French Kiss 5th Single [Romance Privacy] Tracklist

The tracklist for French Kiss' 5th single [Romance Privacy] is out. The theater exclusive b-side is yet another Yukirin solo titled [Kazanbai] which means "Volcanic Ash". All the DVDs have the a-side PV, Type A has [Rainy day] PV, Type B has video of them when in Macau and C has a 3 minute cooking video.

French Kiss 5th Single
Romance Privacy
ロマンス・プライバシー
18 July 2012

Type A 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Romance Privacy 02. Rainy day 03. Romance Privacy (Instrumental) 04. Rainy day (Instrumental) [DVD] 01. Romance Privacy [Music Video] 02. Rainy day [Music Video]
Type B 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Romance Privacy 02. Bin no Futa 03. Romance Privacy (Instrumental) 04. Bin no Futa (Instrumental)  [DVD] 01. Romance Privacy [Music Video] 02. French Kiss in Macau
Type C 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Romance Privacy 02. Biorhythm 03. Romance Privacy (Instrumental) 04. Biorhythm (Instrumental)  [DVD] 01. Romance Privacy [Music Video] 02. Wata Pot (3 minutes cooking)
Theater Edition 1,000yen	[CD] 01. Romance Privacy 02. Kazanbai (Kashiwagi Yuki solo) 03. Romance Privacy (Instrumental) 04. Kazanbai (Instrumental)

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Akimoto Yasushi Endorses First Official AKB48 Cover Song

In February 2012, an English cover version of AKB48's "Flying Get" was uploaded on Youtube and instantly became a hit, drawing a total of 2.3 million views from 163 countries.  The artist went by the name of GILLE, but GILLE's face was not shown in the video, so it was not possible to tell whether it was a foreigner covering the song.  GILLE also covered other popular Japanese songs in English.  The translated lyrics retained the original meaning of the song very well, and the English did not sound awkward when sung with the original tempo of the song.

On June 27th, 2012, it was announced that this cover version of the song is endorsed by the Akimoto Yasushi, executive producer of AKB48, and it is now available on iTunes as a digital download.

According to Akimoto, he wanted to produce it upon hearing the song.

"We often hear talks about people that want to cover AKB48 songs officially, but we were not able to oblige because it's not a direction that management is interested in.  However, when we heard GILLE's song, we wanted to find out who is singing and produce it.  We want people to enjoy her voice, which is totally different from AKB48."

GILLE signed with Universal Music near the end of March.  Akimoto approved the cover when Universal officially applied for covering the song.

Regarding Akimoto's support, GILLE was very thankful.  "'Flying Get' was a cover song that I really wanted to try, and his approval opened the door for me to spread my music to the rest of the world."  She will release her first cover album "I AM GILLE" on July 18th, 2012.  The world also found out for the first time that GILLE is a female singer from Japan.  Her real name and her age remains unknown, but her voice is the real thing.

source: http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/2012/06/27/0005168296.shtml

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28th Single Release Date Announced + Announcement of another Janken Tournament

Along with the promotion announcement, there were other announcements as well. One was that the 28th single was announced for release date on October. Another was, that the 29th single senbatsu will be again yet decided by Janken (Rock, Paper, Scissors game). The tournament is on 18th September at Budokan.

For the other groups, the number of girl's who can participate in the tournmament provided they pass the prelimanary rounds are:

SKE48 - 8
NMB48 - 6
HKT48 - 3

The  preliminary rounds will be held on:

30th June: NMB48 Preliminary / NMB48 KKS Preliminary
4th July: AKB48 KKS preliminary / SKE48 KKS Preliminary
5th July: SKE48 Preliminary
6th July: HKT48 Preliminary / HKT48 KKS Preliminary


AKB48 KKS will move on to the Budokan round, while sister group KKS will move on the second preliminary round with the groups then to Budukan round.
*Jurina and Milky since technically are full time members of K and B, don't have to do prelims. 

And the last announcement was the album of AKB48 which has been scheduled for release on August 15th.


Another Janken tournament ....... getting too repetitive but this means for the girls who have never been in senbatsu to get a chance, so hoping those girls get a chance instead of normal senbatsu because that is after all the whole point of this tournament, so that there is a change in senbatsu.

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10th Gen and 11th Gen Members Promoted! Team yet to be decided

At today's [Manatsu no Sounds Good] handshake event, it was announced 10th Members Izuta Rina, Kobayashi Marina and Fujita Nana along with 11th Gen members Natori Wakana, Morikawa Ayaka and Kojima Natsuki have been promoted to full time members!

The team where they will be is yet to be announced but one of them good be taking Acchan or Sasshi's spot in Team A, either that or this is the start of Team 8 formation.

Anyways, it was high time for the girl's to be promoted, very happy for them. Whichever team the girls maybe let's support them with out best now and congratulations!!

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New NMB48 Regular TV Show [NMB48 Geinin!]

NMB48 will get a new regular TV show called [NMB48 Geinin!] starting July 3 on NTV. The show will be broadcasted every Tuesday and is described as a comedy drama.

The NMB48 girls will play students of the 'Namba Jo-Gakuin' (Namba Girls School/College) and the school's 'comedy club' will be the stage for this show. The goal of this club is to win a comedy competiton for female high school students, but on the way to that they have to deal with incidents and accidents and get into troubles with all the weird and unusual clubs of Namba Jo-Gakuin.

NMB48 Geinin!
NMB48げいにん！
Official Website: http://www.ntv.co.jp/geinin/
TV Network: NTV
Air Time: Tuesday 24:59 ~ 25:29
Broadcast starts: 3rd July 2012
Cast: NMB48, Football Hour (comedy duo)


The show's concept sounds interesting, like a mix of variety and drama. NMB48 has challenged comedy several times before and I think this show can turn into something nice. Looking forward to it.

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NMB48 Kinoshita Momoka on Injury Break

Kinoshita Momoka, member of NMB48's Team M, will take one month off her activities in NMB48 from June 27th on. Momoka has a leg injury and needs time to rest and do rehabilitation.

As far as she is able to, she will continue writing for the NMB48 Blog and Google+ etc during her break.

I hope Momoka gets well soon. All the best to her!

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34 Girls Pass 2nd Generation HKT48 Auditions

The auditions for 2nd generation members for HKT48 has finished and 34 girls have managed to pass the final round. The 34 girls have an average age of 13.8 years. The girls hale from Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, Miyazaki and Ehime prefectures.

These girls are yet not Research Students. The girls will now have strict singing and dancing lessons, and will go through a new selection through which the 2nd generation kenkyuusei's will be chosen.

Congratulations to these 34 girls! I think by the end of 2012, hopefully we will have Team KIII. 

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French Kiss 5th Single [Romance Privacy] Covers

French Kiss's 5th single [Romance Privacy] covers are out. Also the release date for the single has been rescheduled to July 18th. It was July 11th before. Check out the covers!

Type A, Type B

Type C, Theater Edition

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Maeda Atsuko 2nd Single [Kimi wa Boku da] First Day Sales

Maeda Atsuko's first day sales of [Kimi wa Boku da] is 65,635 copies and #1 on the oricon chart. Acchan's first single [Flower] had a first day sale of 102,483 copies. So that is an almost 40K drop. Still #1 is #1 so congratulations Acchan!

She released a single after a year and I really didn't expect a 65K sales only, with Acchan's graduation and all, I expected this single to at least sell 90K. What do you think?

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AKB48 New CM for Glico's Ice no Mi Candy

AKB48 will be in a new CM for Glico's Ice no Mi candy product. Last year, the CM gave us 12.5th gen member Eguchi Aimi. This time the CM will be sort of case files series. All the 89 members will be suspects with Acchan as in a detective dress, shouting "Leave it to me!". The story line for the CM is by Aoyama Gosho, the famous Mangaka of Detective Conan.

The murder victim is played by Kato Rena, who leaves a dying message "N" and a cell phone as clues. The Ice no Mi site will also showcase each member's testimony and hint to solve the mystery.

The first CM "File 1" will start airing from June 25th.

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Watanabe Mayu to Release 2nd Single [Otona Jelly Beans]

Watanabe Mayu, who placed 2nd in the latest general election, will be dropping her second solo single on July 25th! The single is titled [Otona Jelly Beans].

The single will be available in 4 editions: A, B, C (with DVD), and regular (w/o DVD).

Watanabe's debut single [Synchro Tokimeki] managed to sell over 120,000 units in its first week of release, and achieved 2nd place on the oricon chart. Garnering more than 70,000 votes in this year's election, Watanabe finally accomplished her goal of placing within the top three. Will her new single's sales figure also reflect the momentum of her prominence in AKB?

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Majisuka Gakuen 3 Starts Airing From July

Majisuka Gakuen 3 starts airing from July 13th. The drama series is about "Yankee Youth", first Majisuka Gakuen being aired on January 2010 and it's second season in April 2011. Majisuka Gakuen 1 and 2 had their setting on an all girls delinquent school. But this time, the story of Majisuka Gakuen 3 is not in a yankee school but is set in a prison.

There has been other no details beside the fact that this time there will be AKB48 members as well SKE48 members in the drama.

Peoples are speculating NMB should be there as well along with Nogizaka46. We will just have to wait for the drama to start to know further details.

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Nogizaka46 3rd Single Senbatsu Announced + Sakurai Reika Official Captain

Today at Nogizaka46's variety show Nogizaka Katte, Doko  they announced the senbatsu for their 3rd single which will be released on 22nd August. Along with the senbatsu announcement, Sakurai Reika was appointed as the captain official as in no longer just a temporary captain. Also the centers for this single is same [Guruguru Curtain], Ikuta, Ikoma and Hoshino.

The senbatsu members are (listed on the basis of their position and name called out)
Ikuta Erika, Ikoma Rina, Hoshino Minami, Sakurai Reika, Nakada Kana, Hashimoto Nanami, Shiraishi Mai, Matsumura Sayuri, Nishino Nanase, Takayama Kazumi, Saito Yuuri, Wakatsuki Yumi, Inoue Sayuri Ichiki Rena, Itou Mariko, Fukagawa Mai

Nogizaka's Shichi Fukujin (Lit. Seven Deities of Good Luck/Nogizaka's Kami7): Ikuta Erika, Ikoma Rina, Hoshino Minami, Nishino Nanase, Hashimoto Nanami, Shiraishi Mai, Matsumura Sayuri



In (Senbatsu): Itou Mariko, Fukagawa Mai and Wakatsuki Yumi.
Out (Senbatsu): Miyazawa Seira, Hatanaka Seira, Iwase Yumiko

In (Shichi Fukujin): Hoshino Minami, Nishino Nanase, Ikuta Erika
Out (Shichi Fukujin): Sakurai Reika, Nakada Kana, Takayama Kazumi

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Waiting Girl's Photoshoot Magazine List

Waiting girls are those didn't rank in the sousenkyou but they will still photo shoots in certain magazine pages. This is the list of which girl will appear in which magazine which was done through lottery yesterday.

AKB48

Team A

Matsubara Natsumi - BUBKA

Team K

Uchida Mayumi - EX Taishu
Nakatsuka Tomomi - Gekkan TV Guide
Tanabe Miku - FLASH
Nonaka Misato - FLASH

Team B

Sato Natsuki - FLASH
Suzuki Shihori - Shuukan Playboy
Suzuki Mariya - BUBKA
Chikano Rina - BOMB

Team 4

Abe Maria - FRIDAY
Iriyama Anna - Shuukan Playboy
Iwata Karen - TOP YELL
Kato Rena - FRIDAY
Kawaei Rina - TV Pia
Shimada Haruka - FRIDAY
Takahashi Juri - JUNON
Takeuchi Miyu - FRIDAY
Nakamata Shiori - JUNON
Nakamura Mariko - Manga Action

Kenkyuusei

Aigasa Moe - FRIDAY
Amemiya Maika - FRIDAY
Izuta RIna - FRIDAY
Iwatate Saho - FRIDAY
Umeta Ayano - EDGE STYLE
Oshima Ryoka - Shuukan Young Magazine
Oomori Miyu - FRIDAY
Okada Ayaka - FRIDAY
Kita Shiori - Shuukan Shounen Sunday
Kitazawa Saki - Shuukan Young Magazine
Kojima Natsuki - BUBKA
Kobayashi Marina - TOP YELL
Saeed-Yokota Erena - Shuukan Playboy
Sasaki Yukari - FRIDAY
Shinozaki Ayana - FRIDAY
Takashima Yurina - Kakujuukan Young Champion
Natori Wakana - Shuukan Playboy
Hasegawa Haruna - Shuukan Young Magazine
Hirata RIna - FRIDAY
Fujita Nana - Manga Action
Mistumune Kaoru - Shuukan Playboy
Murayama Yuri - Smart
Magi Shinobu - Shuukan Playboy
Morikawa Ayaka - Shuukan Playboy
Moriyama Sakura - SPA!
Watanabe Nene - Shuukan The Television

SKE48

Team S

Kato Rumi - BOMB!
Kinoshita Yukiko - Shuukan Playboy
Kuwabara Mizuki - FRIDAY
Takada Shiori - BOMB!
Deguchi Aki - Top Yell
Hirata Rikako - Duet
Hiramatsu Kanako - TV Life

Team KII

Akaeda Ririna - FRIDAY
Abiru Riho - TV Pia
Ishida Anna - Manga Action
Kato Tomoko - FLASH
Sato Seira - ACTION
Sato Mieko - Top Yell
Matsumoto RIna - Ipop station
Yamada Reika - Shuukan Young Magazine
Wakabayashi Tomoka - Shuukan Asahi

Team E

Isohara Kyouka - BOMB!
Ueno Kasumi - Shuukan Playboy
Umemoto Madoka - EX Taishu
Kaneko Shiori - TOWER
Kobayashi Ami - Arena Arena Special
Sakai Mei - Shuukan Young Magazine
Shibata Aya - Shuukan Young Magazine
Takagi Yumana - FLASH
Takeuchi Mai - Free Cell
Tsuzuki Rika - Shuukan Post
Hara Minami - FRIDAY
Yamashita Yukari - B.L.T

Kenkyuusei

Iguchi Shiori - Gekkan TV navi
Ichino Narumi - EDGE STYLE
Inazuka Asana - Suger&Spice
Iwanaga Tsuzumi - Gekkan Saizo
Uchiyama Mikoto - Shuukan Playboy
Ego Yuna - Shuukan Playboy
Owaki Arisa - Shuukan Shounen Sunday
Ogino Risa - Shuukan Young Magazine
Kito Momona - Shuukan Playboy
Kobayashi Emiri - FRIDAY
Saito Makiko - FRIDAY
Suga Nanako - SPA!
Niidoi Sayaka - Smart
Hioki Miki - Shuukan Shounen Sunday
Fujimoto Mitsuki - Shuukan Playboy
Futamura Haruka - Girl's Star
Furuhata Nao - GIRL POP
Mizuno Honoka - BOMB!
Miyamae Ami - GIRL'S STAR
Yamada Mizuho - Gekkan Saizo

NMB48

Team N

Kadowaki Kanako - Free Cell
Kishino Rika - Arena Arena Special
Kinoshita Haruna - B.L.T
Kotani Riho - FRIDAY
Kondo Rina - Shuukan Playboy
Shinohara Kanna - GIRL'S STAR
Jonishi Kei - Gekkan Entertainment
Shiroma Miru - Gekkan Saizo
Matsuda Shiori - FLASH
Yoshida Akari - Gekkan Asahi
Yamaguchi Yuuki - Gekkan De☆View

Team M

Ota Riona - Shuukan Young Magazine
Okita Ayaka - B.L.T
Kawakami Rena - BOMB!
Kinoshita Momoka - FLASH
Shimada Rena - BOMB!
Jo Eriko - TV Pia
Takano Yui - Gekkan Entertainment
Tanigawa Airi - FRIDAY
Hikawa Ayame - Gekkan Post
Fujita Runa - Gekkan Asahi
Mita Mao - Shuukan Young Jump
Murakami Ayaka - Shuukan Asahi
Murase Sae - EX Taishu
Yagura Fuuko - Free Cell
Yamagishi Natsumi - FRIDAY
Yogi Keira -  GIRL POP

Kenkyuusei

Akazawa Hono - B.L.T
Azuma Yuki - Free Cell
Ishida Yuumi - Shuukan Asahi
Ishizuka Akari - Shuukan Shounen Sunday
Ijiri Anna - Kakushuukan Young Champion
Ueda Mirei - Kakushuukan Young Champion
Uno Mizuki - TV Pia
Umehara Mako - FRIDAY
Ota Yuri - Arena Arena Special
Kato Yuka - FLASH
Kamieda Emika - Kakushuukan Young Champion
Kusaka Konomi - FRIDAY
Kushiro Rina - Gekkan TV Navi
Kurokawa Hazuki - Shuukan Playboy
Kono Saki - Gekkan Tv Fan
Koga Narumi - TOWER
Kobayashi Rikako - TV LIFE
Koyanagi Arisa - FRIDAY
Sasaki Nanami - *Cancelled* - Graduating
Sato Sorai - CD Journal
Sugumoto Kano - Shuukan TV Asahi
Takayama Riko - Nikkei Entertainment!
Togo Sora - Free Cell
Nakagawa Hiromi - Shuukan Shounen Magazine
Nishizawa Rurina - Smart
Hayashi Momoka - Shuukan Shounen Magazine
Hisada Riko - Top Yell
Miura Arisa - FLASH
Muro Kanako - FRIDAY
Yabushita Shu - Shuukan Young Magazine
Yamauchi Tsubasa - Shuukan Asahi
Yamamoto Hitomi - FRIDAY

HKT48

Team H

Anai Chihiro - FRIDAY
Ueki Nao - Shuukan Shounen Magazine
Kumazawa Serina - Gekkan Tv Navi
Kodama Haruka - Shuukan Playboy
Komori Yui - GIRL POP
Shimono Yuki - Shuukan Asahi
Sugumoto Yuko - Shuukan Young Jump
Tanaka Natsumi - Shuukan Shounen Sunday
Taniguchi Airi - HMV Music Maser
Nakanishi Chiyori - FRIDAY
Matsuoka Natsumi - FRIDAY
Murashige Anna - Gekkan Entertainment
Matsumura Aoi - FLASH
Moriyasu Madoka - Shuukan Playboy
Wkatabe Haruka - Kakushuukan Young Champion

Kenkyuusei

Kyoka Abe - Shuukan Aashi
Imada Mina - Shuukan Post
Eto Sayaka - Shuukan Young Jump
Nakanishi Ayaka - Shuukan Asahi
Fukagawa Maiko - FRIDAY


* Note: Shuukan = Weekly Magazine

             Gekkan = Monthly Magazine

             Kakushuukan = Published Bi Weeky

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NMB48 Kenkyuusei Sasaki Nanami to Graduate

As announced on June 16, NMB48 3rd Generation Kenkyuusei Sasaki Nanami will be graduating from the group. The graduation date has not been announced yet.

The reason given is poor physical health, it seems she has problems with her spine that hinder her activities in NMB48.

Sasaki Nanami is the second 3rd Generation member to graduate after Ishikawa Kokoro left in April to focus on her studies.


I hope Nanami wil get well soon. I think it is the right decision not to risk her health. But the high number of NMB48 Kenkyuusei who have graduated so far still bothers me.

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Akimoto Yasushi Google+ Post Concerning Sashihara Rino Transfer

 Aki-P google+ post:

指原莉乃のHKT48への移籍について。
About Sashihara Rino's transfer to HKT48.

週刊誌の記事について本人に話を聞いたところ、
「すべてが事実ではないが、そう誤解されてもしかたがない」という
ことでした。
3、4年前の、まだ、研究生時代の話とはいえ、AKB48のメンバーとして自覚が足りなかったと反省しています。
指原にはイエローカード一枚相当の厳重注意をしました。
When I heard about the article , I asked Sashihara and she said  "Everything in the article is not true but people already misunderstood it and it was something unavoidable." We talked about this 3 - 4 years back when Sashihara was a research student and did not have the self awareness needed as an AKB member. That was like an yellow card for Sashihara, a stern warning.

指原莉乃の“不屈の精神”、“何があってもあきらめない気持ち”は、
AKBのメンバーとして模範となるものです。
この強さを後輩に伝えて欲しいと思い、
結成して間もないHKT48に移籍させることにしました。
“左遷”と言う人がいますが、それはHKT48のメンバーや支えてくれているファンのみなさんやスタッフに失礼です。
指原莉乃に新たな挑戦をさせたかったことと、若いHKT48のメンバーの刺激になればいいと僕たちが長い会議の上に出した結論です。
Sashihara's "strong spirit" and "will not give up no matter what" attitude is what a role model AKB member should have. I want her to convey this strength to her juniors. That is why I transferred her to HKT48. While some may say this is like a "demotion", it is impolite to HKT48, it's member and the staff. This was carried out so as to give a new challenged to Sashihara Rino as well as to HKT members, a conclusion I drew upon after a long meeting.

ファンのみなさんにせっかく4位にしていただいた指原ですが、
どこまで“ヘタレ”なのでしょう。
肝心なこの時期に…。
でも、それが指原なのです。
そのうちにグループ最強のHKT48を率いてやって来るかもしれません。
あるいは、グループ最強のHKT48に紛れてやって来るかもしれません。
Fans who made Sashihara #4, how she "Hetare" anymore now? At an important time like this.... but it is Sashihara. She might become the strongest in HKT48 or she might be in the strongest team in HKT48.

AKBで一番“期待に応えないメンバー”指原莉乃を温かく見守ってやってください。
Please watch over warmly on "the least member who meets expectation" Sashihara Rino.

Translated by Sammy

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AKB48 to Release a New Album

AKB48 will release their 2nd original album on August 15th. The album will be 2 CDs and a DVD. The track list contains AKB songs from 2011 ~ 2012 including the song by Team YM7 [Renai Sousenkyou] and the song [First Rabbit] used in the AKB documentary, Show must go on.

The track list will contain:
- Sakura no Ki no Narou
- Everyday、Kachuusa
- Flying Get
- Kaze wa Fuiteiru
- GIVE ME FIVE！
- First Rabbit
- Renai Sounsenkyou
- Ue Kara Mariko
+ other 30 songs

The DVD will contain PVs of
- Everyday、Kachuusa
- Flying Get
- Kaze wa Fuiteiru
- Ue kara Mariko
- Also a choreography bonus footage is planned

The album will also be Acchan's last album with AKB before she graduates meaning the original songs in this album will have Acchan in them.

Wow a 2CD album. And possible 30 new songs, I'm pretty excited for this now.

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Sashihara Rino Transferred to HKT48

Few days ago an article popped out about Sashihara Rino having a boyfriend and that she sent nude pictures to him. Today at ANN, Sasshi denied sending such pictures but she didn't deny he was her friend either.

And just a few moments ago at ANN, Aki-P announced that Sasshi will now transfer to HKT48. Rather than penalty like suspension, Sasshi will be transferred to HKT like a reset.

I have no idea what he is trying to do. This  isunfair to both Sasshi and HKT48. HKT being used like a punishment method, while Sasshi who has worked hard for AKB being transferred like this. Even though Sasshi was the one at fault, it also feels like HKT is being punished too for no reason. While this could be a strategy to help build up HKT's popularity, the way Aki-P has decided the method is just nor right in my opinion.

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NMB48 5th Single Senbatsu Announced

The senbatsu for NMB48's 5th single was announced today at the theater. The single releases on August 8th.

Team N: Osagawara Mayu, Kadowaki Kanoko, Kishino Rika, Kinoshita Haruna, Kotani Riho, Jonishi Kei, Shiroma Miru, Fukumoto Aina, Yamada Nana, Yamamoto Sayaka, Yoshida Akari, Watanabe Miyuki
Team M: Jo Eriko, Tanigawa Airi
3rd Gen: Kato Yuka, Yabushita Shu

Out: Kondo Rina, Yagura Fuuko, Kinoshita Momoka, Murakami Ayaka

I have no idea why there are 12 members of Team N again, kicking out Team M members. Also the 3rd gen push all of a sudden. Instead of reaching to balance out team members in senbatsu, they make it worse. I was expecting to see more M members in this single and there goes my hope for it.

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Nogizaka46 Announces 3rd Single Release Date

Nogizaka46 announced they will be releasing their next single on August 22. This is the groups 2nd single after [Guruguru Curtain] and [Oide Shampoo].

Beside the date, no other details have been announced except that the senbatsu will be announced next week on their variety show Nogizakatte, Doko.

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Nakamata Shiori Co-authors an Economics Book

Team 4's Nakamata Shiori will be writing an Economics Books with Sugashita Kiyohiro who's an author as well as a international finance consultant. The book will be released on June 13 and priced at 1,260 yen.

Nakamatta is the member who got into Waseda University last year, one of the elite Universities in Japan and a magazine recently did a ranking of 48 member's high school entrance exam scores in which Nakamtta was the 2nd highest.

Got to hand it to her, she has theater performances plus keeping up her grades. And now this? I wonder how she manages. One thing is for sure, even after AKB48 Nakamatta will have a firm future without any doubt.

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AKB48 [Manatsu no Sounds good!] 1st/2nd Week Sales + Review

AKB48's 26th single [Manatsu no Sounds good!] sold 1,616,795 copies in its first week followed by 128,604 copies for the week from May 28th - June 3rd. Its total sales currently stand at approximately 1.77 million units.

This makes it the group's best-selling single, easily surpassing last year's [Flying Get] (1.62 million). The group keep breaking their own records. Congratulations girls!

Manatsu no Sounds good!

What a magnificent track. I love the funky intro and the general energy of it. It's different from previous summer songs and here that's good thing. The horns/strings backing track and vocals remind me a lot of 70s disco/r&b songs. It makes me want to dance on a beach in a white bikini. And I'm a guy. That's how good this song is.

Mittsu no Namida [Special Girls]

After the breath of fresh air of MSG we get to what I'd call the most formulaic, "AKB sounding" song among the coupling tracks. It's a very listenable song but pretty generic and maybe just a little too similar to what we've had in [Iiwake Maybe].

Choudai, Darling! [Selection 10 / Reg. Type A]

Nice. It's a cute and adorable song and good for repeated listening. Props to the songwriter. Love how Renacchi and Paruru are thrown in with the old-timers.
The song (and PV too of course) is heavily 50s-influenced. I could very well imagine it set in a diner (complete with jukebox) like what they did for [Pera Pera Perao].

Gugutasu no Sora (Gugutasu Senbatsu / Reg. Type B)

Probably my favorite b-side this time. Simply enjoy a lot listening to it. The voices are clear and in the foreground and there's some nice lines in there. I love the bridge and acoustic guitar solo from about 2:35 to 3:10. It gives the song a less artificial atmosphere. Personally I don't mind that it is plugging G+ as much as it does and many of my favorite members are part of it.
The PV is really adding to the song and the girls look like they are genuinely having fun in their costumes.

Kimi no tame ni boku wa... (Stage Fighter Senbatsu / Theater ed.)

How can I not like this song? It's fast and anime-esque. While the other songs are sweet and idol-ish, this one definitely is fierce. Too bad it didn't have a PV.

Overall: This probably is one of the best AKB single we've had in ages. All the tracks are fun to listen to. 

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Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou to get a Movie Adaptation

The drama [Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou] which starts the members of AKB48 and Johnny's Jr will get a movie adaption which will is scheduled to be released in October this year.

The drama that started from April and airs every Saturday on Nippon Television is about a yankee boy's school which merges with girls school. As of now, the cast for the movie is same as the drama.

AKB48
Shimazaki Haruka
Shimada Haruka
Oba Mina
Nakamura Mariko
Nagao Mariya
Kobayashi Marina
Mitsumune Kaoru

Johnny's Jr
Morimoto Shintaro
Matsumura Hokuto
Kyomoto Taiga
Tanaka Juri
Jesse Lewis
Kochi Yugo

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AKB48 27th Single Release Date Announced

Before yesterday's election, the release date for the 27th single was announced and it is set to be released on August 29th, 2 days after Acchan's graduation.

This year instead of 40 seats, there were 64 seats. Hence the senbatsu members also only are from 1-16. You can check out yesterday's result here. http://melosnomichi.blogspot.com/2012/06/akb48-27th-single-general-election-2012.html

Wonder if Acchan will be in this single or not, as I'm sure the single will be recorded before her graduation. We will just have to wait and see. Because the theater edition will have an exclusive song too and that Wonda CM song has not been released in single yet.

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AKB48 27th Single Senbatsu Election - Final Results

 

The 4th Senbatsu General Election wrapped up just an hour ago, and the positions for AKB48's 27th Single, releasing on August 29th, are final. Let's take a look on the rankings. Some positions were quite obvious before the event even took place, while many more were quite unexpected, with members dropping as much as 30 ranks! Member positions are arranged in ascending order.

Rank		Team	Votes
-----Future Girls line-----
64	Komori Mika	AKB48 Team B	5,398
63	Nakanishi Yuka	SKE48 Team S	5,592
62	Yakata Miki	SKE48 Team KII	5,606
61	Sato Sumire	AKB48 Team B	5,706
60	Ogasawara Mayu	NMB48 Team N	5,919
59	Oya Shizuka	AKB48 Team A	5,933
58	Ichikawa Miori	AKB48 Team 4	5,963
57	Oba Mina	AKB48 Team 4	5,969
56	Kimoto Kanon	SKE48 Team E	5,982
55	Nito Moeno	AKB48 Team K	6,025
54	Yamauchi Suzuran	AKB48 Team 4	6,027
53	Matsui Sakiko	AKB48 Team K	6,058
52	Ota Aika	AKB48 Team A	6,140
51	Kikuchi Ayaka	AKB48 Team K	6,185
50	Ishida Haruka	AKB48 Team B	6,333
49	Muto Tomu	AKB48 Kenkyuusei	6,428
-----Next Girls line-----
48	Katayama Haruka	AKB48 Team A	6,602
47	Miyawaki Sakura	HKT48 Team H	6,635
46	Yamada Nana	NMB48 Team N	6,683
45	Tano Yuka	AKB48 Team 4	6,694
44	Nakagawa Haruka	AKB48 Team A	6,890
43	Fukumoto Aina	NMB48 Team N	6,912
42	Maeda Ami	AKB48 Team A	7,168
41	Kobayashi Kana	AKB48 Team B	7,195
40	Fujie Reina	AKB48 Team K	7,782
39	Nagao Mariya	AKB48 Team 4	7,809
38	Miyazaki Miho	AKB48 Team B	8,173
37	Nakata Chisato	AKB48 Team A	8,315
36	Nakaya Sayaka	AKB48 Team A	8,505
35	Mukaida Manatsu	SKE48 Team KII	8,552
34	Matsumura Kaori	SKE48 Kenkyuusei	9,030
33	Iwasa Misaki	AKB48 Team A	9,297
-----Under Girls line-----
32	Ogiso Shiori	SKE48 Team KII	9,596
31	Kizaki Yuria	SKE48 Team S	10,554
30	Furukawa Airi	SKE48 Team KII	11,179
29	Suda Akari	SKE48 Team S	11,323
28	Yagami Kumi	SKE48 Team S	11,712
27	Oya Masana	SKE48 Team S	12,142
26	Masuda Yuka	AKB48 Team B	13,166
25	Hata Sawako	SKE48 Team KII	13,920
24	Takayanagi Akane	SKE48 Team KII	14,111
23	Shimazaki Haruka	AKB48 Team 4	14,633
22	Kuramochi Asuka	AKB48 Team A	14,852
21	Sato Amina	AKB48 Team B	17,009
20	Akimoto Sayaka	AKB48 Team K	19,121
19	Watanabe Miyuki	NMB48 Team N	19,159
18	Yamamoto Sayaka	NMB48 Team N	23,020
17	Takajo Aki	AKB48 Team A	23,083
-----Senbatsu line-----
16	Umeda Ayaka	AKB48 Team K	24,522
15	Yokoyama Yui	AKB48 Team K	25,541
14	Minegishi Minami	AKB48 Team K	26,038
13	Kitahara Rie	AKB48 Team B	26,531
12	Kasai Tomomi	AKB48 Team B	27,005
11	Miyazawa Sae	AKB48 Team K	40,261
10	Matsui Rena	SKE48 Team S	42,030
09	Matsui Jurina	SKE48 Team S	45,747
08	Itano Tomomi	AKB48 Team K	50,483
07	Kojima Haruna	AKB48 Team A	54,483
06	Takahashi Minami	AKB48 Team A	65,480
05	Shinoda Mariko	AKB48 Team A	67,017
04	Sashihara Rino	AKB48 Team A	67,339
03	Kashiwagi Yuki	AKB48 Team B	71,076
02	Watanabe Mayu	AKB48 Team B	72,574
01	Oshima Yuko	AKB48 Team K	108,837

As expected, without Acchan in the competition there wasn't anyone that could stand up against the might of Yuko. Although there is one thing I'm curious about. Compared to last year's votes, Yuko's votes decreased by 20k. Is it because that since Acchan wasn't participating, there wasn't much of a need to mass vote? Well whatever the reason, Yuko has taken back the center position, the 2nd time for her. Much congratulations to her.

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