2012-02-16, 05:06
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Link #41 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Half Australia, Half Tokyo, Bits and pieces in US
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Quote:
But the problem is neither Kuroki nor Nakanishi reported the pregnancy and marriage to wither agents. So now they are expected to have to pay compensation to companies like Suzuki who are using Kuroki for the TV ads. |
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2012-02-16, 05:21
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Link #42 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
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I can see the Agency getting pissed, Kuroki was just gaining steam this past year and half and is arguably on verge of breakthrough as a top talent (singing or acting wise). If this is true, it could derailed everything that she did.
Anyway back on AKB. I started watch more AKB only variety like Akabino and Nasuhodo High School. The more I watch, the more I like Takamina now. She might not be the cutest or the prettiest among the core members, but she really shines through in those shows that makes her looks attractive and cute.
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2012-02-22, 10:48
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Link #43 |
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30 Seconds to Sawa
 Author
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Philippines
Age: 36
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All right, Give Me Five! is out now, including the 34-minute PV (longest to date; watched it and quite an interesting look into the life of "irregular" night high school students -- the types who don't want to attend regular high school for many reasons, including victims of bullying, working on their own, or those who have to work for much of the day at the family shop).
Also, that girl, bar none she's still the Ace of Aces: http://www.tokyohive.com/2012/02/akb...obook-bukiyou/ She reminds me of one of my lady classmates back in the day... 
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2012-02-23, 01:58
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Link #44 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
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Really, the more I watch the shows about them or the variety shows they are involved in the more I fall in love with them. The fact that many within the group are ACG otakus themselves are bonus and what's surprising to me is that many of top members are all different then your usual stock idols image.
Atsuko is awesome, but right now my favorite is definitely Takamina, it hard to believe that in the beginning, she was the only member in the Kami 7 that I didn't like. BTW, Give Me Five! is another good song. I continues the typical AKB style with a nice chorus section that are both catching and emotional moving.
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2012-02-23, 06:02
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Link #45 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Half Australia, Half Tokyo, Bits and pieces in US
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I went and watched the 2nd AKB documentary movie, and my god, I am even more interested in the group.
They showed a good portion of the Seibu Dome live concert and how Acchan was hyperventilating and barely could perform, Yuko was also collapsing/ hyperventilating from the stress and heat, and takamina was also almost collapsing but went on stage to buy time for Acchan to recover, and ran the whole Seibu dome stage to keep the crowd happy. Many critics thought the movie was groundbreaking in that it showed behind the scenes moments that conventional idols would usually hide, like being elected first in the election, but purposely shooting the moment from behind the stage, so you could see that the castle stage and all the glamour up there is just props and nothing but wooden panels. I think any AKB fan should watch it, but only after you enjoy the glits and glamour of the group first…. Anyhow… Sashihara is signing up with Samantha Tabatha and will be on the cover of JJ. Sooo many people are complaining, but I think it’s just plain funny. I used to think Sasshi was really ugly, but she has polished off very well these days. |
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2012-02-24, 03:14
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Link #46 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
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Sasshi's got that next door girl quality in her, that really are similar to other top member. And her dame-quality actually turn into a moe point for her similar the way Takamina is.
But really, when you look at, the top members in AKB all got their own weird personality and moe point and most of them are simply weird or have personality that doesn't match their given image (another moe point). Anyway speaking of documentary, I've also just finish watching the 2 hr TV special on Kin-SMA that air during new year. While many I already know, but to see it from the members eye. The special focused on the history, especially the original 5+ Mariko, from beginning to when they become first female group to ever won Japanese Record Award (Japan's Grammy) and the original memebers simply broken down. Really, when you look at it. The 5 originals and Mariko that are left on the team now all have their mental problems or quirks. It's not they never thought about quitting, when the time was bad, they just don't know what they can do if they quit or don't have the courage to quit. With that been said, it easily understandable why they would keep saying that the group like a big family especially among the first 2 generations. Not only that, just to think that at time they started the old original left KojiHaru was only 17 and even the 1.5 gen Mariko was just 19 with A-chan, TakaMina, and Tomochin all just 14 and Minegishi just turning 13. Not that I'm saying that Gen 2 and 3 didn't go through hardship, because they did and a lot also happen in the 2 and 3rd year, but they didn't have to go through the period where they have to perform in front a literally empty stage that gets as few as 7 in a 250 capacity theater. Nor did they when through doing 3 straight performance on weekends just hoping getting that 1 extra customers or have to personally go out before performance and give away already cheap 1000 yen (about $8-9 U.S. dollars) tickets. It incredible what they when through as they seeing their member getting smaller and smaller as more originals left and most of them are still in middle schools. They cling on the little Akiba/otaku fan crowd they have and slowly climb their way up. It also allows you to see that their success of past 2 year are really and culmation of the first 4 years of foundation building. They might not be the best singers nor the best dancer. But they know how to perform and catch your eye. Their stage experience of performing 400-500 stages for early members really shows on their live performances and PVs. Also compare to other group, their coordination and percision are also much better even compare to groups like SMAP and Arashi or ev, dare I say it, Exile. I still remember that about just over a year ago (2010) at end of the year Music Station Super Live Special, one of the biggest end of year event. Of all people, A-Chan make rare mistatke and tripped on her heel as she was kneeling down during a move. She quickly recover, keep her composure and finished the performance before the camera caught a little tear as they finished. What was even more amazing was that the rest of group didn't get shaken up and all kept their facial expression as nothing went wrong yet you can see them subtlety cover for Maeda to allow her get back on her feet. It that moment you realized that compare to their contemporary, they have much more performing experience and they performances isn't just out of blue.
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2012-02-25, 03:59
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Link #47 |
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30 Seconds to Sawa
Author
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Philippines
Age: 36
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http://kotaku.com/5887919/girl-group...killing-itself
At first, the DPJ seemed to had their anti-suicide campaign sound wrong, which even made PM Noda feel uncomfortable. But then the DPJ fixed the gaffe by changing the slogan and asked the girls their help by endorsing it... and they agreed to appear on posters. What better way to spread the message than AKB? This'll give the team an added real positive PR bonus to their public profile, apart from helping out earthquake survivors and other acts of generosity.
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2012-02-25, 04:32
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Link #48 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
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The cause is great and the girls did great job as they always do, but for some reason I want to beat the crap out of who ever wrote that article.
He obviously had knows nothing about the group's background or he won't be calling the girls as bubblegum girl band or their music trivial. Anyway, I sort of understand why they would do this. PR is one thing, but knowing some of their histories, there are quite a few of them that has withdrawn issues and bipolar personalities, especially the earlier generations but they went through them and get to the place they are, I can see members feels sympathetic. After all, with what they've being through in the earlier year, there are not many people knows more about light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel or hopes they they do.
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Last edited by Undertaker; 2012-02-25 at 04:57. |
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2012-02-26, 02:40
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Link #49 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Half Australia, Half Tokyo, Bits and pieces in US
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"bubble gum" is the least appropriate word for these girls. thats for sure.
When you see the bashing they get on line and pressure to perform plus a killer schedule, i can barely understand how the main members can even be who they are. Let alone many of them seeming obviously socially awkward and probably depressed/ bipolar/ having anxiety attacks etc. I think they are the toughest batch of girls I have seen lately. I just wish more people knew that. Mariko only gets 3 hours sleep if that, and keeps updating twitter, blog and googleplus religiously. She did lose her hair because of the stress and now looks like a stick figure because she is so skinny. Not to mention acchan... I think at first glance using AKB for anti-suicide campaigns is a dumb idea, but if the group/ management has the guts to show the vulnerable side of the girls and really reach out to the fans, they could make a difference. I sometimes worry about what they will be left with after the boom is over though. |
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2012-02-26, 08:51
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Link #50 | |
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Happy~Go~Lucky!
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: England
Age: 19
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 Omg, I love GIVE ME FIVE! I so need to buy this single.. roll on payday!
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2012-02-26, 23:36
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Link #51 | ||||
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
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If AKB is a group that just formed 3 years ago and got popular for last 2 year, fine. But the problem is that the group was formed over 6 years ago and stayed underground for over 3 years, call that as bubblegum is not really appropriate. Especially now after they won the Japanese Record Award and all the media is not trying to cover their early years and barrow record/practice tapes that AKB kept themselves, any self-respecting media members that has done some research will know about that and won't use that word to describe the group. Quote:
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The way I'm looking at is that AKB and related group was also slowing turning themselves into a farm system for idol industry. Every member in AKB48 used to belong to Office 48, once they got popular they start to transfer those rights to different agencies to the point now that members in 48 projects are really a farm for other digger agencies to scout and bid on. While 48 project provides the training and performance opportunities in their theaters. Keep in mind that even 3 years ago while they are still in mediocrity they are at least self sufficient. They still have their stage performances, so even if the media craze is over, I can still see the keep going like how Broadway shows are still on. Which is way after AKB started to get hot 2 years ago they opened up more theaters in major cities to form its own show/group such as SKE48 in Nagoya, NMB48 in Osaka, and the new HKT48 in Fukuoka. The third voting also shows that SKE and NMB are growing in their own popularity even without main AKB members performing showing that 48 project is marketing idol in a way that is more similar to a sport team than just idols which I believe can success in long term. Besides their stage ticket right now, while hard to get (and requires lottery drawing), are dirt cheap at 3,000 yen or about $36 where front row seat is just 5 feets away from the stage. Really, It's more interesting that once these curently core member start to leave what would happen. As of right now the core member are excelling in their own territories. Maeda and Oshima are excelling in acting scene. Takamina is great as MC for variety shows and her connection in music industry is growing and with her singing ability is also gaining approval from some top level artists. Mariko/Tomochin/Kojiharu are doing great at fashion and model area. Mayuyu is doing columns in magazines and heading into VA/manga industry. None of them currently seem overwhelmed by their field or lack ability to stay in the receptive industry. But Morning Musume is still fairly relevent and this is after their golden year member all left around 04 or 05. AKB right now is hotter and much better prepared due to their stage system so I really think that even once the craze end, they won't really disappear. Quote:
BTW, I start to listen to some of their older song and match them up with their time line and history and try to translate them better. After doing that... I concluded: Akimoto is a genius lyric writer. He was not kidding that the songs are either representative of the girls emotional state at time or the challenges they faces and included message he want to tell them. (especially the early members) A lot of those song might be romance or friendship related but when you break down the lyrics the messages are all there. No wonder he is widely acknowledged as one of the great writer and cultural personal in Japan BTW there are also 2 new oversea group that started late last year and this year. JKT48 in Indonesia last year and TPE48 this year in Taiwan. And three official merchandise shops in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taipei,Taiwan.
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Last edited by Undertaker; 2012-02-27 at 00:29. |
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2012-02-28, 05:15
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Link #52 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Half Australia, Half Tokyo, Bits and pieces in US
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I agree that Akimoto’s plan is, and he has said so so many times, to turn AKB into a prep school for the entertainment industry. If any girl decides she wants to be a singer/ actor/ dancer/ comedian/ voice actor/ etc, they will simply join AKB and train while they wait for their exposure.
I don’t know how harmful or beneficial this would be for the industry though. I think a good example they are working on now is Mitsumune Kaworu. Her suddenly being on TV programs, and advertisements without making it out of the trainee position is interesting. In the past you had to make it into one of the 4 teams before expecting any exposure, but now there is a possibility that any other member can follow in her footsteps. Whether you see Mitsumune as a setup is a different story (her three year contract with AKB, being already chosen to pass the audition before even taking it etc) I think we all have to remember that Akimoto has already had a proto type if this business through Onyako Club. His biggest mistake back then was that the girls all disappeared after the group as dismantled except a few like Kokusho Sayuri, Kudo Shizuka and the likes. This time he know how to make it a bigger and longer lasting business, and that’s the beauty of it all. One think he has to take care of soon, IMO, is NMB. The staff and management of NMB is slightly less organized/ sophisticated as the AKB/ SKE and are coming up with way too many scandals. If they want to keep up the reputation, they need to do something about NMB. Especially since they have such good members… Also, JKT48 is expected to join Google+ soon… |
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2012-02-28, 10:24
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Link #53 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
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Totally agree.
Though one thing I will say is so far in interviews, even after winning the Japanese Record Award. All the main AKB members are saying the right thing. Some even go as far as acknowledging that the newer members, especially those after 6 and 7th generation are failing to understand the importance of the Theater and the drive to be better and that they are still not yet ready to separate from the group and survive on their own. I've seen and read some interviews for past few month, Takamina mentioned that despite that all core/earlier members are starting to get really busy with solo career most of their goals to be even better themselves so they can bring them back to the group and the stage and be even better prepared if they to end up leaving the group. Their focus is not on winning another Record Award or maintaining their popularity, but to improve themselves individually. But doing that, when they are are together, the group will just get stronger and improve even more and rest like popularity and sales will follow. Oshima Yoko and Maeda Asuko both mentioned in interviews that one of the thing they need to do is to make sure that the newer members are not content of just being a member of AKB but to be better as entertainers either as a members of AKB or if they leave the group. Oshima also mentioned that in early years that while they do get along due to tough outside circumstances there is also internal tension and competition within the group to be better than each other. It was original vs. 2nd gen v.s. 3rd/4th gen. That tension also help them to get better which she hasn't seen in mid to newer members. It also reflect on recruiting interviews that back then everyone has their own goal and AKB is a tool to achieve the goal, now to new recruits becoming AKB is the goal. Because of that, its now their job to make sure that new members know that AKB is really about. That the original members as well as 2-4 gen member are still obsessed with the stage performance in the theater because they recognize that everything they have right now is because of AKB and the reason AKB is AKB is because of the fans that goes to the AKB48 Theater to support them everyday. It's also why older members are not giving up the Stage Performances despite their busy schedule. They still participates in Stage Performance and almost never missed them unless there is unavoidable incidents as well as supporting other sister group during their stage performances. Personally I think Akimoto struck gold with this group of early members. They went through things that not other idols went through and survived. They still have their own goals yet recognizes that it was the group that allows them to be who they are. Not only that, the group, at least on surface, are as united as any group I've seen. Which is why I keep comparing them to SMAP or Arashi where both group remains together even after each member is a bona fide star. And it's also the reason why similar concept groups like Idolling is still in mediocrity or why Onyako Club and Morning Musume never took that next step the way AKB did. The former got comfortable with its own show and the latter two over-estimated their own popularity. As for NMB, they do have some problem, but based on their latest single, their popularity are still on the rise and I credit that to the Sport-Clubs mentality of 48 Project. To put it more blatantly, even if the rest of Japan hates them, as long as people of Osaka like them, they can still survive and waiting for their breakout chances. Besides, the 48 family earned a lot of brownie points last year. Speaking of their donation last year after the earthquake and tsunami, after doing some research, it surprised me even more on what they did. In addition to being one of the first entertainers to respond, they donated 500 million yen ($6.2 million USD) right off the bat. Despite cancelling the scheduled concert that immediate setting up a fund for Red Cross and reschedule a mini tour to raise money as well as further donate more proceeds from single "Everyday, Kachūsha". Not only that, while the theater was closed for inspection, all member are out help with charitable activities as well as doing mini events in affected areas to raise spirits. Lastly, the relive account that they set up raised additional 1.25 billion yen (15.5 million) as for this past month. And from all media reports I read/wathced, all these activities are brought up to Akimoto by the core members from 1st to 4th gen. No wonder they are darlings for the country. But of course all these still depend on how the girls playing their card for next few years. But really, at this point I can see the group still keep their popularity at least for another 2-3 years consider that most core member are still around just 20 years old and good idols don't even hit prime until like 22-24 before their decline.
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2012-02-28, 10:40
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Link #54 |
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30 Seconds to Sawa
Author
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Philippines
Age: 36
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Some short nice news: yep, it's Hocchan, all right.
http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-7696.html#more
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2012-02-28, 18:13
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Link #55 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
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Two of my favorite clips, one is Mayuyu singing Evangelion theme song " Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze" in an AKB golden timeslot variety show. The other is cult favorite song Bird that has became Takamina's signature song and only being performed in Team A stage and limited concerts.
Spoiler for Youtube:
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Last edited by Undertaker; 2012-02-28 at 18:43. |
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2012-03-01, 11:11
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Link #56 |
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30 Seconds to Sawa
Author
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Philippines
Age: 36
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Oh, man... A few years ago, this wouldn't be possible but now as I'm reading this news article, I remember how Reagan and Gorbachev were on the negotiating table. Or Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat at Camp David...
This show involves putting together AKB Team 4 and Johnny's Jr. http://www.tokyohive.com/2012/03/ntv...ring-in-april/
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2012-03-02, 08:04
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Link #57 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Half Australia, Half Tokyo, Bits and pieces in US
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But its always been that the idols of any generation end up going out with each other no matter how much the adults around them try to keep them away from each other. Modern day Romeo and Juliet to say the least... But I also admire Mayuyu and other top members who can openly say that right now they are not interested in dating. Like mentioned earlier in this thread, many of the newer member'S just want to be AKB and once they are AKB, they want to flaunt it. The original members had other objectives in life and understand the hey have too much to lose over a relationship that probably wont last too long anyways. I hope the younger girls realize that and find itin themselves to even try to kick the original members out and be center position themselves. Otherwise there is no way the original member can ever be replaced. |
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2012-03-04, 11:09
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Link #58 | |
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Happy~Go~Lucky!
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: England
Age: 19
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 I've been listening to them since they released their 1st single. - So I've been following the top few right now. New members won't top them!  This girl is my oshi ~ tied with Ota Aika.  Spoiler for AKB Pics:
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2012-03-04, 18:18
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Link #60 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
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I agree that the group is awesome, but that's mainly because the core members are still consists of 1st to 4th gen members and has been in group long enough and has drives as well unequaled stage experience. I mean, Morning musume was the same, the group in the early 2000 was consider as a dream team because members has (at time) the experience and being through various elimination process. The difference with AKB48 is that most core members are still young at around 20 and they have much more performance experiences through the 48 theater and the fact they have to claw their way to top and pretty much willing to do anything also gives them advantages. I was watching AKB Variety shows. The stuff they are willing to do are pretty impressive. From bungie jump, to skydiving, to eating scorpion/ants/bug, to go through lie detectors, to simple pie in the face. They don't just view themselves as idol and willing to do anything as long as it furthers their popularity. The issue now is that if newer members or even members in UG class can't raise their game, then there is no other place but down for AKB48. Besides in say 5 years, the old members simply have to leave the group due to age. Which would also explain why old member are start to seeing that their have responsibility to make sure the newer members gets it. Just like the old team A members (1st gen did) since many of them continued to work hard until they are more or less forced out due to age. Sure they can go the SMAP way and stay in group but then lower tier members with feel pressured and pressed and either way is not good long term. Which is why I feel that the emergence and continued success of sub groups like No3b, French Kiss, Not Yet, Diva, and Wata-tai are incredibly important as it offers an outlet for older members to not get restrict by AKB48 name and at same time they can also takes lessor known member with them. The good thing is that if last year's voting is any indication, Sashi is starting to lead a charge of lower gens to challenge the earlier gens also with the central figures in SKE and NMB and Office 48 is slowing turning into a mixture of Johnny's and Broadway where they provide an training/performing ground while giving members the 48 aura.
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