AKB48 18th Single [TBA]

AKB48's 18th single, right after the election single, has been announced for quite some time, even before Heavy Rotation was released, but it was only recently that some information was revealed.

For now, we still don't know the title or tracklist details, but the single will have the usual Type A, Type B, and Theatre versions, with first press editions coming with handshake tickets.

Based on fans reading the members' blogs, we also know the 18th Single's senbatsu. It reverts back to a 16-member senbatsu once again, and the list for Senbatsu is said to be pretty much confirmed even without official announcement.

Senbatsu
A: Kojima Haruna, Sashihara Rino, Shinoda Mariko, Takajo Aki, Takahashi Minami, Maeda Atsuko
K: Itano Tomomi, Oshima Yuko, Minegishi Minami, Miyazawa Sae
B: Kasai Tomomi, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kitahara Rie, Watanabe Mayu
S: Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena
Undergirls A (temporary name)
A: Iwasa Misaki, Oota Aika, Nakagawa Haruka, Maeda Ami, Katayama Haruka
K: Kikuchi Ayaka, Nakatsuka Tomomi, Fujie Reina, Yonezawa Rumi, Nito Moeno, Matsui Sakiko
B: Ishida Haruka, Oku Manami, Komori Mika, Sato Sumire, Hirajima Natsumi, Miyazaki Miho
S: Yagami Kumi
KII: Ishida Anna, Takayanagi Akane
Undergirls B (temporary name)
A: Oya Shizuka, Kuramochi Asuka, Nakata Chisato, Nakaya Sayaka, Matsubara Natsumi
K: Akimoto Sayaka, Uchida Mayumi, Umeda Ayaka, Tanabe Miku, Nonaka Misato
B: Kobayashi Kana, Sato Amina, Sato Natsuki, Suzuki Mariya, Chikano Rina, Masuda Yuka
S: Oya Masana
MINT
A: Katayama Haruka, Maeda Atsuko
K: Matsui Sakiko, Nito Moeno
B: Kasai Tomomi

The Undergirls lists are not confirmed and could have members switching around. Also, the speculation here is that the single will follow Gomen ne, SUMMER's style of having two sets of Undergirls for each Type.

As explained by Jasey in the stage48, "Even though B seems a bit more like Theater Girls, most people don't think Sayaka, Mocchii and Amina would be in Theater Girls so they're thinking that they're doing it more similar to how SKE did for their last single."

I do agree with this viewpoint, as the girls' popularities seem to have spread out somewhat between the two lists. It's not even, that's for sure, but I really don't see Kikuchi, Nakatsuka and Sakiko being "promoted" to Undergirls if there is a theater girls. I like them, but they aren't really pushed. I really hope that it is Undergirls A and B, because Oya Shizuka being in Undergirls of some form makes me happy.

In addition, we also have MINT doing the coupling song, "Kimi ni Tsuite", for the single, since they won the Team Pigg battle in Ameba.

TBA
Release Date: 27 October 2010
Price:
Type A/B Regular ver- 1600 yen

Order Links
HMV: Type A / Type B
CDJapan: Type A / Type B
YesAsia: Type A / Type B

(Credits: Mr Waffle, Jasey)