French Kiss 5th Single [Romance Privacy] 1st Week Sales + Review

French Kiss' 5th single [Romance Privacy] sold 85,011 copies on the first week getting #2 spot on the Oricon charts.  This is a huge drop from their last single [Saisho no Mail] which sold 133,662 on it's first week. Romance Privacy (ロマンス・プライバシー) The new single is definitely atop Saisho no Mail and while this is of course your typical French Kiss song, I'm still not so a fan of it. The group's a-side are probably not to my taste but it's a generic idol like song and the verses sound really really generic to me. I love how the chorus goes though. Rainy day This has to be my favorite...

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NMB48 Tour [~Mina-san, Chapu Chapu shimasho~] Setlists

NMB48 performed the 2nd Day of their Kinki Tour [~Mina-san, Chapu Chapu shimasho~] in Kyoto Prefecture on July 27th. While on the 1st Day both Team N and M performed, this time Team N and a senbatsu of 16 Kenkyusei performed. Below you can find the setlist from this concert, as well as the one from the first one. This post will be updated whenever a new setlist is performed during the tour. In other news: Kinoshita Momoka, who took an injury break since June 27th, will resume her activities during a handshake event on July 28th. NMB48近畿ｺﾝｻｰﾄﾂｱｰ ～みなさん､ちゃぷちゃぷしましょ～ NMB48 Kinki Concert Tour...

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Nogizaka46 3rd Single [Hashire! Bicycle] Tracklisting

The tracklisting for Nogizaka46's 3rd single [Hashire! Bicycle] have been revealed. The single will be released on 22nd August 2012. It will be released in three CD+DVD editions and one CD only edition. The DVD contents are not yet fully announced, although it is known that the Type A coupling song [Namida ga Mada Kanashimi datta Koro] has a PV which was shown on their official website for a limited time only. There will also be individual member "casual trip" dating videos. Nogizaka46 3rd Single Hashire! Bicycle 走れ!Bicycle 22 August 2012 Type A   1,600yen[CD] 01. Hashire!...

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Watanabe Mayu 2nd Single [Otona Jelly Beans] 1st Day Sales

The first day sales for Watanabe Mayu's second solo single [Otona Jelly Beans] are out. She sold 38,109 copies to place number 3 in the Oricon Daily Chart. A long way off the 1st place sales of 172,299 and quite a way behind the 2nd place single's sales of 44,396. Mayuyu's first single [Synchro Tokimeki] sold 50,145 on day one, so this is quite a drop. Although the other AKB48 soloists also saw drops in sales from their first to second singl...

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AKB48 Album [1830m] Tracklist + Covers

The tracklist for AKB's album [1830m] is out. The 2 disc CD album comes out on August 15 contains some old tracks plus a lot of new ones. CD 2 contains all new tracks. We also finally get the zenza girls song studio recorded!. The track [Gu~ Gu~ Onaka] is a song from 2010 used for Mezamashi Campaign CM. While [Daiji na Jikan] for Wonda CM, [Yasashisa no Chizu] for Red Cross CM and [Itterasshai] for Wonda Morning Shot CM.  The theater version of the album excludes tracks 11, 13, 14 and 15 from disc 2. Check out the tracklist: AKB48 1830m 15 August 2012 2CD+DVD Back Cover 3,200yen Theater...

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Nogizaka46 3rd Single [Hashire! Bicycle] Covers Revealed

The covers for Nogizaka46's 3rd single [Hashire! Bicycle] have been revealed. The single will be released on 22nd August 2012. Type A features Ikoma Rina whilst Type B features Sakurai Reika. Type C features Ikuta Erika and Hoshino Minami. The Regular CD only edition features Hashimoto Nanami, Shiraishi Mai, Matsumura Sayuri, and Nishino Nanase. Type A and B      Type C and Regular It seems odd to me to only feature so few members on the covers, with two solo covers at that. I'm also surprised that none of the covers used the striking costumes from the promo image and...

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Sashihara Rino Special Send-Off Show Setlist

On 23rd July 2012, Sashihara Rino performed her final show as a member of Team A. Sashihara has already started performing as the 17th member of HKT48's Team H, after her transfer there from AKB48. To mark her final appearance, a special show was performed in the AKB48 Theatre with all of the Team A members. This show started out like a normal performance of Team A's 6th Stage [Mokugekisha], however after the unit songs, the show turned into a special farewell party. Team A performed three singles, followed by [Itoshiki Natasha], Sasshi's unit song from Team B's 4th Stage. She then performed...

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Nonaka Misato to star in [Hitori Kakurenbo Gekijoban Shin - Toshi Densetsu] Movie

Nonaka Misato will play the lead female role Kurata Sakura in the movie [Hitori Kakurenbo Gekijoban Shin - Toshi Densetsu] to be released September 1st. Micha and co-star Ayukawa Taiyo are members of their high school movie club. They are shooting a film around the game hitori kakurenbo (hide-and-seek alone). This is some kind of occult game one plays alone at 3am. It involves putting some of your bodily samples (eg/ your fingernail clippings) in a teddy bear/doll, and summoning a spirit into it in your bathroom. Then you play hide-and-seek with it, with the aim being to stab the teddy bear...

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Kashiwagi Yuki Solo Concert Setlist + Single Announcement

Kashiwagi Yuki performed her first ever solo concert on July 13th at Nakano Sun Plaza to 2000 lucky fans who won tickets through a lottery connected with her [Yu, Yu, Yukirin...] photobook. She performed a full set of songs, including those from AKB48, French Kiss, and other idol groups. During the encore, it was announced that Yukirin would be releasing a solo single. No release date is yet set for this. After the announcement, Kuramochi Asuka and Takajo Aki joined her on stage to perform two songs as French Kiss, including their lastest single [Romance Privacy]. The full setlist of the...

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New SKE48 Horror Mobile-drama [Gakkou no Kaidan]

Not exactly "new", but I'm clearing up some old news that weren't posted Several members of SKE48 have been casted in a new horror drama made available exclusively to mobile devices, [Gakkou no Kaidan]. A revival of the hugely popular film of the same name released in 1995, this is SKE48's first time attempting a horror drama. Mobile distribution will start on 20 July, 2012 on BeeTV, and will be updated every Wednesday and Saturday. Gakkou no Kaidan will be a total of 15 episodes, each a different short story about 10mins long featuring either 1 or 3 SKE48 member(s). Interestingly,...

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French Kiss 5th Single [Romance Privacy] 1st Day Sales

French Kiss placed #2 on the Oricon Daily Chart with first day sales of their 5th single [Romance Privacy]. They sold 47,194 copies, whilst first place NEWS sold 121,097 copies of their single Chankapana. French Kiss's 4th single [Saisho no Mail] did reach number one on its first day salesm, with 66,582 copies, but released a day earlier than is standard. [Romance Privacy] also fails to beat the first day sales of their 3rd single [Kakkowarui I Love You!] which sold 56,334 copies. These sales figures are quite a drop for French Kiss, hopefully they will pick up during the week. However,...

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NMB48 Tour Setlist+4th Generation Audition

NMB48 has held the first concert of their Kinki tour [Mina-san, chapu chapu shimasho] in Shiga prefecture today. It's NMB48's second tour after they already toured Osaka Prefecture. While the last time only Team N performed, this time Team M and some Kenkyusei also participated. Check out the setlist below. As we are used from x48, today's concert came with an annoucement. The 4th Generation auditions will be held from August 1 on. NMB48近畿ｺﾝｻｰﾄﾂｱｰ ～みなさん､ちゃぷちゃぷしましょ～ NMB48 Kinki Concert Tour ~Mina-san, chapu chapu shimasho~ Date: 18th July~ 21st August First Show, Otsu Shimin...

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HKT48 [Love Party] at Space World

On July 14th, HKT48 hosted an event named [Love Party] at Space World, near Fukuoka. The mini-live was open to 750 people who had tickets to the theme park that day. Children were invited on-stage to dance with HKT48 during their performance of Aitakatta and received a free t-shirt. The setlist of their performance was: 1. Te wo Tsunaginagara 2. Chime wa LOVE SONG 3. Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara 4. Kimi to Niji to Taiyou to 5. Aitakatta 6. Heavy Rotation 7. Manatsu no Sounds Good! HKT48 are involved in other promotional events at Space World until September. Visitors can win signed goods,...

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Masuda Yuka withdraws from Janken competition and Tokyo Dome concerts

At Team B's National Tour Concert on July 10th, Masuda Yuka announced that she will not be participating in AKB48's Tokyo Dome Concerts. She had previously announced that she would not be partaking in the Janken tournament to decide the senbatsu members for AKB48's 29th single. The reason for her withdrawal is to concentrate on rehearsals for Miyamoto Amon's version of The Wizard of Oz, which starts on September 28th, 2012. Yuka was cast in the lead role of Dorothy in the musical. The musical will tour Yokohama, Osaka, Tokyo and Nagoya until November. Performing a concert at Tokyo Dome...

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Matsui Sakiko to star in upcoming movie [Bingo]

Matsui Sakiko is to star in the movie [Bingo] which will be released in cinemas on September 22nd. This horror movie was written by Yamada Yuusuke and directed by Fukada Youhei. Set in the year 20XX, the film revolves around a game of human bingo where the losers are subject to the death, facing immediate execution. The unlucky prisoners all sit in a big grid, hoping their number doesn't come up in the lottery. Watch the teaser trailer, as introduced by Sakippe, below:...

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Matsui Sakiko To Host [Yomikyou Symphonic Live] TV show

Team K's Matsui Sakiko has been chosen as the host of a new classical music show [Yomikyou Symphonic Live]. It is scheduled to air once a month starting 15th August, 2012 on Nippon Television. The show will follow the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra (Yomikyou). On the show, Sakippe will interview conductors and musicians, and also give us some behind-the-scenes footage of training sessions and backstage activities. Sakippe has a rich background in classical music. Currently studying in the Tokyo College of Music, she has being playing the piano since childhood and even performed...

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AKB48 27th Single Titled [Gingham Check]

The title of AKB48's 27th single has been announced to be [Gingham Check] and will be released on August 29th. The senbatsu for this single was elected by fans, the full results of which can be found here. Oshima Yuko was voted number one and thus takes the centre position in the single. The song was first performed on the July 14th broadcast of Ongaku no Hi which you can watch below: The Future Girls coupling song is titled [Show Fight] and is being used in the following HP Ultrabook CM: The style of this single is very reminiscent of Nogizaka46 both in the music and in the checked...

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AKB48 New Album Titled [1830m] and Track Details Revealed

AKB48's new album has been titled [1830m]. This title matches that of the forthcoming concerts [AKB48 in TOKYO DOME ～1830m no Yume～] scheduled for August 24-26. Performing a concert at Tokyo Dome has long been AKB48's dream, with their official blog title meaning "The Path to Tokyo Dome". 1830m is the distance between their theatre in Akihabara and Tokyo Dome, so reflects the journey they have taken to reach their goal. [1830m] will be released on August 15th on 2xCD + DVD. It will feature 30 tracks including: - First Rabbit - Ougon Centre - Miniskirt no Yousei - Ue Kara Mariko - Anti -...

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AKB48 14th Generation Kenkyuusei Revealed

Six new members of AKB48 have been announced as the 14th generation of Kenkyuusei. They are: Uchiyama Natsuki (25 September 1995, Kanagawa) Okada Nana (7 November 1997, Kanagawa) Kojima Mako (30 May 1997, Tokyo) Nishino Miki (4 April 1999, Shizouka) Hashimoto Hikari (17 June 1997, Kanagawa) Maeda Mitsuki (5 October 1998, Tokyo) The first performance by any 14th generation members was Natsuki, Mako, Miki, and Mitsuki performing the Zenza girls song [Lemon no Toshigoro] at the 9th July Team K theatre performance of [RESE...

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NMB48 5th Single [Virginity] Covers Revealed

The covers for NMB48's 5th single [Virginity] have been revealed. While Type A and B feature half of the Senbatsu members each, Type C cover is a two shot of Yamamoto Sayaka and Watanabe Miyuki, and the cover of the Theater Version shows the five frontgirls Yamamoto Sayaka, Watanabe Miyuki, Yamada Nana, Fukumoto Aina and Ogasawara Mayu. Which cover do you like the most? Type A, Type B Type C, Theater Edition Type A and B are cute but nothing special. Type C cover is really unusual, I like it. It is also nice they decided to put more girls on the theater version cover than...

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AKB48 [Team Surprise] formed for Pachinko tie-in, with 12 new songs

On 12th July at Yokohama Arena, Team Surprise was announced as a tie-in for Pachinko company Kyoraku. The Team Surprise members are: Team A: Maeda Atsuko, Takahashi Minami, Takajo Aki, Shinoda Mariko, Kojima Haruna Team K: Oshima Yuko, Itano Tomomi, Yokoyama Yui, Miyazawa Sae, Minegishi Minami Team B: Watanabe Mayu, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kitahara Rie Team 4: Shimazaki Haruka SKE48 Team S: Matsui Rena HKT48 Team H: Sashihara Rino As this is a tie-in for a pachinko machine, all members selected are 18 or over. At the event, Team Surprise, minus the absent Sashihara Rino, performed [Manatsu no...

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NMB48 5th Single called [Virginity]+Tracklist announced

NMB48 has now revealed the title as well as the tracklist for their 5th single set to be released August 8. The single will be called [Virginity]. As previously reported, the single will include couplings from the usual Akagumi and Shirogumi as well as a new unit Namba Teppoutai Sono Ichi. Akagumi's song is called Sonzai shitenai mono (Things that do not exist), Shirogumi's Bokura no Regatta (Our Regatta) and Namba Teppoutai Sono Ichi's song will be Sunahama de Pistol (Pistol on the Beach). Apart from those the single also includes the CM song Mousou Girlfriend as well as a...

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