29 April 2014

New Team B [Pajama Drive] Shonichi


On April 28, another one of the new teams started its new stage show. Team B performed the shonichi of [Pajama Drive]. This show is a revival of Team B's own 3rd and first original one which has already been redone several times: by Team E, by AKB48's Kenkyuusei, overseas by JKT48 and currently also by HKT48.

Out off the 23 members of new Team B 16 performed, among them also Nogizaka46 concurrent member Ikoma Rina who made her AKB48 theater debut. The two girls who already performed [Pajama Drive] as Team B's 3rd stage, Watanabe Mayu and Kashiwagi Yuki, were given new units.


AKB48 Team B Stage [Pajama Drive]
Performing members:
Ikoma Rina, Uchiyama Natsuki, Ogasawara Mayu, Oshima Ryoka, Oya Shizuka, Owada Nana, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kawamoto Saya, Kuramochi Asuka, Takajo Aki, Takahashi Juri, Takeuchi Miyu, Tomonaga Mio, Hashimoto Hikari, Hirata Rina, Watanabe Mayu

M01 - Shonichi
M02 - Hissatsu Teleport
M03 - Gokigen Naname na Mermaid
M04 - Futarinori no Jitensha
-----MC1-----
M05 - Tenshi no Shippo (Uchiyama Natsuki, Owada Nana, Kawamoto Saya)
M06 - Pajama Drive (Oshima Ryoka, Takahashi Juri, Tomonaga Mio)
M07 - Junjou Shugi (Kashiwagi Yuki, Takeuchi Miyu, Hirata Rina)
M08 - Temodemo no Namida (Ikoma Rina, Watanabe Mayu)
M09 - Kagami no Naka no Jeanne D'Arc (Ogasawara Mayu, Oya Shizuka, Kuramochi Asuka, Takajo Aki, Hashimoto Hikari)  
-----MC2-----
M10 - Two Years Later
M11 - Inochi no Tsukaimichi
M12 - Kiss Shite Son Shichatta
-----MC3-----
M13 - Boku no Sakura

-----ENCORE-----
EN1 - Wasshoi B!
EN2 - Suifu wa Arashi ni Yume wo Miru
-----MC4-----
EN3 - Shiroi Shirt

28 April 2014

JKT48 6th Single Senbatsu Election - Final Results


JKT48 have finished their first event of single senbatsu election. The final result announcement event was held on 26th April 2014, Melody Nurramdhani Laksani came out as a winner to be the center of JKT48's sixth single.

26 April 2014

New Team A [Renai Kinshi Jourei] Shonichi


On April 25, Team A started their new stage [Renai Kinshi Jourei]. The stage is a revival of Team A's 5th stage which was also redone by AKB48's Kenkyuusei and overseas by JKT48 and SNH48.


As with almost all of the new teams, some team members, in Team A's case 6 members, could not perform the shonichi show because the number of team members exceeds 16. Two members, Takahashi Minami and Kojima Haruna, have already been in Team A when [Renai Kinshi Jourei] was performed before but they got new unit positions now. 



AKB48 Team A [Renai Kinshi Jourei]
Performing Members: Iriyama Anna, Iwata Karen, Kawaei Rina, Kojima Natsuki, Kojima Haruna, Shimazaki Haruka, Takahashi Minami, Tatsuya Makiho, Nakanishi Chiyori, Nakamura Mariko, Fujita Nana, Furuhata Nao, Matsui Sakiko, Miyawaki Sakura, Muto Tomu, Yagura Fuuko

M01 - Nagai Hikari
M02 - Squall no Aida ni
M03 - JK Nemurihime
M04 - Kimi ni Au Tabi Koi wo Suru
-----MC1-----
M05 - Kuroi Tenshi (Kojima Natsuki, Kojima Haruna, Fujita Nana)
M06 - Heart Gata Virus (Shimazaki Haruka, Miyawaki Sakura, Yagura Fuuko)
M07 - Renai Kinshi Jourei (Iwata Karen, Kawaei Rina, Muto Tomu)
M08 - Tsundere  (Takahashi Minami, Tatsuya Makiho, Nakanishi Chiyori)
M09 - Manatsu no Christmas Rose (Iriyama Anna, Nakamura Mariko, Furuhata Nao, Matsui Sakiko)
-----MC2-----
M10 - Switch
M11 - 109
M12 - Hikoukigumo
-----MC3-----
M13 - Ano Koro no Sneaker

-----ENCORE-----
EN1 - AKB Sanjou!
EN2 - Namida no Shinkokyuu
-----MC4-----
EN3 - Oogoe Diamond



New Team S [Seifuku no Me] Shonichi


On April 25, the first new SKE48 team started their new stage: Team S performed the shonichi of [Seifuku no Me]. Team S' overall 5th stage is a revival of their own 3rd stage, also redone by SKE48's Kenkyuusei. 

Out of Team S' 17 members 16 performed. The one member who did not perform is Matsumoto Chikako. Three Team S members, Nakanishi Yuka, Matsui Jurina and Oya Masana, have already been in the team when it performed [Seifuku no Me] as the team's 3rd stage, the interesting thing: they did not get their old unit positions back.


SKE48 Team S 5th Stage [Seifuku no Me]
Performing Members: Azuma Rion, Oya Masana, Kitagawa Ryoha, Goto Risako, Sato Mieko, Takeuchi Mai, Tanaka Natsumi, Tsuzuki Rika, Nakanishi Yuka, Futamura Haruka, Matsui Jurina, Miyazawa Sae, Miyamae Ami, Yakata Miki, Yamauchi Suzuran, Watanabe Miyuki

M01 - Koi wo Kataru Shijin ni Narenakute...
M02 - Goukaku Kiss
M03 - Antenna
M04 - Seifuku no Me
-----MC1-----
M05 - Omoide Ijou (Kitagawa Ryoha, Yakata Miki, Yamauchi Suzuran)
M06 - Ookami to Pride (Azuma Rion, Futamura Haruka)
M07 - Onna no Ko no Dairokkan (Goto Risako, Sato Mieko, Tsuzuki Rika, Matsui Jurina, Nakanishi Yuka)
M08 - Kareha no Station (Watanabe Miyuki)
M09 - Mangekyou (Oya Masana, Takeuchi Mai, Tanaka Natsumi, Miyamae Ami, Miyazawa Sae)
-----MC2-----
M10 - Jealousy no Alibi
M11 - Doubt!
M12 - Nakama no Uta
-----MC3-----
M13 - Mizu no Nai Pool

-----ENCORE-----
EN1 - Rakuen no Kaidan
EN2 - Pinocchio Gun
-----MC4-----
EN3 -Tegami no Koto



25 April 2014

New Team 4 [Idol no Yoake] Shonichi


On April 24 the first of AKB48's new teams started its new stage: Team 4 performed the shonichi show of [Idol no Yoake], Team B's 4th stage. It was also redone before by AKB48's Kenkyuusei and by Team M.

The new Team 4 is quite large with 23 members which meant that 7 members could not perform the debut show.


AKB48 Team 4 3rd Stage [Idol no Yoake]
Performing Members: Iwatate Saho, Okada Nana, Kato Rena, Kizaki Yuria, Kotani Riho, Kobayashi Marina, Komiyama Haruka, Sasaki Yukari, Shinozaki Ayana, Shibuya Nagisa, Takashima Yurina, Nishino Miki, Minegishi Minami, Mukaichi Mion, Murayama Yuiri, Mogi Shinobu

M01 - Idol no Yoake
M02 - Minna-san mo go Issho ni
M03 - Haru Ichiban ga Fuku Goro
M04 - Kobushi no Seigi
-----MC1-----
M05 - Zannen Shoujo (Komiyama Haruka, Shinozaki Ayana, Mukaichi Mion)
M06 - Kuchi Utsushi no Chocolate (Iwatate Saho, Kizaki Yuria, Murayama Yuiri)
M07 - Kataomoi no Taikakusen (Kato Rena, Shibuya Nagisa, Takashima Yurina)
M08 - Tengoku Yarou (Kobayashi Marina, Sasaki Yukari, Nishino Miki, Minegishi Minami)
M09 - Itoshiki Natasha (Okada Nana, Kotani Riho, Mogi Shinobu)
-----MC2-----
M10 - Joshikosei wa Yamerarenai
M11 - Suki to Ieba Yokatta
M12 - Sobakasu no Kiss
-----MC3-----
M13 - Tanpopo no Kesshin

-----ENCORE-----
EN1 - 4 Stars
EN2 - Yokosuka Curve
EN3 - Arigatou

New Team H [Seishun Girls] Shonichi


On April 23, the new Team H performed the shonichi of their overall 3rd stage show [Seishun Girls]. [Seishun Girls] is originally Team K's 2nd show but it was redone several times since then by Team B, Team N, NMB48 Kenkyuusei and is also done overseas by JKT48.

Even though the usual number of performing members is nowadays 16, all 20 members of the new Team H participated at least in parts in the shonichi show.

One day after Team H's new show started, HKT48 announced that they will continue to perform their Himawari-Gumi stage [Pajama Drive] in addition to the new team shows.


HKT48 Team H 3rd Stage [Seishun Girls]
Performing members: all 20 Team H members

M01 - Seishun Girls (Akiyoshi, Anai, Inoue, Umemoto, Okamoto, Kojina, Kodama, Komada, Sakaguchi, Sashihara, Tashima, Tanaka N., Matsuoka, Yabuki, Yamada, Wakatabe)
M02 - Beach Sandal (as above)
M03 - Kimi ga Hoshi ni Naru made (as above)
-----MC1-----
M04 - Blue Rose (Anai Chihiro, Kodama Haruka, Sashihara Rino, Matsuoka Natsumi)
M05 - Kinjirareta Futari (Tashima Meru, Kojina Yui)
M06 - Ame no Doubutsuen (Akiyoshi Yuka (giraffe), Okamoto Naoko, Komada Hiroka, Sakaguchi Riko, Tanaka Natsumi, Yabuki Nako (elephant), Yamada Marina, Wakatabe Haruka)
-----MC2-----
M07 - Fushidara na Natsu (Anai Chihiro, Okamoto Naoko, Kojina Yui, Kodama Haruka, Komada Hiroka, Sashihara Rino, Tashima Meru, Matsuoka Natsumi, Wakatabe Haruka)
M08 - Don't Disturb (above +Akiyoshi, Ui, Ueno, Sakaguchi, Tanaka N., Tanaka M., Yamada)
M09 - Virgin Love (as above)
M10 - Hizuke Henkousen (as above)
-----MC3-----
M11 - Boku no Uchiage Hanabi (as above)

-----ENCORE-----
EN1 - Yakusoku yo (Akiyoshi, Anai, Inoue, Umemoto, Okamoto, Kojina, Kodama, Komada, Sakaguchi, Sashihara, Tashima, Tanaka N., Matsuoka, Yamada, Yamamoto, Wakatabe)
EN2 - Korogaru Ishi ni Nare (as above)
EN3 - HKT48 (Akiyoshi, Inoue, Umemoto, Okamoto, Kojina, Komada, Sakaguchi, Tanaka N., Yamada, Wakatabe)
-----MC4-----
EN4 - Cinderella wa Damasarenai (Akiyoshi, Anai, Ui, Ueno, Okamoto, Kojina, Kodama, Komada, Sakaguchi, Sashihara, Tashima, Tanaka N., Matsuoka, Yamada, Yamamoto, Wakatabe)

24 April 2014

Details on the AKB48 Group Pennant Race


In November last year the AKB48 Group announced that they will introduce a new event, the AKB48 Group Pennant Race. Now details about this event have been finally revealed.

The teams of AKB48 (except for Team 8), SKE48, NMB48 and HKT48 will compete against each other in terms of theater ticket applications, ticket sales for theater handshake events and total votes at the Senbatsu Sounsekyo. The race started on April 22 and will continue until October 31.


AKB48 Group Pennant Race ~AKB48 Group wa Kisoiatte Migakareru~
AKB48グループペナントレース~AKB48グループは競い合って磨かれる~ 
Date: April 22~October 31
Participating Teams: A, K, B, 4, S, KII, E, N, M, BII, H, KIV
(The following details are a summarized translation of the announcement posted in the Official AKB48 Blog 

Points will be awarded for:
1) Rate of ticket applications for AKB48 Group theater shows by paying members
2) Theater version handshake events ticket sales
3) Number of votes obtained at the Single Senbatsu Election

on 1) The new shows from shonichi onward by the new teams announced at the Daisokaku Matsuri will be part of the pennant race. For each show a prediction rate will be revealed when the performing members for that show are announced. After the actual show the final result will be revealed based on which the points gained will be announced.

on 2) The AKB48 theater version handshake events (individual handshake event) will be subject to the race. After the event the points gained by each team that day will be announced.

on 3) The AKB48 37th Single senbatsu election held on June 7 will be subject to the race. Points will be calculated team-wise with the D'Hondt method. They will be announced after the event.

The points gained and the team ranking will be posted in realtime on the Pennant Race homepage (the page will be launched soon).

The calculation will be done by the statistician Torigoe Norio who also helped with the Janken Taikai.

More details on ranking and calculation of points:

The team with the most points will rank first. If teams have the same number of points, the rank will be decided by the points gained in category 1 (see above), if those are even by 2) and then by 3).

Calculation:
For category 1)
1. The new shows from shonichi onward by the new teams announced at the Daisokaku Matsuri will be counted but special shows (for example girls-only shows) will be excluded.
2. For each performed show 2 points will be awarded.
3. A reference rate will be calculated based on the performing members for that day. If the number of applications by paying members (mobile members, fanclub members) surpasses that reference rate another 5 points will be awarded.

Calculation of the reference rate:
The reference rate will be calculated through a regression analysis based on last year's application rate and the respective participating members.
y: application rate
xk: performing status of member k
xk=1 member k performed
xk=0 member k did not perform
formula used for calculation:
y=a0 Πnk=1akxk=a0×a1x1×a2x2×...×anxn

By doing a regression analysis ak (k =0,1,…, n) will be guessed. The reference rate will be calculated with this method using the data of the members scheduled to perform the respective show. At birthday shows or weekend shows, a number multiplied by these coefficients will be announced as reference rate (?).

2)
1. The AKB48 theater version handshakes that will be held from April 22 onward will be counted.
2. The points for the members who participate at the first theater version hs after April 22 will be assigned like this:
Percentage of available tickets sold:
95~100%: 1 point
90~below 95%: 0.95 p
85~below 90%: 0.90 p
80~below 85%: 0.85 p
75~below 80%: 0.80 p
70~below 75%: 0.75 p
65~below 70%: 0.70 p
60~below 65%: 0.65 p
55~below 60%: 0.60 p
50~below 55%: 0.55 p
45~below 50%: 0.50 p
40~below 45%: 0.45 p
35~below 40%: 0.40 p
30~below 35%: 0.35 p
25~below 30%: 0.30 p
20~below 25%: 0.25 p
15~below 20%: 0.20 p
10~below 15%: 0.15 p
5~below 10%: 0.10 p
0~below 5%: 0.05 p

The team points will be the sum of the member points.

3. From the second theater version handshake event on: if the sales number of the participating member has increased since the last event the points (see table above) will be multiplied with the rate of increase.

Example:
Last event 100 tickest were sold,
For the current event 150 (in this case worth 0.8 points)
Points assigned: 0.8×150/100=1.2

4. From the second theater version handshake event on: if the sales number has already reached the limit of available tickets at the previous event and has done so also at the current event, the points gained will be those from the previous event  multiplied  by 1.1

5. From the second theater version handshake event on: if neither 3. and 4. is the case, the participating member will receive points as described under 2.

6. The points of concurrent members will be assigned to both teams.

3)
1. The AKB48 37th Single senbatsu election held on June 7 will be subject to the race.
2. From the number of votes gained by each candidate points will be calculated by the D'Hondt method as decribed below.

a) The points of each member will be divided by 1, 2 and 3.
b) 1 point will be assigned if the divided vote numbers surpass total votes of another member.  (? note: please see example for clarification)
The member ranked #80 will get 1 point.

The team points will be the total points of all team members.

3. The points of concurrent members will be assigned to both teams.

Example based on last year's results (for simplification only until rank 16 which will get 1 point)
                              
                                             Team         Member        Votes      divided by 2  by 3  points
First, Sashihara with the most votes gets a point. Then Oshima, Watanabe Mayu, Kashiwagi, Shinoda and Matsui Jurina receive a point. Sashihara's votes divided by 2 are higher than #8 Matsui Rena's overall votes, so Sashihara gets another point. Then Matsui Rena gets a point. The procedure will be repeated, and the team points will be as follows:
A: 6
K: 6
B: 4
S: 1
KII: 1
E: 1
N: 2
H: 3

AKB48 also uploaded a video in which the calculation method is explained further:


The calculation system is complex and I am not familiar with Japanese maths terminology but I did my best. So please forgive me if there are some translation errors.







23 April 2014

New Team BII [Saka Agari] Shonichi


As the first of the new teams, NMB48's Team BII held the shonichi of their new stage show on April 22. Team BII's overall 3rd stage show is a remake of [Saka Agari] which was originally Team K's 5th stage show and was also performed by Team E as their second show.

The current Team BII has 17 members, one more than the usual number of performing members, so one member, Iso Kanae, did not perform the shonichi show.

One member, Vice-Captain Umeda Ayaka, who was transferred from AKB48, has already performed this stage show before as part of Team K.



NMB48 Team BII 3rd Stage [Saka Agari]
Performing members: Ijiri Anna, Ichikawa Miori, Ueda Mirei, Umeda Ayaka, Kadowaki Kanako, Kamieda Emika, Kawakami Chihiro, Kinoshita Haruna, Kusaka Konomi, Kurokawa Hazuki, Shibuya Nagisa, Takayanagi Akane, Naiki Kokoro, Hayashi Momoka, Yabushita Shu, Watanabe Miyuki

M01 - Tenohira
M02 - Saka Agari
M03 - Hitei no Requiem
M04 - Sono Ase wa Uso wo Tsukanai
-----MC1-----
M05 - End Roll (Takayanagi Akane, Umeda Ayaka, Kinoshita Haruna, Kusaka Konomi)
M06 - Wagamama na Nagareboshi (Ichikawa Miori, Yabushita Shu)
M07 - Ai no Iro (Ijiri Anna, Ueda Mirei, Kadowaki Kanako, Kawakami Chihiro, Naiki Kokoro, Hayashi Momoka)
M08 - Dakishimetararetara (Kamieda Emika, Kurokawa Hazuki, Watanabe Miyuki)
M09 - Mushi no Ballad (Shibuya Nagisa)
-----MC2-----
M10 - Furishite Maneshite
M11 - Umi wo Watare!
M12 - Machikado no Party
-----MC3-----
M13 - Fan Letter

-----ENCORE-----
EN1 - Fugiri
EN2 - Hanpa na Ikemen
EN3 - Takane no Ringo 
EN4 - Medley: HA!~ Mikazuki no Senaka~ Kitagawa Kenji
EN5 - To be continued

18 April 2014

Otona AKB48 Member Revealed


Recently, AKB48 announced that they are looking for a temporary member aged 30+ who will be in the group until late summer and also be the main promotional character for the ice cream brand Papico. On April 17, the winner of the Otona AKB48 audition was revealed.

While some already famous women like AKB48 imitator Kintaro and former Morning Musume member Ichii Sayaka applied, the winner is a non-celebrity: Tsukamoto Mariko, 37 years old, housewife and mother of two.

Tsukamoto Mariko was chosen out of 5066 applicants, among which the oldest one was 82 years old. Mariri (nickname suggested by Paruru) will be center in the new Papico CM by AKB48 which will come out on May 14 and she will also participate in other AKB48 activities.

Glico, the company producing Papico, posted a short introduction video of Tsukamoto Mariko:


Official homepage: http://papico.glico.com/otona/

Akazawa Hono Leaves NMB48


On April 16 Team BII member Akazawa Hono announced that she will leave NMB48. The announcement came one day after Team BII's Senshuuraku via the official NMB48 blog and was effective the same day. As reason, poor physical health was stated.

Akazawa Hono joined NMB48 in early 2012 as part of the 3rd Generation. She became a member of Team BII when it was formed in October the same year. She was supposed to go to Team M once the new team system starts but after consulting with her doctor and family she decided to leave.


Akazawa Hono's graduation announcement
Original Message
Here is Team BII's Akazawa Hono.
I am really sorry that I have to make this retirement announcement so sudden and in this form.
All the time, I have caused you nothing but worries, and I am really sorry that I have made you worry until the last moment. For a few months now I have been working while being concerned about my physical condition.
I have thought a lot until today's announcement.
I worried a lot...
My manager and the staff came up with various suggestions for me like "You also can choose a temporary leave!" or "Hang on and see how the situation develops!". But I did not have the confidence that I could lead a fulfilled daily life in this situation in which I feel the uncertainty of not knowing when I would be able to return, so I chose the path of retirement.
The NMB48 solo live at Saitama Super Arena!
Singing Almond Croissant Keikaku together at tthe AKB48 Request Hour!
Reaching the Tadaima Renaichuu Senshuuraku with the Team BII members!
I decided to make these three stages my last ones and to go back to being a normal high school student.
I am full of gratitude towards the staff and group officials who worried about my health and watched over me.
There were many senpai who addressed me with kind words when they heard about my situation.
My kouhai were sad for me and said things like "Honori-san we will miss you".
My fellow Team BII and 3rd Generation members, while calling my selfish decision "idiotic", supported me.
I was really happy until the end. This is the way I chose. I have no doubts.
However,...
"I am looking forward to see you in Team M"
"Let's aim higher!"
"Let's talk a lot again at the next handshake event"
I will leave without keeping all these promises I made with you and withou being able to give back to you all who supported me until today, and I regret this.
What I can do now is to return to perfect health and to spend my time as a normal high school student with a smile. And, to find a new goal and lead a fulfilled life!
While writing this last blog post, I remembered your kind looks, the warmth of your hands, the words we exchanged.
And what came to my mind is this:
"Ah, happiness
From tomorrow on, I will walk again
Even though we're apart
Inside my heart
This road always continues
Ah, happiness
I am watched over by everyone
Even now for sure
I am not alone
When I look back
There is the sky of my home town"
From 'Kikyou' (note: Akazawa Hono's stage unit song)
Thanks to joining NMB48 I was able to meet my beloved fellow members, and I was able to meet you, my beloved fans. Also, I was able to make a lot of wonderful memories. I am full of gratitude.
You might not understand my selfish decision...but from tomorrow on I will move forward on a new path. Thank you for cheering for me for 2 years. Thank you for supporting me.
Thank you so much for loving NMB48's Akazawa Hono.


While the occasion is sad, I am pleased with the way Honori wrote her graduation announcement. It's not one of those similar, standard announcements so often encountered. All the best for her future.

15 April 2014

AKB48 Two Tentative Kenkyuusei Promoted to Kenkyuusei


At Team B's theater show on April 14, two new AKB48 members were revealed. Taniguchi Megu and Iino Miyabi who were tentative Kenkyuusei appeared as backdancers at the show and were promoted to full Kenkyuusei status. They are officially part of the 15th Generation.

Something like this happened before: Okawa Rio and Tatsuya Makiho started as tentative Kenkyuusei too and were then promoted to 15th Generation Kenkyuusei in October last year.

At the AKB48 Group Daisokaku Matsuri in February all Kenkyuusei left were promoted which meant that in the new team system AKB48 would have been without any Kenkyuusei. Now they have two.


Update: Their official profiles are up now:
Iino Miyabi
Taniguchi Megu 

AKB48 Katayama Haruka Announces Graduation


On April 14, only one day after Kikuchi Ayaka had announced her graduation, Katayama Haruka did so as well. She wants to become a musical actress. Her last handshake event will be on September 23, the same day as Kikuchi Ayaka's last one. Her graduation show has not been decided yet but it is planned for the time after that handshake event. She will participate at stage shows of Team A, the team she was shuffled to at the Daisokaku Matsuri, until then. 

Katayama Haruka joined AKB48 in late 2006 as part of the 3rd Generation and became an original Team B member. She was transferred to Team A at the first shuffle, later to Team B and now A again. She ranked in the election several times: 2009 at #29, 2010 at #37, 2012 at #48 and 2013 at #34. Even though her graduation is planned for later this year she did not announce her candidacy for this year's election.



Katayama Harukas's comment on her graduation
Original Message
At today's theater show, I announced my graduation.
I have worked in AKB48 for 7 years and while I learned a lot of things I found my dream: musical actress. I want to perform several plays and want to do musicals seriously!! I strongly felt that I want to become a full, proper actress and so I decided to graduate. I think that the world outside will be even harder than now and that there will be lots of hard and painful things too.
In AKB48 I was not able to stand at the center position but I will definitely stand at the center position of the musical world and at the center at the Imperial Theatre (note: famous theatre located in Toyko)!! Even after my graduation I will work hard as 'Katayama Haruka' in order become known by more and more people and I will become a splendid musical actress!! A stage show after the handshake event in September will be my last activity. There is still half a year left, please continue to support me, Katayama, during this time!!

14 April 2014

AKB48 Kikuchi Ayaka Announces Graduation


On April 13, AKB48 member Kikuchi Ayaka announced her graduation. She wants to pursue a career in fashion. Her graduation show will be Team A's Senshuuraku on April 21 but she will continue to participate at handshake events until September 23.

Kikuchi Ayaka first joined AKB48 in late 2006 as part of the 3rd Generation and became an original Team B member but had to leave in 2008 because of a purikura scandal. She re-auditioned and came back to AKB48 as part of the 7th generation. She was promoted at AKB48's first Sokaku Matsuri in 2009 and became a Team K member but then was transferred to Team A at the following shuffle. She made senbatsu six times, ranked at the election twice (2012 and 2013 at #51) and was a member of the subgroup Watarirouka Hashiritai.

Ayarin was supposed to transfer to NMB48 this year but declined that transfer and also did not announce her candidacy for the election, now we know why.


Kikuchi Ayaka's G+ post about her graduation
Original Message
At tonight's theater show, I announced my graduation.
I began thinking about graduation at the occasion of the Watarirouka Hashiritai's disbandment live. It was an opportunity to take a break with my AKB48 graduation.
I wanted to move forward finding more things that I wanted to do, not as an idol but in the field of fashion or as a model. I properly thought about this before making my decision.
Even though I will graduate, there continue to be no stops on my way. My life is a one-time only thing so I want to work hard and move forward and forward without regrets.
My last show wil be on April 21, the senshuuraku of Yokoyama Team A will be my final one.
To my fans who support me: I am sorry for this soon date.
I will continue to participate at individual handshake events until September 23, so I want to make a lot of memories with you.
The senshuuraku is near but I want to treasure the short time I still have and give my best with full power!!
Please support me until the end.

12 April 2014

AKB48 Members Form a Drama-Only Idol Unit for [Sailor Zombie]


As announced before, a new drama featuring AKB48 members called Sailor Zombie will start on April 18. Takahashi Juri, Owada Nana and Kawaei Rina will play the main roles in this drama. Now it was revealed that three additional AKB48 members join the cast and will also release a song for it.

Watanabe Mayu, Yokoyama Yui and Iwata Karen will appear in the drama as the idol unit 'Milk Planet', the favorite idol group of Owada Nana's role Inui Maiko. The new unit will also provide the theme song for the drama, called [Sailor Zombie] and of course written by Akimoto Yasushi. In the music video the three will also "transform" into zombies. Mayuyu commented on the new unit: 'Taking the drama as an opportunity it would be nice if we could perform as Milk Planet at AKB48 concerts and develop it further".


Sailor Zombi Information
Main Actors: Owada Nana, Takahashi Juri, Kawaei Rina
Channel: TV Tokyo, TV Osaka and others
Starting: April 18
Broadcasting time: Friday 24:52-25:23
Official Homepage: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/sailor-zombie/


Preview of the first episode:



As for now the unit exists only in the drama but I see a possibility that they will, like NO NAME did, also officially release a single and perform in the "real world". Which would be nice since it is an interesting member combination.

10 April 2014

SKE48 Iguchi Shiori and Kaneko Shiori Announce Graduation



On April 8th, two SKE48 members announced their graduation: Team E's Iguchi Shori and Kaneko Shiori. Both girls will have their graduation show on April 22nd. Their last activity in SKE48 will be a handshake event on April 29. It was also announced that this handshake event will be the last activity for Deguchi Aki too who had already announced her graduation last month and will have her final theater show on April 21.

Iguchi Shiori is a 2nd Generation member. She debuted in 2009 and became a member of the original Team KII but was demoted to Kenkyuusei at the end of 2010. In August 2012 she was promoted again to Team KII and shuffled to Team E last year.

Kaneko Shiori joined as part of the 4th Generation in 2010 and became part of Team E at the end of the same year. She made senbatsu three times, for [Oki Doki], [Kataomoi Finally] and [Aishiteraburu]. Last year she ranked #63 in the senbatsu election. According to her graduation announcement she wants to continue in the entertainment industry.



Iguchi Shiori's graduation announcement
Original Message
Here is Team E's Iguchi Shiori. I joined SKE48 when I was 14 and have been part of it for 5 years. Now I decided to graduate SKE48.
I wanted to announce it to you as quickly as possible that is why I chose to do it via the official homepage. I felt more and more strongly that I want to do what I want to do from now on and so I decided to graduate.
I plan on telling you more details via the blog etc. Please continue to support me, Iguchi Shiori!

Kaneko Shiori's graduation announcement
Original Message
I am sorry that this announcement is so sudden. I, Kaneko Shiori, decided to graduate my beloved SKE48 at the end of April. This year I was able to graduate high school without problems and in spring I became a university student. I came to Nagoya when I was in my third year of junior high and now is my 4th year in SKE48. I thought now is the right timing to take a new step forward. I want to appear in fashion magazines! That is my goal. Because of that I plan to continue activities in the entertainment industry. I want to look for a place where I can shine more.
It took me a long time to reach this decision and I worried a lot, but I put a lot of thought into this decision.
I plan on writing more about my feelings on the blog etc. I'd be glad if you read it.

07 April 2014

AKB48 37th Single Senbatsu Election Candidates


On June 7, AKB48 will hold this year's senbatsu election and until April 6, 11 pm members had time to announce their candidacy.

This year all AKB48 (including Team 8 and Nogizaka46 concurrrent member Ikoma Rina), SKE48, NMB48 and HKT48 members as well as AKB48 members who were transferred overseas were eligible, a total of 310 members. 296 members actually participate, the highest number ever with exactly 50 candidates more than last year.

Below you can find a list of all members who have decided not to participate in the election.


Members NOT participating in the 37th Single Senbatsu Election
(note: the new team system is used for the election)

AKB48
Team A
Katayama Haruka
Kikuchi Ayaka

Team K
all participating

Team B
all participating

Team 4
all participating

Team 8
all participating


SKE48
Team S
Kaneko Shiori
Goto Risako
Nakanishi Yuka

Team KII
Kato Tomoko
Takatsuka Natsuki
Mizuno Honoka

Team E
Iguchi Shiori
Kato Rumi

Kenkyuusei
Sora Miyuka

NMB48
Team N
all participating

Team M
Akazawa Hono
Kinoshita Momoka

Team BII
all participating

Kenkyuusei
all participating

HKT48
all participating

Members Transferred Overseas
JKT48
Chikano Rina


The candidate list can also be seen on the official election homepage:
http://www.akb48.co.jp/sousenkyo/37thsingle/

AKB48 Request Hour Setlist Best 200 Final Day


On April 6, AKB48 performed the second half of their Request Hour event. The first half was already performed on January 23-26 with 25 songs on each day. Now the final 100 ranks were presented on one day, split into two concerts. This year was the first time this system was used, until now the Request Hour only had 100 ranks performed on four days.

The winner song this year is Seijun Philosophy, a coupling track of [Heart Ereki] sung by current Team 4.

As a surprise 4 AKB48 graduates made an appearance at the second concert: Maeda Atsuko, Itano Tomomi, Shinoda Mariko and Sato Amina. Soon to graduate Oshima Yuko only performed her solo song Nakinagara Hohoende.

Ranks 200-101 are listed here.

Noon Concert (Ranks 100~51)

100. Bird (Iwata Karen, Okada Nana, Takahashi Minami)
99. Hoshizora no Caravan (NMB48 Shirogumi)
---MC1---
98. Oteage Lullaby (Takahashi Minami)
97. Doro no Metronome (HKT48 Umakuchi-hime)
96. Yuudachi no Mae (SKE48 Kenkyuusei)
95. Koi wo Kataru Shijin ni Narenakute
94. Me ga Itai Kurai Hareta Sora (SKE48 5th Generation)
93. Enkyori Poster (Ota Aika, Kashiwagi Yuki, Takajo Aki, Nishino Miki, Maeda Ami, Miyazaki Miho, Miyazawa Sae)
92. Onegai Valentine (HKT48)
91. Junai no Crescendo (Kojima Haruna, Takahashi Minami, Minegishi Minami)
90. Itsu no Ma ni ka Yowai Mono Ijime (SKE48)
89. Tsuyogari Tokei (SKE48)
---MC2---
88. Two Roses (Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena)
87. Gyakuten Oujisama (Uchida Mayumi, Shinozaki Ayana, Minegishi Minami)
86. Team KII Oshi
85. Ha! (NMB48)
84. Chance no Junban
83. Kimi no Senaka
82. Nice to meet you (Abiru Riho, Kato Tomoko, Sato Mieko, Suda Akari, Yakata Miki)
81. Juuryoku Sympathy (Yokoyama Team A; Center: Watanabe Mayu)
---MC3---
80. Avocado Janee Shi (Sashihara Rino, Watanabe Mayu)
79. Nandeyanen, Idol (NMB48)
78. Sansei Kawaii!
77. Team B Oshi (Kashiwagi Team B)
76. Kokoro no Hashi no Sofa (Oya Shizuka, Kuramochi Asuka, Fujie Reina)
75. Kesshou (NMB48 Shirogumi)
74. Scandalous ni Ikou (Kashiwagi Yuki, Kojima Haruna)
73. Do Re Mi Fa Onchi (Next Girls)
72. Canaria Syndrom (SKE48 Shirogumi)
71. Kioku no Dilemma (Iwata Karen, Sasaki Yukari, Takahashi Minami, Matsui Sakiko)
70. Winki wa Sankai (HKT48)
69. Kimi no Koto ga Suki ya ken (HKT48)
68. Arashi no Yoru ni wa (Kuramochi Asuka, Suzuki Shihori, Suzuki Mariya, Miyazaki Miho)
67. Show Fight (Future Girls)
66. Bokura no Eureka (NMB48)
65. Ookami to Pride (Kizaki Yuria, Kitagawa Ryoha)
64. Shonichi (Ota Aika, Kashiwagi Yuki, Katayama Haruka, Tanabe Miku, Watanabe Mayu)
63. Omoide Ijou (Kinoshita Yukiko, Matsui Jurina, Miyamae Ami)
62. Nusumareta Kuchibiru (AKB48 Undergirls)
61. Jungle Gym(Yamamoto Sayaka with guitar)
60. Tenshi no Shippo (Akiyoshi Yuka, Ota Aika, Tomonaga Mio)
59. Finland Miracle (Abiru Riho, Kato Tomoko, Yakata Miki)
58. Kurukurupa (Kawaei Rina, Kizaki Yuria, Kobayashi Kana)
57. Manazashi Sayonara (Takayanagi Akane, Furukawa Airi)
56. Seishun no Laptime (NMB48)
55. First Rabbit
54. Temodemo no Namida (Kashiwagi Yuki, Sashihara Rino)
53. Cross (Iguchi Shiori, Takayanagi Akane, Matsumoto Rina)
52. Eien yori Tsuzuku you ni (OKL48)
---MC4---
51. Kaisoku to Doutai Shiryoku (AKB48 Undergirls)

---ENCORE---
Team 8 Member Introduction
EN1. RESET
EN2. LOVE Shugyou (New Team 4)
EN3. Labrador Retriever
ANNOUNCEMENT:
AKB48 Documentary 4 'The time has come. Shoujotachi wa , ima, Sono Senaka ni Nani wo Omou?' starting on July 4
EN4. Koi Suru Fortune Cookie




Evening Concert (Ranks 50~1)

50. With my soul (Team M)
49. Heart Ereki
---MC1--- (Kashiwagi Yuki, Sashihara Rino, Minegishi Minami)
48. Sunglasses to Uchiakebanashi (NMB48 Kenkyuusei)
47. Yume no Dead Body (Yamamoto Sayaka)
46. Ai no Imi wo Kangaete Mita (Undergirls)
45. Kataomoi no Karaage (HKT48 Amakuchi-hime)
44. Mitsubachi Girl (Team E)
---MC2---
43. Kimi Dake ni Chu!Chu!Chu! (Tentoumu Chu!)
42. O-new no Uwabaki (Ichikawa Miori, Kondo Rina, Shiroma Miru)
41. Hatsukoi Butterfly (HKT48)
40. Dakishimecha Ikenai (Undergirls)
39. Heavy Rotation (Center: Mukaichi Mion (selected by Oshima Yuko))
---MC3---
38. Kimi no Hitomi wa Planetarium
37. Hasute to Wasute (BKA48)
36. Fuyu Shougun no Regret (Namba Teppoutai Sono Ni)
---MC4--- (Maeda Atsuko and Itano Tomomi appear)
35. Gugutasu no Sora (Gugutasu Senbatsu)
34. Ima ga Ichiban (HKT48 Umakuchi-hime)
33. Bara no Kajistu (Undergirls)
32. Mienai Sora wa Itsudemo Aoi
31. Itoshiki Natasha (Katayama Haruka, Sashihara Rino, Tanabe Miku)
30. Zipper (Jonishi Kei, Yoshida Akari, Watanabe Miyuki)
29. Melon Juice (HKT48)
28. Soko de Nani wo Kangaeru ka? (HKT48)
27. Ue kara Mariko (Center: Shinoda Mariko)
26. Heart Gata Virus (Owada Nana, Kojima Haruna, Kojima Mako)
25. Hashire Penguin! (Oba Team 4+ Yokoyama Yui)
24. Suki!Suki!Skip! (HKT48)
23. Junjou Shugi (Katayama Haruka, Kashiwagi Yuki, Watanabe Mayu)
22. Escape (SKE48)
21. Kareha no Station (Matsui Rena)
20. Warukii (Watanabe Miyuki)
19. Ice no Kuchizuke (Omori Miyu, Sasaki Yukari, Takahashi Juri, Tano Yuka, Hirata Rina, Muto Tomu)
18. Yokaze no Shiwaza (Kashiwagi Yuki)
17. Kondo Koso Ecstasy (Center: Sato Amina)
16. So long!
15. Love Shugyou (Minegishi Team 4+Omori Miyu, Sasaki Yukari, Hirata Rina)
14. Kagami no Naka no Jeanne D'Arc (Oba Mina, Kikuchi Ayaka, Kuramochi Asuka, Tanabe Miku, Nagao Mariya)
13. Nakinagara Hohoende (Oshima Yuko)
12. Choose me! (Kato Rena, Kikuchi Ayaka, Kitahara Rie, Kuramochi Asuka, Sashihara Rino, Takahashi Juri, Minegishi Minami)
11. Itoshisa no Accel (Takahashi Minami)
10. Almond Croissant Keikaku (Team BII)
09. Eien Pressure
08. Kireigoto Demo Ii ja nai ka (HKT48)
07. Dazai Osamu wo Yonda ka? (Yamada Nana, Yamamoto Sayaka, Yokoyama Yui)
06. Kiseki wa Ma ni Awanai (Nonaka Misato, Matsui Jurina, Miyazawa Sae)
05. Kimi no Koto ga Suki dakara
04. Koko de Ippatsu (Suda Akari, Matsumura Kaori)
---MC5---
03. Koi Suru Fortune Cookie
---MC6---
02. Suzukake Nanchara
---MC7---
01. Seijun Philosophy (Minegishi Team 4)

---ENCORE---
EN1. Sobakasu no Kiss (Kuramochi Team B)
EN2. AKB Sanjou (Takahashi Team A)
EN3. Labrador Retriever
---MC8---
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Team A Senshuuraku: April 21
New Team A Shonichi: April 25, Renai Kinshi Jourei

Team K Senshuuraku: April 16
New Team K Shonichi: May 7, RESET

Team B Senshuuraku: April 23
New Team B Shonichi: April 28, Pajama Drive

Team 4 Senshuuraku: April 15
New Team 4 Shonichi: April 24, Idol no Yoake

Audition for a new horror movie by famous director Nakata Hideo
All AKB48 Group members can participate

 EN4. After Rain


06 April 2014

AKB48 Group Spring Concerts Setlist (Updated)


The AKB48 Group started its spring concerts with an AKB48-only concert in the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on March 29. During this concert AKB48's newest single [Labrador Retriever] was performed for the first time. On March 30 an AKB48 Group concert was scheduled at the same venue but got cancelled due to bad weather. This concert was supposed to include a graduation ceremony for Oshima Yuko. A replacement concert will take place at Ajinomoto Stadium on June 8th, the day after the Senbatsu Election.

The second part of the spring concerts is scheduled for the week after in Saitama Super Arena: SKE48 on April 4, HKT48 and NMB48 on April 5 and on April 6 the second part of AKB48's Request Hour will be performed.

Below you can find the setlists for the concerts already performed. It will be updated after every new concert.


AKB48-only and AKB48 Group Spring Concerts in the National Olympic Stadium ~Omoide wa Zenbu Koko ni Sutete Ike!~
AKB48単独&グループ 春コン in 国立競技場~思い出は全部ここに捨てていけ!~
Date: 29~30 March 2014
Venue: National Olympic Stadium (Kokuritsu Kyougi-jou)

Day 1 (AKB48 only)
Kage-Ana: Takahashi Minami

M01. Korogaru Ishi ni Nare (all)
M02. First Rabbit (all)
M03. Aitakatta (all)
M04. Everyday, Kachuusha (all)
M05. Juuryoku Sympathy (all)
---MC---
M06. Idol no Yoake (Umeda Team B)
M07. Shonichi (Umeda Team B)
M08. Yobisute Fantasy (Umeda Team B)
M09. Tadaima Renaichuu (Yokoyama Team A)
M10. Only Today (Yokoyama Team A)
M11. BINGO! (Yokoyama Team A)
M12. Seishun Girls (Oshima Team K)
M13. Saishuu Bell ga Naru (Oshima Team K)
M14. Boyfriend no Tsukurikata (Oshima Team K)
M15. Kuma no Nuigurumi (Minegishi Team 4)
M16. Kanojo ni Naremasu ka? (Minegishi Team 4)
M17. Te wo Tsunaginagara (Minegishi Team 4)
M18. Mae Shika Mukanee (all)
M19. GIVE ME FIVE! (all)
M20. Baby!Baby!Baby! (15th Generation Kenkyuusei)
M21. Kimi no Koto ga Suki dakara
M22. Kimi to Niji to Taiyou to
M23. Boku no Yell
M24. Confession (Oshima Yuko, Kuramochi Asuka, Shimada Haruka, Matsui Jurina)
M25. Gomen ne Jewel (Oshima Yuko, Kawaei Rina, Shimazaki Haruka, Watanabe Miyuki)
M26. Kokoro no Hashi no Sofa (Oshima Yuko, Umeda Ayaka, Fujie Reina)
M27. Senaka kara Dakishimeta (Oshima Yuko, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kojima Haruna, Takahashi Minami, Minegishi Minami, Yokoyama Yui, Watanabe Mayu)
M28. Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka? (Oshima Yuko (talk part), Kashiwagi Yuki, Kojima Haruna, Takahashi Minami, Minegishi Minami, Yokoyama Yui, Watanabe Mayu)
M29. AKB Festival (all)
M30. Hikoukigumo (all)
---MC--- 
M31. Nakinagara Hohoende (Oshima Yuko)
M32. Iiwake Maybe (Yokoyama Team A)
M33. Zutto Zutto (Yokoyama Team A)
M34. Lucky Seven (Minegishi Team 4)
M35. Seijun Philosophy (Minegishi Team 4)
M36. Honest Man (Umeda Team B)
M37. Bokutachi no Kamihikouki (Umeda Team B)
M38. RESET (Oshima Team K)
M39. Kaiyuugyou no Capacity (Oshima Team K)
M40. AKB48 (all)
M41. Oogoe Diamond
M42. UZA
M43. Tenohira ga Kataru Koto
M44. Manatsu no Sounds Good
M45. Flying Get (Center: Oshima Yuko)
M46. Sayonara Crawl (all)
M47. Ponytail to Shushu (all)
M48. Gingham Check (all)
M49. Heavy Rotation (all)
---MC--- 
M50. Sakura no Hanabiratachi (all)
---ENCORE---
EN1. Labrador Retriever (36th single; Senbatsu)
EN2. Shoujotachi yo (all)
EN3. After Rain (all)
---MC---
EN4. Aitakatta (all)
EN5. Koisuru Fortune Cookie (all)

Day 2 (AKB48 Group)
Cancelled due to stormy weather


AKB48 Group Spring Concerts in Saitama Super Arena~Omoide wa Zenbu Koko ni Sutete Ike!~
AKB48単独&グループ 春コン in さいたまスーパーアリーナ~思い出は全部ここに捨てていけ!~
Date: 4~5 April 2014
Venue: Saitama Super Arena

Day 1 (SKE48 only)
Kage-Ana: Matsui Rena

M01. Tsuyokimono yo (all including those recently transferred to SKE48)
M02. Aozora Kataomoi (all)
M03. Gomen ne, Summer! (all)
M04. 1!2!3!4! Yoroshiku (all)
M05. Banzai Venus (all)
M06. Pareo wa Emerald (all)
M07. Okidoki (all)
M08. Kataomoi Finally (all)
M09. Aishiteraburu! (all)
M10. Kiss Datte Hidarikiki (all)
M11. Choco no Dorei (all)
M12. Utsukushii Inazuma (all)
M13. Sansei Kawaii! (all)
M14. Mirai to wa? (all)
---MC--- 
M15. Neko no Shippo ga Pin to Tatteru you ni  feat. Bose (Current Team S+Bose)
M16. Rakuen no Kaidan (Current Team S)
M17. RESET (New Team S)
M18. S-ko to Usohakkenki  (Current Team KII)
M19. Inseki no Kakuritsu (Current Team KII)
M20. Team KII Oshi (New Team KII)
M21. Machiawasetai (Current Team E)
M22. Viva Hurricane! (Current Team E)
M23. Wasshoi E! (New Team E)
M24. Yuudachi no Mae (Kenkyuusei)
M25. Ookami to Pride (Kizaki Yuria, Watanabe Miyuki)
M26. Cross (Kitagawa Ryoha, Miyazawa Sae, Furuhata Nao)
M27. Shoujo wa Manatsu ni Nani wo Suru (Oya Masana, Oba Mina, Umemoto Madoka, Shibata Aya, Takayanagi Akane, Tanaka Natsumi, Furukawa Airu, Yamada Mizuho)
M28. Tonari no Banana (Matsui Jurina, Sato Sumire)
M29. Wimbledon e Tsureteitte (Main: Kimoto Kanon, Yamauchi Suzuran, Yamada Nana; + Ego Yuna, Ichino Narumi, Ida Reona, Owaki Arisa, Kitano Ruka, Kumazaki Haruka, Takeuchi Saki, Noguchi Yume, Hidaka Yuzuki, Yamada Juna)
M30. Higurashi no Koi (Azuma Rion, Matsui Rena)
M31. Koko de Ippatsu (Suda Akari, Tani Marika, Matsumura Kaori)
M32. Darkness (Ishida Anna, Kizaki Yuria, Saito Makiko, Takeuchi Mai, Tsuzuki Rika, Matsui Jurina, Kinoshita Yukiko)
M33. Pinocchio Gun
M34. Chime wa Love Song
M35. Seifuku no Me  (all)
M36. Koi wo Kataru Shijin ni Narenakute (all)
M37. Bazooka Hou Hassha! (all)
---MC--- 
M38. Soba ni Isasete (all)
Announcement: 
Team S Senshuuraku: April 21
New Team S Shonichi: April 25, Seifuku no Me
 
Team KII Senshuuraku: April 18
New Team KII Shonichi: April 30, Ramune no Nomikata

Team E Senshuuraku: April 22
New Team E Shonichi: May 2, Te wo Tsunaginagara

---ENCORE---
EN1. Te wo Tsunaginagara (all)
EN2. Tooku ni Itemo (all)
EN3. Nakama no Uta (all)
 

Day 2 Noon (HKT48 only)

M01. HKT48
M02. Iiwake Maybe
M03. Only Today
M04. 10-nen Zakura
---MC---
M05. Dear my Teacher (New Team H)
M06. Yobisute Fantasy (New Team KIV)
M07. Koi Suru Fortune Cookie
M08. Ashita wa Ashita no Kimi ga Umareru (Kodama Haruka, Sashihara Rino, Tashima Meru, Tomonaga Mio, Miyawaki Sakura)
M09. Sobakasu no Kiss (Kenkyuusei)
M10. BINGO!
M11. Tobenai Agehachou
M12. How come?
---MC---
M13. Body & Soul (song by SPEED; Tanaka Miku, Murashige Anna, Motomura Aoi, Yabuki Nako)
M14. Aa ~Yokatta~ (song by Hana Hana; Tani Marika, Nakanishi Chiyori)
M15. Cat's Eye (song by Anri; Anai Chihiro, Kojina Yui,Matsuoka Natsumi, Miyawaki Sakura, Moriyasu Madoka)
M16. Sotsugyou (song by Saito Yui; Ota Aika, Kimoto Kanon, Kumazawa Serina, Kurihara Sae)
M17. Haru Ichiban (song by Candies; Kodama Haruka, Tashima Meru, Tomonaga Mio)
M18. Aa Mujou (song by Ann Lewis; Sashihara Rino)
M19. Sailor Fuku wo Nugasanaide (song by Onyanko Club)
---MC---
M20. Namaiki Lips (new song; Tanaka Miku, Yabuki Nako)
M21. Kimi dake ni Chu!Chu!Chu! (Akiyoshi Yuka, Kimoto Kanon, Tashima Meru, Tomonaga Mio, Fuchigami Mai, Murashige Anna, Motomura Aoi)
M22. Hissatsu Teleport
M23. Give Me Five
---MC---
M24. Onegai Valentine
M25. Kidoku Through (New Team H)
M26. Mukashi no Kareshi no Onii-chan to Tsukiau to Iu Koto (New Team KIV)
---MC---
M27. AKB48 Group Medley
River (Nakanishi voice percussion)
GAGAGA
Utsukushii Inazuma
Kamonegikkusu
Romance, Irane
Aisareru to Iu Koto
Junjou U-19
Kataomoi Finally
River
M28. Kimi wa Doushite?
M29. Hatsukoi Butterfly
M30. Wink wa Sankai
M31. Kimi no Koto ga Suki ya ken
M32. Suki!Suki!Skip!
M33. Ima Kimo wo Omou (new song; a kind of farewell song for Tani and Nakanishi; Moriyasu on keyboard)

---ENCORE---
EN1. Rock da yo, Jinsei wa
EN2. Oogoe Diamond
Announcement:


Team H Senshuuraku: April 17
New Team H Shonichi: April 23, Seishun Girls


Kenkyuusei „Nounai Paradise“ Senshuuraku: April 21


Team KIV Shonichi: May 8, Theater no Megami

EN3. Sakura, Minna de Tabeta
EN4. Melon Juice





Day 2 Evening (NMB48 only)
Kage-Ana: Yamamoto Sayaka

M01. Kamonegikkusu
M02. Ha!
M03. Teppen Tottande
M04. NMB48
---MC (Celebrating Yamada Nana's birthday---
M05. Mikazuki no Senaka (New Team BII)
---MC---
M06. Koko ni Datte Tenshi wa Iru (New Team N)
---MC---
M07. In Goal (New Team M)
---MC---
M08. Warukii (Watanabe Miyuki)
M09. Zipper (Kashiwagi Yuki, Jonishi Kei, Yoshida Akari)
M10. Hoshizora no Caravan
M11. Renai Higaitodoke
M12. Boku ga Mou Sukoshi Daitan Nara
M13. Dazai Osamu wo Yonda ka? (Ogasawara Mayu, Yamamoto Sayaka, Yamada Nana)
M14. Nandeyanen, Idol
---MC---
M15. Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo
M16. Yama e Ikou (Namba Teppoutai Sono Go)
M17. Mizukiri (Shirogumi)
M18. Prom no Koibito (Akagumi)
M19. Junjou U-19
M20. Bokura no Eureka
M21. Hatsukoi no Yukue to Play Ball (Yamamoto+Murase on guitar, Jonishi on congas)
M22. Sunglasses to Uchiakebanashi
M23. Almond Croissant Keikaku (Team BII)
M24. With my soul (Team M)
M25. Jounetsu Highway (Team N)
M26. Fumou no Tochi wo Mankai ni
---MC---
M27. Omoide no Hotondo (Ogasawara Mayu, Kotani Riho)
M28. Kimi to Deatte Boku wa Kawatta
M29. Virginity
M30. Oh my God!
M31. Nagiichi
M32. Kitagawa Kenji

---ENCORE---
Announcement:


Team N Senshuuraku: April 16
New Team N Shonichi: April 30, Koko ni Datte Tenshi wa Iru


Team M Senshuuraku: April 17
New Team M Shonichi: May 2, RESET


Team BII Senshuuraku: April 15
New Team BII Shonichi: April 22, Saka Agari

EN1. Takane no Ringo
---MC---
EN2. Mousou Girlfriend
EN3. Todokanasou de Todoku Mono
---MC---
EN4. Seishun no Laptime


bold: center

05 April 2014

AKB48 Team 8 Members Revealed


A while ago, AKB48 announced that they would create a Team 8 sponsored by Toyota. On April 3, the members for this new team were introduced to the public for the first time.

47 girls, one for each prefecture, passed the auditions. They were selected from about 10,000 applicants. The average age is 14,4. The oldest member is 19, the youngest 12.

The concept for the new team is "idols who come to meet you" so from May on the new team will hold events all over Japan. Then sometime in the fall they will start a Toyota campaign.

It was also announced at the presentation event, that the new Team 8 members can participate at the Senbatsu Election!


AKB48 Team 8
Hokkaido- Sakaguchi Nagisa (13)
Aomori- Yokoyama Yui (13)
Akita- Tanikawa Hijiri (13)
Iwate- Sato Nanami (14)
Yamagata- Hayasaka Tsumugi (12)
Miyagi. Sato Akari (17)
Fukushima- Mougi Kasumi (16)
Ibaraki- Okabe Rin (17)
Tochigi- Honda Hitomi (12)
Gunma- Shimizu Maria (16)
Saitama- Takahashi Ayane (16)
Chiba- Yoshikawa Nanase (15)
Tokyo- Oguri Yui (12)
Kanagawa- Oda Erina (16)
Niigata- Sato Shiori (16)
Yamanashi- Hidaritomo Ayaka (15)
Aichi- Fujimura Natsuki (16)
Shizuoka- Yokomichi Yuri (13)
Gifu- Okubora Chinatsu (15)
Mie- Yamamoto Ai (18)
Toyama- Hashimoto Haruna (13)
Ishikawa- Kita Reina (14)
Fukui- Chou Kurena (13)
Nagano- Kondou Moeri (16)
Osaka- Nagano Serika (13)
Kyoto- Oota Nao (19)
Hyogo- Yamada Nanami (15)
Wakayama- Yamamoto Ruka (13)
Nara- Oonishi Momoka (16)
Shiga- Hama Sayuna (12)
Tottori- Nakano Ikumi (13)
Shimane- Abe Mei (13)
Okayama- Hitomi Kotone (13)
Hiroshima- Tani Yuuri (14)
Yamaguchi- Shitao Miu (13)
Tokushima- Hamamatsu Riona (18)
Kagawa- Gyouten Yurina (15)
Ehime- Takaoka Kaoru (13)
Kochi- Hirose Natsuki (16)
Fukuoka- Moriwaki Yui (16)
Saga- Fukuchi Rena (17)
Nagasaki- Iwasaki Moeka (13)
Kumamoto- Kuranoo Narumi (13)
Oita- Yoshino Miyu (13)
Miyazaki- Yaguchi Moka (12)
Kagoshima- Shimoaoki Karin (13)
Okinawa- Miyazato Rira (12)

The youtube news channel MAiDiGiTV has put up videos of the presentation event showing the new members:
Hokkaido - Fukushima
Ibaraki - Nagano
Osaka - Okinawa


02 April 2014

NMB48 9th Single [Takane no Ringo] First Week Sales


NMB48's 9th single [Takane no Ringo] was released on March 26th and now finished its first week ranking first in the Oricon Weekly Charts. First week sales amount to 406,579 copies.

Sales improved compared to the previous single [Kamonegikkusu] which sold 374,644 in its first week. Overall [Takane no Ringo] has the second best first week sales for NMB48, only [Bokura no Eureka] had a better start with 481,843 copies in week one. [Takane no Ringo] first week sales also beat those of SKE48's [Mirai to wa?] which was released a week earlier and sold 397,874 copies in the starting week.


In the soundscan ranking, NMB48 also took the top position, as well as 3th and 4th rank. Sales are 80,328 so the theater edition must have sold about 326,000 copies.



Sales on first day (when the theater versions usually ships) for NMB48 were already 368,719 copies, so the rest of the week wasn't that overwhelming. Also overall sales of NMB48 are higher, but in Soundscan SKE48 sold more (118,750), maybe because they had a type more. In fact, NMB48's soundscan numbers are on the same level as HKT48's (80,088). This shows that the theater edition accounts for an even greater portion of sales for NMB48 and seems to be even more important for them than it is for the sister groups.