Welcome to MELOS no Michi
an information and news blog dedicated to covering the latest news for: AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, JKT48

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AKB48 Is Looking for a Part-Time Member
Following OtonaAKB, AKB48 came up with a new form of temporary membership: part-time idol. Find out more about this new project here.
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AKB48 Team 8 Makes Theater Debut
AKB48 Team 8 performed its first theater show on August 5. Get more information about the shonichi performance here!
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SKE48 Announces 7th Generation Auditions
SKE48 is looking for new members and this time the fans will be part of the decision about who joins the group!
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AKB48 37th Single Senbatsu Election - Final Results
AKB48 held its election for the 6th time and for the 1st time Watanabe Mayu won it. Check out the full results here!
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Details on the AKB48 Group Pennant Race
The AKB48 Group teams will compete against each other in a new event, the AKB48 Group Pennant Race. Points will be awarded based on theater ticket applications, theater version handshake ticket sales and sousenkyo votes.
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30 June 2010

Seeing AKB in Anime Expo 2010

Schedule updated: 02 July

I decided to be nice and put up a schedule for seeing AKB in Anime Expo. Since the AX thread in Stage48 and Nihongogo will be pretty busy and spammed the next few days, it's going to be difficult to keep track of the schedule. This will be updated whenever something changes. All data here is gathered from the 2 forums, just put together nicely and without the need to search through pages and pages of the forum.

Also a reminder: learn the chants, claps, shouts, name calls, glowstick calls. The hardest is remembering the 3 chants, the rest are relatively easy. AKB doesn't have any wotagei, just follow the hand movements of the girls. Check out live clips of the singles on youtube to learn the timings.


MEMBERS ATTENDING
Oshima Yuko, Maeda Atsuko, Takahashi Minami, Minegeshi Minami, Kojima Haruna, Itano Tomomi, Ono Erena, Miyazawa Sae, Maeda Ami, Kuramochi Asuka, Sashihara Rino, Fujie Reina, Moeno Nito, Takajo Aki, Kitahara Rie
Plus additional (may or may not attend concert)
Kasai Tomomi, Sato Natsuki
Other important People
Akimoto Yasushi (Producer), Kondo Sayaka (SDN, Interpreter)


MIXes
The MIX is those chanting things you hear being shouted by those wotas in lots of AKB songs. There are many variations made up by newer wotas but these are the 3 main and most important ones.
MIX 1: Yosh iku zoh, Tiger, Fire, Cyber, Fiber, Diver, Viber, Jya Jya!!!
          (used for most songs)
MIX 2: Torah, Hee, Jinzou, Sen-ii, Ama, Shindou, Kasentobijokyo!!!
          (also used for most songs that have Chant 1, never used by itself) 
MIX 3: Chape, Ape, Kara, Kira, Rara, Tusuke, Moyhontusuke
          (hardly used, but is used in Ponyshu. Others include Wagamama na Nagareboshi, Shonichi, Kodoku na Runner)

Videos to train your MIXes
10nen Zakura & Oogoe Diamond: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8ahJAZvAFM
Iiwake Maybe & RIVER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIoOzNriEFI
Aitakatta & Namida Surprise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO2wyVeFWZE

CLAPS
Exactly what the title says. You clap. Just clap along with the beat at certain portions of certain songs. Sometimes it is a double clap with an accompanying "oooOOO" sound (rising intonation). You will have to learn this on your own with live videos. You can skip these if your short of time to learn.

SHOUTS
In some songs you shout out certain stuff at certain points of time. Etc.
In Oogoe Diamond, you shout "SUKI!!" together with the girls when they shout it.
In RIVER, you shout "RIVER!!!!" when the girls shout RIVER.
In the start of 10nen Zakura and Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru, you shout "forty-eight!"
You will have to learn this on your own with videos.

NAME CALLS
Very Important. And pretty simple too. Just shout your favorite members names or nicknames (depends on member) after they have a solo or duet line in a group song. Again, self learn and practice with videos.

GLOWSTICK CALLS
I don't even know this. Just try to follow the Japanese wotas who will be there. There are 2 possibilities for this. 1 is to follow the girls hand movements, the other is some movement which i have never been able to make out in concert videos. These 2 never clash though.


A MAP TO AX AND LOCATIONS:
http://www.anime-expo.org/guides/map-lacc/


Schedule after the jump due to length
Read more ...

17 June 2010

Watarirouka Hashiritai 5th Single [Seishun no Flag]

Covers


Top Row: Versions A, B, C
Second Row: Normal, DVD

Seishun no Flag
Release Date: 30 June 2010
Price:
  Limited ver: 1700 yen
  Normal ver: 1200 yen
  DVD ver: 2300 yen
Seishun no Flag (Limited ver. A)
[CD]

01. Seishun no Flag
02. Hashiritai GO! GO! GO!
03. Nantai Renai Kuragekko
04. Seishun no Flag (Instrumental)
05. Hashiritai GO! GO! GO! (Instrumental)
06. Nantai Renai Kuragekko (Instrumental)

[DVD]
01. Seishun no Flag (Normal PV)

02. Watarirouka Hashiritai Original Movie A (1)
03. Watarirouka Hashiritai Original Movie B (1)

Comes with 1 trading card out of #58, 59, 60
Seishun no Flag (Limited ver. B)    
[CD]

01. Seishun no Flag
02. Hashiritai GO! GO! GO!
03. Nantai Renai Kuragekko
04. Seishun no Flag (Instrumental)
05. Hashiritai GO! GO! GO! (Instrumental)        
06. Nantai Renai Kuragekko (Instrumental)

[DVD]
01. Seishun no Flag Music Video (Normal PV)
02. Watarirouka Hashiritai Original Movie A (2)
03. Watarirouka Hashiritai Original Movie B (2)


Comes with 1 trading card out of #61, 62, 63
Seishun no Flag (Limited Ver. C)
[CD]

01. Seishun no Flag
02. Hashiritai GO! GO! GO!
03. Nantai Renai Kuragekko
04. Seishun no Flag (Instrumental)
05. Hashiritai GO! GO! GO! (Instrumental)
06. Nantai Renai Kuragekko (Instrumental
)
[PHOTOBOOK]
20 pages of member’s photos


Comes with 1 trading card out of #64, 65, 66
Seishun no Flag (Normal Ver.)
[CD]

01. Seishun no Flag
02. Hashiritai GO! GO! GO!
03. Nantai Renai Kuragekko
04. Seishun no Flag (Instrumental)
05. Hashiritai GO! GO! GO! (Instrumental)
06. Nantai Renai Kuragekko (Instrumental)


First press: 
Comes with 1 trading card out of #67, 68, 6                      
Seishun no Flag (DVD)
[DVD]

01. Seishun no Flag (Special PV)
02. Seishun no Flag (Dance Shot)
03. Seishun no Flag (Multi Angle)
04. Seishun no Flag (Choreography)
05. Seishun no Flag (PV Making of)


First Press:
Comes with 1 trading card out of #70, 71, 72
External bonus poster depending on where you order from.


Order Links
HMV/CDJapan/YesAsia

More after the jump
Read more ...

16 June 2010

SKE48 3rd Single [Gomen ne, SUMMER] updates

Covers
 
Type A, Type B

Gomen ne, SUMMER
Release Date: 07 July 2010
Price: 1600 yen
Gomen ne, SUMMER (Type A)
[CD]
 

01. Gomen ne, SUMMER
02. Shojo wa Manatsu ni Nani wo Suru
03. Pinocchio Gun (Theatre Girls ver.)
04. Gomen ne SUMMER (Instrumental)
05. Shojo wa Manatsu ni Nani wo Suru? (Instrumental)  
06. Pinocchio Gun (Instrumental)
[DVD]  
01. Gomen ne SUMMER (PV)
02.
Shojo wa Manatsu ni Nani wo Suru? (PV)
03.
Pinocchio Gun (PV)
Gomen ne, SUMMER (Type B)
[CD]
 

01. Gomen ne SUMMER
02. Hazumisaki
03. Pinocchio Gun (Theatre Girls ver.)
04. Gomen ne SUMMER (Instrumental)
05. Hazumisaki (Instrumental)     
06.
Pinocchio Gun (Instrumental)                     
[DVD]  
01. Gomen ne SUMMER (PV)
02.
Hazumisaki (PV)
03.
Pinocchio Gun (PV)

Order Links
HMV: Type A, Type B
CD Japan: Type A, Type B
YesAsia: Type A, Type B

Download Links
MP3 rip
Gomen ne, Summer: http://www.mediafire.com/?dnwty4zzyox
Shojo wa Manatsu ni Nani wo Suru?: http://www.mediafire.com/?lkeyh20yihz
Hazumisaki: http://www.mediafire.com/?jmwijynm2qn
Pinocchio Gun (Theater Girls ver): http://www.mediafire.com/?eojioq22zdu


More after the jump
Read more ...

10 June 2010

AKB48 Senbatsu Election 2010 final results

Senbatsu Election Results are out! Who ranks where?
SHOCKER INCOMING!!!
Comment on what you think of the results and who you voted for, if you did vote.


1.  Oshima Yuko (31448)
Melos: Woah now this is a shocker! I never expected Yuko to takeover Acchan. Even with the close results in the midway result, I expected Acchan to still pull through. Yuko is a better singer, dancer and entertainer compared to Acchan. However as much as I love Yuko much more than Acchan, I guess you can't change the face of AKB with another person. Well maybe not immediately. It will be interesting to see Yuko at the center, at least for the next single. Lets give Yuko a chance.
Kieyuku: WHAAAAAAAT? I'm super shocked!
AKB will never be the same again... Well, I neither like nor dislike the either of them, but really it's upsetting because Maeda has become the "face" of AKB, so I'm finding it hard to accept. Yuko's comment was that she'll help AKB be the #1 idol group in Japan, but I don't like her statement. I feel she's a bit assumptive...but that's just me.

2.  Maeda Atsuko (30851)
Melos: Acchan got dethroned. Nothing much to say since I said everything I wanted to say above. Just wanna add, Acchan wotas don't be sad or anything. Acchan will be back in the center in the single after next (18th).
Kieyuku: Actually, I still believe Acchan is the most popular, but for this election the Yuko wotas/Acchan haters were going all out to trump her. I don't think Yuko's position accurately reflects the situation.
Poor Acchan, I'm not really into her, but I can't imagine how she would be feeling. Sure she says it's okay and will continue to work hard and payback, but seriously, if I were her, I'd say that too, so that I don't worry my fans and also don't sound like a sore loser. Who knows how she really feels? ):
Vote difference is small, when you consider that this is a fight for #1 and #2!

3.  Shinoda Mariko (23139)
Melos: Mariko overtook Tomochin. I was thinking Tomochin would keep her 3rd spot from the halfway results.

Kieyuku: No surprises here, Mariko's ranking throughout the vote period was pretty consistent.

More after the jump :p
Read more ...

05 June 2010

MELOS no Michi welcomes KIEYUKU

You probably have noticed that I'm pretty slow on news nowadays. Not my fault. Blame my school. I'm pretty much burned out by the many projects and homework spam. So, new writer!!! Whoooo *party*. Less work for me then hehehehe. *party*

Anyway, KIEYUKU will be joining MELOS no Michi and will now be helping me to help you keep up with the news. She's a Kitarie oshi so it will add some flavour to this blog too. Yay!

So introductory post!



Hi there, my name's KIEYUKU and from today onwards I will be joining MELOS no Michi as a contributing writer.

Generally, I like Japanese female artists and girl groups. I'm primarily a Perfume fan but I am into AKB48 very much as well. I am also a Hello!Project fan.

I'm quite a sucker for CDs, DVDs and official goods, so most of the time my savings go that way. At the top of the list of stuff that I really want to have but rather impossible - the adidas x AKB48 Official World Cup 2010 jersey (Kitahara Rie one) and the 2nd edition BLT x AKB48 Kitahara Rie tee. So if you want to bribe me into doing anything. you know what to do. *wink*

So for a quick, short intro about myself, I shall digest the info into a neat format. (Okay, I admit I'm just lazy to write in paragraphs.)

AKB48 Oshimen: Kitahara Rie

[PLEASE VOTE KITARIE FOR SENBATSU ELECTION!!!]

STAGE48 Name: polyrhythm
Start of AKB Fandom: February 2010

Name: Grace
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Birthdate: February 26, 1993
Country: Singapore
Occupation: Year 1 polytechnic student

Tumblr: hitorigoto
Formspring: AKB48

Favourite genre: J-technopop, J-pop.
Favourite artists: Perfume, AKB48, Buono!, C-ute, MEG, capsule, Suzuki Ami, SAWA, Mizca, EXIT TRANCE, etc.


Full AKB48 Member Ranking after the jump.

Read more ...

03 June 2010

AKB48 Senbatsu Election 2010 second results

Second result announcement. Only one week left to vote. Vote if you haven't already.


 RANK   TEAM     MEMBER NAME     VOTES 
01AMaeda Atsuko20966
02KOshima Yuko19465
03KItano Tomomi13440
04AShinoda Mariko13289
05BWatanabe Mayu12307
06ATakahashi Minami9983
07AKojima Haruna9252
08BKashiwagi yuki8709
09KMiyazawa Sae7683
10SMatsui Rena6419
11ATakajo Aki6357
12KOno Erena4766
------------MEDIA LINE------
13BKasai Tomomi4532
14BKitahara Rie4414
15KMinegeshi Minami4091
15SMatsui Jurina4091
17BMiyazaki Miho3369
18ASashihara Rino3357
19BSato Amina3227
20ANakagawa Haruka2726
21KAkimoto Sayaka2621
------------SENBATSU LINE------
22AOota Aika2332
23AKuramochi Asuka2278
24BMasuda Yuka1644
25BHirajima Natsumi1633
26BKomori Mika1430
27SOya Masana1217
28KNito Moeno1050
29KUmeda Ayaka903
30SYagami Kumi897
31BIshida Haruka892
32KFujie Reina880
33BSato Sumire869
34RSYamauchi Suzuran838
35RSShimazaki Haruka835
36AKatayama Haruka736
37RSIshiguro Atsuki682
38KYonezawa Rumi646
39KKikuchi Ayaka641
40KIITakayanagi Akane568
40AMaeda Ami568
------------UNDERGIRLS LINE------


More after the jump
Read more ...

02 June 2010

[Ponytail to Shushu] 1st Week Sales

"My prediction for 1st week still stands at at least 400,000. It will surely break it, the question is by how much."


Damn this is impressive. A 159,050 rise after first day! Didn't expect this. At least not on the first day. It was obvious they were going to break the 500k barrier on the days leading to the end of the first week. Still, seeing this with my own eyes is is another thing.At this rate, 17th Single is going to beat 600k :) .

Records broken:

- Best first week numbers for a female group since Momusu's [Renai Revolution 21] (515k) released approx. 9 years and 5 months ago
- Best first week numbers for a female artist since Utada Hiraku's [Can You Keep a Secret?] (784k) approx. 9 year and 3 months ago.

For those of you haters thinking that they only managed to reach this amount because of their gimmicks and such, sure the Senbatsu Election helped to boost the sales, but only the First Press copies comes with the voting tickets it. Anything after doesn't come with any stuff. Ponyshu is also currently in the Top 10 in the chaku uta (music ringtone) chart, Top 5 in the Full Song charts, and #1 in the Video Clips chart. Downloading from there doesn't give you a free handshake or anything like that. They also have many older songs in the Top 100 of all of these charts. Deny all you want, but it won't change the facts.


(Credits to z3144228, Jasey, aakun, shine_ever03, Polyrhythm)
Read more ...