Watanabe Mayu 3rd Single [Hikaru Monotachi] Tracklist

The tracklisting for Watanabe Mayu's third solo single [Hikaru Monotachi] has been announced. The DVD tracklistings are still unknown. [Hikaru Monotachi] will be released in five editions on November 21st. Three CD+DVD editions, one CD only edition, and one CD＋α edition which shares the same tracklisting as the CD only edition. It is currently not known what extras you get with the ＋α edition. It is the 2nd track on each CD which varies with type, whilst track 3 is the same on all types. This is [Sayonara no Hoshi], the theme song to the anime film Nerawareta Gakuen, which Mayuyu voices...

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NMB48 to get LODs

It was announced that NMB48 will finally get LODs (LIVE!! ON DEMAND) on DMM.com. Daily shows performed in the theatre are uploaded there and can be viewed against a fee. DMM is the service that also provides LODs for the other groups of the x48 family. Further information and the exact start date will be announced on a later date. NMB48 on DMM: http://www.dmm.com/lod/nmb48/ (under construction) This was about time! Up until now we had only a few DVDs for NMB48. Looking forward to see more theater performances from th...

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AKB48 3rd Film [Documentary of AKB48: No Flower Without Rain] Announced

The 3rd AKB48 film [Documentary of AKB48: No Flower Without Rain] has been announced and will start screening in cinemas in Japan from February 1st, 2013. The film will be directed by Takahashi Eiki, who directed last year's [Documentary of AKB48: Show Must Go On], but not the 2011 film [Documentary of AKB48: To Be Continued]. Similar to the previous film, this documentary will take a look at the biggest events that have occurred to AKB48 throughout 2012, including the graduation of ace, Maeda Atsuko, and the momentous concerts at Tokyo Dome. The film will mostly feature interviews and behind-the-scenes...

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Iwasa Misaki 2nd Solo Single to be Released in January

AKB48's Iwasa Misaki will release her 2nd solo single in January 2013. This was announced today at an event in Aqua City, Odaiba. Wasamin's first enka single [Mujin Eki] was released back in Feburary 2012, so it is almost a year between releases, however, enka tends to work on longer timescales than pop.   I'm very happy for Wasamin that her 2nd single has been announced. Congratulations! It is her dream to be an enka singer, so it is great that AKB48 is enabling this to happen. Her first single was really enjoyable so looking forward to this o...

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NMB48 Yamamoto Sayaka and Watanabe Miyuki to release photobooks

NMB48's Yamamoto Sayaka and Watanabe Miyuki will both release a photobook, the first solo ones for NMB48 members. The photobooks will be released at the same day, November 20, and the girls will compete against each other in terms of sales. The one who sold more copies in the first week will get to appear in a solo CM. The pictures for Sayanee's photobook were taken in her home town Osaka, Okinawa and Nankoku. It is said to show different expressions from her, from relaxed to smiling, in other words to show her from "360 degrees". Milky's photobook was shot in her home town Nara as well as...

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NMB48 Team N Matsuda Shiori to Graduate

NMB48 Team N member Matsuda Shiori has announced on October 18 that she will graduate from the group. The reason is that she does not feel completely commited anymore and wants to be a normal girl again. Her graduation show will be on October 24. Matsuda Shiori is a 1st Generation member of NMB48 and an original member of Team N. She had to take a break from her activities from September to December last year when she was suspended but resumed her activities from January 2012 on after a fan voting. Shiokichi is only the second Team N member to graduate, following Mori Ayaka who graduated...

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Team 4 Final Concert Setlist

During the Tokyo Dome Team Shuffle it was announced that there would no longer be a Team 4 within AKB48. On the 17th October 2012, they performed their final concert together as part of the Nonaka Misato, Ugoku 47 Prefectures National Tour. Their final performance together will be at the AKB48 Theatre performing their first stage [Boku no Taiyou] on the 10th October 2012 marked their 1st anniversary as Team 4. [Enjoy 4] is the Team 4 version of [Wasshoi B] that they also performed at their two September dates of this tour. Nonaka Misato, Ugoku 47 Prefectures National Tour Day 16, Ibaraki Date:...

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Kasai Tomomi to Live off 10,000 yen for a Month in Reality TV Show

Kasai Tomomi will appear on reality TV show [1ヶ月1万円生活]. In this show, the contestants are given 10,000 yen to cover all living expenses for one month. This roughly translate to 125 US dollars, or 100 Euros, so it is a very tight budget, and the show is about how they survive living off this tiny amount of money. At the end of the month, the contestant with the most amount of money left over is the winner. Kasai will be up against economic analyst Morinaga Takurou, and comedian Yoshimura Takashi from Heisei Nobushikobushi. The show will start airing from the 18th October 2012. This show...

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NMB48 Kenkyusei Togo Sora leaves NMB48

Yet another NMB48 member has decided to leave: 3rd Generation Kenkyuusei Togo Sora decided to withdraw from NMB48 to focus on her studies. This was announced on October 11 and the decision came into effect the same day. This announcement came only one day after Team BII was announced, which Togo did not made. Togo is already the 4th NMB48 member to leave since September 28, following Jo Eriko, Fujita Runa and Ota Riona. Togo Sora's Comment to her fans: Original Message At last...finally... The time has come I have to tell you. I, Kenkyuusei Togo Sora, will withdraw from NMB48 today. Thank...

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SKE48 [Request Hour Setlist Best 50 2012] Setlist

SKE48 held their 3rd ever Request Hour Setlist Best 50 2012 on 11-12 October 2012. Voting tickets were found within their 10th single [Kiss Datte Hidarikiki]. The first day results are in from 50-26 and showed surprising drops for some of their singles. On day two, last year's winning song, the Matsui Rena solo song [Kareha no Station], dropped to number three. The winner was [Hazumisaki], a coupling song from single [Gomen ne, Summer], which only placed 15th last year. Kitahara Rie made her SKE48 debut during the encore - this follows the announcement of her dual AKB48/SKE48 membership during...

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NMB48 6th Single [Kitagawa Kenji] Covers+Tracklist out

NMB48 has released the covers and tracklist for its 6th single [Kitagawa Kenji] which will go on sale November 7. The single will come in four versions: Type A, B, C and the Theater Version. As usual Type A and B include Akagumi and Shirogumi songs called Renai Higai Todoke (Love damage report) respectively Hoshizora no Caravan (Caravan of the starry sky). Type C includes Fuyushougun no Regret (General Winter's Regret) a song by Namba Teppudai Sono Ni, the new version of the unit Namba Teppoudai Sono Ichi. Additionally a song called In Goal will be included in all versions and the Theater...

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NMB48 Team BII Members Announced

During the last part of the NMB48 2nd Anniversary Special Live on October 10, the members of  Team BII were revealed. The team consists completely of 3rd Generation members. Yabushita Shu seems to be center of Team BII and Kamieda Emika was announced as captain. Two years after it started NMB48 is now finally complete with all three Teams. Team BII will continue to perform the [Aitakatta] Stage they already performed as Kenkyuusei. Team BII Akazawa Hono Ishizuka Akari Ijiri Anna Ueda Mirei Umehara Mako OotaYuri Katou Yuuka Kamieda Emika (Captain) Kusaka Konomi Kushiro Rina Kurokawa...

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NMB48 New Team M announced

As part of the NMB48 2nd Anniversary Special Live, Team M held a show at the theater on October 9 revealing its new line-up. Three Kenkyuusei, Azuma Yuki, Koyanagi Arisa and Yamamoto Hitomi, have been promoted to Team M to replace the three girls who left. Yagura Fuuko will be the new center of Team M and she took over Jo Eriko's position in the currently ongoing stage show. Azuma Yuki took over Fujita Runa's position, Koyanagi Arisa is in Ota Riona's spot and Yamamoto Hitomi now does Yagura Fuuko's former position. Shimada Rena remains captain. New Team M Line-up Azuma Yuki (promoted) Okita...

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NMB48 2nd Anniversary Special Live Team N Setlist

To commemorate NMB48's 2nd anniversary Team N performed a special show in the theater on October 8. Originally, the Shonichi of N3 was scheduled for this date, but because N3 had been delayed, Team N performed a special setlist. Some non-Team N members joined Team N for some of the songs and Yokoyama Yui also made an appearance in the theatre to perform [Kitagawa Kenji], NMB48's 6th single. The PV of the single was also shown for the first time. The 2nd Anniversary Special Lives will continue with New Team M on October 9, and Team BII the following day. NMB48 2nd Anniversary Special Live...

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NMB48 Team M Ota Riona to graduate

On October 4, just one day after Fujita Runa announced her withdrawal from NMB48, another Team M member has announced to leave. First generation member Ota Riona will graduate from the group to focus on her studies. A graduation date will be announced on a later date. On September 28 Jo Eriko graduated, on October 3 Fujita Runa left and now Ota Riona will go too. This makes three Team M girls in only a few days.Is this a coincidence or does it have to do with the announcement of New Team M on October 9? Ota Riona's translated message  Original Message I have an announcement for you. I,...

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Nogizaka46 4th Single Senbatsu Revealed

The senbatsu for Nogizaka46 4th single was announced on today's [Nogizakatte Doko?]. The release date and title have not yet been set. The senbatsu is: Ikuta Erika Ikoma Rina Hoshino Minami Sakurai Reika Hashimoto Nanami Shiraishi Mai Matsumura Sayuri Akimoto Manatsu Noujou Aimi Saito Asuka Wakatsuki Yumi Inoue Sayuri Fukagawa Mai Ichiki Rena Nishino Nanase Takayama Kazumi Instead of a kami 7, there is a hachifukujin, eight "lucky gods". These members will get the media spotlight. These are the first eight members in the above list, those not in italics. One surprise is Akimoto Manatsu,...

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All Current AKB48 Stages to Finish in October, [Waiting Stages] with New Teams to Start in November

It was announced at the handshake event today in Iwate prefecture that all four of AKB48's current stages will end this month. The senshuuraku of each of the four stages are: Team A - [Mokugekisha] - 29th October 2012 Team K - [RESET] - 24th October 2012 Team B - [Theater no Megami] - 22nd October 2012 Team 4 - [Boku no Taiyou] - 25th October 2012 From 1st November 2012, the New Teams announced during the Tokyo Dome Team Shuffle will perform [Waiting Stages]. These will consist of a selection of existing AKB48 songs. These Waiting Stages will continue until new stages are ready for the...

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SKE48 4th Anniversary Concert Setlist

SKE48 celebrated their 4th Anniversary by holding a special concert at Zepp Nagoya on the 5th October 2012. Of note is that graduated members returned to participate in unit song, these are marked in bold in the setlist below. The concert can be bought on the download service DMM.com which sells SKE48 Live On Demand performances (in Japan only). New dual AKB48/SKE48 member Kitahara Rie only appeared via videolink. SKE48 4th Anniversary Concert 5th October 2012 Zepp Nagoya M01 - Kiss Datte Hidarikiki M02 - Gomen ne, Summer M03 - Aozora Katamaoi M04 - Tsuyokimono yo ---MC--- M05 - Omoide Ijou...

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