History Music / Hinatazaka46

* ContinuityNod: The 11th single's main song "Kimi wa Honeydew" MV includes various references to previous songs. The centers of the previous main songs do their signature poses, both in the MV and live performances (the choreography also includes a move from "Tsuki to Hoshi ga Odoru Midnight", which center, Kyoko Saito, was not included in this lineup, as she was about to leave the group); the world in the mirror is reminiscent of the "Koi wa Nigeashi ga Hayai" and "Soredemo Aruiteru" [=MVs=]; and the MV ends at the same building rooftop as the "Kitai Shiteinai Jibun" MV. The 4th generation members also joined the performance halfway through, referencing that this is their long-awaited first inclusion in a main song lineup, 1.5 years after joining the group.

*** In the silent farewell scene between Kyoko Saito and the 4th generation members, Marie Morimoto is the only prominently visible non-4th gen (other than Kyoko), and some speculate that it's a subtle nod to Honoka Kishi, the only 4th gen member to have left at the time, who went to the same high school as Marie in real life.

** Yoko Shogenji's gimmick is dog barking impressions and she's often said to look like a puppy. Hina Kawata comments on ''Series/HinatazakaDeAimasho'' episode 258 that the opening to the "Kimi wa Honeydew" MV, where Yoko looks like a squeaky puppy, is her best shot, and in episode 259, which introduces Yoko as that song's center, she's drawn in the title cards with dog ears and nose.

** Yoko Shogenji's gimmick is dog barking impressions and she's often said to look like a puppy. Hina Kawata comments on ''Series/HinatazakaDeAimasho'' episode 258 that the opening to the "Kimi wa Honeydew" MV, where Yoko looks like a squeaky puppy, is her best shot.

* ZashikiWarashi: Kirari Takeuchi's tenth single bonus personal video features her as a zashiki warashi, who is in her normal size instead of the smaller traditional depictions.

* TheFakeCutie: The song "Azato Kawaii" ("Cunningly Cute") is about the singer's infatuation with a girl whom they often see during commute, despite their suspicion that the girl is deliberately leading them on with her calculated wiles.
--> Today, I saw you again\\
No, I guess I was looking for you\\
So many high school girls there\\
It was during rush hour\\
But you always caught my attention\\
The sleeves of your cardigan\\
You made it just a little longer\\
And the way you clenched both your hands\\
Was cunningly cute

[=Hinatazaka46=] (Japanese: 日向坂46) is a Japanese idol group, established as Hiragana [=Keyakizaka46=] (けやき坂46) on November 30, 2015 as a subgroup of [=Keyakizaka46=] (now Music/Sakurazaka46). On February 11, 2019, they were spun off from [=Keyakizaka46=] into its own group within the Sakamichi Series. As of September 2022, they have 33 members from 4 generations, and their captain is Kumi Sasaki.

** Yoko Shogenji's gimmick is dog barking impressions and she's often said to look like a puppy.

* ActionGirl: The MV for "Sabitsuka Nai Ken wo Mote!" ("Carry an Unrusted Sword!") features the members as martial artists training at a temple (filmed at the ancient Tada Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture) and defending it against a {{Ninja}} attack with some WireFu thrown in. The aesthetics are a mix of Japanese and Chinese martial arts, with costumes that resemble kung fu shirts and a mix of both nations' fighting styles and weapons.

*** In 2024, the group started using the ''senbatsu'' ("selection") system, in which only selected members would perform the main songs of their singles. In the 5th Hinatansai concert in April, it was announced that the unselected members would be called Hiragana [=Hinatazaka46=] (ひなた坂46), again written as "[=Hinatazaka46=]" with the "Hinata" part rendered in hiragana.

*** The updated [[https://youtu.be/WXJ-lBun4GA?si=7B3dSO1yJALOnRID "Hey! Ohisama!"]] video features the three member who had been Koshien baseball championship cheerleaders before joining the group (Tamaki Ishizuka, Rio Shimizu, Mitsuki Hiraoka).

** "Sabitsukanai Ken wo Mote!" ("Carry an Unrusted Sword!") compares being in love to a swordfight to the death where one must be prepared to endure all kinds of pain and give everything they have.

** "Imanimiteiro" is written in katakana (イマニミテイロ) and can mean both "The Color You See Right Now" (今に見て色) and an expression comparable to "You'll regret this moment someday" or "ThisMeansWar" (今に見ていろ). The song was first performed live at Hiragana Keyaki's 3-day Budokan concert in January 2018, which originally was supposed to feature Kanji Keyaki on the second and third days until they cancelled due to an injury; the title and lyrics were perceived by some as them standing up against their haters among the Kanji fanbase.

** "Imanimiteiro" is written in katakana (イマニミテイロ) and can mean both "The Color You See Right Now" (今に見て色) and an expression comparable to "You'll regret this moment someday" or "ThisMeansWar" (今に見ていろ). The song was first performed live at Hiragana Keyaki's 3-day Budokan concert in January 2018, which originally was supposed to feature Kanji Keyaki on the second and third days until they cancelled due to an injury; the title and lyrics were perceived by some Kanji fans as an insolent challenge to the main group.

** "Boku Nanka" (Someone Like Me) starts with the InsecureLoveInterest realizing their feelings yet believing that it's already too late to make a LoveConfession, but later resolves to overcome such insecurities and never say "someone [unworthy] like me" again.

*** The Himukai Shrine (日向大社建) in Kyoto is also written with the same kanji as "Hinata", and several members have shared their private trips to that shrine.
** Their former name, Hiragana [=Keyakizaka46=] (けやき坂46), was wri tten as "[=Keyakizaka46=]" with the "Keyaki" part rendered in Hiragana. The real street they were named after in Minato, Tokyo, is also written the same way, but is simply called "Keyakizaka", as the writing system used doesn't normally need to be mentioned in Japanese.

** The Hana-chans duo was named after the ''kunyomi'' reading of the "ka" (花 flower) in Suzuka Tomita and Konoka Matsuda's names.

** Nao Kosaka: dinosaurs, especially ''Triceratops'', and also fish due to her PunnyName

*** The updated [[https://youtu.be/WXJ-lBun4GA?si=7B3dSO1yJALOnRID "Hey Ohisama"]] video features the three member who had been Koshien baseball championship cheerleaders before joining the group (Tamaki Ishizuka, Rio Shimizu, Mitsuki Hiraoka).

* BodyUploading: In the "Boku Nanka" MV, Nao Kosaka is a 3D animator working on the MV itself from her own home, but is then transported into the CG world she created and joins the performance. It's most likely an allusion to her return from a nine-month hiatus.

** "Additional Time" is about a couple close to breaking up, and while the singer acknowledges that things haven't been going that well, they question whether it could end so abruptly.

** Kirari Takeuchi: "Always by your side, Kirarin T-Cell!" (''Anata no moto ni, Kirarin T-saibou!'', after the [[Characters/CellsAtWork Killer T-Cell]])

* {{Cloudcuckooland}}: The "Am I Ready?" MV was based on center Hinano Kamimura's random interests revealed in pre-production discussions with the director. Among other things, they dance in front of a miniature Chinese twice-cooked pork restaurant (possibly to represent the Chinatown in Yokohama, their chosen home turf), Hinano sits on clouds with giant rabbits, and transforms into a MagicalGirl who rides a goldfish in outer space. She also wears a PimpedOutDress which happens to cost $10,000.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: The live performance costumes for "Kyun" feature white vests for active members who were still in school when they debuted in 2019 (Memi Kakizaki, Miku Kanemura, Hina Kawata, Nao Kosaka, Hinano Kamimura, and Hiyori Hamagishi) and dark blue for those who weren't.

* GirlyBruiser: Akari Nibu has experience in karate and is a third dan in UsefulNotes/{{kendo}}, and has used both in their performances. Marie Morimoto also holds the same kendo rank. Meanwhile, Yoko Shogenji is a karate brown belt.
** The choreography for "Coelacanth", centered by Yoko, incorporates some karate forms into her own choreography in reference to this (other members also get their own according to their specialties, but hers is the most visible in the MV).
** The signature pose of "Kimi wa Honeydew", also centered by Yoko, is the left hand pointing a clenched fist forward, with the right hand crossed over the left arm and forming the group's "''hi''" gesture.
** In the ''Ice de Breakers'' ad series, in which Yoko and Kaho Fujishima play the titular free refreshment providers, the female student character, who's in the karate club, became Yoko's admirer after she easily [[https://youtu.be/Prr9iVVyBzU did a series]] of {{Brick Break}}s. Incidentally, Yoko is the "Break" type of the duo, [[StealthPun in the sense]] of "taking a break".

* IntroductoryOpeningCredits: The concerts usually open with a video showing the name and face of each member, starting with those in the back row.

** "Boku Nanka" (Someone Like Me) starts with the InsecureLoveInterest feeling that it's already too late to make a LoveConfession, but later resolves to overcome such insecurities and never say "someone [unworthy] like me" again.
** "Tsuki to Hoshi ga Odoru Midnight" is about adults who are unsatisfied with their lives and rediscovered their youthful memories while visiting their old school, and deciding that it's never too late to make a change in their lives, despite having so far submitted to the expectations of society.

** The "Kimi Shika Katan" MV was edited to look like a long shot, with some digital effects added.

*** The same generation also includes Honoka Kishi and Hirao, Honoka Hirao and Mitsuki Hiraoka, as well as Haruka Yamashita, a "combination" of Nogizaka's Haruka Kaki and Mizuki Yamashita.

* StealthPun: Yōko Shōgenji has revealed that her lightstick colors, red and orange, are a reference to her name, as red represents the sun (陽 ''yō'') and orange is a "lighter" red and can therefore be considered its child (子 ''ko'').

When it comes to fruit, it's the only one for me\\

Doesn't matter, it's a matter of preference

The coelacanth survived to this day\\

** Their former name, Hiragana [=Keyakizaka46=] (けやき坂46), was written as "[=Keyakizaka46=]" with the "Keyaki" part rendered in Hiragana. The real street they were named after in Minato, Tokyo, is also written the same way, but is simply called "Keyakizaka", as the writing system used doesn't normally need to be mentioned in Japanese.

** "Boku Nanka" (Someone Like Me) starts with the InsecureLoveInterest feeling sorry for themself, but later they resolve to overcome their insecurities and never say "someone [inadequate] like me" again.

** In the next single, "Boku Nanka" ("Somebody Like Me", with the connotation of "I'm a nobody"), the singer is an InsecureLoveInterest who becomes interested in a girl more because of her personality than her looks, and goes after her despite believing that she's out of their league.

** In 2020, Poka, the bird hatched from the egg, comes to the 22 Santas (this time including Nibu) to give them a quest to exorcise a haunted hotel, which evil magic has blocked out the Sun from the World Above The Clouds. They defeat the Spirit King by CutenessOverload and he loses his evilness afterwards. [[spoiler:However, it's implied that Hinano Kamimura is still under DemonicPossession by the end...]]

* ContinuityNod: The 11th single's main song "Kimi wa Honeydew" MV includes various references to previous songs. The centers of the previous main songs do their signature poses (the choreography also includes a move from "Tsuki to Hoshi ga Odoru Midnight", which center, Kyoko Saito, was not included in this lineup, as she was about to leave the group); the world in the mirror is reminiscent of the "Koi wa Nigeashi ga Hayai" and "Soredemo Aruiteru" [=MVs=]; and the MV ends at the same building rooftop as the "Kitai Shiteinai Jibun" MV. The 4th generation members also joined the performance halfway through, referencing that this is their long-awaited first inclusion in a main song lineup, 1.5 years after joining the group.

** Their former name, Hiragana [=Keyakizaka46=] (けやき坂46), was written as "[=Keyakizaka46=]" with the "Keyaki" part rendered in hiragana. The real street they were named after in Minato, Tokyo, is also written the same way.

** In the ''Ice de Breakers'' ad series, in which Yoko and Kaho Fujishima play the titular free refreshment providers, the female student character, who's in the karate club, became Yoko's admirer after she easily [[https://youtu.be/Prr9iVVyBzU did a series]] of {{Brick Break}}s. Incidentally, Yoko is the "Break" type of the duo.

** In the ''Ice de Breakers'' ad series, in which Yoko and Kaho Fujishima play the titular free refreshment providers, the female student character, who's in the karate club, became Yoko's admirer after she easily did a series of {{Brick Break}}s. Incidentally, Yoko is the "Break" type of the duo.

* SignatureMove:
** The katakana ''hi'' (ヒ) with the right hand (the thumb and index fingers form a C-shape and the rest are raised) is part of their standard greeting and some of the dance routines. It conveniently works for both ''Hi''ragana (even though it's in katakana) and ''Hi''natazaka.