An article from Nikkan sports, even through Google translate, it is an interesting read It kind of conclude from AKB recent activities (Kouhaku and singing contest) that their might be a will to switch the group image and highlight more talent than popularity https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/akb48/news/201902020000081.html
JAPAN COUNTDOWN (Keyakizaka46 - AKB48 Group - Nogizaka46) (2019-02-03) https://48idol.com/video/12985
4 years after I started following the group, I just realized the members' names were said during the end of "Yobisute Fantasy" to symbolize how their boyfriends can just call their names like that without any honorifics. Is there any stuff like this in other songs?
You mean in a subtle way or where the members clearly speak their names? If the later then there's a lot of them. Wasshoi B!, B Garden, Team B Oshi, Sasae, 16nin no Shimai no Uta are some examples.
Ya know, the sign at the AKB48 Cafe at Akihabara Station has been in a state of disrepair for quite a while now. One gets the feeling that they really don't care about this place anymore. I am pretty sure the lights have been out in one way or another for over a month. BTW, that photo was taken at 6pm.
I can vouch for at least a month. I stopped by to see what they had when I was passing time before I went to the Eorzea Cafe, and much like your photo, the neon was out.
An interview with Sahoo, Nao, and Megutan about Wild Dog (Just two parts of many quoted below} Stage "Wild Dog" 【Tokyo Performance】 February 27 (Wednesday) ~ March 3 (Sun) Sunshine Theater 【Osaka Performance】 March 6 (Wednesday) ~ March 10 (Sun) ABC Hall - In the beginning, can you tell me the impression of reading the script? Ota: My role is shy, but in the end it is a girl changing girls, so I was wondering if I could do it myself. Also, it was my first time to go out on a stage that strongly depicts the inner side, as people's fancier peels will come off, so it has become a great pleasure as well. Taniguchi: Because there are only six performers, the amount of each speech per person is so large that I can remember it. Mr. Maruo of the production, my role is a strong girl at the beginning but I was told that it is a girl with a pure feeling, so I feel that such a pure place to the customers who see the stage I hope I can do it. Iwatate: Because I am a slightly different role, as I read a script, a lot of things I do not understand came out, such as emotions, actions, briefs, etc. I wonder how this should be expressed. I am thinking that I would like to find the answer while continuing talking with Mr. Maruo from now on. - So, now what would you write if you were to write a letter to myself 10 years later and fill time capsules? Taniguchi: I'd like to ask you "Are you getting married and giving birth to a cute baby?" (Laugh). Because after 10 years I am 30 years old. I wish I got married. Iwatate: I am purely looking forward rather than a clear vision of wanting to be like this in ten years. So, "With fun?" But if you open it after 10 years and read it, if it is not fun it will make you cry (laugh). Ota: I wonder "Are you having fun?" And then "Is not you regret?" Because I started thinking quite a while from regretting I do not want to live without regret. https://thetv.jp/news/detail/180434/
The performance at Pachinko Fes (thanks to TiduShoko in Komi's thread) https://www.bilibili.com/video/av44509206?zw
A review of the play that Sahoo, Nao, and Megutan are in (with 24 images). "AKB48 × Theater company deer killing × The Condors' collaboration, with a cast of only six people, a confinement play · stage "dog" depicting the human extreme condition and pure love opened on the 27th at the Sunshine Theater in Tokyo · Ikebukuro. A scene where abusive phrases about which idols are not supposed to speak flutter and a bloody tragedy develops. But there are loneliness that can tighten the minds of those who are alienated, craving for affection, insanity because of too much love swirling. Progressing violently with parodies, gags and songs, and finally it is brilliant to fall into the last that is full of beauty. The fans of AKB 48 will surely be surprised by the performance of the three people who exceeded the limit and removed the limiter. Although I covered the stage at the public Genepro, it is sure that members who are experienced stage experiences will also be boiled down by opening before the customer and opening a rich and rich expression." https://deview.co.jp/News?am_article_id=2130464
This might affect all the 48 groups and the idol industry as a whole. Because of too many innapropriate comments, Youtube decided to forbid commenting videos which displays some children and minors. And we know idols are young and very young girls. https://twitter.com/YahooNewsTopics/status/1101369790759821314