AKB48 have had a taste of what they’ll experience when they take over the Tokyo Dome for their own concert soon as the senbatsu members came out and sang the national anthem for a baseball game between the Yomiuri Giants and the Yakult Swallows last night. Naturally some of them were a little bit nervous as the audience listening to them weren’t their usual fans but I thought it was a very nice rendition by them.
On March 28th the expected media scrum took place at Haneda Airport as Acchan came back from her short trip to Hong Kong. Flanked by Harugon and Yuttan, the three looked quite surprised at the throng of media people that was in attendance. Surprised for them maybe but not for us fans. This is how it’s going to be now until she or Aki-P gives us a definite graduation date. Naturally the reporters were desperate for any kind of scoop from Acchan but she was keeping her cards close to her chest. They even asked who would be the next center in AKB48 but Acchan skilfully brushed the question aside by saying she hoped all members would do their best.
The news of Acchan’s graduation has propelled her solo single ‘Flower’ back into the Oricon Top 30 where it languished outside the Top 100 before Sunday. Suddenly it has shot right up the charts and the same goes for a couple of AKB48 singles where sales have been boosted by her news.
Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 which includes new temporary member CinDy will be releasing their new single Shounen yo Uso wo Tsuke! sometime during late Spring (possibly late May). At the SSA concerts last weekend, WH7 gave the crowd in attendance their first chance of hearing the new song and now courtesy of Youtube you’re also able to hear it.
How does the new song sound to you? Like it, hate it, no opinion yet?
After a quite couple of days with Acchan’s graduation announcement, the latest AKB48 scandal rumour has surfaced. The infamous gossip magazine Shukan Bunshun has published an article stating that Tomomi Itano is apparently in a relationship with EXILE’s Takahiro. It doesn’t help that both of them live in the same apartment complex fuelling more fire onto the rumour. The scumbag magazine has also got statements from people who say they are serious about each other but as we know people will say anything for money so it could all be complete rubbish.
There are also witnesses who say they’ve been on a couple of dates to nearby restaurants and have been spotted wearing couple rings. They also seen to be coming home at the same time as well. I really don’t think Tomochin is stupid enough to be spotted out on a real date with a man. I suspect that both of them are friends more than anything and people have just put two and two together that they’re dating. Pure speculation is all it is. There is also a lack of photo evidence to suggest that anything but a platonic relationship is taking place. Give me the evidence that it’s completely different and I might change my mind but until that time I won’t believe this rumour at all.
There’s been a mixed response from the fans. Some think it’s BS, others think there might be a forced graduation on the cards if it proves to be true. The last thing AKB48 want is a double whammy of 2 of the biggest faces in the group graduating.
There was another unsubstantiated rumour 2 weeks ago that serial lothario Shun Oguri had tried his luck at asking Yuko for a date just before his wedding to Yu Yamada but again there was no proof and the rumour quickly died a death.
I think Acchan has been worried how fans might react after her graduation announcement on Sunday. Naturally a lot of fans are going to be upset at losing their oshi but the majority will want to wish her well in the future. Acchan’s blog has gone into overdrive since Sunday. Her latest blog entry has received 38,000 comments!! Usually the average is about 5,000.
Yesterday Acchan escaped from the glare of the Japanese media and headed over to Hong Kong with Harugon and Yuttan to attend the 40th anniversary of friendly relations between Japan and China. In front of 700 fans, the trio sang a couple of songs. There was a handshake event afterwards and Acchan received a lot of positive support from the fans.
Now I’m sure everybody wants to know what Acchan had to say in her blog entry. Naturally she talks about the moment she announced her graduation at SSA and explains her decision on why she wants to go.
To check out her blog entry in full which has been translated into English, click on the link below:
http://blog48.livejournal.com/tag/akb48%20team%20a%3A%20maeda%20atsuko
As expected, the Japanese media has picked up yesterday’s story about Acchan’s graduation so here’s a couple of videos I’ve found on Youtube so you can finally see Acchan’s speech. You will able to see the reaction on some on the other members’ faces. The last video also shows the announcement of Jurina and Milky’s temporary transfer to AKB48.
I don’t expect these videos to stay up for long.
Aki-P has shared his thoughts on Acchan’s graduation announcement on Google+ today.
Apparently Acchan has talked to Aki-P many times about graduating from AKB48 and he’s tried to stop her but in the end he said the decision must be hers to make. He also told her that if she was going to announce anything it had to be on the last day of the SSA concert. When he saw Acchan putting her hand on her chest and trying to calm herself down, he knew that she was going to do it.
Aki-P says that Acchan is a person who endures pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining. As she doesn’t open up to anybody he feels she’s a lonely person. Acchan is quite hard on herself and this can sometimes be misinterpreted as clumsiness to some people. He feels that if she stayed on with AKB48 her mood swings and her ego would perhaps grow worse.
He finished by saying that Acchan has been the center for AKB48 for 6 and a half years so now he wants to let her do as she wants. The fine details about her graduation haven’t been finalised yet but he hopes that everybody will congratulate Acchan on her graduation.
It seems to me then that Acchan wanted to leave AKB48 last year but perhaps because of the disaster that hit Japan she stayed on to give joy and hope to those in the affected areas.
Make sure you ring this particular date in your calendar/diary and cancel everything you have planned as June 6th has been confirmed to be the date of the 4th AKB48 Senbatsu Election which will take place at the Nippon Budokan. You will not want to miss this exciting event and I’m sure it will be screened live on Youtube/Google+.
In previous elections, the ranking for the next single has been divided into 2 groups: those ranked 1 – 21 to be on the leading track and then from 22 – 40 to be the Undergirls but this year things are going to change. There are going to be 4 groups this time round because of the ever increasing number to the 000 family. So now there’ll be 64 places available for the 27th single with it breaking down like this:
01- 16 Senbatsu (media senbatsu to increase from 12 to 16)
17 – 32 Under Girls 1
33 – 48 Under Girls 2
49 – 64 Under Girls 3
This will give more of the members a chance to be ranked. Voting tickets will definitely be included in the next single (26th). I always look forward to this event as it’s a great opportunity for us as fans to take part and vote for your favorite member to appear in the 27th single.
So then guys, have you all caught your breath back after the shocking graduation announcement. It’s gonna take a while for me to take in this news. AKB48 without Acchan is going to be incredibly strange.
Well anyway this is a recap of what Acchan said in a very emotional speech. She told the audience that she’s been a 1st generation AKB48 member since she’s been 14 years old and it was a big decision in her life. The 2nd biggest decision is graduating from the group. During her time with AKB48 she has caused trouble for many people due to her mood swings but thanks to everybody’s help she is here today. She’s wanted to perform at the Tokyo Dome since she was 14 years old. As this dream will come true now that she’s 20 years old, it’s time to move on towards her next dream. She’s worked hard for 6 and a half years. She’s worried and anxious about what is to come in the future for her. There is no details or timescale as to when she will graduate.
All of the AKB48 members seemed to be in major shock at the news. Poor Tomo~mi was hyperventilating like crazy. I can’t imagine how they’re all feeling right now.
I think it’s pretty obvious that AKB48’s biggest concert to date at the Tokyo Dome will be Acchan’s swansong which I think will be a fitting venue for her graduation.
If Acchan’s heart isn’t in AKB48 anymore and she wants to do something else then we have to support her. It’s going to be difficult for a lot of fans to accept her decision but we have to. We should be happy for her. She’s given everything for AKB48 – blood, sweat and tears and for that we should be so grateful for all that she’s done. She’ll never be forgotten by the fans.
EDIT: A fan at the concert has kindly uploaded a voice recording of Acchan’s annoucement on Youtube
Just announced at the final SSA concert today – Atsuko Maeda is graduating from AKB48. I’m absolutely stunned by this news, I never expected this to happen. Mariko to graduate perhaps but not the ace of AKB48. She’s graduating too early. Check back later when I’ll have the details of this announcement in full.
IXA Ready - Fist On! 