AKB48 in 61th Kohaku Uta Gassen updates

     As previously announced, AKB48 will be part of this year's 61st Kohaku Uta Gassen. 4 days ago NHK released the song list that the artists will be performing. AKB48 will be performing a [Kohaku 2010 AKB48 Kamikyoku SP]. A total of 130 members will be singing a medley of 3 songs: Beginner, Heavy Rotation, Ponytail to Shushu. Koda Kumi, and Wada Akiko, as well as ARASHI, NYC, Kayama Yuzo, Go Hiromi, and SMAP, will also be performing medleys.

     This is not the first time AKB48 has performed a medley in Kouhaku Uta Gassen. Their first appearance in the 58th Kouhaku Uta Gassen, they performed Aitakatta and Nantetatte Idol together with artists Shokotan and Leah Dizon. Then on the 60th Kohaku Uta Gassen they performed RIVER Surprise Kohaku Remix, a medley of RIVER and Namida Surprise.

This year's Kohaku seems to be an AKB48 special. There will be tonnes of appearances by AKB during the whole duration of the show, not just their segment. They will be appearing in other artist's segments, including backdancing to Arashi's Bokutachi no Furusato Nippon, and a collab with Mizuki Nana singing an anime song. Members will also be doing backstage reports. The full list after the jump. The show will start on 7:30PM on 31 December 2010 and will run until 11:45PM.

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AKB48 xHottomotto

「GO！カツフェア」or [Go! Katsu fair] enlisted AKB48 members' help to start a new image campaign titled Hottomotto. The image created by the uniform donned by the members portrays an image of people supporting those who are taking the examinations or supporting those who are working hard towards their dreams.

From January 1st 2011, on air in the whole of Japan would be their CM. It would portray HottoMotto's bento getting consumed in places like the Television Station, concert venues etcetera by the girls mainly. There would be three versions of this CM: the [Go! Katsu fair] Version, the 「クリームシチューかつ丼」or [Cream Stew Katsudon] Version、「お好みソースかつ丼」or [Osukimi Sauce Katsudon] Version. The CMs would portray the members enjoying the food with each other.

What fans would look forward to most should be the special encouragement messages from the members. After purchasing the promoted food items, the customers would receive a download card to download encouragement messages. Upon scanning the QR code, they would receive 2 kinds (out of 32) of the special AKB48xHottoMotto mobile encouragement charm.

official AKB48xhottomotto website: http://www.hm-akb48.com/ Operational from January 7 2011

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Mariyannu is back!

Following up from our previous post about AKB48 Team B member Suzuki Mariya being ill, the latest update is that she has now recovered enough to return to idol work! :D

Here's the newer post on her blog by her agency Dresscode:

Thank you for your support.
This is an announcement regarding Dresscode's Suzuki Mariya.

She had to stop her activities due to poor health, but starting from today, she will resume them.
Her blog updates will continue from today, as well.

Thank you for your comments.
We apologize for causing worry.

We seek your understanding on this matter.
Please continue supporting us.


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 2010/12/27
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Dresscode Corporation

Source: http://ameblo.jp/mariyasuzuki/entry-10749460410.html
Translations courtesy of maliciel.

And finally the latest post on her blog by Mariyannu herself!

It has been a while.

Over this period I have been taking a break from work, but from today onwards, I will be resuming activities.

I have inconvenienced and worried the fans, staff, officials and members.

At the end of the year, everyone in AKB has daily activities, and for me to be taking a break at this time..
There were the inevitable thoughts of "Everyone is working hard, what am I doing.."

It is regrettable; this was my first time taking a break from work.

To the Kenkyuusei as well, I am sorry for the inconvenience I caused with the sudden announcement.

I will be taking good care of myself. From now on, please lend me your support.

2010/12/27
AKB48 TeamB Suzuki Mariya

Source: http://ameblo.jp/mariyasuzuki/entry-10749800864.html
Translations courtesy of maliciel.

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French Kiss 2nd Single [If] updates

     Some updates about French Kiss's new Single [If] that will be releasing on 19 January 2011. As previously mentioned, the song will be used as the theme song for the Anime OVA [Kyo, Koi wo Hajimemasu]. As with their Debut Single Zutto Mae Kara, If will include a special Drama Clip featuring the 3 members of French Kiss, as well as a new Digital Manga of Kyo, Koi wo Hajimemasu featuring the members voice acting parts of the manga. If will have a total of 3 Types: Type A, Type B and Type C.

     As with Zutto Mae Kara, there will be a total of 4 different songs in all the versions of If, 3 of them being new. The A-Side song If will be on all versions of the Single. The coupling song for Type A is Mae wo Muiteru Kimi (前を向いてる君). All members of French Kiss will be singing it. For Type B that coupling song is Chinmoku (沈黙), a solo ballad song sung by Kashiwagi Yuki. And lastly Type C has Kuchi Utsushi no Chocolate (口移しのチョコレート). From Team B 4th Stage [Idol no Yoake], the song was originally sang by Kashiwagi Yuki, Hirajima Natsumi and Oota Aika, with Kashiwagi leading. In this version Kashiwagi will take her own lines, however it is unknown who will take Hirajima's or Oota's lines.

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Sashihara Rino gets own TV show [Sashiko no Kuse ni]

     Continuing with the new shows, AKB48's very own Sashihara Rino will get her very own solo TV show titled [さしこのくせに] (Sashiko no Kuse ni). The full title of the show is [Sashiko no Kuseni ~Kono Bangumi wa AKB to wa Mattaku Kankei Arimasen] (Even though it's Sashiko ~ This program has nothing to do with AKB at all ~). She will be accompanied by comedian Tsuchida Teruyuki, who is also the producer, as the MC of the show. The show aims to train Sashihara into a full fledged idol by getting her to challenge various things. The show will start on 11 January 2011, the show will air every Monday for 30 mins from 25:25PM ~ 25:55PM on TBS.

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AKB48 PSP Game [AKB1/48 Idol to Koishitara...] Updates

AKB48's PSP video game AKB1/48 Idol to Koishitara... released today in Japan.

     To refresh your memory, the game starts off with all 48 members of AKB48 coming madly after you. You then have to reject them one by one until there is only 1 remaining. The idol love simulation game featuring all 48 AKB members (pre-Erena graduation) came in a total of 4 editions. You can read more about the basic details of the game in our earlier post.

     More details are now known about the game. Firstly, there will be paid downloadable content for the game by Bandai. Currently there is a "Photo Clock" app where a member will hold white paper with time on it. It costs 300 yen per girl, 2400 yen for a whole team, or 3500 yen for all the girls.

     Secondly, apparently there is "drama" in the game, which are things like a girl spotting you on a date with another, or one of the girls you already broke up with can't forget about you, or a member can ask you about your relationship with another girl. In the game, facial expressions and outfits for the girls can be unlocked through clearing conditions. You will also get "trading cards" as you play, which are photos that can be put as wallpaper.

     In addition to the game, a guidebook for it, "AKB 1 / 48 Idol to Koishitara...Official Kouryaku Visual Book" was also released on the 17 December for 1000 yen. The book comes with a Love Letter, Special Sticker and Special Poster.

     In other news, a fight broke out in the morning of the release in the queues(according to an observer there were over 100 queues formed) for the game, outside Don Quixote building. Police cars and an ambulance were seen outside the building.


Image credits: kaztsu @ Twitpic

*sighs*

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Suzuki Mariya unwell

AKB48 Team B member Suzuki Mariya has been unwell for over a week.

The first sign of trouble started when after her 14th December post about being excited for Christmas, Mariyannu stopped blogging or sending out Mobame(Japanese mobile mail subscription), and her radio show was cancelled.

Then on the 16th, Togasaki wrote on AKB48's official blog about Mariyannu's appearance on the 17th's Team B theater show being cancelled due to health reasons. On the 20th, Togasaki wrote a post about the members not attending Team B's Christmas day theater show, which with 3 other girls, included Mariyannu.

On the very same day, Mariya's blog finally had an update; alas, not from herself but her agency.

Thank you for always supporting us.

Please allow us to report on our agency's Suzuki Mariya.

She is now taking a break, after being looked over by a doctor for her physical condition.
She wants to get better and heal fully, so that she may appear before everyone again.

Our heartfelt apologies for the late announcement, and causing worry to everyone.

We hope to seek your understanding.
Please continue supporting us.



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　2010/12/20
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Dresscode Corporation

Source: http://ameblo.jp/mariyasuzuki/entry-10742774811.html

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SKE48 mini-drama series [Mousou Deka]

     SKE48 will get their own mini drama starting 12 January 2011. The mini drama is titled 「モウソウ刑事」or Mousou Deka. It will air only in Nagoya every Wednesday from 24:40PM ~ 24:55PM.

     The story begins with a cosplay battle held on a deserted island. The hotel owner on that island is murdered and the suspects are all the participants in the hall. As the story unravels, we would see more of the detective at work and it remains to be said whether Matsui Jurina or the Mousou Deka can solve the mystery. The 17 other SKE48 members are all suspects of the crime and Matsui Jurina has to find the culprit before it is too late.

     Though this drama series would only be aired locally in Nagoya, there will be a DVD compilation of the series along with making-ofs of the drama. The theme song used for this mini drama will be SKE48's latest Single 1!2!3!4! Yoroshiku!. The main leading female role is taken on by none other than Matsui Jurina and she would be accompanied by 17 other SKE48 members namely:

From Team S: Matsui Rena, Yagami Kumi, Rikako Hirata, Oya Masana, Kizaki Yuria, Kuwabara Mizuki, Nakanishi Yuka, Haruna Ono, Yukiko Kinoshita, Hiramatsu Kanako, Takada Shiori, Suda Akari, Deguchi Aki, Kato Rumi
From Team KII: Ishida Anna, Takayanagi Akane, Mukaida Manatsu

     Matsui Rena ,Matsui Jurina and Yagami Kumi do have prior experience with drama acting from Majisuka Gakuen. However this would still be significant for them as they would be acting as the cast consisting entirely of SKE48 members only. In my humble opinion, we have all seen the brilliant acting of Yagami Kumi in Boku dake no Value PV, this mini-drama will feed us with more. It would be 12 15-min-episodes full of SKE48 fun! The costumes would surely spice things up and make the show explode with visual appeal. Something more to look forward from SKE48 in year 2011!

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Itano Tomomi Solo Debut Single [Dear J]

     1st generation AKB48 member Itano Tomomi is due to release her first solo single [Dear J] on January 26 2011, produced by Akimoto Yasushi. The details that are available now is that there would be a total of four different versions namely: Version A, Version B, Version C and one Theater version. Other than the opening track, the disc contents would be different for each version.

     This is not the first time Itano is singing out of AKB. The first was Summer Lips, sung by a group of the same name which consisted of Tomotomo (Itano Tomomi and Kasai Tomomi). After that was a solo gig as Gyaruchin with Shiny Summer ~Tomo no Natsu~. Next was Queen & Elizabeth, another pairing with Kasai Tomomi, promoting Kamen Rider W with their song Love Wars. Dear J is however Itano Tomomi's first single as herself.

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AKB48 5th Anniversary

On 8th December 2010, AKB48 celebrated its 5th Anniversary with a special theater performance that day at the AKB48 Theater in Akihabara.

48 members within the three teams alongside with the kenkyuuseis and a number of the graduated members allowed for 82 of them to gather at that theater together.

The opening song was sung by the original Team A when they debuted in 2005 8th December and it was Party ga Hajimaruyo!

SETLIST (taken of stage48, Credits to Jasey from Stage48)

1. (From A1) Party ga Hajimaruyo (Itano Tomomi, Urano Kazumi, Orii Ayumi, Kawasaki Nozomi, Kojima Haruna, Komatani Hitomi, Sato Yukari, Takahashi Minami, Tojima Hana, Narita Risa, Hirajima Natsumi, Hoshino Michiru, Maeda Atsuko, Minegishi Minami, Watanabe Shiho)

2. (From K2) Seishun Girls (Akimoto Sayaka, Kobayashi Kana, Umeda Ayaka, Oshima Yuko, Miyazawa Sae, Masuda Yuka, Oku Manami, Ohori Megumi, Takada Ayana, Kasai Tomomi, Matsubara Natsumi, Hayano Kaoru, Sato Natsuki, Imai Yu, Noro Kayo)

3. (From B3) Shonichi (Oota Aika, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kikuchi Ayaka, Watanabe Mayu, Nakaya Sayaka, Kohara Haruka, Hirajima Natsumi, Katayama Haruka, Matsuoka Yuki, Nito Moeno, Tanabe Miku, Saeki Mika, Yonezawa Rumi, Urano Kazumi, Saotome Miki)

4. Anata ga Itekureta Kara
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5. Fruits Snow (Team Kenkyuusei)
6. Love Jump (Team B)
7. ALIVE (Team K)
8. Kurumi to Dialogue (Team A)
9. Yoyakushita Christmas (Original Senbatsu)
10. Chance no Junban (Chance Senbatsu)
11. Sakura no Hanabiratachi
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At this anniversary performance, it was formally announced that the Ninth Generation Members who were Kenkyuuseis are all promoted. Their teams however are still undecided.

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