Akb48
 

AKB48 (Akihabara 48) is an all-girl idol group (age 12 – 23) consisting of two teams of 20 and 16 members respectively. The idea is “idols you can go and see” why they have daily performances in their own theatre in Akihabara, Tokyo. The man behind the project, Yasushi Akimoto, was involved with another all-girl group, Onyanko Club, back in the 80’s.

It may be a cheap trick to put teenage girls in school uniform on stage, but I must admit that I like them.

PARTYが始まるよ

桜の花びらたち

I could not help but linking to a couple of small pieces as well. :) No more posts though from me, until someone shows interest.

AKB48 will have a massive release in March with six albums and five DVD with live recordings from their own theatre. The limited edition DVD-box is already out-of-print at CD Japan, but can still be ordered at Amazon.

クラスメイト

禁じられた2人

Lol i love this group. Can you link me some music instead of the youtube videos? Im trying to look for "Cinderalla can not be swindled" or w/e, and aitakatta. keep me posted on the current AKB48 events aswell. Thanks.

EDIT: Nvm, didnt see the sticky. I just joined. Sorry.

And then we are two... :) AKB48 performs music and some voice acting in the upcoming anime OVA series ICE, with Akimoto as original creator and directed by Makoto Kobayashi. Judging from reactions to the gentlemen’s earlier anime project, the movie 6 Angels, I would not expect too much from this one. There is also some information about what seems to be a live action movie about a song that kills (?), involving AKB48. If it is true it is probably corny, but I have a tendency to like that kind of stuff.

Ok i understand wat u mean when u say its cheap to put them in school girl outfits and on stage but they are still good. I saw the trailer for ICE and the song that went with it is awesome.

The six albums and five DVD released in March both cover different sets of songs that AKB48 performed at their own theatre in 2006. The albums have the studio versions of the songs, and I am pleased to say that I like all the albums.

The DVD’s are live recordings and it is nice to have the opportunity to see them perform (I love the “Mondrian”-dresses). My only disappointment is team A’s third set. For some reason (maybe the wota’s screamed too much :heh:), some of the live songs are replaced with studio recordings (or that is what it sounds like). I did buy the DVD’s to see and HEAR them perform live, not to watch music videos. For the future, I hope this DVD was an exception.

Speaking of Onyanko Club (Kitten Club) (see my first post), you may enjoy their 1985 hit Sailor Fuku wo Nugasanaide (don't make me take off my sailor uniform). :)

I just recently got to know them. Actually I watch mendol and got to know AKB48. They are a bunch of interesting girls group. But I really hate the way the company manages their showbiz.

Akb48
 

I only just started listening to this great group. I cant believe how many members there is! :P

There so great ~ Does anyone else like them?

AKB 48 thread
 

I didn't have time to go through all the older threads to see if there we any previous ones, so please merge etc if there are any..

So, I just recently became interested in AKB48.

Since they are gong to start their own anime series too, I thought it would be cool to have a thread about them.

Who are your favourites?
What songs do you like?
And what do you think of them in general?

Seems like they currently have a google plus service where al their posts are being translated in to multiple languages, so it makes it easier for fans to follow them.

For too find our members google plus account, go to the official website profile section!

This thread could've been posted here:
http://forums.animesuki.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12

I got recently started on the world's biggest pop group after the announcement of AKB0048 (which, of course, will be directed by Kawamori).

At the moment, thanks to a fellow living in Hong Kong, I'm going for Mayu. Songs? First nice one was River, followed by Heavy Rotation.

I'm no fan of AKB48 but, as mentioned in an other thread, I know them through the Rina Nakanishi incident.

Though this happens ages ago and many fan express shock (and to some extent, delight) at her change of occupation, I still like a first hand account at what do the fans actually think of her stunt. Especially now that she manage to drag her sister along for the ride. Speculations are rift even today as to the motive behind her act.

Lastly, I believe there will not be a repeat of what Nakanishi did. The management will see to that.

Who are your favourites? Watanabe Mayu, Ota Aika, Itano Tomomi ~ and more ~ :heh:
What songs do you like? All the singles, and a lot of stage songs!
And what do you think of them in general? Amaaazing ~ I am a hardcore AKB fan. :heh::heh::heh:

Yeah, that was a tragedy, especially as she was one of the original members and was positioned as center until Atsuko Maeda replaced her when she graduated.
The recent release of the pron video with her and her sister co-starring somehow made the whole going to porn thing make it seem worse...

I personally feel sad that Oku Manami and Erepyon left the group so early.

i was watching the 2011 Jan documentary and the more I watch the more addicted I get to the whole concept.
The scary thing is, you dont need to have a favourite person or song, but the concept is so entertaining.
I was a avid American Idol fan, but maybe I am going to just be a full on AKB fan from now...

Maybe 2012 will be a year of graduation from many of the main members... Let's see :)

Let's look forward with this nice news instead:
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/inte...ing-of-age-day

Anyone who hasn't heard of the girls, well, it's best that reading the manga AKB49: The Rules Against Love is an excellent introduction for non-fans into their world, as to how things work within the system, and how much it takes for one's star to shine right there.

If it's any consolation, Nakanishi/Yamaguchi gives a very different air about her now. She has grown slimmer, completely lost that innocent and cute aura and is now all very vampish.

In short, she had grown from a very cute girl to one very attractive lady. Though I wonder about those cuts on her left wrist that was always masked by a hairband throughout her skin flick....

To add to the point, no fans should get too emtional attach to any of the girls here. They may packaged themselves as cute and innocent but that is just the outer apperance here. You never known what goes on behind the scene those girls did to land their role in the group.

I know them from the talk/variety shows.... I like the members based on their personality so those members are

mayuyu, kasai, umeda, akimoto sayaka, miyazawa sae, sashiko = sashihara rino, mingegishi minami

For now, I'm just a casual fan, and understand that even if their initial presentation had been tweaked for PR, sometimes the truth about the girls come out, for better or worse to advance or wreck their careers (and the sponsors are very PR-sensitive).

Of course, as Japan (and may be true in most East Asian countries) seems to have a mind-boggling number of people presenting themselves as stars (in any way they could, even gravure or AV), it's quite a very fiercely competitive, political environment -- sink or swim, do or die -- and whoever comes out on top will be remembered for a very long time.

Even then, however, I take the gossip about the girls with a pinch of salt; they're still human to me.

Exactly, besides being a AV actress isn't that big of deal really and is still more media driven than anything.

Many top AV star are also actresses in late night idol dramas. Some manage to become prime time celebrate as well. The passed Iijima Ai was one good example.

Besides, she left AKB before the group really took off in 2009 and frankly, other than a handful of member like Oshima Mai not many former/graduated member are still prominently around music and variety scenes.

I wasn't a fan before but after seeing some of their members in different TV programs, they started to got my attention and before long I become a fan.

As for favorite members, I liked Atsuko Maeda and Yuko Oshima first through their drama appearances. Then Tomomi Itano through Kamen Rider W. The AKB drama Majisuka Gakuen got me hook on Mayu Watanabe and Mariko Shinoda. Then I saw Haruna Kojima and she is just hot. Finally I see Minami Takahashi in various variety shows and loved her personality.

And that's how I become fans of pretty much all top members now.


But as really, East Asia is now in a full girl pop group craze. AKB48 is every where and they even have affiliates in other East Asian countries now, combine with Korea's Girls' Generation and leg powers of KARA, these three groups are dominating the East Asian music scene on the female side.

I agree.
The amazing thing about AKB is that you end up being a fan of multiple girls.
In Johnny's groups you have one favourite and you stick to it, so being interested in most top members and the group as a whole is a totally new experience for me.

I also think Akimoto Yasushi is ingenious in making use of tools around him to generate more buzz and addiction.

Who knew google plus will become this interesting for the fans and the members themselves.

The most important lesson I learned from AKB is that you should take every opportunity seriously because you never know what can generate exposure and success. Right now my new interest is Sakiko (who plays the piano). Hope she really does get to release a piano album from Pony Canion

He also picked the right target crowd to begin with. I mean building AKB theater in Akiba, the heart of everything moe and ACG related with all the maid costume. He also doesn't prevent member showing off their personalities.

To tell the truth, I didn't like Minami Takahashi before, even after I kind of get into the groups because of other girls that caught my eyes. Her face is too long and too big compare to her body and made her look bigger then she really is and I had hard time figuring out why she is a central member and one of the most popular, always in top 5.

But in past year or so, I saw a lot of her in variety shows and yer personality just shines and she's not afraid to say she's a One Piece junkie and love to read manga and playing games. That's when I really accept that this group really is targeting the ACG crowd to begin with and didn't back away from it even when they got as big as they did.

Speaking of Johnny's I am impressed by SMAP though, not really about their music consider I'm not boy band fan, but every member other than leader is a good actor, while the leader himself is a pretty damn good variety host and comedian. There is just so many facet in that group that allow to remain on top for 20 years and I hope AKB and do that as well.

Has anyone paid attention to the senbatsu for the next single Give Me Five? Having Sashihara Rino in the 'Selection 6' song makes so little sense. Such a shame my oshimen Akimoto Sayaka has yet to be featured in the title song too. She's actually getting lots of exposure on programs and whatnot, yet Akimoto-P still won't give her a push on the singles? Ah well, at least she was somehow picked into the 9-girl AKB0048 selection for the legendary members, which gives me something Sayaka-related to look forward to anyway.

To answer some of OP's original questions: I didn't think very highly of the group at first: usually made fun of the group pre-Kouhaku boom (well, mostly due to King Records' laughable marketing schemes, I didn't know the girls at all), viewed the boom itself in a pretty bad light, thought Majisuka Gakuen was terrible... butttt I warmed up to the group little by little thanks to their growing exposure to the public, and like them quite a bit now. By no means am I a hardcore fan (I probably don't know more than ~20 names), but I follow the single releases, and stan a few members such as Akimoto Sayaka as I've mentioned, but also Takamina and Mayuyu - obviously I favor the strong personalities and the otaku. :P

I was just looking at this vid of Mayuyu - it's not that recent, but she goes for shopping at the Ikebukuro Animate at the beginning, first looks for Durarara!! goods, then ends up going for stuff like Senjougahara or Sister Princess ww

They push they got is purely based on the yearly popularity poll ranking. Top 12 is the media group that gets the most exposure and guarantees in the singles. Rank 13 to 21 are poll group that got selective pushes.

Since top 7 (make that 8) rarely changes and everyone one of them all have been given their push and got their individual successes, as #9, Sashihara Rino is the logical choice here.

Akimoto Sayaka has been #17 for past two years so unless she got into top 12 this summer or won one of those random tournament that they always holds, it's unlikely she'll get featured.

BTW, Majisuka Gakuen is horrible as a drama, but it was weirdly enjoyable for me.

But yeah I wasn't very warm to the group in the beginning, looke them as Morning Musume Rip-off. Even after I heard that the group was based in otaku territory and market toward otaku, I didn't really case. But like I said, one thing after another and now I'm a fan. Maybe not a hardcore, but enough that I'll keep up with major news of the member and Single debuts.

I agree with you.
I also thought Minami Takahashi was too ...ahem, not good looking, but after watching her interact with other members on various documentaries and shows, I understand that she really has a great personality.

But at the same time, I hope she gets the exposure that she deserves going forward, and not just end her career when AKB ends.

I hear that many Japanese CEOs mention her in blogs and write about her ability to lead a large team etc, and I am sure she will be able to find a place in the entertainment industry if she plays her cards thoughtfully.

I think girl groups are always at an disadvantage compared to boy groups, and am skeptical about AKB lasting as long as SMAP did, but they are very similar in that they allowed each member's personality to shine through, so who knows what could happen.

To be honest, Sasshi is one of the members I am less interested in and I am surprised at her solo debut and leading role in tv dramas this season.

But again, thats the fun part of AKB...

ooh I watched most of the kin suma special on AKB48 that aired in this month about the 6 years that hvae passed and how they had it so hard. I don't know if it's subbed in english yet. But anyways it was really intersting like I didn't know they were called pantsu mise shudan.Takahashi minami was like oh yeah we all cried together over that. Or the part where they told us how shinoda mariko joined. It's so interesting. a lot of the things with akb48 has to do with fate.

it's up on parts on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IA_E...eature=related

but I watched youku cause the quality is higher.

at first when they kept going on japanese tv I was just annoyed and thinking what's the big deal. Then I grew to understand the concept about watching the idols as they grow. But as of late I've felt irritated at them because of the lack of growth like the live-singing which they like never do and they do do live singing it's usually bad unless it's no sleeves or DIVA (maybe it's because of the kidols that keep going to japan). But from watching the kin suma special about all the adversity they faced those thoughts are at bay for now lol. It's amazing how they stuck it out despite the tough beginning

AND I THINK the reason you guys don't get the appeal of sashihara is because you hvaen't seen her on talk/variety shows (I don't know if they get subbed). Like, for me personally I loved her show sashihara no kuseni... It was just funny and I found out more about her. It ended after like 30 eps or something, which is 2 seasons . I ALSO love her on SASHIHARA pride on akb kyouwakoku. I also loved her speech at the 3rd election...

Yeah I think I became a fan of her after seeing sashihara pride on the akb show. It's just so darn funny.

Recently they came out with a new album, and on the live stream, the girls managed to pull off a big-band K-On! style performance, with them actually playing the instruments! :D

I've seem my share of vareity show, in fact that how I got into Manzai couples and AKB as well as TakaMina.

My take is just that the top 10 members are simply too dominate on those variety shows that to me, Sashihara didn't really stand out for me enough to overtake them. She's just on the bubble where she's on the outside looking in.

With that being said, I do think she could break out with a few break here and there, but that is more luck driven then anything. (ie, if she can win center position on one of those weird AKB tournament)

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...aiko-in-new-ad

Hot damn, now she's Jaiko. :heh:

She does not look like real Jaiko and she is 28 yrs old????

No she not, it's Jaiko that is scheduled to be 28. Maeda herself is 20, she was 14 when she debuted as one of the original AKB48 back in 05. (BTW there are only 6 members [out of original 20]currently left from the original group, the other 5 are Minami Takahashi(20), Tomomi Itano(20), Minami Minegishi(19), Haruna Kojima(23), and Natsumi Hirajima(19).)

As much as I like her, I have to say this is a terrible role for her. Of all the manga characters, Jaiko?

Still, with Reno and other big names on board, that has to be one of the funniest CM series I've seen so far. :heh:

Oh wait a minute, that's is just a CM for car. WTF, I thought if was a CM to promote a real live film of something.

I probably should watch the video first and read the article first....

In this case I agree, the CM is pretty funny.

http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-6854.html

Ok, what's going on in this quiz show, with the girls inside?

Definitely not 28, but she does look petty good in the Jaiko costume :)

So, Yonezawa and Hirashima of AKB left the group this morning due to pictures of them on dates with guysm and tweets about how many times they had sex etc.

sucks because Yonezawa just landed in Singapore for their performance there.
now Sato Natsuki is being flown over as a pinch hitter.

^
I'm reading some of that here too. Too bad, one of them is the original vets of the group, short of finishing their stipulated staying term, and yeah, Akimoto will have to take in a replacement or two.

Wish you luck, ladies.

What a stupid, and I mean stupid way of shooting themselves in the legs. Really, keep quite and Akimoto might be able to cover it up or something. Why posting stuff on social media, even if they thought the accounts are private?

The only thing is that even though Hirashima is from the original 20, she is the only one that have yet to make it to the the top 20 and only made to single 3 times, and Hirashima despite being a 3rd-gen member, haven't appear in singles and even fell out the top 40 in the last year's overall poll. (wiki got incredible detail on the member movements and rankings)

That is just not smart when you are still fighting to survive.


Speaking of former members, taking counting the one that got dropped like these two, the "graduated members" didn't fare too well either. Other than the ones who subsequently got moved to SDN48, only Mai Oshima seems to be doing pretty well for herself after leaving the group (BTW, she is pretty awesome in variety scene and an ok pop singer). The rest them either disappears or struggling to stay on TV or was famous for the wrong reasons (Rina Nakanishi).

The fans (and probably the trainee members) are probably excited to hear tat there will be two openings now.
Also Ooba is currently taking time off performances, and its rumored that she is involved in the scandal, and the admins are trying to check up whether there are any photo evidence etc to prove her involvement.


Yes, its such a pity to leave the group when no real examples have been set for an ex member to survive.

its also so dumb of them to let twitter and other social media spoil their career just several days after Akimoto told SKE and NMB agents to allow all members to post freely on Google plus with no censorship.
Way to go...

Interesting story that came up among the japanese fans...
All members that are currently in contracts for advertisement, drama series and movies are not only popular but probably have no scandals that the agents need to worry about.

On the other hand, if a member is popular but seems not to be chosen to song selections, no chance in tv dramas and especially ads, its because the agents already have heard rumours of that member having boyfriends and are too much of a liability to them to sign up contracts.
If the scandal surfaces and she has to leave the group, the amount of compensation that must be paid to the advertiser are too big, and thats why there are some members that are so cute and popular but never get a shot at anything. Ono Erena being one very good example.

Not surprisingly, despite losses, the ladies still made a full sweep:
http://www.tokyohive.com/2012/01/win...d-disc-awards/

Well, In terms of pure CD sales, they are selling the most CDs in japan, so when it comes to Golden Disk awards and Record Awards, its hard to dispute...

Regarding Oba though, apparently her father passed and tat was the reason why se was not appearing in recent performances, not because she was associated to the scandal in any way :)

Ooookay, we got some news on the 0048 casting:
http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-7021.html#more
http://www.tokyohive.com/2012/02/akb...anime-akb0048/

Having got my mind blown by the Macross Frontier saga... Can't wait. :D