[GENERAL] The NGT48 Thread

@ethereallimbo I'm too near to my sleep-zone to start a proper discussion, but for what I see, NGT already did worse when the case was still open and Maho a member. So, while I understand your point, I feel NGT is doing this only to prevernt the members to have a way to speak up. There's a difference between protecting and stopping. I could be wrong but last part of your reply makes me think we have quite different point of view on the matter, so here is where I wish you good night.. or good day, and go.

 

I was surprised that after all this time, NGT management only managed to think up two rules for SNS. I find it interesting that they didn't make a rule like "don't insult people on SNS", or at least "double check your share settings when sending insulting posts on SNS", but instead they brainstormed up this oddly very specific rule about needing permission to un-follow other members. I agree with the sentiment that following/un-following people certainly can send (potentially ambiguous) messages, but that's a small symptom of a much larger problem.

Really maybe the most surprising thing to me is NGT/AKS still seems to have no concept of image control. Which is good in that it shows us what they really care about, but it makes me wonder if any executive in this company has even read a wiki on business management? Sure, say you're going to have some introspection and lay off SNS for a while, good. But then to come back with a bold official statement that appears to take a swipe at Maho? Why would you do that? They could quietly amend the members' contracts with prohibition against un-following if they're really hung up on that point, but why make that a crux of your announcement to the world of how you've solved your problems?

And why does NGT alone need this SNS tutorializing? Surely this is a sign, as if we needed more, that there are serious issues with the group management that I doubt were addressed by some external SNS best-practices speakers coming in and reminding everyone what the internet is.

 

Hopefully this means that more of the guilty members will accidentally out themselves and management will be forced to actually take action.

 

After 6 months, they have not taken any appropriate action to solve the problem, their main concern are the consequences, these rules will only protect the management of any other member who needs to do what Maho did.
This "Management" is a joke.

 

They will attend the TIF
https://ngt48.com/news/detail/100003362

 

Looking at the hs sales report, i can think the reason why

 

That just nonsensical with quite a 'tainted' lineup.

 

Ridiculous

 

Some excerpts from my translations of the Japanese summaries:

Spoiler: 7/31

From https://saitowinterstar.com/archives/593

• NGT announces resumption of Twitter and Instagram updates. A rule banning un-following is adopted
  • [My translation of the full announcement is here]
  • Will resume after 6pm August 1st
  • DMs from members are prohibited, as there is the possibility they could give favorable treatment to specific fans
  • It is prohibited to un-follow other members without permission
  • Comment fields are disabled on Instagram
  • It appears Tano, Nishigata, and Sato are prohibited from using Twitter
  • Kado Yuria herself declined to resume Twitter and Instagram
  • As a KKS, Kato cannot use Twitter or Instagram, only 755
    (*755 = https://7gogo.jp)
  • https://i.imgur.com/yDKsup2.jpg
  • https://i.imgur.com/uscjrL9.jpg
  • Kado Yuria’s Photolog: “I think it’s for the best, since the words I’ve sent out may become dangerous weapons used to wound everyone, I’ve been thinking that I won’t be using the uncensored Twitter and Instagram, but instead keep on using the censored Photolog and mobame”
    • https://i.imgur.com/fnSkwfW.jpg
  • Hayakawa’s tweet
    • https://i.imgur.com/wmmJcx8.jpg
    • https://mobile.twitter.com/hayakawamaiko/status/1156527308049539072
• NGT lifting their SNS ban is at the top of Yahoo News. Of course the comments are full of insults.
  • From Sports Hochi: “Ban lifted on NGT48 members SNS starting August 1st”
    • https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190731-00000116-sph-ent
    • https://hochi.news/articles/20190731-OHT1T50116.html
  • From Sponichi Annex: “NGT48 members’ SNS resumes August 1st — Sending DMs, un-following members without permission prohibited”
    • https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2019/07/31/kiji/20190731s00041000225000c.html

• Nishigata’s mobame: “I’ll be resuming Instagram”
  • https://i.imgur.com/ATghhLF.jpg
• Nishigata, Tano, and Sato give reasons in their mobames for not resuming Twitter
  • https://i.imgur.com/w90JvHC.jpg

Spoiler: 8/1

From https://saitowinterstar.com/archives/617

• NGT will appear at TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2019 (TIF). This is announced two days before their appearance
  • https://i.imgur.com/oJVvkea.jpg
  • https://i.imgur.com/2N3LW3f.jpg
  • https://i.imgur.com/BiQ4GIx.jpg
  • There is a rush of criticisms and complaints at the TIF announcement tweet
    • https://twitter.com/TIP_TIF_staff/status/1156837020439678978
  • The time for their performance is a slot when no one will be appearing, a minor radio calisthenics performance outside of the live NicoNico broadcast hours
    • https://i.imgur.com/N8eB58t.png
    • https://i.imgur.com/SYxr2MH.jpg
    • https://i.imgur.com/6thM3MN.jpg

• NGT-related articles
  • From Sponichi Annex: “NGT48’s participation in the Idol Festival (TIF) is announced — A resumption of actual activities — Serving as a “minor performer”, it’s a start-over from zero” (over 1800 comments)
    • https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190801-00000143-spnannex-ent
  • From SIRABEE: “NGT48 announces resumption of SNS from today — Pro’s and cons of “what looks like another flamewar””
    • https://news.nifty.com/article/item/neta/12189-20162134950/
  • From Tokyo Sports Web: “NGT “resumes activities” — Appearing as a “minor performer” at TIF, the world’s largest idol festival”
    • https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190801-00000026-tospoweb-ent
  • From REAL LIVE: “NGT48’s SNS resumes, but why now? — Critical calls of, “You still haven’t solved anything””
    • https://npn.co.jp/article/detail/99560381/
  • From Daily Shincho: “In a tedious interview, there are remarkable similarities between the lime-lighted Yoshimoto president Okamoto and former AKS board member Matsumura”
    • https://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2019/08011131/?all=1

 

Their TIF is at 9:10 so literally no one is going to see them lol, whats the point

 

I showed up at 9:30 today and plenty of people around.

 

did you manage to catch the performance? if so how did it go, what was the reception like?

 

Edit: Wondered it too... but NGT is tomorrow

 

The announcement says the members chose which services they would continue using, rather than being prohibited from some. (Besides the kenkyuusei of course.)

 

I assume that was the poster's opinion, not from the announcement.

 

Yep, in about 3 hours. Won’t be able to catch it, going to Hiroshima.

 

Seems NGT has attracted many fans.

 

It's not great for TIF standards, but considering the late announcement and the early slot it's still pretty good.

Various articles:
https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/1856842
https://natalie.mu/music/news/342322
https://thetv.jp/news/detail/200062/
http://www.wws-channel.com/girls2/157754.html

Hybrid of the ModelPress and Natalie articles (switches from mdpr to mostly natalie around Yuka's opening speech)*:

Spoiler

From August 2nd to 4th, for three consecutive days, the TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2019 is being held in the area of Odaiba and Aomi. On the 2nd day (August 3rd), NGT48 performed.

They performed at the "SMILE GARDEN" stage in Fuji TV Wangan Studio Park. Because of the controversy surrounding the assault of a former member--Yamaguchi Maho--the group had suspended many of its activities, but they are resuming their essential activities.

On the 1st of the month it was suddenly announced that NGT48 would be performing in a new time slot from 09:10 to 09:30, ahead of the Radio Exercise stage that usually opens the day. Since the early morning a large audience had gathered in front of the venue, and staff called out "Let's cheer together as one!" to everyone in front of the stage.

Hearing the members' voices in their huddle before the show, the audience got charged up too. Then, wearing red and white uniforms that hearken back to their origins, all 34 current members came on stage.



First, before singing, Ogino Yuka lifted her microphone, gave a greeting, and with the whole group bowed deeply. She continued with appreciation for the event, "We wanted to perform with all 34 members of NGT48, and after asking this of the staff they allowed us to stand here on this stage today. I'm than from the bottom of my heart." Occasionally struggling with her words, she continued, "I'm grateful to the TIF staff and everyone else who was involved in giving us a place to perform like this--even though the time schedule had already been decided. And, in the hopes of being accepted again by everyone who cheered for us since debut and all those who were supporting us in Niigata prefecture--and so that all the fans who are cheering for us now will think it was good to hold on and believe, we want to continue on from here performing with all our might and working as hard as we can."



Before a large audience gathered to watch the stage, in response to Ogino's cry of "TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2019 IKUZOー！" the NGT48 live performance started with their first original song from their 2016 debut, "Max Toki 315go". Then they continued on without a break into two of their single songs, "Seishun Dokei" and "Haru wa Doko kara kuru no ka?". Next, they performed the research student song, "Kyou wa Make demo ii", with Kato Minami, who had been demoted to research student after an inappropriate SNS post in May, singing with a smile in the front row.



After the fourth song, Ogino expressed her gratitude, "Until we got here I was worried about how many people would turn up, but my heart is filled with thankfulness to see how many of you came to see us even in this heat." Their last song, Ogino's center song "Sekai wa Doko made Aozora na no ka?", was full of power. Homma Hinata, in closing, said "I'm really really happy to be on stage at TIF again this year. Thank you everyone who came so early in the morning and gave us such loud voices of encouragement. All of us in NGT48 want to give it all we've got from here on out again, so please treat us kindly." Then the members bowed their heads and the audience gave warm applause.

Spoiler: *

Turns out, just because an article seems to have more words doesn't mean it actually says more, or anything sensible.

 

Someone talks about inflated numbers NGT is giving to media... which won't surprise me at all even in normal circumstances.
What I noticed in my side of twitter is that the info about their performance is near zero, which is quite weird. Yesterday it was filled by other groups video.