HKT48 3rd Single [Sakura, Minna de Tabeta] First Day Sales

HKT48's 3rd single [Sakura, Minna de Tabeta] was released on March 12th selling 227,322 copies on its first day. The single clearly topped the Oricon Daily Charts.


First Day Sales are slightly higher than those of [Melon Juice] which sold 222,984 on day one and also above those of the debut single [Suki! Suki! Skip!] (205,278 copies) making the current single HKT48's top seller in terms of first day sales.

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NMB48 Kenkyuusei Shimazaki Momoka Announces Graduation

On March 8th, NMB48 Kenkyuusei Shimazaki Momoka announced that she will graduate the group because she wants to focus on her studies. Her graduation show is scheduled for March 14th and her last activity will be a handshake event on March 15th.

Shimazaki Momoka who is currently NMB48's youngest member joined the group in December 2012 as part of the 4th Generation. She is the fifth 4th Generation member who leaves NMB48.

This is the second graduation announcement for NMB48 in a week. On Monday Nakagawa Hiromi had already announced her leave. Her graduation show is one day before Momokas.


Shimazaki Momoka's graduation announcement
Original Message

I, Shimazaki Momoka, will graduate from NMB48.
At age 11, I joined NMB48 as part of the 4th Generation. Now I am 13 and in the time until today, I have been able to make various experiences, I was able to get support by many people, I was able to spend a really happy time, and I am grateful for that.
But while being active (in NMB48), I worried about balancing NMB48 and my studies.
I thought "If I graduated now, I would not be able to meet all those people again who supported me" and so I tried my best. But I also thought, if I didn't choose studying now I would not be able to advance, so in order to be able to advance on the way to my dream, I now chose to graduate NMB48.
I am really sorry for not being able to repay all those who at times supported, at times  encouraged me. I will never forget the love I have received from you. I also will never forget the people who took care of me in NMB48. I want to make use of all the things I have learned (in NMB48) and work hard with all my power in order to grow into a wonderful adult. I will focus on my studies, and definitely fulfill my dream.
Also I will treasure the time I have left in NMB48 until my graduation. Please support me until the end.

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[GUIDE] How to Vote for JKT48 6th Single Election

JKT48 will hold the General Election Senbatsu system for their upcoming 6th single. They will be the first overseas sister group to hold such a system. Therefore, their current single [Flying Get] is being the single that will determine the result.

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AKB48 Looking for a Member Aged 30+

On March 4th, AKB48 made a surprising announcement: they are holding an audition for [Otona AKB48] (Adult AKB48) looking for a member aged 30 and above. The membership will be only temporary but the new member will participate in AKB48 events like handshake events, stage shows and also concerts.

There is no upper age limit for the applicants, it also does not matter whether they have experience in the entertainment industry or not. Marital status doesn't matter as well. Application period started on March 4th and will continue until March 28th.The second audition round (interviews) will be hold on April 5th and the final dance and vocal audition on April 12th where one new member will be selected. 

This project is a cooperation with Papico, an ice cream brand from Japan's famous sweets company Glico which is why the selected adult member will also work as "image character" for the brand appearing for example in its CM. The Papico campaign is planned for the period from April 12th until August 31st. With the campaign end, the Otona AKB member automatically graduates AKB48.

AKB48 imitators Kintaro and Yahata Kaoru have already expressed interest in auditioning.

Official audition homepage: https://papico-otona-akb48.jp/

CM for the audition:

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AKB48 35th Single [Mae Shika Mukanee] First Week Sales

AKB48's 35th single [Mae Shika Mukanee] was released on  February 26th and has finished its first week. The single sold 1,091,406 copies making AKB48 once again the top of the weekly Oricon Ranking.

As was the case for the first day sales, numbers went up from the Janken single [Suzukake Nanchara] which sold 1,033,136 in week one. But sales of [Mae Shika Mukanee] don't reach the sales numbers of the three singles before that: [Sayonara Crawl], [Koisuru Fortune Cookie] and [Heart Ereki].

Nevertheless, it is the 15th time in a row that an AKB48 single sold more than a million copies in its first week.

In the Soundscan Charts, the different types take ranks 1~6, with the limited editions on the first three positions. As total, they sold 236,005 copies. The difference between this and the Oricon sales is 855,401 which should be the number of theater editions sold.

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JKT48 5th Single [Flying Get] Released

JKT48's 5th single [Flying Get] went on release on 5th March 2014 . This single is a version of the song which was originally AKB48's 22th single which was centered by Maeda Atsuko.

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NMB48 Kenkyuusei Nakagawa Hiromi Announces Graduation

On March 3rd, NMB48 Kenkyuusei Nakagawa Hiromi has announced her graduation from NMB48. She decided to go to vocational school and follow a different path in life. Her graduation show will be on March 13th and her last activity will be a handshake event on March 15th.

Nakagawa Hiromi joined NMB48 in mid-2011 as part of the 2nd Generation. Unfortunately she was never promoted, so after being a Kenkyuusei for more than two and a half years she now decided to leave.


Nakagawa Hiromi's graduation announcement
Original Message

I, Nakagawa Hiromi, will graduate from NMB48.
In the two and a half years since joining NMB48 I have seen the work of people supporting those on stage and became fascinated by it. The wish to learn about this awakened in me.
The things I have made my goal the whole time were: being promoted to a team, and doing away/abroad shows (note: referring to shows at the theaters of the other 48groups) with my beloved Kenkyuusei members. My feelings towards these two goals were by no means a lie.
I also felt that my feelings towards these goals were growing every day with your support. That is why I have also thought that it might somehow be possible to pursue two things at the same time: my goals I have continously chased until now, and my want to follow a new path. But I thought that by doing so I would end up doing both things half-heartedly. This I did not want to happen. As a result of thinking as well as I could about my future and about what I want to do, I chose the way of going to a vocational school from April on and graduating NMB48.
To all those who supported me this whole time: thank you for cheering for someone like me all the time.
For me, the members and the two and a half years I have spent with you all are a big treasure. I want to make use of all those things I have learnt in NMB48 and to advance on a new path looking forward. 
I would be happy if you pushed my back.
Thank you so, so much for everything until now.

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SKE48 14th Single [Mirai to wa?] Tracklist and Covers

SKE48 will release their 14th single called [Mirai to wa?] on May 19th. While the title and senbatsu have been known for a while, covers and tracklists are out now too.

The single will be released in five types: A, B, C, D and Theater. As couplings, the single contains team songs as well as songs by the new units Dragon Girls and GALAXY of DREAMS, the second one being a unit to promote Samsung Galaxy. The Theater Version features a song by the remaining 2nd Generation members.

SKE48 14th Single
Mirai to wa?
未来とは？
19th March 2014

Type A Limited 1,600yen

Type A Regular 1,600yen

[CD]
01. Mirai to wa?
02. GALAXY of DREAMS (GALAXY of DREAMS)
03. Mayflower (Dragon Girls (Kyuuryuu-jou)
04. Mirai to wa? (off vocal)
05. GALAXY of DREAMS (off vocal)
06. Mayflower (off vocal)
[DVD]
01. Mirai to wa? (MV)
02. Mirai to wa?  ~2014.02.02 SKE48-tou Kekkai Shukai "Hako de Ose!" (@Nagoya Dome)~
03. GALAXY of DREAMS (MV)
04. Special Footage: Kenkyuusei "Matsumura no Aikata wo Sagashi Kikaku" Kenkyuusei ni Nise-Saiminjutsu-shi ga Hatsu-Dokkiri! ("Searching a partner for Matsumura" A fake hypnotist gives the Kenkyuusei their first dokkiri)

Type B Limited 1,600yen

Type B Regular 1,600yen

[CD]
01. Mirai to wa?
02. Neko no Shippo ga Pin to Tatteru you ni  (Team S feat. Bose (member of hip-hop group Scha Dara Parr))
03. Mayflower (Dragon Girls (Kyuuryuu-jou)
04. Mirai to wa? (off vocal)
05. Neko no Shippo ga Pin to Tatteru you ni  (off vocal)
06. Mayflower (off vocal)
[DVD]
01. Mirai to wa? (MV)
02. Mirai to wa?  ~2014.02.02 SKE48-tou Kekkai Shukai "Hako de Ose!" (@Nagoya Dome)~
03. Neko no Shippo ga Pin to Tatteru you ni  (MV)
04. Special Footage: Team S "Hajimete no Joshi-kai" Member no Honne wo Profiling (Team S "First Girls Gathering/Girls Party" Profiling the real motives of the members"

Type C Limited 1,600yen

Type C Regular 1,600yen

[CD]
01. Mirai to wa?
02. S-ko to Usohakkenki  (Team KII)
03. Mayflower (Dragon Girls (Kyuuryuu-jou)
04. Mirai to wa? (off vocal)
05. S-ko to Usohakkenki  (off vocal)
06. Mayflower (off vocal)
[DVD]
01. Mirai to wa? (MV)
02. Mirai to wa?  ~2014.02.02 SKE48-tou Kekkai Shukai "Hako de Ose!" (@Nagoya Dome)~
03. S-ko to Usohakkenki  (MV)
04. Special Footage: Team KII "Freestyle Rap Battle with DARTHREIDER" KII Member ga Hatsu-Rap ni Chousen (Team KII "Freestyle Rap Battle with DARTHREIDER" The KII members try to rap for the first time)

Type D Limited 1,600yen

Type D Regular 1,600yen

[CD]
01. Mirai to wa?
02. Machiawasetai  (Team E)
03. Mayflower (Dragon Girls (Kyuuryuu-jou)
04. Mirai to wa? (off vocal)
05. Machiawasetai (off vocal)
06. Mayflower (off vocal)
[DVD]
01. Mirai to wa? (MV)
02. Mirai to wa?  ~2014.02.02 SKE48-tou Kekkai Shukai "Hako de Ose!" (@Nagoya Dome)~
03. Machiawasetai  (MV)
04. Special Footage: Team E "Member no Naka ni Iru Hetareeze wo Sagase" Hajimete no Uragiri
 (Team E "Find the 'hetareeze' among the members " The first betrayal)

Theater Version 1,000yen

[CD]
01. Mirai to wa?
02. Bokura no Kizuna
03. SKE48 14th Single Medley
04. Mirai to wa? (off vocal)
05. Bokura no Kizuna (off vocal)


Mirai to wa? - Senbatsu
Team S: Ishida Anna, Oya Masana, Kizaki Yuria, Matsui Jurina
Team KII: Oba Mina, Shibata Aya, Suda Akari, Takayanagi Akane, Furukawa Airi, Yamada Mizuho
Team E: Azuma Rion, Umemoto Madoka, Kimoto Kanon, Furuhata Nao, Matsui Rena
Kenkyuusei: Kitagawa Ryoha

GALAXY of DREAMS
Team S: Kizaki Yuria, Matsui Jurina
Team KII: Shibata Aya, Suda Akari, Takayanagi Akane, Furukawa Airi
Team E: Kimoto Kanon, Furuhata Nao, Matsui Rena
Kenkyuusei: Kitagawa Ryoha

Mayflower - Dragon Girls
Team S: Ishida Anna
Team KII: Kato Rumi, Suda Akari, Takayanagi Akane, Takeuchi Mai, Futamura Haruka, Furukawa Airi
Team E: Umemoto Madoka, Kinoshita Yukiko

Bokura no Kizuna 
SKE48 2nd Generation
Team S: Abiru Riho, Ishida Anna, Isohara Kyoka, Saito Makiko, Mukaida Manatsu
Team KII: Uchiyama Mikoto, Kato Tomoko, Kato Rumi, Takayanagi Akane, Furukawa Airi, Matsumoto Rina
Team E: Iguchi Shiori, Kito Momona, Yamada Reika

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NMB48 9th Single [Takane no Ringo] Tracklist and Covers

NMB48 will release their 9th single on March 26th and further details about this single are out now. It is called [Takane no Ringo] (literally: apple from a high peak; may be translated to: unattainable apple). Covers, tracklist, song line-ups and a short PV have been revealed too.

The single will be released in 4 types: A, B, C and Theater Version. As usual, coupling songs by Shirogumi, Akagumi and Namba Teppoutai are included. Type A, B and C limited contain voting tickets for NMB48's Request Hour Setlist Best 50.

As for senbatsu, Murase Sae and Shibuya Nagisa make their NMB48 single senbatsu debut, after already being part of senbatsu for [Kimi to Deatte Boku wa Kawatta], NMB48's coupling song for [Suzukake Nanchara]. Kadowaki Kanako and Yogi Keira are out.


NMB48 9th Single
Takane no Ringo
高嶺の林檎
26th March 2014

Type A 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Takane no Ringo 02. Isshuukan, Zenbu ga Getsuyoubi nara Ii no ni 03. Prom no Koibito (Shirogumi)  04. Takane no Ringo  (off vocal) 05. Isshuukan, Zenbu ga Getsuyoubi nara Ii no ni (off vocal) 06. Prom no Koibito (off vocal) [DVD] 01. Takane no Ringo (MV) 02. Takane no Ringo (MV Dancing Version) 03. Prom no Koibito (MV) 04. Special Footage [Oshaberi-gumi] (First Part)
Type B 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Takane no Ringo 02. Isshuukan, Zenbu ga Getsuyoubi nara Ii no ni 03. Mizukiri (Akagumi)  04. Takane no Ringo  (off vocal) 05. Isshuukan, Zenbu ga Getsuyoubi nara Ii no ni (off vocal) 06. Mizukiri (off vocal) [DVD] 01. Takane no Ringo (MV) 02. Takane no Ringo (MV Dancing Version) 03. Mizukiri (MV) 04. Special Footage [Oshaberi-gumi] (Second Part)
Type C 1,600yen	[CD] 01. Takane no Ringo 02. Isshuukan, Zenbu ga Getsuyoubi nara Ii no ni 03. Yama e Ikou (Namba Teppoutai Sono Go)  04. Takane no Ringo  (off vocal) 05. Isshuukan, Zenbu ga Getsuyoubi nara Ii no ni (off vocal) 06. Yama e Ikou (off vocal) [DVD] 01. Takane no Ringo (MV) 02. Takane no Ringo (MV Dancing Version) 03. Yama e Ikou (MV) 04. NMB48 feat. Yoshimoto Shinkigeki Vol. 8
Theater Edition 1,000yen	[CD] 01. Takane no Ringo 02. Prom no Koibito (Shirogumi) 03. Mizukiri (Akagumi) 04. Kasa wa Iranai 05. Takane no Ringo  (off vocal) 06. Prom no Koibito (off vocal) 07. Mizukiri (off vocal) 08. Kasa wa Iranai (off vocal)

Takane no Ringo - Senbatsu*
Team N: Ichikawa Miori, Ogasawara Mayu, Kotani Riho, Shiroma Miru, Jonishi Kei, Yamamoto Sayaka, Yoshida Akari, Watanabe Miyuki
Team M:  Takano Yui, Tanigawa Airi, Murase Sae, Yagura Fuuko, Yamada Nana
Team BII: Kato Yuuka, Yabushita Shu
KKS: Shibuya Nagisa

*since the new teams aren't active yet, the team line-ups before the shuffle are used

Prom no Koibito - Shirogumi
Team N: Kadowaki Kanako, Kishino Rika, Kinoshita Haruna, Yamamoto Sayaka
Team M: Okita Ayaka, Murakami Ayaka, Yagura Fuuko, Yamagishi Natsumi
Team BII: Ishizuka Akari, Ijiri Anna, Kamieda Emika
KKS: Odan Mai

Mizukiri - Akagumi
Team N: Kondo Rina, Yamaguchi Yuuki, Watanabe Miyuki
Team M: Kawakami Rena, Kinoshita Momoka, Mita Mao, Yamada Nana, Yogi Keira
Team BII: Kusaka Konomi, Kushiro Rina
KKS: Miura Arisa, Yamao Rina

Yama e Ikou - Namba Teppoutai Sono Go
Team N: Shiroma Miru, Nishimura Aika, Hayashi Momoka
Team BII: Akazawa Hono, Ota Yuuri , Muro Kanako
KKS: Kawakami Chihiro, Nakano Reina

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AKB48 Nonaka Misato Announces Graduation

AKB48 Team B member Nonaka Misato has announced her graduation during a broadcast of AKB48 no Anta, Dare? on February 28. Details about her graduation have yet to be announced. After the broadcast Micha commented on her blog about her decision. A translation of the post can be found below.

Micha joined AKB48 in 2008 as part of the 6th Generation. During AKB48's first shuffle in 2009 she was promoted to Team K and later shuffled to Team B. Unfortunately she never was a prominent member of the group, but in 2012 AKB48 named their 47 prefectures tour after her calling it Nonaka Misato, Ugoku. ~47 Todoufuken de Aimashou~. After her graduation, Takajo Aki will be the only 6th Generation member left in AKB48.


Nonaka Misato's blog post about her graduation
Original Message

Hello.
Yesterday during the live broadcast of 'AKB48 no Anta, Dare?' on NOTTV I announced my graduation. I am sorry for this sudden announcement.
I have been thinking about graduation for a while now. I also have consulted Akimoto-san and my manager. It is not a graduation I have decided because of the recent shuffle.
This is my 6th year since joining AKB48. I think I really was able to change through joining AKB48. The time I have spent in my beloved AKB48 is really special and precious (^^). I won't talk about memories yet! The date of my graduation is not yet decided and I still have time, so until the day I graduate I want to learn a lot and make many memories.
To all those who always support me...I am sorry for surprising you. When I remind myself of the smiles and memories I made with everyone I spent my time with until now, I feel lonely...But we still have time! Let's laugh a lot together. I love you all.
I will do my best until the end. Please support me.
Nonaka Misato

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