Maeda Atsuko (Acchan) / 1st Generation

Great news for Acchan fans! There is a subbing team who subbed Densetsu no Okaasan (The Legendary Mother). You can find the episodes subbed here. I'm so thankful to them, I made sure to thank them everytime they subbed an episode, and now they finished it! So now I can finally start watching the drama (I was waiting for it to be complete). I will watch it soon



Jurina recently posted a photo with Acchan and she wrote a sweet post so I translated it!



"With Maeda-san❤
During Oogoe Diamond's MV recording, there is a scene where I collide with Maeda-san,
Since I was new and just joined back then, I was nervous and shy
At that time, she told me that it's fine to bump into her more seriously, I still remember!
Thanks to this, I was able to shoot well✨
I'm full of gratitude❤
Thank you again☺
I love youー"

 

This is great news.

 

Acchan's recent IG updates! I tried to translate them

2020/08/24



I unintentionally bought matching shoes☺︎☺︎☺︎☺︎ #Vans

Takamina's comment: The size is too cute!
Acchan's reply to Takamina: It's cute, isn't it❤

Mariko's comment: Cute

2020/08/26



This August, I was invited by MEGUMI to participate in a worskshop!
I enjoyed the summer classes☼

I'm thankful because the teacher told us a lot of things☺︎

Also,

#ILOVEMEGUMI

Kyaa❤❤❤

2020/08/27



On the way to work, from the squall...
I saw a rainbow!
It might be the first time I see such a beautiful rainbow.
It made me happy from the morning.

Note: The original post also has a video!

 

Can't people respect others' space? She's a human too. I feel so bad

 

lol, the irony

 

The paparazzi in Spain is the worst in such a way that they had to put laws to protect children.

 

Acchan's IG updates, I translated them:

2020/09/04



This is a photo from a little while ago。

One of the reasons why I cut my hair short,
is because I was praised for the shape of my head (laugh)
I'm a simple person。
I'm really happy when I'm being complimented✨
I want to have a life full of positive human relationships☺︎

Saying I love you by mail to a beloved person is happiness

#ShortHair

Mariko's comment: Short hair alliance *sunglasses emoji*
Acchan's reply to Mariko: Short hair senpai❤❤❤

2020/09/05



Excuse me for the serious content。

This morning, I was walking to the supermarket while holding my child,
suddenly I heard the voice of a reporter who was calling me。
It was from behind and I was taken aback,
I refused and went to walk on the escalator but
the reporter still held the camera even after the escalator。。
Because I was with a child, I was scared since it was dangerous。
Of course I didn't want my child to be taken in photos。
I go to the supermarket and to convenience stores too,
I live a normal life every day。
I wish you don't come up with funny stories about me。。 I really hope。
I don't usually write about the inner feelings in my heart,
but today I was feeling sad,
and I was in a situation where I could feel the danger,
so I wrote what I was thinking for the first time。

I hope we can live your life peacefully and safely every day。

My feelings now, Hayashida Miyu-chan
she expressed it with a very nice drawing
Thank you。 I'm grateful。✿

Hayashida Miyu reposted and wrote: Hope a good day✿
I hope you can spend your time peacefully。



I tried my best to translate Acchan's last post, it's a serious post and Acchan sounds really sad ._. I'm upset that she had to go through this, and especially to feel in danger in a public place when she is with her baby. I can't believe that this happened because I thought that japanese medias have respect for children of celebrities and won't take photos. I completely understand Acchan's feelings, she just wants to live a normal life. I'm glad she spoke about her feelings, and the fact that she wrote this, now the reporter can't write nonsense about her... I'm thankful to Hayashida Miyu for the nice drawing (I'm not sure if she did it herself or just sent it to Acchan). It's written "hope a good day" on it, I think this made Acchan feel better. I checked and both of them follow each other so they must be friends. I hope Acchan can cheer up and that this doesn't happen again... And for the previous post, I'm glad that Acchan was complimented and it gave her self-confidence, I also love to see her funny interaction with Mariko. Short hair alliance

 

I feel bad for Acchan. She left AKB pretty much exactly eight years ago now. I know she's still active in the entertainment industry all together and a known person, but still. You'd think they'd leave her be at this point.

 

Yeah, totally agree, but you have to always keep in mind how incredibly huge she was in Japan. For a few years there, she was THE BIGGEST STAR in a country of 125 million people. Not surprisingly, she will always be ''Acchan'' to many many people even though she hasn't been that person for almost a decade. Even in a country that is known for its polite and respectful citizenry, there are always going to be individuals who can't let go. To be honest, I'm surprised more of the grads haven't had to deal with this insanity.

 

There are no professional ethics or scruples when there is money involved.

 

Before I begin this post, I want to remind everyone that I am an enormous fan of Maeda Atsuko---always have been and always will be. She was my favorite member and she is my favorite grad. I have bought all her photo books, seen every movie that has been made available to me here in the U.S. and have posters of her on walls throughout my apartment. I was heartbroken when she graduated and I was ecstatic for her when she became a wife and mom.
Having said that, I kind of believed, right from the beginning, that her marriage may prove challenging for everyone concerned. Show business and celebrity marriages are a crapshoot and many times the necessary long weeks apart devoted to work can prove problematic. Add to that, Maeda's personality which has been described, at times, as aloof, self-centered and unpleasant. Throw in her basic insecurity and emotional issues, which even she has admitted to many times, could prove problematic. And then, you have a marriage ceremony which may not have even occurred at all if Maeda wasn't pregnant and you have a recipe for a very short marriage. When it was rumored she and her hubby were living apart, I didn't believe for a second that is was Covid-related. I hope I'm incredibly wrong here with my very very amateurish psychological read, because I wish her nothing but happiness for decades to come.

 

Agree with a lot of that, but Maeda himself admitted, I believe during one AKBingo segment that she didn't know the names of some of the younger AKB members and didn't know the name of one the of the Bad Boys. Ex-members have talked about ''Maeda and her two bentos during mealtime and how she always ate first.'' Of course, she had her close close friends in the group, but I wouldn't be surprised if not everyone on stage was crushed and distraught the day she announced her graduation. Again, I'm not picking at her. As the ace of AKB, I absolutely adored her, but, as a spouse, I'm willing to bet she would prove a handful for any man.

 

Acchan's IG updates! I tried to translate them!
I love the photos on the second post, so pretty

2020/09/08



Hello from the entrance door。

Recently, I met with my childhood friend's family after a long time,
the children are beautiful sisters and becoming more and more beautiful♡
Talking about things like if we liked another kid at school or not,
it was a cute and happy time。

I always think that words have a tremendous power,
thank you for giving me a lot of positive power。！

2020/09/09



When I went to the Locarno Film Festival last year
The view from the hotel room。 It's really beautiful。。
I saw the photos after a long time and I'm nostalgic

The air felt so good...
I really spent a lot of time in the veranda。

I saw a lot of people taking a walk with their dogs,
there was an old man doing the backstroke✨

It was very calm and relaxing。
It's a place where I definitely want to go again。

#Locarno

 

I doubt there are any members (especially senbatsu members) who know every single members in akb48 lol. That doesn't have anything to do with selfishness, but it's just because akb48 has become so huge.

Furthermore, Acchan is one of the members who have the privilege to get TONS external work when she is in AKB. That means she spent less and less days in akb theatre, or with fellow members. and instead, she worked outside.

U can't expect her to keep up with both.

Not even Takamina (as shown by akbingo dokkiri) could spot fake akb member, indicating she doesn't know every single akb members.

Not even Yukirin. as suggested by her recent youtube videos, she seems to meet some members for the first time.

Some of the habits U mentioned are no good indicators of whether one is selfish or not.

Acchan is probably honest to her needs and wants. And many teenagers do that.

Plus, given the amount of jobs during the prime era, I am not surprised at her hunger level lol.

She is probably at best, just a girl who have lower baseline/endurance level for stress and changes. But that doesn't mean she's bad, or not suited to be in relationship with males. (and she is not someone who can silently close one eye if somethings irk her. that is not necessarily bad)

We don't know what happens behind the closed door anyway.

Even the kindest person can have multiple failed relationships. sometimes none of them are bad. some personalities are bound to clash.

And has someone mentioned post-partum depression (baby blues)? post-partum depression is no joke. it can hit anybody, regardless how kind or strong someone is.

 

Remember on the pre AKBingo show (or was it early AkBingo?) when they used to replace Acchan with a cardboard cutout? She was in such high demand even that early on so she probably didn't get to know new members as they joined.

I mean the group just exponentially grew, which you could see every time they did Lucky Girl Ranking at the start of every year and the board just got more and more ridiculously enormous.