AKB 48 thread

[mochichan]

Jurina is already half dead with the works she's doing. I doubt she got the stamina to take on AKB center at the same time unless she completely move to AKB and leave SKE with Rena. Yuko is more popular but people complain she's too distracting as center. I HOPE TO GOD IT'S NOT KAORU! I used to like her but after this I dun care about her anymore

http://www.everyday48.net/forum/view...t=kaoru#p71870

I think Mayuyu have high potential to be next ace. She's young, cute, already popular.

[Miko Miko]

Originally Posted by mochichan

I think Mayuyu have high potential to be next ace. She's young, cute, already popular.

I AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT.

But I'd rather see Yuko as ace, even if Mayuyu is my oshi ~

I CAN'T BELIEVE ACCHAN IS LEAVING. SHE'S THE REASON I EVER STARTED FOLLOWING AKB. OMGAHHD.

[mochichan]

I hope Yuko will be center too but fans say she have too much star power. The reason Acchan was a good center is because she can shine but not overshadow everyone else.
So basically whoever will be the next center need to be a boring girl......lol...

Watching their Saitama concert right now and I'm tearing hearing Acchan singing Flower

[Undertaker]

Which I believe Jurina would eventually completes the transfer, otherwise the move made no sense considering that W Matsui are already heavily involved in AKB as is and the Tage side really won't add much to it.

I really like Mayuyu as well, but I just don't see her as center. It's not her ability but more of style. I just can't shake feeling that if Mayuyu ends up as center, AKB will be force to turn into Wata-tai style all the time and I don't know if just 1 style of songs can carry AKB. Her Mouse persona is a very nice, but even that didn't really deviates from her traditional cute idol style.

Yuko, IMO, is definitely not long term. It's being a long rumor that she has thought about graduating herself even years ago and her career goal and path is similar to Aachan and is 3 years older.

Personally I don't mind a revolving center style between Takamina, Mayuyu, Yuko/Jurina, Tomochin, and Yukirin. Mariko and Kojiharu just don't seem like center type for me.

As for Kaoru, if you mean the rumor that she got in through back door, well those things happens anyway. Hell, Mariko technically didn't have to go through audition as well as the only 1.5 gen member. The only issue I'll have is that if she is not up the par and somehow she got in. But form all indication and rumors, she is legit talent with solid foundation similar to Yuko, Jurina and NMB's Sayaka where audition is really more of a formality than anything.

[sa547]

Now that really makes things very confusing, as there has to be someone who can be relied on to be the rallying point or flight lead. But, yes, any of the girls will have to change an aspect of herself (or even several) to qualify for the center role, and it's going to be tough trying to put into Aachan's shoes (or more precisely, those lace-on boots).

(BTW, I'm getting very much used to the language/terminology, and yeah, just when I want to get a little more acquainted than just casual listening, the whole weekend's worth of changes within the organization kind of threw me off like a typhoon blasting at more than 300mph.

And her 'throwing the towel' declaration is very hard for me to listen.)

[mochichan]

Mariko was different tho. She didn't audition but she worked hard to be accepted by AKB fan.
I'll just copy a fan comment since I agree with the whole thing.

She was already a successful model with a fanbase before entering AKB48. AKB is supposed to be for girls who are starting from zero. Every other KKS is this, and went through a series of auditions to be there. They are working their way slowly from Zenza Girls to full shows to eventually being promoted to a team. It's a jumping off point for a career in entertainment once you've gained a foothold. She was added through a deal with a company, never had to do Zenza Girls, and debuted with Team A last month. Most of 12th gen has yet to perform in Mokugekisha. She's horrible on stage and obviously doesn't care at all about performing as an idol. She is a model and her interest in AKB is what fame she can gain with her 3 year contract.

And no. She is not a Mariko clone. Model + short hair ≠ Mariko, unless you really think that all Mariko ever had to offer or ever contributed to AKB48 was being a model. She put in six years of hard work and built this group from the ground up with the rest of Ori A. There is a similarity between Kaoru and Mariko. Neither of them had to audition. But Mariko was not added by a company who wanted to make a deal with AkiP, AKB48 fans who visited the theater and came to know Mariko when she was working in the cafe made a petition to have her added to the group. She was voted in by the fans at the very beginning. She is a mother figure in the group and takes the younger girls under her wing. She watches over her fellow overworked senbatsu members, staying with Takamina when she fainted at Yoyogi and when she hurt her leg at 2010 Janken, and recently imploring Jurina to slow down. The last similarity between Mariko and Kaoru is that neither of them need AKB48. Kaoru is there to reap whatever benefits she can from the current situation. Mariko is there because she loves AKB48 and she loves the members. She wants to be in AKB48 because it's the home and family she's helped to build over the last 6 years. Kaoru is not even close to being Mariko, and it makes me sick when people make these shallow comparisons. It's unbelievable that people don't appreciate everything Mariko has brought to AKB48.

Mariko put effort into being accept by AKB. Kaoru just got in cuz she's already modeling from an agency. I don't like Yui, she's kinda boring but I accept her being push because she worked for it. In Kaoru case, it's hard to sympathize.

I can't see Jurina totally transfer.....She put so much effort into SKE. I think AkiP transfer her to K is to test out how Jurina will grow in AKB more so yes, I think he's considering her as a new ace. IDK..i guess Takamina could be a good choice? She's the group leader and she original was the AKB center if you look at Skirt Hirari.

[Undertaker]

Wait a minute, Mariko wasn't a model before AKB, certainly not a successful one. Her audition for AKB was suppose to be her last shot before giving up and return home. After she failed the audition she even had to work as an waitress in the AKB Cafe before fans took a like to her and put her name in popularity votes even though she isn't a member.

Wait a min.... your quote is about Kaoru not Mariko... got confused there for a sec.

Anyway,

I realize that Kaoru is in complete different situation, but fact remains that even if it was true, it's not unprecedented. (not passing audition)

And yes, while there hasn't be member who join when they were already successful there are members who join with solid training and experience in the industry. So the notion "from zero" really isn't apply here and was never an criteria. Only the first gen members had really been starting from ground up and even then the recruiting slogan is about reaching dreams and never specifically targeting amateurs, it just happens that the result was a group of amateur.

With that being said, it's not like the first gen is all complete noobs. Tomochin was child dancer from GIRLSBOX and had experience as background dancer in concerts.

And once you past the original there are many with training or related background.

I mean Yuko's a child actress and was even in a unsuccessful idol group that debuted with a single before she enters AKB audition.

Akicha and Tomomi both have older sister in entertainment industry.

NMB's Yamamoto Sayaka was in a highly anticipate band MAD CATZ back then before the band inexplicably disbanded, in fact NMB is full of members who has readership model experience or prior band or idol experiences.

NMB basically opens the flood gate that 48 project isn't just about amateur with no background. It had become as long as you have potential and the drive, we shape you into idol.

Like I said, Kaoru's entry might be controversial but if she has the work ethics and the potential and a dream to match. I don't see any problem with that.

As for the criticism that you quoted, the fact suggest otherwise. Apparently she is still attracting many fans most fans, and last time I check, she rises quickly through the Kenkyusei ranking on 2Ch and is still dubbed as AKB's secret weapon.

As for reaping benefit of the group, why is that a bad thing? Even the original members mentioned often that AKB isn't the goal but a stepping stone and a place for them to grow. That doesn't mean they don't love AKB and I don't see how those two have to contradict each other when reaping benefit and love for group can co-exist.

Really, only Mariko has clearly stated that she won't leave until they make her leave, everyone else are still hoping to grow enough that they can solo but no one questions their love for group.

For heaven's sake, Maimai and other members who left still shows up in AX concert to show their support and she still remain contact with certain members.


As for center situation,

Takamina w/Yuko could be the new co-center. Like you said, while she never really been a sole center Takamina has always been the go-to co-center before Jurina's debut and Yuko's rise. And even then, Takamina/Aachain is still the featured pair in none-sole center situation and her style is very flexible.

But that still doesn't solve the problem long term. IMO, Jurina might not have a choice. Besides, her relationship with the core original AKB members are well known and arguably even closer then her SKE comrades. I mean she spend her 15th birthday with Mariko, NyanNyan and other core AKB members rather than members from SKE. It could just coincidence but it does little to suggest her ties to SKE is more then AKB.

BTW, I'm not suggesting Jurina has no love for SKE because obviously she does, but like the AKB Reorganization almost 4 years ago, it's something she can learn to adapt and like I said her relation with AKB members now is much better than the relation between Team AK and Team B back then and her relation with SKE isn't that much stronger than those individual teams were back then either. Of course, all this is just my opinion.

[sa547]

Anyhow, Aachan is too good that I hope they don't erase her off the promotional materials or any older video footage.

If I could play J-games, I would love to see this:

Spoiler for Hopefully, not bad but...:

They're both made by the same developer/publisher BTW.

[mochichan]

Undertaker. The first paragraph was about Kaoru

It's not unprecedented but it's hard to cheer for her. I mean other KKS girls worked for their spot while Kaoru is getting promoted due to her connection and her own agency. She didn't audition. Even tho the other AKB girls did have experiences, they still work to get there. It just doesn't seem fair even if AKB is a stepping stone. I still don't like her so w/e She's the only push girl i don't like. I'm ok with Jurina, she worked to compete in AKB, and Yui worked for her spot in K. W/e not going to change my mind. I don't hate Kaoru but I don't think she deserve to be push.

AKB will win. Just cuz they're a freaking army + Idolmaster don't sell millions

http://www.tokyohive.com/2012/03/akb...ction-in-june/

Time to go broke.

[Undertaker]

@sa547

I think those erase has more to do members who are no longer active in entertainment scene. Japanese industry is really picky on that, once you are not active, you're civilian and out of privacy and professional courtesy, they put mosaic on you on air. It's weird I know, but that is the way it works there.

As long as Aachan still active, her footage should be fine, but once she left she obviously can't appear in any promotional stuff. But old footage should be find as long as Aachan is quitting the whole industry all together.


@mochichan

I can see where you come from. For me, that really didn't bother me. The way AKB burst to scene after years of foundation building and the current success they enjoy, it's inevitable. In fact, the moment they need to sell away the talent contracts to other agencies guarantees things such as thing would happen sooner or later. It's a double edged sword, those agency saved AKB resource-wise back them, they'll want to use the goupr to push they own talent is not that much off. I'm actually more surprised there hasn't been more. of them.

Personally I only know about Kaoru from what I read in blogs and forums and as such since she is still mostly a mystery to me. Time will tell though, if she really lives up to the Secret Weapon label she has right now.

But I would be lying if I said I not interested in her eventual debut if for no other reason than to see what the hype is about. I mean, you can't even find that many picture of her online and she is supposedly be famous already?

BTW, double check her background, her agency is AKS (parent company for all 48 groups), same as every other 48 family members whose contract were not sold. So to say she is based on agency connection is a bit rough on her and her only notable achievement was winning an model competition 6 months before joining AKB. The way I see it, at worse, she is someone AKS scouted themselves to be placed in specifically for AKB.

[mochichan]

I was curious when I saw her. I stanned Kaoru the moment I saw her at the Kobe fashion show. But now I couldn't careless.
The reason I like AKB so much in the first place is the whole "normal girls becoming stars through hardwork." Seeing them work hard to earn their place is amazing, it's just weird having a new girl who can get in because she's popular.

I think Kaoru got high marketing potential but yeah.......dun...care....

[Undertaker]

Well, after learning that Kaoru belongs to AKS.

The way I look it now is that it is not unlike when they decided on picking Aachan as permanent center with Takamina as aid and surround them with few selected younger members like Mii-Chan and Tomochin.

That move was made purely from marketing standpoint with future of the group in mind.

Really, that decision made no sense at time considering there are more skilled and more popular member, yer they decide to bet on age and a concept of a "face" more then anything.

That move obviously worked and they struck gold with a group of toughest girls I've never seem in entertainment world.

But at same time you look at the history of AKB and you can't fault any members (especially originals) from leaving the group because they constantly saw things that are unfair at time, from the focused push to Team K recruits, to Team B demotion, to Reorganization, a lot of things are unfair.

Heck Akicha is probably the closest case considering that her sister is in the entertainment business with decent popularity at time she joined AKB and then become the fastest Kenkyusei to be promoted over many hardworking seniors and enjoyed spotlight since.

Not saying Kaoru will be like that, but I'm willing to reserve my judgement until I see more of her.

[sa547]

Full transcript / translation here:
http://forum.nihongogo.com/topic/137...ost__p__229682

AKB49 Talk: And one strange thought came to me, as I remember reading the manga: given the unusual turn of events since yesterday, did the manga foresee that (this might sound real crazy but) Minoru/Minori replacing Aachan as center???

[mochichan]

Not going to change my mind. You can support her if you want.

Anyway I wouldn't go far as to say AKB49 could forsee this but that would be interesting to see it develop in the plot line. Anyway......some chinese fan tried to commit suicide after hearing the Acchan news...

http://rihosan48.tumblr.com/post/199...-maeda-atsukos

yeah..............

Also more potential heart attacks for fans.





So you see those little purple words at the bottom corner of those boxes? They don’t mean anything at first look… but after careful code-breaking, it becomes clear that they actually have meanings like future events that are already planned. It sounds like an absolute horror story, but some of the events are definitely going to happen (like birthdays) so we know these codes definitely mean SOMETHING and someone put them there on purpose.

Here is a compilation of what the Japanese people have been able to figure out so far. Some are VERY interesting like solo debuts etc. A lot of them are not completely solved yet and are still under speculation so take everything as a grain of salt for now.
—

50音順 (50 syllable chart) = http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BA%...9F%B3%E9%A0%86

★4/07土 BS剥強　＝ Big Site (hagashi tsuyoi) Handshake event at Big Site on this day already announced
★4/08日 BS剥弱　＝ Big Site (hagashi yowai) Handshake event at Big Site on this day already announced

★4/17火 神KK　＝Kami Kobayashi Kana? New Kami Kouen? Nemousu Terebi? Team KII?
★4/28土 WT4IKE　＝Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 (4th single?) Ikebukuro event?
★5/02水 指スラカルタ　＝ Sashihara Solo（In Indonesian, surakaruta = solo）

★5/18金 17GK涙　＝

DiVa Debut Anniversary。
17(位Akimoto Sayaka) GK(Genking Miyazawa Sae) 涙(Happy Tears) Solo LIVE?
Oshima Yuko (10/17 born)Graduate Team K tears?
17(Akimoto Sayaka) Graduate Team K tears?

★5/22火 XYZ　＝Guerrila Live? Tokyo Sky Tree Opening Commemoration Event?
　　　　　　　　SONY’s product (Nogizaka46?)
　　　　　　　　終わり→尾張→SKE？

★6/10日 no3巣鴨　＝

No Sleeves 巣鴨?
No3(Kashiwagi Yuki)？Namba3 (NMB3？TOP3？)？
3 new Namba members?
「巣鴨」when looked at on the 50 sound chart, above it is「しお”め」→ 汐留 (Shiome)

★6/11月 SR決定　＝SDN Sony Record Label change? Sapporo？Sousenkyo Relation？
★6/23土 〇特おやつ　＝Oyatsu Kouen？
★6/26火 NYT豪徳寺　＝ Not Yet something to do at Koutokuji?
★7/02月 MS五反田　 ＝ Gotanda Concert Hall でMS(Matsui Sakiko) Piano Concert？

★7/07土 ウチハナヤム　＝

Uchi（Kansai-ben = Me?）To be worried？NMB Relation？Kansai member relations?？
Something decided for Milky？
On the 50 sound chart, above it says「Itano Tomomi」

★7/14土 苦役PRE　＝Atsuko’s Movie「Kueki Ressha」premium viewing
★7/18水 yssB　＝Inoue Yoshimasa（Yosusu）誕生日（Birthday）

★7/20金 25:47　＝

Majisuka？Friday。ANN at 25:47 something will happen？
Nito Moeno, Sato Sumire Musical Start Date

★8/11土 -3　＝2nd Election #3 Mariko Graduation？3rd Election #3 Kashiwagi Yuki Last Stage？
★8/14火 365m　＝Kamida Temple（From the theater around 365m）Something will happen？
★8/18土 -2　＝ 2nd Election #2 Maeda Atsuko Graduation？3rd Election #2 Oshima Yuko Last Stage？

★8/25土 再検討　＝Large Gathering？Tokyo Dome Concert？
★9/05水 BBAスラカルタ　＝Katayama Haruka Solo Debut？（Reference to Sashi surakaruta）
★9/10月 ▲サズヒレ　＝On 50 sound chart, one above is「Kojiharu」CM？Photobook？▲means photo？
★9/24月 -7　＝

2nd Election #7 Kojima Haruna Graduation？
3rd Election #7 Takahashi Minami Last Stage？

★9/25火 +38　＝

Matsui Jurina born 3/8。Move to AKB？
2nd Election #38 Yagami Kumi move？
3rd Election #38 Matsui Sakiko new Team K kouen？
SDN 38 people revive？(Minus Urano Kazumi)

★10/06土 ?　＝ＪＫＴSingle Debut？（?＝Melody）
★10/19金 ggrHKT　＝HKT Single Debut？（ggr=Gugure）
★10/28日 CAP29　＝Captain Noro Kayo’s 29th birthday
★11/04日 2×2=5　＝Radiohead’s song (2 + 2 = 5)

★11/23金 くす玉とニョッキ　＝Suzuki Mariya who makes Nyokki？Kouhaku related？
★11/26月 JL401　＝Number of a London Flight。London stage？
★12/05水 TH6648　＝New Sister group in Tai？TH(Tai)66(Country’s phone number)48(48 group)
★12/08土 6+1=red　＝7th anniversary, red tape event

★1/15火 ♪レソミドドレ　＝253112 translates to「かなさいか」Kana Sayaka？Anagram？
★1/18金 tgsk65再漏　＝Togaski Request Hour will appear at #65

★1/20日 姉諾威鴨涙　＝

諾威(Norway)？Nobakujokobicchi Ahiru no Namida？
Ahiru = Tomochin　Namida＝Graduation？

★2/08金 △カカスミエエサ　＝

Sumikaeru = to change residence（Anagram）、SKE Theater Relocation？
One spot above the 50 sound chart「Ooshima Yuko」

★2/16土 白白赤黄　＝WWRY Musical？ (White White Red Yellow)

★2/24日 ラグランジュ　＝

DIVA’s album name？宝塚の蘭寿とむことラントム？
Watanabe Mayu or Hata Sawako relation？
NMB Team BII formation？

★3/02土 神ＫＫ　＝

Kobayashi Kana relation？（2nd time）New stage start？Nemousu？
Nemousu、Korea、Marines？
Team KII？New Nemousu plans？

★3/13水 ウッホＨＷ　＝Akimoto Sayaka Hollywood Debut？
★3/30土 けん玉126　＝Kendama = Mariko’s Sado？KENDAMAから単純に1番目2番目6番目(KEM)？

[Undertaker]

Like I said, currently I neither root for nor against Kaoru. I'm simply willing to give her benefit of doubt and agree with others that she is at least an interesting piece at the moment.

The code does seem interesting, but I think some suggested event either make no sense or are too detailed to have it set like that. (BTW, what's the source from? a staff member? high rank decision maker? members?)

For example, IMO, any potential graduation or transfers are events too sporadic and specific to be coded into a daily planner for regular staff just for the fear of leak like this and are simply too random to plan year or even months ahead. Besides, a single transfer are really not big enough event (unlike is someone of Jurina's level) to have specific code or needs for other to know other the the select few in decision process unlike it involves ton of people like SDN graduation.

As for those suggested graduation, base on prior patterns, it's unlikely any real graduation would happen before September (other then Aachan's) considering that so far almost all graduation intents are announced 3-4 month prior to the actual last event(planned or not) especially with election coming up in early June. If there are planned graduation, it'd be public by now. I mean, one of the biggest question right now is if Aachan will be selectable in this year's election.

Besides, that's too many core members leaving at too short of time that will give a PR image that core member are a group of self-centered kids that doesn't love AKB as much as them claim. That would really destroy the group and them individually.

I mean with Aachan's decision, most seasoned fan, while sad, was believe that the decision guarantee another year from Yuko who was known to want to leave the group for similar reason. As for other top member, none of them really ready to go solo yet and still have room for growth inside the group unlike Yuko and Aachan.

And while Sayaka is pretty awesome but HollyWood debut? ATM, she might not even survive in Japan if she gone solo, besides her leaving would be huge to the group internally as AKB really don't have a lot of leader type and Takamina is already busy enough running the entire family and last thing you need is to put more burden on her, (especially now one of her biggest partner and emotional support is due to leave).


Random thought:

+38 might simply mean debut for TPE48 in Taipei that is schedule to debut by the end of summer this year and makes more sense than SDN revival.

With that being said, -7,-2,-3 etc, might be planned oversea trips for member handshake events and promotion.

People outside of East Asia might not know, but there a a lot of mini oversea events for AKB48 in East Asia.

A lot of time those are individual 2-3 day trips or in a small group of 4-8. Yukirin already had a handshake event earlier this year in Taipei and Hongkong in a 2 day trip. Mayuyu and Takamina was the highlight last year in Taipei for the opening of official shop and promotional events. Takamina is also all over the place with those events such JKT debuts in Indonesia, HKT debuts/introduction, along with opening of official shops in Hong Kong, Korea, China.

(another reason I grow more and more fond of her, every top member is busy, but Takamina is also in charge to a lot of little things behind the scenes that helps the group grow and not widely publicized. I mean the fact she was in SSA yesterday with all the shocking announcement today she is leading the group to DC and then due back by the end of week with all of her other arrangements is pretty insane.)

If +38 is as I thought, then -7 a day before would just mean that Takamina is oversea heading the charge for the introduction which is in line with debut of every sister group so far.

[Miko Miko]

Originally Posted by mochichan

I hope Yuko will be center too but fans say she have too much star power. The reason Acchan was a good center is because she can shine but not overshadow everyone else.

I guess that's true, plus she might graduate next after Acchan, I just get that feeling. It'll either be Yuko or Mariko. <//3

Originally Posted by Undertaker

I really like Mayuyu as well, but I just don't see her as center. It's not her ability but more of style. I just can't shake feeling that if Mayuyu ends up as center, AKB will be force to turn into Wata-tai style all the time and I don't know if just 1 style of songs can carry AKB. Her Mouse persona is a very nice, but even that didn't really deviates from her traditional cute idol style.

Agree with this!
I love the Warota style and that, but honestly, I think I'd get sick of it if that's all AKB was putting out. I like AKB's sound as it is now.
Mayuyu would look awesome as center, but tbh, I couldn't imagine here there.

[sa547]

To Takamina and to your crew... Go get 'em! HOOOOAH!

[Undertaker]

That is a nice PV, The Conscience of AKB walking the distance to Tokyo Dome. Only 1830 meter away from their 2nd home, the place where it all starts. So close yet so far, and it took them six and half years to reach it through combination of hard work, luck and perseverance.


It' s gonna be bittersweet, considering it's also where most fans expect to be the last performance for Aachan as well.

[sa547]

Speaking of her, the day later, she and two more came to Hong Kong, but feted with cheers:
http://www.tokyohive.com/2012/03/mae...-announcement/

Seems that after a very long time of contemplating, she completely accepted the far-reaching consequences of her decision.

[mochichan]

I WENT TO THEIR DC SHOW!!
And yeah some fans congrat them on Tokyo Dome too. It's awesome lol

Takamina was so typically Takamina. She did alot of weird/cute things. Some fans printed giant Sae, Taka, and AkiP head and when Taka saw AkiP, she said AKIMOTO SENSEI!! lol