Oshima Yuko to Dub for [Merida to Osoroshi no Mori]

It was announced that Oshima Yuko is dubbing the role of Merida in [Merida to Osoroshi no Mori], also known as [Brave], a Disney and Pixar 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film.

Merida, who loves freedom and is always inquisitive, grew and realized her position as a princess. Yuko was picked to dub this role as she is deemed to fit the character perfectly, Yuko said, "I will work my hardest to get into the role of Merida, and I hope to be able to cheer up the audiences watching and give them courage. I hope they look forward to this film."

When ask about her favourite characters in Disney/Pixar films, Yuko, who is a huge fan of their works, said, "There are just too many to be named. My favourite is [Toy Story 3], I'd cry every time I watch it."

[Merida to Osoroshi no Mori] will be in cinemas in Japan starting from 21 July 2012.

Trailer for the film is available at its homepage, http://www.disney.co.jp/movies/merida/

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Watarirouka Hashiritai 7's 10th Single [Shounen yo Uso wo Tsuke!] Announced

Watarirouka Hashiritai 7's first single of 2012 will be [Shounen yo Uso wo Tsuke!], and is set to be released 30 May 2012.

The new single will be featured as both the theme song of the upcoming Crayon Shin-chan movie, as well as the new ending theme for the Crayon Shin-chan anime series. Additionally, this will be their first single with SDN48's CinDy as a new member. The Watarirouka Hashiritai Official Website has already been updated with her picture

Official Website: http://watarirouka.com/top.html

The new single will be first aired on April 14th, (with release of the movie), but a pre-distribution copy will be available starting April 4th on dwango. Full version radio rip is available below.


Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 10th Single
Shonen yo Uso wo Tsuke!
少年よ 嘘をつけ!
30 May 2012

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Itano Tomomi Single [10nen go no Kimi e] Covers + Tracklist

Covers and tracklist have been released for Itano Tomomi's 3rd solo single [10nen go no Kimi e].

Three versions are planned for this single - two limited editions and one regular edition. Each edition features the same A and B-side songs, but includes a different third track. Most notably, Tomochin will be penning the lyrics for the regular edition third track, lose-lose.


10nen Go no Kimi e will be an emotional middle ballad with strings arrangement, and its lyrics describing the complex feeling of being in love.



I, for one, greatly look forward to what lyrics she comes up with!


Itano Tomomi 3rd Single
10nen go no Kimi e
10年後の君へ
25 April 2012

TYPE A 1,600yen	[CD] 01. 10nen go no Kimi e 02. Clone 03. deal feat. NO-FACE 04. 10nen go no Kimi e ‒instrumental- 05. Clone ‒instrumental- 06. deal feat. NO-FACE‒instrumental- [DVD] 01. 10年後の君へ Music Video 02. 10年後の君へ Making Clip
TYPE B 1,600yen	[CD] 01. 10nen go no Kimi e 02. Clone 03. Always I need you 04. 10nen go no Kimi e ‒instrumental- 05. Clone ‒instrumental- 06.Always I need you ‒instrumental- [DVD] 01. Clone Music Video 02. Clone Making Clip
TYPE Regular 1,600yen	[CD] 01. 10nen go no Kimi e 02. Clone 03. lose-lose 04. 10nen go no Kimi e ‒instrumental- 05. Clone ‒instrumental- 06. lose-lose ‒instrumental-

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Details of AKB48's 4th Senbatsu Election

More information regarding AKB48's 2012 Senbatsu Election have been released on AKB48's Official Blog. It is officially called the "AKB48 27th Single Senbatsu Election", but is also known as "AKB48 4th Senbatsu Election".

AKB48 Official Blog Post: http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11213131099.html


Fans will vote for the 64 members for AKB48's 27th Single, using the code provided in the Normal Edition of AKB48's 26th Single, [Manatsu no Sounds Good!]. Part of the proceeds from the 26th Single will be donated to the Dareka no Tame ni project, towards earthquake recovery.


Eligible candidates for the election are:
AKB48 - 88 members (15 each from Teams A, K and B, 16 from Team 4, and 27 Kenkyuusei members)
SKE48 - 65 members (14 from Team S, 16 from Team KII, 13 from Team E, and 22 Kenkyuusei members)
NMB48 - 66 members (16 from Team N, 16 from Team M, and 34 Kenkyuusei members)
HKT48 - 21 members (16 from Team H, and 5 Kenkyuusei members)

For a total of 240 candidates.
Maeda Atsuko has withdrawn from this election - please see our post about her most recent video message.
http://melosnomichi.blogspot.com/2012/04/maeda-atsukos-video-message-to-fans.html


There will be 64 spots available:
1-16 - Senbatsu Members
17-32 - Group A (official name to be determined, same as below)
33-48 - Group B
49-64 - Group C

"Media Senbatsu" group is no longer in effect.


How to vote:
1 - a ballot is included with each Normal Edition copy of AKB48's 26th Single, [Manatsu no Sounds Good]
2 - if you are a member of the Official AKB48 Fan Club
3 - if you are a member of the Official AKB48 Mobile Fan Club
4 - if you are a member of the Official AKB48 Smartphone App
5 - if you are a subscriber of AKB48 Live On Demand monthly plan
6 - if you are a member of AKB Official Net
7 - if you are a member of SKE48 Mobile
8 - if you are a subscriber of SKE48 Live On Demand monthly plan
9 - if you are a member of NMB48 Mobile


Voting Period
May 22nd, 2012 10:00
to
June 5th, 2012 14:59

Announcement
Preliminary - May 23rd, 2012 at AKB48 Theater
Official - June 6th, 2012 at Budokan

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Maeda Atsuko's Video Message to Fans

On April 4th, 2012, newspapers carried a full-page advertisement that said, "Maeda Atsuko of AKB48 would like to tell fans something about the upcoming Senbatsu Election".  The ad had a google search box with her name and "g+" in it, and the bottom of the ad said, "Available today at 3pm".

At 3pm a youtube video was uploaded and posted on Maeda Atsuko's g+ - it is a 7-minute message from Maeda Atsuko, and in it she talked a little bit more about her feelings on graduating, as well as her decision to withdraw from this year's Senbatsu Election.

Here is the full translated message:

This is Maeda Atsuko from Team A of AKB48.
On March 25th, I announced my graduation from AKB48 at Saitama Super Arena.
As expected, I am very clumsy and not good at handling many things at once;
I am very disappointed in myself because of this, and I believe this has made all the members, staff and fans worry about me, as well as given them a lot of trouble.  However everyone has been great to me and I feel like I've been a spoilt child taking advantage of everyone's kindness.
I started thinking about graduation quite a while ago, but I didn't tell anyone except Takamina, a few other members and Akimoto-san.  These were not exactly realistic conversations, and I was really worried that if I am not in AKB anymore, what would be left of me?
We won the Record of the Year award last year; we have finally made it to the Tokyo Dome; we participated in NHK Kouhaku Utagassen; slowly but surely our dreams are becoming real, and it's time for the next step.  I'm sure every member is doing a lot of thinking about the future, and they will need all the chances they can get from AKB.  In order for this to happen, I have to work harder.
When I announced my graduation, I was very anxious in front of everyone, like I said, and I'm sure everyone is worried about whether I can be on my own, since until now I have always had members to depend on and always had this place called AKB for me to go back.  But I've made it this far and this is what I want to do.
I would be very happy if you could keep cheering for me.
Like I've been saying - at this point I haven't decided any details on my graduation, and I've been discussing the timing with everyone.  I would like to withdraw from the upcoming AKB Senbatsu Election, and I am sorry for any inconvenience caused.
I really wanted this message to come from myself, so I was given the chance to present it in this fashion.  I don't have a lot of time left as a member of AKB, but I will still be around after graduation.  I would be grateful if you would keep supporting me.  Moreover, please keep cheering for AKB48 with me.
Maeda Atsuko, out.

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NMB48 Kenkyusei Ishikawa Kokoro to Graduate

As announced on April 2, NMB48 3rd Generation Kenkyusei Ishikawa Kokoro will graduate from the group on April 28th. The reason given is the same as for all NMB48 graduations so far: she wants to focus on her studies.

Ishikawa Kokoro is the first 3rd Generation member to graduate. This generation just debuted in February and is currently preparing for their first stage [Aitakatta],  a remake of Team A's 2nd Stage, scheduled to start April 29, the day after Kokoro's graduation.


The 3rd Generation members haven't done much yet, so I can't say much about this news other than that I was interested in Kokoro. Her graduation comes quite fast, so maybe she just realized NMB48 is not what she wants to do. Anyways, all the best to her.

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AKB48 Co-Hosted Music Show Titled [Kayou Kyoku]

Previously it was reported that AKB48 will co-host a new music show on TBS together with SMAP's Nakai Masahiro and Esumi Makiko.

The show is titled [Kayou-kyoku], which is a play on Kayou (火曜/tuesday) the day the show airs, and Kayokyoku (歌謡曲/popular song).

Kayou-kyoku will air nationwide on TBS every Tuesday, 21:00, with each episode will have around 3-4 artists. Nakai Masahiro and Esumi Makiko will both be present on all episodes, however the AKB48 member(s) will be swapped every episode. It is not known if the members of AKB48's sister groups will participate in the show as hosts.


Kayou-Kyoku!
火曜曲！
Official Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/kayou-kyoku/

TV Network: TBS
Air Time: Tuesdays, 21:00 ~ 21:54
Broadcast starts: 24 April 2012
Hosts: AKB48, Nakai Masahiro, Esumi Makiko

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DiVA [Lost the way] First Week Sales + Review

DiVA's [Lost the way] achieved #3 on the weekly chart selling 65,353 copies. DiVA's previous single [Cry] had sold 56,053 copies in its first week. The girls beat their 2nd single by approximately 9000 copies. Congrats girls!!

Since their style is different from the usual idol style, their sales are the weakest compared to other AKB48 subunits and knowing that their sales increased is definitely a good sign.

Lost the way
DiVA comes with under upbeat song, which doesn't disappoint me. As usual the vocals from the members are strong and powerful. The instrumentals used in the track are really superb as well.

Kanashimi no Mirage (悲しみのMirage)
While [Lost the way] was a bit more upbeat, this track has upbeat instrumental too but isn't as fast as the previous tracks. I found the members vocal to be much more pleasing here instead of the a-side.

Stargazer -2012 Here I am cuz of U- (Masuda Yuka from DiVA)
I found no difference between Yuka's original version and the DiVA version to be honest. The instruments were a bit more heavy and emphasizing in this remake. Yuka's vocal are of course amazing.

Kimi wa Pegasus -DiVA ver- (君はペガサス)
And we have another stage song that has been DiVA-tized. [Kimi wa Pegasus] is from Team K's 3rd stage [Nounai Paradise] and I will just say this just sounds like the original was remixed. Even then, I think I still prefer the original.

Kimi wa Pegasus -Original Ver- (君はペガサス)
I still don't get the point of this. Remaking is one thing but covering the same thing again too? But then again its a sort of a shuffle we've always wanted. Its the same thing as original, just with different vocals.


Overall: Their singles never seem to disappoint me while I still prefer Cry over this, even though DiVA who has a different music style compared to the usual idol music, is one of the best subunit in my opinion. Also very glad that the new members are just back dancers and not vocal participants otherwise the whole point of "Dance&Vocal Unit from AKB48" would be meaningless.

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SDN48 [NEXT ENCORE] Graduation Concert Set List

SDN48 held their graduation concert [NEXT ENCORE] yesterday, March 31st, in front of 3,000 fans at the NHK Hall in Tokyo.

As announced on October 2011, all 39 members of SDN48 graduated at the end of the concert yesterday. There were no surprise announcements at the concert. It was mentioned however that there will be a reunion concert held 1 year later.

Created in August 2009, SDN48 stood for SaturDay Night, and their concept was the adult equivalent of AKB48. All members of SDN48 are aged 20 and above, with the youngest being 21-year-old Fukuda Akane and the oldest being 34-year-old Nishikunihara Reiko. Because of their ages, the members were relieved on some of the classic idol rules like dating. One ex-member was even married when she was a member of the group.

SDN48 was based on the same Akihabara48 Theater as AKB48. Initially supposed to perform only on Saturday nights as their name suggests, after a while they started performing on weekdays too to relieve the pressure on the AKB48 teams performing in the same theater.

Debuted with the single [GAGAGA] on November 2009, SDN48 released a total of 5 singles, 1 album and 1 stage album throughout their career. Their first and final album [NEXT ENCORE] managed to achieve SDN48's 1st #1 ranking on the Oricon Charts.

At the end of the concert, there was a double encore. They also sang their representative song, Kodoku na Runner, twice. Then the 39 members stood in one line holding each other's hands and made their greetings. About 3000 fans were sobbing as they did an SDN48 call. The members hugged for about 5 minutes before making their final greetings and ending the concert.

With Captain Noro Kayo at the heart of the planning, the members considered the direction and configuration of how to showcase the 37 songs, starting from October last year. Noro appealed in tears, "We did not leave great records like AKB48 has, but please let this team be remembered."


NEXT ENCORE
Venue: NHK Hall
Date: 31 March 2012

M00 - Overture (SDN48 ver.)
M01 - Sado e Wataru (all)
M02 - MIN MIN MIN (Umeda Haruka, Ohori Megumi, Kohara Haruka, Kondo Sayaka, Sato Yukari, Serina, Kimoto Yuuki, Konan, Takahshi Yui, Tsuda Marina, Fukuda Akane, Fujikoso Yumi)
M03 - Yaritagariya-san (Okouchi Misa, Kouchi Masami, Tezuka Machiko, Aikawa Yuuki, Natsuko, Fukuda Akane, Fujikoso Yumi, Hosoda Miyu, Matsushima Rumi, Siyeon, Tojima Hana, Miray)
M04 - Saturday night party (Akita Kazue, Chen Qu, Kato Mami, Hatakeyama Chisaki, Okouchi Misa, Siyeon, Kojo Seara, Kimoto Yuuki, Komatani Hitomi, Fukuda Akane)
M05 - Never! (Sato Yukari, Noro Kayo, Imayoshi Megumi, Kouchi Masami, Serina, Tojima Hana, KONAN, Aikawa Yuuki, Matsushima Rumi, Takahashi Yui)
M06 - Black Boy (all)
-----MC1-----
M07 - Tengoku no Door wa 3kaime no Bell de Aku (Akita Kazue, Urano Kazumi, Ohori Megumi, Chen Qu, Tezuka Machiko, Noro Kayo, Hatakeyama Chisaki, Ito Mana, Kimoto Yuuki, KONAN, Matsushima Rumi, Umeda Haruka)
M08 - I'm sure (Kohara Haruka, Okouchi Misa, Natsuko, Akiko)
M09 - All In (Chen Qu, Noro Kayo, Nishikunihara Reiko, Kondo Sayaka, Imayoshi Megumi, Kojo Seara, Fujikoso Yumi, Ito Mana, KONAN, Hosoda Miyu)
M10 - Kashaasa de Jihaku Suru (Imayoshi Megumi, Umeda Haruka, Kaida Juri, Kato Mami, Nishikunihara Reiko, Mitsui Hiromi, Ito Mana, Oyama Aimi, Kojo Seara)
M11 - Futsuu no Anata (Akita Kazue, Urano Kazumi, Okouchi Misa, Ohori Megumi, Kouchi Masami, Kohara Haruka, Serina, Tezuka Machiko, Kimoto Yuki, Takahashi Yui, Natsuko, Hosoda Miyu, Matsushima Rumi, Komatani Hiromi, Shinahama Saemi, Miray)
M12 - Kuri Kuri (Kondo Sayaka, Chen Qu, Hatakeyama Chisaki, Aikawa Yuuki, Akiko, Ito Mana, KONAN, Takahashi Yui, Tsuda Marina, Fukuda Akane, Kojo Seara, Tojima Hana)
M13 - Ai yo Ugokanaide (Nishikunihara Reiko)
M14 - Kudoki Nagara Azabu Junban duet with Mino Monta (Akita Kazue, Urano Kazumi, Ohori Megumi, Kohara Haruka, Sato Yukari, Serina, Noro Kayo, KONAN, Mino Monta)
-----MC2-----
M15 - Kamujyatan Bojou (Kondo Sayaka, Chen Qu, Nachu, Hatakeyama Chisaki, Akiko, Kimoto Yuuki, Takahashi Yui, Tsuda Marina, Komatani Hitomi, Shinahama Saemi)
-----MC3-----
M16 - Haru-iro no Tsubasa (Akita Kazue)
M17 - Ai Chuseyo (Umeda Haruka, Kato Mami, Kouchi Masami, Kohara Haruka, Kondo Sayaka, Sato Yukari, Serina, Aikawa Yuuki, Takahashi Yui, Fukuda Akane, Fujikoso Yumi, Kaida Juri)
M18 - Doshaburi Lonely Night (Hatakeyama Chisaki, Mitsui Hiromi)
M19 - Abazure (Imayoshi Megumi, Okouchi Misa, Tezuka Machiko, Nachu, Nishikunihara Reiko, Mitsui Hiromi, Oyama Aimi, Hosoda Miyu, Matsushima Rumi, Kojo Seara, Komatani Hitomi, Shinahama Saemi, Siyeon, Tojima Hana, miray)
M20 - Eros no Trigger (Imayoshi Megumi, Okouchi Misa, Kaida Juri, Nachu, Nishikunihara Reiko, Hatakeyama Chisaki, Mitsui Hiromi, Oyama Aimi, Kimoto Yuuki, Natsuko, Fujikoso Yumi, Matsushima Rumi)
-----MC4-----
M21 - Yuuwaku no Garter (Akita Kazue, Kato Mami, Sato Yukari, Fukuda Akane, Aikawa Yuuki, Tojima Hana)
M22 - Best By (Imayoshi Megumi, Okouchi Misa, Kohara Haruka, Kondo Sayaka, Tezuka Machiko, Nachu, Nishikunihara Reiko, Mitsui Hiromi, Akiko, KONAN, Fujikoso Yumi, Hosoda Miyu, Kojo Seara, Komatani Hitomi, Shinahama Saemi, Siyeon)
M23 - Jajauma Lady (Hatakeyama Chisaki, Ohori Megumi, Urano Kazumi, Serina, Umeda Haruka, Kouchi Masami, Kimoto Yuuki, miray, Oyama Aimi, Takahashi Yui, Tsuda Marina, Matsushima Rumi)
-----MC5-----
M24 - Onedari Champagne (Akita Kazue, Urano Kazumi, Kaida Juri, Kato Masami, Kouchi Masami, Chen Qu, Noro Kayo, Hatakeyama Chisaki, Aikawa Yuuki, Akiko, Ito Mana, Natsuko)
M25 - Awajishima no Tamanegi (all)
-----MC6-----
M26 - Ganbariina (Akita Kazue, Imayoshi Megumi, Okouchi Misa, Kondo Sayaka, Chen Qu, Tezuki Machiko, Hatakeyama Chisaki, Mitsui Hiromi, Akiko, Ito Mana, Oyama Aimi, Kimoto Yuuki, Takahashi Yui, Tsuda Marina, Fukuda Akane, Matsushima Rumi)
M27 - Everyday, Kachuusha (SDN48 ver.) (Umeda Haruka, Urano Kazumi, Ohori Megumi, Kaida Juri, Kato Masami, Kouchi Masami, Sato Yukari, Kohara Haruka, Serina, Noro Kayo, KONAN, Fujikoso Yumi)
M28 - Ue Kara Natsuko (Imayoshi Megumi, Okouchi Misa, Kaida Juri, Tezuka Machiko, Nachu, Nishikunihara Reiko, Mitsui Hiromi, Oyama Aimi, Natsuko, Hosoda Miyu, Matsushima Rumi, Komatani Hiromi, Shinahama Saemi, Siyeon, Miray)
M29 - 1 Gallon no Ase (all)
M30 - Aisareru Tame ni (all)

-----Encore-----
EN1 - GAGAGA (Akita Kazue, Umeda Haruka, Urano Kazumi, Ohori Megumi, Kato Masami, Kohara Haruka, Sato Yukari, Serina, Chen Qu, Noro Kayo, KONAN, Kouchi Masami)
EN2 - Toukihou (all)
EN3 - Vampire Keikaku (all)
EN4 - Kodoku na Runner (all)

-----Double Encore-----
EN5 - Makeoshimi Congratulation (all)
EN6 - Owaranai Encore (all)
EN7 - Kodoku na Runner (all)

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[AMERICA] AKB48 Concert in Washington DC Live Stream

AKB48's Washington DC Concert will be live streamed today, April 1st, on AKB48's YouTube Channel and on Google+. No this is not an April Fools joke.

AKB48 YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AKB48

There will be 2 broadcasts, though the contents for both are the same. The first stream will start at 20:00~22:30 JST (06:00~08:30EST), and the second will be on 20:00 to 22:30 EST (10:00~12:
30 JST Apr 2nd)


M00 - Overture
M01 - Flying Get (Kuramochi Asuka center)
M02 - Everyday, Kachuusha
-----MC1-----
M03 - Bird (Takahashi Minami, Fujie Reina, Abe Maria)
M04 - Kiseki wa Ma ni Awanai (Miyazawa Sae, Umeda Ayaka, Kawaei Rina)
M05 - Gyakuten Ouji-sama (Minegishi Minami, Kojima Natsuki, Takahashi Juri)
M06 - Heart gata Virus (Takajo Aki, Ichikawa Miori, Hirata Rina)
M07 - Kioku no Dilemma (Kuramochi Asuka, Matsui Sakiko, Iriyama Anna, Suzuki Shihori)
-----MC-----
M08 - Kaze wa Fuiteiru
M09 - Beginner (Takahashi Minami center)
M10 - Ponytail to Shushu
M11 - Sakura no Ki ni Narou

-----ENCORE-----
EN1 - Heavy Rotation
EN2 - Sakura no Hanabiratachi





Yay there is a live stream of the DC Concert. Good news for those who weren't able to make it to the concert. Those are also some splendid shuffles. I need to see Ricchan in Kiseki wa Ma ni Awanai. Now if only they would stream the Singapore concerts too.

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