuki has risen to the status of front girl within the ranks of AKB48. Her first photo book was the top selling Idol PB of last year, which I think is clear evidence that Yuki's status as an idol is on the rise.

The one thing that drew me to Yuki as my favourite member of AKB48 was the fact that she is so multi talented, yet she still has that sweet image to her. Unlike some other AKB48 front girls, Yuki seems to enjoy her time on stage, which for me is a big plus. And she does exceptionally well on stage too. When I first saw her B4 unit song, Kuchi utsushi no Chocolate, it truly hit me just how much range Yuki has with her vocals. Her style of singing in Kuchi has a very strained sound to it, which in turn fits with the mood of the song. But one only has to listen to her in any other song to realize just how clear and smooth her regular vocals truly are. Her ability to change her style of singing is just astounding, and for me, this is why she is the best vocalist in AKB48.

Of course, Yuki has a shining personality too, and that is really what makes her my favourite. Watch any of AKB's shows in which she shows up, and you'll see just how charming and funny she really is. Her ability to do some truly wacky facial expressions really makes her stand out amongst the other members. Thats the thing about Yuki, she's not boring in the least bit. Every time she's appears in one of AKB's shows or a stage performance, you're bound to notice her. Heck, I remember the Kataomoi no taikakusen performance from Team B's Zepp Nagoya concert, I noticed Yuki more than any other member, including the 3 main performers, and Yuki is one of the back dancers in that song. The camera just couldn't keep off of her.

Of course, the one big thing when it comes to Yuki is the fact that prior to auditioning for AKB48, Yuki auditioned for Morning Musume. Obviously, she didn't make it, though, looking at who was in fact chosen for those particular auditions (Gen.8 auditions to be exact) it really makes you wonder why. But then, looking back at it, its really a blessing. Yuki has flourished far more in AKB48 than she ever would have in Morning Musume. AKB48 is where Yuki is meant to be, and I for one am glad she is where she is.

It seems quite clear that Yuki is destined to become one of AKB48's top members. She was recently selected to be in Team PB for the latest single, where she is the definite lead in their song, Enkyori Poster. She also has her first DVD coming out soon and if the rumors are true, a possible solo song release in the future. All in all, things are on the rise for Yuki, and by the looks of it, show no signs of slowing down.