Welcome to MELOS no Michi
an information and news blog dedicated to covering the latest news for: AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, JKT48

.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ORqRZJStNR8/U-oJA1EpUwI/AAAAAAAABVw/n5GnQcYJz-U/s1600/baitoakb.png
AKB48 Is Looking for a Part-Time Member
Following OtonaAKB, AKB48 came up with a new form of temporary membership: part-time idol. Find out more about this new project here.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NLqZ1JpXrV8/U-OKjnt0UbI/AAAAAAAABVE/2MglP_Vq5vw/s1600/team8.jpg
AKB48 Team 8 Makes Theater Debut
AKB48 Team 8 performed its first theater show on August 5. Get more information about the shonichi performance here!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ep-niMXl0o/U7wOG6n5NVI/AAAAAAAABO8/qHE1UGRXbsI/s1600/ske7thaudition.png
SKE48 Announces 7th Generation Auditions
SKE48 is looking for new members and this time the fans will be part of the decision about who joins the group!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fzI9Ea3WPtk/U5SB_iN9kuI/AAAAAAAABMc/RjaZKG4hnbc/s1600/election2014.jpg
AKB48 37th Single Senbatsu Election - Final Results
AKB48 held its election for the 6th time and for the 1st time Watanabe Mayu won it. Check out the full results here!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VZDt9IAE_Jo/U1fp17gN24I/AAAAAAAABGY/zjjtNNv8Y-A/s1600/calculationmethod.jpg
Details on the AKB48 Group Pennant Race
The AKB48 Group teams will compete against each other in a new event, the AKB48 Group Pennant Race. Points will be awarded based on theater ticket applications, theater version handshake ticket sales and sousenkyo votes.
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next

24 December 2012

NMB48 Announces 1st Album+Request Hour and Introduces 4th Generation


During the theater show on December 23, it was announced that NMB48 will release its first album on February 27. The title has yet to be announced but it was already revealed that the album will come in 4 types: Type N, Type M and Type B (CD+DVD, 3,200 Yen each) as well as a theater version (CD only 1980 Yen).

It was also announced that NMB48 will hold their first Request Hour Setlist Best 30 event next year. Voting tickets will be included in Type B of the album. A date has not been announced yet.

The same day, NMB48's 4th Generation members were presented for the first time in the theater. The official NMB48 Channel also uploaded a video on Youtube showing the 4th Generation members introducing themselves. You can watch it here
Read more ...

23 December 2012

Yokoyama Yui Joins Team N


On December 19 Yokoyama Yui, member of AKB48's Team A, made her debut as Team N member in the NMB48 theater and performed for the first time in Team N's current stage show, a revival of N1 [Dareka no tame ni]. Yui took over the spot of Matsuda Shiori, who graduated in October, so her unit in the show is now [Rider].

It had already been announced in August during the big AKB48 team shuffle in Tokyo Dome that Yui would be a member of both AKB48 and NMB48, and she has since then been active in NMB48 as a Senbatsu and Shirogumi member in the last single [Kitagawa Kenji] and was selected for [HA!], NMB48's coupling song of  [Eien Pressure], but she had not been assigned to a team until now.


This is not really surprising. Yui wasn't put in Team M or BII when those had spots open, so it seemed quite clear she'd join N. Kitarie's team debut in SKE48 cannot be far now.
Read more ...

21 December 2012

Oricon End Of Year Charts


AKB48 have dominated the Oricon end of year charts round-ups. They placed number one in the "total artist sales revenue" table(which counts CD/DVD/bluray sales) with 19,098,000,000 Yen. That's the equivalent of 227 million US dollars, or 172 million Euros.

In the album table, AKB48 placed 3rd with [1830m] at 1,029,954 copies, and SKE48 placed 40th with [Kono Hi no Chime wo Wasurenai] at 143,648 copies.

The singles chart, the following placed:

01 – “Manatsu no Sounds good!” – AKB48 : (1,820,056)
02 – “GIVE ME FIVE!” – AKB48 : (1,436,519)
03 – “Gingham Check” – AKB48 : (1,303,407)
04 – “UZA” – AKB48 : (1,215,079)
05 – “Eien Pressure” – AKB48 : (1,073,499)
08 – “Kataomoi Finally” – SKE48 : (592,947)
09 – “Kiss Datte Hidarikiki” – SKE48 : (587,993)
10 – “Aishiteraburu!” – SKE48 : (581,612)
12 – “Nagiichi” – NMB48 : (449,098)
13 – “Virginity” – NMB48 : (390,896)
14 – “Junjou U-19″ – NMB48 : (376,302)
17 – “Kitagawa Kenji” – NMB48 : (353,160)
26 – “Hashire! Bicycle” – Nogizaka46 : (240,973)
28 – “Oide Shampoo” – Nogizaka46 : (221,193)
29 – “Guru Guru Curtain” – Nogizaka46 : (210,513)
42 – “Suika BABY” – Not yet : (171,574)
43 – “Kimi wa Boku da” – Maeda Atsuko : (170,640)
50 – “Synchro Tokimeki” – Watanabe Mayu : (158,132)
51 – “Soredemo Suki da yo” – Sashihara Rino : (151,724)
64 – “Pedicure Day” – no3b : (115,763)
69 – “Hikaru Monotachi” – Watanabe Mayu : (112,877)
73 – “Otona Jelly Beans” – Watanabe Mayu : (109,309)
75 – “Ue Kara Mariko” – AKB48 : (106,039)
81 – “Romance Privacy” – French Kiss : (92,214)
85 – “10 nen go no Kimi he” – Itano Tomomi : (94,039)
88 – “Makeoshimi Congratulation” – SDN48 : (90,507)
93 – “Ikuji Nashi Masquarade” – Sashihara Rino with AnRiRe: (84,618)
98 – “Shonen yo Uso wo Tsuke” – Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 : (80,843)
Read more ...

20 December 2012

Nogizaka46 4th Single [Seifuku no Mannequin] 1st Day Sales


Nogizaka46 4th single [Seifuku no Mannequin] sold 190,108 copies on it's first day to place number one in the Oricon daily sales chart. This is a huge increase over their 3rd single [Hashire Bicycle]'s 150,056 copies, and even eclipses that single's first week sales, which was 186,613 copies. This single was available in 3 CD+DVD types, and 2 CD only types, one of which was an anime version. The regular CD only version could be pre-ordered from chara-ani.com with individual member handshake tickets.


Congratulations to Nogizaka46, this is a big increase in sales for them. They have recently announced their first Tokyo concert on December 27th and also applications are open for their 2nd generation of members.
Read more ...

19 December 2012

[AKB48 2nd Kouhaku Taikou Uta Gassen] Setlist


AKB48 held their 2nd [Kouhaku Taikou Uta Gassen] on the 17th December 2012 at Tokyo Dome City Hall. As per last years event, this is modelled on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen held on New Year's Eve which features red and white teams take turns singing songs in a competition.

This year, the akagumi (red team) captain was Shinoda Mariko and the shirogumi (white team) captain was Takahashi Minami. Akagumi won the competition by 8 votes to 4.

Near the end of the show, Kasai Tomomi, announced her graduation. She will release her debut solo single [Masaka] on the 26th December 2012. In addition, this show was Masuda Yuka's final appearance as an AKB48 member.


The song [Heavy Rotation] was broadcast live on the last ever Hey!Hey!Hey!

Check out the setlist and which members performed which song.
*Red coloured names are Akagumi members.
*Blue coloured names are Shirogumi members.

AKB48 2nd Kouhaku Taikou Uta Gassen
第2回AKB48紅白対抗歌合戦

Date: 17 December 2012 (Monday)
Venue: Tokyo Dome City Hall
Time: 18:00 (17:00 entrance)
Price: 4,800yen

M01 - Team Aka Oshi (Nonaka Misato, Kasai Tomomi, Takeuchi Miyu, Kitahara Rie, Takahashi Juri, Kato Rena, Shinoda Mariko, Sato Sumire, Matsui Sakiko, Nakata Chistato, Oya Shizuka, Chikano Rina, Matsubara Natsumi, Masuda Yuka, Kojima Haruna, Oshima Yuko)
M02 - Wasshoi Shiro! (Itano Tomomi, Uchida Mayumi, Kashiwagi Yuki, Oba Mina, Kikuchi Ayaka, Takahashi Minami, Fujie Reina, Nakaya Sayaka, Ishida Haruka, Minegishi Minami, Miyazaki Miho, Yokoyama Yui, Tanabe Miku, Iwata Karen, Maeda Ami, Miyazawa Sae)
---MC---
M03 - Soredemo Suki da yo(Shimazaki Haruka)
M04 - Kimi wa Boku da (Watanabe Mayu)
---MC---
M05 - Oshibe to Meshibe to Yoru no Chouchou (Sashihara Rino, Kitahara Rie)
M06 - Tonari no Banana (Yokoyama Yui, Watanabe Miyuki)
---MC---
M07 - Glass no I LOVE YOU (Takahashi Juri, Tashima Meru, Kotani Riho, Suda Akari)
M08 - Koike (Minegishi Minami, Nakaya Sayaka, Ishida Haruka, Miyazaki Miho, Kobayashi Kana, Kojima Natsuki, Komori Mika, Kobayashi Marina, Morikawa Ayaka, Oshima Ryoka, Natori Wakana, Katayama Haruka, Uchida Mayumi, Nagao Mariya, Tano Yuuka, Suzuki Shihori)
M09 - First Rabbit (Matsui Rena, Yamamoto Sayaka, Takayanagi Akane, Oya Masana, Yoshida Akari, Suda Akari, Fukumoto Aina, Hata Sawako, Kishino Rika, Furukawa Airi, Jonishi Kei, Ueno Kasumi, Yakata Miki, Kotani Riho, Shiroma Miru)
M10 - Shoujotachi yo (Watanabe Miyuki, Matsui Jurina, Ogasawara Mayu, Kimoto Kanon, Yagura Fuuko, Kizaki Yuria, Yagami Kumi, Suga Nanako, Mukaida Manatsu, Yabushita Shuu, Ogiso Shiori, Kadowaki Kanako, Furuhata Nao, Ishida Anna, Tanigawa Airi, Kato Yuka)
M11 - Kitagawa Kenji (JKT48)
M12 - Takeuchi Senpai (HKT48)
M13 - Seifuku Resistance (Fujie Reina, Kikuchi Ayaka, Nagao Mariya)
M14 - Heart Gata Virus (Kawaei Rina, Iriyama Anna, Kato Rena)
M15 -Kagami no Naka no Joan D'Arc (Oba Mina, Yamauchi Suzuran, Mukaida Manatsu, Ogiso Shiori, Nakatsuka Tomomi)
M16 - Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka? (Takayanagi Akane, Yamada Nana, Iwasa Misaki, Abe Maria, Shimada Haruka, Nito Moeno, Nakamata Shiori, Sato Sumire, Shiroma Miru, Hata Sawako)
---MC---
M17 - Oogoe Diamond (Kuramochi Asuka, Umeda Ayaka, Akimoto Sayaka, Masuda Yuka, Kasai Tomomi, Oya Shizuka, Sato Amina, Nakamura Mariko)
M18 - Ame no Doubutsuen (Kizaki Yuria, Kimoto Kanon, Furuhata Nao, Oshima Ryoka, Yagami Kumi, Yagura Fuuko, Yabushita Shuu, Tano Yuuka, Iwata Karen)
---MC---
M19 - Chance no Junban (Miyazawa Sae, Suzuki Mariya, Takajo Aki, Nakagawa Haruka, Maeda Ami, Natori Wakana, Kojima Natsuki, Komori Mika, Suzuki Shihori, Morikawa Ayaka, Kobayashi Kana, Tanabe Miku, Izuta Rina, Kobayashi Marina, Fujita Nana, Katayama Haruka)
M20 - Nagisa no Cherry (Matsui Rena, Takeuchi Miyu, Ichikawa Miori, Muto Tomou)
---MC---
M21 - Heavy Rotation (all)
---MC---
M22 - UZA (Itano Tomomi, Matsui Jurina)
M23 - Anata to Christmas Eve (Kojima Haruna, Yamamoto Sayaka (piano: Matsui Sakiko))
M24 - Sakura no Hanabiratachi ~acoustic version~ (Kashiyagi Yuki (guitar: Oshio Kotaro))
M25 - GIVE ME FIVE! (Oshima Yuko)
---MC---
M26 - Plastic no Kuchibiru (Takahashi Minami)
M27 - Mujin Eki (Shinoda Mariko)
---MC---
M28 - Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara (Umeda Team B)
M29 - Gingham Check (Oshima Team K)
M30 - Juuryoku Sympathy (Shinoda Team A)
---MC---
Kasai Tomomi graduation announcement
M31 - Masaka (Kasai Tomomi)
M32 - Eien Pressure (Janken senbatsu (Kawaei Rina sub for Kimoto Kanon))
M33 - Manatsu no Sounds Good! (senbatsu)
---MC---
Akagumi win the competion 9:4
M34 - Dareka no Tame ni ~what can I do for someone?~ (all)


Kasai announcing her graduation doesn't come as much of a suprise, as many speculated this after she announced her solo single. Goodbye and good luck to Masuda Yuka on her final performance. This setlist looks very interesting, another shuffle concert like last years and some of the performances sound very promising indeed. I'm highly looking forward to the DVD release so I can watch it.
Read more ...

15 December 2012

NMB48 Hikawa Ayame and Sato Sorai to Graduate


NMB48 Team M member Hikawa Ayame and Kenkyusei Sato Sorai both announced their graduation on December 13. This news comes only a week after Kenkyusei Sugimoto Kano resigned from the group.

Hikawa Ayame has been taking a break from her activities in NMB48 since late October due to a leg injury. Since it will take more time to recover, she decided to graduate from the group.

Ayame is a 1st Generation NMB48 member. After not making Team N in 2011 she continued her activities as a Kenkyuusei, and was able to get into AKB48's Janken Senbatsu last year. In January this year she was selected for Team M and even centered the unit Kuchi utsushi chocolate. Unfortunately Ayame won't be able to perform in a full graduation show, but she will get a graduation ceremony during the theater show on December 22.

2nd Generation Kenkyusei Sato Sorai's reason for leaving the group is that she wants to focus on her studies. A reason which has caused many other NMB48 girls to leave. Sorai's graduation show will be held on December 21.

In total NMB48 lost 15 members this year (6 full members, 9 Kenkyusei).


Hikawa Ayame's Comment to her fans:
Original Message

I, Hikawa Ayame, will graduate from NMB48.
I have been taking a break from NMB48 since October 29 for medical treatment of my leg injury, but even though I get treatment, it hasn't healed completely, and when I exercise it hurts.
While being on a break I often thought about my future, and I started to think about graduation.
There have been people waiting for my return, so I am really sorry for this annoucement.
I really think it was great joining NMB48. I have been sharing the fun times, the happy times, the hard times and the sad times together with the other members. I made a lot of precious experiences and I think I have been able to change myself a bit.
I am so thankful to the members, the staff, my family, my friends and to everyone who supported me. I have decided to go a different way from now on but I will move forward believing in myself.
Due to my leg injury I won't be able to do a graduation show but there will be a graduation ceremony on December 22. I would be happy if you watched over me until then.
NMB48 Team M Hikawa Ayame


Sato Sorai's Comment to her fans:
Original Message

I, Sato Sorai, will graduate from NMB48.
I have two dreams.
One is, like I told you before, to become an actress.The other is to become a childcare worker, a dream I had since before I joined NMB48.
I really love NMB48, but I thought about my future once again, and now my wish to focus on my studies became stronger, so I decided to graduate from NMB48.
I absolutely won't forget the many experiences I made through my activities in NMB48, and also not the memories I made with my fans.
I am so thankful to all my fans, the members and the staff.
It was great having been able to meet you. Thank you.
There is only a bit time left for me as a part of NMB48 but I'd be happy if you watched over me until my graduation.
Sato Sorai.


And the NMB48 graduation rush starts again...Poor Ayame, having to leave because of an injury must hurt. She was one of my favourite Team M girls, so I am sad now. But I wish her all the best for her future and hope she recovers fast. Also good luck to Sato Sorai for her studies.
Read more ...

12 December 2012

AKB48 29th Single [Eien Pressure] 1st Week Sales


AKB48's 29th single, [Eien Pressure] has sold 1,073,499 copies to place number one on the Oricon weekly singles sales chart. This is their 10th consecutive million selling single, and 11th in total. This does represent a slight drop in sales from previous single [UZA]'s 1,128,696 copies but this single did not release in Limited Edition versions with national handshake event tickets. The senbatsu for this single was decided in the Janken Tournament, with Shimazaki Haruka centering.


[Eien Pressure] also dominated the Soundscan weekly singles charts, taking up the top 4 places:

1. Eien Pressure, Type A - 85,836 copies
2. Eien Pressure, Type B - 63,974 copies
3. Eien Pressure, Type D - 56,638 copies
4. Eien Pressure, Type C - 54,920 copies

Soundscan does not count theatre edition sales, but subtracting the total from the Oricon number, we can estimate total sales of the Theatre Edition were 821,131 copies.

The million selling streak goes on for AKB48. Looking at the soundscan numbers, the Okalemon version was slightly more popular than the Type with the first original HKT48 song - perhaps this was due to event lottery tickets being included in it if bought from a certain shop.
Read more ...

11 December 2012

Kasai Tomomi 1st Single [Masaka] Tracklist + Covers


Details of Kasai Tomomi's solo debut single [Masaka] have been revealed. The single, to be released on the 26th December 2012 will come in two CD+DVD types and one CD only type. There will be one new original coupling song, and solo versions of [Dakishimeraretara], from Team K's 5th Stage and [Candy] from Team B's 5th Stage. This single is part of the [Kasai Project] which also sees her solo photobook being released, as well as her solo CM and mini-live. View a PV preview after the tracklisting.

Kasai Tomomi 1st Single
Masaka
まさか
26 December 2012

Type A
1,600yen
[CD]
01. Masaka
02. Watashi no Hikari
03. Dakishimeraretara
04. Masaka (off vocal)
05. Watashi no Hikari (off vocal)
06. Dakishimeraretara (off vocal)
[DVD]
01. Masaka Music Video
02. Kasai Tomomi Solo Debut Memorial Live
03. 1st Solo Photobook Making Of
Type B
1,600yen
[CD]
01. Masaka
02. Watashi no Hikari
03. Candy
04. Masaka (off vocal)
05. Watashi no Hikari (off vocal)
06. Candy (off vocal)
[DVD]
01. Masaka Music Video
02. Kasai Tomomi History
03. Masaka Music Video Making Of
Type C
1,000yen
[CD]
01. Masaka
02. Watashi no Hikari
03. Dakishimeraretara
04. Candy
05. Masaka (off vocal)
06. Watashi no Hikari (off vocal)
07. Dakishimeraretara (off vocal)
08. Candy (off vocal)


Read more ...

09 December 2012

NMB48 Kenkyusei Sugimoto Kano Resigns


NMB48 Kenkyusei Sugimoto Kano has announced on December 6 that she will resign from NMB48. She had problems with her health and decided to focus on her studies now. Her leave was immediate and her participation in the official blog and Google+ will end the next days too.


Sugimoto Kano's Comment to her fans:
Original Message

I am sorry for this sudden announcement.
I, Sugimoto Kano, will resign from my activities in NMB48. Today will be my last day of work in NMB48.
I wanted to become a person who can make people smile, and also I wanted to change myself at least a bit, so I applied for the NMB48 audition. I was really happy about passing the audition and working together with all the other members was a lot of fun.
Work as NMB48 was pleasant and fun, but there were also times I had to worry because my physical condition was not satisfactory. That also caused troubles to the people around me, and I felt very sorry to all the people who supported me.
I also am an exam student this year. Now I plan to go to high school and do my best at studying to fulfill my dream.
My feelings are already facing forward, but I am really sorry that I made a decision I cannot tell you directly at theatre shows or handshake events. I am so thankful to you who supported me until now and shed tears for me, and to the members and the staff who always supported me, I cannot even put it into words.
I love NMB48. I will live now doing my best so that I can be smiling when I meet you again somewhere, some day.
The words I want to tell you the most are "thank you". I am such a fortunate person, having been able to meet so many people and make such precious experiences.
Really, really, thank you.
Sugimoto Kano


Just when the NMB48 graduation rush had shortly calmed down, another girl is leaving...
I wish Kano all the best.
Read more ...

08 December 2012

AKB48 7th Anniversary Theatre Show Setlist


AKB48 celebrated their 7th Anniversary with a special performance at their theatre. This included all current AKB48 members and kenkyuusei, as well as SNH48 members Miyazaya Sae and Suzuki Mariya. Former AKB48 and SDN48 member Ohori Megumi performed in one of the songs, and also announced that she will be getting married to Kanazawa Tatsuya.

To start with, the three Teams each performed their new team songs from the [UZA] single. There was then a song by all the members who are primarily in sister groups but also hold a role in AKB48. Then songs were performed by each generation in turn, starting with the newest, and ending in the first generation. Since Nonaka Misato is the only remaining sixth generation member, she did not get a solo, but performed with two other members, and the aforementioned surprise appearance of former member Ohori Megumi. The set finished with AKB48's latest single [Eien Pressure] and their debut single [Sakura no Hanabiratachi].

AKB48 7th Anniversary Theatre Show
8th December 2012

M01 -  Kodoku na Hoshizora (Shinoda Team A)
M02 -  Scrap & Build (Oshima Team K)
M03 -  Seigi no Mikata Janai Hero (Umeda Team B)
M04 -  Heavy Rotation
---MC---
M05 -  End Roll (Kotani Riho, Matsui Jurina, Ishida Anna, Watanabe Miyuki)
M06 -  Kibou ni Tsuite (14th gen)
M07 -  Ougon Centre (13th gen)
M08 -  Oogoe Diamond (12th gen)
M09 -  7ji 12fun no Hatsukoi (11th gen)
---MC---
M10 -  Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka? (10th gen)
M11 -  RIVER (9th gen)
---MC---
M12 -  Tanpopo no Kesshin (7th gen)
M13 -  Himawari (Nonaka Misato, Akimoto Sayaka, Matsubara Natsumi, Ohori Megumi)
---MC---
M14 -  Only Today (5th gen)
M15 -  BINGO! (4th gen)
M16 -  Shonichi (3th gen)
M17 -  Sasae (2nd gen)
M18 -  Skirt, Hirari (1st gen)
---MC---
M19 - Eien Pressure
M20 - Sakura no Hanabiratachi

Congratulations AKB48 on seven years! This looks like a great setlist, showing the generations of the group. And many congratulations to Meetan on her engagement!
Read more ...

07 December 2012

Iwasa Misaki 2nd Single [Moshimo Watashi ga Sora ni Sundeitara] Covers + Tracklisting


The details of Iwasa Misaki's 2nd single [Moshimo Watashi ga Sora ni Sundeitara] have been revealed. Like her debut single [Mujin Eki], this will be an enka song released in two types, a limited edition CD+DVD and a regular edition CD. An enka version of AKB48's [Flying Get] will be a common b-side across both types. The limited edition will contain a cover of Jonouchi Sanae's [Ajisai-bashi], whilst the regular edition will contain a cover of Ishikawa Sayuri's [Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyugeshiki]. The single will be released on the 9 January 2013, 11 months after her debut. Six launch events will commemorate this release, from the 7-13 January 2013.

Iwasa Misaki 2nd Single
Moshimo Watashi ga Sora ni Sundeitara
もしも私が空に住んでいたら
9 January 2013

Limited Edition
1,600yen
[CD]
01. Moshimo Watashi ga Sora ni Sundeitara
02. Flying Get <Enka version>
03. Ajisai-bashi
04. Moshimo Watashi ga Sora ni Sundeitara (karaoke)
05. Flying Get <Enka version> (karaoke)
06. Ajisai-bashi (karaoke)
[DVD]
01. Moshimo Watashi ga Sora ni Sundeitara MUSIC VIDEO
02. Moshimo Watashi ga Sora ni Sundeitara MAKING VIDEO
03. Iwasa Misaki no Nayamigoto Yamakawa Yutaka-san ni Kiitemoraimashita
Regular
1,000yen
[CD]
01. Moshimo Watashi ga Sora ni Sundeitara
02. Flying Get <Enka version>
03. Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyugeshiki
04. Moshimo Watashi ga Sora ni Sundeitara (karaoke)
05. Flying Get <Enka version> (karaoke)
06. Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyugeshiki (karaoke)

Read more ...

06 December 2012

AKB48 29th Single [Eien Pressure] 1st Day Sales


AKB48's 29th single [Eien Pressure] has entered the Oricon daily singles charts at number one with 840,043 copies sold. This follows the slow downwards slope, as their last single [UZA] sold 884,602 copies on day one. However, there were no limited edition handshake events associated with this single so the result is a good one. [Eien Pressure] is available in four CD+DVD types and a theatre edition, featuring coupling songs by the three Japanese sister groups and OKL48, as well as the three PVs voted for in [Music Video Request 2012].


Read more ...

01 December 2012

All 20 AKB48 Stages to be Released on CD as [Studio Recordings Collection]


All of the AKB48 stages will be released as studio recordings on CD on 1st January 2013 under the [Studio Recordings Collection] banner. Each will cost 3,000 yen and contain 2 CDs, the 2nd contain the instrumental versions of the songs. A total of 20 stages will be released, 6 from Teams A, 6 from Team K, 5 from Team B, 2 Himawari-gumi and 1 from Team 4.

Stages which have been performed by more than one team will get released in separate CDs for each team's version. It has not been yet stated whether these will be the original recordings or which which of the two casts will be used for the two Himawari-gumi stages. This is the first time some of the stages have been released on CD, although some are re-releases. All recordings will be re-mastered.

Here are all the stages which will be released:

Team A:
1st Stage: [PARTY ga Hajimaru yo]
2nd Stage: [Aitakatta]
3rd Stage: [Dareka no Tame ni]
4th Stage: [Tadaima Renaichuu]
5th Stage: [Renai Kinshi Jourei]
6th Stage: [Mokugekishi]

Team K:
1st Stage: [PARTY ga Hajimaru yo]
2nd Stage: [Seishun Girls]
3rd Stage: [Nounai Paradise]
4th Stage: [Seishuu Bell ga Naru]
5th Stage: [Saka Agari]
6th Stage: [RESET]

Team B:
1st Stage: [Seishun Girls]
2nd Stage: [Aitakatta]
3rd Stage: [Pajama Drive]
4th Stage: [Idol no Yoake]
5th Stage: [Theater no Megami]

Himawari-gumi:
1st Stage: [Boku no Taiyou]
2nd Stage: [Yume wo Shinaseru Wake ni Ikanai]

Team 4:
1st Stage: [Boku no Taiyou]

Below are all of the covers, apart from for Team 4 which has not been revealed yet:

Team A:





Team K:





Team B:




Himawari-gumi:

Read more ...

Watanabe Miyuki and Yamamoto Sayaka Photobooks 1st Week sales



NMB48's Yamamoto Sayaka and Watanabe Miyuki both released their solo photobooks [Sayagami] respectively [Mirugami] last week. It had been announced in advance that the girls would battle against each other in terms of first week sales, and the winner would get a solo CM. First week sales are out now, amounting to 29,800 copies for Milky and 27,622 copies for Sayanee, making Milky the winner by approx. 2,000 copies. She now stars in a CM for the sushi chain Sushiro.


The photobooks took the two top spots in the Photobook Ranking and ranked 2nd and 3rd in the Oricon Overall Book Ranking.



They are both amazing and beautiful girls. Both would have deserved to win and it turned out to be a close battle. Congrats to Milky for winning and to both for the overall good results.
Read more ...