New Writer: Mayuyued

     Another new writer joins! Mayuyued is a Mayuyu oshi (obviously) and he will be helping me keep track of the AKB48 and SKE48 news. He already has some experience in this field so it will be a great help for the blog. I have known him for some time already as he is a fellow member of SGP48.

     I still don't have any applicants to fill up the SDN48 slot so if anyone wants to help cover SDN48 related news please drop me an email: melos125@gmail.com.

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     Hi there, my name shall be known as mayuyued and from a while ago joined Melos and his team on MELOS no michi as a writer. Well... am an AKB48 fan. Other groups I like would be JPOP groups like NEWS and soloist Mano Erina as well as Vkei group The Gazette.

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NMB48 announces stage debut

NMB48, AKB48's Osaka-based sister group, which made their public debut on 9 October, held a press conference on December 4 announcing their 1st Stage. They will start off on New Year's Day 2011 at the NMB48 Theater, which has been 'Base Yoshimoto' , a theater of the entertainment agency Yoshimoto Kogyo, until December 3.

NMB48's Team N's 1st stage itself will be a remake of Team A's 3rd stage [Dareka no Tame ni], performed back in 2006~2007 and the girls will be performing about 2 hours every day. Dareka no Tame ni has brought quite a number of still popular songs including Bird, ranked 10th at last year's Request Hour ~Setlist Best 100 2010~.

However only 16 members of the currently 25 member NMB48 will make it to Team N. The rest of the members not promoted will continue as NMB48 Kenkyuusei.

Since its public debut in October, NMB48 has made quite a few promotion appearances, for example a promising surprise performance during SKE48's concert tour. Now the girls get their own show and I'm looking forward to see what they make out of it. I'm also curious about who will become part of Team N. Currently all 25 members are still Kenkyuusei but I hope that there will be more information about Team N's line-up before their first show.

It is especially interesting to see who gets the positions for Bird and Rider. As mentioned earlier, Bird is still one of the most popular songs in AKB48 and has been performed at almost all of AKB48's recent concerts. And for Rider, not many people know this but that song is actually a tribute to one of the first AKB48 fans. Back then the group was still small and only had a small bunch of loyal fans. Rider-san was one of those loyal fans. He died one day due to a medical condition. His death hurt both the fellow fans and even the girls in AKB48. You can read more about it here.

Personally, I hope Yamada Nana, Ogasawara Mayu and Oota Riona make it into Team N. I'm especially interested in Mayu because I liked her performance during the surprise appearance in SKE48's concert. I'm looking forward to see more of her.

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Sashihara Project

     Shukan AKB, a TV programme on AKB48, recently started and activated a new project. This project is known as Sashihara Project as the main focus of this project was the AKB48 Team A member Sashihara Rino or known by members as Sasshi. She currently owns an Ameba Burogu named “指原クオリティー (Sashihara Quality)” which is on the same server as fellow Team A member Maeda Atsuko and other AKB48 members such as Oshima Yuko.

This would be the link to her blog: http://ameblo.jp/sashihara-rino

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SKE48 Team E formed, Team KII has member changes

     Just announced earlier today on the SKE48 Official Website, Team E has finally been formed, while Team KII has a few member swaps. The member profiles have been updated as well. (The sites may be slow or not loading due to heavy traffic, be patient.)

Team E
磯原杏華（2nd gen）Isohara Kyoka, 13
上野圭澄（3rd gen）Ueno Kasumi, 13
梅本まどか（4th gen）Umemoto Madoka, 18
金子栞（4th gen）Kaneko Shiori, 15
木本花音（4th gen）Kimoto Kanon, 13
小林亜実（4th gen）Kobayashi Ami, 17
酒井萌衣（4th gen）Sakai Mei, 13
柴田阿弥（4th gen）Shibata Aya, 17
高木由麻奈（4th gen）Takagi Yumana, 17
竹内舞（4th gen）Takeuchi Mai, 17
都築里佳（4th gen）Tsuzuki Rika, 14
中村優花（4th gen）Nakamura Yuka, 13
原望奈美（4th gen）Hara Minami, 14
間野春香（2nd gen）Mano Haruka, 13
山下ゆかり（4th gen）Yamashita Yukari, 14
山田恵里伽（3rd gen）Yamada Erika, 14

Promoted to Team KII
阿比留李帆 (2nd gen) Abiru Riho, 13
後藤理沙子 (3rd gen) Goto Risako, 13
秦佐和子 (3rd gen) Hata Sawako, 22
矢方美紀 (3rd gen) Yakata Miki, 18

Demoted to SKE RS from KII
井口栞里 Iguchi Shiori
内山命 Uchiyama Mikoto
鬼頭桃菜 Kito Momona
斉藤真木子 Saito Makiko

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MELOS no Michi Upgrade + We're hiring

     Hello all. As you guys can see, I rolled in a new theme for the blog. I thought that the old theme was getting boring and plain. And the banner was getting old too. So I spent the past few days playing around with the CSS and HTML (mind you I have very little knowledge and experience in these stuff). Reason why it took so long was because of all the small details like the alignment stuff, as well as choosing the color scheme.

     Do note that the new blog theme is still in beta as I am still trying to fix some of the new stuff. If you have any suggestions please comment or email me.

Changes:

• New banner
•  They say that fashion changes over time. And not even the shirt worn by the great Acchan could survive the test of time. "MY SEDIMENTS EXACTLY :)" was great when it first came out but now it needs to go. Replacing it is a screenshot taken from the Hikoukigumo performance at the Day 2 Noon Performance of the [AKB48 Manseki Matsuri Kibou Sanpi Ryouron] (Yokohama Arena 2010) Concert. Then I just sharpened the image a little and added some glow.
• New logo
• I also got ronin of http://destructionbaby.wordpress.com/ to help me design a new logo for the blog. To be honest I was starting to not like the old logo but I was too lazy busy and didn't have any ideas to make a new one.
• Pages section on the top
• The HOME and ABOUT pages have been brought forward. I removed the OSHIMEN and SWAGS page from the previous theme as I felt they weren't necessary. Replacing them are AKB48, SKE48, SDN48, NMB48 pages (still under construction) that will give a brief introduction to the group, a TV SHOWS page (incomplete) that lists all the TV shows the girls appear on, and a FAQ (under construction) which will answer all the general questions of AKB48 and it's sister groups.
• Sidebar moved to the right
• Just something I learnt in Web Design class. Don't know how true it is. I also changed the color of the sidebar to dark gray and the text to light gray as I wanted contrasting colors. Adding in some new stuff too like a clock (under construction) and others.
• Featured posts
• Uh it's supposed to show up there above the main posts. Unfortunately I ran into quite a bit of trouble with it so gonna have to wait a while until I fix this. For some reason the numbered pages aren't showing up either.
• Removal of all copyrighted pictures and videos
• Remember I said earlier in my experience post that I gave my business card to Aki-P? Yup a few days later I got email from them asking me to remove some stuff :( .

Hiring
     Now on to more serious stuff. You probably would have noticed that we aren't blogging so much nowadays. That's because my schedule is filled with medical appointments. I just had an X-Ray and Ultrasound done yesterday and have an upcoming MRI scan. Doctor says surgery is not out of the question yet and when it comes to that it would mean I won't be able to blog for a month or so. Kieyuku is also very busy with her school stuff.

     So I decided to start hiring writers for the blog. One writer will have one specialization. So example you choose no3b as your specialization, whatever no3b news there is like Singles, Concerts, Events and such, you will be the writer for it. Up for grabs are another AKB48 spot, SKE48, SDN48, NMB48, Subgroups (no3b, Watarirouka).

     Requirements are simple. You just have to know the specialization your taking well and must be up to date with their news. That's all.

Interested people please drop me an email
melos125@gmail.com

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French Kiss 2nd Single [If]

     French Kiss will be releasing their 2nd Single on 19 January 2011. Titled [If], 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, the Single 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.

     Just like their previous Single, If will have a total of 3 Types: Type A, Type B and Type C. There are a total of 3 coupling songs, one on each Type. The song titles have not been released yet. Type A and Type B are CD + DVD, while Type C is a CD only version. Type A will include the Drama Clip and Type B will have the Digital Comic

More after the jump

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AKB48 'live' in AFA X (Singapore) Experience - Part 3

     The final part of this 3 part series documenting my AKB48 experience at the recent AKB48 'live' in AFA X. Part 3 will cover the post event activities and the review.

Part 1: http://melosnomichi.blogspot.com/2010/11/akb48-live-in-afa-x-singapore.html
Part 2: http://melosnomichi.blogspot.com/2010/11/akb48-live-in-afa-x-singapore_27.html

image credit to supermerlion

more after the jump

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AKB48 at STGCC Member List & Updates (Singapore)

STGCC has announced the member list earlier this evening.
It's legend- waitforit -ary!



So because I'm busy, I gave you a screenshot of it. >_>

Quick summary of the member list:
- It's Chance no Junban senbatsu without the girls who overlap into Beginner senbatsu.
- I'm surprised they really sent the Junban senbatsu because the release date is close with the STGCC date, thought they'd have promoting to do...
- No Beginner senbatsu, but expected because those girls are scheduled for handshake sessions in Japan on 11 and 12th, making it impossible for them to come here.
- Which means no Rie once again, but I was prepared for it this time.
- NO WONDER they put "12-16 girls" on the event info before the member list was confirmed...it makes sense, probably they had no idea if the four Beginner senbatsu girls who overlapped with Junban (aka Maeda Atsuko, Kasai Tomomi, Kojima Haruna and Takajo Aki) could make it.

Further information on the schedule as given by STGCC on their website(UPDATES IN BOLD):

AKB48's Appearance at STGCC2010

1) Appearance at main stage of STGCC exhibition, Hall 401-402
Date: 10 Dec 2010, Friday, 1600hrs
Admission: Open to all STGCC day (Fri) and 3-day ticket holders
2) "Scissors-Paper-Stone" Meet the Fans Session – celebrating new song release
Date: 11 Dec 2010, Saturday, 1900hrs, Suntec theatre, Level 3
Admission: Open to AKB48 ticket holders (inclusive of 1 day access to STGCC on 11 Dec 2010)
In line with AKB48's new song release on 8 December 2010 in Japan, AKB48 will meet the fans in a special closed-door session. Fans will have the opportunity to listen to their latest songs, play games with the girls and win autographed CDs.
As a special tribute to STGCC and AKB fans, tickets are available at a special price of only S$30 per person (GST applies)! Ticket includes access to all STGCC programmes and exhibition on Saturday as well! Unbelievable, isn't it?
Admission: Ticketing is now open at www.singaporetgcc.com/stgcc-ticket-registration
Limited seats available!

Queuing for the AKB48 Meet the Fans Session will only begin from 3.00pm, 11 December 2010, at Gallery East (next to the theatre itself).

That last line is especially important. Since we don't have seat arrangement in our tickets or whatever, the seating is gonna be free for all. Expect long queues again!
      

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AKB48 invited to 61th Kohaku Uta Gassen

     Kohaku Uta Gassen is an annual music show broadcasted by NHK that airs on New Years Eve. It is the biggest and highest rated music event of the year where famous artists are invited to perform. The title of the show literally translates into "Red and White Song Battle" and as the title suggests, participating artists are separated into Red Team (Aka-gumi) and White Team (Shiro-gumi) and they will compete against each other. The Red Team is composed of female artists and the White Team is composed of male artists (in a mixed group the lead vocalist will determine their Team). Kohaku attendance is strictly by invite and only the most popular artists are invited.

     NHK revealed the participants for the 61st Kohaku Uta Gassen 2 days ago. As expected AKB48 has been invited once again to the show, bringing their attendance count up to 3. AKB48 made their first appearance on the 58th Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2008 where they sang Aitakatta and Nantetatte Idol together with artists Shokotan and Leah Dizon. They were absent on the 59th Kohaku Uta Gassen the subsequent year, but were invited again in 2010 to the 60th Kohaku Uta Gassen to sing [RIVER Surprise Kohaku Remix], a medley of RIVER and Namida Surprise.

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AKB48 'live' in AFA X (Singapore) Experience - Part 2

     Part 2 of the 3 part series documenting my AKB48 experience at the recent AKB48 'live' in AFA X. Part 2 will cover the Cool Japan Forum and the AKB48 Concert.

I'm going to post the concert setlist before the jump for easier reference
00. Overture
01. RIVER
02. Oogoe Diamond
03. Aitakatta
Introduction MC
04. Pajama Drive (Nakagawa, Watanabe, Katayama)
05. Candy (Komori, Kasai, Sato A)
06. Kimi wa Pegasus (Akimoto, Sato N, Miyazawa, Iwasa)
MC
07. 10nen Zakura
08. Iiwake Maybe
09. Hikoukigumo
MC
10. Heavy Rotation
ENCORE
11. Beginner
12. Ponytail to Shushu

Part 1: http://melosnomichi.blogspot.com/2010/11/akb48-live-in-afa-x-singapore.html
Part 3: http://melosnomichi.blogspot.com/2010/11/akb48-live-in-afa-x-singapore_30.html

more after the jump

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