Welcome to MELOS no Michi
an information and news blog dedicated to covering the latest news for: AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, JKT48

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AKB48 Is Looking for a Part-Time Member
Following OtonaAKB, AKB48 came up with a new form of temporary membership: part-time idol. Find out more about this new project here.
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AKB48 Team 8 Makes Theater Debut
AKB48 Team 8 performed its first theater show on August 5. Get more information about the shonichi performance here!
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SKE48 Announces 7th Generation Auditions
SKE48 is looking for new members and this time the fans will be part of the decision about who joins the group!
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AKB48 37th Single Senbatsu Election - Final Results
AKB48 held its election for the 6th time and for the 1st time Watanabe Mayu won it. Check out the full results here!
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Details on the AKB48 Group Pennant Race
The AKB48 Group teams will compete against each other in a new event, the AKB48 Group Pennant Race. Points will be awarded based on theater ticket applications, theater version handshake ticket sales and sousenkyo votes.
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30 June 2011

Nogizaka46 to get a variety show starting October

I didn't include this in the previous article because I thought it wasn't important but turned out it was. AKB48's rival group Nogizaka46 will be getting their own variety show starting October. The show will be titled [AKB48 History]. It is still unknown what channel it will air on and on whcih timeslot.

AKB48 History will be a show where the girls of Nogizaka46 will challenge the various things AKB had to go through the 5 years before they became national idols. The show's motto is "A show to challenge all the various hardships AKB48 had to go through in these 5 years in just some months. If going though the same things, will they be able to get as successful as AKB is now?".

Nogizaka46 is said to be "A project that will enormously change the lives of the members in a really short period of time". Auditions will end on August and the 1st generation of members are to debut on September.

I find the concept of the show quite interesting, the girls have to challenge AKB48's problems when they were still rookies. This could be an interesting promoting ploy to get both fans and haters to see a different side of AKB. There's a lot of fans who don't know what AKB went through to get to the top. The 7 people in the audience at AKB48's first theater show which went down to even 1 person in the audience some times, getting ridiculed by fans of other idol groups during the 2-3 years after AKB was formed for having too many members and other reasons, the various scandals and court cases. I'm not sure how far AKB History will go, but it definitely will be interesting.
Read more ...

AKB48's PSP game sequel [AKB1/48 Idol to Guam de Koishitara...]


Remember sometime back last year, AKB48 dropped the ultimate love simulation game, AKB1/48 Idol to Koishitara..? When you thought that that game was the be-all of any PSP games, wait till you get set your eyes on the sequel, AKB1/48 Idol to Guam de Koishitara...!

Set to release on Oct 6 2011, the second PSP console game, AKB1/48 Idol to Guam de Koishitara...(AKB1/48 If I were to love an idol at Guam...) will still be released under Bandai Namco Game, and the girls included are all the Team A, K, and B members (with the exception of Oku and Shihori). Since it's filmed in Guam, get ready for lots of Sun, Sand, Sea, and pretty girls in bikinis.

Offical Site: http://psp-akb48.channel.or.jp/

The game will have 3 different versions, The Regular Edition which just has the game and 1 bonus photo, the Limited Edition which has the game, 3 bonus photos and a bonus UMD with special footage. And the last is the grand First Press Limited Edition box, interestingly titled [AKB1/48 If I were to love an idol at Guam...] Limited Box - Please don't auction this! with *breathes in* the game UMD, a bonus UMD, 10 bonus photos, 48 mini-posters, a 90min Team 4 special DVD, 4 Making Of and Fashion Collection DVDs totaling 420 mins, and a 70min Bluray disk with all the confession videos in the game. *gasps for air*

The game concept is pretty much like the first one, where all the members love you (that's where the dreams of all wotas come true as well), and you are to ultimately reject 47 girls and end up with one of them. Of course, the player will have to reject the confessions and attempts by the girls. It is going to be a tough call for any wota.


13,629 yen
[AKB1/48 Idol to Guam de Koishitara...] First Press Limited Edition Box - Please don't auction this!
What's in it:
- Game software
- Umd video disc (with scenes not in the game)
- Photosets x 10
- Making of and fashion collection DVD (420 mins, 4 discs)
- Confession videos from AKB1/48 "Idol to Koishitara..."(70mins, Bluray)
- Posters (48 types)
- Team 4 special DVD (90 minutes, 1 disc)
- PSP custom theme download code card

7329 yen
[AKB 1/48 Idol to Koishitara...] Limited Edition

What's in it:
- Game software x 1
- Umd video disc (interviews; Team 4 confession clips)
- Photo sets x 3
5229 yen
[AKB 1/48 Idol to Koishitara...] Regular Edition
What's in it:
- Game software x 1
- Photo set x1

I have yet to get the chance to try out the first game, but this new game sounds really appealing. In fact, I believe it would appeal to any non-AKB fans as well. I mean, with so many girls confessing to you at one time, how much better can it get? For me, I love the members as they have their own lovable factor, so I think this would be a tough game for me.

Check out the preview below!

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Maeda Atsuko's [Flower] #1 for Oricon Weekly + [Koko ni Ita Koto] sales Update

Well well, looks like the queen has done it again! This time round it's on the Oricon Weekly charts. Beating out the competition from Korean group SHINee and pop group AAA, Maeda Atsuko's Flower grabbed #1 for the week with close to 177k units sold on the market. This makes Acchan the first female artiste to debut topping the single charts since Kaoru Amane's (Sawajiri Erika) "Taiyou no Uta" in 2006.


According to Oricon, Acchan has also topped the record to become the female artiste with the best first week sales records this year. Previously, this record was held by her peer Itano Tomomi, who sold 163k copies of her debut single Dear J. Acchan's sales for Flower is also now the highest first week sales for any AKB subunit.


But wait! There's more! As of this week, AKB48's Koko ni Ita Koto sold more than 716k copies, exceeding EXILE's "Negai no Tou" sales of 707k for the year so far. This means that AKB48 has the record for the highest selling album and single for the year so far! Wow!

Of course, all these results are not surprising. Given that AKB48 is the hottest talk in the Japan streets right now, producing such results, especially from the face of the team, is no more than what is expected from them. I hope they will continue to do well, and also put up better music for the fans (:
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SKE48 National Tour [Manatsu no Jouhou Shuusei] - Setlists

SKE48's National Tour[Manatsu no Jouhou Shuusei] (SKE48真夏の上方修正) has started! This is their first national tour, taking place from 28 June through 10 July, at 6 locations all over Japan. Each concert will have 2 Teams.

Here are the setlists from the concerts. Posts will be updated regularly after each concert.

Shows
27 - 28 June: Zepp Nagoya
27 June: Team S + Team E
28 June: Team S + Team KII
2 July: Zepp Tokyo
Teams S + Team E
3 July: Zepp Sendai
Teams S + Team E
5 July: Zepp Sapporo
Teams S + Team KII
9 July: Zepp Osaka
Teams KII + Team E
10 July: Zepp Fukuoka
Teams KII + Team E


ZEPP Nagoya - June 27
Team S + Team E
No.SongFromMembers
M01.Aozora KataomoiSKE48
2nd
Team S + Kobayashi A
M02.Gomen ne, SUMMERSKE48
3rd
Team E + Uchiyama
M03.Te wo TsunaginagaraS2All
M04.SKE48S1All
MC1
M05.Tenshi no ShippoE1Kimoto, Ueno, Shibata
M06.Okami to PrideS3Yagami, Kizaki
M07.Glory DaysS2Matsui J, Nakanishi, Kuwabara
M08.Junjou ShugiE1Hara, Isohara, Takagi
M09.Kareha no StationS3Matsui R
M10.Choco no yukueS2Oya, Hiramatsu, Hirata, Kato R
MC2
M11.Tokimeki no AshiatoSKE48
6th
Matsui J, Hirata, Onoo, Matsumoto, Nakamura, Nakanishi, Wakabayashi, Saito,  Abiru, Sato M, Akaeda, Shibata
M12.ShonichiE1Team E + Uchiyama
M13.Wasshoi EE1Team E + Uchiyama
M14.Koi wo kataru Shijin ni NarenakuteS3Team S + Kobayashi A
M15.Chime wa LOVE SONGS2Team S + Kobayashi A
MC4
M16.Tsuyoku Monoyo1stMatsui J, Ono, Kinoshita, Deguchi, Yagami, Hiramatsu, Hirata, Oya, Nakamura, Kaneko, Umemoto, Isohara, Sakai, Tsuzuki, Kimoto, Kobayashi A
M17.Banzai Venus5thKuwabara, Matsui R, Takada, Kizaki, Suda, Nakanishi, Kato R, Uchiyama, Hara, Yamashita, Mano, Takeuchi, Ueno, Shibata, Takagi
M18.Dear my TeacherS1Matsui J, Ono, Kinoshita, Deguchi, Yagami, Hiramatsu, Hirata, Oya, Nakamura, Kaneko, Umemoto, Isohara, Sakai, Tsuzuki, Kimoto, Kobayashi A
M19.AitakattaAKB48
2nd
All
M20.1!2!3!4! Yoroshiku!SKE48
4th
All
M21.Tooku ni ite moS2All
ENCORE
M22.Rope no YuujouS2All
M23.Pinocchio GunS3All
MC4
M24.Pareo wa EmeraldSKE48
6th
Matsui J, Matsui R, Yagami, Kuwabara, Oya, Hiramatsu, Kizaki, Kinoshita, Suda, Takayanagi, Mukaida, Ishida, Ogiso, Furukawa, Hata, Kanon
M25.Nakama no UtaS3All + Matsushita + Yamada E


ZEPP Nagoya - June 28
Team S + TeamKII
No.SongFromMembers
M01.Aozora KataomoiSKE48
2nd
Team S
M02.Gomen ne, SUMMERSKE48
3rd
Team KII
M03.Te wo TsunaginagaraS2All
M04.SKE48S1All
MC1
M05.Nagisa no CherryKII1Manatsu, Sawako, Matsumoto, Kato T
M06.Onna no ko no DairokkanS3Kuwabara, Nakanishi, Oya, Suda, Kato R
M07.Wimbledon he TsuretetteKII2Takayanagi, Yamada, Wakabayashi
M08.Ame no PianistKII2Sato, Furukawa, Abiru
M09.Kono Mune no BarcodeS2Ono, Deguchi, Takada
M10.Omoide IjouS3Hiramatsu, Matsui J, Kinoshita
MC2
M11.Papa wa KiraiSKE48
6th
M12.Romance RocketS2Team KII
M13.Kayoubi no Yoru, Suiyobi no AsaS3Team KII
M14.Jelousy no AlibiS2Team S
M15.Seifuku no MeS3Team S
MC3
M16.Tsuyoku MonoyoSKE48
1st
All
M17.Banzai VenusSKE48
5th
All
M18.Dear my TeacherS1All
M19.AitakattaAKB48
2nd
All
M20.1!2!3!4! YoroshikuSKE48
4th
All
M21.Tooku ni ite moS2All
ENCORE
M22.Rope no YuujouAll
M23.Pinocchio GunAll
MC4
M24.Pareo wa EmeraldMatsui J, Matsui R, Yagami, Kuwabara, Oya, Hiramatsu, Kizaki, Kinoshita, Suda, Takayanagi, Mukaida, Ishida, Ogiso, Furukawa, Hata, Ono
M25.Nakama no UtaAll
Read more ...

29 June 2011

SKE48's [Pareo wa Emerald] - PV Previews

SKE48 has released more previews of the PVs from their 6th Single Pareo wa Emerald on their official YouTube channel! PVs that have been released so far are Pareo wa Emerald, Shirogumi's Tokimeki no Ashiato, and Akagumi's Papa wa Kirai. Reviews included! I will update this post when SKE releases more PV previews.

SKE48 Official YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/SKE48


Pareo wa Emerald (パレオはエメラルド)
Team S: Oya Masana, Kizaki Yuria, Kinoshita Yukiko, Kuwabara Mizuki, Suda Akari, Hiramatsu Kanako, Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena, Yagami Kumi
Team KII: Ishida Anna, Ogiso Shiori, Takayanagi Akane, Hata Sawako, Furukawa Airi, Mukaida Manatsu
Team E: Kimoto Kanon

Since I already wrote about it in the previous Pareo wa Emerald post, I'll just copy paste everything over.

The PV for Pareo wa Emerald was shot in Hawaii, and resembled AKB48's Ponytail to Shushu / Everyday Kachuusha quite a bit especially at the beach dance scene. Even the intro music style was copied over. As expected, SKE48 has stuck to its fast paced energetic and catchy idol type music. Well it works and I like it.


Tokimeki mo Ashiato (ときめきの足跡)
Team S: Ono Haruka, Nakanishi Yuka, Hirata Rikako, Matsui Jurina
Team KII: Akaeda Ririna, Abiru Riho, Sato Mieko, Matsumoto Rina, Wakabayashi Tomoka
Team E: Shibata Aya, Nakamura Yuka
Kenkyuusei: Saito Makiko

Honestly speaking, I thought the song was boring. Nice tune but it was too soft. Akagumi wins for the 3rd time in a row for me. I'm guessing the close ups was supposed to be serious but I didn't feel it. Their dance is also too energetic for the song. The superimposed flowers were beautiful though.

Papa wa Kirai (パパは嫌い)
Team S: Kato Rumi, Takada Shiori, Deguchi Aki, Matsui Rena
Team KII: Sato Seira, Yakata Miki
Team E: Ueno Kasumi, Umemoto Madoka, Kaneko Shiori, Hara Minami

I really love the fierce and dark theme of this song. The red dye diluting in the water at the start was a nice touch, very pretty. I love how they keep changing scenes from the red set to the white set, makes everything more dramatic. I get the feeling that the white set is them "pure and innocent" with the white costumes, let down hair with the girls mostly motionless or in slow motion, while the red set is the girls in their fierce mood with the blood red costumes, messy hair and energetic dancing. The best part for me was the slow motion scene with Rena standing there and the doves (i think?) flying.
Read more ...

Nogizaka46 confirmed


It has been officially confirmed, Nogizaka46 is a real project. Unlike SKE48 and NMB48, this group will be built as AKB48's official rival group. How far will they go with their rivalry we don't know, but since they are being promoted as such I'm guessing it's on the level of AKB48 vs Morning Musume few years back.

Official website: http://www.nogizaka46.com/

The origin of their name "nogizaka" has been revealed to be the fact that the final audition location will be SME's Nogizaka Building, and for the number 46, because that "Even if we have less members than AKB48, we wont lose". The group's name won't be abbreviated like AKihaBara48 or SaKaE48 or such, the name is read as "Nogizaka fourty six".

1st round of the auditions, application, starts today and will end on 20 July. Round 2 will be interviews and will take place in 7 cities (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa) on 6 and 7 August. The final round which is dance and vocal will be held on 20 and 21 August. Nogizaka46 will debut on September.

20 members are planned for the 1st generation of members. A CD Debut under Sony is also planned. Girls between the ages of 12 to 24 are allowed to audition. Overseas foreigners are accepted too. Nogizaka46 will have their own theater at the SME Nogizaka Building.

More information about the auditions will be revealed later on.
Read more ...

AKB48 in HanaKimi



Previously announced on the blog, AKB48's face Maeda Atsuko will be taking the lead role in the remake of the hit drama HanaKimi. The full title of the new drama is [Hanazakari no Kimitachi e〜 Ikemen☆ Paradise〜] (花ざかりの君たちへ〜イケメン☆パラダイス〜), changing the male symbol ♂ into a star to differentiate the two.

Official HanaKimi website: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/hanakimi/index.html

Acchan will be playing Ashiya Mizuki, a girl raised in Calfornia who returns to Japan because the guy she idolises, Sano Izumi, got hurt in an accident. Sano was a top high jumper but because of the accident, he quit high jumping. As Ashiya wants him to return to the sport she disguises herself as a boy, with short hair, flattened chest and lowered voice, and joins his all-male boarding school to convince him to fly again.

Kashiwagi Yuki will also be joining the drama as Juri Kishinosato, Ashiya's love rival for Sano. Juri is a student in St. Blossom Academy, a prestigious female high school. Juri is one of the girls of Hibari 4.

But that's not the end yet, Ichikawa Miori, Oba Mina and Nagao Mariya are also added into the cast as Komari Imaike, Kanna Amagasaki and Erica Abeno respectively, also part of St. Blossom's High School's Hibari 4 group.

There's still more! The main theme song for HanaKimi will be AKB48's 22nd Single Flying Get. With so much AKB48 in the show, it's starting to look like an AKB drama starring others already! Oh and about Flying Get, I think I've deciphered the meaning of it. Sano's sport is high jump right? Throughout the course of the show he gets over his fear of jumping and succeeds. The word for "jump" in Japanese is "tobi" (飛び), which also means "flying". Now it all makes sense.

HanaKimi will air weekly every Sunday starting 10 July, on Fuji TV. It will be on the golden timeslot of 9:00PM.

Personally, Acchan seems like a weird choice for the lead role of Ashiya as she doesn't seem like the type. But who can say for sure? Acchan is a mysterious girl. Yukirin is a good choice though to play the girls of Hibari 4, but I can't say about Miorin, Minarun or Mariyagi as I haven't seen either of the 3 act before.
Read more ...

28 June 2011

SKE48's 6th Single [Pareo wa Emerald] - Covers + Tracklist

The covers and tracklist for SKE48's 6th Single [Pareo wa Emerald], and 1st under the avex label, has been revealed. The single will go on sale on 27 July, Matsui Rena's birthday.

SKE48 has released a short version of the PV on their YouTube Channel. The PV for Pareo wa Emerald was shot in Hawaii, and resembled AKB48's Ponytail to Shushu / Everyday Kachuusha quite a bit especially at the beach dance scene. Even the intro music style was copied over. As expected, SKE48 has stuck to its fast paced energetic and catchy idol type music. Well it works and I like it.

Just like the previous 2 Singles, Akagumi and Shirogumi (Red team and White Team) will be used for this Single's B-sides too. There is also a third new team, "Selection 8", made up of presumably the top 8 girls in SKE.



There's still a month to go till the single release. 450,000 copies have already been shipped out, 150k more than Banzai Venus.

Pareo wa Emerald
Release Date: 27 July 2011

TYPE A
1600yen
[CD]
01. Pareo wa Emerald
02. Tokimeki no Ashiato
03. Tsumiki no Jikan
04. Pareo wa Emerald (off vocal)
05. Tokimeki no Ashiato (off vocal)
06. Tsumiki no Jikan (off vocal)
[DVD]
01. Pareo wa Emerald (promotion video)
02. Tokimeki no Ashiato (promotion video)
03. Bonus Footage: Matsui Jurina no Kiseki (documentary movie)
TYPE B
1600yen

[CD]
01. Pareo wa Emerald
02. Papa wa Kirai
03. Tsumiki no Jikan
04. Pareo wa Emerald (off vocal)
05. Papa wa Kirai (off vocal)
06. Tsumiki no Jikan (off vocal)
[DVD]
01. Pareo wa Emerald (promotion video)
02. Tokimeki no Ashiato (promotion video)
03. Bonus Footage: Matsui Rena no Kiseki (documentary movie)
TYPE C
1600yen
[CD]
01. Pareo wa Emerald
02. Hanabi wa Owaranai
03. Tsumiki no Jikan
04. Pareo wa Emerald (off vocal)
05. Hanabi wa Owaranai (off vocal)
06. Tsumiki no Jikan (off vocal)
[DVD]
01. Pareo wa Emerald  (promotion video)
02. Bonus Footage: SKE48 Red vs White Swimming Competition (special movie)
Theater ver.
[picture]

1050yen
[CD]
01.Pareo wa Emerald
02. Tokimeki no Ashiato
03. Papa wa Kirai
04. SKE48 6th Single Medley
05. Pareo wa Emerald (off vocal)
06. Tokimeki no Ashiato (off vocal)
07. Papa wa Kirai (off vocal)


Senbatsu - Pareo wa Emerald (パレオはエメラルド)
Team S: Oya Masana, Kizaki Yuria, Kinoshita Yukiko, Kuwabara Mizuki, Suda Akari, Hiramatsu Kanako, Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena, Yagami Kumi
Team KII: Ishida Anna, Ogiso Shiori, Takayanagi Akane, Hata Sawako, Furukawa Airi, Mukaida Manatsu
Team E: Kimoto Kanon

Shirogumi - Tokimeki mo Ashiato (ときめきの足跡)
Team S: Ono Haruka, Nakanishi Yuka, Hirata Rikako, Matsui Jurina
Team KII: Akaeda Ririna, Abiru Riho, Sato Mieko, Matsumoto Rina, Wakabayashi Tomoka
Team E: Shibata Aya, Nakamura Yuka
Kenkyuusei: Saito Makiko

Akagumi - Papa wa Kirai (パパは嫌い)
Team S: Kato Rumi, Takada Shiori, Deguchi Aki, Matsui Rena
Team KII: Sato Seira, Yakata Miki
Team E: Ueno Kasumi, Umemoto Madoka, Kaneko Shiori, Hara Minami

Selection 8 - Hanabi wa Owaranai (花火は終わらない)
Team S: Kizaku Yuria, Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena, Yagami Kumi
Team KII: Ogiso Shiori, Takayanagi Akane, Mukaida Manatsu
Team E: Kimoto Kanon

Tsumiki no Jikan (積み木の時間)
All SKE48 members
Read more ...

AKB48's 22nd Single titled [Flying Get]



The title of AKB48's 22nd Single, the Single which employ the results of the 3rd Senbatsu election, has been given a title. Announced at last night's Theater no Megami performance, the title of the Single is [Flying Get].

But what does it mean? Well "Flying Get" (フライングゲット) is the word for obtaining items such as books, CDs and DVDs before the date they officially go on sale. In simpler words, AKB48 is just asking you to preorder their stuff.

Flying Get will be used as the theme song for the drama Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, or Hanakimi, which starrs Maeda Atsuko and Kashiwagi Yuki.

It really seems that AKB48 wants to follow the same cycle as last year. In that case the 23rd single should be something dark and fierce

A reminder of the member arrangement so far known.

Senbatsu - Flying Get (フライングゲット)
AKB48 Team A: Maeda Atsuko, Shinoda Mariko, Kojima Haruna, Takahashi Minami, Sashihara Rino,Takajo Aki, Kuramochi Asuka
AKB48 Team K: Oshima Yuko, Itano Tomomi, Miyazawa Sae, Minegeshi Minami, Akimoto Sayaka, Yokoyama Yui
AKB48 Team B: Kashiwagi Yuki, Watabane Mayu, Kitahara Rie, Kasai Tomomi, Sato Amina, Masuda Yuka
SKE48 Team S: Matsui Rena, Matsui Jurina

Undergirls
AKB48 Team A: Nakagawa Haruka, Ota Aika, Oya Shizuka, Maeda Ami
AKB48 Team K: Umeda Ayaka, Nito Moeno, Matsui Sakiko, Fujie Reina
AKB48 Team B: Hirajima Natsumi, Miyazaki Miho, Komori Mika, Sato Sumire
AKB48 Team 4: Oba Mina, Ichikawa Miori
SKE48 Team S: Oya Masana, Suda Akari
SKE48 Team KII: Takayanagi Akane, Hata Sawako
NMB48 Team N: Yamamoto Sayaka

The Single will be released on 24 August 2011. Get preordering! .... or get Flying Get-ting ..... or whatever.
Read more ...

27 June 2011

NMB48 [Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo] Review

More than 3 weeks before the official release of NMB48's debut single Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo on July 20, all songs of the single are already available online.

As reported earlier the single will have three versions: A, B and Theater version. Apart from the title track Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo, Seishun no Lap Time will also be included in all versions of the single. Apart from that, the single also features the songs Boku ga Maketa Natsu for Version A, Mattemashita, Shingakki for B and the Theater version exclusive song Mikazuki no Senaka.

What do you think about NMB48's debut single?

Here a few comments I have about the songs.

Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo: The beat of this single is nothing too special but quite catchy. The most interesting part is the concept of it. The song title can be translated to 'Extinction of black-haired girls' and it alluds to the trend that many Japanese girls dye their originally black-hair. Despite that no member of NMB48 has dyed their hair, so the single refers to that approving of the more 'traditional' black-hair. Following this concept, the choreography also makes some referations to 'tradition', finishing for example with the Seiza (the traditional formal way of sitting in Japan).

Seishun no Lap Time: This song is quite a generic idol song but also probably the most catchy song of this single. It is a fun song that makes me feel happy.

Boku ga Maketa Natsu: My least favourite song of the single. It is nice but the melody is not that catchy to me. The opening solo of Sayaka is awesome though. Apart from that you should pay attention to the lyrics. They mention AKB in the song and make referations to Heavy Rotation as well as Ponytail to Shushu, which is a very nice touch.

Mattemashita, Shingakki: I love this song. It was stuck in my head right from the first listening. Like the other songs of the single it is nothing special and quite generic but still nice. It is an uptempo song that just makes me happy.

Mikazuki no Senaka: My favourite song of the whole single. Another catchy generic song but not as 'hyper' as the other ones. The chorus is addictive and the voices of the members blend in nicely.


Overall NMB48's debut single is nothing special. The songs included are mostly generic idol stuff. Nevertheless I like it. Songs are catchy and fit each other. A nice start for NMB48.
Read more ...

26 June 2011

Soft opening of the AKB48 Official Cafe Singapore


AKB48 opened their 1st Official Cafe outside Japan here in Singapore yesterday. The cafe is located at the 3rd floor of *SCAPE, 1 floor above the AKB48 Official Shop Singapore.

I always have bad luck when it comes to the photographers line. Right at the back again, 7 rows of people in front of me.

The cafe was officially opened at 12:30PM by 3 AKB48 members, Shimazaki Haruka and Takeuchi Miyu from AKB48's Team 4, and Abe Maria from AKB48 Team Kenkyuusei.



This was followed by a closed door media session (which I was not invited to so no pictures) until 3:30PM when it was officially opened to the public.



There were lots of fans there to witness the opening and try out the food in the cafe. The queue was stretched until 8:00PM. I only managed to get in at 6:30PM, 3 hours after the cafe opened.



There was a nice surprise at around 4:00PM, the 3 members who opened the cafe went in to greet the dining customers. They even shook hands and took pictures with them.



The menu is quite limited currently since it just started out. Like I said in a previous post it is just a soft opening for food tasting and such.


The cafe itself was quite spacey, big enough to fit up to 60 people. The dinner menu only starts at 7:00PM so I had to suffice with the tea special, which was mainly ice cream.



This is the AKB48 Ice Cream Set. It doesn't show clearly in the picture but the colors of the ice cream are, from left to right, Yellow (AKB48 Team 4), Pink (AKB48 Team A), Green (AKB48 Team K) and Blue (AKB48 Team B). Overall nice but the green ice cream, which was green tea flavored by the way, was a little too bitter.






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NMB48 2nd Generation Profiles

Profile pictures of NMB48's 2nd gen are up on the official website!

http://www.nmb48.com/member/

The second generation of NMB48 have an age range of 12 to 18, with an average age of 14. They will join the 9 current Kenkyuuseis, bringing the total number of Kenkyuuseis to 32.

Anyone of them caught your eye yet? Ishida Yuumi, Yagura Fuuko and Yogi Keira have certainly caught mine. Nakagawa Hiromi is cute too.I wonder which girls will make Team M.

Azuma Yuki
東 由樹
Ishida Yuumi
石田 優美
Uno Mizuki
鵜野 みずき
Otani Riko
大谷 莉子
Okada Risako
岡田 梨紗子
Koga Narumi
古賀 成美
Kodakiri Yuuka
小鷹狩 佑香 
Sato Sorai
佐藤 天彩
Rena Shimada
島田 玲奈
Jo Eriko
城 恵理子
Takano Yui
高野 祐衣
Takiyama Akane
瀧山 あかね
Tanigawa Airi
谷川 愛梨
Nakagawa Hiromi
中川 紘美
Nishizawa Rurina
西澤 瑠莉奈
Hayashi Momoka
林 萌々香
Fujita Runa
藤田 瑠奈
Mita Mao
三田 麻央
Murakami Ayaka
村上 文香
Murase Sae
村瀬 紗英
Yagura Fuuko
矢倉 楓子
Yamamoto Hitomi
山本 ひとみ
Yogi Keira
與儀 ケイラ
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