#SHOWBIZ: Japanese singer flies four hours daily to university, gaining admiration for commitment
KUALA LUMPUR: A pop singer from Japan who wakes up at 5am and makes a four-hour trip to attend university has earned praise for her commitment to education and career.
South China Morning Post reported recently that Yuzuki Nakashima, 22, a member of the popular Japanese girl group Sakurazaka46, shared a vlog documenting her daily school commute, which quickly attracted netizens.
While she lives in Tokyo, her university is in Fukuoka, about 1,000km away in southwestern Japan.
In the video, Nakashima revealed that attending the university had been her dream since secondary school. Due to the distance, she flies every day to get to class.
Her routine starts at 5am when she applies her make-up and then heads to Haneda Airport at 6am to catch the first flight.
Nakashima arrives in Kitakyushu Airport at around 9.30am, then takes a taxi or bus to the campus in Fukuoka.
The one-way journey takes more than two hours and costs more than 15,000 yen (RM466.5).
To make use of her time, Nakashima studies and completes her homework during the commute.
After class, she flies back to her studio in Tokyo for dance and vocal training that lasts until the evening.
Nakashima has maintained this demanding routine for four years.
Before joining Sakurazaka46, she worked part-time jobs to save money and chase her dream of becoming a singer.
Now, Nakashima has completed her studies and received a diploma.
She said: "If you have a dream, no matter how difficult it seems, be brave and go for it.
"Every second you spend chasing your dream will become one of the most valuable memories of your life."
Many of her fans have praised her dedication and resilience.
One netizen called her a "superwoman" for juggling school and her entertainment career.
She has 100,000 followers on social media thanks to her sweet looks, charming voice and energetic personality.
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