Announcements AKB48 NEWS and RELEASE thread (no discussion)

AKB48 may be the pop the economy needs: ex-chief cabinet secretary Edano

Spoiler

Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano recently praised the business model of the pop idol group AKB48 in a magazine essay.

Edano gained global fame via media exposure while he was the chief government spokesman following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011. The politician lauded the AKB48 business model in his contribution to the April 1 edition of Witchenkare magazine, which compiles essays written mainly by writer wannabes or b-list novelists.

In his essay “Popular Songs Change with the Times; Yasushi Akimoto, the AKB strategy and the Japanese economy,” the Democratic Party of Japan Lower House member of Japan argued that AKB48’s business strategy “could be effective for the economy in general.”

‘I seriously considered buying AKB48 CDs’

Although CD sales as a whole have been slumping for the past decade, AKB48, produced by Yasushi Akimoto, has been enjoying brisk CD sales because they come with vouchers allowing the holders to shake hands with an AKB48 member or vote for their favorite member in an AKB48 popularity poll.

The right to shake member’s hands and vote “is an added value you can’t get through pirated music, iTunes or YouTube,” Edano said in his essay.

“I normally listen to music on iTunes, but seriously considered buying the group’s ‘Sayonara Crawl’ CD,” Edano said. The CD came with a voucher allowing the buyer to vote in the group’s annual popularity poll.

He also said in his essay that AKB48, a group of roughly 48 girls in their teens and 20s, does not have the same culture as K-pop, which competes for Western-style perfection. Rather, it has Asian-style spontaneity, he argued.

He also said the members are slow to mature and fans enjoy watching them grow, another reason the group is successful.

‘AKB example of economy of scale’

Japanese today have diverse preferences in music making it difficult for a national superstar, such as Hibari Misora, Sayuri Yoshinaga or Momoe Yamaguchi, to emerge, Edano argued.

“In order to maintain popularity in such an environment, it makes sense to form a group whose collective popularity is large, even if each member of the group only enjoys a small amount of popularity,” he said. AKB48 has three teams within it and sister groups outside Tokyo, each of which has fans. Each individual singer also has her own following, contributing to AKB48’s popularity.

“Even though popularity of each individual and sales of each individual product are small, collectively they are an economy of scale. This strategy is effective for Japanese economy in general,” he said in his essay.

Internet users were amused at seeing a former senior governmental official seriously discussing AKB48 in a magazine catering to low-level writers. They posted comments such as “Does this guy have a thing for AKB?” and “Yukio Edano commented on AKB. This is crazy!”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...onomy-needs-ex-chief-cabinet-secretary-edano/

 

World Music Awards 2014 Nominations:
World's Best Song:
| AKB48 - Heart Ereki | AKB48 - Suzukake Nanchara | AKB48 - Mae Shika Mukanee
| SKE48 - Sansei Kawaii! | SKE48 - Mirai To Wa?
| NMB48 - Kamonegikkusu
| HKT48 - Sakura, Minnade Tabeta
| Nogizaka46 - Kidzuitara Kataomoi | Nogizaka46 - Barrette
World's Best Album:
| AKB48 - 1830m | AKB48 - Tsugi No Ashiato |
World's Best Video:
| AKB48 - Heart Ereki | AKB48 - Suzukake Nanchara | AKB48 - Mae Shika Mukanee |
| SKE48 - Sansei Kawaii! |
| HKT48 - Sakura, Minnade Tabeta |
| JKT48 - Fortune Cookie |
| Nogizaka46 - Girl's Rule |
World's Best Group:
| AKB48 | SKE48 | NMB48 | HKT48 | JKT48 | Nogizaka46 |
World's Best Live Act:
| AKB48 | SKE48 | NMB48 | HKT48 | JKT48 | Nogizaka46 |

Voting Link: http://www.worldmusicawards.com/index.php/vote/

 

Increased security at the AKB48 Theater

At the first AKB48 Theater performance after the Iwate Incident on 2014 May 25,
General Manager Takahashi Minami declared changes to the Theater environment.

On behalves of the injured members Kawaei Rina and Iriyama Anna, they will work hard to protect their precious theater.

They have increased the guard members from the previous 2 people to 10 people, 3 plainclothes police officers.
21 seats in the front row is locked, the stage and the audience increased from 1.5 m distance to 2m, reduces the number of visitors to 229 people. Belongings checked by metal detector gate is performed before the entrance.

 

The One-Thousand Song Plus Concert “AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 1035 2015″ Announced
Utter insanity as the annual AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 100 appears to have been given a fairly considerable bump to over 1000 songs.​

The Request Hour Set List series is an event in which fans get to vote for their favorite songs which will be played in reverse chronological order over the course of several concerts. Last year fans got their chance to vote from the over 661 songs from the entire discography of AKB48, SKE48, HKT48, SDN48, and NMB48 which had played over the course of the, then impossible sounding, AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 200 [AKB48リクエストアワー セットリストベスト200 2014].

This year it appears the set list will encompass the full discography of all the 48G despite the staff at Nihongogo being unsure if the groups HAD a catalog to fulfill the lofty requirements. The series, to begin in 2015, has been scheduled for January 21st to the 25th leaving many scratching their heads on how the groups can pull off such a feat.

Fans hit the internet with comments including talking about the impossibility of performing so many songs over the span of 5 days and attempting to figure out the logistics of the concert series.

“Day 1 will have a play a video digest of the songs up to #801 and each successive day will feature a concert of 200 songs… or something like that?”

“There is no way you can do more than 1000 in 5 days”

“They can not expect votes for every single song, what will happen then?”

The voting period for the fan-chosen favorites will begin on November 25th and end on December 22nd.

Source: AKB48 Official Blog, AKB48 Times Blog

「AKB48リクエストアワー　セットリストベスト1035　2015」詳細決定！
テーマ：ニュース


平素より、AKB48グループを応援して下さり、誠に有難う御座います。

この度、AKB48冬の風物詩「AKB48リクエストアワー セットリストベスト100」が、「AKB48リクエストアワー セットリストベスト1035」とパワーアップし、2015年1月に開催することが決定致しましたので、概要を告知させて頂きます。（先日の大握手会での発表時に「1033曲」という形で発表させて頂きましたが、再度楽曲を精査した結果、「1035曲」となりました。宜しくお願い致します。）

今回で8回目となるこのイベントは、AKB48プロジェクト関連楽曲（※対象楽曲は後日立ち上がる特別サイトをご覧下さいませ）の中から、ファンの皆様の投票によって披露する楽曲が決定していくというものです。

以下の皆様にて投票権がございますので、ぜひご参加ください！

OMG!!!!!

MOD EDIT: PLEASE DO NOT COPY AND PASTE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT YOURS WITHOUT PROVIDING A SOURCE.

http://nihongogo.com/2014/11/the-on...quest-hour-set-list-best-1035-2015-announced/

PEOPLE DO NOTICE THESE THINGS SO DON'T TRY AND PASS THEM OFF AS YOURS.

 

AKB48 x JKT48 concert in Jakarta
Plan to be hold in February 2015
fruther details TBA

 

if the video does not show watch the video here
teens react to jpop include AKB48!!!!!!!!! HELL YEA FINALLY
still remember my first time when i saw havey rotation i had same reaction XD

 

Jobless man sentenced to six years for attacking AKB48 members with saw

MORIOKA, IWATE PREF. – A 24-year-old unemployed man was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison for attacking two members of the all-girl pop group AKB48 and a male staff member with a saw at a fan event last year in Takizawa, Iwate Prefecture.

Satoru Umeta, of Towada, Aomori Prefecture, was convicted of assaulting Rina Kawaei and Anna Iriyama, both 19, as well as a male staffer in his 20s last May 25.

All three sustained severe injuries.

Umeta, on trial at the Morioka District Court, pleaded guilty. Prosecutors had sought seven years in prison.

Presiding Judge Takehiko Okada said Umeta carried out the attack out of frustration over his failure to find a job.

“What he did was a dangerous act that might have claimed the lives of the victims,” Okada said.

The attack took place at an event where AKB48 fans could meet and shake hands with members of the group.

The group is hugely popular and now has sister groups elsewhere in Japan and abroad, including in Jakarta and Shanghai.

source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...on-term-attacking-akb48-members/#.VNppGovufdn

 

The 1,000,000th visitor of AKB48 Theater


Happened during the Yokoyama Team K Theater Show "RESET" today.




http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2049109/full/

 

2015.03.11. Great East Japan Earthquake Affected Areas Special performance
※ member participation

1. Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture
Shimazaki Haruka, Iwatate Saho, Iwata Karen, Nishino Miki, Takayanagi Akane, Shibuya Nagisa, Sashihara Rino, Sato Shiori

2. Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture
Kojima Mako, Nagao Mariya, Owada Nana, Kuramochi Asuka, Matsui Jurina, Yagura Fuuko, Miyawaki Sakura‧ Mogi Kasumi

3. Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture
Kashiwagi Yuki, Oshima Ryoka, Takajo Aki, Murayama Yuiri, Miyazawa Sae, Shiroma Miru, Moriyasu Madoka, Tanikawa Hijiri

4. Miyako, Iwate Prefecture
Yokoyama Yui, Kitahara Rie, Kawamoto Syaka, Komiyama Haruka, Matsumura Kaori, Yamamoto Sayaka, Tomonaga Mio, Yokoyama Yui

5. Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture
Takahashi Minami, Muto Tomu, Okada Nana, Kato Rena, Suda Akari, Jonishi Kei, Ota Aika,Sato Nanami

6. Soma, Fukushima Prefecture
Kojima Haruna, Ogasawara Mayu ,Takahashi Juri, Umeda Ayaka, Matsui Rena, Watanabe Miyuki, Matsuoka Natsumi, Hayasaka Tsumugi

 

This year's Janken Taikai is on 9/16. Solo debut for winner again.

 

AKB48 7th Album 「0 to 1 no aida」 Covers Revealed
AKB48　7thアルバム「0と1の間」


http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-12086353266.html
http://shopping.akb48-group.com/products/list.php?akb48&category_id=1617
http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2061072/full/

Takahashi Minami Appears at the 「19th Techou Taisho」
高橋書店は21日、東京・日比谷の帝国ホテルで「第19回手帳大賞」発表表彰式を開催した。



http://news.mynavi.jp/articles/2015/10/21/takamina2016/
http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2061085/full/

Former Member Matsui Sakiko to Appear at the Launch Event of UMI☆KUUN Single 「I am Just Feeling Alive」 on 11/2
UMI☆KUUN、シングル発売イベントゲストに元AKB48の松井咲子



http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/10735023/
http://www.animate.tv/news/details.php?id=1445216996

Former Member Akimoto Sayaka Interviewed about the Movie 'Galaxy Kaido'
秋元才加、三谷作品で得た自信「ようやくスタート地点」【『ギャラクシー街道』インタビュー】



www.cinematoday.jp/page/N0077286
http://www.cinematoday.jp/movie/T0019903/

Akimoto Yasushi Estimated to have 5 Billion to 10 Billion Worth of Assets
・50億円～100億円未満　　　1719人（2029人）秋元康、鳩山由紀夫、鳩山邦夫、マックスむらい、松浦勝人

http://media.yucasee.jp/posts/index/14846?la=0003

 

Yakiniku IWA X AKB48 Group Collaboration Game to be Launched on 10/27
「焼肉IWA」×「AKB48グループ ついに公式音ゲーでました。」コラボレーション近日開始！



http://akb48game.jp/news/detail/1140

Shimazaki Haruka Appears at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2015 for the Movie Gekijorei
AKB48島崎遥香、上品な白羽根ドレスで魅了 ファンへ“神対応”見せる



http://mdpr.jp/news/detail/1535865
http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2061098/full/

Former Member Kuramochi Asuka Appears on the Press Event of 『BIOHAZARD THE STAGE』
元AKB48倉持明日香、男性だらけの現場に困惑？卒業後初舞台に意気込み



http://mdpr.jp/news/detail/1535763
http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2061094/full/
http://www.cinematoday.jp/page/N0077403

Spoiler

if the video does not show watch the video here

Former Member Akimoto Sayaka at TIFF 2015 for the Screening of Gekijoban Kobisora -Bikuu-
『牙狼』スピンオフ主演の秋元才加、目標はロッキー！【第28回東京国際映画祭】



http://www.cinematoday.jp/page/N0077402
http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2061096/full/

List of Performer for 「NTV ＨＡＬＬＯＷＥＥＮ ＬＩＶＥ 2015」10/31 11:00~13:00
「日テレ ＨＡＬＬＯＷＥＥＮ ＬＩＶＥ 2015」昼ハロウィン／チケット一般最終追加発売のご案内

AKB48

Spoiler

Takahashi Minami
Kojima Haruna
Minegishi Minami
Kashiwagi Yuki
Watanabe Mayu
Yokoyama Yui
Shimazaki Haruka
Iriyama Anna
Kato Rena
Takahashi Juri
Tano Yuka
Muto Tomu
Okada Nana
Kojima Mako
Mukaichi Mion
Kitahara Rie (NGT48)

HKT48

Spoiler

Sashihara Rino
Miyawaki Sakura
Ota Aika
Anai Chihiro
Kodama Haruka
Matsuoka Natsumi
Motomura Aoi
Moriyasu Madoka
Kojina Yui
Sakaguchi Riko
Tashima Meru
Tomonaga Mio
Fuchigami Mai
Tanaka Miku
Yabuki Nako
Yamashita Emiri

http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-12087040437.html

 

AKB48 7th Album 「0 to 1 no Aida」 B5 Posters Revealed
7thアルバム「0と1の間」店頭特典がB5下敷きに決定！絵柄も解禁！

Spoiler

http://www.kingrecords.co.jp/cs/topic/topic.aspx?topic=7152

[VIDEO] AKB48 New CM 'Lake'
【AKB48】新生銀行カードローン「レイク」新CM4本＆メイキング映像公開！新レイク選抜は高橋みなみ・横山由依・武藤十夢の3人！


if the video does not show watch the video here

Spoiler

if the video does not show watch the video here
if the video does not show watch the video here
if the video does not show watch the video here

http://akb48-matome.blog.jp/archives/51980944.html

TOKIO・AKB48・Golden Bomber and Others to Perform on Music Station Halloween SP 10/30
TOKIO・AKB48・金爆ら出演「Mステ」初のハロウィンSP開催



http://mdpr.jp/news/detail/1536236
http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/music/contents/m_lineup/cur/
http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2061225/full/
http://akb48-matome.blog.jp/archives/51980975.html

Ishida Haruka and Tanabe Miku to be Ambassador of 'Ikebukuro Cinemachi Festival' 10/6-8
AKB48石田晴香、田名部生来 「池袋シネマチ祭」の広報大使に就任！

http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/10740410/
http://www.cinemachi.jp/

[VIDEO] Former Member Akimoto Sayaka at TIFF 2015
秋元才加、木村文乃、笑福亭鶴瓶らがレッドカーペットに！「第28回東京国際映画祭」


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

108 2L-sized Photos of the AKB48 Group Janken Taikai 2015 to be Release Nationwide on Convenience Stores on 10/30
「AKB48グループじゃんけん大会2015」2L判ブロマイドが10月30日より全国のコンビニエンスストアで販売開始！（全108種）



http://akb48-matome.blog.jp/archives/51981047.html
http://www.conprin.com/akb48_janken2015/list.html

All 7 KKS has been Given AKB48 Mail; Registration from 11/1 ~ 11/30
【AKB48 Mail】ドラフト研究生メールサービス開始決定のお知らせ



http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-12087056248.html
http://akb48-matome.blog.jp/archives/51981057.html

Team 8 Member Yoshikawa Nanase, Oguri Yui, and Oda Erina to Appear on AKBINGO 10/27 & 11/3
10月27日(火)、11月3日(火・祝)放送の「AKBINGO!」にチーム8が登場！



http://toyota-team8.jp/news/list/media/20151024-860784060027121.php

Nagoa Mariya to Appear as a DJ at 「KAWASAKI Halloween 2015」on 10/25
AKB48永尾まりや（DJ MARIYAGI）が明日の「KAWASAKI Halloween 2015」にラウンジDJとして出演決定



http://akb48-matome.blog.jp/archives/51981045.html

Okada Nana Interview
AKB48・岡田奈々さんが“マジメ”に選んだおすすめアプリ=前編=



http://smartphone.r25.jp/
http://translate48.blogspot.de/2015/10/seriously-chosen-apps-from-akb48s-okada.html

[VIDEO] YAKINIKU IWA X AKB48 Group Collaboration Game PR
内田眞由美卒業記念「公式音ゲー」×焼肉IWAタイアップPR動画 / AKB48[公式]


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

AKB48 42nd Single Senbatsu and Details Announced


AKB48 42nd Single Senbatsu was announced on October 25, 2015 at the Halloween Night Handshake Event. The Song will be centered by Minami Takahashi which is her last single. The rest of the members that are in the 42nd Single.

Team A: Minami Takahashi (c), Anna Iriyama, Haruna Kojima, Haruka Shimazaki, Yui Yokoyama
Team K: Minami Minegishi
Team B: Yuki Kashiwagi, Rena Kato, Yuria Kizaki, Mayu Watanabe
Team S: Jurina Matsui, Sae Miyazawa
Team N: Sayaka Yamamoto
Team H: Rino Sashihara
Team KIV: Sakura Miyawaki
NGT48: Rie Kitahara

Info:

• First Solo center for Minami Takahashi since Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou and First time center (Along with Atsuko Maeda) since Ponytail to Shushu.
• First non Election Single for Rie Kitahara since Labrador Retriever.

Senbatsu Milestones

• Minami Takahashi's 40th
• Minami Minegishi and Mayu Watanabe's 35th
• Jurina Matsui's 30th
• Rino Sashihara's 25th
• Yui Yokoyama's 20th
• Haruka Shimazaki's 15th

Also the single will have the songs: 365 Nichi no Kamihikouki (NHK Morning Drama Asa ga Kita's theme song), A next gen senbatsu song, Renacchi's SSK Song, Takamina's Graduation Song, a new single unit called "Mushi Kago" song, and for the first time since Kibouteki Refrain, Team Songs.

AKB48's 42nd Single will also have voting tickets for both AKB48 Request Hour Setlist Best 100 2016 and AKB48 Tandoku Request Hour 2016.

AKB48's 42nd Single will be released on December 9, 2015.

 

AKB48 and Hakase Taro to Appear on「SMAP×SMAP」Tomorrow 10/26 [Fuji TV 22:00]
明日「SMAP×SMAP」にAKB48、葉加瀬太郎



http://natalie.mu/music/news/163989
http://www.fujitv.co.jp/smapsmap/index.html

 

AKB48 Stage Fighter Special Performance on 12/12
AKB48「ステージファイター」特別公演に白間美瑠ら上位16人



Performers (16): Shiroma Miru / Watanabe Miyuki / Oshima Ryoka / Kawamoto Saya / Shimazaki Haruka / Yamamoto Sayaka / Fukuoka Seina / Takahashi Juri / Kizaki Yuria / Iwatate Saho / Kojima Haruna / Watanabe Mayu / Takajo Aki / Sakaguchi Nagisa / Kashiwagi Yuki / Yabuki Nako

http://natalie.mu/music/news/164074

[VIDEO] AKB48 Group Official Calendar 2016 Making Video
ＡＫＢ４８グループ　オフィシャルカレンダー２０１６ ＣＭメイキング映像


if the video does not show watch the video here

Calendar Senbatsu Member (31): Sashihara Rino・Kashiwagi Yuki・Watanabe Mayu・Matsui Jurina・Yamamoto Sayaka・Miyawaki Sakira・Miyazawa Sae・Kojima Haruna・Shimazaki Haruka・Yokoyama Yui・Kitahara Rie・Watanabe Miyuki・Matsumura Kaori・Takayanagi Akane・Shibata Aya・Muto Tomu・Kodama Haruka・Suda Akari・Iriyama Anna・Kizaki Yuria・Furahata Nao・Kojima Mako・Kato Rena・Okada Nana・Shiroma Miru・Mukaichi Mion・Kojina Yui・Tano Yuka・Sutou Ririka・Taniguchi Megu・Goto Rara

http://akb48-matome.blog.jp/archives/51981201.html

Sashihara Rino, Yokoyama Yui and others at 「AKB48 in Puro Halloween」
指原莉乃・横山由依らAKB48、仮装ハローキティたちとハロウィンパフォーマンス


if the video does not show watch the video here



http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2061291/full/
http://mdpr.jp/news/detail/1537034

 

[VIDEO] AKB48 Manatsu no Tandoku concert in SSA: Kawaei-san no Koto ga Sukideshita DVD&Bluray and Bonus Footage Video Digest
AKB48 真夏の単独コンサート in さいたまスーパーアリーナ〜川栄さんのことが好きでした〜DVD&Blu-ray ダイジェスト公開! / AKB48[公式]
AKB48 真夏の単独コンサート in さいたまスーパーアリーナ〜川栄さんのことが好きでした〜DVD&Blu-ray 特典映像ダイジェスト公開! / AKB48[公式]


if the video does not show watch the video here

Spoiler

if the video does not show watch the video here

http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-12088558683.html

Akimoto Yasushi Involved in Brangista's New Wholly Owned Subsidiary 「Brangista Game」
ブランジスタ、秋元康氏とゲーム開発　第１弾は「ＡＫＢ48」

http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLZO93278930W5A021C1TI5000/
http://akb48taimuzu.livedoor.biz/archives/46713455.html
http://akb48-matome.blog.jp/archives/51981254.html
Former Member Akimoto Sayaka Interviewed on Preparations for the Movie Kobisora -Bikuu-
秋元才加　映画のため1日150ccプロテイン、週3ジムで肉体改造



http://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20151027_358948.html?IMAGE&PAGE=1

 

Chiyori Nakanishi joins twitter.


Chiyori Nakanishi joins the world of Twitter today . She is just the latest member in the ever growing list of AKB48 (and NMB48 members) to join the world of twitter. While she doesn't have the blue verified check mark yet. It was confirm by Mayu Ogasawara.



Girls like Mayu Ogasawara, Ami Maeda, Mariko Nakamura, and Natsuki Kojima have followed her already.

You can follow her at: https://twitter.com/chiyori_n512

 

Former KKS Tomite Ami Joins Cast of 「Werewolf Game Crazy Fox」to be Release on 12/5
桜庭ななみ・土屋太鳳に続く高月彩良主演映画、新キャスト発表＜コメント到着＞

Spoiler

if the video does not show watch the video here

http://mdpr.jp/cinema/1537422
http://www.cinematoday.jp/page/N0077561