Kuramochi Asuka Solo Debut Single and Photobook Announced

Kuramochi Asuka will join the ranks of soloists from AKB48, releasing her first solo single on 29th May 2013. She is the 10th member from AKB48 to have a solo debut. Her official website was launched recently

Official website: http://kuramochiasuka.jp/

At the time of posting, the solo debut single is still untitled, but we do have some information about the single. It will have a total of 6 different versions, which is a huge number for an AKB48 solo artist. There will be the main CD+DVD limited edition version worth 1,600 yen, consisting of the main the A-side and 2 coupling songs, the instrumental versions of the said songs and the music video in the DVD.

Kuramochi Asuka 1st Single
[TBD]
29 May 2013

TYPE A no cover 1,600yen

[CD] 01. A-side TBD 02. c/w song 1 03. c/w song 2 [DVD] 01. A-side Music Video 02. Off shot video

The remaining 5 versions are "one coin types", priced at just 500 yen (the largest denomination for coins in japan) and will include only the A-side and 1 coupling song (same tracklisting on all types). The covers for the 5 "one coin types" have been revealed recently. Each of them were shot by different magazines. Included in the "one coin type" singles is a voting ticket to vote for the best cover of the single. Additionally, if anyone manages to guess the order of the final votes, etc "5→3→1→2→4", he/she will get to spend a whole day at the horse races with Kuramochi Asuka herself!

Young Champion, Friday, BLT



Weekly Playboy, Big Comic Sprits

The single will have lyrics written by Kuramochi Asuka herself, and will be used in a JRA (Japan Horse Racing Association) TV CM. Kuramochi won the 2nd AKB no Gachi Uma campaign, which had 27 members aged over 20 betting on horse races. Kasai Tomomi won the 1st campaign, hence her single and JRA CM. In addition to this solo single, Mocchi will be getting a her 1st solo photobook, details of which have yet to be revealed. Asuka will also feature regularly on the [SPORTS X] on BS Asahi, which features JRA jockeys.

Jul3: Like Kasai, Kuramochi was a surprise soloist, but that is the randomness of letting horse racing decide these things. She has not being in AKB48 Undergirls recently, so it's great to see her getting some exposure. The 500 yen types are intriguing and it will be interesting to see how well they sell. More so perhaps than her single, I'm looking forward to her photobook, which has been highly anticipated by fans.