Four Nogizaka46 Members Celebrate their Coming-of-Age Day

Four Nogizaka46 members celebrated their "coming-of-age" day (Seijin no Hi) on 13th January 2013. This is held on the second Monday of January to celebrate those who have reached the age of 20 during the past year. Once turning 20, you are recognised as an adult in Japanese culture.

The participating members were Shiraishi Mai, Hashimoto Nanami, Eto Misa, and Matsumura Sayuri and they took part in the ceremony at the aptly titled Nogi Shrine in Minato, Tokyo.




All four members were looking beautiful there in their kimonos. But what was Sayurin doing with her crazy hairstyle and flowers thrown all over it. The others all looked so elegant.

Read more ...

Kashiwagi Yuki Solo Debut Single [Shortcake] Tracklist Revealed

Kashiwagi Yuki will release her debut solo single [Shortcake] on 2nd February 2013. It will be released in a total of 7 types. Three CD+DVD types which have both Limited and Regular Editions, and a Theatre Edition. For those purchasing all 6 CD+DVD types you get a bonus 3D case to house them in. The Limited Editions contain tickets to her 2nd solo concert on the 17th February 2013 at the Tokyo International Forum. The single will be the theme song to the drama [Mielino Kashiwagi], in which, as expected from the title, Yukirin plays the leading role. This drama started on the 11th January 2013 on TV Tokyo http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/kashiwagi/.

The single will be released on her own label Yukiring. Type A will feature an acoustic version of AKB48 single [Yukirin] is known to be a fan of. Before joining AKB48, Yukirin did audition for Morning Musume.

Kashiwagi Yuki 1st Single
Shortcake
ショートケーキ
2 February 2013

Type A Limited  Regular 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Shortcake 02. Soredemo Nakanai 03. Sakura no Ki ni Narou Acoustic Ver. feat. Oshio Kotaro 04. Shortcake (off vocal.) 05. Soredemo Nakanai (off vocal.) 06. Sakura no Ki ni Narou Acoustic Ver. feat. Oshio Kotaro (off vocal.) [DVD] 01. Shortcake (Music Video) 02. Kashiwagi Yuki no Kagoshima Kuru!?
Type B Limited  Regular 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Shortcake 02. Soredemo Nakanai 03. Mirai-bashi 04. Shortcake (off vocal.) 05. Soredemo Nakanai (off vocal.) 06. Mirai-bashi (off vocal.) [DVD] 01. Shortcake (Music Video) 02. Yukirin no Kagoshima Gourmet Report
Type C Limited  Regular 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Shortcake 02. Soredemo Nakanai 03. Class-kai no Ato de 04. Shortcake (off vocal.) 05. Soredemo Nakanai (off vocal.) 06. Class-kai no Ato de (off vocal.) [DVD] 01. Shortcake (Music Video) 02. Yukirin no Kagoshima Gourmet Report
Theater 1,000yen	[CD] 01. Shortcake 02. Soredemo Nakanai 03. Jealousy Punch 04. Shortcake (off vocal.) 05. Soredemo Nakanai (off vocal.) 06. Jealousy Punch (off vocal.) 07. Kashiwagi Yuki × Ishikawa Rika (Special Interview)

Read more ...

HKT48 Debut Single Release Date Set

The debut single from Fukouka based sister group HKT48 will be released on the 20th March 2013. This will be released on Universal Music Japan. The title and senbatsu members have not yet been revealed. There will be three CD+DVD types and the limited editions will contain tickets to national handshake events.

A coupling song [Onegai Valentine] will be used as the music for Lotte's Ghana Milk Chocolate adverts.

Read more ...

Eight Members Announce Graduation from SKE48

At the end of the Team KII theatre show on the 15th January 2013, eight members of SKE48 announced their graduation:

Kuwabara Mizuki (Team S)
Takada Shiori (Team S)
Hiramatsu Kanako (Team S)
Akaeda Ririna (Team KII)
Ogiso Shiori (Team KII)
Ueno Kasumi (Team E)
Hara Minami (Team E)
Kobayashi Emiri (Kenkyuusei)

In addition, Yagami Kumi, appeared on-stage to re-affirm her previous graduation announcement. No graduation dates have been set yet apart from a vague spring timeframe. Watch the graduation announcement below:


These nine members will appear together in a coupling song entitled [Sore wo Seishun to Yobu hi] on SKE48's upcoming 11th single [Choco no Dorei], released on the 30th January 2013. The title of the unit is Tabidachi Sotsugyou-gumi which translates to "alumni journey".

This announcement came as a big shock to me - just the sheer volume at once. However, there was a rumour at the end of last year that a mass graduation from SKE48 had been postponed due to all the NMB48 graduations. With the way the nine graduates are getting a unit song together on the next single, seems like this indeed had been planned for a while.

Read more ...

NMB48 1st Album [Teppen Tottande!] Partial Tracklist Revealed

Parts of the tracklist for NMB48's 1st album [Teppen Tottande!], to be released on February 27, have been revealed. All types will consist of previously released songs, including all 6 singles, as well as new songs. Titles for the new songs have not been revealed yet. Apart from a music video, the DVDs of Type N and M will also include a full concert from NMB48's tours ~Mina-san, Chapu chapu shimasho~ and Osaka Juuban Shoubu.

All types come with a special bonus. Type N and M include an application card for a special event, Type B comes with a voting ticket for NMB48's Request Hour Setlist Best 30 and the Theatre Version with a ticket for a handshake event and a 'Namba-Style sign event'.

NMB48 1st Album
Teppen Tottande!
てっぺんとったんで！
27 February 2013

TypeN 3,200 Yen	[CD] Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo Oh my God! Junjou U-19 Nagiichi Virginity Kitagawa Kenji Seishun no Lap Time NMB48 HA! (NMB48 Version) Boku wa matteru New Songs (TBD) [DVD] 01. TBA (PV) 02. ~Minasan, chapu chapu shimasho~ Concert from August 21, 2012 at Orix Theatre Osaka (Setlist Below)
TypeM 3,200 Yen	[CD] Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo Oh my God! Junjou U-19 Nagiichi Virginity Kitagawa Kenji Seishun no Lap Time NMB48 HA! (NMB48 Version) New Songs (TBD) [DVD] 01. TBA (PV) 02. Osaka Juuban Shoubu Concert from May 3, 2012 at Orix Theatre Osaka (Setlist Below)
Type B 3,200 Yen	[CD] Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo Oh my God! Junjou U-19 Nagiichi Virginity Kitagawa Kenji Seishun no Lap Time NMB48 HA! (NMB48 Version) Boku wa matteru New Songs (TBD) [DVD] 01. TBA (PV) 02. HA! (PV Full Version)
Theatre Version 1,980 Yen	[CD] Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo Oh my God! Junjou U-19 Nagiichi Virginity Kitagawa Kenji Seishun no Lap Time NMB48 Boku wa matteru New Songs (TBD)

~Minasan, chapu chapu shimasho~
 21st August 2012 at Orix Theatre

M01 - Ouverture
M02 - Korogaru Ishi ni Nare
M03 - Flying Get
M04 - Nande ya nen, Idol
M05 - Mina-san mo go-issho ni
M06 - Hatsukoi no Yukue to Play Ball
M07 - Nagekiss de Uchiotose
M08 - Warukii
M09 - End Roll
M10 - Tengoku Yarou
M11 - Itoshiki Natasha
M12-  Migi e Magare!
M13 - Doryoku no Shizuku
M14 - Yakusoku yo
M15 - Yokosuka Carve
M16 - Kobushi no Seigi
M17 - Nagiichi
M18 - Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo
M19 - Oh my God!
M20 - Junjou U-19
M21 - Seishun no Laptime 
M22 - Boku no Uchiage Hanabi
M23 - Virginity
M24 - NMB48


Osaka Juuban Shoubu
 3rd May 2012 at Orix Theatre

M01 - Ouverture
M02 - RIVER
M03 - NMB48
M04 - Aitakatta
M05 - Renai no Speed
M06 - Uso no Tenbin
M07 - Blue Rose
M08 - Rider
M09 - Shinkirou
M10 - Kinjirareta Futari
M11 - Warukii
M12 - Jungle Gym
M13 - Mattemashita, Shingakki
M14 - Boku ga Maketa Natsu
M15 - Tsuki no Katachi
M16 - Virgin Love
M17 - Korogaru Ishi ni Nare
M18 - Beginner
M19 - Chance no Junban
M20 - Ponytail to Shushu
M21 - Heavy Rotation
M22 - Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo
M23 - Oh My God!
M24 - Junjou U-19
M25 - Mikazuki no Senaka
M26 - Nande Ya Nen, Idol
M27 - Nagiichi
M28 - Boku wa Matteru

Wow, a whole concert as a DVD bonus? And there is a lot of other bonus stuff included. NMB48 really tries to push sales. Anyways, looking forward to the new songs. NMB48 still lacks original team songs, so I hope they include some too.

Read more ...

AKB48 30th Single [So Long!] Tracklist Revealed

AKB48's 30th single will be titled [So Long!] and will be released on the 20th February 2013. The single will be released in 3 CD+DVD editions, Type's A, K, B, in both Limited and Regular Editions, as well as a CD only Theatre Edition.

Each of the CD+DVD editions contains a team song unique to that type. The theatre edition will contain a kenkyuusei song. Each DVD will also feature more than 25 minutes of footage from the [2nd AKB48 Kouhaku Taikou Uta Gassen] (check out the setlist here), with Type A containing the compilation from both teams, whilst Type K contains just akagumi, and Type B just shirogumi. The music video to [Sugar Rush], the song which featured in the soundtrack to Disney's [Wreck It Ralph] movie.

As usual, the Limited Editions will contain tickets to a national handshake event whilst the first press copies of the Regular Edition will contain a bonus photo. The Theatre Editions are sold alongside individual member handshake tickets and also come with a different type of bonus photo.

AKB48 30th Single
So Long!
So long !
20 February 2013

Type A 1,600yen	[CD] 01. So Long! 02. Waiting Room (Undergirls) 03. Ruby (Shinoda Team A) 04. So Long! (off vocal.) 05. Waiting Room (off vocal.) 06. Ruby (off vocal.) [DVD] 01. So Long! PV 02. Waiting Room PV 03. Ruby PV 04. 2nd AKB48 Kouhaku Taikou Uta Gassen ~Compilation~
Type K 1,600yen	[CD] 01. So Long! 02. Waiting Room (Undergirls) 03. Yuuhi Marie (Oshima Team K) 04. So Long! (off vocal.) 05. Waiting Room (off vocal.) 06. Yuuhi Marie (off vocal.) [DVD] 01. So Long! PV 02. Waiting Room PV 03. Yuuhi Marie PV 04. 2nd AKB48 Kouhaku Taikou Uta Gassen ~Akagumi Digest~
Type B 1,600yen	[CD] 01. So Long! 02. Waiting Room (Undergirls) 03. Sokode Inu no Unchi Fun Jau ka ne? (Umeda Team B) 04. So Long! (off vocal.) 05. Waiting Room (off vocal.) 06. Soko de Inu no Unchi Funjau ka ne? (off vocal.) [DVD] 01. So Long! PV 02. Waiting Room PV 03. Soko de Inu no Unchi Funjau ka ne? PV 04. 2nd AKB48 Kouhaku Taikou Uta Gassen ~Shirogumi Digest~ 05. Sugar Rush PV
Theatre Edition 1,000yen	[CD] 01. So Long! 02. Waiting Room (Undergirls) 03. TBA (Kenkyuusei) 04. So Long! (off vocal.) 05. Waiting Room (off vocal.) 06. TBA (off vocal.)

Read more ...

Takahashi Minami Solo Debut Single Titled [Jane Doe] and Preview

Takahashi Minami's solo debut single, as announced during Day 2 of the Tokyo Dome concerts last August, will be titled [Jane Doe] and will be the theme song to the drama [Saki] starring Nakama Yukie. Check out a clip of the song below:

Read more ...

Kashiwagi Yuki Debut Solo Single [Shortcake] Covers

Kashiwagi Yuki will release her debut solo single [Shortcake] on 2nd February 2013. It will be released in a total of 7 types. Three CD+DVD types which have both Limited and Regular Editions, and a Theatre Edition. For those purchasing all 6 CD+DVD types you get a bonus 3D case to house them in. The Limited Editions contain tickets to her 2nd solo concert on the 17th February 2013 at the Tokyo International Forum. The single will be the theme song to the drama [Mielino Kashiwagi], in which, as expected from the title, Yukirin plays the leading role. This drama starts on 11th January 2013 on TV Tokyo http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/kashiwagi/.

Type A

Limited                                               Regular

 

Type B

Limited                                               Regular

 

Type C

Limited                                               Regular

 

Be sure to check out her website: http://yukiring.jp

Read more ...

SKE48 11th Single [Choco no Dorei] Tracklist + Covers + PV Previews

The covers and track list for SKE48's 11th single [Choco no Dorei] are out. The single will be released on the 30th January 2013 It will be released in three CD+DVD types in both Limited and Regular Editions, and a Theatre Edition. The Limited Editions contain tickets to a national event handshake, whilst the Regular Edition contains trading cards. As per usual, the Theatre Edition is linked to an individual member handshake event ticket. PV Previews are after the tracklist.

SKE48 11th Single
Choco no Dorei
チョコの奴隷
30 January 2013

Type A Limited  Regular 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Choco no Dorei 02. Darkness / Seven Dancers 03. Sore wo Seishun to Yobu hi / Tabidachi Sotsugyou-gumi 04. Choco no Dorei (off vocal.) 05. Darkness  (off vocal.) 06. Sore wo Seishun to Yobu hi (off vocal.) [DVD] 01. Choco no Dorei (Music Video) 02. Darkness (Music Video) 03. Bureikou de omatsurisawagi no dai enkai! Bonus Part 1
Type B Limited  Regular 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Choco no Dorei 02. Bike to Sidecar / 14 Carat 03. Sore wo Seishun to Yobu hi / Tabidachi Sotsugyou-gumi 04. Choco no Dorei (off vocal.) 05. Bike to Sidecar (off vocal.) 06. Sore wo Seishun to Yobu hi (off vocal.) [DVD] 01. Choco no Dorei (Music Video) 02. Bike to Sidecar (Music Video) 03. Bureikou de omatsurisawagi no dai enkai! Bonus Part 2
Type C Limited  Regular 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Choco no Dorei 02. Fuyu no Kamome / Shirogumi 03. Oikake Shadow / Akagumi 04. Sore wo Seishun to Yobu hi / Tabidachi Sotsugyou-gumi 05. Choco no Dorei (off vocal.) 06. Fuyu no Kamome (off vocal.) 07. Oikake Shadow (off vocal.) 08. Sore wo Seishun to Yobu hi (off vocal.) [DVD] 01. Choco no Dorei (Music Video) 02. Fuyu no Kamome (Music Video) 03. Bureikou de omatsurisawagi no dai enkai! Bonus Part 3
Theater 1,000yen	[CD] 01. Choco no Dorei 02. Darkness / Seven Dancers 03. Bike to Sidecar / 14 Carat 04. SKE48 11th Single Medley 05. Choco no Dorei (off vocal.) 06. Darkness  (off vocal.) 07. Bike to Sidecar (off vocal.)

Choco no Dorei



Darkness



Bike to Sidecar

Sore wo Seishun to Yobu hi

Read more ...

no3b 9th Single [Kirigirisu Jin] Tracklist + Covers

no3b (No Sleeves) 9th single [Kirigirisu Jin] will be released on the 16 January 2013. This will be their first single since [Pedicure Day], way back on 28 December 2011. There will be 3 CD+DVD types, each featuring one of the members on the cover who has a solo track on that type. The

no3b 9th Single
Kirigirisu Jin
キリギリス人
16 January 2013

Type A 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Kirigirisu Jin 02. Iin Jane? 03. My Shining Stars (Kojima Haruna) 04. Kirigirisu Jin (instrumental) 05. Iin Jane? (instrumental) 06. My Shining Stars (instrumental) [DVD] 01. Kirigirisu Jin (Music Video) 02. Iin Jane? (Music Video) 03. Busu-kai o kagakusuru (Kojima Haruna ver.)
Type B 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Kirigirisu Jin 02. Iin Jane? 03. Futo Omou Koto  (Takahashi Minami) 04. Kirigirisu Jin (instrumental) 05. Iin Jane? (instrumental) 06. Futo Omou Koto (instrumental) [DVD] 01. Kirigirisu Jin (Music Video) 02. Iin Jane? (Music Video) 03. Busu-kai o kagakusuru (Takahashi Minami ver.)
Type C 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Kirigirisu Jin 02. Iin Jane? 03. Kimi ni Koi wo Shita (Minegishi Minami) 04. Kirigirisu Jin (instrumental) 05. Iin Jane? (instrumental) 06. Kimi ni Koi wo Shita (instrumental) [DVD] 01. Kirigirisu Jin (Music Video) 02. Iin Jane? (Music Video) 03. Busu-kai o kagakusuru (Minegishi Minami ver.)
Regular 1,000yen	[CD] 01. Kirigirisu Jin 02. Iin Jane? 03. Kirigirisu Jin (instrumental) 04. Iin Jane? (instrumental)

Read more ...