By Kenneth Altobello 
The story of a Japanese idol is captivating hearts across Asia. This young pop star, Yuzuki Nakashima, a member of the group Sakurazaka46, surprised her followers by revealing that for the past four years, she has traveled four hours daily by plane to attend university.
Yuzuki explained that she made this decision because she wanted to fulfill her academic dream without abandoning her entertainment career. From Tokyo, where she currently lives and trains as an idol, she would wake up at 5 AM to get ready and leave at 6 AM for Haneda Airport. There, she would catch a flight that would land her at Kitakyushu Airport, on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan, by 9:30 AM. But her journey didn’t end there; she then had to transfer to a taxi or train to travel another 20 kilometers to the Kitakyushu University campus. After classes, she would take another flight back to Tokyo in the afternoon to attend rehearsals with her band.
Each trip cost around 15,000 yen (104 USD), and she used her travel time to catch up on university assignments.
Her fans have continuously praised her determination, discipline, and passion for both her studies and her artistic career. Many highlight that this effort is an example of the sacrifice many entertainment figures make behind the scenes, something that rarely comes to public light.
According to the idol, the experience was not without its challenges. In addition to physical exhaustion, she had to learn to balance her schedules, deal with weather changes, and, of course, sacrifice sleep. However, she affirmed that she doesn’t regret her decision and that both her studies and her career have provided her with valuable learning experiences.
This story has gone viral on social media and in Asian media, generating admiration and inspiration among young students and artists looking to balance education and professional life.
