AKB48 30th Single [So long!] 1st Week Sales

AKB48's 30th single [So long!] has placed number one on the Oricon singles charts in its first week on sale, with 1,035,986 copies sold. Once again, AKB48 has managed to cross the million seller mark in it's first week, although sales are down from 29th single [Eien Pressure]'s 1,073,499 copies. However, this is now their 11th consecutive million selling single, and 12th in total.

The Soundscan figures for this week show us the breakdown in sales between types. There were three Limited Edition CD+DVD types and three Regular Edition CD+DVD types. The difference between the Limited and Regular Editions was the bonuses - a national event handshake ticket in the Limited, and (in the first press) a photo in the Regular. There was also the standard Theatre Edition which comes with individual member handshake tickets.

This was how [So long!] fared in the Soundscan charts:

1. So long! Type A Limited Edition - 102,094 copies
2. So long! Type K Limited Edition - 86,504 copies
3. So long! Type B Limited Edition - 82,947 copies
5. So long! Type A Regular Edition - 22,564 copies
6. So long! Type K Regular Edition - 15,937 copies
7. So long! Type B Regular Edition - 15,562 copies

Soundscan does not count Theatre Edition sales, but removing the Soundscan data from the Oricon figure gives a maximum of 710,378 copies of the Theatre Edition sold. If we look at the sold out handshake blocks for this single, we can see that overall, AKB48 (402-412), NMB48 (91-106.2), and HKT48 (48-49) members sold out more blocks than for [Eien Pressure], however there was a large drop in SKE48 (204.6-158) member sold out blocks which reduced the total number of sold out blocks from 745.6 to 725.2.

One should note also that [Eien Pressure] did not include Limited Edition national event handshake tickets like all previous janken singles.

NMB48 [Teppen Tottande!] 1st Day Sales+ Details about Request Hour

NMB48's 1st album  [Teppen Tottande!] was released on February 27 and sold 247,047 copies, topping the Oricon Daily Album Charts clearly. 

For comparison, SKE48's 1st album  [Kono Hi no Chime wo Wasurenai] sold 51,875 and AKB48 latest album  [1830m] 625,401 on 1st Day. And NMB48's latest single [Kitagawa Kenji] managed to sell 259,984 on starting day.

Just in time for the album release, NMB48 also announced further details about its first Request Hour Setlist Top 30. The event will take place on April 18 in the Orix Theatre in Osaka. Voting started February 26 at 10 am (Japanese Time) and will be open until March 31, 3pm. Voting tickets are included in Type B of the album.


The sales are really nice. Far more than SKE's album and almost as much as their latest single. Congrats! 

NMB48 Fukumoto Aina, Hirose Sena, Hisada Riko and Sugino Risa to Leave

Hirose Sena, Sugino Risa

Hisada Riko, Fukumoto Aina

This week 4 members of NMB48 announced that they will leave the group. First on February 21, Kenkyusei Hirose Sena and Sugino Risa announced that they will resign from the group. Hirose Sena because of health problems, Sugino Risa because she wants to focus on her studies. Both were 4th Generation members who had just debuted in late December 2012. Their leave was immediate.

The same day 3rd Generation Kenkyusei Hisada Riko announced her graduation because she worries about school and her health. She will have a graduation show on March 15.

Two days later, Team N member Fukumoto Aina also announced her graduation. She wants to be a variety talent and has decided to pursue this way. Her graduation date has not been announced yet. Aina is a 1st Generation and original Team N member and has always been one of NMB48's top members, ranking #43 in the last AKB48 Election.


Sugino Risa's Comment to her fans:
Original Message

I, Sugino Risa, will resign from NMB48.
I have decided to graduate thinking that I want to focus on my studies, graduate high school and work hard to enter the university I am aiming for.
There were a lot of hard things during these few months I have been in NMB48. But more than that, I think I was able to make important experiences one usually cannot make.
To all the people who have supported me: I am really sorry.
It was only for a short time, but that I have been able to work so hard until now is thanks to you all who have supported me. Your comments have always been an encouragement for me. Thank you a lot.
To the staff and the members: I am sorry for causing you a lot of trouble. I have  the impression that, thanks to you, I have been able to grow up a bit compared to the time before I joined NMB48. I will not be in NMB48 anymore, but I will still love it.
Thank you a lot.

Hirose Sena's Comment to her fans:
Original Message

It's sudden but I, 4th Generation Kenkyusei Hirose Seina, will resign from NMB48.
My body has never been robust, and due to poor physical health I had to take off lessons quite a lot. I thought that continuing like this would cause a lot of inconveniences to the members and staff, so as a result of worrying about this, I chose to resign. I admire NMB48 and I have just joined the group with everything still ahead of me, so I also have feelings of regret and am very sorry to everyone who supports me.
I was really happy about passing the 4th generation audition and being able to meet you all. I love NMB48.
It was only for a short time, and from now on I will do my best on a different way. Thank you a lot for supporting me.

Hisada Riko's Comment to her fans:
Original Message

I, Hisada Riko, will graduate from NMB48.
Since about November last year, I have consulted staff members and my family because commuting from far away was hard, and also school and my physical condition were not satisfactory.
I have also not been able to post a lot in Google+ or the blog so I caused you a lot of worries. But the times I posted, I received a lot of comments saying 'I have been waiting for this', so I was really happy.
I am really thankful to everyone who lined up in my line at handshake events, went to my birthday shows and always cheered for and supported me.
From April on I will be a high school student, and I plan to steadily do my best at my studies, re-evaluate myself carefully and find out what I really want to do. With your smiles and messages still in my heart, I will do my best from now on to fulfill my dream one day.
I don't regret joining NMB48. While I was able to work surrounded by so many friendly senpai and to meet you all and perform in stage shows, I was able to make a lot of good experiences including enjoyable things as well as frustrating feelings. From now on I will make use of this experiences and walk my own way. Also, I will support NMB48 as its number one fan with you all together.
I am sorry for being selfish until the end. It was great being able to work in NMB48 for a year. I really love NMB48 and you all. Thanks a lot for everything until now.

Fukumoto Aina's Comment to her fans:
Original Message

I, Fukumoto Aina, will graduate from NMB48.
I am really sorry for surprising you all with this sudden announcement.
I have really worried, worried and worried until I came to this decision about graduating. The answer I, only 19 years old, have thought of with all my might is "graduation".
It's been about 2 years and 5 months since NMB48 was formed. We have been really blessed, being able to have regular TV and radio shows in the Kansai region even before our first year passed.
For me, who wants to be a variety talent in the future, every bit of this was a really important task and I absorbed a lot of things from the talents I worked with as well as I could.
Last year, thanks to you who supported me, I was able to rank in the Senbatsu Sosenkyo, I got more chances to appear in various TV shows, and additionally was also able to run the Osaka Marathon something I always wanted to try. So for me it was a year I was able to grow a lot.
While spending such fulfilling days, I started to seriously think about the dream I was picturing for myself.
I started to hold a strong wish to polish my variety skills taking the challenge as a solo talent　and I decided to change my direction towards variety talent and return to the starting line.
It's not an answer I have worked out lightly. And I don't regret the graduation decision I made.
I think that with this graduation I was able to walk another step towards my dream. I know that the way I will pursue from now on won't be easy. But I am prepared to overcome this. For this reason I will study even more and I will absolutely demonstrate that I will fulfill my dream.
I will work hard so that I can show my shining self to the fans and staff who have supported me, to my family and friends, and to the other members who have spent everyday with me together and with whom I have come so far. I would be happy if you watch over me kindly.
I love NMB48. Please continue to support me.

Why do NMB48 graduations always come in groups??? I am especially sorry about Aina's leave because she is one of my favourite members. Hopefully she achieves her goal to become a variety talent, so we can still see her in TV. 

NMB48's TV show [NMB48 Geinin!] to turn into a movie

NMB48's TV show  [NMB48 Geinin!], which was broadcasted from July to September last year, will be turned into a movie and will hit theaters as  [Geinin! THE MOVIE]. An official release date has not been decided yet but the filming already started on February 8.

The setting will be the same high school comedy club as in the TV show and the main cast for the movie will be Yamamoto Sayaka, Yokoyama Yui, Watanabe Miyuki, Yamada Nana, Kotani Riho and Ogasawara Mayu. Other members are also scheduled to appear. This time Sayaka and Yui will form a manzai duo. The character of Sayaka will have several confrontations with the transfer student played by Milky and  both of  the two characters have a hidden past.

Apart from NMB48 members, actresses Oka Mitsuko and Tanaka Ritsuko as well as comedian Kendo Kobayashi will be part of the cast.


I was hoping for a return of Geinin! so I am glad about the news. I am just not so sure if Geinin!, with its many ad lib and manzai corners, will work as a movie. Also from the story information we have, it sounds like they changed some details, for example the character of Milky is a transfer student in the movie.

Kashiwagi Yuki 2nd Solo Concert Setlist + Photos

Kashiwagi Yuki held her second solo live concert at Tokyo International Forum Hall A on 17 February 2013 to a crowd of 5,000 people. This follows her first solo concert to 2,000 people last year on 13 July 2012, which is now available on DVD and Bluray.

It appears the live band were the same as her 1st concert, however, this time, she did not perform any cover songs, just songs from AKB48, her sub-unit French Kiss and songs from her solo debut single [Shortcake].

SETLIST:

01. Kuchi utsushi no Chocolate

02. Enkyori Poster

---MC1---

03. Shonichi

---MC2---

04. Dragon Fruits no tabegoro

05. GIVE ME FIVE! (Yukirin drum performance)

---VTR--- Yukirin making shortcake

06. Shortcake

---MC3---

07. Sakura no ki ni narou Acoustic Ver. feat. Oshio Kotaro

08. Soredemo nakanai

09. Kazanbai

---VTR--- Band Introduction

10. Jealousy Punch

11. Class kai no ato de

12. Mirai bashi

---MC4---

13. Temo demo no namida

14. Gingham Check

---ENCORE---

15. Eien Pressure

---MC5---

16. Iiwake Maybe

17. Romance Privacy

---DOUBLE ENCORE---

18. Yokaze no Shiwaza

I love Yukirin's solo works and her first concert bluray was stunning. This setlist looks great too, although she still didn't play her solo song from the [Saisho no Mail] Theatre Edition which I love. In her first concert she played piano live for one segment and in this one drums, keeping up her live instrument playing. I have a lot of respect for Yukirin for playing and singing live, coming from AKB48 where they aren't used to that. Looking forward to the Bluray releases and hope it matches her first concert!

Credit for setlist and picture links: seigus@jphip

SKE48 11th Single [Choco no Dorei] 1st Week Sales

SKE48's 11th single [Choco no Dorei] sold 538,914 copies in it's first week on sale to place number one in the Oricon weekly sales charts. This is their highest first week sales to date, beating 10th single [Kiss Datte Hidarikiki]'s 511,472 copies.

Soundscan seems only to list the sales for the Limited Edition (not the Regular Edition) versions for some reason. They list:

Type A Limited Edition - 64,365
Type B Limited Edition - 60,751
Type C Limited Edition - 55,583

Which totals 180,699 copies from the three Limited Editions.

Kashiwagi Yuki Solo Debut Single [Shortcake] 1st Day Sales

Kashiwagi Yuki's solo debut single [Shortcake] placed number two in it's first day on sales in the Oricon chart, selling 45,333 copies. In first place was KAT-TUN's [EXPOSE] selling 80,000 copies. 3rd place is SKE48 with [Choco no Dorei].

Comparison to the other AKB48 soloists debut singles:

Itano Tomomi - Dear J - 86,681
Maeda Atsuko - Flower - 102,483
Watanabe Mayu - Synchro Tokimeki - 50,145
Sashihara Rino - Sore Demo Suki da yo - 56,879
Iwasa Misaki - Mujin Eki - 7,352
Kasai Tomomi - Masaka - 12,240

NMB48 1st Album [Teppen Tottande!] Full Tracklist Revealed

NMB48 has revealed the full tracklist for their new album [Teppen Tottande!]. Apart from singles and previously released songs, the album will contain 7 new songs: the title track [Teppen Tottande!]; the song [12/31], the PV of which will also be on the album; the team songs [Lily], [with my soul] and [Almond Croissant Keikaku]; as well as two unit songs:  [Namekuji Heart] and  [Dazai Osamu wo Yonda ka?] by Nana, Sayaka and Yui.


 NMB48 1st Album
Teppen Tottande!
てっぺんとったんで！
27 February 2013

Bold: New Songs

Type N 3,200yen	[CD] 01. Teppen Tottande! 02. Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo 03. Oh my God! 04. Junjou U-19 05. Nagiichi 06. Virginity 07. Kitagawa Kenji 08. HA! (NMB48 Version) 09. 12/31 10. Lily (Team N) 11. Jungle Gym (Yamamoto Sayaka) 12. Hoshokushatachi yo 13. NMB48 14. Seishun no Laptime 15. Boku wa matteru [DVD] 01. 12/31 (PV) 02. ~Minasan, chapu chapu shimasho~ Concert from August 21, 2012 at Orix Theatre Osaka (Setlist Below)
Type M 3,200yen	[CD] 01. Teppen Tottande! 02. Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo 03. Oh my God! 04. Junjou U-19 05. Nagiichi 06. Virginity 07. Kitagawa Kenji 08. HA! (NMB48 Version) 09. 12/31 10. with my soul (Team M) 11. Warukii (Watanabe Miyuki) 12. Kesshou 13. Namekuji Heart 14. NMB48 15. Seishun no Laptime 16. Boku wa matteru [DVD] 01. 12/31 (PV) 02. Osaka Juuban Shoubu Concert from May 3, 2012 at Orix Theatre Osaka (Setlist Below)
Type B 3,200yen	[CD] 01. Teppen Tottande! 02. Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo 03. Oh my God! 04. Junjou U-19 05. Nagiichi 06. Virginity 07. Kitagawa Kenji 08. HA! (NMB48 Version) 09. 12/31 10. Almond Croissant Keikaku (Team BII) 11. Mikazuki no Senaka 12. Fuyushougun no Regret 13. Dazai Osamu wo Yonda ka? 14. NMB48 15. Seishun no Laptime 16. Boku wa matteru [DVD] 01. 12/31 (PV) 02. Teppen Tottande! (Full Version)
Theatre Version 1,980yen	[CD] 01. Teppen Tottande! 02. Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo 03. Oh my God! 04. Junjou U-19 05. Nagiichi 06. Virginity 07. Kitagawa Kenji 08. HA! (NMB48 Version) 09. 12/31 10. Lily/ Team N 11. with my soul (Team M) 12. Almond Croissant Keikaku (Team BII) 13. NMB48 14. Seishun no Laptime 15. Boku wa matteru

Namekuji Heart
Team N: Kondo Rina, Shiroma Miru, Watanabe Miyuki
Team M: Yagura Fuuko, Yogi Keira
Team BII: Ota Yuuri, Kushiro Rina, Yabushita Shu
Kenkyusei: Nishimura Aika


Dazai Osamu wo Yonda ka?
Team N: Yamada Nana, Yamamoto Sayaka, Yokoyama Yui




~Minasan, chapu chapu shimasho~
 21st August 2012 at Orix Theatre

M01 - Ouverture
M02 - Korogaru Ishi ni Nare
M03 - Flying Get
M04 - Nande ya nen, Idol
M05 - Mina-san mo go-issho ni
M06 - Hatsukoi no Yukue to Play Ball
M07 - Nagekiss de Uchiotose
M08 - Warukii
M09 - End Roll
M10 - Tengoku Yarou
M11 - Itoshiki Natasha
M12-  Migi e Magare!
M13 - Doryoku no Shizuku
M14 - Yakusoku yo
M15 - Yokosuka Carve
M16 - Kobushi no Seigi
M17 - Nagiichi
M18 - Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo
M19 - Oh my God!
M20 - Junjou U-19
M21 - Seishun no Laptime 
M22 - Boku no Uchiage Hanabi
M23 - Virginity
M24 - NMB48
M25 - Arigatou


Osaka Juuban Shoubu
 3rd May 2012 at Orix Theatre

M01 - Ouverture
M02 - RIVER
M03 - NMB48
M04 - Aitakatta
M05 - Renai no Speed
M06 - Uso no Tenbin
M07 - Blue Rose
M08 - Rider
M09 - Shinkirou
M10 - Kinjirareta Futari
M11 - Warukii
M12 - Jungle Gym
M13 - Mattemashita, Shingakki
M14 - Boku ga Maketa Natsu
M15 - Tsuki no Katachi
M16 - Virgin Love
M17 - Korogaru Ishi ni Nare
M18 - Beginner
M19 - Chance no Junban
M20 - Ponytail to Shushu
M21 - Heavy Rotation
M22 - Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo
M23 - Oh My God!
M24 - Junjou U-19
M25 - Seishun no Laptime
M26 - Mikazuki no Senaka
M27 - Nande Ya Nen, Idol
M28 - Nagiichi
M29 - Boku wa Matteru


7 new songs, including team songs! I am really looking forward to this album.